briones+co.

new blog

2010-07-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

i now have a new blog over at http://smbriones.wordpress.com/. come say hello! i wont be updating here anymore, so if you'd like to be updated on new posts, go over and subscribe to my wordpress blog. have a great week!

after the storm

2010-06-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

last night's storm left behind some of the coolest clouds i've ever seen. that, and i wanted to test out this new blogger template.

latest sewing projects

2010-06-02T19:20:00.001-07:00

my sailing dress based on: http://tinyurl.com/2euu4eq

black cotton pencil skirt

drawstring mini made from vintage mccall's pattern #9658

see all of my sewing projects here: my burdastyle studio.

free sewing patterns: burdastyle

2010-05-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

lately i've been obsessed with burdastyle and the free patterns available there. here are a few to reel you in...

marie #9177 by burdastyle. pattern + instructions.

obi apron by prudencerabbit. pattern + instructions.

the kasia skirt by burdastyle. pattern + instructions.

i had one more photo/pattern link to post, but for some reason blogger wouldn't let me add another photo, but you can take a look at all the available free patterns at http://www.burdastyle.com. I love to look at the "finished projects" and see all the different variations and fabrics that people use. it's very inspiring.

another place that's been a huge inspiration for me lately is the craftster.org forums. I love to look through the reconstruction posts. it's amazing what people are making from, well.. everything! old clothes, curtains, tea towels/napkins, pillowcases, sheets.. it's just too awesome. i recommend taking a look through those posts before getting rid of the stuff you don't like, doesn't fit you, out of style, and will never wear. you might find a ton of things you can do with the things you already have, so that you have something new and amazing to wear. good luck!

SALE at briones+co.

2010-05-18T14:31:00.001-07:00

SALE NOW THROUGH SATURDAY, MAY 22ND.

brionesandco.etsy.com

weekend projects

2010-05-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

after spending most of our weekend relaxing in this awesome hotel and doing some shopping, we came home and started working on the projects we've been wanting to tackle for a while now. we finally bought the things we needed to pretty up our tv area, some herbs for our empty pots and chairs for the patio.

here's the tv before. cords everywhere:

and after. much better:

patio before:

patio after:

we now have cilantro, cherry tomato, thyme, parsley, lavender, and mint.

both chairs and pots are from ikea.

etsy favorites

2010-05-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

some of my current etsy favorites.

a new dress

2010-05-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

here is my first handmade dress! it's made from some of the fabric i ordered and posted about last week. it's not perfect, but i like it. i learned so much making it and can't wait to get started on my next one.

i downloaded this free pattern from burdastyle -- a really great sewing community website with lots of free patterns and projects. the one i chose was the "coffee date dress".

links:

my burdastyle submission

http://www.burdastyle.com/

coffee date dress pattern || instructions

coffee date dress multi-size || instructions

fabric dot com.

2010-05-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

my new favorite place to spend money.

i recently purchased some great vintage patterns on ebay and etsy and set out trying to find some fabrics i like to make some dresses and stuff out of. i am very picky, but i also haven't sewn much in the way of clothing, so it wasn't easy to pick something. i wasn't sure exactly how things would feel, so i stuck mostly with the basics, what i know.

(my selections, but bottom left should actually be dark gray.)

i ended up with cotton, linen, jersey, and seersucker and then some interfacing and lining and i love every bit of what i received from fabric.com. just thought i'd let you know that in case you weren't sure if you should give them a try. i got free shipping and found a 20% off coupon code. so, i'm happy.

can't wait to make something i can wear. hopefully it wont be something i get lazy about. i know i love buying the fabric, let's hope i know how to use it. i'll keep you posted. :)

oh, my.. mini scrap packs!

2010-04-20T19:44:00.001-07:00

i was actually going to list these tomorrow, but i just couldn't wait. i had so much fun putting together the scrap packs a couple of days ago, that i wanted to make more! though this time, i wanted to make some smaller ones. i think these are great. you can do so much with them and i love mixed patterns and textures. i only have six of these right now, so if there's one you like, beware! there's only one of each. no two are the same. hope you enjoy them!

http://brionesandco.etsy.com

http://brionesandco.bigcartel.com

scrap packs!

2010-04-18T15:10:00.001-07:00

now available, color coordinated scrap packs for your art and crafts projects! get them while supplies last. i have 9 packs right now and no two are the same. see what's available in the etsy listing!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45052844/scrap-pack

http://brionesandco.etsy.com

http://brionesandco.bigcartel.com

new business cards

2010-04-08T11:40:00.001-07:00

my business cards came in yesterday from overnight prints in basically record time. i'm pretty happy with them, and i might just order another batch using different photos in the design.

weekly planning page - free PDF download!

2010-04-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

happy wednesday!

here is a weekly planning page that i designed to help keep myself on top of things. mostly because i have so many things i need to do right now that it's pretty much overwhelming unless i write it all down. so i thought i'd share it with you!

so, this is a simple form that has space for your daily to-do's, but also a place for you to keep track of which of your tv shows are on which night, (because that's extremely important!). if you watch as many as we do, it's really easy to accidently miss one.. like we did with lost a couple of weeks ago! :o plus, i think it's important to have a little fun after you've completed all of your tasks, relax and watch your favorite shows!

i also have a place to write down the things i need to order online, like supplies for my shops. sometimes it can be bad if i forget to order something because it usually takes a little longer than i hoped to receive things that i need ... yesterday. like business cards! i wish i had made this handy form long ago, but now i have a reliable place to jot down things i need to order instead of keeping them in my head until all that's left is, "i know there was something i needed..".

there's also a place for bills due that week. something that i could always use a reminder for.

i hope you enjoy this download. i know it's going to help keep me straight, and i hope you'll find it useful as well! I printed mine on white cardstock. now get to work! :)

download here.

http://brionesandco.bigcartel.com

have a great day!

sneak peek: new items at briones+co.

