what's for lunch?

Just like every other mom in the world, I suppose, I worry that he doesn't eat enough. Seriously, there are nights when I can't go to sleep worrying that he didn't really eat anything all day.

This lunch is rather blanc, wouldn't you say? But the boy won't touch anything of any color for fear that it's a vegetable. I've tried nearly every vegetable under the sun. He'll eat some of them some of the time but most of them not at all. And attempts to "hide" them in food have failed miserably. Maybe he's a super-taster?

Anyway, today's lunch is a hit...I've learned to not give him too many choices on the plate...3 things that he likes equally seems to be working. And if I put a whole big sandwich on his plate, even if it's cut into quarters, it's overwhelming to him. A small round sandwich is much more inviting.

cupcakery...

Too cute for words...





A felt playhouse that goes over your card table...how crazy wonderful is that? (Lorraine, I think you need this particular model for when cute little friends (like me) come to visit!)

MissPrettyPretty makes these and sells them on Etsy. Click here.

And so the wishlist begins...

super cute collages

So I got this for Christmas last year...

And today Alfredo and I worked on them.

It was a perfect exercise for him to learn about following directions. I put the glue in the spots where the things generally belonged. He would reference the pictures, find the appropriate "part" and glue in into place.

With the exception of the whiskers and sequins (both a bit tricky...they kept getting stuck to his fingertips), he put all the parts together. As soon as we finished one, he wanted to make the next.


We made all 4 today and I wish we had more. I think I will make a homemade version, complete with instructions, for him. If I do, I'll share them with you too.

Until then, you can get this same collage kit here.

He is so proud of these "artworks" (that's what he calls them and anything he makes). I think I will frame them and hang them somewhere we will see them daily.

see?

Isn't that adorable? All I did was paint it with a coat of gesso and then painted the whole thing red. I added darker and lighter accents to make it seem more clothlike. (sorry about the fuzzy picture!)

I'm doing another one in pink and white and I'm going to try another covered with paper. I'm also going to see how it looks with pom-pom fringe hanging from the scallops (I just don't happen to have any tiny pom-pom fringe at the moment)

Anyway, see what I mean? Adorable. You could make this into a shadow box to showcase special things...or just use it with the stands provided.

I'm going to use mine to help display my little worlds at vendor night here. And then I think they'll make a cute presentation for my photos on etsy.

Make this and show me yours...link in the comments below, okay?

run don't walk

Run to Michael's right now and pick up this.



Sorry to be so bossy about it but you won't believe how cute you can make it. It's in the kid's craft section and it'll set you back only about $3 or so. Maybe it was $3.99...a bargain when you see how cute it gets.

Tune back in this evening and I'll show you what I mean. In the meantime, get thee to Michael's.

cherry the pig

We're back...a little jet lagged (Alfredo's still asleep) but very happy to be back.

We are so in love with this book. I bought it at Maude because I loved the sweet nostalgic illustrations. Alfredo loves this story...in fact, when I turn a page, he turns it back and wants to hear it over again. And each time I read that she made an apple cake, we said that we'll make an apple cake when we get home. And then last night we said "We'll make an apple cake tomorrow" and then, as sweet as can be, he added "for Hope!"

So today we will go to the grocery store to buy all the things we need to make an apple cake. I'm going to use this recipe. And we'll drink milky tea.

When I was nosing around trying to find information about this book, I discovered that the author, Utako Yamada, has a darling shop (all in Japanese...but cuteness cuts through language barriers!) Just see for yourself... here

And Hope...come soon (before we eat all your cake!)

today...

In just a few minutes I'll go pick up Alfredo for the day. We're in for a day of fun...first we'll have a little breakfast here. Then we'll head here for a morning of fun. (Thanks to Amy for the suggestion!) Then I'm thinking lunch, hopefully a nap....and then a little trip to Train Town in Sonoma. And somewhere in there we'll stop by for a visit with Alfredo's great grandparents.

I'm excited about seeing my little guy. I miss him terribly.

The painting above is a gift from sweet Natalie...isn't it fabulous? Lucky me!

yesterday...

