Friday Night Fab Five: Four Blogs and a Party

A little news before we get started: The ultra cool kit site Gauche Alchemy was having a little contest to see who could come up with a name for their yellow mixed media color kit. I suggested a few names, one of which was "Meringue Ylang" and "The Pollinator", both of which I thought were semi-clever and then I jokingly suggested "Banana Hammock". Well, guess what the new name of the yellow mixed media color kit is at Gauche Alchemy??? That's right, "Banana Hammock"! LOLOLOLOLOL So with that in mind...*drum roll*

Welcome to the start of a new weekend and another Friday Night Fab Five!

*pause for applause*

This Fab Five is special because...well, because I said so. (I'm getting ready for when Toot starts sassing me, how'd I do???) Anyhoodily doodily, I find that the things I create are inspired by so many things. Ask any creative type person what inspires them and the usual answers are, "my family, my past, nature, Maggi" etc and so forth. I get inspiration from all of these places too but lately I have found myself drinking in certain blogs like I was dying of some sort of blogicological thirst (yes, I just made up that word and it's awesome, tell your friends!).

There are four in particular that I wanted to share with you and as I was looking through them again today, I realized that with the exception of one, all of the following blogs are written by people in other countries. Look at me being international! Ooo la la! For all of you fabulous people that visit my blog, please take a gander at these because they are such a treat and hopefully you will be as inspired by them as I am!

A thought just struck me, I should explain...when I say "inspirational" I don't mean like "Extreme Home Makeover" inspirational. I mean these blogs have become a sort of "muse" for me lately. I dig anything that lights a fire under my backside to get creative so thank you to these special ladies! Oh right, you probably want to meet my current muses, eh? Then let's get to it:

1. DustJacket Attic (Australia)

I've learned more about fashion in the short time I've been reading (drooling over is more like it) this blog than I've ever known my entire life. This blog is just about all eye candy and apart from the fabulous almost daily entries, she always changes the pictures in her sidebar to match the current post so it's like double entries every day! Score!

She points out the fantastic, the simple and the every day. I look forward to reading this blog because it always gets my brain humming with new ideas and I always find something beautiful and interesting there. I'm so lucky to have found this blog!

2. Chronically Vintage (Canada)

By now you're aware I have a slight interest in vintage what nots and Jessica's blog is a feast for the vintage loving eyes! Even her post on Canada Day was filled with charming images from days gone by and was lovely to read. She includes tons of interesting links worth checking out and I just love getting a great big dose of amazing vintage goodness from her blog!

3. Cpaphil Vintage Postcards (France)

If you have not been to visit with Marie Reed, you are missing out! She is so fabulous, I always feel the need to use her full name. Every day brings a new vintage postcard and she almost always has some sort of interesting historical fact or story to go along with it. It's so fun to learn from her blog and believe me, history was not my "thang" in school, but she makes it fun! :D

4. French Charming (California)

First of all, the name of this blog is brilliant in my opinion. I should have known that such a witty blog name would house the fabulous talent and general hilarity of one Ms. Karyn. She makes these amazing capelets, organza flowers, altered slips and I know not what! Plus, she includes some inspiring posts of whatever catches her fancy at the time which is always something fabulous! Her blog is fresh and fun and tastes like candy! (you know, if blogs were edible of course)

5. My blog!

Okay, before you think I've gotten a little too big for my blog britches (blitches?), just hear me out! I've been trying to decide about a good theme for my blog party and believe me, this has been a tough decision! You all had so many great ideas: Marie Antoinette, The Wizard of Oz, Victorian Garden Party, Pin-Up, Hollywood Siren, how's a girl to choose?! Well believe it or not, one idea kept coming back to me in various ways like Hobby Lobby already putting their ornament displays up, my Granny telling me she kept wanting to wish me a Merry Christmas for some reason and the clincher for me was this comment from Marie Reed:

"Well my name is Marie and my birthday is on Christmas.. does this mean you're throwing ME a party? lol!"

Who am I to fight kismet? Please to enjoy:


Thank you so much to Gypsy Fox for making this amazing button for my party!
Now don't freak out of you aren't sure what a blog party is or what the what I'm talking about, I'll be back this weekend at some point with a full on party post including a smaller version of the fabulous button above!

Until then, have a great (4th of July holiday) weekend!