paper & ink

she's here!

2011-12-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

we welcome with love...

libby kathryn
12.14.11
6 lbs 11 ounces

10 perfect fingers, ten perfect toes. a healthy happy baby to join our family with big sister ella. we could not be more thrilled.

patton letterpress announcements

2011-12-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

the final product... from the inspiration photos posted here...

letterpressed in teal ink on the most delicious soft pink italian paper...

each announcement is hand painted with leaves in shades of coral...

and dotted with berries in metallic gold...

softness added with torn edges all around.

baby shower invitations

2011-12-13T20:19:00.001-08:00

new design for baby shower invitations!

i did a white version and a gray...

each with a hand sewn banner of security envelope pennant flags...

and of course a custom flag... gently giving the registry information to the guests... (which i always think is tricky to incorporate tastefully)

new diy on design*sponge

2011-12-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

click here to see the full tutorial!

la three en rose

2011-12-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

on thanksgiving, my little e turned three. can't believe her birthday has come and gone here already. we had a small party for her and the family that was in town during thanksgiving. with #2 due any day now, i was forced to keep things low key, but i couldn't imagine not having some sort of small celebration. so at her own request, we celebrated with all things pink.

pink streamers and big pink balloons. (please don't look at my cottage cheese ceilings!)

e's favorite berries...

pink lemonade... of course.

soft pink floral tablecloths with pink pom pom fringe...

bagels in pink bakery boxes...

flowers in shades of pink...

a very tall pink cake with buttercream and gilded animal candle holders...

paired with glasses of milk with pink sprinkled rims...

pink marshmallows, and pink frosted animal cookies...

and goodie bags filled with pink salt water taffy and denim capes with pink pom pom fringe for all of the cousins.

ornaments

2011-11-25T05:30:00.000-08:00

tree fairies at bloume!
(with congrats on their new location in the metlox center!!)

order a custom color combination or pick one up ready made at the store!

getting ready...

2011-11-22T05:26:00.000-08:00

getting ready for the upcoming holiday and family. my and my husbands family start to trickle in tomorrow, and we have a big thanksgiving feast planned to celebrate. our refrigerator is stocked (jam-packed) with gastronomic supplies to keep all of the bellies full while they are here.
my belly is perpetually full, with a little darling nearly 36 weeks along, and ready to arrive any day now. unfortunately that constant fullness makes it uncomfortable to eat large amounts of food as i am so compelled to do on thanksgiving, so i will have to pace myself. especially looking forward to the pies. (notice the plural)

thanksgiving day marks our little e's 3rd birthday, so somehow in the mix we will have a little pink family party to celebrate.

i do have some new design work to share as well, and plan on posting at least a little more regularly. with the move, and getting organized for the baby... its amazing how much gear they require... the blog has gotten the short end of the stick. but stay tuned...
also, visit pinterest, which can amazingly make hours on end vanish in the blink of an eye!

design*sponge diy

2011-11-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

click here to see the full tutorial!

sip and see invitation

2011-10-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

just finished this sip and see invitation. based on soft pinks and browns from a sweet photo of the new bundle, little leaves of pink surround the handwritten text.

hand cut peachy linen leaves were added to each card to give a little tactile love and to tie in the kraft envelope.

new diy on design sponge!

2011-10-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

click here to see the full post...

copper goodness

2011-09-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

the letterpress plates for my coberly logo project are in! i think the copper plates are just amazing. can't wait to see the final result!

in the details...

2011-09-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

on our recent trip to san diego... i found this wonderful leaved cactus. looks sort of prehistoric with its tiny verdant leaves sprouting so evenly from its surface.

birth announcement inspiration

2011-09-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

i was just given these wonderful inspiration images by a client. won't they make a gorgeous birth announcement? with shades of coral, aqua and gilt details... can't wait to put them together and design something for her!

in the details...

2011-09-15T05:26:00.000-07:00

on the hunt for interesting plants for our patio, i found this delicious happy little plant. looks like it might be mattress vine... in bloom? i have never seen anything like it. its tiny little flowers are succulent like and prolific. amazing.

design sponge diy

2011-09-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

we have been so busy packing to move on thursday... still, i managed to squeak out a cute fall inspired diy for design sponge. still doesn't feel like fall weather with temperatures in the 80's here at the beach. but i'll take in in exchange for last years socked in fogginess. enjoy!

sarena mann

2011-08-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

i am in love with these pretty little papier mache ladies. each with such movement and vivid color, and entirely handmade, they are truly tiny works of art. imagine a few made into a mobile for above the baby's crib... dreamy.

botanical serigraphs

2011-08-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

i absolutely love these botanical serigraphs by silkscreen artist gene bauer. so simple and elegant.

read more about gene and see more of her work here.

diy: fabric label name tags

2011-08-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

this summer has been busy. we have been out of town... here and there, big trips and little. and being pregnant, well, pregnancy does funny things to you. it makes you get down on your hands and knees and clean around all of the baseboards with a toothbrush... then wipe down all of the kitchen cupboards, and bleach all of the bathtub toys. it seems involuntary, this is not something you could usually catch me doing. it is totally normal, and unfortunately not contagious. (otherwise i'd have all of the non-cleaners in the neighborhood coming to my house like a chicken pox party to catch my disease). nesting, they call it. my husband loves it. me? yes, it is nice when you could literally lick any part of your house and feel fine about it, but the time it takes... well, i could have been making something, or posting some inspirational blog posts.

we still have a busy couple of months coming up. in october we are moving. we don't know where yet, except that we want to stay in the manhattan beach area. not any further north, maybe a little south, we really enjoy our little bubble. trying to find the perfect place is really anxiety provoking. i have so many must haves it seems like they will never be able to be met. and the nesting aspect of pregnancy only amplifies my anxiety. hardwood floors, dishwasher, laundry, garage and two bedrooms... is that really too much to ask?

in december, we welcome the arrival of our second little girl. there is so much to do, so many things to organize... and we will be ready before she makes her debut. early or not.

then back to september, my little girl starts preschool. i can't believe how fast time has gone.
starting school means filling in the blanks of an amazing amount of papers while writing down all of the things E must bring to school with her. and the rules... so many things to do and prep before her first day. among them... daily lunches, comfy clothes she can play in, and name tags in everything.

which brings me to my diy. fabric label name tags. sure i could just order the washable name stickers online... but honestly, i want something a little more stylish. sure it takes a little more time than picking a color, typing in your name and credit card info, but i think they will be appreciated, by me at least. they are completely washable and... the tags can be removed from the clothes that will be handed down to #2.

so, on with the instructions... as my nesting instinct can see the dust accumulating as i type.

supplies:
twill tape, muslin or cotton ribbon
ink jet transfer paper
printer
iron
scissors

1. type up the name you would like on your computer. you could even hand write the name, and scan it in...

