lovelydesign

full of boxes, full of love.

2012-01-05T11:03:00.001-08:00

These days we are up to our necks in boxes, preparing to make the move to our new home later this month. I am so looking forward to having this move over with - and my bones are excited to have a little studio space to myself once again!

I was a little bit concerned about the stress of all of this on the children, but Adelaide seems to be thrilled and excited, and she's been presenting me with the art to prove it!

Details of note:
- the waves of Trout Lake. We'll be close, but not THAT close.
- Addie and I hanging out in our backyard
- the big tree with a swing street-side
- ample street parking
- loads of love here in this place.

misty mornings

2011-12-23T10:08:00.001-08:00

Lately, I've been sleeping with the humidifier on each night to help with the dry winter air and stuffed up noses.

Each and every morning, Adelaide and Reid have been rushing to enthusiastically finger-scribble all over the steamed-up windows together. They are crazy about doing this! Both of them end up with soaked sleeves, but it gives me a few extra minutes to myself each morning and this time is priceless.

I also love this photograph, of the two of them just being little, together. These days are flying by much too fast, and I can't believe that Reid will be 9 months old already, on Christmas Eve.

every little inch

2011-12-22T18:14:00.001-08:00

This year I decided to let go and let her have at it,

and she's illustrated every little inch of our Christmas wrapping paper.

....and still going!

tempting fate

2011-12-17T14:44:00.001-08:00

Sometimes so much is going on that I am not even sure where to begin.

This past summer my partner Charles and I began to get the urge to make a move in life. We agonized for several months... by making changes, are we being foolish to give up our comfortable and happy lives? Are we tempting fate? Or are we just moving forward, as life should, and living? We contemplated all summer long.

But by October we finally decided to make a leap of faith and list our lovely home for sale on the market. A few weeks later it was sold, and so we spent the next month house shopping. In November we found a charming little heritage house on the east side of Vancouver. By December we bought and passed subjects on the little house. And this January, we will be moving and settling into our new home and neighborhood. Woosh!

So, in the midst of all this, Christmas hasn't really been too much on my mind. It really snuck up on me this year!

This past week I have been attempting to whip out a few home-made presents, baking lots, and making homemade wrapping paper with Addie. We've also been kept busy by our little wild man Reid, who all in the space of 1 week somehow sprouted teeth, learned to crawl, stand, cruise, and notice (terrorize) the poor cats with his shrieks of love and full-body hugs. And in between all the moments I am gathering up moving boxes and beginning to disassemble and pack our lives away.

These are full days. I am looking forward to settling in and sharing more of them with you again, real, real soon.

xox.

love that girl

2011-10-20T09:49:00.001-07:00

Our house incredibly still and quiet when Adelaide is gone - too much so. It's funny how when Addie is with me, she often drives me crazy with her non-stop nammering and endless enthusiasm. There are moments when I think to myself "my goodness, my brain is going to EXPLODE if I don't have just a minute of quiet here!!!"

But then when Addie is gone - it's as though my heart stops. Listens. Waits.

The other day, I dropped Addie off at preschool and returned home with a sleeping baby strapped to my chest. The house once again was too still and empty, as I padded from room to room, trying to figure out what to try to get done. And then on her desk I found this...

Love that girl.

little miss milk

2011-10-12T16:22:00.001-07:00

Here is my little miss milk, on her way to a costume birthday party. I was a little concerned because I knew all of the other little girls going to the party are all really quite girlie. I assumed that Addie would be the only girl not dressed like a princess at the party. But when we arrived, there was only one Snow White there, amongst assorted witches, bats, and Transformers. Addie held her own.

Growing up, I had no interest in the stereotypically girlie world - dolls, princesses and the like. I still remember my mom's disappointment that I didn't care for Barbies! I had an older brother for inspiration, and so I spent most of my time running around after him. And playing with my pets. Oh, and I have clear memories of pretending I had a crafting TV show in which I'd show people how to make things.

