By now we've all come to realize the impossibility of originality, right? {my thoughts, another instance by Stephanie DosReis, Abigail Percy's recent post}
It's a concept that needs continual dialogue. It's important to recognize the individual artistic fingerprint, I believe. But I wonder, how we can each maintain our place and voice without seemingly copying?

This morning on flickr, I saw an uncannily familiar piece, by the very talented and popular Cecilia Levy. Or what about when you do a piece and find a close match elsewhere later, by a much more popular person? Does this happen to anyone else out there, and do you feel like I do once you stumble upon the other image?

{I feel like an impostor. Like I was singing with my own voice, only to find out I was lip synching all along, despite knowing I wasn't in the slightest informed of those pieces. Like despite my own previous body of work, in relation to the popularity of others I don't have the right to the imagery of my interests and imagination.}

another superficial post

but since I've been focusing on things I love. . .
I saw some boots I looooved on Urban Outfitters, but they're $268. So I was still wandering around web-land, not really planning on buying new boots, but just kinda browsing, when I saw the same boots on clearance for $120 less at Anthropologie! Well, not exactly the same, a different color, but same style. Out of curiosity, I thought I'd check out Zappos, who also has the same boot, and their's were $254.
So I bought them. . . from Anthropologie. They'll take a week to get here, and are more than I ever needed to spend on shoes, but I've learned to treat shoes as an investment, and I think these are a worthy one, at that.
Just enough ruggedness, sassiness, and I think they'll be perfect with thick, warm tights.
But they're leather, you say? Yes, they are. And yes, I'm a vegetarian, and no, I don't think leather is really the way to go. But when it comes down to it, I haven't found veggie friendly shoes that live up to the staying power of a pair of well-invested leather shoes. I have some birks I've had since my pre-vegetarian days (12 years ago!), and some cowboy boots that are 2 years old and still kickin'. But all the plastic-y fake shoes I've gone through in that same amount of time will be sitting in a land fill for hundreds of years, and that just makes me feel sick.

So how about you? What are some favorite shoe investments? Are you a faux wearer or is leather okie dokie by you?

Wolfie and the Sneak are counting sheep?

having trouble sleeping? i hear the girls over at the Sampler have
no problem getting you into bed . . .
with the Sampler Select, that is.
Get your mind out of the gutters, people, and get to gittin' on over there and check it out! A little lost lamb told me they go on sale tomorrow!

I think these shelves are just the cheeriness I need.
Above: Shelves from discarded TVs, created by flickr user Choose Your Shoes.
Below: These shelves by Thomas Wold have been posted on various blogs, but there's a good reason for that, they're just plain awesome. Read his blog for other great products, as well as a brief tutorial on the processes he uses.

I think Louise Nevelson would approve.

Knee deep in dirt

These gray days make me (and keep me) sleepy. Not good for motivation, great for catching up on sleep. We've had 2 days of thunderstorms and expect another 6 days of them out of the next 10. So it's also great for saving on the water bill!
There were a handful of ripened figs on the bushes yesterday, and have since been picked and all but one have been eaten. Usually at this time we'll have about 5 pounds ready for picking, but the unusually late winter frost took care of the early growth, and, subsequently, the first little figs.
After reading Andrea's trend prediction for air plants over on Heavy Petal, I had to order some of my own. Had to and needed to. Especially since all of my overwintered plants were essentially treated like air plants, I needed some low maintenance living greenery inside. I ordered several varieties from Air Plant City (after seeking out the supplier closest to me) and they came over the weekend.
I think I have a nifty display idea up my sleeve, too, but I'll keep it a secret until it happens. Hint, it has to do with this post and the comments I received on it.
While growth is the theme, we have little baby house wrens in one of the guest houses on the property! Why am I surprised? The birdhouse is only about 4 feet off the ground, mounted to a corner post on the fence. There is another house about 40 feet away, mounted on a post about 8 feet off the ground, close to a thick area of trees and next to a feeder. It's a white Victorian style, single-family dwelling that has been vacant for the past 2 years. Maybe I need to put a "for rent" sign up? This house, in a less ideal location, is adjacent to the driveway and overlooks a flower bed I often work in. While I work, the momma and papa visit frequently, feeding the kids and watching me curiously and without the slightest suspicion, often less than 2 feet from me! If you'll notice in the picture, they seem to like the uneven tiles and use them to cling to the house during feeding time. Astounding and trusting little creatures!