I think most people have signed off by now, but in case anyone is taking a break from baking, I wanted to share a little of myself from the Christmas of, probably, 1974.
Today's beautiful, totally gorgeous, photograph comes all the way from Tibet.
One of my oldest friends in the world went to Tibet with his lovely wife this year. They had an amazing journey, and that is saying a lot coming from two world-travelers. Victor published a photo book of their travels, of which I was one of the lucky recipients.
Rumor has it a Flickr account has recently been created (after years of begging by certain photo addicts). I will share the link when I get my hands on it. Here's the link! Victor's photostream.
I am going to slow things down around here for the holidays and do simple photo posts for a bit of time. I am inspired by Holly's example. I have the Noodle home and I don't want the entire week to be a blur of Mama running around like a crazy person doing too much (hello, yesterday). I want to be more in the moment than I have been so far this holiday season. But I am addicted to pretty pictures so pretty pictures there will be!
Are you slowing down a bit yet?
Good morning! I snapped this photo over the weekend when Jeff and I went out shopping for a certain little boy's Christmas gifts. I am drawn to understated holiday decorations like this simple wreath in the window.
It's a big week for those who celebrate Christmas. I take comfort that I am not alone in the madness of last minute preparations. My house is a shambles after being sick last week, but I am emerging from the fog and plan to conquer it.
I have most of the shopping done but all of the wrapping to go. If you are in a similar boat, you will love this post from Two Brunettes on how to wrap pretty and on a budget with items you probably already own. If you need a last minute handmade gift, join me in making these ridiculously adorable cakes and pies.
Happy Friday everyone!
Today we have the Noodle's Winter Celebration at school. He attends a public K-8 charter school and they do this amazing all-school performance each December. Each class chooses what to perform and last year when one class sang Country Roads, I do believe 95% of the parents and grandparents were weeping.
I got these for our family this year and I just love the colors. They fit in perfectly with my white/red/turquoise color scheme in the living room. I also drooled over this white, quilted tree skirt but I resisted. Oh do I want that tree skirt badly! I can't find it on their site or I would show you, trust me.
I also wanted to share this year's letter to Santa. He wrote it in two parts: first what he wanted and then after viewing Elf, he added a second part.
Translation, part one: I want a BB gun please. I want a remote control car please. please. I want a remote control plane. I want a Lego set of the Death Star.
Translation, part two: Message. Dear Santa. I have tried to be nice so please don't put me on the naughty list.
I swear, his writing notes and letters this year is a major highlight of my life. I know I'm in proud mama mode but it's so precious to my heart. And yes, we assured him that he was not on the naughty list! He can be a challenge at times, but I told him last night when times are tough, weeks like this when I'm sick in bed for days, he always comes through for me and it means everything to me.
Okay sappy post done! I'm taking my sinus-infected self to buy a neti pot finally. Wish me ick, I mean, luck...
This morning while I was visiting Bloesem, one of her ads caught my eye: Rachel Austin map paintings. I was smitten right away. Rachel's map paintings are layered with maps and each piece is named for a location on the map. I just love this concept!
Rachel shared a lot about her process in her August 2008 Quit Your Day Job interview on Etsy's blog, The Storque. One part that particularly stood out to me was her answer to the question, "If you could go back in time...what advice would you give yourself knowing what you know now?" Rachel said:
I didn't have any smaller items when I started out...I think it is important to have different items at lower price points for those who like my paintings but can't afford the originals."
I had a lot of fun last week putting together a post full of link love, so I am going to do it again. Here are even more things I have enjoyed in my web travels recently.
How about this wonderfully precarious stack of bed pillows from the Tine K Home catalog? I wish! My darling does not understand decorative pillows on the bed at all. So I will stare at this picture instead (via Catalina).
I loved this compilation of vintage posters. It's hard to choose one to highlight but these adorable circles with sweet typography and French phrases stole my heart. I also spied the Swell Season poster I shared on Facebook.
Speaking of typography, I am drooling over this gallery of sketch type (via Smashing Magazine). What's not to love?
Talk about organic -- I fell for these wooden cup minis the instant I saw them. The rest of Nature Design's shop's is great and I love this quote from the profile of this Eurpean shop: "...my goal is to take out the item what has been all the time inside the log."
For my Bay Area peeps, how about this cool way to find parking? Thanks Dwell for bringing this to my attention (via Good Magazine).
Finally, considering that I have come down with a cold this week, I'm loving these stylish Polopolo pocket tissue holders from Yokomono Studio.
edited: I forgot the sweetest link of all! This Times Online roundup today of 50 of the world's best design blogs featuring so many, many, of my faves like #50, #30, #10, #7, of course, #6 and last (but not least) and near & dear to my Portland-loving heart, #28.
Not sure what is up with me and the double posting so far this week, but here I am *again.* This time I thought I'd share some images from Santana Row where us gals met for our ornament exchange.
