Christmas Homemade

 

 

Check out Martha Stewart for the latest on homemade goods for the little ones.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Holli Conger {illustrator}

Once upon a time I was a stay-at-home-mom, looking back, it was the most blissful 18 months of my life. I don't know how working mom's manage to do it all. I do it (the working mom part) but I don't feel as though stuffing my face with multiple cups of stale coffee,  sneaking in a candy bar here and another meeting leftover sandwich there, while eagerly awaiting Friday...on Monday, is the definition of handling it successfully. I to have dreams of one day returning to that status of stay-at-home mom while working on some type of artsy and far more fulfilling career in life...from home.

I was so inspired when I came across Holli Conger and her site http://www.becominganillustrator.com/ where she features her life story at becoming a stay-at-home illustrator. Or you can read about her blog A Girl Who Creates or her professional site here.  Her work can be found at Target. How inspirational is that?


Leer en espanol ---->

Moves Like Jagger

Whenever I feel a little suffocated, I retrieve and indulge in some music. Whenever I'm in a really good mood I indulge in music. Truth is, music can really set the mood. And since the mood I want to create is an upbeat, funky chicken mood, I turned to music.  I really dig both Maroon 5 and The Rolling Stones and, when in the mood, I do a little funky chicken dance on the dance floor.  { Doing the funky chicken dance in my head presently}. What music amps you up?

Camilla Engman {illustrator}

I think it was several months ago when I spotted a little paper cutout of  Monsieur Moustache (pictured above) seated at a piano that I felt that aha! moment of knowing that if I couldn't make it as an illustrator for my own picture book one day, I was happy to know there were illustrators out there that fit my quirky aesthetic perfectly. I printed, cut and pasted the little guy to my inspirational notebook and forgot to jot down the source from where I found him. Just this morning I googled foxes (I have foxes on the brain), I liked a picture of a fox I spotted for Uppercase magazine and from there it lead me to an image I liked from Ms. Engman's and headed over to her site. Imagine my excitement when I found this:




) see the little fox dancing happily?!?! (



All items available here. Her blog here.

Yummy goodness right?

Tats...

When I was 18,  I got my first 'real' job. When I got my first 'real' paycheck, I got a tattoo. True story. It was, and is, a tattoo of a dolphin on my ankle. Why a dolphin? Tranquility and ocean living. It's what I loved then, and what I love now.

Being an artsfy fartsy type, I'm really tempted to get another, something on my inner arm but, working in the field of education, I don't think a visible tattoo would fit the bill quite right. There are days I think I should just go and get this massive tattoo to burn the bridge I have to my 'safe' lifestyle, but then that wouldn't be very safe. :)

In the meantime, these colorful tattoos are pretty darn cool, and non- permanent, and also just in time for some Halloween decorating ...
like a pimp...


or an artsy fartsy costume type...


or a vato loco, "who you trying to get crazy with, ese? don't you know I'm loco" type...


or just go as Zoolander...



All images and tats from Tattly.

Stenciling 101

Despite feeling in a bit of a rut, I can't help but feel slightly rejuvenated whenever I view a video on things I wish I could be doing versus things I have to be doing.

If you feel equally inspired, check out Ed Roth's book Stencil 101, available here.

Illustration + a love for books

In case you weren't aware, I love books.  And even though I once pictured myself brooding alongside a philosophical poet type dressed in black, I ended up marrying a confident builder dressed in black with specks of paint, plaster, cement and numerous other concoctions glued to his pants. Life is good.

But this dressed-in-black type doesn't read...much. He's dyslexic, a total channel surfer and occassional cook. We made one little baby, and then two. And out of those two little ones, one came out dyslexic...and very often dressed in black.

And so because it takes some effort to get the little dyslexic one to handle a book AND infuse some color into his too-young-to-know-but-experiencing-goth episode in life, the above prints are so wonderfully perfect and deliver a kind message to those intimidated by those heavy paper things: books are our friend.

I spotted those prints and others at Apartment Therapy.

illustration: lisa congdon

When I was just about to start college I told my dad I wanted to pursue art.  In a nutshell, dad said there was no career in art (please don't hate on dad) and I took his word for it. Anyhow, I didn't want to pursue anything dad wouldn't be proud of.

Fast forward ten years, I'm still living for art. I never studied art, with the exception of sneaking in a pottery course after getting married and while baking baby no.2, but I basically breath and live for it.

Growing up my parents were a tad overprotective, so liken to incarcerated folks, I took to my paper and pencil and wrote, or drew or did anything to escape onto paper.

I haven't drawn anything recently, mostly because my time is so consumed with raising and educating my little men (and quite often the big one as well), fixing the broken around the home, and squeezing in some time to exercise and all the other day-to-day runnings of a home.

But after receiving Printing by Hand, I've been so inspired to take up this interest once again.

One illustrator I really love, and I'm really behind the trend here because I know she's been seen everywhere, is Lisa Congdon. 

The prints are so child friendly that I wouldn't mind one of them sitting in my living room and greeting visitors in whimsical fashion. Prints no.2 and no. 3 would look awesome as a background to a sihouette in motion of my little ones.

