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I'm heading out for and early wedding weekend in Chicago. My dear friend Kari, who runs the marvelous fashion site Above the Fray, is getting married and I'm to be one of her bridesmaids. It will be so great to see her and many other friends. I must admit however that I am also a bit melancholy. I recently realized that I will be leaving my two little ones for the first time ever! Not only have I never left baby O's side, I've also never been away from little A (my three year old) for more than say...5 hours! Crazy, I know. It's time I guess. It will be fun, and I know Jon will be great with the littles...sigh...and weddings are oh so delightful.
Is it bad that I want my children to attend Montessori schools just because their equipment is so darn cool!? No, but seriously, I'm really getting into the philosophy behind Montessori schooling (why must it cost so much?...sigh). It's just a nice perk that the activities are so aesthetically pleasing. I might be playing with them more than the littles...
Find these lovely and educational items here, here, here and here.
OK, so technically it's not morning anymore...but I'm going to try and devote Tuesday mornings to my Tuesday Mourning shop updates (at least the first Tuesday of the month if not every Tuesday) and share fun finds and crafty endeavors with you the rest of the week. Today I wanted to share with you my Peter Pan invites so that you too can have a magical Neverland party! Hop on over here and check it out!
I love that little A is of the birthday party attending age. Over the weekend he was invited to his friend Emerald's birthday bug party. Aside from some uncharacteristic shyness on A's part, we had a blast.
I also had a lovely time making Emerald's gift. A few weeks ago I finished this Dauphine and Rabbit gouache painting (prints now up in my shop) for my niece's birthday and decided to create the little bunny as a softie to go along with a print for Emerald.
I think this little guy turned out so cute! I like him so much that I have decided to also offer the rabbit and print as a pair in my shop. I can just imagine them together on a shelf in Emerald's room. So sweet.
And Cally loves me. No really, we did a swap and this is the lovely clutch she made for me. Thanks Cally. Love it!
A couple of weeks ago I attended an organizing event where I was fortunate enough to meet and glean from LA's Apartment Therapy organizer extraordinaire, Beth Zeigler. Beth, who in addition to blogging is a professional organizer and founder of her own company Bneato, gave a fabulous mini boot camp that I found very inspiring. I was already a big fan of organizing, but after hearing some of Beth's tips I decided I could take it up a notch.
My craft/studio space needed some love...as did my laundry area (I say "area" because there is no laundry "room" in my house. The washer and dryer are outside on the back porch...one of the odd by charming quirks of old school Southern Cal) so I decided to start there. In an effort to make things more fun and visually appealing, and of course easier to organize, I created several assorted downloadable labels that I also wanted to share with you.
Click here and you can download all 22 labels. You can use these on jars, boxes, file folders, envelopes, gifts, journals, scrapbooks and really anything else you can think of!
My arts and craft supplies are now getting a good sorting and look so inviting. This makes me want to paint and create so much more! (Both a good a bad thing...you know, with all that "extra" time on my hands.)
In the laundry area I decided to do something different with my detergent. The lid to this jar broke while putting it away after the Neverland party - sadness - so I decided to repurpose it. Now I love scooping out detergent which makes doing the laundry that much more enjoyable (every little bit helps right?).
And of course, my favorite part of the organizing adventure...While I was busy sorting and photographing, my little 3 yr old decided he would do some un-sorting of his own in the button department...(It's a good thing he rather enjoyed re-sorting them by color while putting them back.)
I'm quite sure I'm in desperate need of this bag.
Ever since a family trip to to France two years ago, May has become a time of Parisian reflection and longing. Something in the air reminds me planning, packing, traveling, strolling, scouring, eating, adoring, sipping, shopping, lounging and loving all in the heart France. Alicia Bock's nostalgic photo, Paris Rooftops, is just the thing to accompany my May mood. Now to find some true Parisian chocolat chaud and I'm just about there.
Amy of scoutie girl *, and the darling kids shop little alouette, asked me to do an interview. Hop on over here and check it out!
 I also wanted to mention that I now offer custom portrait drawings such as this one done for Tom and Ruth's wedding anniversary (and shown in Amy's article). You can purchase it here in my shop and then email me with photos, etc. If you want something a little different, just email me and let me know.
Thanks again Amy!
This delightful dress by Emily Ryan (originally found here) is little work of art. Darling.
I do love a good thrift outing, don't you? I mean how great is this hand lettered Mildred mug that I found at a local thrift store? (There was an "Orna" mug as well but I opted for just this one). I love thinking about who might have spent time creating this. I wonder who Mildred is. What is she like? Where is she now?
I also had some luck in the clothing department. My closet needed more staple skirts and I love these. At four dollars a piece, I have no regrets.
I've found that there is something creative about scouring racks and bins for just the right treasure that speaks to you...You have to trust yourself enough to bring it home and give it new life. It takes an element of risk...even a slight rush is involved. I love it.
