Mid-Century Masterpieces

The works of Jim Ward Morris. I want it all.




Be sure to check out his Etsy shop!

Happy Monday

Spun a little Blondie on the record player this past weekend as I was painting new pieces for Market Day Iowa. I can't believe it's already this Saturday! Mark your calenders, people.

Here's a sneak preview at what will be available this weekend:

More pretty little corkboards AND chalkboards.
Mirror sconces in pink AND baby blue!
White, black, yellow, red, & green sconce sets.
Hope you had a lovely weekend xx

Etsy Shop Update

Newly added to the soZealous shop—vintage books!! Emphasis will be on decorating and sewing reads of the mid-century persuasion (give or take a few years).

You might even find a useful tip or two on styling your soZealous purchases in one of these decorating guides...

Some schemes are a little dated, but there's nothing about this one I wouldn't apply to my 2010 living situation.


BH&G Decorating Book and Creative Decorating On A Budget are both available now.

I'll continue to add books over the next few weeks, as there are many more to be listed!! As always, your feedback is appreciated.

Shameless Market Day Iowa Plug

This weekend is Market Day Iowa!! I've been super busy painting & assembling pretty things for my booth. The blog has suffered a bit, but regular posts will commence next week.

If sales this Saturday aren't huge, Etsy shop lovers can expect a hefty update in August!! We're looking at a win/win situation here, in my opinion. GET EXCITED.

Happy Little Customers

One of my customers sent this adorable photo of her little girls, Maya & Elle, enjoying the custom order I made.

Don't they have the sweetest little bedroom?
Check out the full set on Kirsten Rickert's blog—she takes beautiful photos and has some great DIY posts!!

Recent Things / Projects

New [old] glasses: I'm seriously contemplating putting lenses in these. They're a little scratched up along the rims, but not enough for me to care. SO RETRO.

Frame sets in new colors: I realize some of the bright paints I use are a little polarizing, so I'm working on broadening my stock. Also working on some groupings to include a corkboard, a chalkboard, & a picture frame.

Chalkboards: More to be added to the shop.

Shoebags: I've been making these little "dusters" out of vintage linens and I'd like to include a few at my Market Day booth if I make enough in time! So, what do you think? Your feedback is appreciated.

Things to Come...

After a terribly long hiatus, I will be re-opening the Etsy Shop this week!! You can expect an update on July 1st, if all goes accordingly...

Can't wait for you all to see the new goods:)

Happy Birthday Etsy!!

This past weekend marked the 5th year anniversary of Etsy! In celebration, craft parties were thrown around the globe, including our humble one in Des Moines, Iowa.

Carefree Patisserie blew us away with this INSANELY AWESOME cake, complete with a fondant hot-glue gun on top.







So many creative ladies in our midst!! Perhaps we should do this again sometime...??

Urbanestics & I would like to thank Carefree Patisserie, David Poyzer (photography), all of our guests including Hey! Jen Renee, Good Posture, & Island Canary.

Thought on a Friday // 06.17.10

It's not too late to R.S.V.P. to CRAFT PARTY in celebration of Etsy's 5th birthday TONIGHT!

In addition to all the crafting shenanigans, we will be serving a two-tiered birthday cake from Carefree Patesserie & screening the documentary, Handmade Nation.

In the words of Urbanestics, "It will be a night of crafting mayhem, burnt fingers from hot glue guns, paper-cuts, pin pricks, X-Acto knife gouges..."

You know you want to be there.

[Image via daintysquid.]

Best of the Week Vol. Forty

1. I was thrilled this week to see that DesignSponge had curated an Auckland City Guide! Reading through it brought back a lot of great memories from my year living in New Zealand...

2. Vinyl records as contemporary art. Yes, please.

3. Fascinating story about a newspaper prop that keeps popping up in a slew of film & television show.

4. Access all the most reputable fashion blogs in one click.

5. Etsy is throwing a worldwide Craft Party on 18th June--find out how you can participate here!

[Image via misswallflower.]