2010-04-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

happy easter, everyone!

tomorrow i open up shop again selling my freshly re-designed meal planners and other paper goods. i hope to provide you with simple and enjoyable products to keep yourself organized. here is a sneak peek of a few of the new items that will be available for purchase tomorrow!

what's new

2010-03-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for the lag between new posts. I've been busy creating new products for my shop! Yes, finally! I've got some new things in the works and can't wait to show you, but it will have to wait just a little bit longer. :)

We also just had a nice trip to Florida to visit family and go to the 75th Anniversary of the Strawberry Festival in Plant City. We had a great time despite getting sick.

Stay tuned!

2010-02-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

craigslist finds: mid-century modern

2010-01-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

I have been looking at craigslist a lot this week just to see what I could find. Specifically mid-century modern or Eames era chairs, desks and side tables. I would love to have a vintage Herman Miller shell chair in orange, gray, or white. So here are some nice things I've come across on craigslist lately.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/fuo/1558560389.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/atq/1553711441.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/fuo/1559829627.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/fuo/1564162612.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/fuo/1556139635.html

we're working on it.

2010-01-14T15:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I've only been in Chicago for 4 days, but I have to say, so far I love it. I love the location of our apartment. I really like our apartment and the building. So far everyone has been really nice. It already feels like home here. I can't wait for spring. If I can enjoy walking around our neighborhood in 20 degree weather, spring is going to be fantastic.

Here are a couple of shots taken in the apartment. Not too many so far. There are just boxes everywhere, so not much to see, but just to show what we've been up to.

Stay warm.

hello, chicago!

2009-11-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

image: http://www.gallagher.com/chicago_photos.htm

So, we're moving to Chicago! Ryan starts his new job at the end of this month, right after our SFO trip. We're not officially moving until sometime in January, but that's going to fly by of course with all of the traveling that we're doing. We can't wait to explore our new city! Sorry for the lack of blog posts lately. I'll try to do better!

san francisco

2009-09-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

hmm... so it's been a while. i guess i've been too busy reading. it's also been hot out, so not many pictures taken outside for me to share, it's like winter, but the opposite. you want to stay inside to keep out of the heat, and stay nice and cool in the expensive air conditioning. so, not much to tell here, yet.

we're going to be doing a good bit of traveling at the end of the year. spending a week in san francisco, well I'll be there for 4 days. ryan will be at a conference for a few days before i arrive. it'll be my first time flying alone, and i'm trying to imagine that it will go flawlessly. kids do it all the time, right? right? but i think it'll be a really awesome trip and our first real, by ourselves, with nothing to do but be tourists, trip since our honeymoon. we're considering renting an apartment for the days we're there. it's actually a better deal than a hotel room. then in december, we'll be visiting our families in florida for christmas. just for a few days, but it's better than not seeing them at all.

hope everyone is getting that wonderful feeling that fall is creeping up. i cannot wait.

fun find: vintage panda pens

2009-08-08T18:56:00.001-07:00

I'm really excited about these. I found them yesterday at a thrift store. They are vintage (60's) panda fountain pens, made in China. One of the best things about them was the fact that they're in their original packaging.

Each one is in it's own little plastic container. After researching, I found that you dip the pen in your ink, and squeeze the clear plastic sac until it fills with ink. Pretty awesome.

I'm so glad I found these. I will probably put them up for sale in my etsy supply shop soon, but I just couldn't wait to share. I've still got to decide how much to sell them for, since they're kind of valuable. I found one here with a starting bid of $15.00. Crazy! I think these could make some really unique gifts or favors.

our weekend

2009-08-02T20:24:00.001-07:00

we had a really fun weekend. more photos on our flickr page.

2009-07-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

free shipping in my etsy supply shop through saturday, august 1st! please enjoy!

nature in the morning

2009-07-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/

my heart

2009-07-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/3739824829/

I used to draw a lot more than I do now, but every once in a while something will pop into my head that I think needs to be put on paper.

Last night as I was struggling to go drift off, (because I couldn't turn off my brain, which is a regular occurrence) I was thinking about being young and care-free. I tried to calculate all of the things that had changed since those days, and it's just so much. It's hard to figure out how I got from having almost no worries, at least no big ones, to feeling like all these things were wrapped around my heart, strangling it. That may sound a little graphic, but I know you know that feeling. You're just sitting there thinking about all of these things you need to do, can't do, want to do, didn't do and it rushes in, one thing after the other, and suddenly you're overwhelmed. It happens to everyone.

Then I pictured this heart with this string wrapped around it with all these things written on it representing everything that overwhelms. Then these scissors are there, ready to cut that string away. For me, the scissors represent love. My husband is that pair of scissors to me. He knows how great I am at worrying and stressing over so many things, usually money, and he's always so calm and is able to ease my nerves and make my worried heart feel light again.

I apologize if this is one of those TMI type blog posts, but I just thought I'd share my heart, and this illustration with you.

( oh, and moms, don't worry, we're fine and we love you. :) )

b&co. supply

2009-07-13T12:58:00.001-07:00

i opened a new supply shop on etsy last night after taking over 350 photos on sunday. it really was so much fun! i'm happy to announce b&co. supply. come visit!

Blueberry Lemon Coffee Cake

2009-07-07T19:09:00.001-07:00

Batter Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup of flour and 1/8 cup of flour (divided)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

1 cup fresh blueberries

3 ounces cream cheese, cubed

1/2 tablespoon lemon zest

Topping Ingredients:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tablespoon cold butter

Directions for Topping:

In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in the 2 tablespoons of cold butter until crumbly. Set aside.

