New bird on the block No. 6

{bird tile by Cursive}

Because every birdie needs a doily! A little modern, a touch of vintage, and as useful as it is pretty. Perfect.

Re-birth of Venus

{Rimi Yang - Heart - mixed media on wood - 12 X 12 inches from Bill Lowe Gallery}

I saw one of Rimi Yang's paintings in a Traditional Home story on an Atlanta-area showhouse, and I loved its whimsy and femininity. He has quite a collection on the Bill Lowe Gallery website, some of it ephereal and lovely, some of it disturbing. I especially like the mixed-media on wood portraits of iconic images, like Boticelli's Venus, above. It's one of those faces you recognize, no matter how it may have been modified.

New birds on the block Nos. 4 & 5

I keep finding more lovely birdie items out there and if I keep adding to my (virtual) collection it could get out of hand. But then there is the sunny side - if I start cataloging them who knows how many fab finds could feather this nest?

{from A Collage A Day}

Randel Plowman is a new fave, his collages are like snapshots of three or four random things going through your mind at once, but in a calm, not chaotic, way. He features a lot of birds in his work, as well illustrations from vintage advertisements, and a couple of things that look like sample pages from my 10th grade algebra textbook.

Here is a dainty hankie to keep in your purse, hand embroidered by stichado and available in her Etsy shop. It is almost too pretty to wipe your nose on, but just think of all the tissues you will keep out of the landfill.

Mangia!

{Gabriele Corcos & Debi Mazar make risotto}

I have been a big fan of Debi Mazar since her Goodfellas days -- her wisecracking tone, no-apologies NY accent, vintage glamour girl style. I was so excited to see her in Entourage -- perfect casting. Last year, she and her charming Italian husband Gabriele Corcos started posting webisodes (and podcasts on iTunes) called Under The Tuscan Gun that are like hanging out in the kitchen of two friends watching them cook. Many of the recipes are from Gabriele's family, everything features fresh ingredients and lots of olive oil, with healthy portions and suggestions to serve with a salad, bread and wine (as in, "eat a small serving of this with a salad", not "eat an 'American' serving of this and wonder why you have high cholesterol and need to lie down"). I love their warm California kitchen, shots of a "lived-in" house through the kitchen doorways, and their outdoor dining area in their prolific and lovely garden.

If you are looking for high production values, well-lit food styling, fantasy kitchens, inflated egos and monotone ingredient recitals, stick to Food Network. If you want friendly instruction on how to cook simple, delicious Italian food, in a normal home kitchen, by people who have an obvious love for each other and la dolce vita, check out Under The Tuscan Gun.

The early bird

{photo from Spunky Sprout}

With a name like "Robin", I have a penchant for bird-related things. Every year for Christmas my dad used to buy me a robin-themed ornament. When I moved out and decorated my first Christmas tree with all those ornaments, the tree had a decidedly robin's egg blue theme, which I have added to over the years. The rug above is from a children's decor company, but I think it would look fabulous in my bedroom.

{photo from Decor Green}

And I love the crewel work on this pillow.





Whitney Smith's pottery has clean lines and gorgeous colors, but I love the simplicity of this white bowl with three wee birds perched on its rim.