Sweet Sweet Life

a truly bright spot :: shella

Hello, all!

Today I'm fortunate, indeed, to be able to share with you the home and crafty-loveliness of sweet Shella.  She's a mom of three girls who lives in the Essex countryside, in a little coastal village.  Her home is a delight, and Shella is a true inspiration to moms and home-lovers everywhere...

Note:  Most, but not all, of these photos were styled by Selina Lake and taken by Sussie Bell, for Ideal Home magazine (April, 2009 issue).  How cool is that?!

 
I scarcely know where to begin--it's all so beautiful.   At random, I shall pick the veranda, as it is so welcoming, don't you think?

Look at that little pink chair!  It looks to me as if Debi Treloar has been living here, and I can really think of no higher praise--she's my all-time favorite home stylist and photographer...check her out, by all means (but do stay to see the rest of Shella's home first--it's all so perfectly right.)

Inside, it's colorful, it's relaxed, it's playful, and I love it...

(Everyone should have a pink drying rack.)

Beautifully casual, a place for wonderful family times and friendly chats.  And the bedrooms of Shella's girls are no less delightful...Below, daughter Freya's own bright space:

 

And look at this beautiful wallpaper patchwork Shella recently created for Freya's room!  So gorgeous!:

 
Next is Millie's charming room:

(I do love a girl who fancies Charlie and Lola!)  And the fantastic fabric wall art was made by Shella.  See more of it here and here.  It was inspired by Millie herself!

 
Millie's room is being updated a bit, as she's growing every day (they do seem to do that, don't they?)...check out the w.i.p. right here!

And last but never least, wee Bibi's room is sweetness itself:

Bibi, as well, has gotten bigger (her new bed is lovely!) and below you can better see the fabulous wallpaper tree that Shella put in her room!:

 
Shella, clearly one very busy and creative, and smart mom, has made a peaceful retreat of her own in the master bedroom:

 
Simple. Perfect.

 
And back again to the family area!   

Shella has created such a warm, creative, peaceful, airy, bright, happy...(I could go on and on)...home for herself and her family.  What incredibly lucky girls, and of course, lucky us, for being allowed to take a peek!  See lots more of Shella's photos here.

I love this craft that Shella and her girls did out of recycled Christmas catalogs!

Thank you, Shella, for this glimpse of your beautiful life.  It was so inspiring, and a true pleasure.

***

Do you feel like brightening up your space now?  I sure do.  I'm off to putter about and attempt to add bright, cheerful patterns and spots of color, Shella-style.  How fun!

Cheers!

xoxox.

two artists to love

I found these wonderful works by British artist Shelby Healy last night.  They remind me, in the most wonderful of ways, of the work of Ezra Jack Keats, one of my favorite artists (and yes, there are many!).

They are so sweet and true.  See?:

The combination of the silhouettes and the colorful collage elements are very happy.  Her work varies, though--not all contain silhouettes or children, yet they achieve similarly happy results:

I just really, really love it all.  Check it out:  shop, flickr.

Have a great one, my dears.  Cheers!

xoxox.

p.s.  Don't miss the wonderful website of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation!  A great bio of the author, support for teachers, and activities for kids are all there, in addition to the full run-down of this great artist's work for children, including (but not limited to!) the classic, The Snowy Day (and look!)...Man, I love this stuff...

through her eyes

Our Olivia had been saving her Christmas and birthday gift money for a long while, in the hopes of buying herself a camera.  She didn't want any of the ones we had around the house--that would not do!  She comparison-shopped and found the best price, and this whole long Spring Break "staycation" she's been snapping like mad. 

Thus, I give you life in the 'hood through the eyes of one very sweet eleven year old...

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

(Did you notice?  We like macro...She gets it from me, perhaps!)

I love seeing the world through her eyes, and to see her taking delight in the beauty of every day--what more could I ask for?  That's what makes a sweet life, no?  And she gets it, she so totally gets it.

Bless her sweet little heart.

xoxox.

blue carrot shop

I've been wanting to post about this wonderful little shop for a long while.  Today is the day!  It's a sweet little spot on the web called Blue Carrot:

 
Blue Carrot is the storefront of Alexandra, "a Graphic Designer by trade and a treasure hunter by preference."  Her sharp eye for well-loved, bold and vibrant items from the past are clear at first glance...As she says, "I am very good at finding things. Neat things, old things, used things, unique things, things that have been cast aside..."

 
   Alexandra makes it a habit to sell only what she would like to keep, and her shop is a well-edited delight.  Do visit early and often, and please make sure to say hello!  And thanks, Alexandra, for letting me know about your place--I love it.

xoxox.

en famille

We all drove up to visit my Grandfather and his sweet, lovely wife yesterday.  They live in Orange County, California, and it was such a beautiful day.  I took some pictures of their house, because it is a place I always love to be.