Directions for Batter:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter. Beat in the egg. Combine 1 cup flour, baking powder and salt and add to the egg mixture alternately with the 1/2 cup milk. In another bowl, toss the blueberries with the remaining 1/8 cup of flour. Stir the blueberries and cream cheese into the batter. (It wouldn't hurt to put the cream cheese in the freezer for a while before you begin. It makes it much easier to cut into cubes.) Transfer the thick batter into a greased 8" square baking dish. Spread evenly. Top evenly with the crumbly topping. Place in center rack in the 375 degree oven for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for as long as you can stand. It's best served warm.

rock garden

2009-07-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

my second set of hand-carved stamps. more.

stamp carving

2009-06-30T14:24:00.001-07:00

taking a crack at it. more at flickr.

dream homes: modern prefab

2009-06-29T08:34:00.001-07:00

LV Series by Rocio Romero

mkLotus by Michelle Kaufmann

MD280 by Modular Dwellings

weeHouse

modern-shed's "dwelling shed"

SpaceDog Studios at Gradview Hop

2009-06-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

We had a great time hanging out with Sarah and John at the Grandview Hop tonight. Sarah's table was lovely. Visit her etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=25190

notebooks in the shop

2009-06-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, but there are finally some mini notebooks in the shop! They're made using scrap blank white papers leftover from other projects and lovely patterned papers. You get 3 in each set and you can find them here: http://smbriones.etsy.com

Bedroom Progress

2009-06-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

for more: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/

painting the bedroom

2009-06-03T12:16:00.001-07:00

So we're finally getting to painting/decorating the bedroom. We have done nothing to it yet and it's about time that we did. I really wanted to paint the wall behind the bed green, but when I thought of how limited we would be with the bedding that we have, I decided to go with something more neutral. I knew it needed to be something soothing and comfortable, so these colors seemed to be a good choice...

I just ordered the duvet set above from Overstock.com and got free shipping by going here. I've been eyeing it for about a week now.

The paint colors are Glidden from Home Depot and I just picked up 2 sample sizes of them, ( $3 each ) before getting a whole gallon. The colors are Wild Truffle GLN44 and Cappuccino White GLC17. I put a little on the walls and so far, so good. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Kitsch Café Handmade

2009-05-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Vintage fabric covered notecards by Kitsch Café Handmade. Love these.

my first bundt cake.

2009-04-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

Today I made a bundt cake using this recipe from Smitten Kitchen.

putting on the syrup, orange juice/sugar.

chocolate ganache.

done!

2009-04-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Photos of the yard today:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/

the (finally) organized office

2009-03-31T18:23:00.003-07:00

visit my flickr page for more photos of my office:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/

2009-03-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

Just a few photos of the new things popping up in the yard.

Selling my Macbook Pro

2009-03-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

So I've finally decided to upgrade my laptop, as much as I LOVE my Macbook Pro, it's time to pass it on to someone new, who will love and take care of it for the rest of it's days.

I'm not sure about pricing, so please make an offer and I will think it over. If you want to send your offer privately, just DM me on Twitter, message me on Facebook, (if you know me), or email me at: smbriones at gmail.com. If I get a good offer, I will be able to send it, or pass it within 3-5 days, (or when my new Macbook arrives). We'll talk payment details in private. If you'd rather see lots of pictures, and aren't the reading type, here are lots more pictures on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/sets/72157615899237650/

( Be sure to read the descriptions below the photos for more info.)

Things that need work:

The power supply broke this afternoon, so you will need to purchase a power supply. ( $79 ) If you would rather I take care of getting the power supply and mail/give it to you all together, I can get one and add the price of the power supply to the price of the laptop. No problems. You can thank our Daisy for that!

The battery is ok, but may need to be changed for longer life. I mostly keep it plugged in because it only lasts about an hour - hour and a half unplugged. Maybe longer sometimes. This may be easily fixed by replacing the battery. (I'm not sure.)

The laptop does have Apple Care until September '09. I don't know if that works if your name isn't on the contract, but it's there, if you want to see if it's usable.

SPECS:

80g hard drive.

It will also have a fresh install of Leopard. And comes wrapped nicely in it's own original packaging! :)

I'm sure there are things I have left out, if you have any questions, you may leave them in the comments section below or email me if you prefer at smbriones at gmail.com. Thanks for looking!

studio inspiration board

2009-03-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to put up some cork tiles in my studio to use for my inspiration board, but I didn't want to just put them up and make one big square, I wanted to do something a little more interesting. So, I got the idea to cut the tiles into hexagons and make it look sort of like a honeycomb. After a lot of time trying to figure out how to get a 12" square into a the shape of a hexagon, I made a pattern and traced it onto all of my 8 - 12" tiles then cut them out using an x-acto knife. I thought it would be even more interesting to paint a couple of them. So, I painted one red, and one yellow-green. I arranged them all on the wall somewhat randomly. I think I like the results, and now I finally have a place to put all of my little scraps, notes, and business cards.

more photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/

Sunny Saturday

2009-03-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

It was sunny today, but cold this morning when we left to go to breakfast at Waffle House, a couple of farmer's markets in town, and North Market, (where we picked up fruits, veggies and beef). By lunch time, it had warmed up a little and was a bit more pleasant. We had lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, which is our new favorite place for, you guessed it, burgers and fries!

One more highlight of the day was when I decided that I REALLY liked the teapot and cups that I saw at Goodwill the previous night, (I had decided that I didn't need it and talked myself out of it. But when you think about something for the rest of the night and then the next morning are wondering if it's possible that it's still there, and hoping that no one likes it, I think that it's worth getting.) and so I decided to go see if it was sitting there waiting for me to take it home. It was. So I brought it home with me. So happy that I went back for it. So here it is, although the pictures don't do it justice, my tea set:

$12.99 at Goodwill. Made by Thomas in Germany. Unfortunately I cannot find much info on the company or find anything similar online.

is there a solution?