Adelaide has only lightly dabbled in moments of pink and fairies. I usually steer her away from over marketed girly type things. Truthfully, after years of working in marketing, they kind of freak me out! And I am secretly relieved that she hasn't been overly obsessed with any of these things... (yet!)

But the other day, out of the blue, Addie said to me: "Mama, how come you never let me have any princess things?" and I felt so incredibly guilty! Have I been denying my daughter the joys of discovering her feminine side? Oh my.

And so that very afternoon, we trooped over to the neighbourhood dollar store - our mission: $2 for Addie to pick out any item she desired.... it only had to be something princess. After much searching and deliberating, we left the shop with a pack of fairy crayons - she didn't want the princess ones, after all.

and the anniversary winners are...

2011-09-28T20:53:00.001-07:00

Thank you to all of my previous customers who entered my giveaway for the ten +30 card packs! It has been really sweet to hear from you all again, and to recognize and remember so many of you from over the years.

And the winners are...

8. leigh

9. sara

13. Cassandra

14. Ames

26. everyeskimo

30. Katherine

36. milk tooth's rain

42. Yellow

47. Jane Benson Ackerman

52. linda

Congratulations to all of you lucky winners. If you do not hear from me first, please take a moment you send me your mailing information. (oooh.... my baby is crying, have to run now!)

xox

sharilyn

countdown to kindergarten

2011-09-23T09:27:00.001-07:00

I snapped this photograph earlier this week - Adelaide on our front steps, ready to go to her first day back at preschool.

Part of me actually kind of wishes that my kid was one of the little children who clung to their moms on that first day of school - but, um, yeah, not so much. After a little cajoling, I barely managed a wave from her. And my soft-focus day dreams of homeschooling my children - which have lingered in the back of my head since giving birth - have by now completely slipped away. (Almost - maybe Reid will never want to leave me!)

And so, the countdown to kindergarten begins. Often, I am thinking of this. Perhaps I have too much time to think rather than do these days, but the thoughts of my girl and school fascinate me.

I really love hearing schooling stories from around the world. And so, to feed my wonderment, I have three questions for you:

1. How did you choose your child's school?
2. What do you love most about it?
3. What do you not like about it?

the littles

2011-09-21T20:20:00.001-07:00

It is incredible to me, to witness these two and their relationship. I am constantly amazed at how much Reid adores his big sister. He gets so frustrated because he just wants to do everything she does! I am also amazed at Adelaide's capacity to be wild for her little brother... after all, he did turn her world inside out and upside down. But no, this is a reciprocated love.

I must admit, however, that I am often concerned that Addie may break her little brother in two - she is very enthusiastic in her affections!

It took many months, but things have really settled down with the three of us. It now feels like we have always been together.

As we should be.

Because of these two little ones, my heart and my world know the sweetest of loves. I will always be eternally grateful to them, for this.

and... a winner!

2011-09-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has entered the address file giveaway. If you are already have an address file, please enter my other 10 x +30 card packs giveaway - I will draw the winners for this next week.

And the winner is.... m & p!

m & p has left a new comment:

oh gosh, this is one of those things i've coveted for years and simply can't afford. keeping my fingers crossed tight tight tight...

10:34 am

Well, it sounds like the address file has found a wonderful home. Thank-you to everyone who entered, truly I wish that I had a little something to send to each and everyone of you. But I will be having more giveaways later on this year, as I have a few "extra" address files, and some other items to find good homes for as well, so keep in touch!

m & p I do not seem to have any contact information for you, so please send me your mailing address information.

Thanks again, everyone!

10 years... (a giveaway for my customers)

2011-09-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

I've just realised that this Fall, my address file is turning 10 years old!

This little file has been a marvelous thing for me. I first made it for myself as I was growing frustrated with having to often toss out my traditional address books because the people I knew just kept moving all over the place. I wanted to create something that would be functional, long-lasting, classic, yet cute at the same time. I also wanted to do something with all of the stacks of vintage paper I had been hoarding, and an idea struck.