2. do a test print: print the names on a plain piece of paper making sure you set the print options to "print mirror image" or "flip horizontally" to have the names printed backwards so they iron on and read correctly.

3. make sure the spacing will work for your ribbon or fabric. (i allowed a lot of space in between each name that i realized later i did not need... the transfer paper is slightly shiny and looks best with a minimal amount of transfer material surrounding the name).

4. print the names on the blank side of the transfer paper. make sure you set your printing options to "mirror image" again. let dry 30 minutes.

5. cut each name out of the transfer paper and place face down on the tag material. iron on according to the directions on the package.

6. for the tags... the muslin tags were torn in strips and then folded in half, leaving raw edges at the top to be sewn on the clothing. the twill tape and ribbon is cut into pieces, with an angle at one end. they look best if the angle is pointed upward.

7. peel off the backing paper. to make the label more matte, i held the label by the end of the fabric and brushed it against my hot iron. i did not touch it hard enough to melt the transfer paper again, but it got enough heat to get rid of the shine that was visible against the textured twill tape.

7. sew into your child's clothing!

new diy on design*sponge

2011-08-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

click here to see the full tutorial.

absolute favorite new pasta recipe

2011-08-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

there are a hand full of things that always seem to be "in stock" in our house. tortillas, cheese, avocados, pasta, lemons, milk. everything else seems to rotate through the season, or with our tastes. luckily, i found a fantastic recipe using some of these staples that my entire family is in love with.
it has a light enough flavor to eat in the wonderfully warm weather, yet satiates that hormone induced pregnancy hunger for rich and hearty creaminess. and it is quick... so i am not spending all of the summer daylight cooking. take all of this and then, consider that all of the creamy richness is due to the avocado. avacados are full of monounsaturated fats (the good kind that reduces cholesterol), high in folate and vitamin E (good for growing babies and your heart) and loaded with antioxidants. compare that with the usual pasta sauce made with cream and the avocado sounds like a pretty perfect, healthful, and guiltless substitution. so here it is, 15 minute creamy avocado pasta.

1 ripe avocado, pitted
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
2-3 garlic cloves or to taste
1/2 t salt
1/4 c fresh basil
2 T extra virgin olive oil
2 servings /6oz pasta (angel hair is awesome and very quick cooking)
freshly ground pepper

1. Bring water to a boil for the pasta. boil pasta as directed.

2. Meanwhile, make the sauce by placing the garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil into a food processor. Process until smooth. add in the pitted avocado, basil, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy.

3. When pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse in a strainer and place pasta in a large bowl. Pour on sauce and toss until fully combined. Garnish with lemon zest and black pepper. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

*this recipe can easily be doubled to feed more, although keep in mind that it does not save or reheat well due to the avocado.

recipe and photo via here.

nursery planning

2011-07-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

i am really torn between decorating the girls shared room with color or in neutral shades. i really love the thought of having a combination of blue and dark pinks like my favorite colorful inspiration photo from here...

or a combination of bright colors and floral prints with a clean white background.

as much as i would love to start from scratch and purchase everything in my collection of ideas... it's not practical. right now we are using the garage to store things that wont fit in our tiny space. among them are things that we should use in the room.... a pink and white floral rug, a dark wood hutch, and the all important rocking chair. so, keeping this in mind, i think i am leaning toward the neutral palette. this way, i can reuse everything we have... with some changes (like painting the hutch to meld with the other pieces) to create a neutral room that is both sweet and economical.

maybe i'll add bright colors later into their teens when i will need some distraction from their behavior.

first things first...
i'll paint the hutch white with a pretty color inside and replace the brass handles with delicate ones like these...

we will use the sheets and bedding we already have for e's big girl bed. her pleated pin tucked duvet and these softly printed sheets will work nicely together with the neutrals. i'll make a new bumper for the baby using this one for inspiration.

i can reuse the birch chandelier that i made for the south bay magazine shoot... like this one.

i picked some great wooden wine boxes. and i am thinking of covering the inside with fabric, and painting the outside white. then i will use them for something like this...

i will need some beautiful drapes, and great storage vessels... like these.

overall, i want lots of storage. everything will have its place. away. time to get to work!

see both my color and neutral inspiration boards and source links on my pinterest site.

its a...

2011-07-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

GIRL!!
i can't wait to sort through all of e's tiny clothes and reorganize for the new baby. it is so awesome to have a gender to now pin on the little one, instead of just calling her "it".

looking forward to planning for their little shared space before we move in october! i'll share my ideas soon!
above: just about the perfect baby outfit. really all you need, with a charming little knot to top it off. from here.

looking a little like my 2 year old.

2011-07-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

on monday we have an ultrasound to have a look at the baby's anatomy, and (hopefully) determine the baby's gender!! i am so excited i am literally counting down the hours. for me, this is definitely a mid-pregnancy pick-me-up! next up (with any luck)... baby's room decor, and narrowing down the long list of names!

pretty on the inside

2011-07-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

i love papaya. the juicy rose scented melon texture, with a little squirt of lime. tastes like paradise. but just look at the inside. its shiny black caviar like seeds... just gorgeous.

monogram

2011-07-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

my cousin is an interior designer and has asked me to do a custom monogram for her. she has always been into chinoiserie and asian details, so i think her choice of asian styled monogram will go beautifully with her style. here are four styles that i have painted for her.

graphic

2011-07-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

how awesome is this poster for the upcoming eat real festival. super graphic and bold, i love the style!

logo design

2011-07-08T06:00:00.001-07:00

i am starting on a logo design for a very lovely client. she owns her interior design business, and mostly designs custom furniture. inspiration was taken from a few of her favorite things. thyme cafe in santa monica, upstairs at pierre lafond in montecito, botanik, the sartorialist, oscar de la renta, barclay butera, rodarte, zara, hermes and jen kao. she loves simplicity, clean lines, nature, the color blue and texture... especially linen, and cotton ticking.

