All image sources linked below

We’re already seven days into September! This entire year has almost seemed like a blur, hasn’t it? I’m not sure what our weekend plans are, but I hope they entail a little bit of rest and relaxation for me. Perhaps a little crafting or reading under a tree.

Any of you have any exciting weekend plans?

Check out these links I’m currently loving:

• A beautiful autumn leaves photo by Shannon Pix. I wish autumn would arrive sooner in my neck of the woods, but we usually don’t see leaves turning colors until October and November.
• Beyond adorable baby bonnet (I want one!) by Gail of Probably Actually.
• My parents recently constructed an A-Frame tent based on Rubyellen’s (of Cakies) tutorial on A Beautiful Mess, and here’s another featuring one with lovely lace fabric. (link via baby space)
• A darling sneak peek at Whitney Deal’s nursery. Get a load of that wallpaper!

Highlights from our blog this week

• Decorate your home with these amazing fall-themed DIYs shared by our contributor Clemence Herbillon of Oh The Lovely Things.
• Our dear friend Bonnie Forkner launched a cool project called Roost Tribe! She’s packaging together graphics, recipes, gift guides and more for as little as $5 a month.
• A great weekend read: heartwarming interview with Rebecca Long of The Rubbish Revival.
• Feast your eyes on gorgeous jewelry by Vintage Rose.

All image sources linked below

September is just a day away and honestly, where does the time go? We’ve been having random rain and thunderstorms the past couple of weeks, how has the weather been in your stomping grounds?

Here’s wishing all of you a happy weekend, and here are a few links to peruse while you’re enjoying the labor day weekend:

• Take a tutorial from Claire of Fellow Fellow and create a metal flower brooch.
• Beautiful packaging by Joy Cho and Emma Block for Hand in Hand, a company that donates one bar of soap for every bar purchased.
• Some of the most alluring and intricate invitations by St. Gertrude featured on Design Work Life.
• One of our sponsors, The Ink Nest, is having an amazing giveaway on their blog: enter to win a $150 gift certificate to their shop.

Highlights from our blog this week

• Photos of the dessert table from my daughter’s ocean-themed birthday party (all DIY and only $30)
• Whimsical new paper goods from Quill & Fox
• We shed some light on lovely papercut lamps by Hannah Nunn
• A handful of decorative and fun butterfly DIYs

Fracking letterpress cards by Smock

Happy Friday! I’m neck-deep in last-minute birthday party decoration-making (read: mess-making) and dessert-making (read: mess-making and dessert-tasting) for my oldest daughter who turned four this past Wednesday. We’re celebrating her birthday tomorrow and the theme for her party is …

… stay tuned next week for the reveal!

In the interim, head over to one of my favorite eco-friendly letterpress shops Smock and do some shopping for a good cause. Now through Sunday, Smock is offering an additional 25% off of sale items when you purchase a box of cards from their line of Change the World cards. There are two styles of cards in the Change the World set and 100% of the profits from the sales go directly to these crucial environmental causes:

1. The fracking cards (pictured above) are also packaged with a temporary tattoo and “helps Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project change the gas and oil industry in order to protect the environment and our drinking water”.

2. The sunflower letterpress cards (pictured below) include a bee-friendly organic sunflower seeds and helps “the Pesticide Action Network North America to address Colony Collapse Disorder and helps save the honey bees“.

Other highlights from around the internets:

• Place: Guatemala looks breathtaking through the eyes of Mackenzie Jean.
• Person: Beautiful artwork by Sarah Burwash via That’s Happy.
• Thing: All sorts of in love with the butterfly chandelier/mobile in this “petite story” by Joy Cho.

Photo by Pati Mo

Happy Friday, everyone! I’m stoked to share photos from Pati Mo’s (of Pretty Talk) vacation in Portugal. She recently blogged about her trip, so if you’re planning a trip to Portugal, find out her great suggestions of things to eat, see, and visit — like the Algarve, which Pati says is “… very easy to get to … because there are many city buses that run to the beaches along the coast.”

Pati sent over additional jaw-droppingly beautiful photos to share with all of you wonderful Dearest Nature readers.

The water looks so refreshing and crystal clear!

Be sure to check out Pati’s blog post for more photos and a recap of her trip!

Other highlights from around the internets:

• Person: I’ve got a girl-crush and craft-crush on Ashley Pahl, who posts sweet things from her home and lovely DIYs. Homemade vanilla extract, anyone?
• Thing: Adoring the new (and Texan-themed) issue of RUE!
• Place: Haverdal, Sweden — which translates to the Ocean Valley — looks so peaceful. (via Fine Little Day)

Birthday jewelry by Esther Yaloz

Colore me in love with the work of New York-dwelling artist and textile designer Esther Yaloz, whose birthday flowers made from satin fabric, metallic glass beads, and copper/silver chain are a thing of beauty. To me, they’re slightly reminiscent of creatures found in the deepest parts of the ocean, the ones that radiate the most brilliant of light and are as thin as strands of hair.

Esther wrote to me saying that “The the inspiration for the jewelry came from my love for wildflowers and wanting to preserve a moment\memory, so by collecting leaves and flowers that only grow and bloom in the spring and then ‘capturing’ them onto fabric they become timeless pieces. I really like the idea of elevating a wildflower into a piece of art.”

Be sure to check out Esther’s other artwork on her portfolio and her new shop on Etsy, where she might be selling some of her remarkable textile jewelry.

Other highlights around the internets

• Thing: Summer florals from Fryd Design
• Place: Bedroom makeover on a $0 Budget from I Still Love You
• Person: Adoring the work of artist Emma Nishimura featured on isavirtue