I often think of all of the marvelous people that I've met through my creations and how lucky I am to have them in my life. In celebration, I have made up 10 packs of my address file cards, as a giveaway for my lovely customers who have purchased an address file from me over the past decade. I have no idea how many - if any - of you are reading this, but I do hope so! (hopefully at least TEN of you!!!) Because I really would like to be able to thank you for your support.

So, if you are one of my past customers and have one of my address files, please leave a comment. In a week or so I hope to be able to select some names that I can send a package of fresh address file cards to you.

***This contest has now ended - comments are closed. Thank you to everyone who entered!***

and another quickie giveaway...

2011-09-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am now looking for a good home for one of my handmade address files.

This file is in almost-perfect condition. It is made of ecologically harvested solid maple wood, and finished with a nice non-toxic satin finish. The only thing 'wrong' with this file is that it has a few minor rough patches on the file. I actually don't mind them, but others may not so much and so it is not for sale.

Each of my address files is of my own original design, and are designed to be both timeless and very functional. They are filled up with 200 address cards, each of them cut and punched personally by me! (I can now cut these cards with my eyes closed) Many of the cards are patterned with my own designs and printed on recycled paper, some are solid-coloured cards, and some cards are cut from re-cycled cardstock such as vintage library book cards. Each file is numbered, personalised to the recipient, and made with a whole ton of time, care and love!

If you would like to have one this special address file to call your own (or give to a friend) please leave a comment and I will attempt to randomly pick a winner tomorrow evening (Wednesday, September 21st, pacific time) This contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. Good Luck!

***This contest has now ended - comments are closed. Thank you to everyone who entered!***

gathering the rye

2011-09-19T14:20:00.001-07:00

One of the things I find myself saying a lot since becoming a mom is "You've got to have projects!!!" I think if it wasn't for all of our projects I may just have lost my mind a long time ago.

Some genius planted fields of grains all around the new school by our house. Addie is fascinated by them and loves spending time wandering around and playing in their great heights. The other day, we decided to harvest some of the Rye. We are gathering it up with the thought of milling it and making our own crackers - I am eyeing various cracker recipes - any suggestions? It is slow going but pleasant work, and hey, we've got the time!

first dictionary

2011-09-14T06:29:00.001-07:00

One of my very favourite things to do is to treasure hunt. For some reason, I always seem to find the best treasures when visiting small towns... why this is I am not quite sure.

This summer while on one of our summer trips around Vancouver Island, I found and collected up a basket full of the sweetest vintage children's books. When I picked out this vintage children's dictionary, I really thought that it would be more for me then my kids. But I came downstairs the other day and found Adelaide flipping through it and writing out the words, one by one.

I really love it that my kid is a nerd. I am hoping this affliction (or at least a little of it) will stay with her throughout her life.

Five-and-a-half months old

2011-09-13T03:47:00.001-07:00

My little boy Reid is now 5.5 months old and he is really, really incredibly sweet. He has an amazingly laid back and joyful disposition which we all are charmed by.

Reid's very favourite thing is to be out all day long, checking out the world. (He gets frustrated if we stay home too much.) Reid has the biggest eyes and I really cannot walk half-a-block without someone stopping to talk to him or me overhearing "look at that babies' eyes.. so bright!!!" One day Reid and I had a hot date together, we went on an 6 hour walk all through Vancouver. He was in heaven! (And I counted 27 people who commented on or stopped to talk to him.)

Reid is very interested in the world and in doing everything we do, so he's desperate to move around. He's almost crawling and scoots himself all around on the floor (Trouble!).

Reid is desperate to eat and spends most of our dinner times together moaning at us and trying to grab food off of our plates and get it into his mouth. (So different from Adelaide, who had zero interest in food and would only nurse exclusively for well over a year.) With our doctor's advise, we have started Reid on solid food. This week, tired of listening to him moan, I went and picked him up a box of Cheerios. He is very pleased with himself and his Cheerios!

When I was pregnant I was worried that I wouldn't - couldn't - love anyone as much as I love my daughter Adelaide. But it is possible - to have and to feel more love, so incredibly much.