Best of the Week Vol.Thirty-Nine

1. Handmade Spark published this helpful post on converting Etsy views into sales.

2. IKEA gets a new, Anthropologie-esque look.

3. Project Thirty-Three is the album cover art enthusiast's dream come true.

4. The Mulleavy sisters (a.k.a. RODARTE) have a new line of fabrics for the home...and the fashionistas rejoice!

5. How to get your camera back when you lose it. Clever.

[Photo credit: weheartit.]

Best of the Week Vol.Thirty-Seven

1. Inc Magazine offers some helpful tips on How to Make Money on Etsy.

2. Blogazine Lovers, rejoice! Decor8 rounds up of some of the best online magazines on the web.

3. Interesting piece on the evolution of the household budget from 1950 to the present.

4. The Top 10 Fashion Infomercials of all time...ahh, sweet nostalgia.

5. I'd work in any one of these World's Most Inspiring Offices.

Hearts for Haiti

The devastation from last week's earthquake in Haiti is truly incomprehensible. People coming together financially & through service though is a beautiful reminder of the great good that human beings are capable of.

Hearts for Haiti is an Etsy collective selling donated items with 100% of the proceeds going to relief work, specifically through DoctorsWithoutBorders.

Please check out the full store to read more about the initiate and purchase some of the lovely handmade items just in time for Valentine's day!

Polaroid Greeting Cards by craftedbylindy

Black Heart Earrings by nomsa

Love Potion No.9 by vintagescraps

Pinkberry Bumpy Beads Earrings by uncommonvintage

Best of the Week Vol.XXVII

1. Thriftwares specializes in "hard to find youth cult clothing". Be sure to check out the incredible selection of goods in their eBay shop!

2. Julia Galdo elegantly captures the age of Gatsby in this 1920's photo collection.

3. La Vie Photographyfashion photos are simply darling. Now, where to get those outfits?!

4. More favorite things from Sea of Shoes.

5. Millinery lovelies & neck fancies from Vinny and Vernelle on Etsy! Modeled by Johanna Ost.

6. Style Bubble features Danish Design school fashion graduate Anne Sofie's fabulous collection & illustrations.

The Shop is Open!

Beautiful, new items listed to the shop this week! Get 'em while they're hot as most pieces are one-of-a-kind!

Also in the making is a batch of pieces for Vitae Design Collective! Until those are finished, there's still some soZealous merch available at their downtown DSM location.

Happy Shopping!

Keepin' It Zeal

It was brought to my attention that an item of mine had made the Etsy front page this morning! Unfortunately, I didn't get to see it live but the lovely Angela of Mean Millies captured this screen shot of it for me.


In other exciting shop news—it's OFFICIAL—soZealous items will be available at the Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair!


I'll be sure to update as any more details may progress.

Thanks to the many people who have encouraged me in this endeavor and continue to support soZealous by reading the blog, buying the goods, etc. — you're all amazing!

New items in the Etsy shop!

Including this mixed media original masterpiece by yours truly.

These postings are long overdue, yet my work is highly influenced by weather/ lighting conditions. Also, I've got a small batch of goodies to replenish Vitae Design Collective with, so watch for updates on that.

Just expect an increase in everything as Midwest temperatures begin to rise!

Happy 2009!

Photo featured on DesignBoom blog.
Sure, I'm a few days late. I've been putting off my first blog of the year for lack of knowing what to post...a Best of Year? Resolutions for 2009?

This blustery Iowa winter has kept me from being ultra productive in the re-vamped vintage home decor department, but I'll have loads of new items available as the snow gradually melts.

Until then, the Etsy Shop is OPEN with merch also available at Vitae Design Collective in downtown Des Moines.

Temporary Hiatus

photo by redcrayon
For those if you who have been wondering about my absence, I have been ultra busy preparing for Urbanestics Underground this weekend! There will be lots of lovely pieces for sale and new items in the soZealous shop after that. December will hopefully bring a little more consistency to all forms of web interaction for me.

Also in December will be a "Made in Des Moines" profile of me in Juice! I will post any updates on that as they're received.

“A small key opens big doors.”

- Turkish Proverb.


And a large key looks best when displayed on walls!

One of the newest items coming soon to the soZealous Etsy Shop. Stay tuned for more updates!