Favorite Finds: Look On The Bright Side

via Vintage by Shevahh

Antidote for a Gray, Misty Day

Kind of bleak here today. Gray, misty, a little rain mixed in. Last night we had some wicked thunder and lightning move through. A little odd after having a snow storm on Saturday that dropped about 12 inches on us, to have a Spring thunderstorm 2 days later.

So to combat the ugly weather blues, here's a selection of etsy favorites that are sure to brighten things up.

A fantastically happy pink ponytail holder from my etsy pal and fellow Dublin afficiando Miki Martinez in Madrid. Now, Miki has tons of awesome vintage finds, but she has now added these great scrunchies to her shop.

via mikimartinez

I will now be embarrased to wear my ugly ponytail holders. I'm not kidding, they're downright ugly compared to Miki's.

I don't know about you, but I spent a lot of time as a kid playing Barrel Full of Monkeys.  This necklace from Hearsay Designs is a hoot and half!

via hearsaydesigns

How could you not feel bright and cheery wearing a barrelful of yellow monkeys?

I love all of Josh Freidman's photos. It might be because oneo f his favorite subjects is NYC. Then again, it could be that he's just a darn good photographer. The color and the subject in this one get equal billing for brightening my day.

via JoshFriedmanPhoto

Well, I can't say I'd ever thought of putting the Virgin Mary in a cigar box, but I absolutley love this upcycled box from shrinefairy. I think it's a beautiful shrine.

via shrinefairy

I'll have to be happy dreaming about being able to pull this number, by Wonderhand, off. The colors, the herringbone-stitch-fish-scale design, the hand knitting- I love it all. Hhhhmmm......I think I could rock this look as a vest.

via wonderhand

Oh, this bracelet by ACuteCute would make me happy every time I wore it.

via ACuteCute

At $4, I might just have seriously consider that one! As my mother Marge would say, "How could I leave it here for that?". Right Mom?

What? The sun shines in your house? It certainly does with this lamp from FiligreeCreations!

via FiligreeCreations

Flip the switch and POW, right in the kisser. Sunshine yellow happiness.

More colorful photography from my etsy & facebook friend Leona of LeesWhimsys.

via LeesWhimsys

Just loving the texture and the colors Leona explored in this shot of a hydrangea. Stunning.

And one more pop of electric blue from VintageByShevva.

via VintageShevahh

That 80s blazer rocks!

I'm feeling brighter and cheerier already. How about you?

Hope your Wednesday is going well. I can't believe it is the middle of the week already.  I've been working on ad design and logo/branding design today....what's on your plate?

Ciao for now,



Gray, Rainy Day Blues: Rx Color

Rx Color: Scandinavian Style

Big stuff happening today. It's raining. No, no, no........that's not it.  Big stuff around here, equals sweet little Mercantile Muse giveaway, but more on that in a moment...or scroll down, almost to bottom of post, for giveaway!

First some color treatment, for the gray day that is.

I know, I know. You thought they were tiles. Not that I like pointing this out or anything, but you can be so wrong. 

via whippedbakeshop

Get a glass of milk, because they're cookies!

GORgeous.  Admit it, you thought they were tiles at first, didn't you?

No fooling this time, these really are tiles.

via homedecorating

Hand painted, at that.

Not quite tulip time, but here's something to hold you over.

via runningdevil

Got a little girl? She'd be head over clogs in this number.

via littleticket

Oh, to be 6 again.

Need someplace to lay your weary head? What? You can't fall asleep?

via onceinthenorth

The lavender and hops in this pillow are sure to take care of that.

I admit, I've got the Scandinavian bug. Mix that with a some Pennsylvania Dutch and you've got my latest illustration 'Dutch Treat". Pennsylvania Dutch/German Fraktur and Scandinavian Folk Art meets Pop Art.

via BatesMercantileCo.

via BatesMercantileCo.

Bigger and Better Things, Well......Better Anyway

Giveaway #2

In honor of today's theme, Bates Mercantile Co. is giving away the sweetest little blue and white, antique delft bowl.  Tulip Time china by Johnson Brothers, made in England!

Very pretty depiction of a Dutch town, a windmill and girls collecting tulips.

I told you it was sweet.  Now, it is an antique, and there is some crazing that you can see in these pictures, but I think it adds to its character.

Do you like? Then it's time to enter!

Receive one entry for each step completed:

1. If you don't already, follow Mercantile Muse and comment below on how you are following (google, feed, email, etc.)

2. Like us on facebook and let us know you did in comments below.

3. Visit Bates Mercantile Co. and tell me what your favorite item is in comments below.

Earn an extra 2 entries when you:

3. Post about this giveaway on your blog or tweet about it, and leave a link in comments below.

Feel free to comment on all steps in the same post.

