Is Art a Luxury? (Scoutie Girl)

The question on Scoutie Girl is about art...is it a luxury? Not to me. And I don't think to most people. Even if one can't go to a concert or buy a CD, she can sing or beat out a rhythm; if I can't afford to buy a piece of art, I can trade one of my pieces for something I love. I just made a great trade this week: I received my frog oven mitt in the mail a few days ago! Thank you Inger! Check out her shop, ingermaaike.

I think people are creative and artistic even if they can't or don't want to exchange money for a "work of art". Perhaps it's the difference between living and just existing. Most people choose to live.

Monday Moodboard White

A lovely white mood for this last Monday in April.

Upper left: alatceramics
Upper right: lapomme
Lower left: Mireloom
Lower right: AtelierAfra

For more moodboards from the very talented European Street Team, go to fleurfatale's blog!

Button Thursday

I've discovered more fabulous buttons on etsy this week. These amazing handmade buttons are by buttonsbyrobin. She uses various materials such as resin, glass, ceramic, wood and more.

I'm partial to her bird buttons, not only because I love birds, but because of the uniqueness of these buttons. Little works of art. Perfect for mixed media artists, seamstresses, jewelry designers, knitters.

Her round buttons feature original images and are more suited to sewing projects where they will be used to close a garment, but the possibilities are still endless, and could be used in many different projects.

I hope you visit her shop, I know I'll be going back.

For more interesting buttons, go to P8's blog!

AG Team 2010 Mother's Day Gift Guides

Mother's Day is just around the corner and I've been admiring the Artisans Gallery Team Gift Guides on their blog lately. Here's my wish list:

Upper left: folkartvision

Upper right: catherinereece

Lower left: OneClayBead

Lower right: SHIHAR

Si vous êtes en France, vous avez encore plus de temps pour faire votre séléction, la fête des Mères, c'est le 30 mai!

Monday Moodboard

A sunny spring morning with the European Street Team!

Upper left: ingermaaike

Upper right: afra

Lower left: kreativlink

Lower right: filigreephotos

For more Monday moodboards, go to fleurfatale's blog!

Thrift Shop Finds

The weather was so warm and sunny this past week that I found it hard to stay in, be good and work on anything for very long. So I took a walk and visited the local thrift shops. There are three within a short walk from our apartment. I was looking for some shelves but had no luck.

Instead, I got myself a new teapot, because you can never have too many of those! The plates are for my mosaics, of course. At another shop, I found some gorgeous vintage linen from the 1940s. It feels wonderful, crisp, starched, a tight weave. Printed on the side is "Toile Metis Lin" "Fleur Bleue". I'll have to find a project for this fabric!

Button Thursday

It's button Thursday and I thought I'd show you some gorgeous buttons I discovered this week.
They are made by a New Zealand ceramic artist living in Kent, England. Her shop is called buttonalia.

These handmade ceramic buttons have been glazed front and back for high durability and can be used in a variety of projects. Visit her shop to find more buttons and ceramic beads too!

For more amazing buttons, visit kraplap's blog.

Monday Moodboard

Here are some gorgeous items from the European Street Team, for a stroll around town.

Upper left: LoveandKnit
Upper right: loddelina
Lower left: starrybluesky
Lower right: isabelamyo

For more lovely moodboards, go to fleurfatale's blog.

Buttons

I've recently developed an interest in buttons, mostly thanks to Petronella, who sells lovely button creations on kraplap, her etsy shop. I even bought some to use in my own creations, and I remember my grandmother's button box. We loved to string the mismatched buttons together on rainy days.

I found this great site, cribtoyscloset, which features unusual and fun buttons. Here are just a few of my favorites. Above, a leather doll purse button that actually opens!

This boxing glove button is so cute!

Or how about a button to remind you to do the ironing!!

For more button-related blogposts, go to P8's blog!

How's Your French?

Je suis très contente d'être sur le Guide D'achat de Etsy French Handmade Team blogspot cette semaine! Merci Anny de AnnyMay au Canada, de m'avoir accueillie. Laissez-moi me présenter en français!

I am so happy to be on Etsy French handmade Team's shopping guide this week! Thank you Anny!

Easter Monday Moodboard

A sunny Easter Monday...kids sleeping late, chocolate to eat, shops closed, so I couldn't go shopping if I wanted to. Here are some delicious treats from the European Street Team!

Upper left: ThreeBlueBee
Upper right: LoveandKnit
Lower left: ArzuMusa
Lower right: PetitPlat

For more Moodboards go to fleurfatale's blog!