My heart is bigger (and swollen!) because of this little boy.

framing up birthdays

2011-08-26T11:45:00.001-07:00

The past little while I've been tinkering in my daughter Adelaide's bedroom, moving things around, touching up paint, and just fixing it up in general.

I have a goal to make birthday party invitations for my daughter each year, collecting them all up just for her. I've been wanting to frame these invitations all together for a long while now, and so the other night I took a moment to do it, backing them with a pretty piece of neutral linen book cloth. They will hang all together in her bedroom once I've finished fixing it up, and every few years I plan on moving them to a bigger frame, year by year, until she is grown.

This frame of birthdays is so nostalgic and sweet to me. It makes me feel both happy and melancholy a the same time! My only regret is that as a fried new mom, I never made any birth announcements for her... I would have loved to include it, too.

the rat catcher

2011-08-19T15:57:00.001-07:00

The other day I was standing in our living room and I saw what looked like a thistle on the floor. I bent down to pick it up, and it was the end of a rat nose with whiskers - snipped right off. There wasn't any other sign off blood or fur, or anything else at all. Clean slate.

Then I looked over and saw this guy, all stretched out and looking rather proud of himself. Gross!

Jack is ALWAYS bringing home us home his nasty treats. One time we found a wounded WOODPECKER (a large male Norther Flicker) sleeping in our bookshelf. Another time I found a completely dried out frog under our couch. One time I actually had to call a professional rat catcher to help me get a rat out of the insides of our oven. (My partner Charles is completely terrified of these things, so I'm always on my own) The ratcatcher showed up at our place, and immediately removed his shoes to catch the rat in his bare feet. (ICK!) I ended up catching the rat, but still had to pay the guy $200!

Elliot, by Adelaide

2011-08-18T04:54:00.001-07:00

"Elliot" by Adelaide (4.5 years old)

Miss Adelaide loves painting and has painted almost every day since she was a toddler. She often randomly announces "I need to paint!"

Adelaide is extremely proud of her 'work' and despite the sheer volume of it she will lose her mind if she happens to catch any of her scrawlings in the recycling bin. LOSE HER MIND IN ANGUISH AND DESPAIR!!! Me tossing any of her 'work' must be done under extreme covert tactics.

details of note:
- Elliot's belly button
- black paint up Addie's right nostril.
- Addie always makes her E's with lots of 'stripes'.

little wing

2011-08-10T14:10:00.001-07:00

All her friends call her Little Wing

But she flies rings around them all

She comes to town when the children sing

And leaves them feathers if they fall

We found this little guy on front steps the other day, the yellowest bird I have ever seen. He was so beautiful that I couldn't resist taking his photograph. He both fascinates me and makes my heart ache.

This is not the first bird I've found on my steps, but I have finally realised that they are hitting the glass fence which surrounds our garden. (Who designed this anyways!?) I need to research and find the best way to help stop birds from flying into glass... Decals? Do you have any experience with this sort of thing? Do you have any ideas? Please share.

a thousand tiny stitches

2011-07-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

My uncertain days with a new baby are beginning to settle down, and I find my thoughts turning more and more to my creative projects, and how I can get to them and balance parenting without making a mess out of both my projects and my children!

When the weather is chilly I always seem to crave the comfort of working on my quilting projects. But this summer, too, has been so cold and grey that I have found myself turning to this work-in-progress quilt. Often, when I can grab a few moments, I will spread it out and stitch even just a few dozen more stitches. I find comfort in this - the repetition of the stitches always seems to calm me.

It is a pleasurable task, but I still find myself wishing that I could just finish this quilt already! I am so looking forward to washing and spreading this baby out on my bed. Despite Adelaide's insistence that this quilt is hers - this one is for me!

along for the ride

2011-07-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with this little baby - he has stolen my heart! Reid has a lovely and sweet disposition which I find so charming, and am ever so grateful for.

Although, I have to admit, he did kick me in the butt the first little while - my goodness! I had somehow forgotten how much work little babies can be. But those first many days of big ups and downs have faded into a new life together and once again I find myself loving being a mom and these days together with my two little ones.

