Ever wonder how folks get crafty in Spain? I found out that cute means cute, no matter where you are. This is a great source for especially for feminine, super sweet, detailed gifts.

The good folks over at Cool Hunting put me on to this website. You can even view a video they did just about the creator. Wander over to www.wefeelfine.org where the site's system catalogs weblog entries that include the phrases "I feel" or "I Am feeling", and creating a massive feelings database from around the globe. You can even search by country, age, weather patterns, find out the happiest and saddest cities, and so on. Trippy, beautiful, and really really cool.

Often, I think that it's too expensive to buy nice stationary, that I should just use my old origami paper that's been laying around since that Christmas card project I undertook...I've even eyed old bill envelopes with their flashy plastic windows and thought they could use a little recycling. 'Tis true, use your old paper to brighten someone's mailbox, but if you're feeling especially generous, quirky, or just like making a good impression via USPS, buy some great hand-made stationary. These folks have experience making people smile with paper, let them do it for you. There are so many great paperists - here are just a few good finds.

Plan for Saturday: Check out the Panorama of the City of New York exhibit at the Queens Museum. Built in 1964 for the World's Fair, the model of the city features "EVERY BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BEFORE 1992 IN ALL 5 BOROUGHS"! This would've knocked the socks off of my brownie troop when we had popsicle stick craft day.

garden planning

February means planning for April. While you're knitting that 8th scarf of the week, why not plan a garden? City living means gardens in pots (or tubs, or tires, or milk crates, or...). You grow girl.

needle cases

um, hello. cutest.thing.ever. keep those pesky sharp objects in a little wooden case. ma dukes could've used one of these.

fletcher street

Martha Camarillo has done it again. Her new book Fletcher Street (powerHouse Books) features pics of men and boys from the Fletcher Street area in Philly who have an unusual street obsession, horses. The flicks capture a community unknown, and strangely beautiful look at a community in Philly you'd never guess exists.

a good haircut

getting a good haircut for a reasonable price in nyc is, to say the least, a challenge. ran across an ad in the village voice for a cute little salon on orchard and delancey. fringe salon, ask for katie.

make valentines

it's amazing how domestic you get as you age, i've had a christmas card list for a few years now, am starting a recipe box, and this year started sending out home-made valentines. i figure, it's something i'd enjoy getting in the mail so why not. not a ton else to do when it's brick outside and you're waiting for the next season of the wire to start.

MS actually has quite a few good ideas for personalized tokens for love-day. has anyone else noticed how good her mags have been lately? never thought i'd jock her, but i do.