we started with a very forward logo... a simple chair silhouette will be blind embossed with a very chunky linen texture and the text will be inked letter press beside. grace edmands worked very hard writing many different styles gorgeous calligraphy for catherine's name. the calligraphy adds a hand made element that i find so important to set my designs apart from others.

finding this design a little too generic... like an anchor or four leaf clover icon you would pick out at a stationery store to plug into your personal stationery... we decided to move on.

she wanted to work specifically with the C of the name, so i went from there. trying my hardest to stick to what i think is important... hand done details, i designed 17 new versions.

and... she picked her favorites. no.7 and no.8. so to come, the evolution of the new styles... blue will be added, blind embossing and playing with the name itself. which one is your favorite?

new diy on design sponge

2011-07-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

click here to see the full tutorial.

birth announcement

2011-07-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

this is a custom letterpress birth announcement suite that i recently finished. since the baby was born in the spring, we wanted to incorporate a fresh spring feeling to a simple and modern announcement. little hand cut fabric leaves are applied to the end of the hand drawn name. letter pressed on ultra heavy cotton museum board, the announcements are printed with taupe ink bringing in the warm brown of the kraft envelopes.

the back includes a hand sewn fabric pocket to enclose the baby's photo (the thank you notes fit inside also... it's a two birds with one stone thing).

the casual kraft envelopes are lined with white waxed tissue competing the softness of the suite.

the thank you cards are simply letter pressed with a hand drawn heart and the baby's name. they can either be inserted into their own soft pink envelope or tucked into the pocket on the back of the announcement.

make something!

2011-06-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

make this jellyfish light for your little one!
when i started on the diy project for design*sponge last month, the early stages of the "pinata inspired party lighting" reminded me of floaty little jellyfish.

ikea carries a couple of different shapes of paper lanterns. one of each would make a perfect grouped trio of jellyfish hanging in your child's sea themed bedroom.

to make the jellyfish:

1. follow the directions on design*sponge to create the fringe for the bottom of the jellyfish.

2. glue only a few rows of fringe on the bottom of the lantern.

3. to create the tentacles... i used waxed white tissue paper. (regular tissue will work just fine if you can't find waxed) start with a circle about 6-8 inches in diameter. using scissors, cut in from the outer edge of the circle in a spiral pattern, starting wide and tapering the width of the tentacle as you cut toward the center of the circle.

4. tape or glue the wide end of the tissue spiral to the bottom ring of the paper lantern.

5. repeat step 3 to make more tentacles. tape or glue them all around the edge of the bottom circle of the lantern and also on the bar that stretches across the circle. you are done!

little news...

2011-06-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

just about the size of a darling little lemon,

little #2 will make his or her debut in december! hooray!!

in the details... publishers logos

2011-06-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

i have always been a sucker for anything small. but have you ever noticed the little logo marks on the spines of books? tiny compact symbols made especially for the spine of a book... probably go unnoticed most of the time, but here i am again, pointing out the details. good thing i am nearsighted.

homemade marshmallows

2011-06-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

it seems like i have made these marshmallows hundreds of times. i have made them for friends, parties, but usually just for fun. i have done different versions, some flavored with rosewater and others with chocolate. so much better than the packaged mass produced cousin, these are super soft, pillowy little squares that melt in your mouth. the square shape is ideal for topping a graham cracker or packing up in a little kraft gift box.

of all the marshmallow recipes i've tried, i like this one best. fairly foolproof (except at high altitudes), it doesn't contain egg whites (which tend to weep), there is no need for a candy thermometer and after all, the recipe comes from one of my all time "one day" restaurants to try... the french laundry.

french laundry marshmallows

3 envelopes knox gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
confectioners sugar for dredging

in the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup water. soak for 10 minutes.

combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan.

bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute.

pour boiling syrup into gelatin and mix at high speed. add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. add vanilla and incorporate into mixture.

scrape into a 9x9-inch pan lined with oiled plastic wrap and spread evenly. let sit for a few hours. remove from pan and dredge the marshmallow slab in confectioners sugar and cut into squares with scissors or a chefs knife. dredge each piece of marshmallow in the confectioners sugar.

remembering, balloons, insects and paper cranes

2011-06-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

e and i recently went to colorado for a memorial. although the purpose of the trip was solemn, i will never forget the happy moments we spent together with my family. we traveled from the denver airport to colorado springs. spectacular views of looming snow capped mountains surrounded us. the landscape is so very different than what we are used to here at the beach. as i soaked up the views, i felt reminded to appreciate the beauty of my area.

the memorial & balloons: we released balloons into the sky and spoke of fond memories. e held onto her balloon for dear life refusing to let it go when the time came. she took it inside and "hid" it until the coast was clear... and she was given permission to take it home with her. she slept with it every night until it was time to go home.

insects: we visited an insect museum... complete with an enormous model of a hercules beetle atop the hill as you approach from the highway. simple glass cases lit with little antique lamps were artfully arranged with every specimen of insect from every country some dating back to the 20's and 30's. truly amazing.

most of the specimen tags were hand written or typed on an actual typewriter adding a beautiful antique quality. ever since, e is convinced that every museum will have some sort of insect on display.

and the paper cranes: an art installation in the denver airport of thousands of white paper cranes flew in flocks down the pillars one of the airy hallways in an already spectacular building. monochrome mania. i couldn't get enough of the white on white. it was the one time when i would have liked the moving sidewalks to go a little slower. just breathtaking, and an etherial end to a great weekend with my closest family.

paper mache teacups

2011-06-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

i am always blown away by ann wood. she creates wonderfully moody things out of paper mache and scraps of vintage fabric. her ships are some of my favorite... i think they would make a mobile to die for.

recently, ann added a teacup tutorial to her blog... a beautiful little diy to make some ann wood style paper mache. how beautiful are they! this would be a fantastic thing to do with all of the scraps of paper that i cant seem to part with... definitely added to my to do list.

design*sponge diy

2011-06-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

i have a new diy on design*sponge for this month! pinata inspired party lanterns! read the full tutorial here...

