Sweet Sweet Life

it's okay

I can't believe it, but I might actually make something!  It's been a while...Inspiration is a funny, funny thing, isn't it?  I find that if I'm feeling it, I have to go for it, but if I'm not, it's just not happening.  And lately, it just isn't happening.

But I'm not worried.  Because I believe that the creative spirit has to rest sometimes.  And, as you may have seen right here on this blog, I've been "filling my bucket" with all kinds of inspiring, creative, beautiful work from out there in the big, big world.  There's so much going on, I know that I don't even scratch the surface!  It's just lovely.

Anyway, here's my little project o' the day:

 

Little collages.  Nothin' fancy, just fun.  They are in the very early stages, but I imagine they will be in the same vein as these, from about a year ago:

 

 

I used some frames from a set of old prints from my mom, and just collaged over the cardboard.  Here's a few close-ups:

 

 

 

My favorite part is the sushi grass!  (Did you know it comes in pink now?! Hmmmm...)

So, nope...I'm not worried.  I think I'm just on my way to something new.  And I don't know what that is yet.  And I can't believe I'm saying it, but that's okay.

Isn't life wonderful?!

in light and space and love and hope

I have a lovely and ever-so inspirational home to share with you today.  It's inspirational because it is beautiful, because it houses a dear little family, and because it is fresh and creative.  But it is also beautiful in other ways, as you shall see...

  

This is the lovely home of a teacher, mom, and creative soul, Stine, who owns a children's clothing company called Lutterlagkage, in Sweden.  She is Danish, but moved with her husband and children to Sweden last year...her home is filled with light and space and loveliness...

 

But, the unexpected happened.  Here is how Stine describes her family's recent history, and it's effect on her new home: 

"These are the surroundings in which my new life as a single mom takes place.
I now share a huge apartment with my ex and our two kids. We bought it together as a couple and then it turned out that we were at the end of the line as a couple...

"We each have a "wing" of the house and the kids float between the two. We take turns of being the responsible parent a week at a time. We're lucky enough to have two of everything; we have separate kitchens, bathrooms and entrances...

"It's bohemian and unconventional - and a solution with high demands on your capability to let go and forgive. But it's also very rewarding when you see how un-dramatic the break-up has been for the kids."

 

I am so inspired by this family's commitment to each other, and these parents' commitment to their children.  Who would have thought that such an arrangement could be successful?  I myself would not have dared to think so--and I'm sure that it is not always easy.  But they are making it work and raising beautiful, healthy, happy children.

 

Stine's home is stylistically charming, but more importantly, nurturing to herself and her sweet girls.  I admire her so much for this, for realizing that this was one of the best things she could do for herself and for them--to nest, to shelter, to love, to heal.  In light and space...

 

And love and hope. 

Best wishes, Stine!  You are my new hero.

See more of Stine's sweet, sweet creations and her home on her flickr page.

 

bunting, garlands, banners, oh my!

Here's a selection of lovely buntings, etc. that I've been noticing lately.  Perfect for summer, no?

 

bag o' bunting from chicken dog hastings ....

 

romantic burlap banner from funkyshique ...

 

darling oilcloth banner from modern june (picnic + oilcloth = summer, doesn't it?)...

 

union-jack bunting from cuppa tea and cake (love) ...

 

pretty butterfly bunting from solo handmade ...

 

bunting flags in blue, yellow and brown (and one adorable picture!) from little red caboose ...

 

very cool "naked" banner from the always-awesome lou lou and oscar ...

 

really fun, and super-colorful, banner from adorable fiend, a very neat shop ... 

homey "home" banner from bananasaurusrex ...

 

don't forget a hand-printed cake banner from blackbird letterpress for your next birthday party ...

 

and do you not you love this orange?! from ladybug sue bee...

Most of these would be fairly easy to make ourselves, I think.  All of them, in addition to this, have got my wheels spinning, but who knows? 

I may just buy one.  :o)

from finland, with love

Happy Saturday!

A few days ago, I recieved a lovely little package of postcards from Finland that I ordered from my flickr friend, Reetta.  She has a wonderful business named Joutomaa.  Joutomaa means "wasteland" in Finnish, and she called her shop that because she considers her work an imaginary world of stories created from discarded stuff.  And it is. Take a peek at my sweet postcards, for example:

 

"Balloon Trip" and "Taraxum Officinale--Growing and Taking Care Of"...

 

"Once Upon A Time...Something" and "Big Plans"...and my very favorite!:

 

"Everything Is Going To Be Just Fine"...oh, how I love it.  Not only does it reference my on-going mini-obsession with red cross images, but it is a sentiment that I need to see each and every day right now, in Finnish or English--doesn't matter to me!

Here are a few other lovelies from Reetta that I would snap up in a second if I could:

 

 

 

Wonderful images that celebrate the magic and mystery of our world, and the hope and creativity and longing within us all.  What more could we ask for?

Please check Reetta's shop for way better pictures of her beautiful work.   I just can't do them justice here...

Cheers!

pretty, pretty things...

It got all cloudy and drizzly here, at the end of May, in San Diego.  The nerve!  So I went "fantasy shopping" for a few pretty things, and I thought I'd share...

  

 

The bag is a new find, the necklace I have wanted for, like, ever.   Both from Robin's Egg Blue.

 

 

I'm so going to buy these two prints for Olivia's room, just as soon as I have two (or possibly more) cents to rub together.  From Lovely Sweet William.

 

 

Dear, sweet quilt and pillow, both from Syko.

