Board No. 55 - In Envy of the June's Pearl

I have always been so envious of June's birthstone: the pearl. I have an August birthday and while I love green, I don't always love that I am stuck with peridot — it's just not as classy and timeless and beautiful as the tiny, iridescent gems of the sea. So, in celebration of June, I present you with some of my favorite pearlescent items (both handmade and vintage, fake and real).

Top row: Blue Serenity Earrings from TulipsTreasureBox; Goddess Necklace from TheAbbey; Oxidized Coin Pearl Pendant Necklace from MoonMystic; Bird Nest Earrings from AKeepersJackpot
Second row: Rustic Pearl Pendant from LavenderCottage; Mermaid Necklace from Kecky; Pearl Photo Print from imagenero; Such a Square White Pearl Necklace from flightfancy
Third row: Something Special Rosette Necklace from littlejardin; Aurora Borealis Fantsy Wrap Gemstone Necklace from flightfancy; Chocolate and Wine Pearl Ring from LTheval; Bird's Nest Pendant with Freshwater Pearl Egg from mamasmagicstudio
Bottom row: Purely Demure Earrings from pastelpetals; Nesting Necklace VII from GreaterYesterday; Moonlit Trees Necklace With Gold Aspen Leaf from briguysgirls; Love Charm Necklace from tamar

* blue denotes an Etsy Bloggers Team member's store/item!

Board No. 51 - Strawberries Mean Summer

I can't believe I've broken the 50-board mark! It seems like I just started doing this yesterday. Anyway, thanks for reading!

We've been picking the red, ripe strawberries from our backyard for more than a week now and are so excited that there are still loads of flowers on the plants — meaning there's going to be more strawberries for weeks to come. There is absolutely nothing better than straight-from-the-garden fruits and vegetables, and strawberries are always one of the first to be picked, letting me know it's officially summer. Here's some inspiration for those who may not have a their own bushes.

Top row: Red Strawberries Potholders from frommysewingroom; Strawberry Pewter Charm from beadsws; Funky Strawberries Earring Collection from shaizcar; Strawberry Fields Necklace from redheart13
Second row: Strawberry Fields Two-Part Stamp from Corrabelle; Wild Strawberry Seeds from GardenItaly; Strawberries and Cream Votive Candle from thecraftasaurus
Third row: Strawberry Batik Onesie from jerusha; Silver and Concrete Strawberry Necklace from lulubugjewelry
Bottom row: Strawberry Pie Necklace from fakerybakery2; Juicy Strawberry Bar With Exfoliating Seeds from LoveLeeSoaps; Vintage Brass Strawberry Lockets from vivi1981ken; Vintage Anchor Hocking Strawberry Shortcake Milk Glass Mug from buppins

Board No. 47 - I'm Ready for Summer Pounce

I am so ready for summer. Basically, I am ready for "recess," since I work Congress' schedule, I get to relax a bit when they aren't working, which is all of next week (and all of August...)!!! Here's to my counting down the days 'til I can breathe and here's to you shopping with undiscovered Etsy sellers:
Top row: Vintage Leather Dangle Earrings from butterflybohemia; Turqouise Blue Mohair Wrap from kiamichi7; Flowers Hand-Painted Kids Shoes from mspek
Second row: Glass Light Catcher from hiddenbiscuit; Seated Woman Print from FineArtStudio; Custom Flower Lights from nymphlyres
Third row: Reversible Bike and Cherries Pendant from shopmarmalade; 70s Vintage Polkadot Shirt from loucella; Swirl Shell Photograph from QuiteTheSight
Bottom row: Remnant Birdie Pillow from olivesbranch; Amazonite and Peach Moonstone Earrings from madfishdesigns; Ryanne Sundress 12-18 mos from annarellagirl

Board No. 35 - Cinco de Mayo

You can celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a margarita, or you can celebrate it by buying an item from an Etsy seller — or you can do lots of both!

