Weekend Randomness

This is one of those random compilation posts, since I was a bit absent from blogging lately due to playing catch-up at work from our vacation. But I do have a few little snippets to feature.

• This week I have been puppy sitting this beautiful little beast, my dog niece, Monster.

• A few weeks ago I received my first piece of "fan mail" for my blog from friend & fellow blogger, Sara. She is one of my creative comrades and receiving this from her was just the thing to brighten my day.

• I have been meaning to introduce you to a wonderful little book that makes a great gift, "How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew". It serves as a quick read and a wonderful reference book for all of life's little "How To's" that the modern, yet traditional lady might need. And I just realized today that the author even has a cute blog to match.

• This weekend is the Old Town Art Fair here in Chicago. Today is rather overcast, but if I can pull Dave away from the World Cup coverage then I hope to make our way over there tomorrow.
  
  It's one of my favorite summer street fairs here in the city and the place I first discovered my favorite local artist, Dolan Geiman, a few years ago.
  
  
• Last, but certainly not least, I finally have a Sunday TV obsession to look forward to again because the third season of True Blood premieres tomorrow night on HBO. Honestly, the first season was much better than the second season, but I hope the third makes up for it.
  
  

Which Ork Poster Should I Pick?

I just posted about my love for Chicago neighborhoods here (#5) and I have come to find that much of the art/wall decor in my home revolves in way or another around geography of some sort. (Unless you are talking about my bird room.)

I already have this piece from Dolan Geiman in our bedroom:

And I have two canvases in our main hallway, from Etsy Seller "geministudio", the Chicago Streets Canvas Art (where I live) and then I had him custom make me a matching St. Louis piece (where I am from) that he now sells in his shop.

But know I think I want a more colorful piece to put in our main living area and I came across Ork who makes some very cool City Neighborhood posters. I especially like a few of the Chicago prints.

Right now I am trying to decided between this printed poster in teal:

Or one of these two screen printed pieces in yellow/blue or orange/blue:

(You know I have a new found love of screen-printing.)

I think they would all look nice with a white frame. So which of those three would you choose?

Etsy, and what else?

I love shopping online for unique, handmade goods, so Etsy is an obvious choice (and obsession) for me. I have purchased everything on there from art to jewelry to baby shower gifts and wedding paraphernalia and it never gets old.

But, I can't help but think that there must be various other online communities/shops out there that serve the same purpose; so I'm wondering where else do you all look for handmade and vintage treasures?

One Etsy seller I have purchased from, Colleen @ BCharmer, wrote in a recent blog post about a new online store called Art Garage Sale. At first glance, it looks to be another start-up Etsy-like site and I can't wait to peruse it as it adds more and more sellers.

I have also recently found a site called Supermarket featuring, Great Design. Straight from designers. This looks like a gem as well! One of my favorite Chicago artists, Dolan Geiman, has some work on this site now too, as well as on Etsy. I own this box print of his already:

And I think it will be great to find other great artists like him via the Supermarket.

So those are a few of my new online "Etsy-like" finds. Please let me know if you have any others to share!