I started out the day yesterday with that happy breakfast I mentioned previously. Those swirls of cream in the latte...dreamy! And how can you not be completely happy with your whole face stuck in there. It makes me want to change how I drink my coffee at home. I would like to have a warm coffee hug every day. Handles are over-rated. Do you think I could find a latte bowl with my name on it? If not, do you think I could make one at one of those paint your own pottery places? I love that French tradition of everyone having their very own latte bowl. And just one...not a tumbling cabinetful that makes you thankful everyday that you don't live in an earthquake zone.

After breakfast, I still had a little while before Natalie arrived so I ducked into this beautiful church. I was feeling a bit upset that the baby's father hadn't taken off work to spend more time with him while we are here. More than anything, I felt hurt for Alfredo. Spending some time with my head bent in prayer helped open my heart and soften my feelings.












Natalie and I spent the day exploring downtown Petaluma and all the cozy nooks. One such nook is Maude...the most incredible store with handmade beautiful items for children.




























I didn't take as many photos as I should...and we almost went the whole day without getting a picture of us together. We had this snapped at the end of the day just as we were saying our goodbyes.

It was such a nice day...thank you Natalie for spending it with me. See you at SB2009!

What's on the agenda for today? After breakfast at the same place, I'm going to the craft store to buy supplies for a quick project. And I'm treating myself to a matinee...Julie and Julia, of course. And lots of buttered popcorn, please.

good morning...

I'm getting ready to head out for a little breakfast...excited about drinking a whole bowlful of latte and eating something delicious like a poached egg with fontina on the most delicious bread ever made. Here.

Later this morning, I'm meeting a sweet friend for a little shopping and fun. It's sure to be a great day.


And do you like my new shoes? Yes, that's right. Kangaroos, circa 1983, with a zipper pouch. My 12 year old inner girl is so happy to finally have these.

all in one piece...

We arrived safely and sound, although about 2 hours before we landed, Alfredo said to me "Amy, I'm done. Let's go home" I had to keep him going with my bag of tricks for just a little while longer.

It's been a long day and I'm only just hitting the sack now. I'll check in tomorrow with (hopefully) a bit more energy.

packing up...

Today I'm trying not to be too frantic. I'm trying to think and plan through all the details, to be as prepared as a girl can be, for flying alone with a 2 year old. We spent the morning scrambling around. Our local mall was swarming with secret service people. Since our president seems to be in Arizona, I wonder who it could've been to visit our neck of the woods.

Anyway, back to work. Call me an optimist, but when I pack I feel that I must iron the clothes first and fold neatly into bundles. Oh, and I decided to change out the buttons on the jacket I'm wearing on the plane.

I meant to make up a pot of chili for Rich but never made it to the grocery store. Oh well...I just hope he doesn't eat every meal from the drive-thru.

Next time I pop in, I'll be in California. Wish me luck!

things to make and do...

Jenn and her twin sister Bee lived down the street from us. Their names were said quickly together "Jenn&Bee", as if one entity.

We spent all of our barefoot summers hiding and seeking and running. We played house and school and business. We would all ride our bikes just as fast as we could with a card fastened to the spokes with a clothespin to make it sound like a motorcycle. We would change into our rollerskating outfits, sweep the driveway free of gravel, and practice skating the figure-8. My sister Jessica had a grace on wheels that was unbelievable to us and I was sure she was destined to make it big time in the roller skating world. (She unfortunately stopped skating at age 12, never to roll again.)

When I was about 6 or 7, Jenn gave this book to me.

It became my childhood handbook. It shaped who I am today as much as any book since. Whenever I had the urge to make something, anything, I'd flip through the pages and land on something fun to make. I'm certain I've made just about everything in here at least once.

It's still a fount of inspiration. I thought I'd share some pages with you as a regular feature so you can see what I mean.

Today, let's flip to page 46 for one of my very favorites...

Click on the image to see it larger. And if you end up making some of these Flower Basket Party Favors, won't you share how they turn out?

playing house

Last December, sweet friend Claudine invited me to participate in a project using her wonderful sticky back canvas. A whole bunch of artists and crafters were asked to make a house and all of the houses would be displayed at January's CHA.