brunch

2011-05-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

i found my new favorite brunch spot... farmshop. all it really takes to make a place special to me is an outstanding french toast. ever since we moved back to southern california i have longed the amaretto french toast at cafe bernardo in sacramento. a thick brioche bread, filled with some kind of insanely tasty almond paste, and served with toasted almonds and maple syrup... it is to die for. we recently went to farmshop, and of course, i had to order the french toast... and in a place like this (they don't post prices on the menu) it didn't disappoint.

served with macerated strawberries, pistachios, creme fraiche, and hobbs bacon. unbelievable. i swear i have been having dreams about it ever since. i have to say that the bacon was a nice touch. to add a little salty component cuts the sweetness of the french toast and maple and doesn't let your palette get overwhelmed.

we also ordered the berries with local honey...

which were as entertaining as they were delicious.

i am just glad i don't have the courage to try to make this at home. i'm afraid if i could even come close, i would never leave the house.

baby announcement

2011-05-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

i just finished this sea themed baby announcement. each is printed from the original piece with sea creature details made with a mix of with hand embroidery, fabric applique, pinhole art and hand painting.

detail of coral inspired art...

a little hand painted seahorse give a message from the proud parents.

a little crab peeks out of the envelope welcoming the new baby.

the envelope liner is polka dotted with french knots.

ocean inspiration

2011-05-20T05:07:00.000-07:00

i have been collecting sea inspired images for inspiration for an upcoming birth announcement. there are so many beautiful pieces of art modeled after the sea or sea life that it is astonishing. here are a few of my favorites from...

melissa hirsch makes beautiful sea life from... of all things... fishing line. what gorgeous intricacy.

joana vasconcelos wraps cotton crocheted lace around hand made sea creatures (and other creatures) giving them a delicate and elegant barnacle like covering.

helle jorgensen makes amazing sea creatures from pretty much anything. recycled plastic bags, paper, reclaimed wool. incredible.

and jessica polka... beautiful crocheted sea animals, with awesome vintage specimen tags. brilliant.

in the details...

2011-05-16T05:30:00.000-07:00

i have always been a lover of tiny things. i love details and small intricacies. it might be because my vision is better up close, but i can't help but remember that i have been this way since i was small myself. i used to string seed beads without a needle, because i was too young to have one. i always made the food for my dollhouse, complete with miniature plates and side dishes. it is ingrained in me.

with my eyes always on the look out for details, i found rue in a friends garden. a petite little yellow flower with endless details, tiny feathery petals, delicate stamen, and texture galore. plenty to appreciate up close.

barrettes

2011-05-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

my felted flower barrettes are now at bloume baby manhattan beach!

baby love

2011-05-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

how beautiful is this line of baby clothing from ketiketas. so simple and breezy for summer. the beautiful neutral colors allow your baby's beauty to shine. i want one of each!

cake

2011-05-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

i made a cake for a friends birthday last night. let me just tell you... it was awesome. i am not usually one to toot my own horn, but you need to understand this. i am not a baker. don't get me wrong, i love to bake, but cakes are not my forte. anyone who has been to either of e's birthday parties can attest to this. her first cake... neat looking, not great. her second cake... the frosting was great. the cake, practically inedible. it tasted like dry bread. horrible. i can make a simple cookie recipe, seven layer bars or brownies from a box... things that are easily accomplished. but the cake i made last night was completely from scratch, and it was awesome. so, the recipe. after searching my favorite recipe sources... epicurious, cannelle et vanille, i opted for the basic version of "birthday cake" from cooks illustrated the best recipe.

i would love to say that this is my cake. its not. i wish i had gotten a picture of my cake but... i used this for inspiration. i modified the recipe to make 3 layers, so the cake was nice and tall. i added little flags like these, made with linen and neutral colors of ribbon with little pops of green.

classic white layer cake

1 C milk, room temperature
3/4 C egg whites, room temperature
2 t almond extract (i used all vanilla)
1 t vanilla extract
2 1/4 C plain cake flour (i used all purpose flour)
1 3/4 C sugar
4 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1. adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350. generously grease two 9 inch cake pans cover bottom of pans with parchment rounds and grease and flour pans.

2. pour milk, egg whites and extracts into a 2 C glass measure, and mix with fork until blended.

3. mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer at low speed. add butter; continue to beat at a low speed until mixture resembles moist crumbs, with no powdery ingredients remaining.

4. add all but 1/2 cup of milk mixture to crumbs and beat at medium speed for 1 1/2 minutes. add remaining 1/2 cup of milk mixture and beat 30 seconds more. stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl. return mixer to medium speed and beat 20 seconds longer.

5. divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans; using rubber spatula spread batter to pan walls and smooth tops. bake 23-25 minutes.

6. let cakes rest in pans for 3 minutes. loosen from sides of pan with a knife, and invert onto greased cake racks. let cool completely about 1 1/2 hours.

for the assembly, the book suggested using a butter frosting along with a jam filling... which i did, but found it cloying. my recommendation would be to go with the jam, i used raspberry, but use a swiss meringue icing instead of the butter frosting.

i LOVE this swiss meringue recipe. it makes such an amazing icing... beautifully white, and shiny. just gorgeous, and not too sweet.

on the first cake layer, spread about a half of a cup of frosting over the top. spread about a third of a cup of jam over the frosting and top with the second layer. spread frosting over top and sides of cake.

silver leaf botanical tray

2011-05-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

may's diy project for design*sponge is a silver leafed tray with a soft botanical image. click here for the full tutorial.

pool patterns

2011-05-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

something beautiful happens when the sun shines into a swimming pool. a random pattern appears that is a gorgeous monochromatic mix of lights and darks. i especially love a tiled pool, with the tiny square mosaic tiles adding their own geometric pattern to the sinuous lines from the reflection of the sun on the waters surface. makes me think of summer.

south bay magazine feature

2011-04-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

two of my designs were recently featured in a photo shoot for south bay magazine! my twig letters marked each persons place setting with their initial and my birch chandelier hung above a table beautifully appointed with linens and place settings from waterleaf interiors.

my twig letters are available in my online shop and chandeliers can be ordered by contacting me directly.

snacking...

