Thursday, February 26, 2009

This sunlight...

This sunlight is killing me. Too strong. Too intense. I am off to the water fountain park with Baby M, once we put on our hats, shades & a thick coating of spf. Blerg. And it's only February. What are we in for?

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Kiet's Kamer

Wouldn't this be such a wonderful room to grow up in? Look at that gondola! That lamp! Heavenly.
Kiet's kamer by esthermokka

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Aesop's Fables

I have long wanted to create a series of sewn pieces based on Aesop's Fables. I love the strange imagery combinded with the sometimes harsh moralization.

The Cock and the Jewel: The ignorant despise what is precious only because they cannot understand it

The Crow and the Pitcher: Necessity is the mother of invention

The Ants & the Grasshopper: It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow

The Dog & the Shadow: Grasp at the shadow and lost the substance

The Bear & the Beehive: It is wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage

Images of old cigarette cards from the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery

Crafted Scarf

This weekend, I crafted a new scarf out of some leftover bits of cloth. The fabric is all very different, but works beautifully together. Heavy brown linen, gold damask, black/white checkered broadcloth & a lightweight blue flowered cotton. It's pretty different from the kind of thing I would normally wear, but I'm loving it all the same.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Spending Freeze: Week Five

Unnecessary purchases made during Week Five of the Spending Freeze.

One unnecessary mocha from Jo's Coffee.

One unnecessary bowl of pho soup.

One unnecessary jacket by Mike & Chris. It's the cuddliest, happiest jacket, made out of the softest sweatshirt-style material. It's as easy & relaxed as wearing sweats, but with good style & great structure. Oh and 75% off. Not too shabby.
But that was absolutely all for this week. No Valentine's gifts, just some homemade cards and a cozy dinner at home.

Monday, February 9, 2009

I'm Sticking With You, Valentine

Inspired by these sweet valentines, I made my own version of them for all the neighborhood kiddos. I love how much texture of the wood & string add to such an otherwise simple card.

Spending freeze: Week Four

This week didn't go so well.
I bought unnecessary magnetic alphabet letters:
Two yards of unnecessary rhinestone trim:And one (mostly) unnecessary brand-new HP laptop computer.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

House weekend

Another weekend of chores & progress at our house. By Sunday, I felt like a prisoner in my own home.

Fortunately, we were able to wrap things up & make a break for it this afternoon. A park date & a little junk food later, and I'm magically feeling much, much better about things.

Image of Houdini from here

Friday, February 6, 2009

Katharine Hepburn

When I was pregnant, I was kind of secretly hoping that we would have a little girl. A little girl with smarts & know-how. A no-nonsense girl, who will look you in the eye & is afraid of little. A girl a little bit like Katharine Hepburn.

Play Kitchen

It's never enough. The paint is barely dry on our perfect, homemade sandbox, and already I'm dreaming up plans for Baby M's new play kitchen. Some time back, I saw this cool plan for a DIY Ikea-hack kitchen. But there are so many other great ideas out there. The homemade ones are by far my favorite.

Nice wood with vintage kitchen toys from Shop Worthy's photostream:
Compact & portable from from ElsieMarley's photosteam:

So much like our kitchen! From Daddytype's photostream:
Very sweet, small & fully-loaded, from -syko-'s photostream:

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Let the good times roll

Look what my talented husband built us this past weekend:
A sandbox on wheels! Isn't it lovely?

Monday, February 2, 2009

Spending Freeze: Week Three


Three unnecessary purchases were made during Week Three of the spending freeze:

- three plastic storage bins for crazy organizational frenzy
- frame for an incredible picture of Baby M, recently unearthed from some forgotten box on a high shelf
- Saturday night pizza

Non, je ne regrette rien.

photo via OneFiveDoor