shoes and ships...

cute coffee

e and i went to a flea market a while back and saw some really cute cups and saucers for a chlld's tea set.  i lamented the fact that my nieces all have tea party paraphernalia, so we weren't really in the market, despite the fact that these were so adorable. 

in a moment of divine inspiration, e turned to me and said "they're actually the perfect size for espresso...". 

and so they were.  eureka!

i now know that this set is from the 50's and was produced by the hazel atlas company as the "little hostess moderntone pastel party set".  the pieces are platonite - the colors are fired onto white milk glass.   

we now use them all the time and our friends always say yes to espresso (a coincindence? i don't think so!  who wouldn't want to drink out of this?).  they remind me a bit of fiesta - another true love.  what appeals to me most about them - apart from their size and overall adorableness - is mixing cups and saucers.   no matching allowed!

"maybe my bright red boots if they had wings"

it feels like aaages since i heard new music that i love love love. 

the weepies seem to have been popping up in blogland (like here and a few other places i can now not locate!  sorry - let me know if you've mentioned them!) and finally i got around to popping over to their website and i haven't stopped listening to them since.  go listen!  now!

not in kansas anymore

it's been snowing for almost 3 days straight.  this is a pain to drive through and shovelling a path to the mailbox to retrieve the paper is a Real Drag.  however.  on the other hand, no snow would mean no views like this outside my office window:

sometimes i can really tell i am living in sweden.   

step right up!

how adorable is this pretend shopping street i found in an old swedish parenting magazine?  there is a newspaper stand, baker and naturally an adorable little fabric stand.  they even sell remnants ("stuvar") and odd buttons ("knappar") in a box on the sidewalk!

the stores are made of cardboard boxes which are covered with fabric.  the little shelves in the openings are painted a contrasting color.  the adorable bolts of fabric are wrapped around straws.

this would be a fun "rainy day" project.  a little café, movie theatre, flower stand...