Doggy Delights...

Angus has changed so much since we got him at 8 weeks old... not only is he a totally different colour, and size (of course!), we have watched his lovely little personality grown and change, too. He's beginning to be a grumpy teenager on occasion these days and loves to challenge us on every little thing if he wakes up on the wrong side of bed... but you can never stay cross at him for long (if even for seconds) - he is just too cute, and, pretty much an angel for us overall...always quick with a kiss and some snuggles.

He will be ONE in October... so, when my mum sent me the link today to The Stylish Dog Company - I pretty much knew exactly where I will be going to get him some pressies... here are some of the things that caught my eye!

I love the hand-thrown ceramics (the tapered bowl for pooches with long ears is genius!), he will certainly need a nice woolly jumper if we have another winter as cold as last, perhaps even a new bed to snuggle in to (though we might make him an a*r one, as he loves our fabric so much!), and possibly a new life-long lead, too?

So much choice! One of the best online pup shops I have come across! Check them out and pamper your pup today... :)

Abigail @ abigail*ryan

All images courtesy of The Stylish Dog Company...

This Works...

...and it smells scrumptious too!

The Black Spice and Cedar candle from 'This Works' is a new favourite for us - the sweet orange, cinnamon, clove and cedarwood making the house smell warm and welcoming... perfect for Autumn.

'This Works' was launched by Kathy Phillips' who worked as Health and Beauty editor at Vogue for seven years... so, if she says it works, it really does!

The smell from the parsnips I am roasting right now for soup compliment it perfectly ;)

(FYI - we found ours for a bargain in TK Maxx, so if you live near one, check to see if they have any more 'This Works' candles you could try! I like it so much I would definitely buy it full price too!)

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Colour-me Good...

It is my birthday tomorrow, and so, we celebrated it at the weekend so everyone could be there (now I am an ex-pat you see)...and I got a head start on my AW2010 wardrobe when I was treated to the super soft and slouchy bobble hat you see above (from NewLook) and the gorgeous Nude/Blush/Mink Mimco Handbag too! Mmm... me likey!

Frankly, I think both need to be flanked by these gorgeous new season nail colours from NailsInc (at Asos) otherwise I would look horribly ungroomed and it would all be in vain... am I right ladies? ;)

Guess which direction my birthday spends might be going??

Abigail@abigail*ryan

p.s. watch out for a very special birthday sale happening tomorrow ONLY! I'm turning 27, so that's a big clue to the discount we will be offering to all you lovelies!

Leafy Loveliness...

Browsing the archives of Ryan's new favourite blog, "Design Fetish" I saw these gorgeously whimsical cable ties by design firm "Lufdesign".

Adding a touch of humour, and the most subtly gorgeous suggestion of nature taking over that most modern of things- the spaghetti tangle of wires that threatens to overwhelm our computer desks and TV cabinets- each cable tie neatens the tangle whilst turning it in to something beautiful...a twisting winding branch.

Gosh, I really couldn't love them more!

Abigail@abigail*ryan

p.s. Don't forget to enter our Giveaway to win a set of lovely a*r teatowels!

A whale of a time...

I found the illustration work of Ryan Fowler through his etsy shop, Native Vermont. A Master of Fine Art from the Rhode Island School of Design, he now lives and works with his ceramicist wife in Chicago.

I am totally enraptured with his work, and especially love his collage pieces - scans of his original paintings, pieced onto lovely chunky canvases and hand finished with painted backgrounds and detail... I love the idea of getting something individual, touched by hand (not just a print) but at an affordable price.

His work calls to mind both Charlie Harper, and Eric Carle whose work I also adore, and I am totally taken with both images above...

I think the whale is just beautiful, it's quiet eeriness and knowing look. The two crows, in the forest, sharing the heart made of leaves completely has me - it may be because I have just moved in with my love, but I can't help but think what a perfect home-warming or engagement gift it would make... I know I for one am itching to purchase one for us!!

Please do be sure to stop by Ryan's wonderful store where I am sure you will all find some beautiful work of art to fall in love with...

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Hidden Gem...

I found the amazing work of Carly Waito via Dear Ada and was instantly enamoured of it...

As a jeweller, I think I am just drawn to the beauty of natural stones and I know Ryan is a total sucker for them, too. We have just spent the last hour looking at fabulous gemstones to set into cocktail rings - so Carly's beautiful paintings seem like an appropriate thing to share today!

...view her whole set of beautiful paintings here, and follow her blog here!

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Haberdashery Delights!!

When I stumbled across these amazing linen threads and thread cards from Sajou Haberdashery, it was love at first sigh(t)!

The vibrant, vintage feel of the packaging takes me back to being a child when I would rummage through my grandmother's and mother's sewing boxes, finding goodies from a bygone era when things were made in card and metal, not plastic, and when advertising type was as high quality as the product is was emblazoned on!