They sure know how to do festive and twinkly over there, right? See two of my smiling gals over here.
This weekend, I made some handmade ornaments inspired by Anna Getty's I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas that I mentioned a few weeks ago here. (Oops, I see I failed on my mission of a blog advent calendar full of tips for you guys). :(
Some of my girlfriends and I made an agreement to only exchange ornaments as a way of simplifying the holidays. It is a nice tradition and we met on Sunday evening at a wine bar to exchange them. I wanted to do handmade this year and while there are many ideas for ornaments in the book, I settled on this one.
I gathered my supplies: ornaments, decorative tissue paper saved from a gift years ago, scissors, glue, paint brushes, water, bowls. I also went through the newspaper and cut out phrases that reminded me of each of my friends: a favorite city, their initial, an activity, etc.
I love this old gal, and she belongs to Jeff's mom. She caught my eye with that shiny spool of red thread perched up top. I took this photo last year when she was making a little bathrobe for the Noodle.
I haven't used my machine in quite awhile. Have any of you been sewing lately?
My Uncle Bob maintains a home in the Bay Area although he works mostly on Broadway. He's been emailing me photos of New York City during his most recent gig there.
© Philip Newton via coco+kelly awhile ago, but relevant to my weather today. :)
Today is MY kind of weather: steady rain with thick grey enveloping me everywhere I look and go. It's pea soup out there, that's what my grandma would say.
I need a day like this on a day like this. Earlier today we had quite a scare when we came home from the Noodle's class party with the class guinea pig and discovered our dog had accidentally turned our gas stove on! One burner was on full blast with an empty pot on top. Apparently he was trying to find a snack? In any case, although the house still smells burnt, it is all in one piece. I am counting my blessings.
My nerves are quite burnt as well which is why when I sat down to write a little blog post, I noticed the serenity in my own backyard. It is so opposite of what I am feeling in my body. I grabbed my camera and took a few quick snaps.
Isn't this a lovely contrast to the outdoors? I'll leave you with this cozy scene for the weekend and hope you are all snug and happy!
I am not a California native, I was born in Queens, NY. My mom and dad moved us to San Diego when I was one because my dad didn't want to raise me in the big city. (I regret that decision of his, I would have loved growing up in NYC).
Where were you born?
You may recognize these blocks. I must say that they totally reinforce my belief in wooden, open-ended toys vs. battery-operated gizmos for kids. We have done endless things with these blocks but lining them up and flicking them into a chain-reaction free fall continues to be the favorite for the Noodle.
P.S. If you click the "buy" link above, notice how cute the company is on their page title.
P.P.S. Click here to see these blocks in action in a different way.
P.P.S. These photos were taken by Mr. Nichols, processed by moi.
I can't stop thinking about this cranberry vinaigrette from Erin at fresh365. I am going to have to try making and bottling it soon.
I am enjoying a new blog, Lolalina. I love the name and the look of Laura's blog which is all about "discovering and living your sweet life from small, everyday pleasures to grand adventures."
I love these Photoshop magnets (via Jess at How About Orange). I think they are just so clever and I like them even though they're out of stock.
I loved finding out about the film project Make a World based on Ed Emberley's book. You can watch the teaser like I did and then keep up with them on Twitter and Facebook.
I adore this card from two guitars. Their entire shop is bursting with wonderful things. The Portland art scene is mind boggling to me. Scott ships his work in biodegradable plastic bags, how cool is that? Thanks to Poppytalk for the introduction to this fine artist.
I just found out that I won this amazing Amala giveaway on Bliss. I am in a state of happy shock, this is not normal for me! I can't wait to try their products.
Finally, last night I fell head over heels in love with this photo from Abby. I don't have permission to put it up on the blog yet but if she says yes, I will come back and edit the post. Until then, please do click on it! {Thanks Abby!} It is a very serene image and brings me peace during a tumultuous week with the Noodle. Abby is having a sale right now in her Etsy shop and she is also in Portland. See what I mean? It is non-stop inspiration coming from the PNW. I could do weeks of posts just on art out of PDX.
Okay that's it for now. There is so much holiday talk around the blogosphere, I guess I needed a little diversion even though I enjoy all of that too.
(All photos link to their source and copyright belongs to the respective people).
Yesterday I was browsing on Lovely Clusters, a site that I was recently invited to join. I accepted with pride because the collection of artists and photographers is dreamy and beautiful, just as Rachel & Vicki suggest in their tagline.
Considering we swim in the same pool of blogs much of the time, I was surprised to discover Shanon of My Fine Garden on Lovely Clusters instead of elsewhere. I wandered around her Etsy shop and fell for many of her photos.
Today I am giving thanks for meeting Shanon in blogland. I am now following her on Twitter and I'm definitely a big, new fan of her work. I am also thankful she is offering her beautiful pine cone in the form of a card set.
All images © SLGdesigns.
Art for the big-hearted, radiant woman who is ready to immerse herself in beauty.