2009-03-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm addicted to Tazo's liquid concentrate chai latte mix. It tastes great, and you just mix it with equal parts milk, simple. I had been buying them at Starbucks, but for a few weeks now I have been buying the carton of concentrate to make them at home. Now that it's so easy to have one, I'm having at least 3 iced chai lattes a day. At least I'm getting my calcium... but I'm going through these cartons like crazy. The price isn't awful if you consider that I can make about 6 for the price of one of the same size at Starbucks, but at $3.99 each (Target, Whole Foods) it seems to me like there must be a cheaper way to enjoy a chai latte without too much work. The problem I see is coming up with something just as tasty after rounding up all of the spices. I don't want to waste $20+ on a bunch of spices and then not get the results that I want. I want a concentrate I can keep in the fridge and use just like the Tazo brand mix.

So if anyone has any thoughts, ideas, recommendations, have made some before, etc. please let me know! I would love to see your suggestions.

Here's what I'm considering:

Purpose Design's Small Chai Tea Kit, $16 on Etsy - make a concentrate?

Tazo Chai Tea bags, 20 bags per box - make it very concentrated and mix with milk?

Keep buying the Tazo chai mix - maybe it's the best I can do?

the greenhouse: week 2

2009-03-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Last week I showed you a couple of photos of the greenhouse that I started, I took a few more photos to show you what it looks like this week. I'm happy to report that we have sprouts! It's so exciting to see a plant grow. I can't wait until they're big enough, (and it's warm enough) to plant them! Hope you're having a beautiful day where you are.

a few thrift store finds

2009-03-18T12:50:00.001-07:00

A small vintage blue and black enamel dish. $3.99

Straw nesting baskets with lids, I got 2 sets of 5 of these, $0.99 each ( I had no idea there were 5 in each set! It was a huge bonus when I got them home and opened them. )

I found these 2 vintage school books, $2.99 each. I was lucky enough to even find a note in each one.
The New Chardenal Complete French Course by Grosjean

Inside of the French book, there was the above sick note.

A stamp on the inside cover where the date of purchase was filled in: September 17th, 1935.

Inside cover of the American Government book from 1940.

Inside the AG book there was an old quiz folded up, and on the backside, some notes from class were taken.

The quiz (above) looks like a carbon copy from a typewriter.

I love really old books and we've started sort of a collection of them. I love to find books with a history. If I open a book with a really nice note from someone or some notes written by the reader, it just makes me smile.

my wall stripes

2009-03-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while painting the stairway with a color that I mixed from leftover paints, I decided to paint some stripes on the wall at the landing using some painters tape, sponge brushes and some more leftover paints. You can see some more photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/

yard work

2009-03-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today it was so nice out and a perfect day to work in the yard. I was able to pick up tree branches and start raking in the back yard. I took several pictures of the plants that are emerging from the ground. I just love seeing that bright green bursting through the old dry leaves. But I also got a few clippings from some of the budding trees to bring a little of the fresh outdoors in. I put them in the blue-green glass mason jar that I found today at the thrift store. I purchased a few more items as well and maybe I'll take some photos of them for show and tell tomorrow. Visit my Flickr page for more photos I took out in the yard today: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brionesphotos/

Greenhouse Kit

2009-03-12T15:57:00.001-07:00

I picked up this greenhouse kit by Burpee today at the Home Depot along with some seeds in order to get a head start on gardening in a couple of months, these all range from 5 to 10 weeks time for transplanting. I can't wait as this is our first time EVER having a yard to take care of. We've wanted an herb garden for so long. I even bought our first rake today. So, I'm going to try to keep a photo log of the greenhouse so that you and I can see the transformation happen.

In this greenhouse I've planted things that will take approximately the same amount of time to sprout. The backs of the seed packets will tell you whether or not to put the seeds directly in the ground, or if you should start indoors. I chose seeds that should all be started indoors, and that (cross my fingers) should be ready right around the time that our risk for frost is over, in May.

I think I spent about $6.50 in seeds and $7.99 for the greenhouse which comes with soil pellets. So fun to watch the soil grow when you pour water on them. If you have kids, you have to do this with them. I was greatly amused, myself.

So here's what I planted today: Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary, Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' (black-eyed susans), Shasta Daisies, and Cherry Tomatoes. I'll let you know how it goes!

michele maule print

2009-03-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited because my print from Michele Maule just arrived! Can't wait to frame it and display it on the wall. It's so bright and cheery.

Wondering if I should frame the packaging too? It's so cute! :)

home organizing

2009-03-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

the organized dressing room. flickr for more photos.

thrift store finds:

2009-03-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

I love going to a thrift store when they have so much stuff that you have to dig through piles on the shelves. That seems to be when I find the most interesting and lovely things. Here are my finds from today and the prices I paid for everything, because that's important to me, so it may be important to some of you reading this.

magazine rack - $2.99

nut bowl set - $1.00 & fireplace tool set in background - $5.99

glass pasta jar - $2.99

vintage ice bucket - $4.99

wood wall clock - $4.99

DIY Window Film

2009-03-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

Window Before.

Window After.

I was so inspired by a post I saw on Design*Sponge yesterday that I just had to do it immediately. So today I went out and bought a roll of clear contact paper and a white paint pen and got home as soon as possible to start working on this project. I had the perfect window to try this out on. A kitchen window with an old plastic shade on it from the previous tenants. The old shade kept out all of the beautiful light that the kitchen could really use, so I knew this would be a great solution. Here are a few photos of what I did with the contact paper ($5 at target) and white paint pen ($4 at michaels). The best part is, I have a whole roll of contact paper to play with now. If I get tired of my design, I pull it off and put up a new one! Thanks so much, Kate for this great project!

Full DIY Window Film project here.

Oh, and just in case anyone was curious, those splotches on the window are on the outside of the window, not on the contact paper. The contact paper looks very crisp an clean itself.

a collection of free downloads:

2009-03-03T09:26:00.001-08:00

Need some free art, stationary, labels and note paper to brighten your day? Check out these bloggers, artists, and talented ladies offering some beautiful free things for your use, no catch, they're just that nice! All you need is a printer and some paper. Now have some fun!