Well looky here! Somerset Studio did an article on the house project in their latest issue. Can you believe how adorable Claudine's big top inspired house is? Seeing Claudine's house makes me want to pull out that sticky back canvas and play!

Check out Claudine's blog for lots of ideas and projects on ways to use Sticky Back Canvas. You can also take a peek at what the display looked like at CHA and spot some of our friends' houses, including Hope and Charlotte!

getting there...

I'm still working a certain part of my anatomy off trying to get my studio in shape. This is a true representation of how it's looking...see? I didn't even close that drawer to snap this photo.

I'm so close...soon, I'll be crafting away with the television tuned to Noggin while Alfredo plays happily close by. And when I'm done for the day, all I'll need to do is rinse my brushes, cap the glue, and close the door.

what we're watching around here...

I hear this song in my sleep these days. Alfredo requests it to be repeated continuously until some divine interruption such as the phone ringing deflects attention long enough for me to slap closed the laptop. Oh yeah, it's cute. The first 20 times, it's cute.

I'm loading up the ipod with this video and as many others that I think he'll love just as much for next week's trip to California. Brilliant or what?

Oh and I'm also still working like a dog on getting that studio clean...

after...

here are the fruits of my labor...

much better, don't you think?

I bought a whole bunch of these vintage bobbins that you asked about on ebay a few years back. Do a search for "vintage bobbins lot" and I think you'll find them too.

And I ordered the glass from a local company I found doing a search for "sheet glass". The glass comes Monday...I can't wait!

I'm going to keep working all weekend and, if all goes well, I'll give you a tour of my fresh studio next week!

a fine mess

I'm currently pondering whether this jumble of yarn and ribbon and bits is worth all the time it will take to untangle it or whether I should just chuck it all in the trash and not look back. What are your thoughts on the matter?

we interupt this cleaning...

with some inspiration.

Instead of cleaning through naptime (which, honestly, I should've done), I worked on transforming my work surface.

I was inspired by Kim's little daughter's desktop when I stayed in her room in May



It's just so adorable...and I've been thinking of it ever since.

So today, as I was sifting through endless piles of paper scraps that I am incapable of tossing or using (it's a problem) the idea struck that I should use them in the same way to cover my own desk.

I just started placing them on top...haphazardly like a grid.




I added some details, like this darling vintage valentine that I adore, This postcard that came tucked in the latest issue of Uppercase Magazine,
I have a whole pad of Fred C. Deibert's unused sales slips...they crack me up!
I had a random length of vintage tape measure that will prove very useful along the desk's edge, don't you think?
I just ordered a piece of glass to go on top. It will flatten everything out and make it look so finished and pretty and...
inspiring.

clean up, clean up, everybody clean up

Today I'm sorting and cleaning and tossing and winding and stashing...

in other words...

I'm cleaning my studio.

Just beyond the lens is a huge mess but I'm just working along, concentrating on how great it will all look. And how much easier and more inspiring it is for me to work when I can see all of my beautiful supplies in front of me and I can keep projects out while I work through them (instead of having to stash it all away to clean up for dinner like I do when I craft at the kitchen table)


I still have a really long way to go but my goal is to have it all cleaned and stashed and sorted by Sunday evening.

window shopping...

here are some things that I really, really want in my closet...All from Boden.

winners!

This morning Alfredo picked names out of a pink hat (drumroll, please...)

Claudia, you won the wreath!

and

Lorraine, can you believe it? You won the deer! Yay, Aunt Tootsie!

I'm going to this...

in L.A. as a vendor Friday night and as a student Saturday. And I'm so excited about it.

There's still room...why don't you come too? It'll be fun. You can sit by me and share my glue and glitter and buttons.

fish dream

yesterday afternoon
me: well, hello. did you have a nice nap? did you sleep well?
alfredo: yes. I sleep well. I saw fish.
me: you saw fish?
alfredo: yes.
me: when did you see fish?
alfredo: I see fish in my bed.

Isn't that so sweet? He had a little dream about fish.

The fish artwork, as well as the artwork below, is by Golly Bard. Isn't it all so enchanting?