We're Hunting Rabbits!

After posting the invitations I did for my two-year-old's farm party, requests for that design or something similar came out of the woodwork. Who knew there were so many farm parties out there! Here is one I did recently for a four-year-old's awesome safari party. Enjoy!

Never Surrender

One of the things I hated about babysitting was the general state of a house with more than one kid. There was usually jelly or some other indistinguishable sticky substance covering all the wrong places; children's artwork scattered, smothered and covered all over the fridge and walls; plastic toys galore; and a general sense of total disorganization.

I swore several things after leaving their homes.

1. I would never allow construction paper artwork to take over my home.
2. I would never buy plastic toys.
3. My children would never watch Barney.

And then I had kids. And I realized that:

1. I loved to hang up their art because I am proud of it, and so are they.
2. They actually like plastic toys with tons of buttons that light up and drive you crazy. Wooden toys rarely get used.
3. Barney is crack for toddlers.

I still believe that your kids (and all their stuff!) do not need to take over your home. I took Martha's advice and now roll B's artwork in tubes and store them once they've had plenty of fridge time. And I have found great ways to store toys and art supplies so that the risk of breaking a limb while crossing the living room is minimal.

For a little inspiration, check out these kid's rooms featured on Lonny. They are simply fabulous. I do wonder how they get books off that top shelf though?

Bello

Some more fantastic prints from Etsy's shop blancucha. Beautiful prints by Blanca Gómez, illustrator and designer living and working in Madrid. It's no surprise it is mostly sold out. I'll find a blank wall somewhere to put these when more become available.

Lost & Found

If you remember my massive search for the antique airplane prints, I have news. I found them! At PB Kids of all places! That was unexpected.

Sweet Ts

This adorable shirt for B from Honey Bee Tees arrived on Saturday. I LOVE it (as does he)! Am posting a couple more sweet ones below. And if you get a chance, check out their blog...I am inspired!

Take Two

I'm back. The art store I frequent because of it's proximity to my son's preschool was offering a calligraphy class by a GREAT teacher and I couldn't pass it up. I figured if I could tough out another six weeks of learning then at last I could include my own lettering in my work and even change my design style a bit.

The last class I took (which was a packed class of 2o or so people) felt like torture at times. I think it's because I didn't have kids and didn't appreciate the peace that comes with repeating 3 letters for 3 hours. It's totally different now. I love the quiet, the sound of the pen scratching the paper, and the fluid motion of the copperplate font. I find myself looking forward to it every week, and even finding time to practice when I can (though it's not often).

I sometimes wonder if there is anything quite as beautiful as the simplicity of the line? You can draw emotion with one little stroke. Something to think about.

Hopefully I'll get some more (and more refined) samples up here soon.

Falling Short

Scrolling down briefly through my blog made me realize that I truly am a terrible blogger. How some people are able to update their blogs even every week amazes me. So here is a little taste of one of the many things that has been occupying the places that blog ideas usually reside. I'll upload the whole invitation package when it is complete late summer. This is for The Arthritis Foundation's annual gala. They have been a great organization to work with on this!