What do you think? What illustrators do you love? Have you drawn anything lately?

Digital Magazines

Open publication - Free publishing

 

In the event that you've refused to browse through another printed publication since Domino folded a few years ago (because you like living in a time bubble), I've rounded up a list of some of my favorite digital design/styling magazines, alphabetized, because that's how I roll.

 

a. Anthology

h. High Gloss

l. Lonny

m. Matchbook

n.  The Nest

r. Rue

st. Styled

sw.  Sweet Paul

t. Trad Home

 

I especially loved Sweet Paul's kid's edition, available here.

 

I personally haven't come across any DIY mags, have you? Any magazines aimed at children? What are you reading? Are you loving or hating digital magazines? And most importantly, why was my post title so simplistic? 

 

 ;)

 

 

 

A Lesson on the Word ''uber'' AND a video....

PRINT WORKSHOP by Christine Schmidt from Yellow Owl Workshop on Vimeo.

I had originally intended to post this back in May, when I first spotted it over at D*S.

I had Christine Schmidt's book Print Workshop: Hand Painting Techniques on my 'book-to-buy list' but since I had spotted Lena Corwin's Printing by Hand book first, I bought that one instead.

Had I remembered this video and the happy sensations which accompanied it, I might have gone with this selection. It's been a week since I ordered Lena's book and I am super antsy about getting it and making uber incredible creations with it. And I was finding a way to squeeze in the word uber in there since all of a sudden you hear it nowhere and it was uber cool to say uber  just a few months ago.

So, really, there is no lesson, just a few words on the word and a pretty nifty video.

Nifty..there's the new word for the season. :)

Missoni feels so home-y...

     

   

For the first time in my life, I welcome Fall.

Maybe it's because I'm not super crazy about wearing bikinis anymore. Maybe I've already maxed the number of times I can endure swimming pools in a single season. Maybe it's because I have an eight year old...

but I am really looking forward to being covered up, cozy and comfortable this coming season.

And along with my goal to get things done 'before' the before (which is going pretty good- no more stressful mornings!), I'm already thinking about what to get the little ones, my little niece and nephews come Christmas.

 How about you? Are you the same person come Fall or do you tend to change with the seasons?  

The beautiful collection is from Missoni for Target.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

The definition of insanity/stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

I pondered on things I've done repetitiously and I quickly came up with a list of things I'd been doing on auto-pilot for years.  No wonder things haven't changed!

I am still taking the same kind of jobs, wearing the same style of clothing, the same goal list year after year, even the same haircut!

First thing on my to-do list: chop that crop!

Clockwise: top left Sarah Harding (Girls Aloud) , others  Kimberley Caldwell (American Idol - Season 2)

Bikes, Hikes and Such. No, Just Bikes.

Summer is officially here! And nothing spells summer like a bike, unless you spell beach, or swimsuits or lakes....but you get my point.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a beautiful before and after tale detailing the crafting of my very own beach cruiser.

While we were in the midst of revamping the old bike, I couldn't help but allow my mind to wander around all things lustful related to my bike.

 01. leather streamers  02. leather peddles (!)  03. an old fashioned bell  04. a camera mount (how dreamy would it  be to capture the images of your little ones-or big one- from behind...) 05. a flower accessory (easy breezy DIY there, wouldn't you say?) 06. surfboard rack

I realize a fancy little basket for the front is missing, that's because I already got the nifty little guy.

For your very own bike inspiration and for the details of all the above items visit the Electra bike site.

What's your summer project? What?!?! You don't got one? Let the bike project tomorrow inspire you...

Living Your Art

Patrick Toney . Living Statue . Street Performer from Kaylyn Messer on Vimeo.

What measures would you take to live out your art?

How bold, yes? If this boy can prep day to day as a street performer can I you not start your home goods store?

Hope this Tuesday finds you well.

Pretty Little Things...

 
 

What do you love more: 

+the ban.do accessories
+ the colors, or,
+ the simple yet romantic hairstyles
+ ?

Happy Monday. 

A Word, or Two, On Scrapbooking

Howdy.

It's been a while. I had a personal matter to settle; nothing big, nothing small, just something.

That, and the fact that I've managed to get myself all tangled up in the affairs of scrapbook dreaming. As I said here, I am not a scrapbooker, at least I never thought I was.

Ever since the children were little, I've kept a journal about them; their birth, their quirks, their charms. I've compiled a collection of little love letters for them which I hope they'd appreciate in the future. I just never knew how to present it. I really never knew that scrapbooking was all about that, and more.

When I was a teenager, I would sneak out to the shed where my parents stored all the old mementos. My old dollhouse, my Little Pony, some old Transformer toys. But what I treasured most was my old homework collection, old school notes, old journals: the captivating moments of a little girl in a vast world chronicling the emotions relevant to a school-aged kid.

And now, as an adult, all I continue to care about are those positive, emotional connections linked to my most beloved: my little family. And what better way to chronicle our many adventures than scrapbooking!