Creature Comforts: blog and Ez's Etsy shop

There are several free downloads that Ez from Creature Comforts has put together for your pleasure; stationary, labels, cards, projects and more. Everything is soft and lovely just like the look and feel of her stylish, artistic and creative blog. Visit the Wren & Chickadee shop also for beautiful photography by Ez and her daughter.

A print a day: shop and blog

I just discovered this super talented artist's blog yesterday, then found her adorable shop and the generous amount of free downloads available on her blog. Including printable list pads, notepads, daily menu, labels and so many other pretty things by Yasmine.

feed your soul: the free art project from Indie Fixx.

Currently there are 5 prints on the website for you to download and print, and more will be added soon. On the "Schedule" page, you will find a list of artists that will have a free downloadable print up on feed your soul soon. I love this project by Indie Fixx and the cause behind it. I also love that one of my favorite artists on Etsy, Michele Maule has a free downloadable print up already.

affordable art prints

2009-02-28T16:55:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorite prints on Etsy and they're all $30 or less each. Please check out all of these talented artist's websites/blogs, (links below).

Blanca Gómez on Etsy.

http://cosasminimas.com

Ashley G on Etsy.

http://www.kittygenius.com

Michele Maule on Etsy.

http://www.how2drawacupofcoffee.blogspot.com

thrift store find: glass jars

2009-02-27T18:38:00.001-08:00

I ever so luckily found these three glass jars/canisters today at my local goodwill and I love them. I think I'll end up using them in the kitchen for storage, but there are so many uses for them. Two of them are from a matching set, and the 3rd "3 Liter" one is made by another company, and I don't think I've ever seen anything like it, but I'm sure they're out there. So, I'm pretty excited about them. Now I'm going to go back to watching CSI with my husband. Good night and have a great weekend!

Geninne's Breathtaking Art

2009-02-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

I would LOVE to have every one of Geninne's beautiful art prints, but I would settle for some of my favorites. Not only is her work like being in a fairy tale, the colors so vivid, and each print capable of putting a smile on your face, but her blog is also SO inspiring. Reading her blog and seeing photos of pieces of her home, is a work of art itself. You can get ahold of her prints in her Etsy shop. Every print is just $25. Beautiful, affordable art.

All photos by Geninne.

my ikea style

2009-02-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Scandinavian Classic.

Found this fun quiz over at how about orange.

Inspiration

2009-01-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

my succulents from ikea. I love the colors and softness of these.

pile of paint chips. oh, the options.

gorgeous orange kitchen. makes me feel like cooking.

house tour: meghan and shawn's spacious and vibrant flat, apartment therapy. I love the bright white and bursts of bright color that you can see into the next room. The orange ceiling makes such an impact against the bright white walls.

cole and son birch wallpaper, via apartment therapy.

from Real Living magazine, via decor8.

feature: the kitchn (apartment therapy)

2009-01-15T13:12:00.000-08:00

It was such an honor to be featured on the kitchn today! Especially since I read Apartment Therapy daily. Thanks so much to the managing editor, Faith for the great article. I really appreciate it! Visit the kitchn. There is always something interesting to be seen there.

2009-01-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

Moving Sale through Friday. 25% off all items left in the shop. Discount already applied. Visit my shop for more info. Briones & Co. at Etsy.

new toy: bamboo fun

2009-01-02T12:51:00.001-08:00

Today the FedEx man brought me my new Bamboo Fun Wacom pad! I tried it out for a while, went through the tutorials and all thinking it would be slightly difficult to use since I haven't touched one in about 8 years. It really works well! I'm impressed by how smooth the lines are. I picked the Bamboo Fun specifically for the writing and drawing capabilities, and I'm pretty sure that it will not let me down. Now to get in the habit of using it..

I did this drawing of Daisy in Photoshop.. it's not great, but it shows how smooth it can be with pretty much no practice. It's almost like a real pencil or pen.

this is the annoyed Daisy.

baking: butter cookies

2008-12-29T20:13:00.000-08:00

mix together:

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (12 1/2 ounces)

3/4 cup superfine sugar (5 1/2 ounces)

1/4 teaspoon table salt

next add in:

16 tablespoons unsalted butter , ( 2 sticks) cut into sixteen 1/2-inch pieces, at cool room temperature (about 65 degrees), add 1 piece at a time.

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons cream cheese , at room temperature

when the dough has become one big chunk, remove from mixing bowl and split in two even pieces. roll into 2 logs, refrigerate until hardened. slice into thin round cookies, lay out on cookie sheet on some parchment paper, 1-2 inches apart. brush with egg white and sprinkle with turbinado sugar or "sugar in the raw".

place in 375 degree oven for 5 minutes, rotate cookie sheet, bake for 5 more minutes or until golden brown around edges for softer cookies, golden brown all over for crunchy cookies. let sit for 30 seconds, then remove and place cookies on a cooling rack. allow to reach room temperature, (if you can). :)

our first moss terrarium

2008-12-22T20:42:00.000-08:00

I have been itching to make a moss terrarium ever since I found the perfect jar for one. I just wasn't sure where I was going to get moss from. As a surprise Christmas present, Ryan brought me home some moss today! I still needed some rocks, so we went out an picked up some rocks and some activated carbon (to help keep it clean). We only needed a tiny bit of soil for the terrarium so we "borrowed" some from one of our plants. The moss comes dormant, dried out, so we layered it all and then moistened the moss by spraying it with a little water. We had so much fun making this one together that we can't wait to make another. We just want to see how this one turns out first. Here's what we came up with! Now we're looking for the perfect animal, gnome, or mushrooms to live in our comfy terrarium. :)

2008-12-12T11:23:00.000-08:00

So excited to see that my mini meal planner is in part 3 of the Heart Handmade Holiday issue gift guide. See it here: http://issuu.com/hearthandmade/docs/hh_holiday_part3/10

Oh, and you should download the whole zine. There's tons of amazing things in it, including recipes!

http://www.hearthandmadeblog.com/

2008-12-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

Super cute Etsy video. ( Found on http://etsytips.com/ )

300 sales!