I'm just a little obsessed with tea parties (I only mention them here, here, here and here) and with spring in the air the bug is back and I'm finally committing to throwing one of my own. I've also had a bit of post party blues (you know, like you get after you take all the Christmas decorations down) now that the Neverland party has come to a close, Easter is over, and the fourth of July is just too, too far away. The wheels in my head have been spinning for some time now concerning a pretty rockin' tea party and when I saw these lovely plates while out antiquing this weekend, light bulbs burst and ideas started stewing. Plans are in the works ladies and gents. Plans are in the works.
*and yes, I did purchase these.
I love it when brilliant people do brilliant things...and then they let you in on how to do it yourself. This DIY chevron pattern from Sunset magazine, originally found on Kelly+Olive, is just such an example. Will be doing this, of that I assure you.
I'm adjusting to Southern Cali alright...the beach is wonderful...the winters mild...etc., etc....but I feel a piece of my heart will always reside in New York City, or Brooklyn to be more specific. This is for a lot of reasons but high on the list is the number of wonderful and talented individuals I was able to call my friends. Mara, one of the ladies behind the new and fabulous clothing line, Harvey Faircloth, is just one of those darling souls. I have also met Abby, a talent to be sure, and though I have not yet met Katie, the third visionary and creatice behind the line, evidence shows she's just as inspiring and lovely as the others. Way to go girls! I'm highly anticipating seeing one of your garments in my closet some day soon.
 I have a super fun announcement for you all! I've finally opened the doors of my new shop!!! Whew. It's been a long journey of back and forth, indecision and even some reservation but I'm now proud to announce my Tuesday Mourning shop, which currently carries prints of my work and will very soon offer originals as well custom portrait drawings and paintings. For now the selection is very small but if you see something of mine that you want but that is not in the shop, just email me or send me a note via Etsy, and I'll see if I can make a print of it for you. I would also love to get your feedback as to what more in general you would like to see in the shop. I hope you enjoy. XO
when Jon and little A come home from Trader Joe's with daffodils...and I get the itching to do something dramatic with my hair, it's a sure sign of spring.
Is there anything that you find yourself needing to change come spring?
*(I actually have bangs...that I'm still trying to figure out)
This post on family photos by Garance Doré is wonderful. I especially love the part about making up your own family myths, such as your grandmother being the most beautiful woman in the town. Thank you Garance! I'm off to scour my own family photos and to start my own little seeds of magical myths.
I'm very much into these looks from Eternal Child's spring/summer collection. Soft, with just the right amount of detailing while still being simple.
I'm looking forward to a lovely Easter weekend that will (if all goes as planned) be filled with sewing new duds for the littles (no i haven't started...ambitious I know...but I'm determined), possibly making homemade peeps and other Easter treats (living on a budget has greatly improved my domestic endeavors...meaning I actually cook every now and again) kid-friendly crafts, eating delicious meals and watching darling children search for hidden eggs. It sounds heavenly and I can't wait.
Wishing you all a wonderful and happy Easter.
link: adorable rabbit paper doll by Enna
If you are going to do chains and ribbon...this is they way to do it. Gorgeous.
Thank you all for your warm birthday wishes! It really helped to make the weekend great. I wanted to give you a brief update on how lovely my birthday was (even if I am a year over thirty...). I received a fantastically wrapped gift form my two little boys with an illustration on it by my very favorite three year old (is he incredible or what?!). In it was the book My First, by Eva Montanari, which is so beautifully illustrated and loads of fun. I also received some Harajuku Lovers perfume wrapped so lovingly by my husband who obviously knows I love craft paper and ribbons (his interpretation had me laughing out loud...in a delightful way). Other fun items such as head bands and fun shirts (that just happen to match my spring palette) presented themselves as well. Jon also made some fabulous French bakery type bread that day which was just perfect.
And of course...the mega gift...a day (which turned into spurts of hours over an entire weekend) of sewing and painting. The above items are still a work in progress (I have some puckering issues with the dress collar that I need to work out and more painting to do) but I'm happy with the time I had to spend on these projects and can't wait to finish them up. A girl couldn't ask for more.
Thank you again to all who made my day so splendid!
I've been enjoying the work of Color Field painters as of late and this particular painting by Kenneth Noland really captures me. Wouldn't this make a great quilt? I'd even hand paint the pink as it washes out...
This Sunday, April 5th, I turn 31 (wow!). The only thing I wanted this year was an entire day to sew and to paint. Tomorrow, Friday, is that day for me. I'm SO excited. The only problem is that I have a great deal of sewing and painting ideas...I just have to narrow them down so that I can actually be productive. Can't wait. I purchased these fabrics yesterday in hopes of creating something scrumptious. If all goes well I'll have lovely things to show you after the weekend.
Birthdays are so much fun!
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