mama unraveled 2

hi there...now go somewhere else

2005-06-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

I'M MOVING! Good bye mama unraveled . Hello little birds. Come on over!

What are you waiting for? I'm over here and I'm not coming back!

inez

2005-06-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

I'm calling this bag "Inez" because I designed and cut it out last night while watching one of my very favorite movies, Bottle Rocket. Used some of the beautiful leaf fabric my mom bought for me a while back. I've been scared to use this fabric because I love it so much! There's a couple little flubs from when I rushed to finish it (I knew Miles' patience was running out while I sewed), but, overall, I'm happy. Miles thought it was a chef's hat:

another one

2005-06-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

Another vintage child's apron found thrifting. I saw so many amazing aprons today, but I am on an apron diet. I just couldn't resist this one with the peaked middle and red organza. A totally impractical apron for a child, but fun to wear!

a cool thing

2005-06-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

Check out bzzzpeek. From their site:
bzzzpeek is presenting a collection of 'onomatopoeia' from around the world using sound recordings from native speakers imitating the sounds of mainly animals and vehicles.

My kids don't watch any TV or (usually) play computer games, but they were cracking up at this for half an hour. Fire engines were the favorite. Beautifully designed too.

lamb #2

2005-06-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

This little lamb is going to San Francisco.

self-portrait tuesday

2005-06-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

In the window of my minivan. Yes, I drive a minivan. Or rather, I try not to drive at all, but when I do, it's in a minivan.

bits & pieces

2005-06-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Kelly at buzzville for this great Japanese quilted bag book that came with a supercute fuzzy peach she made. I *thought* I was going to use it as a pin cushion, but Mia was horrified, so it lives in her room now.

I found these wonderful Heath Ceramics salt and pepper shakers at the Goodwill and am in love. They have markings from the original pottery. I have never seen any Heath with this glaze pattern on it. Any other mid-century pottery lovers know about these? I might be willing to part with them if it would mean a lot to a collector!

Also, I am working on a special order lamb which is exciting. Lambs, fawns, and other animals will be available at the online shop my sister and I will be opening over the summer. In the meantime, email me if you're interested in a special order ($40 for a lamb with yoke of flowers, $35 for a fawn, more animals to come).

swashbucklers

2005-06-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

On our way to a pirate party.

A super-quicky skull applique (with some lollipop stuck to it).

stash basket

2005-06-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

I've been loving the ever-inspirational Hillary's basket bags as well as those that I've seen in Japanese craft books (well, not the actual books, but the photos of books on ebay).

Here's my attempt at a basket bag which I made to store my yarn stash/projects. Didn't turn out exactly as planned, but I learned a few things along the way and would be willing to take another stab at it (and, yes, there was some stabbing of fingers).

I may even end my knitting sabbatical now that I have such handy storage!

little fawn

2005-06-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

An adaptation of the the lamb. Smaller (about 6 inches tall), 100% wool felt, embroidery floss, velvet ribbon.

papier-mache

2005-05-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

I don't know who is more excited when the Martha Stewart Kids Magazine arrives, me or Mia, but we always have to do a project right away. This weekend we made papier-mache (or as Mia calls it, "paper-crochet") vehicles.

Mia and I collaborated on these hot-air balloons.

going for a ride...

and Miles made this spaceship

Mia added the pirate flag.

Now if only Mia's birthday wasn't in December, so we could throw that beautiful Midsummer's Night Dream pixie party.

self-portrait tuesday

2005-05-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

In an apron (of course) and headless (of course). Self-timer with camera sitting on the potty.

Our upstairs bathroom is my favorite room in the house. I like to lie in the tub and dream of it redone in white wainscotting, free of the vinyl floor. You've heard the expression "the cobbler's family has no shoes"? Well, the architect's family has no remodel. We do, however, have a lot of shoes.

mama's got a brand new bag

2005-05-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

I had finally "lived" long enough with the great fabric I received from Hillary and decided I was ready to make a bag.

Lined in pink:

and embellished with vintage buttons from my collection and one I received from Amy:

This was my first bag of my own design that wasn't a straight-up tote bag and I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. Best of all, I have some of that great fabric left over!

photo friday: symbol

2005-05-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Miles' favorite vintage Izod red gingham shirt. photo friday.

thank you hillary!

2005-05-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

Ever generous, Hillary found this smock while thrifting and sent it to Mia! She was thrilled with the smock and the little penguin spirograph-drawing-thingy that arrived with it and set to work right away.