2008-12-08T16:41:00.001-08:00

I'm really excited to have made it to 300 sales since opening up a shop on Etsy in February of this year. It has been so much fun. I still get excited when I hear the sound of Mailplane alerting me to a new email, until I see who it's from, I cross my fingers in hopes that it's an email from Etsy notifying me of a sale. It brings so much joy that people want to buy things I've created. I hope to be able to do this for a long time and hope that Etsy will continue to grow and Etsy sellers will be prosperous in selling their handmade goods. I have a lot to celebrate this year, so cheers to you and yours! Happy Holidays, all!

Holiday Shopping on Etsy

2008-11-28T12:14:00.000-08:00

So it's Black Friday and you're probably doing one of two things; not getting involved in the craziness and staying home, relaxing and shopping online (as I am) or you're out there finding some good deals in stores and braving the crazy crowds.

If it's the first of the two, allow me to point out what I think are some fantastic Etsy shops to do your holiday shopping in. These are shops that are having amazing black friday sales or ones I think are just awesome.

I will be adding to this list as the day goes on and as I find great deals on Etsy.

First on the list has to be Savor. This shop owner always has great deals on amazing bath and body products for women AND men that literally look good enough to eat. Today she's also having what she calls "Savor Saver" listings. You have to be super fast to snatch one of them up, but if you do, pat yourself on the back because what you get for the price is stunning. I just grabbed one a little while ago. A set of three shaving soaps in a gift bag for $6 and free shipping. Totally awesome.

Next, littlebrownpen. They offer great prices on quality designed printable PDF stationary sets, gift tags, calendars and more. One of the best deals on Etsy, I believe is their 3 for $10 listing which allows you to select any three printables for $10. Best of all, you can print as many of these as you wish and give them as gifts to friends and family and there's no shipping involved. Super cute.

Pretty and affordable jewelry from Candy's Art. She always has great prices and inexpensive shipping. I have purchased gifts from her shop a couple of times and she is always so sweet and helpful. There always seems to be something in her shop that I want.

Another shop with great affordable printable PDF gifts is A Little Hut. I love the printable calendar.

A great shop that's having awesome Black Friday sales is oh hello, friend. Her great prices get even better with sales throughout Monday. Adorable, colorful jewelry.

Give your loved one the gift of organization and simplicity with these calling cards or website cards from avie designs.

Grab some of these adorable tiny rubber stamps from norajane and make your own gift-able stationary sets, gift tags, bookplates, and so many other things. At $2 - $3 each these are such a great buy.

From BluLima: any purchase of $12 or more gets you a free "keep calm and carry on" poster through Monday.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

see more of our photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanbriones/sets/72157610228711215/

coupon organizer

2008-11-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

I just made this coupon organizer as a custom order for an etsy customer. Let me know what you think! I'm thinking of making some to sell in the shop. Find more photos here.

a mention about my meal planners:

2008-11-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

Tee Petals ( teepetals.etsy.com ) mentioned the mini meal planner that she purchased from my shop on her blog. I love how she talks about using it sort of like a budget planner, for meals. She says: "I have already created my 1st week of meals (7 more to go) and have been able to calculate how much I will be spending for the 1st week." I just think that is awesome. She also just purchased a mini meal planner cozy today to keep her planner safe and cuddly. Thank you, teepetals.

Read her full blog post here: http://teepetals.blogspot.com/2008/11/time-for-budget.html

Image from http://teepetals.blogspot.com

Briones & Co. in a Modish Giveaway

2008-11-11T09:10:00.001-08:00

Hop on over to the Modish blog to enter to win the giveaway that I'm in this month. For a larger view of the giveaway items, click here. My mini album, notebook, and labels are standing in that cute little clutch in the center of the picture.

Gift Ideas: The Handmade Journal

2008-11-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

This article was posted in The Storque Spotlight today, and I'm so happy that I was selected to be a part of it. My mini notebook is among so many beautiful notebooks and journals! They all really would make great gifts. To check them all out, see the full article here.

a few items I listed today...

2008-11-03T19:00:00.001-08:00

mini notebooks $4.00

mini tag tins $3.50

organized life gift set $20.00 (sold)

Just listed 4 more mini meal planners:

2008-10-31T08:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5556535

featured in today's Etsy Finds

2008-10-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

It was so nice to wake up to the Etsy Finds newsletter this morning and find my recipe cards were not only on the list, but the main item used for the header. So awesome! A special thanks to Mary from Etsy for putting me on the list, (thank you!). Here's a screenshot, and below that there's a link that will take you to the actual article + a lot more Etsy Finds to look through. Enjoy!

http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/tags/etsy-finds/

b&co. featured on:

2008-10-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Tiramisu posted gifts that she purchased for her bridesmaids before her wedding and 7 of my mini albums were one of the many things that she collected for them. This entry was from July, but it's new to me! ( weddingbee.com )#3 is my mini album: View a larger version here and see it on the website here. Thanks, Jacinta! ( divinecaroline.com )

My mini meal planner is #4 on Brighton Early's Shopping List Saturday! Thank you, Tasha! ( brightonearly.blogspot.com )

a couple more: organized life // a gift set

2008-10-20T18:33:00.001-07:00

http://smbriones.etsy.com

organized life // a gift set

2008-10-19T15:05:00.001-07:00

I just listed these two gift sets in my etsy shop. Go see for more info!

http://smbriones.etsy.com

I've been tagged!

