SAIL AWAY WITH ME...

I just love this.

I know I'm late and all, but I've recently become somewhat enamored with Etsy. I purchased a couple of things on there in the last few weeks, and today, I found this.

Based in the UK, Cotton Bird Designs create some of the cutest things ever out of vintage fabrics, maps, old books etc.

I mean, just take a look at this one. A bird fastened out of a flour sack. A FLOUR SACK.

The little boat above was made using recycled books and maps. My favorite part is the red hull, made from a book cover.

Buy it here!

BEETLE + JUICE...

Simultaneously cute and unsettling!

BEETLE CUP: Designed and produced by Idee Liu, crafted by Ching-Tian Cai. See more of Idee Liu's work here.

RABBIT CUP: Designed by Hsiao-Ying Lin, crafted by Jun-Ching Tang

This black clay cup is a representation of a well-known Chinese tale of a rabbit on the moon, which is celebrated every year with the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival in Taiwan. See more photos here.

These two pieces were on view as part of the Taiwanese sector of Dwell on Design's "Asia Now" June show in LA.

ME AND MY SHADOW...

...puppets.

Chicago-based artist Andrea Everman (or for Etsy fans, Owlyshadowpuppets) creates these HILARIOUS shadow puppets with a laser cutter. They're based on her own ink drawings.

See more on her site.

SIDEWALK FINDINGS: CUSCO, AREQUIPA, LAKE TITICACA AND COLCA CANYON, PERU

I'm baa-aack. And with lots and lots to share.

It's impossible to sum up my journey to Peru in one concise blog post, but I'll try my darndest. I think this calls for list format: 

1. Arequipa, dubbed the "White City", is chock-full of buildings made of volcanic ash. What's volcanic ash architecture good for? It's ability to withstand earthquakes, for one. Two, for it's ability to be carved into. Arequipeños create wonderfully chiseled type and ornaments on building facades, much to my delight.

2. Cusco, with its narrow and hilly winding streets is a wonder at night. A photographer's heaven.

3. Colca Canyon...immense and picturesque! The incredible hues of blue and green left me salivating.

4. The people? Probably some of the most warm, selfless, humble, yet PROUD that I've come across in all of my travels. 

5. Color, color everywhere.

6. Pisco, pisco everywhere.

7. Little old me. In awe.