tIO Combo: Banner Day! meets Mid-week Music

As we close-out 2009, I decided to celebrate by combining the final 'Banner Day' and 'Mid-week Music' posts of the year: a special 'combo' post of banners famous, not-so-famous, and even infamous - ending with a musical celebration of our 'Banner'. Take a look (and listen):


The online newpaper, the Provincetown Banner, and its 'wicked local' information.

    
The Banner Art Collective "creates, collects, and distributes net.art and poetry within the limitations and context of web adverts".


The Star Spangled Banner Flag House, "home of Mary Pickersgill, maker of the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key's famous poem that later became our national anthem".


Be "the Hulk", aka  "Bruce Banner". You know it's cool.


                                    
Ace Banner's "Unfurl Yourself" Program: Ace Banner has been "manufacturing custom fabric displays since 1916". The "Unfurl Yourself" program is the company's "way of giving back to a non-profit each year in the form of banners and other signage for their annual event". 


'Banner Cloud': the peak's flag (shown here on the Matterhorn, the best site for its formation)


What-to-do on/around  Banner Street, London EC1Y. And some know-before-you-go: EC1 history.




Rock on, lovelies! And I'll see you next year.  tIO x

Today's conundrum: Can you drink too much hot cocoa? Computer says "no".

Future conundrum: Is it right to want world peace and tougher sentencing for parole violators? Gracie-Lou thinks so.

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!

Boxing Day

Off to the hunt and a day filled with family and friends; back soon.   tIO x

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

                          I heard the bells on Christmas Day
                              Their old, familiar carols play,
                                   And wild and sweet
                                    The words repeat

                        Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                      And thought how, as the day had come,
                             The belfries of all Christendom
                                      Had rolled along
                                    The unbroken song
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                            Till ringing, singing on its way,

                      The world revolved from night to day,
                                     A voice, a chime,
                                      A chant sublime
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                      Then from each black, accursed mouth
                         The cannon thundered in the South,
                                   And with the sound
                                  The carols drowned
                        Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                          It was as if an earthquake rent
                        The hearth-stones of a continent,
                                   And made forlorn
                                The households born
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                         And in despair I bowed my head;
                       "There is no peace on earth," I said;
                                 "For hate is strong,
                                And mocks the song
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

                   Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
                       "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
                                The Wrong shall fail,
                                  The Right prevail,
                     With peace on earth, good-will to men."

                           Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

                             Happy Christmas from tIO x

Mid-week Music: Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown! 'Linus' monologue'

Technically not 'music', but worth repeating:



Happy Christmas!  tIO x

Banner Day! with meringuedesigns

It's the Monday before Christmas, and it's a 'banner day'! Let's celebrate with the wonderful Etsy shop, Meringue Designs.



Cynthia Winward is a SAM of three who " found (her) passion in life" through sewing. When she left finance to raise her children, she also reunited with her serger and that's when things came together. Literally! Drapes, quilts, jackets and clothes for the children and for herself. And now she creates pillows, embroidery, patterns, and - of course - celebration banners like this one:

The best thing about this banner, though, is that it's for sale as a pattern - an "entire alphabet in mirror image...for uppercase and lowercase letters". It is a supplement to her 'Birthday Banner' pattern, which includes instructions for constructing the banner itself (also available in her shop). Wonderful, especially for those of us who like to 'make do and mend' - and create!

More loveliness from Meringue Designs:

  

Meringue Designs is a lovely shop and Cynthia writes an engaging blog, "Deep Thoughts by Cynthia". Reading through, Cynthia is not only "additcted to color", but this little tidbit caught my eye - and made me laugh-out-loud: "There is something ironic about being a seamstress and yet hating to sew costumes for my kids. I swear I can’t be bothered." I love that irony! And finding a terrific shop full of great fabrics, gorgeous pillows, and amazing banners - like Meringue Designs.

Time to wrap-it-up, lovelies! Here's to a great week - and a banner day!  tIO x

PS: Happy birthday, Tim!

Five days and counting...

The anticipation is ramping-up in our house.

Carols are the random song-of-choice, and daily we hear the exclamation: it's almost here! Indeed.

Our shopping might be finished, but the chore of keeping the presents hidden remains. We don't have snoopers, which is a good thing; but it is tiring.

And I end up having weird dreams about camels traipsing through the field and into our back garden.

Today's conundrum: Will the traditional 'Christmas pajamas' arrive this year? Or will we be left with a "ships after Christmas" promise?

Future conundrum: Is the idiom 'happy is as happy does' legitimate? Is it, in fact, an idiom?


Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon! And happy Christmas, kringles!  tIO x

Pink. Peppermint. Christmas.

If it's pink, or a peppermint, or has to do with Christmas, I'm posting about it today. Hang on to your...