2008-10-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

I have been 'tagged' by Celeste Frittata! If you're not sure who that is, here is her blog and here is her Etsy shop. She hand-makes these awesome looking books based on subjects and things from Harry Potter, which I adore. They are hand bound, have hand torn pages, and aged by hand and printed by hand. Amazing stuff! Go check her out! Especially if you love Harry Potter... you'll want to buy one of everything. My favorite right now are her 'Herbology' and 'Potions' notebooks.

So these are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here are 7 facts about myself:

1. Until 4 months ago, I had never had my hair colored.

2. Everyone thinks I am still in high school, unless they know me, because I look so young. I'm in fact 24.

3. When I was 11-12 years old after school I would stay at the the clinic where my mom worked as a nurse. The doctors let me paint murals on the walls of the clinic's rooms and hallways. The last one I remember doing was a Dr. Seuss character.

4. I played drums for about 6 years. I stopped because of apartment living. I still have my drums.

5. When I was a kid, I used to dumpster dive for the thrown out flowers behind a flower shop that was across the street from my house. There were always really nice flowers in there!

6. I have a coin collection.

7. My favorite places to shop are thrift shops, used bookstores, flea markets, yard sales, target, and ikea.

And now I will tag...

Sycamore Street Press

2008-10-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

Versailles Ribbon necklace by en route (enroute.etsy.com)

Pick your own strawberries! by Smarmy Pants (SmarmyPants.etsy.com)

Nadia Lacy Aqua Beads by Candy’s Art Designs (candysart.etsy.com)

Medium chai tea kit by purpose design (purposedesign.etsy.com)

Blues Set of Website Cards by Avie Designs (avie.etsy.com)

Rule Number 1 by Green Chair Press (greenchairpress.etsy.com)

Mini Moss Terrariums set of 3 by Made by Mavis (madebymavis.etsy.com)

Jane Austen Kraft Moleskine Notebook by Paper Menagerie (papermenagerie.etsy.com)

Three magical notebooks by Celestefrittata (celestefrittata.etsy.com)

shophandmade.com

2008-10-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

I just started getting a shop going on Shop Handmade, a new website for buying and selling handmade goods. Shop Handmade is a little different. First off, listing is free right now, and so is selling, that may change in the future, but right now you have the option of giving a percentage or a set amount of your profits to help the environment. I think that's pretty cool.

"Every time an item is sold we'll fund the protection of 25 square feet of rainforest. This means that everything purchased on ShopHandmade has has the carbon impact mitigated. Selling on ShopHandmade.com protects endangered rain forests and reduces global warming." -- ShopHandmade.com

There isn't anything in my shop yet, but if you want to check it out anyway... http://brionesandco.shophandmade.com

Art Every Day Month + DaWanda

2008-10-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

Just joined:

Art Every Day Month

http://www.creativeeveryday.com

And I opened a DaWanda shop:

http://brionesandco.dawanda.com/

smbriones.etsy.com shop sale on Modish

2008-10-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Stephanie at Briones & Co is having a storewide sale now thru Friday, Oct 17th! Get 15% off on your entire order, including shipping and clearance items! (15% will be refunded back to you after purchase) Check out the new mini-meal planners while you're there!Jena at Modish was kind enough to put my sale up on the Modish bulletin board! Thanks, Jena!

New Item in my Etsy Shop

2008-10-13T13:42:00.001-07:00

Mini meal planners:

Get one at http://smbriones.etsy.com.

Fall cleaning and some more great finds

2008-10-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Check out the post on my personal blog for a few great things that I found at Goodwill yesterday: http://brionesandco.com/stephanie/

great finds

2008-09-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago, Ryan and I went to goodwill and half-price books and came home with some great things for very little money. We were focused on finding some vintage paperback books of some of the classics. For one: to read, and two: because vintage paperback books just look awesome. Much cooler than new ones. I've been wanting to read "To kill a Mockingbird" for a long time, and just never got around to it, but we found a copy of it at half-price books and I ordered a really cool 1962 version of it on etsy, (above). Now I have no excuse. Below is a list of what we found, and photos.

Emily Dickinson's Poems, 1961 - Goodwill, $0.99

The Catcher in the Rye, 1979 - Half-Price Books, $1.12

The Sea Avenger, 1957 - Goodwill, $0.99

The Scarlet Letter, 1965 - Half-Price Books, $0.22

To Kill a Mockingbird, 1982 - Half Price Books, $2.47

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979 - Half-Price Books, $1.97

Red and white striped sugar dish - Goodwill, $0.49

Retro (50's/60's?) "Chives" ceramic trivet - Goodwill, $0.49

My Etsy Sales on google maps

2008-09-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

I thought it would be really neat to see all of my sales on a map, and it turns out, it is! It's really fun to look at all the different places where someone has purchased something that I made.

Etsy Promo

2008-09-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a good etsy promo video by the people at etsy in brooklyn. Check it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmXJXYHnWPo

The Small Object

2008-09-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

I've recently noticed the great work of Sarah at The Small Object and her Steno Pad blog. She is so talented and has so many great ideas. Her drawings are just incredibly cute. Check out her adorable stamps setsand paper goods on her website. To top the cuteness off, she actually has free downloads of things that she's created and they are so useful and so adorable. I have already printed off some notecards and shipping labels. You can find those on the left side of her blog under "Happy Fun Free Downloads".

Sale going on at my Etsy shop!

2008-09-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

It is such a beautiful day for a sale. Maybe it's the fall-like weather or the fact that I just got electricity back in my apartment after 3 days, but either way, you get to celebrate with me! Make a purchase over $20 and get free shipping! That's all you have to do. Load your cart with at least $20 worth of items from my shop, and I'll just refund the shipping cost back to your PayPal account! Sale is now through Monday the 22nd of September -- the first day of fall!

To add to my list of favorite rooms:

2008-09-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is just gorgeous and so inspiring. I love the neutral tones and patterned wallpaper with the punches of turquoise. The dramatic ceiling to floor white curtains combined with the white trim just a foot or so beneath the crown molding really add a lot to this room also.