Good luck!  Giveaway runs from now through November 3rd. I will announce the winner on Friday, November 4th (which just so happens to be my birthday....nothing like sharing a present). 

Have a wonderful Wednesday. I hope yours is dryer than ours.

Ciao for now,



Sunshine On a Rainy Day

Between The Rain Drops

Honestly, it's been raining so heavy it's more like 'in between the cats and dogs'. Some even got hail this moring. Some had to declare town emergency because of flash flooding. That's what happens when you get 5 inches of rain in an hour.  Not quite as bad here, but Gar will be working in his Grundens today. If I go out, I will don my wellies for sure.

Here's a better look.

What? My camera lens is in the way? Oh. Sorry.

No laundry going out on the line today. Luckily, tomorrow is supposed to lovely. Until then............some color, on an otherwise dreary day.

INSPIRED: design

Our kitchen was a bold, Mediterranean blue for 12 years. Our lounge is olive green, with pops of bold color.  Our bedroom is black rose, which is really a deep brown with hint of burgundy.  Now even though I've gone for neutrals in the redo of the old half of our house, as you can gather, we're not afraid of color. So, without further ado........here's some brightness for you to enjoy.

1. no source, found via pinterest, pinned by several people. (It really bugs me when you can't find a source, so if you just so happen to know, clue me in, OK?) 2. via allthingsthrifty.com  3. Drew Steinbrecher via apartment therapy 4. Monica via apartment therapy 5. Judith deGraf via design*sponge

A couple of pops from our own pad.  Our coffee table in the lounge is a bold red, scored the last one from West Elm, had to hunt it down to get it shipped from the store that had it. Please ignore the dust. This is what happens with glass topped tables (but better than scratching it all up).

Check out the little bar stool-come-end-table on the left in the picture above. It's in it's birthday suit.

Here's its twin all dressed up in a 'rainforest' green, serving as Gar's nightstand in the bedroom.

Both were scored free from neighbors after their moving sale. Gotta love that. And I gotta say, I love rainforest green.

Here's one last pop of color from our shop, Bates Mercantile Co.

I e-mailed the printable version of 'Boomerang' off to Zagreb, Croatia this morning. I just love having customers around the world. Really I do.

Sunset Meadows

We had a break in the dreariness at the end of the day yesterday, just in time for sunset. Perfect timing. It was pretty majestic.



By the way, Garrett just called. He was having his lunch under a piece of plywood. He didn't want to sit in the truck all wet. Well, his Grundens were wet, but he was dry.  He bought them in 1994 for $180 (he knows, he wrote in marker on the inside of the suit). Yes, that's a lot of money, but not when you consider how many rain suits he'd gone through prior. The Grundens are still kicking and in pretty good condition. So if you or someone you know works out in the rain, the Grundens are a worthwhile investment. I was not paid to say that. Wish I was, but I wasn't.

Hope there is more sun where you are today. Fingers are crossed that the forecasters are right about tomorrow.

Ciao for now.

Gray, Rainy Thursday

copyright Ashely Pahl

No Sun Today, Thank Goodness for Favorite Finds

Though I can't complain considering the weather the rest of the week, today is an ugly day. A day made for your wellies.

It's also a day when I need another cuppa tea.

No sun makes it hard to wake up. Add to that the fact that I'm a night owl, not an early bird and you'll understand whey I need another cuppa tea, and something bright to put a little pep in my step.

Here's some bright happy favorite finds from fellow etsy shop owners. Check it out....you might need your sun glasses.

1. Happy new blue flower braclet, from a vintage piece. by beevintageredux   

2. One of my favorites, it's a big one for my Mom to sing to any new babies.  And how can that paper cut postcard not brighten your day? How does she do that without making a mess of the paper?  by ashleypahl

3. Love Matryoshkas, they're just colorful and cute. by sewZinski 

4. Foxy Loxy, pudding and pie, little fellow makes me smile.

by Red Tile Studio

5. Pow! Sapphire blue, in a purse. Love. by milloo

6. Frida Kahlo inspired. She's one of my favorite artists- colorful and surreal, and sometimes macabre and this is a lovely 'ode to Frida'. by SuzannesStudio

7. Check out the pom poms and lace on this fun cuff,

love color mixed with black accents.  by lindecise

8. Elephants might usually be gray, but not this one.  by honestworks

9. Did I say I love color against black already? 

Fun, happy, swirly whirly.  by sometimesiswirl 

Walk With No Pictures

I was trying to beat the rain yesterday, so I didn't download pictures of my camera to make room for field walk shots from last night. Plus, I just didn't feel like having something in my other hand.  Good thing. Got to the top of the hill with the hound, three deer just waiting for us. Two good size does, and one smaller kiddo.  (Can you believe I didn't have my camera to capture them?) Both mommas looked up with their ears perked up and checked us out. The little one didn't notice us until Lucan noticed them and started making a 'I'm gonna get you' kind of fuss. I was very glad I had both hands to hang onto the leash as the three of them bounced off into the woods with their white tails wagging.  Exactly why we keep him on the leash until we get to the top of the hill to see what's down in the lower end.

