Paper Pie

Tree House!

While on the topic of all there is to be grateful for when considering our current living situation, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the gem of a tree house that is just on the other side of the fence in our backyard. We have been in our place for a good long while, and a nice benefit to that sort of longevity is the comfort and familiarity that comes with our neighbors and the relationships we've built with the other families living around us. Ours is truly a sharing economy and this gem of a tree house is no exception.

This is a play structure of creative genius. Built from found materials like pallets, fencing and ropes, it is modular and the arrangement of its parts can transform and change as the kids see fit. It consists of a platform underneath a big shade tree, so not exactly in the tree but all the better to change and rearrange when one might want to add, oh, you know, a working drawbridge! There is plenty of shade, plenty of rope and imaginative play for days. We feel so lucky to live next to such an amazing little place.

Jenny Smith,Teddy Bear Artist

Back at the beginning of June, Mandy and I attended Patchwork, an indie art & craft fair that was just around the corner from my house. I remember lots and lots of steampunk, letterpress and jewelry. I picked up a bike bell for Ryan for Father's Day and I loved the super fun jewelry at Pollyanna Cowgirl. But it was Jenny Smith, a teddy bear artist, that stopped me right in my tracks. Who knew there was a plush niche known as teddy bear artistry? I had no idea, but I am so glad that I discovered Jenny and her amazing work. Her dedication to her craft is inspiring. She does more plush than teddy bears these days, and her animals caught my attention from a mile away.
And imagine my delight when I realized that she had used my Domestic Bliss on some of her guys and gals. I introduced myself to her and told her that I designed some of the fabrics she was using. She proceeded to tell me that she used some of my fabrics on a giant (30 inches!) stuffed lion that will be used as a prop in a forthcoming movie starring Robert DeNiro. The lion will appear in DeNiro's character's childhood bedroom and my fabric was a great fit because it is supposed to look like it is from the 60s. Jenny sent me these photos:

Isn't he as creative as he is adorable? I love him! I can't wait to watch the movie. It really is a magical moment when you see something that you've made put into action, especially on something so cool as Jenny's plush! I read on her blog that she will be at Renegade this weekend and I am pretty sure that I am going to hustle right down there and bring home one of those stuffies. They are way too wonderful to pass up a second longer.

Hello From Sunday

What are you up to today?

He Makes Things

My husband, Ryan, is undeniably creative. He writes for a living. I knew all about his quick wit and brilliant mind long ago when I first fell for him. What I did not know about him, and what he surprised me with this Christmas, is that his creativity is not limited to the written word. He makes things! With his hands and from his heart.

He mentioned to me early on in the seasonal hubbub that there was a challenge on zenhabits to not buy any new gifts for the holidays. It struck a chord in him and he decided to make the commitment. All of his gifts to Rylie and I were either handmade by him, vintage or upcycled pieces made by independent craftspeople and artists.

I knew that he was working on this ukulele for Rylie. He had been gifted the kit last year for Christmas from a friend. Isn't it adorable? He even painted her name on it. See it on the headstock? While he had me believe that the uke was a real bear of a project (he'd come in cursing up a storm every night) he was actually done with it much earlier than I knew. Instead, after the uke was finished, he was building me these amazing bird feeders. One for seed and one for water. He used this tutorial.

He found the plates on the tops at a local thrift store and I think they are perfect in this application. They are so pretty and rustic. I love them so. We hung them in a perfect spot just outside the kitchen window. As if these two bird feeders were not enough, he made me this chalkboard, too.

You can see a little corner of my desk poking in on the bottom left. It matchers perfectly! The wonderful story here, is that the same day we bought this door, we bought a few windows as well. I made the door into the dining room table long ago, but the windows have been in the garage for years now. We even contemplated selling them during our yard sale we had last spring, but Ryan was inspired to reuse them, so back into storage they went. I am so glad that we decided that they were keepers, because the chalkboard is beautiful. I'm going to use it to write down tasks that need attention because getting organized is what the new year is all about. I love, LOVE it!

To see a man who usually sticks to the cerebral side, roll up his sleeves and get to work with his hands is downright inspiring. Every night he'd come home from the office, we'd eat dinner, shuffle through the Rylie bed routine, and philosophize over the dirty dishes. Then - after all of that - he would head to the fridge, grab a beer and tell me that he was going out to the garage to "Man Off." Somewhere around 1 a.m. he would climb into bed. He was burning the candle at both ends for several weeks, just for us, and for something he believes to be important. Rylie and I are feeling quite blessed right about now.