The smock looks especially great with our mod vintage child's chair.

Thanks Hillary! I am loving the internet connection this week!

small pleasures

2005-05-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

Purple radishes.

Going out for coffee, scones, and the fluff sections of the Thursday NY Times alone with my husband.

Driving by my children's school and spotting them weeding the garden in their bare feet.

Seeing a giant white yoga ball blowing around the neighborhood, like an urban tumbleweed.

Planning a picnic for dinner.

lucky me

2005-05-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

Well, real-life and blog-life intersected this morning when Amy of angry chicken and I finally met.

Some things I learned about Amy:
1. She has a beautiful smile, and now I will always think of it when I read her posts.
2. Her small quilts are a-friggin-mazing. Photos do not do them justice.
3. She is a warm and loving mother (and Sadie was awesome to so patiently entertain herself while we gabbed).
4. She has a charming, art-filled home. Beautiful, subtle color everywhere.
5. She is brimming with great ideas that I can't wait for her to pursue!

And it wasn't MY birthday, but I got a parting gift!

Thanks Amy! I had a wonderful time.

and more aprons

2005-05-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

Another tip for the Stumptown readers: the best vintage aprons for under $3 (among other goodies) can be found at Red, White, & Blue Thrift in Gladstone. Today I found the child-size gem that Mia is wearing (mine came from there too).

more on the lamb

2005-05-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

Many people were wondering about a pattern for the lamb. I adapted it from this book:

(one of my many thrifted craft books from the 60/70s)
It's a really simple pattern with thorough instructions.

I made some minor changes to the pattern and did not follow the instructions for the flower yoke, but created mine of individual flowers and leaves made from wool felt and wool beads.

Email me if you're interested in a copy of the pattern. I am going to try to adapt it further to make other animals, stay tuned.

pssssst: Happy birthday to Amy. We are finally going to meet tomorrow!

paper art

2005-05-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

Nikki McClure. I love my calendar. The chicken book is so charming.

Japanese paper cut-out book.

My mom sent me this link: the paper moon. Cut paper collages by Ida Pearle. Ms. Pearle designs and plays violin for the band Ida. Also from Ida, is Elizabeth Mitchell who makes great kid music.

edited to add: that's a drawing by Mia (age 5) and, yes, she is an artistic genius! (in my, totally non-objective, mind). The birds have bows on their heads.

month of softies: may flowers

2005-05-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

Mia had a little lamb.

Whose fleece (well, sherpa wool felt) was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mia went, that lamb was sure to go.

(and it's fleece is no longer white as snow)

for the puddletown folks

2005-05-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

Contribute your story of your Portland experience here.

I am determined to cross the river to see motel gallery's new show.

A new fabric and craft thrift store. I checked it out over the weekend and found some goodies like a half yard of Kaffe Fassett for 65 cents and some vintage trims and embroidery transfers (all under a dollar).

I've been house-bound with feverish kids, so my May month-of-softies is nearly finished!

robot man

2005-05-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Jack and I are so excited it is yard sale season. Every weekend we find all the ones in our neighborhood, and walk to them with the kids, looking for treasure. This weekend Mia found a bag of old tinker toys, Miles found a space shuttle placemat, and I found a piece of Alexander Henry robot flannel from which I made this applique for my little robot man.

something to see

2005-05-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Thank you Martha at Naive Knitting for the amazing Studio Confidante Slideshow.

For all you apron lovers, via my friend Kim at Rollerskates and an Apron, check out The Apron Chronicles.

My favorite new blog: port2port.

chicken

2005-05-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

A sweet chicken postcard from my mom.

My love affair with chickens and chicken imagery began when I was a student at UC Santa Cruz and I moved into a house that came with a flock. How I loved those hens! The rooster, I must admit, was a bit intimidating. I loved collecting the beautiful brown eggs. And the hatchlings? I never tired of holding those fuzzy chicks and watching them grow into gawky pullets.

When I am trying to sleep (doesn't come easy for me), and I want to take myself to a safe and comfortable place, there are two sensory memories which I summon. The first is the sound of the water lapping along the canal in Venice, Italy heard from the twin bed of our pensione when Jack and I were honeymooning. The second is the tweet-tweeting of my baby chicks waking me every morning at sunrise (I brought the chicks to my bedroom every night to keep them safe from foxes, cats, feral dogs and all the other predators of the Santa Cruz mountains).

I am lucky to live in an urban area that is very chicken-friendly. Maybe some will join us soon?