Merry & Mod at home

a good start

 

The main entrance to our home sees a lot of action on busy school mornings: shoes, socks, backpacks, coats, and HURRY, don't forget your library books! Ever since we started the wild and wonderful ride that is kindergarten, I've been intending to complete this project. Six months later, I've crossed it off my list. It only took four fun elephant hooks and a length of reclaimed barn wood that I sanded and stained one weekend afternoon while the boys played with buckets and scrap wood in the front yard.  

Now we are working on remembering to use the hooks when we get home from school. Maybe by the time school ends in June, we'll be up to speed. A good start for first grade! 

 

family gallery

The New York Times recently published an article about displaying, organizing and archiving children's art work.  The author described a mother - and artist - who goes to great lengths and expense to display and save her child's work.  Another mother immediately tossed each and every piece.  I fall somewhere in between.  I once had grand plans for saving my kids' creations, but that was before I realized my young artists would be so prolific.  With a bit of time and perspective, I can see now that art for young children is mostly about the process.  

To lessen the use of our printer paper, I encourage them to add more colors, to fill up the negative space, to use the back of the page, too.  My oldest will search the recycling basket and draw on the backs of flyers and other scraps.  Sometimes we he uses a journal, which I love for the simple fact that this avoids piles and piles of loose paper.  

With all this creativity, we needed a place to display recent works.  A pile on the counter has long been unacceptable.  (The refrigerator is stainless steel - not magnetic - and therefore displays a carefully curated collection of cards, photos and other ephemera.)  With a few eye hooks, a length of wire from the picture hanging kit, and some small but surprisingly strong clothespins, our family art gallery was created.  

From this spot, we can now discuss recent works - simultaneously building an artist's eye and self-esteem.  I can photograph exceptional works in a paperless archival system, and not feel guilty about sending so much creative output to the recycling bin.  On the list of someday projects, I'll eventually collect all these photos into a catalogue of his early works.  

Liberty Booty

 

My Sunday shopping expedition was not exactly the display of unbridled consumerism I intended.  Oh, I tried.  Truly, I did.  Dresses, tops, intimates - I caught a glimpse of myself in the security camera when I was waiting for a changing room and thought I looked as though I'd robbed the wardrobe room from an Austen Powers movie.  In the end nothing worked.  You see, what I love about the Liberty of London fabrics that I've admired in so many sewing blogs is the beauty of the cotton fabric.  These patterns just aren't as subtle in a shiny synthetic material. 

In the end, I came home with this gigantic bag.  It makes me feel a little like Mary Poppins; I stashed crayons, automoblox, birthday candles and a ten inch chef's knife in it's depths at a Jackson's Corner birthday party.  For traveling it should work like a dream and it's pleasant to carry something cheery for Spring.  (Meanwhile, I'm continuing to save for a statement bag from Valhalla Brooklyn.) 

 

The throw pillows were finally deemed a little too...too.  I returned them today and will continue to search for something to brighten up our sorry old sofa.  As I begin to organize my studio space these file folders will hopefully help me remember to avoid the pile and return papers to their proper places.  There are more items online than our small town Target carries - these storage solutions are definitely under consideration.

 

in the midst

 

It's late at night.  I should be sleeping.  But I've never been very good at ignoring the bees in my bonnet.  Everywhere I turn, a new project awaits.  On a scale both small and grand, our to do list grows in exponential abandon. 

 

This evening I've checked something off the list.  My little online journal has a fresh new look.  I've been thinking about fresh and new quite a lot lately.  Can't help it; this great upheaval will, eventually, be followed by a contented sigh once things are in order.  Right now I'm about to get the various tools of my trades set up just as I wish.  That's an enticing thought. 

 

So I shall document the beginning.  So I can measure the distance I've traveled farther down the road.  I'll remember this sense of anticipation and savor the rejuvenation as it comes.  Spring, indeed.   

 
 

Liberty of London for Target

 
Coming March 14 to a Target near you:  the Liberty of London collection.  If these patterns alone don't convince you to be there when the doors open, watch the short video.  Do you see that girl walking with the bike?  She's wearing a peacock print one piece swim suit, people.  And if any of those pretty dresses have pockets, they are bound to come home with me.   

