11.30.2009

Scenes from Thanksgiving -- AKA "The Table"...

I'll post more photos soon, but wanted to give you a glimpse of the finished product. Our Thanksgiving was lovely, and now I'm just getting settled back into our routine after a busy and lively week of family and friends and a criminal amount of food and wine.

And the table that my husband made with his very own two hands (and moved into the house Wednesday evening -- nothing like right up to the wire, no?) turned out to be insanely gorgeous (if I do say so myself.)

I am so proud of Bryan. It's a masterpiece. I am a lucky girl.


11.25.2009

Thanksgiving Thoughts...



Earlier this year, we lost one of our dear friends, Philip. We’re lucky to have his amazing and lovely wife, Cecilia, join us for Thanksgiving this year. A couple of days ago, Cecilia passed on a note that Philip used to send to friends and family before Thanksgiving, and I thought it was so lovely I had to share it here.

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!

*****

We are about to celebrate one of our great American holidays, Thanksgiving.

This celebration leads us to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy in this wonderful country of ours. We have a great deal to celebrate this year. We have our family and good friends to thank for getting through another year.

We are blessed for being here in this country, enjoying a multitude of advantages .We have bountiful food, freedom of thought, religion and politics. We have our health and many intangible things to be thankful for.

As we sit down to our Thanksgiving meal to celebrate the start of our holiday season, let us not forget the wonderful privileges that we enjoy.

We must always enjoy our family and friends around us, and never, ever give up an opportunity to hug and kiss someone we love, each and every day.

A Winner...


Image via Satsuma Journal

The winner of the Satsuma Press 2010 Calendar giveaway is Tiffany. Congrats!

Also, be sure to check out the special Thanksgiving giveaway (photo above) over at Lynn’s blog (it involves Heath Ceramics …swoon.)

Per Lynn -- “There will be two lucky winners: one will receive an apron from Skinny laMinx, a teapot from Heath Ceramics and a set of stationery printed by Satsuma Press, designed by Heather of Skinny laMinx for Heath. The second winner will receive two tea towels from Skinny la Minx, a vase from Heath Ceramics and the same stationery set…”

11.24.2009

Team Cooking...



images via the selby

I love these images of photographer Dan Martensen and his girlfriend Shannan Click’s home over on The Selby, especially the shots of the two of them in the kitchen together...

I am a lone baker. It’s therapeutic. One of my favorite parts of the book Alice Waters and Chez Panisse was the description of the restaurant’s first pastry chef (and partner), Lindsey Shere, creating all of the desserts in a little shed behind the restaurant. Right before dinner she would run her creations across a path to the restaurant, sometimes under an umbrella in the pouring rain… I love that image. Total bliss that job, no?

But when I cook a meal, I love nothing more than the camaraderie and mild chaos of cooking with a few other people. I can’t wait to spend Thursday in the kitchen with my family turning out a huge meal.

Total bliss that job too…

11.23.2009

Scenes from The Week-End

a little gift for my friend Cindy adorned with one of Suann's most excellent pencils...

The weekend was busy and lovely and full of fun activities...a friend's birthday lunch, late night with the girlies at the Dallas Museum of Art on Friday, preparations for Thanksgiving (we're hosting the big day for the very first time... my family + several dear friends are coming, so I'm in the thick of planning the menu, scheming the table decorations, washing the wine glasses...) And sweet hubby is working away on the table -- it's so close, and I can honestly say it's turning out even more fantastic than I imagined.




And then of course there was the Kirtsy Book Party on Saturday... So much goodness -- some evidence below (+ more here.)



The brains behind the book -- the utterly amazing Laura Mayes...

loved meeting sweet molly from my favorite things (+ her lovely friend Stephanie...)


All in all, it would have been a pretty much perfect weekend if not for the family photos we decided to have taken bright and early Sunday... Bad idea. What is it with taking a family photo to bring out the absolute worst, most anal, stressed out, Meanie McMeanerson part of me?

Does this happen to you?

p.s. don't forget the Satsuma Press giveaway!