2011-04-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

lately we have had this love affair with popcorn. the air popped version... the real deal. you can have your oil popped, and microwaved versions. in my book, air popped is the only way to go.

i grew up on air popped. my mom would always pull out the popper on nights when we had a babysitter. it had a butter warming dish that sat atop the plastic chute where the little kernels would cascade out. we loaded the dish to the brim with butter, fit it into its molded hole, and the butter would melt like magic with the heat of the air. it was then poured over the hot popped kernels. delicious.

but we do it differently in our house. not that butter isn't amazing for countless reasons. believe me i have nothing against butter... but we take the olive oil route for our popcorn.

pop the corn, give a little sprinkle of sea salt and a good drizzle of olive oil. it has to be good olive oil. the result is absolute heaven. the fruitiness of the olive oil, the little tingle that it gives in the back of your throat the crisp solid crunch of the freshly popped corn. it's a noteworthy combination.

but then there is truffle oil. a whole new experience bringing popcorn to a whole new level. i have a french friend who told me the french don't eat corn... that it is only fit for animal feed.
i think the french might change their minds if faced with the truffle oil popcorn. if not... more for me.

easter eggs

2011-04-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

with easter almost here and a two year old anxiously awaiting the easter bunny's arrival, i am gathering ideas and finishing them last minute.

for the hard boiled eggs this year, i went with a natural dye options after reading this article. even though the kids won't be eating the shell of the egg, it still gives me a little peace of mind, plus the natural colors are so muted and beautiful. i looked up sources for making your own natural plant based easter egg dyes and found a wealth of suggestions for ingredients. among the common... beets, turmeric, coffee. and then there are others... many others. cabbage, spinach, red zinger tea, red onion skins, rasberries... the list goes on.

i have always loved the look of little quail eggs with their blotchy freckles... so i decided to go that color route. soft neutrals with speckles of course.

i used cherry juice, and hard boiled the eggs in it. they turned out a beautiful muted lavender gray. i then used a tiny bit of conventional food color (don't tell) mixed with water. i mixed green with red and a bit of blue to get a muddy neutral flecking color. with my index finger covered with a piece of saran wrap to keep it from staining, i used a paint brush to spot the eggs by running my finger across the ends of the bristles, flicking spots of color onto the eggs.

and the final product...

...and then the rest of the projects for the weekend.
i really would like to make these papier mache eggs for e's basket. fill them with jelly beans... naturally colored of course, and i'll have a happy kid.

of course i'm making my macaroon nests, and crispie bunnies just like last year.

and i can't help but love the monochromatic baskets from here. so gorgeous.

ambitious? maybe. but it only comes once a year.
have a happy easter.

inspired by...

2011-04-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

art made from recycled materials. just in time for earth day, npr announced that the textile museum in washington dc is putting on a new exhibition called "green: the color and the cause". a compilation of artists are featured each contributing a piece that is made from recycled materials or themed with green as the concept. all gorgeous for their own reasons, her are a few of my favorite.

emily dubois: made of woven cotton, stainless steel, acrylic, twill and sateen.

william knight: made from tires found along the highways of new jersey.

nancy cohen: handmade paper, marsh grasses, salt, wire.

maggy rozycki hiltner: cotton and found textiles

make something!

2011-04-19T05:46:00.000-07:00

make this doily crown for your little one.

doily crowns are fun for dress up or even a birthday party, not to mention so easy to make that you could whip up a bunch of them in a few minutes!

materials needed...

8-9 inch metallic doilies
headbands
hot glue
scissors

instructions...

1. cut a squarish shape out of the doily... try to center the pattern on the top portion. the top arch of the doily should be the tallest and the sides a bit lower.

2. fold the doily at the two corners of the "square" to make bottom line of the doily straighter. it will still be a bit curved, but you don't want it to be so square. the easiest way to do this is to hold the ends on the doily and pull away from each other very gently. lay the crown down on a flat surface and help the folds along where they are happening.

... the fold

3. dot the folds with hot glue to secure.

4. glue the straightened doily to the headband. it sits pretty much on the top of the band, but position it as close to the front as you can.

5. crown your prince or princess.

tea party invitation

2011-04-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

a lovely batch of invitations for a small tea party. hand painted flowers match the china that will be used at the party. custom envelope liners reinforce the teacup pattern while adding a bit of pattern play. deep navy envelopes enclose the hand sewn tea bag filled with lavender buds. perfect invitation to a perfect party.

inspired by...

2011-04-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

shane waltener. not only is his site crazy creative and beautifully designed... he uses hand drawn site maps and clippings of patterned security envelopes serving as entry pages to his installations... but his artwork is breathtaking.

using shirring elastic... the thread like elastic used for sewing to make fabric bunch up... he creates elaborate crocheted web installations resembling beautiful doilies some master spider has knotted. amazing.

axel vervoordt

2011-04-12T05:06:00.000-07:00

loving the style of axel vervoordt. in clean shades of gray, and whites with neutral tones all around, i love how he brings in natural elements yet the overall look has a timeless and modern feeling. definitely inspirational.

my shop is open!

2011-04-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

i have finally opened up an online boutique! more great things to come soon, so click here to visit!

paper marquee letter

2011-04-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

april's diy project for design sponge is a vintage inspired paper marquee letter. click on the link for the full tutorial.

lyrical painting

2011-04-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

i painted some lovely ben harper song lyrics on the wall of the bloume baby store in manhattan beach. the lyrics are hand painted in modern white on a deep chocolate background with little leaves to mirror bloume baby's logo. and thanks to a great idea from a friend of mine, i decided to use felt and patterned fabric to make the leaves dimensional. i love the textural touch the fabric leaves add to the letters and the natural feel of the mural next to the fabulous birch tree wallpaper in the store. perfect.

inspired by...