Top row: Vintage Tin Litho Noise Makers from calloohcallay; Margarita Glasses Hand Painted from GlitznGlass; Senorita Flor Painted Gourd from aymujer; Mexican Cut-Paper Banners from aymujer
Second row: Mexican Folk Art Animal Pillow from missbutler; 80s Vintage Oaxacan Embroidered Tunic Dress from decades; Corn Tortilla Press/ Tortilladora Cherry Wood from kooymandesigns; Blanket Bag Happy Cinco de Mayo from alkdesigns
Third row: Spring Flowers Original Drawing from rgurney; Sunny Mexican Days Sunglasses Case from OhByJingo; Paper Flowers Cinco de Mayo Clutch from LoveAlisa; Mexican Folk Art Gourd Maracas from nocarnations

Board No. 33 - Rain, Rain Stay Here? (I Want to Use My New Umbrella!)

It's funny: I went to Minneapolis this past weekend for the ACES convention and the weather was nicer there than it was in what turned out to be a very rainy Washington, D.C. (just like in the center gocco image below). Well, while at the convention, I picked up a fantastic umbrella (to add to my ever-growing collection) with comic strips from the Star Tribune. I don't have my camera today or I would take a photo, but it looks similar to the one pictured. I thought I'd use that cue — and that it's supposed to rain here until Saturday! — for this post:

Top row: Kalaidaspoke Linen Cushion Cover from bestillshop; British Brolly Graphic Print T-Shirt from happyfamily; Red Umbrella Original Illustration from carambatack; April Showers No. 07 from cutiepiecompany
Second row: Mod Rain Umbrella from DewberryVintage; DC Love III Gocco Print - Cherry Blossoms Special Edition from artsharkdesigns; Vintage Orange Polka-Dot Umbrella from itsastitch
Third row: April Showers Charm Necklace from bombalurina; Rainy Day Letterpress Card from letterpress
Fourth row: 50s Floral Umbrella from DewberryVintage; Vintage Spring Floral Umbrella from jessjamesjake; Brass Umbrella Duck from OliveVintage; Vintage Umbrella Cups from lazonya
Bottom row: Colorful Umbrella Japanese Fabric from karaku; Rainy Day 1 Fine Art Print from amaricemills; Peacock Umbrella from rawartist7; Umbrella Print Indoor-Outdoor Pillow Covers from PillowMio

Board No. 27 - Ginkgo Fan

My favorite tree of all time is the ginkgo. It's my dad's favorite, too, so I guess it shows I'm still a daddy's girl, but for a tree it has so much meaning behind it. I mean it's a living fossil, how neat is that. Anyway, the reason it's in my mind today is that the little baby leaves are starting to come out on the thousands of ginkgos that line D.C. streets. It's one of the first trees that have greenery at this point in the year, letting me spring is officially here (that and the 90-degree weather...).

Top row: Ginkgo Leaf Earrings - Dangle from esdesigns; Multi-Hued Green Ginkos on Pale Rose Silk Scarf from martiecarroll; Surprise Ginkgos Original Woodcut Framed from DwellinStyle; Ginkgo Cutout Blank Notebook from lmoss
Second row: Sweet Brass Ox Plated Ginkgo Leaves With Pre-Drilled Hole from dimestoreemporium; Ginkgo Leaf Painted Short-Sleeve Tee from mamoplanet; Pretty Little Ginkgo Plates, Set of Four from sumiko; Ginkgo Leaf Clutch - Ruby Red on Repurposed Jeans from pocketcarnival
Third row: Ginkgo/Maidenhair Leaves, Hand Pulled Screen Print from boldandnoble; Ginkgo Leaves Rubber Stamp Set from Corrabelle; Ginkgo Impression Necklace from andreabrenna; Sample Ginkgo Letterpress Wedding Invitation from armatodesign
Bottom row: Ginkgo Pendant, Copper, Brown Patina from ginkgo; Oceana Lariat - Mother of Pearl Shell Necklace on Sterling Silver Chain from trillium; Ginkgo on Tan Repurposed Leather Wallet from foundbynicki; Ginkgo Stationery - Original Oil Painting Illustration from TimelessPaper

Board No. 7 - Friendship-Inspired

This is the second part of a two-part series inspired by Pyrex's Friendship pattern — it's the yellow and orange pattern you see going diagonal through the image below. Obviously I'm not the only one who loves it since it seems to have been replicated in many different incarnations.

