I hope you dear reader had a warm and safe holiday. Love, Britt

Hands by Karolin Schnoor.

Remembering Summer

Even though I can't complain about our December. It's a no-socks-required most days December in Seattle. Happy Monday y'all.

Charting Days

Buying a calendar, or two, every December is one of my favorite things about this month. With the explosion of Etsy fully upon us, the number of creative handmade calendars can be happily overwhelming. Above are just a few of my favorites. I took a stab at this project myself which you can see here. I encourage buying of any and all handmade calendars, but if you're partial to mine, you can use the code '2012Calendar' to get free shipping on my calendar and anything else that strikes you in my shop. Have a happy weekend~

Above: marukiku, lepapierstudio, debbiecarlos, and KisforCalligraphy.

SHOP

Please take a look

Animating a whale

Some moments from a fun day this summer. Whale animated by my good friend Tess and a host of helpers.

urban adventure

sabbatical

I'm having a hard time keeping my life in order these days. I left my job of which I was very tired for a new exciting job (and two other smaller jobs, one new - one old,  on the side). In this time of no jobs, believe me when I say, no pun intended that I am jazzed about this new project, and grateful.

But I'm taking a closer look at my priorities lately and at the top of the list are: stay employed (I didn't say this wasn't going to be obvious!) and my friends and family. Couple this with the fact that I'm just not that inspired to create lately and well, what I'm trying to say is that I think this blog and I are going to take a sabbatical. To the end of the calendar year to be precise. And then I may have a new blog scheme cooked up. Or not. But I'm leaving any and all possibilities open. Maybe a group blog. Is that even a thing? Anyone interested in a design-y group blog? Hmmmm. Alright now I'm just thinking out loud.

So I will say thanks muchisimo for your presence in my life. It means a lot to me. If you're on my email list I'll send one out in the new year with the new Raccoon Rain (or whatever this little space becomes). I will be leaving my shop on Etsy open in case a bolt of energy strikes me but in general anything of note I'll put in an email straight to your mailbox.

Love,
Britt

and it comes to a slow end

Enjoying the last lazy bits of summer. And really the only such time I've had this season. But that makes it sweeter.

the space between

I'm totally borrowing an announcement I found on Lena's blog (which you should read if you're into design and pattern, she's just tremendous). These are two new prints from Claire Nereim's Etsy shop. I don't know about you but summer fruit, mainly nectarines, are on my mind. I bought 5 on Sunday and I ate them all, with only a little help, in 24 hours. Too good.

Up and Running...

...as in getting our new place...outfitted? Is that the right word? Decorated. Arranged. Set up.

When I move into a new home I become manic about making all the mess go away and buying all the right stuff right now! It's a disease that makes me hard to be around I'm afraid. (This feeling might also have something to do with leaving one job and starting two new ones at the same time as moving). As Michael so aptly and kind of jokingly put it, " this coming together is driving us apart". This is our first attempt at living together, just us. Tonight we tackle the last of the boxes, clink a couple beers together and settle into some left over ice cream and a new summer peach. Things are feeling normal again. HOORAY.

Just the thing

For the space between cupboards and above the sink.

From Copenhagen With Love by Inaluxe

ch-ch-ch-changes

Whew. Nothing like a 12 hour moving day to put the 90-minute hot yoga class in perspective.

I'm soooo tired, and I'd wager Michael is too, but we're happy. As so often happens in the Urban Housing Olympics I saw our future apartment for a grand total of 3 minutes at the viewing along with six other people. Michael never saw it and just took my word that it was THE place for us. So it was a happy surprise today to realize it's bigger and has about three more closets than I remembered. Never mind the cracked sink and wonky cabinet doors, this is love.

Now comes the putting-it-altogether part. Tell me if you too relish the process of decorating a new space while at the same time wishing it was all done yesterday.

Will post pictures soon. At least the "before" pictures...the "after" might take awhile.

P.S. The pictures are from my parents garden/blueberry farm. We made a detour there on our way home from a wedding in Eastern Washington and after we'd been stuck in an hours long traffic jam. Turns out stand-still traffic will make you hanker for fruits and vegetables!

primary colors

Bracing for the big move this weekend. Hopeful and anticipating a cozy new home (new decorating project, yay!) I walked by the building yesterday and felt great from the good vibes. I'm a woo-woo Seattle-ite for sure.

Table runner pictured below by Skinny Laminx. (She has a wonderful Pinterest if you are in to such things!)

~~I hope everyone is loving their end of August~~

gardens thriving and fading

on Seattle streets