"HOT PINK HAT Vtg 60s Cloche' by vintageapparel


'beijo do Brasil fuchsia pink agate druzy ring' by BeijoFlor

'Tea for Two Earrings' by erinelizabeth

'Poppy Longstockings Candy STRIPE' by poppyswickedgarden

'Large Peppermint Twist Bath Puff' by rebeccajay

'Peppermint Love' giclee fine art print by karenfaulknerart

'Set of 3 Evergreen Festive Trees' by pinkbeeb0

'Vintage Plaid Men's Tie' by WhatGoesAroundShop

'Christmas Boxwood' by twoinspireyou

'Merry Christmas Banner' by TheBannerSisters


Happy Christmas, Crackers!  tIO x


PS: All of the above, or similar, were found on . 

Mid-week Music: Sara Groves "Toy Packaging"

Another Wednesday is here! And it's time for some mid-week cheer, courtesy of the lovely Sara Groves. (And it's set to flashing Christmas lights! Ooohh... But don't get too distracted by the shiny lights; these lyrics are inspired. Sara speaks words of wisdom yet again!) OK, now press play:



Christmas Lights PBL - Sara Groves ~ Toy Packaging from robogeek on Vimeo.

Best line: "Honey!"

Happy Christmas! And may your toys be easily opened. tIO x

PS:  Last year, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos echoed the "wrap rage" described in this song. This year, Amazon is offering "frustation-free packaging" on many items. Visit the previous link for the F-FP homepage on amazon.com, and do notice the offer's sub-title: "Reducing wrap rage since 2008." Clever, Mr Bezos; and thank you so very much.

Santa, Baby...

"Dear Santa,
I've been an awfully good girl this year. And any (or all) of these lovelies would be welcome under my tree:

1.2.
3.    4.5.
6.7.   
8.   9.10.

11.   12.    13.
14. 15.


1. Suzanne Kasler: Inspired Interiors 2. Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall: The Garden 3. Birdsong Farm Botanicals: French Clay & Herb Facial Scrub 4. Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Colour: Sexy Lips 5. Pride & Prejudice DVD (Olivier/Garson) 6. John Adams mini-series DVD 7. tsurubride's 'Orwell Silver Fox Clutch' 8. HighStreetMarket's 'Pair of Vintage Brass Candelabras' 9. fussjewelry's 'All That Glitters' earrings 10. Tissage's 'Tuesday Cloche' in grey felt 11. plumcushion's 'Schumacher Chenonceau' cushion in charcoal 12. 2swansNest's 'Scallop edge Cashmere skirt' 13. 'Vintage Volupte Bookpiecce Bangle' offered by SheriesVintageJewels 14. 'Mitsouko' 15. NEVES for DS

Not to be presumptuous but I've included the links to the shops for you, jolly old sweet Nick. Hope that helps.

As ever, looking forward to next Thursday evening. I'll leave the 'milk and cookies' in the usual spot.

Gratefully,
tIO x"


Today's conundrum: Will he read this? Will he click-through? Will any of these gifts find their way to me (or to you)? *places hands on hips, raises eyebrow*

Future conundrum: Do they know it's Christmas after all?

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!

Banner Day! with Earmark

Hear ye, hear ye! Earmark is today's 'banner day' feature, and is a wonderful shop run by husband-and-wife team Bridgette and Mike Berndt. Technically, I suppose, Earmark is the umbrella brand because these two have two Etsy shops - Earmark, their "mother shop" which stands alone as a traditional stationer, and Earmark Gatherings, their "new" shop "filled with fresh and fun party items".

Here are the two Etsy shop banners to start:




As I said, Earmark is a stationer, and a very talented and clever one. They design and sell most traditional paper products, e.g. cards, stationary, prints (like this one I bought), journals, invitations, announcements, etc. And, of course, they produce some terrific banners. Like these:

I may have featured some seasonal banners, but these are the tip of the proverbial iceberg for what Earmark creates and stocks; check-out this one:


Bridgette and Mike are lovely people who create lovely things. And they have turned their passions and talents into a lovely shop for the rest of us: "We have an obsession with paper products, and we cater to the customers that share our obsession."

Do they do custom orders? Yep. Wholesale? Yep. Are they available online? Yep - and not just at their Etsy shops, but also http://earmarkinvitations.com/ (and other online retailers). Bricks-and-mortar? Yep - look on their website for locations. Blog? Yep - http://eigreetings.blogspot.com/ Twitter? Yep - http://twitter.com/Earmark. Go on and click through any of these links to find out how Earmark "creates happiness", some of which looks like this:

      

That's is for today, kids. I'm off to either 'keep calm and carry on' or 'freak out and throw stuff'!

Make it a banner day!  tIO x

PS: Want to read more about Bridgette and Mike? Their interesting tale of life before and since Earmark was posted in May, 2008 as an Etsy "Featured Seller" Story: read it here.