From Apartment Therapy.

"clouds" oddhero print

2008-09-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

I love this "clouds" print from oddhero. I came across it on design*sponge and would definitely have it on my wall if not for the $400 price tag.

Regular edition $400/£200
paper size: 27" wide x 44" high
print area: 25.5" x 41"
limited to 100 prints

Favorite "sneak peak" house tours from design*sponge:

2008-09-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

something's hiding in here's abode: view more.

Trine of Ferm Living: view more.

Sabrina of hello!lucky: view more.

emma cassi's home: view more.

Andy Pratt and Sarah Coombs home: view more.

Happy Tuesday!

2008-09-02T11:47:00.001-07:00

I came across this awesome library card making tutorial on craftlog.org today, and wanted to share it with you. It was posted way back in '04, but I just found it, so it's new to me :) It's all the steps you need to make these cute library cards and holders for your personal home library.

I may make some of these for myself, but instead of printing them with a gocco, (because I don't have one) I'll probably use the laser printer or stamps.

Try it out! http://www.craftlog.org/craftlog/archives/001500.html

Antique Book: Janice Meredith by Paul Leicester Ford, 1899

2008-08-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with this book I found at goodwill the other day. I love old books, the feel, the smell, and the look of them. This one is a now faded olive-like green (probably used to be a dark green) with black writing and red accents. What really drew me to it though, is opening it and reading the dedication part of it. It says:

"To George W. Vanderbilt

My dear George: Into the warp and woof of every book an author weaves much that even the subtlest readers cannot suspect, far less discern. To them it is but a cross and pile of threads interlaced to form a pattern which may please or displease their taste. But to the writer every filament has its own association: How each bit of silk or wool, flax or tow, was laboriously gathered, or was blown to him; when each was spun by the wheel of his fancy into yarns; the colour and tint his imagination gave to each skein; and where each was finally woven into the fabric by the shuttle of his pen. No thread ever quite detaches itself from its growth and spinning, dyeing and weaving, and each draws him back to hours and places seemingly unrelated to the work. And so, as I have read the proofs of this book I have found more than once that the pages have faded out of sight and in their stead I have seen Mount Pisgah and the French Broad River, or the ramp and terrace of Biltmore House, just as I saw them when writing the words which served to recall them to me. With the visions, too, has come a recurrence to our long talks, our work among the books, our games of chess, our cups of tea, our walks, our rides, and our drives. It is therefore a pleasure to me that the book so naturally gravitates to you, and that I may make it a remembrance of those past weeks of companionship, and an earnest of the present affection of PAUL LEICESTER FORD"

I love to find something as old as this with a connection to something familiar. We just saw the Biltmore Estate early this year with my parents and just reading this put me back in that beautiful house, I thought of the chess set that we saw that belonged to Napoleon, and wondered if that was the chess set they played on. I just got an overwhelmingly grateful feeling that I had gotten a chance to see inside Mr. Vanderbilt's home where many well known people came to stay. To then find a book where the author personally thanks him for the time they had spent together amazes me.

This book didn't actually have the title page in it, it had fallen out sometime in the last 100+ years, but thanks to the internet, I was able to find out tons of things about the book and when it was published. Although, I haven't been able to find out which edition of the book this one is, but I'm pretty sure it's not a first edition because I've seen what that one looks like. But this one was at least published the same year as the first one.

Here's a link from Wikipedia about Mr. Ford: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Leicester_Ford

Threadless.com

2008-08-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

My new time waster. Threadless.com. I could spend lots of time on this website. Wait, I already have! Check it out.

Birthday Sale!

2008-08-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Because my birthday is in a few days, I wanted to have a birthday sale in my etsy shop. When I receive an order, it's like a gift, and why not call it that? So, you order from my shop, you get the gift of 20% off of your entire order, and I get the gift of sending you my handmade stuff!

If your family, and you would rather just buy me something, you can find my wishlist on the right column, in my list of links and blogs. :)

4th Annual Craftin' Outlaws: Part Two

2008-08-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

I thought this woman's shirt was great, so I had to take a picture of it. I hope she doesn't hate me for putting this up :) It says:

"Haikus are easy

But sometimes they don't make sense.

Refrigerator"

UPDATE: I found this shirt!

http://www.threadless.com/product/623/Haikus_are_easy_but

Someone shopping at Spacedog Studios.

Supastarr's booth on the left. Hand screen printed shirts.

A pretty good view of the top and bottom floors.

Right across from our table. Such a good mixture of all types of crafts.

4th Annual Craftin' Outlaws: Part One

2008-08-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from Saturday at Craftin' Outlaws at BoMA (Bar of Modern Art). The first three are of my part of the table shared with Sarah.

The free Dum Dums were a hit with the kids and their parents.

We arrived on time and were setup with an hour to spare. We walked around and checked out everyone else's tables and stuff, walked upstairs went into the bathrooms, which I HAD to take a picture of (below), you'll see why..

BoMA is a very old church turned into a bar/art gallery. There are paintings everywhere and well, bars everywhere... There are amazing stained glass windows. I wish I had gotten a photo of the outside, the entrance is beautiful. There were tables both upstairs and down, and in a little side area also.

There's our table down there where someone is taking a peek.

The pretty ceiling and windows.

Hallway to the bathroom, some sculptures hung overhead.

Yeah, see.. the bathrooms are amazing. I want one of those sinks.

These stalls actually felt private. No one could peek in! :)

Anyway, it was lots of fun, but I think I'm spoiled now. A/C, beautiful bathroom, food available, lots of nice people, I don't think there's a better, more comfortable, craft fair experience out there! Can't all future craft shows be at BoMA?

Clearance in the Scrapbooking isle at Target

2008-08-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

For those who love getting craft supplies on sale, my Target starting clearance tagging things yesterday, so you may want to check yours out. I got some things at good prices. Just thought I'd share the news.