Top row: Folksy Tin Trays from findingfabulous; Dutch Themed Birthday Calendar from thebeautifulproject; Vintage Pyrex Friendship Pattern Serving Dish from tawnillia
Middle row: Love Birds Letterpress Card from dutchdoor; Pyrex 2 1/2 Quaart Frinedship Casserole Bowl from ImSoVintage; Set of 2 Corning Ware Friendship Casserole Dishes from kitschkitch
Bottom row: Vintage Friendship Pyrex Cinderella Bowl Complete Set from sassboxclassics; Dutchie Love Card from lauredesigns; Gold Birds Letterpress Print from cindytimczykart

Board No. 4 - Favorite Listings From the 2 O'Clock Hour

I had some spare time so I was watching the feed as new items came in during the 2 o'clock (EST) hour. I guess I am totally feeling spring and kids — which is funny because I don't have any and am definitely not pregnant... So here are my favorites, it's an eclectic grouping:


Top row: Martha's Vineyard Twill Pillow from utiledulci; Short Sleeve Onesie With a Striped Necktie Applique from veryKIKI; Pears Pears Pears Kitchen Towel from 2sweetboutique; Raised Line Tote from yorktownroad
Second row: Garden Romance Hair Clips from sweeteverythings; Sleeveless Linen Dress from tortillagirl; Vintage Brass Heart Lockets from Karmelkisses; Dainty Little Flowers Post Earrings from Nataliaraya
Third row: DIY 12 Storybook Blocks from nurserylove; Vintage Necktie Buttons from ccstar; Vintage Melamine Sugar and Creamer Set from harlowmonroevintage; Longer is Better Zipper Pouch from eleen
Bottom row: Your Mama's Curtains Vendor Apron from yoopers; Chocolate Garden NecklaceNewborn NOONIE - Cirque from lalaspequenos; Vintage Linen Tablecloth from snowflakeoneyelashes from CocosGreenhouse;

Board No. 2 - Magnolias: The Other Flower

I had an idea yesterday to do a post on magnolias because I live in Washington, D.C., and everyone's talking about the cherry blossoms right now — but I truly prefer magnolias, which are almost as equally abundant in this city. (Here's a photo of a beautiful blooming magnolia tree IN Washington from Etsy seller WillBPhotography.) Anyway, this morning when I saw a post over at Within Purple Lemon Designs about a giveaway with Etsy seller AaronOverstreetArt and his beautiful photo of a magnolia in bloom, I decided to go for it. (See his photo in the middle.) I ended up finding more amazing magnolia items than I could have ever imagined!

Top row: Magnolias, Original 5x7 Painting from Squashedtoad; Steel Magnolias Chainmaille Earrings from youvegotmaille; Glass Tile Pendant of White Magnolia Blossom Painting from CynthiaVHEhrlich; Magnolia Decal Home Art from PaulasDecal;
Second Row: Miss Magnolia Blooms Stud Earrings from LulaBoutique; Magnolia in Bloom by AaronOverstreetArt; Magnolia Wedding Invitations from Tulaloo
Third Row: Original (not print) Watercolor Painting - Magnolia from artwatercolor; Magnolias - Black - Hand Painted Adjustable Ring from sarahsmilecreations
Bottom row: The Magnolias Will Soon Bloom - Crochet Headband from plumdaisy; Sweet Magnolia Scarfette Pattern from fablehandmadegoods; Molly - Coral Pink Lucite, Green Glass and Brass Filigree Locket from curlysue; Magnolia Clutch Purse from ambermooncreations

Board No. 1 - The Spring Kitchen

Welcome to my first Etsy-inspired inspiration board. The idea is to take the ever-popular inspiration board that all the wedding blogs make, and come up with different ideas based on Etsy finds. I know this is basically the same thing as Etsy's Treasury, but it is next to impossible to get on Treasury as it's full all the time. Anyway, without further ado, here's the first board inspired by all the green I'm starting to see outside.

Top row: Pyrex Retro Lime Green Set of 2 Cups and Saucers from goldiez; Apples in Aqua from the Metro Market Collection by Robert Kaufman Fabrics from freshsqueezedfabrics; Three Retro Pyrex Bowls from findingfabulous

Middle row: Gingham Stacking Mugs from sweetshorn; Worn to be Wild - Sassy and Chic ApronOilcloth Party Banners from modernjune
Bottom row: Set of 3 Stackable Spring Blossom Pyrex Casseroles from kitschkitch; Quilted Coasters in Vintage Fabrics from VintageSongbird; Vintage Blue Flower Barware Decanter Set with 6 Glasses from JollyPollyPickins from sassyapron;