Spring and green

Spring is here... Though it's been feeling like summer in L.A. this week. I have found myself wearing this color all week... Wondering if perhaps I love it more than RED??? (don't think so, but it's debatable this time of year)

I made this top last night with some fabric I'd been stashing for a while and some of my "Tori Higa Motherload" (fabric she offloaded on me as she moved cross country)... Like it, Tori?... I'll post where I got the tutorial in a little bit.... When I get some computer time...right now I'm in the kitchen with coffee... (okay... link is in. I got it at Sew, Mama, Sew...)

I like the square neckline and ruffled sleeves. But I especially love the color.

Sunset Shadows

Tonight's sunset had an orange glow (from the fires in Santa Barbara, presumably) that filtered into the house. I was mesmerized by it and the shadows that began playing on the walls.  It offered me the chance to take these magical photos.

(these photos have no filter, no photoshop, and hardly any cropping done.  They literally just happened...) They are already precious to me.

I feel like I am always trying to capture something like a shadow or impression that captures a self portrait kind of nature without being an obvious image of me (I believe I have mentioned I am a little camera shy)... and this fits the bill. The kids were having a lot of fun posing for them as well.  All we were missing was Jay, and yet, somehow there is a simplicity that I like in it. Perhaps with it just being momma and the kids at home... with our homemade curtains in the background, messy hair from the beach... it feels more intimate and peaceful. When Jay's around, the kids are simply so excited that we get few quiet moments like this.

New Posts on Designing Moms

here are the links to some new posts I've done for Designing Moms...

home tour

favorite kids book

decorating with ribbon scraps

walking home from school

Walking home from school today... the Design Director has on her sweet vintage pants, and momma is happy to be wearing the original Libby Dibby skirt that started it all, along with a BIG red Audrey Hepburn hat and flip flops.
Now there is some goodness.

Inspiration: Mexican tile

I took the Design Director and Ze Artiste out for Mexican food after church yesterday -Daddy had to go somewhere-... And we ended up at this cute place on Lincoln Blvd. In Venice Beach.
The Design Director had a real inspirstional experience. She was busy, dancing to the music after finishing her quesadilla and suddenly noticed the gorgeous tile. She stopped.
"momma, I don't know what that is" and I realized that was 4-year old artist speak for "that pattern inspires me!"
So I told her to take some photos of it with my phone and we'd take them home and draw them into her sketchbook. I loved this moment.

(ps. Not a bad iPhone photo by Ze Artiste, either, eh?)

Dollhouses and stuff

We have been busy around here... Between Z's party (pics to come) and my packing up more than 25 5+lb boxes of fabric scraps for my free fabric friends... I haven't been the crazy blogger I normally am... But I have been having some creative fun... Today, for Teacher Appreciation week, we brought succulents from our yard for each teacher...(my friend Kimberley gave me the best one a year ago that I often give clippings out from)... So there were potting projects, and
some sewing projects (also to come), and the above painting project that the kids did... After last week's découpage birdhouse, I was feeling a little guilty about not letting Mimi do the bulk of the proect herself, so I bought her this unfinished CD holder/dollhouse to paint. The project was a hit and Ze Artiste promptly requested his own to paint. (for his cars to live in) I did the tree on the side of Mimi's house, and the flower stems, but she drew the flowers... And Ze Artiste's abstract 2 handed painting was amazing to witness. He was all about mixing paints... Sister, not so much...

I love seeing their individual talents come alive.

No Sew Duct Tape basket

Since I never do anything just once... I think I have mentioned - or have I just said it out loud and not blogged it? - that it usually takes me making around 5 of something before I feel like I really have a grip on it... so here is No Sew Duct Tape Fabric project #2.
So fun. I'm using it to store my journal and pen collection right now.

though you'll have to look here for the tutorial... a quick explanation... cut the fabric to the sizes that you want for your project with a little bit for seam allowances. Turn the fabric face down and give it sturdiness by duct taping over the entire back of the piece you want to use. We only have red tape around here (it figures, doesn't it)... but any color will do. when you want to join 2 pieces, prepare them with the tape, then staple them together as if you were "sewing" a seam - only you're stapling it... then fold the seam over to one side and tape it down, covering the staples.
Construct as desired!
I'm not sure HOW sturdy my basket handle is, but I'm testing it out around here.
These are really fun. I made this one on the front porch last week while the kids threw wet sponge balls at each other in the front yard on a particularly hot day.

Brass Tags

Here's another shot of the brass tags.
complete with my new favorite saying...
Here they are on etsy...

Today's task... New baby ideas

Whenever I take dinner to families with new babies, I like to do put it into a reusable grocery bag for them to keep - no new momma should have to figure out whose bowl/bag etc is whose... Just getting dressed is hard enough!
I also like to include a handmade gift. Today's package includes chicken tacos, fruit salad, Spanish rice and a baby swaddle blanket. My babies were huge and when they came home from the hospital already didn't fit all the cute swaddle blankets we'd been given... A friend gave me one of these and I called her up begging for more. She obliged and then began making them for me to give as gifts... And now I do the same... Just get cute flannel and serge (if you have a serger; the edges are the key to being good swaddlers). I make them 36"x36" and sometimes larger - much bigger than your standard swaddle blanket on the market. :)
If you aren't so inclined to make them, I make them and sell them on etsy too... For cheap enough that you can stash a few and stick them into your next homemade meal delivery.

Chillin with the birds

Other than the fact that I'm a little scared of birds, this is a
pretty great place for some quiet thinking today...
(Kenneth Hahn state park... 10 minutes from my house... In the middle
of LA)