 

They have traveled, enjoyed music and art and beloved friendships, and their home is a reflection of those loves, and those people they love so very dearly. 

I could stay forever!

Have a beautiful day, sweet friends, and may you give and receive enough love to fill your hearts to overflowing...

Cheers!

xoxox. 

all that, and more

Ohmygosh.

I'm so excited!

I've the honor to introduce you (should you not be lucky enough to have already met) to one of my crafty/blogging/mom heroes.  I "met" her a few months ago, and I don't know how I missed her for so long.  (Just another example of "me under my rock," I suppose.)  Any guesses who? 

Here's a hint: 

Yes, you're right!

This delightful and incredibly inspiring person is none other than Teri of Giddy Giddy, a charming children's-goods website.  She's mom-of-two, crafter, designer, business-woman, and a lovely, lovely person. 

So, why is she a hero?  Well, she's super sweet for starters, but also incredibly talented.  First off, Teri's home is charming.  Located in the San Francisco bay area, it's full of color, playfulness and thrifted loveliness, and Teri's eye for good design and her happy heart are evident in spades:

(That's one of Teri's paintings, in the background!)

(Vintage pins liven-up a sweet mirror...)

When I asked Teri what she felt her decorating "style" or philosophy might be, she said, "If I had to sum it up in 3 words, it would be:  eclectic modern vintage.  My decorating style is constantly evolving but most certainly determined by my budget.  For me, It wouldn’t be as fun or gratifying to buy a $600 chair as it would be to discover a beat up $5 chair that I’ve cutified!"

 
Next, She's got a love of vintage fabrics, and gives them new life in the sweetest of ways:  "I am a crazy fabric hoarder!  I love it all--from delicate 30's prints, to modern patterns from the 60's, and the psychedelic designs of the 70's. I am especially delighted by anything unexpected and out of the norm."

Thanks to Teri, her daughter's wardrobe is to-die-for, and she wears it so perfectly!:

(Okay, I have to step in and insist on Teri's behalf that she is truly not into Mommy-and-Me clothing.  Really.  In the first photo [skirts], Teri was teaching herself to make A-Line skirts.  And the second one [leggings] is charmingly explained here.)

But the crafting!  Oh, my word. Check out these sweet items from Teri's shop--the felt barrettes (there are many, many styles) are her signature item, and she's been creating them since 2004 .  Teri says, "I started making these handmade felt hairclips 6 years ago when my daughter was 6 months old.  I didn’t like all the frou-frou ribbony and sparkly hair clips for babies.  I was very much the anti-bow mom.  And my preference for quirky got me to start playing with felt on a hairclip--something that didn’t exist then!"

 

The difficulty, for Teri, is that similar barrettes have popped up since, quite frequently, in the online marketplaces, and this is (understandably) very frustrating.  She says:  "[Online marketplaces] have given creatives, crafters and artists a place to showcase their creations.  On the flip-side, it’s a place where people can hide behind their store and copy others in the name of making a few bucks.  It can be like the "wild west" of crafters--a free-for-all with no rules and no policing."  (Amy, here:  I have no doubt that many of the artists and crafters who read this blog can identify with Teri's feelings.  It's a very touchy subject for some, but honestly, I believe that when you are copying, you know you're copying, and there's no excuse.  Sadly, it happens all the time.)

But, fear not...Teri is FULL of ideas!  Check out these lovelies!:

Pouches for the littles...

And hats!  This one above, that looks like a curly little bob hair-do for heaven's sake, would have been on my girls' heads in about two seconds flat.  (The chin-straps are awesome, too, as both my girls would burst into uncontrollable giggles whenever I tried to tie a bow under their chins...Which, of course, is not a bad thing, but when you're in a hurry...oh, you know.)  

Ooooh! And I saved my total favorites from Teri's quite considerable bag o' tricks for last:  DIY projects from her blog, just for us!  There are many of them, but here are the ones we're gonna do here at our house, very soon:

Adorable snow-globe cards...

Cookie-cutter faces (!)...

And the most awesome (no-sew) cone puppets!  (There are so many more wonderful ideas--don't forget to check Teri's DIY section on her sweet blog...)

So, do you see?!  Why she's one of my heroes?  So much inspiration in one person, it's almost hard to wrap my head around it.  But what can I say? 

That's Teri.  She's all that, and more.

Hope today is, was, or will be everything you want, my dears.  Cheers!

xoxox.  

quite addicted...

 
"Even the baby could see that they’d missed some key elements during construction."