Other than that, it was pretty quiet in the field last night.  Just one biggo dragonfly scooting around with his tail tucked under, which looked pretty funny. I did find one feather and if I had to guess I'd say it was from the red tail hawk that hangs out there. It's very downy soft, so not a full grown feather. It's now in the nest with my other feather finds.

That's it in my part of the world, what's happening in yours? Got any sun?

Make it a great day, and take a moment to check out the colorful shops featured in today's favorite finds.

Thanks for being here.

Roasting Romas & A FREE Printable/Missoni Inspired

More Missoni Inspiration

Chevrons on my mind.....sounds like a song. They are on my mind, so I created another design with them.  This one is for you. And it's FREE. Cool, huh?

These gift tags are colorful, hip and a little bit retro. 

Any package would be honored to have them attached. At least, that's what I've heard. I think they'd be really cute on a package wrapped in white! But, that's just me. You do whatever you'd like. 

Talk about fun!

Here you go:

Click on picture above, save to computer or copy and paste. These gift tags are set up to be printed on an 8.5 x 11 paper. I also have an idea running around my head for note cards using one of these designs. Stay tuned for an update, as I'm hoping to have them in our store, Bates Mercantile Co., later today.

The Heavenly Smell of Romas Roasting

Finally, the Roma tomato post.....I'm a few days behind on this one. Sorry about that. If you have Roma tomatoes growing in your garden like we do, or can get your hands on some at farmers' market, you need to try this. You won't be sorry.  I had no idea I could roast and freeze my tomatoes until my friend Carey (aka Martha) told many years ago. I've been roasting them ever since, and there is nothing like being in the middle of the winter and being able to add garden tomatoes to a dish for some wonderful flavor.

Here's the scoop (and yes, I know I spelled caramelizing wrong above, but I'm too lazy to change it now):

* you need enough Romas to fill a cookie sheet- if they're big, you can cut in two

* I use a well seasoned cookie sheet- that is to say, one I've roasted a lot of veg on with olive oil. Or one you don't care about 'becoming' well seasoned.

*this is a slow cooking process, but one that doesn't need a ton of tending to

*Romas are the tomatoes of choice for this because they are a meaty tomato with not a lot of seeds. I do also throw some cherries in there too if i have them.

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Cut Romas in half if they're on the larger side. Leave them whole if they're on the smaller side.  Grease the pan with extra virgin olive oil. I give it a good glug over the sheet and then spread with a paper towel. Sprinkle pan with sea salt and cracked black pepper. Place tomatoes on cookie sheet and sprinkle with more sea salt and pepper.  Pop in oven and let them do their thing. Check about once every hour and turn. It takes several hours on low heat for them to first, caramelize, and then start looking more like a sun dried tomato. There's no golden rule here, do them until they are done how you like them. I'd say at least until they caramelized and start to brown on the edges.  They do stick a bit due to oil and the natural sugar in the tomato, just use a spatula to flip. I have a little metal one that works great. I like to finish them facing up so that they get a little dryer.  That's it. The flavor is out of this world.

Not the best picture, but you get the idea.  If you can stop yourself from eating them all right then and there, let them cool and you can pop them in a freezer bag. Make sure all the air is out, seal and throw it in the freezer. Take out in middle of Winter, and remember why you do all that work in your garden or why you like farmers' market so much. If you have a home office like I do, you can do them any day. If not, the weekend is a great time to do this when you're hanging around the house.

So delicious. Trust me.

Sunset Meadows

Gorgeous day yesterday. 84F. We won't see that much longer, supposed to drop tonight. May have to cover my tomatoes because some are still ripening. 

I caught the sunset before I hopped into the pool last night. I've got to get in while I can. It was out of this world......74F and glorious.

Back to the sunset.  Beautiful streams of light.

A big, bright.................

.........ball of fire.

Hot, but very cool.

Thursday already. How'd that happen? Make it a great one in your little corner of the world.

Peace out.