11.20.2009

Blogger's Favorites -- Lynn of Satsuma Press + A Giveaway!

This week's list belongs to Lynn of the insanely lovely letterpress line, Satsuma Press. I had a chance to get to know Lynn a bit after I posted her calendar in my roundup, and I can safely say that she's not only incredibly talented, but also incredibly kind... She is a wonderful mother a gifted artist and is endlessly supportive of other independent artists (the proof is in her list below!)

Lynn has also kindly offered to give away one of her gorgeous 2010 calendars to one of my readers. Just leave a comment on this post by Tuesday at 6pm CST, and I'll announce a winner on Wednesday!

I can't wait for you to get to know Lynn a bit better through her favorites! So without further ado, herewith Lynn's list. Enjoy and have a lovely weekend!



*****

I was really excited when Joslyn asked me to write a favorites list for her lovely blog. I am a list making fool and it also turns out I have an awful lot of favorites, so it was harder than I thought to narrow this list down to a manageable size. I tried to include some things that haven't already been listed – and I hope you see something you love too, particularly with the holidays around the corner. It probably goes without saying, but the true favorites aren't listed here – that is, my 5 year old son, Liam and my husband, Ben; my friends; my home; my studio and letterpress printing ... These are always at the top of the list, but here are some more tangible top 20 things (because I couldn't seem to make my list any shorter!)

So, in no particular order, with love for each and every:


  • House plants in white ceramic pots. I bought the filigree pattern one at the Portland grocery store, New Seasons, but it is also available here. The leaf pattern one is from IKEA.


  • Orla Kiely mugs. I bought these on eBay (make sure you check the worldwide option when you search.)


  • Kitchen linens. My favorites are from Elisabeth Bentz and Skinny laMinx. Elisabeth and I have done several trades – linens for letterpress – and we'll both be at the Sunday Best Holiday Sale in Portland the weekend after Thanksgiving. Heather of Skinny laMinx and I have recently collaborated on some lovely letterpress stationery and gift tags. Heads up – there is going to be a giveaway soon featuring an apron from her, a teapot from Heath Ceramics and some stationery that Heather designed and I printed for Heath. Check my journal for details.


  • Field books. I've recently converted from Moleskine Notebooks to these Field Books by Russell + Hazel. And I love a good mechanical pencil, too – plus these come in great colors and different lead thicknesses.

  • Tea. I drink a lot of tea. My daily one is PG Tips, but I also love a good green oolong. You can buy excellent loose leaf tea from Imperial Tea in San Francisco. The gaiwan (covered teacup) is also from Imperial Tea. The yellow (upside down) one is from White Forest Pottery and the dark orange one is from another all time favorite, Heath Ceramics. The origami placemat is from Modern Twist).


  • Necklaces. I love these necklaces, which seem to be really the only two I wear. They are from NY based Local Library. These are Lauren's little wings and silver fringe. I also have my eye on this one. I also love the combination of ochre and grey. The yellow hair clip is from Anthropologie and the grey one from J. Crew.


  • Food magazines. My favorite is Donna Hay, but I also enjoy Gourmet and Bon Appétit. I also especially love The Kitchen Diaries by Nigel Slater, most likely available at your local bookstore, but also right here.

  • Knitting. I like a project that I can come back to when I have a little free time (which isn't often). I most enjoy making sweaters for little kids. My favorite pattern is for an owl sweater by Penny Straker. This one is my son Liam's, knitted in Blue Sky Alpaca in copper

  • Bud Vases.I love these little bud vases with these little yellow flowers, which I only recently learned the name of – craspedia.


  • Pretty stamps. It makes all the difference for your packages – and I send a lot of them for my online shop orders. It's easy enough to find the good ones – just go to the USPS website. Also good for pretty packages – glassine envelopes and patterned Japanese masking tape (like I did for my 2010 calendar. Don't forget to leave a comment here for a chance to win a calendar for yourself!


  • Wooden spoons. The best ones found mostly at antique stores, but the middle one is from the oh-so-lovely Herriott Grace.

