Hello! And Welcome!
Hello! My name is Cole. Simplicity Embellished is my special place. I talk a lot about writing letters, etegami, gardening and yoga. Please sign up for Sunday Tea (comes to you via email), subscribe using your feed reader of choice and don't hesitate to say hello on Twitter or Facebook either.
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New Year’s Day 2012 Etegami
It’s a new year! If you’re like me, when the clock struck midnight, the first thing you said was ‘rabbit, rabbit.’ I have no idea where this tradition came from,…
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My First Etegami
Posted on 16 July, 2010 | No CommentsWhen I discover a new hobby, it’s like spotting a sparkly bauble hidden among a vast field of trash. Now, I’ve never visited a vast field full of trash, but... -
Review: Kuretake Tegami Refillable Letter Pen
Posted on 13 July, 2010 | 3 CommentsFinding a new toy is pretty exciting. This is my new toy, a Kuretake Tegami Refillable Letter Pen. I ordered this from Jet Pens for $4.50. Here’s the link to... -
It’s My Birthday Today!
Posted on 12 July, 2010 | 5 CommentsAnd I’m not blogging; I’m celebrating! See you in the mail! <3 Cole + Simplicity Embellished -
Urban Farming: Storing Basil For The Winter
Posted on 11 July, 2010 | No CommentsI pretty much only 100% container garden. I have a nice set up on our front porch and on our back porch too. With things like lettuce and herbs, you... -
Postal Scale Review: Taylor Weigh & Store Kitchen Scale
Posted on 10 July, 2010 | 9 CommentsFirst, let me say that this scale was less than $5 including tax. I needed something to double-check my postage estimating abilities; see, I’m someone who writes lengthy letters and... -
Tart Treasures!
Posted on 9 July, 2010 | No CommentsTarts are some of my most favorite things to make. They require a lot of attention and a certain amount of artistic endeavor to boot. I especially love mini tarts;... -
2010 Garden Update
Posted on 8 July, 2010 | 1 CommentBack in the spring, I posted in pretty good detail about all the items I was growing in my porch gardens this year. Everything you’re about to see is being... -
A Letter Full of Treasure
Posted on 7 July, 2010 | 2 CommentsSometimes, letters are extra special. What makes a letter extra special? For me, I love to see a person’s culture reflected in the letter in some way. You’ll see above... -
Birthday! Birthday! Birthday!
Posted on 6 July, 2010 | 11 CommentsThis year, I’m going to share my birthday with you guys. My birthday is on July 12 and I am super excited this year. Don’t ever let anyone tell you... -
Why I Write Letters
Posted on 29 June, 2010 | 12 CommentsThere are two kind of people in my world; those who write letters and those who do not. Those of you who are letter-writing enthusiasts; you’re probably nodding your heads... -
It’s Monday
Posted on 28 June, 2010 | No CommentsAnd we are not ready for it in this house! Hairy was in especially good form this Monday morning, and it so accurately represents my feelings about it too. -
My Favorite Australian Treats
Posted on 23 June, 2010 | 2 CommentsAfter a trip to Jungle Jim’s here in Cincinnati, I stocked up on three of my favorite Australian treats. Crunchies Billy Tea Liquorice Flake I somehow avoided the Tim Tams... -
Doodles, Sketches and Illustrations
Posted on 23 June, 2010 | 2 CommentsI’ve said this before here on SE: I can doodle. I’m not a fine artist. I can’t paint portraits and I can’t lay out elaborate landscapes. I wish that I... -
Australian Billy Tea
Posted on 22 June, 2010 | 1 CommentWhen I visited Australia and spent some time there a few years ago, I was served Billy Tea. Billy Tea is a black tea blend. It reminds me a lot... -
Haunting Orchids
Posted on 16 June, 2010 | No CommentsTo me, orchids are haunting flowers. Lovely, no doubt, and they are captivating in a spooky way. I’m not sure why they freak me out a bit—perhaps it’s the soft,... -
Flowering Foliage
Posted on 14 June, 2010 | No CommentsI love foliage. I love leaves. I love stems. I love being surrounded by greenery. I’m happier in a room with plants than in a room without. Are you? And... -
Tillandsias….in the rain?
Posted on 12 June, 2010 | No CommentsAlright, I know. I’m a big, giant nerd. I am obsessed with air plants and I understand if you decide to shun me. I understand if you assign me to... -
Fly Tying
Posted on 11 June, 2010 | 4 CommentsA hobby that I’ve had about as long as writing letters is tying flies. You know, like fly fishing. It’s an enjoyable hobby and for a hobby primarily dominated by... -
Letters Between Pen Pals Are Like Secrets
Posted on 10 June, 2010 | 17 CommentsSecrets you remember and protect forever. At least, that’s what I believe. The friendships you develop among pen pals, and what I mean by that is people you exchange more... -
Blueberry Festival Coming Up!