Lastly, I leave you with this lovely, wise thought, provided by Stephan Covey:  "Live out of your imagination, not your history."

I feel better already...Have a sweet, sweet weekend, even if it is just in your imagination!  xox.

swiftly, now

Good morning, friends!

Okay, I'm a total sucker.  I watched the Today Show this morning.  I do this just about every morning, but not beyond the headlines, since I'm then off to take the girls to school.  But today, Taylor Swift was going to perform, and I was curious about her, as the audience was filled with young girls who looked, by and large, very sweet.  And their dads!  Lots of Dads there, which made me think, either this Taylor Swift is perfect for young girls, or really bad for them.  I wanted to know which.

She's perfect for young girls.  How did I miss her?  Admittedly, I am not much into pop culture, but I try to keep my feet wet, if only to not make a fool of myself at the occasional gathering with friends...But this?  Got right by me.  She's rather successful, you know.  I may be wrong, but I think she made more money than any other female country artist last year.  Something like $15 million.

But you know what?  She deserves every penny.  She's perfect for young girls and young women who endeavor to remain true to themselves.  Who are sweet.  She makes wholesome cool.  And you just don't find something like that for your girls everyday...

  

So the first song she sang was about a modern day Romeo and Juliet, and it ended with Romeo talking to Juliet's dad, and a ring...not death.  Lovely.  The next song, my fave, was about a girl who is best friends with a boy and he doesn't know it.  And she loves him.  And she knows him and makes him laugh, but he dates the cool girl.  "She's cheer captain, I'm in the bleachers / She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts."  Oh, how I love it.  Check the video here.  I cried.  And then I watched it again.  And then I got up and danced.

 

Although there appear to be a fair number of songs about Prince Charming, here's what she says about love:  "I think I'm very fascinated by the difference between reality and Fairy Tales.  When we're little, we read these books and we see cartoons and the bad guy is always wearing black.  You always know who he is.  But in real life, the bad guy can be incredibly charming and have a great smile and perfect hair.  He says things that make you laugh and he's funny, but you don't realize that he's going to cause you a lot of pain."  Too true, little sister...

She's only 19, writes all her songs, and by all accounts, is a total sweetie.  If you have young girls, and they love to sing (young girls who don't sing?  Perish the thought!), I urge you to check her out.  Or if you love to sing, and you want to feel like a girl again...Go for it. It's good, clean fun, and you won't catch your daughter singing about things you didn't learn about until you were, oh, say...38 years old. 

Worth her wieght in gold, I'd say.

downright silliness and things with wings

Amy Rice is incredible.  Her work is so beautiful and haunting, and to know that it is created with hand-cut stencils and spray paint (among a few other things) is absolutely mind-boggling, and terribly inspirational.  Look, friends!:

 

"paper boat"

 

"olivia and her mother"

 

"listen"

 

"letter from Mud Lick, 1895"

"be proud of what you nurture and grow"

 

"play"

Isn't it beautiful?!    And, don't you feel happier now?!

Here is how Amy describes herself and her work.  You can feel her tremendously loving heart in each word: 

 Most of my work is created using stencils that I design and cut myself. Although this medium is basically a form of printmaking, I have the freedom to experiment with color, surface texture, and grouping of objects and thus mood and tone, making each piece unique. As an art instructor/advocate for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, I am a true believer in the powerful healing tool that art can be. I am inspired by the urban community in which I live, childhood toys, vintage botanical prints, my dog Ella, bicycles, street art, and random found objects, collective endeavors that challenge hierarchy, acts of compassion, downright silliness and things with wings.

For more information on her work, check her blog, her site for available pieces, and her flickr stream.

Thanks, Amy, for allowing me to share your work, and for adding so much love and beauty to the world..!

love this

Good morning, all!  You might think that I am hung-over from all that blogging yesterday, but no!  I am full of vim and vigor, with lots to share...

First off, I found this super-creative person (via flickr, again...man, I love flickr...) named Rachel who has a totally lovely house that's been feautured on many blogs much more auspicious than mine.  But I'm going to jump on in, and I'll tell you why in a minute...But first, look at this sweet home!:

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, right here.  This one, coming up, is what I love the most.  Clipboards!  I went right out and bought myself 12 clipboards from Walmart at $.50 each.  Now I just have to find a wall big enough that is unused to put them on...But what a cool inspiration board, right?  And very cost-efficient.

Holy cute, indeed.  Catch you later!

five minutes with the camera

Four posts today?  Why not?!   (Oh...was it five?  My.  I need to do more away from the computer tomorrow.  Note to self.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

So I'm finding that, now, since I've pretty much photographed every inch of my home, I have to start looking at things in new ways.  It's fun.

See ya tomorrow!

call me, on the line

Every so often, when I give out my calling card (I can't call it a "business card,"  it just isn't me...), I am complimented on it.  It is rather cute, but I feel slightly guilty, because the art on them is not by me.  See?

  

Their adorable half-pint size must be credited to the printer, moo.  But the art?  Well, that is from the fabulous askey...

 

A "mum" of two from the UK, askey has been a favorite artist of mine for a while now.  So, when I went to order my moo cards, imagine my delight to find that she had contracted with moo to provide stock art for people like me!

 

The prints shown here are available in her shop, but there are many lovely images available for cards, stickers, and calling cards at moo.  Consider checking them out, next time you are in their neighborhood...

 

Then you can call me, and we'll chat about how crazy-cute our calling cards are...!  :o)