Connecting With Music

This is my favorite time of year without question. It is busy, yes. Hectic, for sure. But when I slow down long enough, I realize that the days are getting colder and darker, that even around here leaves change color and lilt to the ground, and soon all of our preparations will reap warm and joyous moments. Though, all of those things fill my heart right up and satisfy me to no end, I can't help but feel a little sad about the way that Christmas encroaches on Thanksgiving more and more each year. Stores close late on Thanksgiving day and open again in a few short hours for massive Holiday sales and deals. I think of those that are affected by the unusual work hours on this day meant to be spent with those nearest and most dear.

This week, in continuing the theme of Thanksgiving a bit longer, I would like to share the connections that we are so grateful for in our lives. I want to pause and reflect on how important this sense of community is for my family and what it means to us in the larger context our lives.

Perhaps, one of the greatest gifts that I have received in the past year is getting to know such an amazing group of mamas. We all live in the same area and know each other one way or another. We have a yoga instructor that leads us in a practice a few times a week in one mama's backyard. The little ones play amongst us and I've glimpsed Rylie doing a down dog more than once. I recently organized a music class that immediately follows up yoga on Friday mornings with a wonderful teacher, Sarah Peters. Her warmth is contagious and the kids flock to her. The class focuses on different music traditions from around the world and each week we explore drums, movement & rhythm. There is always a lullaby at the end to balance things out.


At the beginning of our session, Sarah gave each of us a CD and songbook. We play our CD around here a lot. Last week, we were in the back of the house away from the classical music that was playing on the stereo. The CD changed and the quiet beat of Sarah's drum was hardly noticeable. Rylie stopped what she was doing, cocked her ear in the direction of the drums and started dancing. Oh, the cuteness around here, I tell you.







It is amazing to watch the kids move through different moods during the class. They are always a bit shy to start. Sarah starts class with offering the djembe up to each toddler for a little axé. This gets the good vibes and smiles going. Some will tap it and some pass. Some will do everything to avoid eye contact with Sarah, or the drum, but by the end of class they are all fumbling over themselves to have a strum on her guitar.



Each class is a little different, but the songs stay the same so we all can sing along. During our class right before Halloween, there was lots of fun and spooky variation, including a dance party to Thriller. As a child of the 80s, I had Thriller on vinyl, and a Michael Jackson poster thumbtacked to my bedroom wall, so I was indeed thrilled. During our most recent class, Sarah played a berimbau.

We look forward to each week and feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful teacher. Apart from the hootenanny, for us, it is really about being together with friends and little ones and sharing lots of fun.

Doodles

We call Rylie Doodles. It is a nickname we granted her when she was about 6 months old. No reason really, it just sort of happened and stuck, as the silliness sort of does around here. And it is certainly no misnomer, because as it turns out, this girl loves to, well, doodle. Do you suppose her nickname has informed her passion? Not sure, but a passionate doodler she is. Shortly after her first birthday, I was sitting at the table jotting down a note with her in my lap and she grabbed the pen from my hand and started making marks on the paper. I was truly amazed. I had no idea she was ready. But we were excited to keep it going and quickly set up a family drawing time. We went to the art supply store and got a roll of butcher paper and a few spiral bound sketchbooks. We are using my old Crayolas right now, but you can bet that these and these will make it into Rylie's stocking this Christmas. 

Setting up for family draw! I kinda love this as a family portrait.






Rylie


Daddy


Mama

Since then, she takes every opportunity to draw, scratch, and scribble. Whenever she sees a pen, she proceeds with fierce determination to get a hold of it and put it to use. She also frequents my big block of post it notes and urges me to let her draw on them (and unstick every last one.) 

Rylie and her bestie. Photo by Mandy

The sketchbook and crayons are in heavy rotation around here. I am excited to continue down this road and to introduce her to new mediums and materials as she is ready and shows interest. This book is on her Christmas list and I hope to experiment with some of the activities. She loves for Ryan and I to draw along side her - often bringing us crayons and "asking" us to participate. Much of her book is filled with pages of Mama, Papa and Rylie drawing together.





Ryan caught the photos below just this morning.

