Minted, Julep, & Independent Art

Supporting independent artists is pretty awesome, right?  I recently read about a creative contest hosted by Minted and West Elm on this cool new blog, Julep.  What better way to get your art seen than by entering this contest? Creative friends, get on it; entries are due Sunday!

The Julep blog also has fun, easy DIY projects, like this precious stamped hearts valentine, which I will be attempting with Jones soon.  (He is slightly obsessed with ink stamps these days!)

While on the Minted site, I was looking for some cute toddler-friendly cards that Jones could send out as thank-you notes for his recent 3rd birthday gifts. My momma taught me that a thank you note is ALWAYS in order, and I figure it's time to start teaching my children the same.  I found these precious cards that he will be 'stamping with thanks' shortly:

While on the site, I also perused the Art Prints and found this:

 The type-writer font and the handwriting samples are so rad!  The history portrayed in this old library check-out card is so great. I typically only buy used books for the sole reason that I love imagining the people who have read the books before me. 


And original art is always a welcome gift, don't you think? Valentine's gift, maybe?  And speaking of Valentine's, they have awesome original-art cards for kids or adults.


So, if you're in the market for some affordable, unique art by independent artists, or cute stationery, I highly recommend the quality items at Minted.  And the Julep blog has been added to my blog roll as a place for craft-inspiration!

*I was asked to write a post for Minted and Julep, and in return, received consideration for free products.
Opinions are 100% my own.
All photos are courtesy of Minted and Julep.

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A Word (and a Book) for Wednesday

 


ynecdoche: (pronounced si-nek-duh-kee) a part of speech in which a part is used for the whole, or the whole for a part

As in: Author of Poser: my life in twenty-three yoga poses, Claire Dederer, describing her escape from the house to practice yoga: "I left them food as though it were a piece of me. Synecdoche: a part representing the whole.  A sail representing a fleet.  A crown representing a king.  A chicken representing a mother."

I recently found this book while searching for books on yoga.  I quite enjoyed it, as evidenced by my reading it in 2 days.  Very poignant for a mother of babes just starting out in the world of yoga.

My 2014 goals include attending as many yoga classes as I can fit into my schedule.  I just feel too damn good afterwards to not.  While practicing yoga, I want to also learn more of its history and teachings.

Any yogic-friends have recommendations that aren't too incredibly heady?  I'm thinking maybe this or this.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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Some Friday Fiction

My husband and I have an on-going debate about which is real-er, Big Foot or Loch Ness Monster.  He is solidly in the Big Foot camp, and I whole-heartedly believe Nessie is a sweet, misunderstood dinosour-like creature who lurks in the loch. 

A few months ago while perusing Etsy I came across these shirts and have fought the urge to buy them for our children ever since:

via here

via here

So, which do you think is more real?  I argue Nessie because I think she'd be harder to fake. 

This post was spurred after reading this news story about a supposed Bigfoot-killing in Vegas.  The article is pretty funny, though I'm now a little worried that Bigfoot is indeed real.

Also, you can watch a live webcam of Loch Ness right here.  Pretty sure I just saw Nessie.

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