Moving is a lot of work.

My blogging is going to be sporadic over the next week since I've got an entire house to unpack. Plus my Mum (Grandma G to you all) and Pa are coming to visit today! They are hardy souls who don't mind chaos and like to roll up their sleeves to help. In the absence of posts, just create a mental picture of us cleaning and painting and shopping and fixing in the new house. Back soon!

Origami tomato-shaped box instructions

Learn how to make these cute fruit-shaped origami boxes! Carlos Bocanegra designed them and Leyla Torres demonstrates how to fold them. Create a tomato or persimmon by following the video at Origami Spirit.

DIY idea: stenciled wallpaper

I'm supposed to be unpacking the kitchen, and instead I'm Googling wall stencils. Not the kind where you paint a border of grapes around the ceiling— the all-over kind that looks like wallpaper. Has anyone tried this? Paint is way cheaper than wallpaper, and when you want to change it, just paint over it instead of having to peel off paper. I'm seriously thinking about doing this. Above is a sampling of designs from Cutting Edge Stencils. See a how-to video here. I wonder if it's tough to get really crisp edges and not make a mess?

Free faceted font: Adamas

Adamas is an interesting font created by Octavian Belintan. The geometric letterforms look like prisms or faceted rocks. Or something. It could be cool for words or titles. (Type in all caps to use it.) Download Adamas here, free for personal or commercial use.

Sweet (and free) embroidery patterns

These little embroidery projects are adorable. Picture it: you're sitting on your porch stitching away, saying hey to the neighbors who wander by. No, wait. It's hot outside. You're in an air-conditioned coffee shop stitching away, chatting with a friend. And everyone who sees you is charmed by your old-fashioned handiwork.

Find free tutorials and patterns here:
Mini cross-stitch designs from Oliver + S (hearts, owls, fruit, and more)
Feather-inspired alphabet at Feeling Stitchy
Hexagon pattern at the Ladyface Blog
Little fox embroidery pattern at The Good Weekly

My mug in a magazine

A new issue of CS Interiors is out, and I'm very honored to have my wallpaper design for Chasing Paper featured. See the digital edition, page 43. There I am, perched on a really cool chair and photographed by Krystina Archer. (Go see her conceptual portraits; her work is gorgeous.)

I take secret delight in knowing that the shirt I'm wearing in this Modern Luxury publication cost me $15 from JCPenney. And for anyone curious, I am not sure who Charlie Hopper is, mentioned in the article as an inspiration for my work. Perhaps a distant relative of Charley Harper, an illustrator I admire. Details, schmetails. I'm just thrilled to be in the magazine. Thank you to CS Interiors!

Quiz: find your design style

I already know what decorating styles I like, but I find quizzes irresistible. I love making a selection from a handful of choices. I don't even care what the quiz result is; all the pleasure is in choosing my favorite thing from a bunch of options. (I also love making other people choose their favorite things from a bunch of options, building a profile in my mind, and then seeing if I can guess what they'll pick next. It's a fun game in furniture stores; try it sometime.) Anyhow, if you share my irrational delight in image selection, you might like the Find Your Style quiz at Sauder.

Free printable hot air balloon card

This cute, printable notecard is available from Caravan Shoppe at no charge. Seems like it would have lots of common uses: birthday, new baby, bon voyage, congrats on obtaining your hot air balloon pilot's license, etc. Download it here.