Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Strawberries & Rainbows: Bird's 2nd Birthday Party

Intoxicatingly colorful photo heavy post ahead!

(many of these photos were taken by my friend Klay - klaydoughdreams.blogspot.com - thank you!!)

:o)

Bird's party was really fun - slightly chaotic with how many people were squeezed into our backyard (with half of them under the age of 5).

I had planned to make a rainbow "something" for dessert...maybe rainbow cupcakes, maybe a swirly rainbow cake. I really liked this look but thought it would be too much work. In the end because of how irresistible it was to play with color & because I goofed on my measuring I ended up making both a 6 layer rainbow cake AND rainbow cupcakes.

It was a long night.

Now, here's the fun stuff:



By the way, Bird had a great time at her party. She also had at least 3 timeouts (Jared and I lost track between the two of us and a couple that were interrupted). Since May she's been on a pushing craze...not aggressive pushing but definitely pushing. "I push" she says with matter of factness and a playful glint in her eye. It drives us nuts but seems like one of those things she just will work out of soon enough and then we'll barely remember how embarrassing it was to apologize to every kid/parent at the playground (and even at 2, she has no qualms about going after a 4 yr old, though she may choose to approach from behind - sneak attack).

Anyway, it was so enjoyable for me to exercise some creativity into Bird's birthday party - to make something beautiful & well thought out. I know I'm not the only one who appreciates these things. I was explaining that to J...it's so much more than making something pretty. To me its the same as making a painting or designing a pattern or gardening for that matter. I love the aesthetics. And if you're reading this, I bet you feel that way too!

Have a great week all...I'll be back to share what I'm working on. New pattern! With rabbits! And I got my fabric back from Spoonflower! Too much excitement! Or maybe I'm just thrilled about Bird's uber long nap this afternoon.

:o)

xo,

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Ripples, felt, beetles & captured moments

Yesterday a cheery envelope from across the pond was sitting in my mailbox. I purchased this original watercolor painting by Sarah Wimperis (for $10!!) through the Ripple site set up to support 2 non-profits working to aid in the recovery and support of wildlife in the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. I absolutely love it! I still can't believe all the generosity of so many artists who have offered up beautiful original works of art. I admire and respect them. I hope to add my own piece to Ripple this coming week. Here is the ripple site address: http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com/ - please visit, please purchase!!

Bird's 2nd birthday party is this coming Saturday...so of course I'm making tiny felt strawberries for the table. I mean, isn't that just as important as baking a cake or cleaning up the backyard?

(Here are lots of great felt strawberry ideas from How About Orange)

Oh, and that teeny orange thing is our first tomato of the season! Bird already ate it.

Happy I caught this yesterday morning. Bird likes to help Jared get his boots on before work. I think it's really sweet. Then they jump in the "fast" car together, back out, and wait for me to come with Jared's bag & lunch. Routines are always changing but this one has stuck for awhile.

Beetle painting I made for my dad. When my dad was a kid he probably would have liked insect plushes (more than the owls or whales or penguins that I make) - beetle & butterflies fascinate him. My parents' downstairs bathroom is full of mounted insects they've collected over the years. The royal blue butterflies are the most amazing (though I feel torn about them...would rather see them outside, flying around of course). Anyway, I thought he'd like this for the space and I put my own spin on it with the vibrant flowers.

Off in the mail it goes!

Hope you have a lovely Tuesday!

xo,

Sunday, June 20, 2010

10 years + Father's Day + Apricot Season

Happy Sunday to you all :o) I'm home with Bird today while Jared is out enjoying a Nascar event he was invited to. I've been teasing him by saying it's "Jared's Day" instead of Father's Day. For a little while I was bummed when hearing about everyone's different plans for the day out with their families - brunch, parks, camping, etc. But we've had a nice day and I'm sincerely okay with Jared getting some time with friends getting their ears blown out by race cars on a track (hoping he remembered the earplugs...). Bird and I met up with friends for lunch & playground time, walked Phylo, and hopefully will do some gardening together (my plan at least, haha).

Yesterday Jared picked ALL of the apricots off our tree. It's something we always do with our cherry tree - harvest all at once. We're thinking it's a good way to go - rather than little by little. You get some overripe fruit, some under ripe fruit, etc. but it evens out with some being perfectly ready for jam making and some giving you more time to get to them for processing into smoothies, sauces, or just plain eating (which is best! - especially on vanilla ice cream!)

Lovely shot of our huge copper sink filled with just 2 of the 5 bags we picked.

I could eat all that color.


One thing I wasn't able to blog last week was that Jared and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on June 11th! We got married 10 years ago - pretty amazing... Of course, the day wasn't how I had pictured it being but I'm often off when it comes to imagining those sorts of things. I always think we'll have more time than we do. It's just not that time in life for us of course. Bird was a handful all day & we had no plans (because we had no babysitter). When my sweet friend Di offered to stay at our house so we could head out to celebrate we were so grateful!! It's a busy crazy time of life & I accept it. I'm just thankful for the little things & for friends who help make things better & for the time Jared and I have had so far. Looking back at our photos reminds me how much fun we've had over the last 10 years(+). Here's to many, many more!! :o)


Happy Father's Day to all you dads!

I'll be back later in the week with new drawings, paintings, and an update on fabric design.

Hugs,

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Happy 5 to Phylo!

It's a big week around here (with another big day tomorrow too) :o)

Today is our sweet boy Phylo's 5th birthday!! 5 years ago he was born on the island of Cyprus (Greek side), was found with his brother & sister by an American couple, brought over to California through the South Bay Purebred Rescue, fostered by a lovely family, then discovered by us and brought home. What a journey.

We gave him two presents this morning. A wool dog bone toy & a kong braided frog plush (great for dogs like ours who just want to rip out stuffing - this one has minimal stuffing but is still fun to chew). Phylo grabbed the wool bone and took off. Bird grabbed the frog and has refused to give it to Phylo. I think it's a little bratty, Jared didn't mind. Maybe he's happy everyone seemed content.

Phylo drives me nuts sometimes, but he is the best buddy - happy to hang out with me wherever I am. & I love rubbing that soft head and those silky ears. Bird likes putting them in her mouth :o)

xo,

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

TWO

Our little Bird is TWO today!!!

The second year has definitely gone faster than the first - whoosh! And here is this awesome little girl who takes great fun in copying all of our mannerisms, tickling & carrying her babies in backpacks turned Ergo's (baby carrier), whose favorite color seems to be red based on how everything is "red" when I ask her "what color?", who picks roses from our backyard to carry around and smell, is sensitive & sweet to people and animals, who eats strawberries like they're a food group, adores Elmo, rocks, shoes, and being chased ("chase you? chase you?!").

Two isn't terrible...in fact, it's funny & sweet & there's always something new. Of course, there are still the tantrums (see below, and note Phylo's stance, indifferent, used to having a little girl throw herself on the floor in front of him).


Much LOVE to our Bird!
Love love love love love you :o)

xoxoxo,

Friday, June 4, 2010

Seeing (with New Eyes)

When I was little I always said I had 3 wishes:

To be able to sing.

To be able to breathe underwater.

To have perfect vision.


At 13 I got my scuba certification after I came to grips that I would never become a mermaid.

I've been a part of many musicals but never for my singing ability (I can dance & therefore get hidden in with the chorus). I'm OK with that.

And yesterday I got my perfect vision wish. I'm awestruck, amazed, in disbelief - I can really see!! Words can't express how grateful I am.

And giddy :o)

Check out what I've been working on over here at Spoonflower.
More to come! Full speed ahead!

Giddy!

Have a beautiful weekend & thanks for stopping by, really.

xo,