Will you laugh with me when my summer dresses match my new couch pillows and my teapot? 

welcome, remember

Slowly, patiently, our home is becoming more organized, more stylish, more ours.  The much-discussed list of projects grows constantly.  One conundrum remains the entryway and accompanying tiny closet.  Into this space we fling coats, shoes, bags, the detritus of our day.  Dirt often accumulates and we have needed something to cover the cold travertine.  This bamboo mat, from Cost Plus World Market for only $25, fits the bill just fine.  It wasn't until I brought it home and walked over for a few days that I noticed the forget-me-nots.  What a lovely image, I thought, for sending our guests on their way home.  Remember us.  Please come back. 

Or, even more immediately:  remember to hang up your coat, put your shoes away, stash your keys.

family quilts

With temperatures dropping, it seemed appropriate to launder our quilts and set them out in the fresh air to dry.  A few of these treasures see plenty of use, and others have been carefully packed away for quite some time...waiting for just the right spot.  The process of washing, hanging and admiring was so satisfying, that I decided to share it with you, too.  The top quilt has seen much use and is starting to show some wear and tear.  That's OK, because it's store bought - to replace the big blue blanket on my futon in my first post-college apartment.  I still like the color palette and pretty little calico patterns. 

Many of the women in Erick's family are accomplished quilters, and we have several handmade creations to prove it.  The blue and tan log cabin quilt was a gift from his grandma for college graduation.  She's made graduation and wedding quilts for each of her grandchildren and baby quilts for every great grandchild.  The family has grown rapidly in the last few years, so she's been extremely prolific and has yet to miss an event or a baby. 

I still remember opening this quilt Erick's mom made for us the morning after our wedding.  My mother-in-law has a way with color that never ceases to impress me.  The giant gift bag full of brightly colored pillows of all shapes and sizes was particularly thrilling, too. 

Cuddling under a handmade quilt - knowing that every fabric and each piece was sewn with you in mind - is truly something special.  Inconceivable amounts of time, money and love went into each finished piece, as evidenced by the handwritten inscription Gramma wrote on our wedding quilt, which is lovely blend of earthy greens, browns and a little rose for good measure. 

Ta da!  May I present the guest bed, in our newly reorganized guest bedroom.  We were lucky enough to find a very soft bed just in time for a vist from Cathy, the colorful quilter herself.  Having a real guest bed - as opposed to an air matress - makes me feel so grown up.  (I spent an inordinate amount of time arranging the pillows just so, knowing the entire time that they are seen by three of the four residents of my home as pillow fight amunition.  Oh well.  When company is not present, they are safely stowed in a proper container under the bed!)

pretty pictures

 

The boys and I are just returned from a very hot visit to my childhood home in the Willamette Valley.  Recently I wondered, living in the high desert as I do now, does my upbringing in Eugene make me a Valley Girl?

 

[Raspberry vodka in the works.]

 

[Stone fruits - the essence of summer.]

     

[Wading pools, shade, cold drinks, bare feet.]

abundance of appreciation

   

This afternoon, enjoying the quiet of afternoon nap time in my studio - and it's a real studio, not just a desk in the corner of my bedroom - I constructed a wire to hold my favorite ephemera of the moment. 

 

I made these little magnetic clips with double sided tape, tiny magnets, and scraps from Paper Source.  Though they are certainly pretty, they aren't strong enough to hold much more than a photo.

 

Thus inspired and feeling extremely fortunate, I caught up on my thank you notes.  Lo and behold, I used the last of the 500 note cards we ordered for our wedding eight years ago.  That's a lot of gratitude expressed for hospitality, favors, warm wishes, good thoughts, presents and love. 

Even with a tall stack of notes ready to post, I'll never be completely caught up.  After all, there is always a reason to be thankful.

hello yellow

 

These sunshine-y blooms ($7 at Trader Joe's) looked so cheerful in the late summer sun, artlessly disarranged in my husband's Oktoberfest stein.  Even in this photo, as they were starting to loose their freshness, I still find the color and texture pleasantly happy.