2011-04-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

illustrations by ekaterina koroleva.

so beautiful and effortless looking. i especially love the last image paintied on vintage wallpaper.

birch twig letters

2011-03-30T05:15:00.000-07:00

i made these petite letters for an upcoming photoshoot. the scene is set in an overgrown outdoor garden with gorgeous john robshaw linens, madeline weinrib textiles and juliska glassware. i made a birch chandelier to hang over the beautifully appointed table, and these little monogram letters for each place setting. wouldn't they be darling in a baby's room spelling out a name or a cute word...

label design

2011-03-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

there was a beautiful article in the la times yesterday about label design from southern california citrus growers. they touched on the painstaking printing process and labor intensive design... all of which was done completely by hand. several designs were made for each grower for their different grades of oranges. even ugly oranges had beautifully designed boxes. bright colors and bold lines... inspiring. here are some of my favorites from here...

see the beautiful labels from the article here and find lots more labels here...

secret love of yellow

2011-03-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

i started compiling inspirational images on pinterest... and have noticed all of the photos i have containing a particular shade of yellow that, unannounced to me, i am quite fond of...
i wouldn't describe myself as a yellow lover... i don't wear much yellow, and looking around my house, i have only a few pops here and there... not counting the yellow abundance of kids toys that have sadly found homes in our living room. a tiny vase of dried billy balls, two "vintage" anthropologie grey pillows embroidered with yellow flowers, and, a favorite of mine to the demise of my husband... a yellow cotton velour buckwheat hull pillow. the bathroom has pops of yellow tiles edging the mass of clean white, and i made linen and yellow striped taffeta curtains to compliment... sounds like a lot of yellow... but its not... really.

all of these little things that i have taken interest and collected pictures for their shape, pattern, form or sheer beauty without taking color into consideration. yet they all have a lovely little unrealized pop of saturated neutral mustardy yellow in common. what a pleasant surprise.

all images on pinterest or... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

gathering inspiration...

2011-03-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

for an upcoming project...

beautifully textured business cards by see saw.

e danae calligraphy

chunky linen

beautifully classic chairs

vintage ticking

clever design

and lagoon blue...

strawberry barrette

2011-03-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

strawberries might just be e's favorite food. she has always loved them, since she was tiny and just on the cusp of being "allowed" to eat them. i can remember taking her to the farmers market and letting her go wild on a shiny green basket of strawberries. juice dripped down her chin(s) and saturated her shirt. she was in complete heaven and demolished almost the entire basket.

we spotted a little strawberry plant in big clay pot lining a neighbors yard. we admired the delicate white flower, its petals almost translucent. and the tiny strawberry. tender and hanging by a slim stem, hiding under the crisp leaves. this was my inspiration, and i think it made the perfect barrette for my little strawberry lover.

gift cards...

2011-03-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

a look at my newly completed bloume baby custom gift certicicates. simply designed with a hand painted bird and moss green envelopes...
the bird holds a bow of green mohair yarn.

when the yarn is untied... the card opens and a banner floats through announcing the gift certificate.

happy saint patricks day...

2011-03-16T05:35:00.000-07:00

clovers happen to be one of the cutest little weeds i know.

prune

2011-03-14T05:42:00.000-07:00

on my recent trip to new york, we ate at a fabulous little restaurant. prune. an east village gem... tiny little restaurant jam packed with tables, we sat on the side, opposite the bar, and stared into the open kitchen curious about what the night would bring.
we both started off with an italian greyhound: ruby grapefruit, vodka, sprig of rosemary. perfectly bitter and aromatic. it came in a thin sided glass, similar to the glasses i have been coveting for ages at cb2.

to eat, we first started with the anchovies, triscuits and mustard. a nostalgic picnic food in my mind... as a child i fondly remember eating smoked oysters, triscuits and mustard. a staple in our picnic basket, that i will definitely resurrect.

we then had the octopus and squid with celery and chili flake, grilled shrimp with anchovy butter... the combinations of firm bacon-y octopus and crisp juicy celery were to die for. bread was most certainly need for sopping up the intense flavors of the shrimp... cooked in their little shells... heads on.

then shaved celery salad with warm blue cheese toast. so we meet again, celery. crisp, cool and juicily aromatic with the blue cheese toast. need i say more?

and for dessert... cornmeal poundcake with poached pears whipped ricotta and rosemary syrup. topped with a piece of candied rosemary. i seriously can't stop thinking about this one. dense corn cake, with the rosemary syrup... genius combination.

the food was all to die for. simple and elegant. thought out flavors and scents. then there was the crowd. we went for an early dinner, so by the time we were finished, nearly ever table in the place was filled. then we saw the review. in the new york times... came out that morning. i am just happy they had room for us that night, as now that i know how delicious it is, i would brave a new york crowd for a taste of prune any day.

seeded paper pouches

2011-03-11T05:19:00.000-08:00

this months diy project for design*sponge is seeded paper pouches. click on the link for the full tutorial.

shamrock barrette

2011-03-09T05:18:00.000-08:00

add some luck to your little ones day with this lucky clover barrette.

adapted from this pattern...

i changed the shape of each petal to have two lobes each, and flipped the flower over, preferring the shape of the bottom of the flower for the clover.

you will need:
wool felt
needle and thread
blank barrette

cut 4 leaves in the shape shown above. mine measured about 3/4 of an inch tall, and nearly an inch wide.

sew the leaves together as shown above, and tie the threads together tightly at the ends.

sew to a barrette, and clip on your little lucky charm.

muslin dolls

2011-03-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

i made these muslin dolls for a paper doll birthday party. i washed the blank muslin dolls in black tea to give them a nice color. then i sewed faces and wool felt hair on each of them. i made clothes for the dolls in shades of pink and blue to match the invitations. with vintage lace, classic fabrics like muslin and linen and a few modern prints and knits the clothes were shaped simply so that the children were able to dress the dolls themselves.

all of the dolls were sewn with the same facial features and hairstyle... yet they all have their own character.

what a fun activity for the kids!

exciting week!

2011-03-04T14:17:00.000-08:00

it has been a very exciting week at paper & ink. not only does this week mark paper & ink's one year anniversary, but serendipitously, as if to help celebrate the one year mark, i was invited to do a segment on the martha stewart show!

wednesday, at the martha stewart show in new york, i did a demo with martha making faux fireplace logs that i designed for design sponge. it aired live on the hallmark channel that morning, and the entire show was a whirlwind of great creative projects. have a look at my birch fireplace decorative logs segment below and have a fantastic weekend!

click here to see the link to my segment.

jonas wood

2011-02-25T05:36:00.000-08:00

love this artwork by jonas wood.
simple and beautiful. see more of his work here.

sweater leggings

2011-02-23T07:37:00.000-08:00

i made these sweater leggings for e. i picked up a sweater at a second hand store, chosen for the knit and color. (the style left a bit to be desired) i cut the arms off at the shoulder and simply sewed them on a pair of bloomers. e is a bit sensitive about itchy things, and the sweater has mohair in it... so i sewed the sweater arms to the bloomers with a zig zag stitch to the outside of the bloomer leg... just so it wouldn't cause any excessive itching. i finished them off with a little heart on the bum...