  • Japanese paper. So, so beautiful. I'm using it for a new project – the first ever Satsuma Press Perpetual Calendar. Check my journal for updates. You can buy your own sheets of chiyogami and katazome online at the The Paper Place.

Images clockwise: Modaspia, Max Wanger, Yu-I Chan, Pigeon Toe Ceramics, NPR, Powells

11.19.2009

A Moral Question (sort of)...

So...is it bad if I buy this Paris Map Tote for Audrey for Christmas fully intending to steal it from her to use myself?

I mean really...it's just so cute -- see proof below.

image via map tote

But, seeing as I'm in the thick of holiday gift buying, I can't bring myself to buy anything for me. Guilt is a powerful thing friends...

Now, to be less obvious that I'm giving my six-year old child a gift really intended for me, I have a plan. I'm going to fill the tote with some of her favorite books, but in French* (like this one and this one too), each individually wrapped, and I intend to make my move on the tote while she's busy gleefully unwrapping the books...

Clever, non?

*We're having a major French moment right now, Audrey and I, as at a birthday party this past weekend, we met a very cool mom + daughter who told us about a class she takes each week that combines art (shading, perspective, oil painting, etc...), piano and French lessons.

Audrey was so excited (all her very favorite things -- music, art and french -- in one single class... Sacrebleu!) that she fell into sort of an eerie calm and just said in a low and determined voice,

"i. want. to. take. that. class."

She starts this afternoon...

11.18.2009

Loving...

photo Stephen Lam via sf chronicle

This genius holiday DIY (via anh minh's article for the SF Chronicle) which I most definitely plan to steal.


These incredibly sweet kiddo clothes...


Kathryn Bentley's gorgeous jewelry via Beklina. Sadly, I want it all...


Perfection from Pinch via the lovely and talented Sarah...


Heidi's lovely photos of some of the specimens housed at Melbourne University's School of Botany...


Incredibly cool ceramics by Jonathan Cross...


Quite possibly the most perfect holiday cards from Bailey Doesn't Bark...


image via la porte rouge

Everything about this blog...but her photography especially -- oh my.

11.17.2009

The Kirtsy Book, Girl Power, Oh and A Party!

I’ m so honored to have a piece included in the new Kirtsy book, “Kirtsy Takes a Bow – A Celebration of Women’s Favorites Online” for all the obvious reasons (i.e. having something I’ve written in a book (!), being included alongside such talented and amazing women as her and her and her and her... oh and her too…)



But I’m especially honored and excited because the book is so cool. I love what it stands for – the power and strength and creative energy of women.

I grew up with two amazing sisters and now have two (lovely and amazing if I do say so myself) daughters...I’m all about girl power and collaborating with and supporting other women. I think it’s far too easy for girls (and women for that matter) to fall into that trap of being catty and gossipy and untrustworthy, and despite some regrettable actions in high school (and perhaps a few in college too…we live and learn), I’ve tried with every ounce of my being to show my daughters, through my actions and words, that being a mean girl is never a good thing. Never.

As women, we still have so many uphill battles in so many areas... Imagine our collective power if we banded together encouraging, supporting and cheering each other on. We’d be unstoppable, no?

So take a peek at the book and be sure to check out the lovely + inspiring book “trailer” created by Katherine Center (below).




And if you’re in the Dallas area, come by the book signing this Saturday from 5-7 at Little Bean and say hi...


Hooray for girls!

11.16.2009

Scenes from The Week-End

Friends the meyer lemon has landed.

I discovered it Friday morning (a lovely start to the weekend) when Audrey and I peered out the living room window to see that it had plopped onto the grass during the night. I'm trying to ripen it a smidge more, so I currently have it perched next to the bananas...

The other lemon (there were two on the tree) is almost ready too, so I've been trying to sleuth out a recipe worthy of the two beauties. Right now I'm leaning toward Rachel's lemon bars, but let me know if you have something swoon worthy I should try.