The funny thing about this photograph (above) of Reid, is that Adelaide was driving me crazy when I was trying to take it. She was dancing all around Reid's head all hyper and crazy-like. Totally getting on my nerves! But it was because of her and her antics that I got this wonderful shot - Reid is looking up and smiling at her. I have to try and remember this - to accept my daughter more. And to take deep breaths, and try to be more patient.

Mostly, Reid just loves being with us. Whatever projects or adventures Adelaide and I get up to, Reid is always with us, too, happiest just to be along for the ride.

Both Adelaide and I refer to Reid as "our baby", and he truly is.

learning to just let go

2011-07-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

I have found that one of the most marvelous aspects of motherhood, is how it forces me to just let go.

I hope that I can remember this, and always carry it with me - what my babies have taught to me:

That a life lived simply is a life full of peace, and calm, and joy.

- - - - -

It took my cat Elliot about 6 months before he would even go in the same room as Adelaide when she was a baby. This time around with Reid, the love was immediate. Elliot has learned where the sweet stuff is! And if Reid ever struggles or cries, both of my cats come running to find me, their eyes huge with concern. They are my baby whisperers.

- - - - -

As an after thought, I only now just realised that my baby boy is surrounded in lovely hand-made things in these photographs. Isn't it true, that items that are made with love and care are the most beautiful and become the most loved and cherished?

The white, red, and blue quilt Reid is lying on is a quilt which I made for my daughter. I have begun the "twin" to it for Reid now as well. I am fortunate to have a lovely knitter next-door-neighbour, and she hand knit Reid's beautiful sweater just for him - lucky boy! And, many years ago, my friend Megan made my baby-to-be this lovely little green baby blanket. It ended up becoming my daughter's favourite blanket and was oh-so-well-used and well-loved. Now Reid is loving this special little blanket, too.

Elliot loves anything lovely and handmade and will cuddle up with these blankets specifically, any chance he can get... and my cat Jack adores bathing Reid's beautiful hand-knit sweater! I have a theory that pets can pick up the love + care vibes in wonderful handmade things, and they are drawn to them. Just like us.

little old ladies

2011-06-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

For the past several weeks, my daughter Adelaide has been quizzing me daily on our future together.

"Mama, will we always be friends?"

"Even when we're old ladies with grey hair - will we still be together?"

"Mama, will I always be with you?"

"When we're little old ladies, can we make quilts together, all day long?"

In my heart I know that my little girl will grow up and away from me, and find her own place in this world. And I love teaching her, showing her, and encouraging her to do so, a little bit more and more away from me each day. I so look forward to witnessing who she will become and all that she can accomplish.

But I must admit that the thought of Addie and I - still together as little grey-haired old ladies, collaborating on quilts all day long - is a little guilty pleasure!

a making place

2011-05-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

Most afternoons, Adelaide will shut the door to her bedroom and take some time on her own to just make things - She says that she is doing her "work". I have set up a little table for her here, on top of which are rotated a selection of crafty materials - coloured pencils, paper, tapes and glues, stickers, little collage bits. I am happy to tidy and refresh the items every week or so, just for her.

The other day, I snuck in and took a few photographs of her at her work. As always, she completely ignored me and carried on, intent on her doings. She will only ever pause to request a specific item, perhaps a paper plate, or a bit of yarn. I am always enchanted by this, loving to stand back and witness her focus and creative intensity.

I often joke to friends - if they comment on Adelaide's focus and love of creating - that being an Artist is not an option in our house, and Addie knows that she must make stuff, or move on! Because Charles and I both work from our small home, making our living from our art, every day our daughter has been surrounded by art and creative projects. Often I wonder how this - if at all - will effect who she will become when she is all grown up. Will she carry creativity with her throughout her life? Will it become a vocation, a past time, a hobby, or nothing at all to her?

Addie is only four years old, so who can even know where her life will take her. But I am so curious to see who this little girl will become.

settling in

2011-05-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

These days have alternated between extremely trying moments and oh-so-lovely moments. I've been working on finding and settling us into a new routine, now that I am mostly on my own with my two little ones. I feel apprehensive about typing it here, but the past few days have been becoming calmer and more lovely than trying. (Knock on wood!) I feel hopeful and happy.