She is amazing to watch. What started as a few timid scribbles has evolved into a full body, interactive art experience. She climbs on the coffee table, on top of her sketchbook, she carries the sketchbook around the house. She marks the whole page with quick, wide strokes. With quiet concentration she is completely absorbed and transfixed. We get out of her way and let her do her thing. As long as her interest is so intense, we will give her the space and opportunity for expression. I'm more than a little thrilled. Can you tell?

Birthday Boy

This past weekend our nephew, Liam, turned 4. I once again marvel at the passage of time. It seems like only yesterday when he was a cuddly little baby.

Inspired by Maya's project in this book, I used Eucalyptus seed pods, or gumnuts, dipped in ink to stamp the wrapping paper for his gifts. I love how they turned out, and it was very satisfying to give a grocery bag new life, instead of adding it to the pile to be recycled. Read more about this fun process here, here and here!

But, perhaps, the highlight of the evening was his amazing Star Wars ice cream cake! He was beyond excited . . . Happy Birthday sweet boy!

County Fair Blog Hop

Have you been following the County Fair Blog Hop? I am so excited to be participating with all of my fellow Moda designers. If you're not familiar, it goes something like this: Each day from September 6 - October 2 a different Moda designer posts a project with instructions for something County Fair related. There is also a fun set of questions that each designer will be answering as well. Be sure to check it out, you may learn something new about your favorite fabric designer, as well as pick up a sweet project for free. I am particularily intrigued by the County Fair theme because I just attended the L.A. County Fair last week. It was a visual feast, not to mention, a literal feast (of the deep fried variety!)

The Blog Hop has been going strong for a week already. Look at these wonderful ideas and projects:

* Sandy Gervais of Pieces from My Heart
* Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs
* Barb and Mary from Me and My Sister Designs
* Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms
* Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts
* Basic Grey
* Polly and Laurie from Minick and Simpson

And be sure to follow the rest of the Blog Hop as it unfolds:

* September 13th Sandy Klop from American Jane (Post will be featured on Moda’s blog)
* September 14th Liesl from Oliver + S
* September 15th Joanna from Fig Tree and Co.
* September 16th Lynne from Kansas Troubles
* September 17th Barb and Alma from Blackbird Designs
* September 18th Aneela Hoey
* September 19th Barbara Brackman
* September 20th Bonnie from Cotton Way
* September 21st Christina from Cabbages and Roses
* September 22nd Deb Strain
* September 23rd Jan Patek of Brannock and Patek
* September 24th Lauren and Jessi Jung
* September 25th Stephanie from Lily Ashbury
* September 26th Julie from Cosmo Cricket
* September 27th Kate Spain
* September 28th Karla, Susan and Lisa from Sweetwater
* September 29th Kaari from French General
* September 30th Lisa from Primitive Gatherings
* October 1st Kathy from Kathy Schmitz Studio
* October 2nd Liz from Liz Scott Designs

I can't wait to share my project with you so that you can see Domestic Bliss in action! Now, hop to it!

Speaking Of Finds

I thought I would continue the show offiness around here and share a few other things I found during a recent trip to a local thrift shop.

This book from the late 1960s is all about a little girl and her love of aprons. I can definitely relate with her. The big climax of the story is when she goes to visit her daddy at the printshop where he works and finds out that he wears an apron too. The fact that her dad is a typesetter charmed me to no end.

Plus, I love the illustrations and line drawings by Yaroslava Surmach Mills. After consulting with The Googles, I found more from this artist:

I simply adore this style! It is all of my favorite things: sixties, folksy, colorful and sweet. On the same trip, same shop I picked up this first ediition Dr. Seuss book.

It is missing its dust jacket, but the guy at the thrift shop gave it to me at no charge, so I really can't complain. Oh, and I also got an assortment of cloth napkins.

We are choosing to use cloth over paper whenever we can. Ok, maybe tomorrow I will post somehting other than my treasures (maybe).

Last Night in Santa Monica

Occasionally on Tuesday nights we will head down to the California Heritage Museum on Main Street and get dinner at one of the many food trucks parked there. Last night was special because not only were the food trucks there, but TOMS launched a new line of sunglasses and threw a party to celebrate. When you buy a pair of sunglasses, TOMS will donate a pair of eyeglasses to people in need around the world. Our friend Benji's band, Lord Huron, played at the launch party.

They are amazingly amazing and we know someday we'll be able to say, "We knew Benji way back when..." Rylie loved it too!


On our way back to the car we stopped by the very inspiring Community Gardens and saw this:

A beautiful evening all the way around.