The linen thread above has me itching to make a purchase, but the thread winding cards below have my heart beating a little too fast to be healthy... yes, I want to wind some thread, but DAMN, those would look good in a frame!! SOOO pretty... I am, certainly, in love.

Find all of these Sajou goodies, and more, for sale at Selvedge Drygoods...

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Oh sweet Lord..!

As confirmation that he probably knows me too well, Ryan emailed me through a link today, thinking I would enjoy it, and to be sure, it combined two of my great loves - stationary and Macarons, and in the most charming of packages, too!

Legendary French confectioners Ladurée have teamed up with uber-fashionable Japanese stationers Mark's and are selling a range of Laduree stationary {think pretty masking tape the same colour as Laduree gift boxes, notebooks adorned with the cutest French pooches and kitsch-tastic Keyrings in the form of faux fancies!} through cult Paris boutique, Collette.

Now, I think I have to go and lie down in a darkened room...sweet dreams are made of this! ;)

Bon Soir!

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Getting Started Gift..!

Whilst browsing the Jme website today (Jamie Oliver's online selection of goodies!) I spotted these fantastic Garden kit gift vouchers! Not only are the vouchers gorgeous - I love the drawings and colours - but they seem to be a fantastic deal that any budding gardener would love to receive!

Upon gifting (or buying) one of these vouchers, and redeeming it, a box stuffed full of all organic vegetable plants or herbs is delivered to your door! I am currently eying up the Large Vegetable garden voucher as the list of plants would surely see you fed through most of the year... and all for 55 pounds!? What a deal! ;)

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Abigail J'adores...

I am completely enamoured of the idea to have a couple of chickens {Ryan is keen on getting a bee house too!} for our garden sometime soon... apparently, depending on the breed, the chickens can be fantastic pets - really warm and good natured, almost cuddle-loving ;)...

The products from Omlet UK are fantastic - chicken coups and houses which are urban, modern, practical, innovative AND attractive... only two decision to make now, and that's which colour to choose and what to name the chickens!? :)

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Abigail J'adores...

I saw these fantastic installations by Rebecca Ward on Joy's blog a week or so ago and have been thinking about them ever since.

Perhaps it's because I have been so enamoured of my new japanese colourful tape? ;) hmmm...

Their construction is beautiful. I love the use of a humble every-day product {electrical tape} to make such bold statements of form and colour...

See more of Rebecca's work right HERE! :)

abigail@abigail*ryan

All wrapped up! Abigail J'adores...

...amazing example of traditional 'furoshiki' in a fabric folding store in Kyoto.

Makes us want to use our own abigail*ryan fabric to put goodies in and wrap and fold our own carry bags!!

*wow*

abigail@abigail*ryan

Abigail J'adores...

Goodness me, I love all the goodness is the Lemon Tree shop... so much so, I think I could easily have one of everything! ;)

I am especially in love with the Japanese masking tape {swoon!}, and these fantastic stamps.

Browse all the lovely things right here!

abigail@abigail*ryan

Abigail (and Ryan) J'adores...

Mmm... you know, if we had more spare time on our hands than we knew what to do with, I can't actually think of anything that might be more fun to do than to buy this amazing Japanese Craft book {How to Make Cute Sweets} and sit and make miniature fancies all day long...

Seriously, how stunningly gorgeous are these?! Kawaii or what!? ;)

{via 8Tokyo}

abigail&ryan@abigail*ryan

J'adore...

I've posted the link to this video on my own blog before, but it's far too gorgeous not to share again... Lisa Hannigan has such a lovely tone to her voice, I could listen to it forevermore...

Mmm... makes me want to have a big paper cutting session!!

Enjoy! xo

abigail@abigail*ryan

J'adore...

Somehow, SOMEHOW, I have only just discovered these fabulous little mushrooms, hand crafted from DAS clay and painted to stunningly realistic and divinely bright effect by the hugely talented Kris {of Kris's Colour Stripes}!

I fear my life has been somewhat emptier all these years, all because I have not known about these little beauties. It certainly feels a little more buoyed now!!

You can buy yours here.

You can buy one for me too, if you like...

{pretty please?} ;)

abigail@abigail*ryan

J'adore...

This project, 500 pencils - makes my heart beat fast.

Not only would it be the most lovely of treats to receive these pencils through the mail each month, but the notion that you can show them off as the work of art they are at the end of the 20 months, is almost too much to bear...

Don't they look just delicious displayed like this!?

Yum.

Found via the lovely Lisa Solomon. :)

abigail@abigail*ryan

J'adore...

My 'J'adore' column will be where I get to swoon with gay abandon over the things I am crushing on hard, these crushes might be fleeting, or long-standing...but they will all have whispered sweet nothings to me!

Think paintings, clothes, interiors, the perfect teacup, songs to while your day away by...and everything in between...

I hope you will J'adore them as much as me ;)

Today, Elizabeth Schuppe. Be still my beating heart.

*le sigh*
xo

abigail@abigail*ryan