Butterflies on my Mind: Products you may see in the shop

I have had butterflies on my mind all Summer.  This year was a Summer filled with deconstruction at my house.  My husband and I had to remove all trees, weeds and overgrow bushes from our previously neglected yard.   As I look forward to my vision of what it will become I imagine a garden full of blooming flowers with butterflies feasting on them.  I have been doing research of which plants attract butterflies in hopes that next year I will be able to start fresh with flowers like the Purple Coneflower, Garden Phlox and the Comom Milkweed. So until then here is a collection of beautiful butterfly products for inspiration.
Enjoy!

Image via My Selvaged Life

Image via Sabiesabi

Image via SiboDesigns

Image via Anthropologie

Image via Sugar Robot

Image via Commercial Wallcovering.com

Do you know of a product that you would like to see featured here?

Are you looking for a special gift that we might be able to help you find?

Please contact Wind and Willow Home

Summer in Minnesota

Good Morning!  It has been a busy week and even busier weekend.  Summer officially started, I took a little blogging break for my birthday and spent a splendid weekend with my family at a secluded cabin in the woods in northern Minnesota.  It is Monday already and even though it seems like I have been slacking on the blogging front, there are big things happening on Wind and Willow Home's end.  I hope to be able to update you all on the exciting happenings soon.  In the mean time I will be doing some more traveling through northern Minnesota to spend much needed time with friends and family (you know us Minnesotans need to enjoy our summers while we have them) in the next couple weeks so I may not be posting every day.  Here are some outdoor images you are sure to enjoy. 

Image via Adventures

Image via Secret Forts

Image via That Kind Of Woman

Image via sfgirlbybay

Image via Birch + Bird Vintage

Beauty Falling: A collection of handmade goodness falling from the sky

Today's post is inspired by a board I have been adding to over at Pinterest.com. With all of the rain we have been getting here in Minnesota I figured a little bit of beautiful inspiration falling from the sky was appropriate.  Enjoy!

Image via Ohdeedoh

Image via Zemotion

Image via The Canterbury Place

Image via Yuko Takada Keller

Image via Martha Stewart.com

Image via Hutch Studio

Image via designaside

For more Ooooh, Ahhhh. follow me on Pinterest

Global Craft Party 2011 was a success at Etsy Labs.

Had the pleasure visiting New York City last week for the first time and a highlight was attending the Global Craft Party 2011 at Etsy Labs in Brooklyn.  We took the blue line to the High St stop in Brooklyn and made the short walk to Etsy.  We followed the signs and headed up the elevator.  As we entered the space, we were a bit overwhelmed as we were 'fashionably late' and the scene was packed wall to wall with fellow crafters, eating, drinking and doing what we do best, being creative.  The atmosphere, adorned with a plethora of crafting stations, supplies, decorations and a live jazz band, was jovial to say the least.  Once we had a chance to scan the space we joined in on the festivities.  We got photos in the photo booth, made buttons and mingled with the crowd.  
Going into the night I had expected to do some crafting and maybe network with some artists hoping to gain new shops to feature here on this blog.  I expected conversations such as "what do you do?", "do you have an Etsy shop?", and what do you sell?"  but the packed space and the volume of the festivities made that a little difficult, which was ok!  The highlight of the night for myself and my husband (who was such a great sport to join me for this event) was chancing a meeting with another couple, Audry and Denis.  I chatted with Audry and Jordan (my husband) talked to Denis in the line for the photo booth (it was quite popular).  Audry and I had a bit in common...including the fact that our husbands were wonderful enough to join us as we mingled with others who enjoy crafting as much as we do but also our backgrounds in design and the love for handmade pieces and the inspirations behind them.  Our husbands also shared interests in crafts...craft brewing that is (a different blog for a different day).  As the lights flashed to signal the party ending, the four of us continued our conversations at a couple watering holes in the Dumbo area of Brooklyn.  They were nice enough to show us Brooklyn Bridge park and pointed us to the start of the bridge so we could walk it back to Manhattan.  We appreciated their hospitality and we expect to stay in touch and hopefully meet up again in the future.
All in all, this party was everything and more than I had expected.  It is these kinds of meet-ups that makes the crafting/handmade/art communities so special. 

Entry to Esty Labs

Fellow Etsians packed the space

True crafters work here

A little of this

A little of that

crafting in progress

button station

Our photo booth pics being turned into buttons.

A Memorial Day Thank You.

In honor of all those who have served, we remember:  For your sacrifice for our freedom, to you and your families who maker our country what it is, a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU.  Let this day be celebrated in your honor.

I thought the gals at Party Blueprints put together a great Memorial Day party planning guide.  Follow Dawn and Elizabeth for the details on a vintage penny candy bar, hot dog bar, patriotic pinwheel decorations and more.

Time to Get Organized-Coat Tree

The holiday decorations have come down and new resolutions are being made.  If this is your year to get organized, this tree coat rack is the perfect way to start.  Not only is it beautifully simple, it will also only take up minimal space.  Find it at Huset.

Do you know of a product that you would like to see featured here?

Are you looking for a special gift that I might be able to help you find?

Please contact me here: I want it! - nature inspired

Make it yourself Monday - Hot Cocoa

Mmmmmmm, one of the best things about Winter, Hot Cocoa!  There is nothing like a rich chocolaty drink  to warm a cold body from the inside out.  Here are a couple recipes that you can mix up yourself to give as gifts or make a batch to keep for those cold January days.  I must say that once you make it yourself you won't go back to most of the bland pre-packaged stuff.  How to make Alton Brown's Hot Cocoa from the show Good Eats (I love this show).  Ideas for embelishing your favorite Hot Cocoa.

Did you try it?  If you have any tips for this project share them in the comments section below.

Share what you made! Send your pictures to me:  email me at I want it! Projects and I will feature your project.  

Refreshing drink coasters

'Tis the season for entertaining and what better way to ensure that your furniture stays protected than with these brilliant stay on coasters.  Not only are these coasters beautiful and elegant but your guests will locate their drinks with ease.  Hand made with sustainable fabrics purchased from local vendors by DimmalimmHome.  Find it at Etsy.com.

Elegant- sustainable- outdoor lighting

Glowing lanterns hanging from a large tree as they illuminate an outdoor scene of friends chatting at a fall dinner party.  These unique Soji lanterns are not only beautiful but are solar so they don't need to be plugged in. These stunning lanterns can be found at Earth Tech Products.

Plain cupcake wrappers are for the birds.

I think these cupcake wrappers will even make my cupcakes taste better :) What a delight. These Meisha-Bird with cherry blossom cupcake wrappers can be found at Bella Cupcake Couture.

Toadstool Treats

It doesn't get much sweeter than this. Edible chocolate filled mushrooms.  Toadstools are made by Andies Specialty Sweets and can be found on Etsy.com.