crepes

2011-02-21T05:13:00.001-08:00

my love for crepes started when i worked at anthropologie. i worked with a lovely french woman who used to bring them in every time we had a meeting. perfectly browned and simply sprinkled with sugar then rolled up. the steam from the hot crepe melts the sugar and turns the crepe into this wondrous sweet thing with a lovely texture, and buttery smell. perfect. i made them saturday morning for us. and they were just how i remembered, but her addition of french accent will always make hers better.

crepes

1 c flour
1 T sugar
1/4 t salt
1 1/3 c milk
1 T vanilla
3 eggs
3 T melted butter

sugar for sprinkling on crepes

1. In a large bowl combine the flour sugar and salt.

2. In a large measuring cup combine the milk, vanilla, eggs and melted butter. Mix with a fork to break up the eggs.

3. While whisking rapidly, slowly pour the milk and egg mixture into the dry ingredients. Whisk until very well combined. I keep the whisk in the bowl and continue to mix the batter occasionally as I make the crepes.

4. Heat an 8" non-stick skillet to medium heat. I used a paper towel with butter to coat the pan. Pour ¼ cup of batter into pan and tilt pan so that batter covers pan in a thin layer. Cook until the edges start to lightly brown, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Flip over and cook for a few more seconds until done. I sprinkle about a teaspoon of sugar over the crepe and roll them up in the pan and keep them covered with aluminum foil to keep them warm until they are ready to serve.

recipe from here...

botanical silhouette diy

2011-02-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

click here to see my post today on design*sponge!

paper doll invitations

2011-02-15T09:52:00.000-08:00

just finished these paper doll invites...

all hand cut with fabric dresses...

envelopes are lined with a modern print to compliment the back of the invitations...

the back of the invitation, covered with hand painted print...

hand lettered and painted with petite roses and tiny gingerbread brown dots...

the modern, hand painted print was slightly visible from the front...

fabric dresses adorn the front doll.

i think i am in love...

2011-02-09T12:59:00.000-08:00

with these ruffled chairs by fredrick farg.

seen here.

perfectly disguised

2011-02-07T07:19:00.000-08:00

i love these bags made to look like original paper grocery versions.

from... here, here, here and here.

inspired by: beautiful artistry

2011-02-02T21:36:00.000-08:00

Canon Pixma: Bringing colour to life from Dentsu London

custom chandelier

2011-01-26T07:13:00.000-08:00

just finished this birch chandelier for a client. hanging in her daughters room, details like little birds and nests are waiting to be added. she also plans to have the chandelier lit with little globe lights.

inspiration was taken from the birch branch that i hung in the window of bloume baby's storefront. i used chunk sisal rope, and big knots to contrast the clean white birch branches.

inspired by...

2011-01-24T05:57:00.000-08:00

...breathtaking clouds.

awesome looking view of the clouds from our house. ominous and inspiring.

fabric veggies

2011-01-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

i made some fabric veggies for e's kitchen. a carrot and a beet. complete with untrimmed thread "roots". can't wait to make a potato or two out of linen or burlap!

good morning.

2011-01-14T07:03:00.000-08:00

i found this little creature sliding around my sink this morning, happily soaking up the water on the backsplash.

design sponge diy

2011-01-12T13:05:00.000-08:00

click here to see my diy on design*sponge this month.

cream cheese cookies

2011-01-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

when i was little, my grampa would always take my brother and i to a little bakery by our house. he would let us choose whatever we wanted from the brightly lit glass case housing trays and trays mounded with pastries, doughnuts and cookies. it was always a daunting task, as behind the glass cases were shelves with more treats. i was never big enough to see beyond the counter and back to the shelves lined with sweets. so my grampa would lift me up to see over, and allow me to ask "whats that one" about fifty times. with so many options, i would occasionally stray from my usual and delight in a glazed doughnut, or raspberry danish, which always had more visual appeal than my humble favorite. but the next time... it was my true bakery love, the cream cheese pastry... apricot of course... eaten with a tiny carton of whole milk clad in red and white. this is not a danish, but a crumbly crusted, apricot filled, sugar topped little half moon. i can't remember what my brother or grampa would get, probably because i was so immersed in the bliss of my pastry. this little cookie is one of those things among many others that i will always associate with my grampa. his jell-o always had bubbles along the edge of the bowl, equal was always sprinkled on grapefruit halves, and he would always remind me not to step in the dog "dirt" in the back yard. and his earlobes. the biggest, softest earlobes anyone ever had. but this one, this little cookie, i can hold in my hand and remember the sweet times we had together.

cream cheese cookies ...recipe here. (i used my own assembly method)

for pastry dough

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg, lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons water for egg wash

for apricot filling

1 3/4 cups coarsely chopped dried apricots (10 oz)
1/2 cup golden raisins
2/3 cup mild honey
1/4 cup sweet orange marmalade
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup water

Make dough:
Whisk together flour and salt in a bowl until combined.

Beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer (preferably fitted with a paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Reduce mixer speed to low, then add flour mixture and mix just until combined.

Divide dough into 4 equal pieces and wrap each in plastic wrap. Chill until firm, about 1 1/2 hours.

Make filling while pastry chills:
Bring apricots, raisins, honey, marmalade, cinnamon and water to a boil in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring, until dried fruit is softened and mixture is thick, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and cool until warm, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Chill until cold, about 2 hours.

Assemble and bake cookies:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment.

roll out one piece of dough on a floured board to a rough 11 inch circular shape. with a drinking glass or pastry cutter cut rounds of the dough and set aside.

place one heaping teaspoon of filling in the center of each circle. with a finger dipped in water, moisten the edge of the circle, and fold it in half. pinch the edge to adhere it to each other.

using kitchen shears, cut a vent in the top of the cookie.

brush the cookie with egg wash and sprinkle the top with granulated sugar.