I've included the above design here in hopes that it would spark your interest in crafting a page of your own starting today, and if you already have, clue me in with some pointers? ;)

Cheers to a wonderful weekend!

Eric Carle + other crafty goodness ...

By now, it's no secret that I love libraries and museums and children, especially my own little guys. And while I've been on the topic of museums, I couldn't leave out the The Museum of Eric Carle of Picture Book Art.

This place is a little off my radar out in Amherst, MA (directions here), you just never know when it'll come in handy because one of you lovely readers live near there or soon to visit there. Deals for the museum here.

And although you might not be able to visit physically, you can still visit virtually and at the very least be inspired by their online store, send a beautiful Eric Carle e-card, or visit the sites' Top 12 picture book picks (and no, not all of them are Eric Carle's) that you'll pick from to volunteer to read at your local elementary school, right? Or to your little kiddos or kiddos' classmates?

When I was a kid, I regularly volunteered at my local senior center (true story). T.A.S.C. was the name, acronym for Teens Assisting Senior Citizens (nope, didn't make it up). There is nothing better than getting rid of the moody blues than helping out someone in need. Which is why I threw the link up there and here again.

And if you just tune in to this site for lovely images, continue to scroll:


Image via Moomah Cafe (<gasp> look at the coffee table!)


Illustrations at Moomah by Yellow Owl Workshop. Image via Moomah Cafe.


Menu and other crafty marketing material by Apartment One. Image via Moomah Cafe.


Apples & Jam, children's cafe; Melbourne, Australia (original source: Eat Drink Chic)

I suggest you visit the above mentioned sites for more yummy goodness here and here for crafty inspiration or browse the images for pure delight.

Or browse my past ode to Bill Martin Jr.'s illustration (past collaborator with Eric Carle) in a grown-up version of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom here.

Is there a museum you've been itching to visit? Or a children's book you've been wanting to re-visit?

Good Tuesday...

Free Your Mind...And Your Wallet Will Thank You.

 

                

Ah yes, more Target talk.

I actually had to write this post because I left out one key ingredient in this post on Before & Afters from Target. In case you already know, cup your little eyes and forget the latter and if you didn't know, you are welcome.

Did you know I can get into my local Children's Museum for free thanks to a partnership* from Target? And you can visit their site here to find which events are free (or reduced) in your area. By visiting your favored museum, zoo or aquarium site, you can research and find which hours and dates are free for you.

Other deals if you find yourself in the Houston, TX area:

Houston Zoo - free first Tuesday of the month, 2p - closing
Museum of Natural Science - free Tuesday nights, 2p-8p (ask for free tickets at booth)
Children's Museum -  free Thursday nights, 5p-8p; free first Sunday of the month, 12p-6p (c/o Target)
Museum of Fine Arts- free every Thursday (c/o Shell Co.), children free with Harris County library card on Sat. & Sun.

Because saving money, is right on target. And no, this was not sponsored by Target...but even  DIY divas need toilet paper. Or do you DIY that too?

Happy Monday!

*EDITING NOTE: My original post said sponsorship when it should have read partnership. Big ship, small ship, potato chip..

Keepsakes

I'm not that big into scrapbooking. At least, not until now. Since my first born was one I've been itching to create a memory box to adorn the home with of his first onesie and cap. He's soon to be eight making this project long overdue.

Since I was already researching this project for myself, I thought I'd spit this out here for your use.

Ideas: Clockwise beginning top left: baby keepsakes, childhood keepsakes, family vacation, school days scrapbook via Martha Stewart.

Call me crazy (or a nerd) but I've still got all my ID cards from junior high through high school and I've been wanting to tackle a project featuring my many many mistakes looks. Maybe in the future I'll showcase those ID's, but we'll leave that for another day.

In keeping with the tradition, I'll return a little later for a freebie Friday. I hope.

Easter Hunting...

 

I'm super antsy about Easter. 

This year I started prepping ideas and purchasing goods in advance.  I'm always anxious about sending my niece and nephews some little surprise in the mail but somehow (lack of preparation) in the midst of it all, the manifestation eludes my attempt.

I'm more so inspired by the making of sweet treats and goodies but finding the time presents an issue. In this case, the above is an idea to spark your imagination. The crafting of a bookmark on your own can be an attainable event if your little heart so desires, or a sweet little book to accompany it would make a nice surprise.

Toys:  left, bookmarker for boys; right, rhino both from Petite Alma.

Confetti-filled cones:

The above image was attained via Shop Sweet Lulu. The site alone is a wealth of inspiration and supplies for crafting mini fiestas.  Another variation I came across (but I can't recall the credit, sorry!) was a marshmallow stuffed cone. How fun!

I personally have a hyper-active little guy and I know how haywire the little ones can get under the influence of sugar, in this event, a medley of stickers might do the trick.

Easter Treat Chicks: Or check out this super cute idea via The Crafts Dept. utilizing vending capsules (also available at Shop Sweet Lulu).

Or this one also from the Crafts Dept. utilizing chocolate bars.

Or try this, via Teach Preschool activity, just don't dress them in their Sunday best for this one.

Happy Crafting + Monday!