Cool Recent Purchases and Gifts

I've been lucky enough to be the recipient of some cool gifts recently. My best friend from college sent this amazing birthday gift - a double-sided necklace from Pick Up Sticks Jewelry. Both sides have my initial "S" in black and white motifs. The hammered frame around the charm gives a quirky handmade quality. Buy one for yourself or your best friend online at TooQT.

Another great gift was a French ad screen printed scarf from my mom bought on Etsy from MaryInk. It's made with super-soft spicy red fabric. Every time I wear it, I get tons of compliments. 

I've also been doing some shopping myself in an effort to refresh my breakfast nook. We have an L-shaped bench for seating on two sides of the kitchen table. About three years ago, I covered them with the colors I was into then - reds, browns, and yellows. Now, I'm ready for a change toward softer colors and ordered a bunch of pillow covers from Marie's Cozy Cushions on Etsy. She sells two covers for $20 - a great deal. Orders ship from England. 

I stumbled upon a new Etsy seller - Byrdie Graphics - which specializes in decals for your home. Her classic modern style is exactly what I'm trying to achieve in my home. It's sophisticated yet approachable. I ordered Birds on a Cherry Blossom in copper brown that I plan to position to look like it's coming out of one of my kitchen windows. Once we return from vacation in early March, we'll repaint the kitchen and put up the decal. I can't wait. I'll post pictures of our redecorating efforts as we make progress.