Posted on 8 June, 2010 | No CommentsFor those of you in the Cincinnati area, I wanted to share with you details on the 2010 Blueberry Festival being hosted at Sabbath Song Farm in Brooksville. Are you... -
Greeting the Garden
Posted on 7 June, 2010 | No CommentsWhen the end of February rolls by, I set a date in my mind to enter the garden. To really enter it. With the intention of getting it ready for... -
Butterfly, Butterfly, Fly Away
Posted on 5 June, 2010 | 7 CommentsI had the pleasure of a Tuesday afternoon date with my husband, Victor, at the Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati, Ohio last week. The annual Butterfly Show was taking place and... -
Pens & The Post: Collect, Correspond, Celebrate Event
Posted on 27 May, 2010 | 2 CommentsWHAT: Pens & the Post: Collect, Correspond, Celebrate! WHEN: Saturday, May 29, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. WHERE: Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE The National Postal Museum,... -
Little Tiny Chocolates
Posted on 12 May, 2010 | 1 CommentOh chocolate. How you move me. How I crave you. How I search you out. I know I am not the only one. Chocolate is wonderful. I got lucky yesterday.... -
Blog Giveaway!
Posted on 10 May, 2010 | 4 CommentsGood news! I (Cole) have cleaned out my stationery stash and instead of pitching it or selling it as a lot on ebay or something, I want to bequeath it... -
We found a baby bird
Posted on 9 May, 2010 | No CommentsIt’s spring, you know. Birds tweet from sun up to sun down; flowers are in bloom and pollen counts are high. Spring, fabulous spring. Last night, my best friend called.... -
For The Love of Dog
Posted on 6 May, 2010 | 1 CommentI recently was the subject of a lovely springtime photoshoot, and Hairy, as any good curious beagle would, became a part of the shoot. I had to share this photo... -
Fountain Pen Review | Sailor Desk Pen
Posted on 4 May, 2010 | 4 CommentsI’ve probably had the most fun with this fountain pen out of all the one’s I own. I love the black lacquer body, the super fine nib, the elongated and... -
Tillandsia Stricta Hard Leaf | In Bloom!
Posted on 1 May, 2010 | No CommentsSeveral of my tillandsia’s are in bloom right now, and they are beautiful. My stricta, in particular, has been the most amazing to watch. First, a single pink bud appeared.... -
Fountain Pen Review | Sailor HighAce Neo Beginner Fountain Pen
Posted on 27 April, 2010 | 6 CommentsThe Sailor HighAce Neo is a neat little pen, and for about $15, I’d say it’s a great one to start out with. First, you should know that this is... -
Tracking Your Happiness
Posted on 21 April, 2010 | No CommentsSeveral months ago, I signed up for something called Track Your Happiness. I was intrigued by this. This website (which is free) emails you a series of surveys every six... -
Tillandsia – How I Love Them So
Posted on 19 April, 2010 | 2 CommentsI received my first air plant (that’s Tillansia’s common name) when I was 12. I don’t really remember why I got it, but I believe my Mom picked it up... -
An Hour Spent Crocheting Baby Shoes
Posted on 14 April, 2010 | 11 CommentsDiscovering how to crochet shoes is pretty fantastic. All the sudden you go from wearing flip flops around the house to wearing uber-cute crochet slippers. I’ve made two pairs of... -
Opportunity Lies in Wait
Posted on 10 April, 2010 | 1 CommentIt does. It sits just out of your main field of vision. Sometimes, you can only see it if you stop a moment to look near the fringes of what... -
Discipline is the Key To Success
Posted on 8 April, 2010 | No CommentsEvery few months, I see lots of articles pop up all about what makes successful people successful, or what makes an entrepreneur successful. Usually, a new study or report on... -
Late Dinners At Home
Posted on 5 April, 2010 | No CommentsIt’s getting warmer. At least here in Cincinnati, Ohio it is. See, about this time of year, we’ll have these random warm, sunlit days. So warm that you’ll have to... -
Cheesecake is Best When Individually Portioned
Posted on 3 April, 2010 | 2 CommentsIndividually portioned as in: Here’s a mini-cheesecake just for you. This is delicious. Really. And, I believe that the deliciousness is enhanced by the recipe being incredibly easy, quick and... -
A Week at a Time
Posted on 28 March, 2010 | 1 CommentRecently, my journal has been full of statements like this: Well, another week has come and gone. I can not believe what happened this week! A week has passed already.... -
My Cincinnati
Posted on 16 March, 2010 | No CommentsCincinnati is a mixed-up metropolis situated on the mighty Ohio River. Mark Twain said “When the end of world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it’s always twenty... -
How To Hollow Out a Book
Posted on 14 March, 2010 | 1 CommentI think many of us wish we were better gift givers, or that we could actually make something that’s handmade and decent, or that we had money to buy a...
