Super Natural

I am obsessed with this new cook book " Super Natural Everyday" by Heidi Swanson. The photos of her San Francisco kitchen and life style are beautiful, and every recipe has me more inspired than the last.  I have made five recipes in as many days and each one is more delicious than the last... I cannot choose my favorites!
What I made so far- the morning oatmeal (simmering on the stove right now), Qunioa patties with goat cheese and chives, mushroom and wild rice casserole, popcorn with brown butter, mustard chives and fresh thyme (the kids LOVED this one) and a roasted eggplant, tempe and sweet potatoes topped with feta and cilantro. These images of her amazing food are from Heidi's blog...it is also beautiful and amazing. I am star struck!

Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God.

I want these shoes so badly I could just cry. I want the brown leather...Imagine them with socks and tights in the fall too?! Oh...Hmmm. Maybe I need to have a Swedish Hasbeens sale on Etsy to raise funds.

Come by and say hello!

 I would love to see you at Crafty Wonderland! I will have my full product line for sale, so come try on a hoodie, fall in love with a pillow or just come say hello. I can't wait to see you there!

Ok, but seriously...

Why is this girl so cute? Who follows her around all day taking cute photos of her? HOW? WHY?

Happy Easter!

photos via the purl bee

The first signs of summer...

We made our first trip to Jamison Square of the summer season this afternoon and it was delightful. I am ready to curl up in a ball with a glass of wine and head to bed very early tonight- it has been a long and very fun week. I should be working in the studio, but sometimes you just need to watch a bad movie and eat a little chocolate after a day like today.

Happy Easter!

New Classes and Crafty Wonderland!

I have some new classes over at Modern Domestic for Spring and I am going to be at Crafty Wonderland at the Oregon Convention Center on May 7th. Come by and say hello won't you?

CRAFTY WONDERLAND SHOW DATES for 2011!! SUPER COLOSSAL SPRING SALE
Saturday, May 7th
ONE DAY ONLY!
11am to 6pm
at the Oregon Convention Center
777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Exhibit Hall D
*Free admission – all ages
*Goodie bags for the first 200 shoppers
*Free craft projects in our DIY Area hosted by Collage
*Special guest authors signing books

Hello flags! You look so pretty.

My banners have made another guest appearance in one of Dane's playrooms. So cute! Nice work friend.

Sun!!

We have not had a day of full sunshine in weeks and weeks here in Portland, so today we spent the entire day outside- visiting three wonderful parks all over town. It was delightful. And Angelina is an epic side-walk chalker.

Iris gets a Rody Pony!

After a few weeks of hard work,  Iris has been going to sleep on her own, no tears...all working towards having her own Rody Pony. Today was her day!  She did it and the whole family was really proud of her- it was wonderful to see her big sister put Iris first and congratulate her on being "such a big girl."

Joy in the form of an orange bouncy pony.

Mooza

How cool are these house numbers from Mooza on Etsy? They also have letters...

More kids rooms

from Dane...I would will take one of each thank you very much.

Castles

Dane sent over this fantastic new shot he took featuring the little flag banners that I made him. I love it. And how amazing is that handmade cardboard castle?

My alarm clock

Iris...

stuff I want

It feels like it will never be warm again, but while I wait these looks are burning a whole in my pocket of dreams.

Also- I went grocery shopping yesterday and the only food we have in the house to eat are fruits and vegetables. I am getting ready to bare some skin when the sun comes out, so get ready Portland!

From the top- the cutest look from Madewell, dream jeans from my very favorite Seattle based Prairie Underground, sexy sandals from Madewell, a sweet striped dress and a Liberty of London swim suit from J Crew

My big girl

When Dane was in town he spent an afternoon taking photos of the kids. These two of Angelina are especially treasured. 

Some things that made me happy this week

These things made me happy this week...Some amazing art that Iris made with washi tape and oragami paper, my Saltwater sandals arrived (LOVE THEM), Angelina's spring nature table ("Mom, you can make you own nature table...this one is mine.") and my growing collection of craft and art books. I keep hoping that if all of my books are out and in one place I will have time to read them.  I will keep hoping.

Style Crushes

Once again Toast UK is killing me. I am dying to buy Spring clothes, but resolve to walk with my stroller for at least 6 weeks before I purchase anything ( DO NOT hold me to this.)

Fear

Poster from Popcorny

 Since my Quit Your Day Job feature on Etsy I have received countless emails from designers and Etsy sellers who have questions about how to makes sales, get started and expressing that I am an inspiration to them. It has been overwhelming and humbling. But one email really struck me- a woman saying that she was a designer that was not working because of fear.  It struck a very deep chord with me.
What people do not see when the read a feature on a someone (and I am no exception) are all of the fears, worries and doubts that plague creative people trying to make a go at selling their work.

I lost my father in 2003 to cancer. He was my compass.  After I lost him I had no idea which direction to point, where to go, what to do.  I had two children...worked hard at being a good mother and wife, but there was a gaping hole in my heart that was filled with fear. Everything was so overwhelming, but nothing more so than the feeling of shame that I felt, knowing that I was not reaching (or even trying to reach) my potential.  Thank goodness for my mother who by telling me to "Give it a shot" somehow have me permission to move past my fear and start working on my art again.

So what does all this mean? If you do not try you will fail for sure. That is the truth. If you try, you still might fail, but at least you know that you tried. Then you get up, dust yourself off and try again.
You can do it. I believe in you.

Salt water!

I just ordered these for summer...$26.00 sandals cannot be beat. I am thinking they are going to be really cute with dark jeans and striped tank tops...and red toes.