Arrange cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Bake until golden, 17 to 20 minutes, then transfer with a metal spatula to racks to cool completely. Make more cookies with remaining dough and filling on a lined cooled baking sheet.

baby shoes

2011-01-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

how beautiful are these little shoes from here. completely hand made from organic hemp linen or wool, with dainty hand done details like embroidery or crochet. and come on... thank you for knowing that i adore pearl buttons. and in a rectangular shape... could it get any more perfect?

holiday cards

2011-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

finally sent out our holiday cards. each blockprinted by hand with white ink. with a little silver leaved bird to sing in the new year!

festive appetizer

2010-12-31T07:40:00.000-08:00

need a fun appetizer for tonight? run out and gather a couple things. we made these for christmas eve, and they were outstanding. fingerling potatoes with creme fraiche and caviar.

find the recipe here, and have a fun night!

happy new year

2010-12-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

as a southern californian, i can never get enough of the beauty of a snowflake. as some people i know are literally buried in them at the moment, i can understand how some people tire of them especially in masse. but just look. how wonderful and uniquely different each is on its own. pretty amazing. and how darling they are displayed each with a distinguishing number. hope you all have a wonderful new year!

image from here.

hand painted monogram

2010-12-22T07:06:00.000-08:00

the newest hand painted monogram. a simple c with a mix of styles... modern nest with strawberries and roses.

see more styles here.

wool felt food

2010-12-20T07:05:00.000-08:00

e is getting a little kitchen for christmas. this one... from here.

i have been scouring the internet for some cute play food. we have just about every wooden vegetable, so in the search for something other than wood i found these on mahar dry goods from lilly bean.

cute right? and, if you are feeling creative, lilly bean offers instructions and wool felt to make your own!

e's 2nd birthday party

2010-12-17T07:20:00.000-08:00

after postponing e's party to avoid the all too uncommon southern california rain storm, we finally settled on a new date. we were so lucky to have sunny 72 degree weather to reinforce the bright sunshiny bumble bee theme we had planned.

i wanted to stick with earthy textures and colors, so i made tablecloths using burlap for the top and tulle for the skirt just to add a little softness.

to eat we had lox and bagels, with all of the accompaniments. puff pastry quiche with ham, swiss and mushrooms, black and yellow fruit salad with pineapple and blackberries, and "honey" buns.

little cartons of milk were for the kids, and honey sweetened lemonade for everyone.

i made a beehive from sisal rope bringing in the burlap feel to the tabletop. round two of the flowers incorporated brightly colored icelandic poppies, wax flower, orange and yellow parrot tulips and fresh meyer lemons.

we even got a visit from our tiniest guest of honor... (besides the birthday girl) ...the honey bees!

the birthday cake looked like a bee box, complete with dripping honey and little bees buzzing about. inside was a honey cake with honey buttercream all covered in fondant.

each guest was given a little bug jar to take home adorned with one of the bees from the cake inside.

advent calendar redo

2010-12-13T07:28:00.000-08:00

i love advent calendars. my brother and i always had them when we were little as a nice little way to count down to christmas. so i had to get one for e this year... as if we need any extra treats in the prolifically sweet holiday season.
i got the advent calendar from trader joes for 99 cents. what a deal! but the front... i usually am a huge fan of everything trader joes, but aesthetically, this left something to be desired. so i re-covered it. problem solved.

i can only offer written instructions, as i did this in a hurry, but it is pretty self explanatory. besides, it is a little late in the game considering we are half way through december. but if it is going to hang on the wall for a month, it might as well be good looking.

first, open the box at the seams, and remove the tray of chocolates.

brush the front of the calendar with glue, and lay a piece of patterned paper on the front. press down to adhere.

from the back or inside of the doors, recut through the paper on each door, following the shape previously cut through the cardboard. use an exacto knife.

insert the tray of chocolates and tape the box closed again.

wrap the edges of the paper around the box like a present, and glue down.

for the numbers, i used several fun fonts and printed them in different sizes. i cut them out in a circles so they are cohesive. i glued a number in each door, and voila... a new modern looking advent calendar that i can live with for a month!

e's birthday flowers

2010-12-08T05:25:00.000-08:00

for e's bumblebee birthday party, i put together a bunch of flowers that is garden-y and feminine incorporating shades of yellow and orange with a tiny pop of blue and deep dark like the centers of the sunflowers. more pictures of the party to come soon!

inspired by...

2010-12-06T06:56:00.000-08:00

...the neutral wintry color palette of linen, spanish moss, silver, vintage paper and subtle sparkle.
i think i might use these colors for our holiday cards!

design sponge

2010-12-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

see my diy post on design*sponge this morning!

rene grauau

2010-11-29T05:51:00.000-08:00

love, LOVE these illustrations by rene grauau. beautifully feminine and classic.

she's two.

2010-11-24T13:11:00.000-08:00

today my baby is two. i can't believe how fast the time has gone. it is hard to remember what life was like before my little e came along. all i know is that i have poured out so much new love in the past two years, that it is hard to imagine where all of that love was before her.

i would give absolutely anything to her without even thinking twice... all of the berries out of my granola, every minute of my time... even in the middle of the night..., all of my anything i can deliver. and the spit up on my favorite blouse... it doesn't matter. i could lay and stare at her for hours, memorizing her constantly changing features, but in the ripe old age of two, she has less tolerance for these snuggly moments. but this loss of staring time becomes a gain of interaction. she is turning into a little person, able to have a simple conversation, and think of things on her own. completely astounding that she has grown from an almost 6 pound sleepy little bundle to a 30 pound walking talking opinionated person.

i can honestly say these have been the best two years of my life, and as my mother always told me, she will only truly understand how greatly you can love when she has a child of her own. happy birthday ella.

lauren di cioccio

2010-11-23T05:48:00.000-08:00

i love these bags by artist lauren dicioccio. made of organza with tediously worked embroidery patterns and wording, they are spitting images of the originals. obviously these are mega pieces of artwork, but wouldn't it be fun to tote your groceries and goodies, or gift give with a simplified version?

new gift card style #2

2010-11-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

another of the collection to be sold at bloume, this little card is made with woodgrain embossed card stock. inspired by a classic carving into tree bark... you know the ones, "b + n" surrounded by a heart. the heart is cut out, and the word happy peeks through on vellum.

new gift card style

2010-11-17T07:29:00.000-08:00

this little bunny gift card is part of the small collection to be sold at bloume. the bunnies are cut from vintage wallpaper and each has a fuzzy muslin tail and matching muslin envelope. more to come!

inspired by...

2010-11-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

painterly prints. loosely geometric, these inspire me to create my own prints with my watercolors.