 ...to this blog.  (I cannot believe these photos are for real.  And the captions will make you laugh out loud.)  Enjoy, and just be glad you're not as cool as them.

xoxox.

i've been distracted

Okay, well...I'm a little bit behind, but I *just* figured out that Easter is next weekend.  Next weekend.  Ugh.  (I mean, YAY!  Hooray!...Easter.)

Anyway, for all you fantastic crocheters out there, with perhaps a spot or two to fill in the baskets?  These are for you.  From Fox In The Woods, the sweetest little crocheted peeps I've seen in a very long time--pdf patterns available for a very reasonable price, in your inbox, lickety-split.  Check 'em out...

Bunnies in party dresses?  Sign me up.

 

I know!

Red fox and arctic fox (look at the tails!)...

And a baby yeti.  In a teacup!

'Course, just leave out the dresses and skirts and such for the boys (unless they like that, I suppose).  I may have to go beyond my pee-wee crocheting skills and try these out.  I kind of can't stand it.

So, um...don't say nobody told you 'bout Easter just being 'round the corner.  There are witnesses. 

Have a great one, my dears!

xoxox.
 
  

modern vintage sweetness :: june craft

Oh, my...I've found a new favorite crafts-person with the same vintage-modern vibe as the great Jane Foster, but certainly with her own super-cool "mojo."  Do you know her?  Her name is Kayanna, and she lives in the bustling metropolis of Ceder Rapids, Iowa.  Oh, and her shop is called June Craft.

Enough talk--take a look!:

  

 

 

SUPER cute home wares (prints available in other color ways, too, for boy or girl).  Also paper goods and fabrics!...You see what I mean.   But what I truly adore (of course) are the items for children. 

Oh, MY.

 

 

 

All manner of darling dolls and plush...

(Teething fish--they have crinkly plastic inside...)

And the sweetest (and very affordable) finger puppets!

All drawings and designs are original to Kayanna, and I love them.  I mean, everyone knows I'll go for a little girls in cute shoes--total no-brainer, really--but I even love the dogs, and I don't even care for animals (well, I do, but not in my house.  I'm squeamish.  And a bit of a 'fraidy cat.).

P'raps you wonder:  Does Kayanna, this lovely artist, have a blog?  Of course she does!  It's right here, and you will find it ever-so-inspiring.  AND she says she'll be having a "big, huge, ginormous" shop update (it's in the works now!) on April 7, so I'd say this is one shop to favorite, my dears.

Lovity, love, love all the creative goodness out there.  Y'all rock.

Cheers!

xoxox. 

sweet erika does it again!

Of course, you remember this, the wonderful Frida Kahlo-inspired birthday party.  And this, the most charming playhouse in the world.  And, by golly, Erika (of the fabulous Miko Design) has done it again!  A Paris-inspired birthday, for Mila this time, and you are going to just love it.

 
After their very own trip to Paris (see above), Erika and her girls embarked upon the sweetest and most lovingly prepared little party, Souvenirs de Paris, hosted as only they can.  Gathered the goods:

 
Took a picture of sweet Mila for the invitation:

Made the invitation!!!:

And decorated tres charmingly...:

(The banner was made by Erika, from fabric screenprinted with drawings of Paris done by her daughters!)

Macarons, quiche, tart tatin...

 
...and Eiffel Tower cookies, oh my!

Everyone was ready for the guests to arrive:

Mila and her new doll, of course...

...and the two lucky sisters, waiting...

...Finally, the celebrations began!

Now you may be wondering what one might do for an activity for such a party?  Well, I'll tell you:  make Eiffel Tower snow globes, of course!  Look!:

You can also see the key chains they made (every young mademoiselle en Paris is carrying one) with polymer clay macarons!!  And of course, pictures:

 
 
 There was "wine," mais oui...

And tired little party-goers also took home some vintage handkerchiefs printed with those same lovely Paris illustrations by Mila and Sofia:

I really, really can't tell you how lovely it all seems to me...To have such a party as a seven-year-old would be heaven, wouldn't it?  How much more lovely is this, than a sad little Disney Princess party that is expensive and just like everyone else's?  There can't be any doubt that Erika is creating life-long memories for her girls (and sweet, happy lives for them, as well!).

Thanks so very much, Erika, Mila, and Sofia, for allowing me to share your beautiful photos and incredibly lovely party!  It was an honor.

And us?  Well, not only do we have all of this lovely inspiration, but don't forget about Erika's shop:  she has both a kit for a doll very similar to Mila's for sale, and some lovely screenprinted fabric remnants with the Paris illustrations on them, as well.  Do go see, if you would like!  And of course, read more about the party and it's preparation on her blog and flickr set...

Oh, yes!!!  And don't forget Erika's BEAUTIFUL new blog about Parisian Boutiques!  Oooh, la, la!

Cheers!

xoxox.