Last week was so trying, and I was beginning to lose my confidence and beginning to believe that I would have to survive, rather than thrive, as a parent. And then, somehow, (DUH!) I realised that once again, we had gotten into the T.V. watching rut. An active four year old, and a nursing new baby, and constant rainy cold days were really doing it to me! Like clockwork, Adelaide once again changed from a sweet girl to a miserable one, but it still took me many days to realise that the TV was sucking the sweets out of my little girl. So, I've pulled the plug once more, and almost instantly she is back: more co-operative, happy, able to play on her own and create her own projects. And sleeping much better. Wow, it is always amazing to me the difference between my girl on television and not. It's actually quite shocking.

So, I pulled the plug on Sunday, no TV at all, and by today, Thursday, life is pretty good again. (Although, a couple of times, Addie and I have watched a cooking show together. Cooking shows seem to only really inspire both Adelaide and I to get crafty in the kitchen, which is a good thing!)

And, my little Reid... sometimes I feel like I barely know this little guy! He is very serious and mellow and very sweet and very gassy! I've really had to watch for him, moniter his latch, watch my diet, burp him constantly, massage him, listen to him grunt and groan for hours. Adelaide was never gassy at all, so this is all new to me. I am a little concerned about his digestion, and am hoping that it will settle down with some time. Poor little man.

But today, I am hopeful, and I am happy.

new days

2011-04-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

Our little man Reid is now just over 2 weeks old, and slowly we've been getting to know both him and these new days. I am grateful that my partner Charles has stepped back from his work this month, so that we can all have these precious first days together. Charles is the type of guy who works constantly and rarely, if ever, takes any time off, so it means so much to me to have him with us. (Being both self-employed, neither of us has any "official" parental leave.) These days have been at times trying, but mostly just wonderful.

Reid is a sweet and mellow little man who rarely ever cries. I've realised that he only really actually cries when he is being changed, which he gets so upset about! He communicates, rather, in an amazing symphony of grunts and groans the likes of which I don't ever remember coming from Adelaide. I'm not sure if all this grunting is a male baby thing, or just a Reid thing.

But besides his grunting, mostly he just sleeps. And then for a few hours a day, here and there, he will wake up and he is happiest to just lie and look all around at his world before falling back to sleep again.

This love I have for my little boy is gentle and sweet and calm and pure. He fits perfectly and neatly in my heart and in my soul, like he has always been here, quiet and waiting. It is as though I have always known him, and somehow he has always been with me.

My biggest challenge has been simply missing my daughter, so much that often it physically hurts. Adelaide and I ordinarily spend huge amounts of time together, just me and her, one on one, but now this can't really happen, not like before anyways. Every so often we are able to grab a few moments and we can sneak away to read books or paint fingernails or investigate the crocuses in our little garden together. Of course, I knew it would be this way with a new baby, and I've been taking steps to prepare her and let her know what is happening and tell and show her love. And she seems to be handling this whole new situation extraordinarily well - she is happy and loves helping out with her baby brother! But I wasn't prepared for how this all would effect me, and how intensely I would miss my daughter. Several times already, when night has come and she is tucked safely in her bed and the house is dark and still, I have found myself left feeling so heartbroken and sobbing my heart out, because I miss her so much. I never really expected this.

But I am hopeful and determined that with a little bit of time Addie and Reid and I will become a little team, too. And together the three of us will begin to create new and precious times together.

a baby boy

2011-03-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

He came to me on the brightest spring afternoon

my tiny baby boy,

We have named him Reid Wyatt

and this love is gentle and kind and sweet and right.

Reid Wyatt

March 24, 2011, 2:00 pm

6 lbs 4 oz, 2902 kg

three.

2011-03-23T14:06:00.001-07:00

I'm not generally fond of having my photo taken, but lately I've been thinking that perhaps I should have at least one photo of this pregnancy, and my big belly... so here it is!