The rest of the weekend was decidedly more laid back than the last. We had our couples book club Saturday evening, so the girlies enjoyed a spend the night adventure at their grandparents' house. There were also two fun classmate birthday parties on Sunday, but mostly the girlies and I just lazed about drawing, listening to music and reading while Bryan worked on the table (he's racing to finish it by Thanksgiving.)

In fact, one of my loveliest moments of the weekend occurred at approximately 1:47 on Saturday (and I know this because I looked at the clock in an attempt to burn the moment on my memory -- I'm nutty like that.) You could hear the buzz of the sander in the garage, Millie was drawing a groovy little picture, Audrey was writing a note (on her own!) and I was listening to Carli Bruni on the ipod and working on a necklace. It was quiet and peaceful and, well...pretty much perfect.

It's the small things friends, no?

11.13.2009

Blogger's Favorites -- Mary Swenson of Pretty Good and T. Ruffles

image via mary's incredibly lovely blog pretty good

As promised, this week's list belongs to the other half of the genius team behind T. Ruffles, Ms. Mary Swenson (or as she's affectionately called in some circles, Mary Ruffle)... Like Karey, Mary and I met through Kirtsy, and I can safely say she is one of the kindest, loveliest and most talented (seriously her photography is beyond stunning) ladies in blog land.

So without further ado, Mary's list. Enjoy all the perfection that are her favorites and have a splendid weekend!


I first spotted the Harper’s Bazaar Russia editor on The Sartorialist, and thus began my frenzied search to find as many pictures of this little fashionista as possible on the internet so that I could study her look. I covet her hair, her extensive collection of tights, and her cool confidence spiked with just the right dash of adorableness.


Shoes make me extremely happy. And my friends will confirm that my inventory consists of only two types: the highest, most impractical heels possible, and flip flops. Lately, though, a third type has elbowed its way into my closet: the wedge. They look great with jeans and cute with casual skirts (the suede pair, above, from Anthropologie makes me drool), and even mid-heeled styles (like the adorable red pair by Report) are the perfect way for me to get my heel fix even when I’m running to the grocery store. And though I’m an expert in teetering around atop four inches, doing so in a pair of wedges is far more comfortable.


Forget what I just told you about shoes. My real weakness is ceramics. I love bowls, platters, cups, and pitchers and have the over-crowded cabinets to prove it. My current wishlist includes these handle-less pitchers and single-stem vase from Ceramicpix, and a pair of perfect spouted bowls from gleena{shop}.


I could take or leave chocolate. And, as a general rule, I leave it (I’m a salt-lovin’ girl, you see…) But sometimes, even a dessert-averse person like myself can be swayed by sugar and vanilla and raspberries. And when I saw this yogurt cake with raspberry currant sauce in the August 2009 issue of the late, great Gourmet, I was swayed. I’m waiting for just the right opportunity to indulge.


I’m an avid fan of do-it-yourself, even though I’m often just cheering from the sidelines. But ever since I saw the amazing sign Amanda Johnson made and read how easy it was to make on her blog, I’ve resolved to make one of my own, and I’m currently obsessed with figuring out exactly what it’ll say.


Here’s what I do as often as possible: I buy a bouquet of fresh flowers, take it home, split it up between random little bottles, cups, vases, jars (whatever I’ve got handy), and scatter them around the house. (And then I take pictures of them. Because photographing flowers is my all-time favorite thing to do.) This little ritual is not only relaxing and fun for me, but it’s hands-down my favorite way to display flowers -- see how casually pretty they look in this photo by Steven Myers Photography (via Once Wed)?


Emilie79*’s photographs are, like, whoa. They’re moody, pretty, and often layered with scraps of other photos and simple words to create amazing little pieces of art. This girl’s a genius, in my book.


Speaking of genius. And words. And photos. Last-but-never-least on my current list of favoriti is collaborating with one of the most unique voices in blogging – my partner-in-crime, Karey Mackin. We’ve started here. But it’s only the beginning. And that, my friends, makes me downright giddy.