I am now 38 weeks along, but so many times I find that I forget that I am pregnant - second baby syndrome(?)! So it's surreal, to realise that in 2 weeks or so we may be lucky enough to have a new little soul here with us.

Adelaide is thrilled. Can you tell? And I am hoping that her elation lasts!

creating simple treasures for little children

2011-03-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

Because my daughter Adelaide turned four last month, I spent a couple of weeks - here and there - thinking up many simple treasure for little children. Because of these projects, Addie and I were able to both fill many grey and dark winter afternoons together, and also use their finished results as simple gifts for her to give to her friends at her Birthday Party. A couple for each child, tucked in a little bag pinned with our little homemade personalised buttons.

My goal was to come up with ideas which are inexpensive, simple to put together, and, hopefully, that little children will adore and get some joy and use from. I heard great feedback from both children and their parents, and so I've been wanting to share these simple projects - some new and some old - which Addie and I were able to plan and assemble, together.

I have also found that it is nice to make lots of these treasures and keep extras around as well. (Because of my work it is my logic and habit to make things up in larger batches - for time and budget management.) They are great to keep around in a pinch, perhaps for Adelaide to have as a treat (she never seems to grow bored of them), or to give to visiting children, or to tuck in a package which is being mailed away. I've also found that our friends without children love them and often take a few home with them too, to have on hand when their nieces and nephews or other such little people come and visit them.

A Little Collage Kit(s)

I was inspired to put together some sweet collage kits for kids after Adelaide discovered mini bottles of Elmer's school glue at Michael's. She was just so delighted with these miniature bottles of glue, but I balked at the price tag - no way! Then several weeks later, I found that I could purchase these same little bottles of glue in bulk from a teacher's supply store - for around .45 cents each! I decided then and there to create the kids collage kits using them.

When planning our kits together, Addie and I first went through our house and gathered up supplies to use from the collage kits. We found assorted coloured and textured papers, tin foil, cotton balls, felt and fabric scraps, ribbon and rickrack bits, star and circle stickers, and buttons. We also punched and collected up shapes from paper with paper punches. We then set a budget of (maximum) $10 to supplement collage materials, which we took to our neighbourhood dollar store. There she helped me pick out simple items like glitter glue (6 for $1), feathers, googly eyes, sequins, and wooden cut outs.

I designed up a simple folded bag-top in Adobe Illustrator for the packaging. I made a goal from years back not to use any more plastic packaging for the products I create and sell, however, I have random plastic bags left over from the old days when I first began selling my goods, and so I've been wanting to use them up. I had a few dozen 7x10" cellophane bags, and I decided to use them for these collage kits. I realised that the bags would be good to store and protect the child's finished artwork in, and so included this idea with the "instructions" on the back of each bag-top.

On another afternoon, Addie and I sorted all of our materials into kitchen bowls, and made an assembly line, a few of each material in each bag along with 3 tag board paper background sheets, a mini glue and 1 glitter glue. I stapled the bag-tops to the top of each package. Adelaide loved this, and we put together 2 dozen kits quite quickly. And any extra materials went right into Adelaide's arts and crafts material box for other days.

Beads + Bits jewellery kits

One day I came across a large bag of wooden beads for $5 - at Walmart of all places - and I thought it would be a nice idea to put little bead kits together for children. I also picked up an inexpensive packet of beading twine in assorted colours (I believe for around $3. I combined these beads with a few other types of wooden beads I already had, and together one afternoon Adelaide and I put together many little bead kits.

We sorted all of our beads by colour into kitchen bowls, and made an assembly line, selecting out bead combinations into our own bowls, calculating the correct amount to either create a child's necklace or 3 child's bracelets. (Adelaide adored this activity). We included a length of twine with each of our kits, and carefully poured each kit into 4x6" glassine envelopes which I had on hand. We sealed each kit up tight with a glue stick, and tucked them aside for later.

Many days later when I had some time, I designed up another bag-top, and simply trimmed off the side of each of the filled glassine envelopes with an exacto blade. I then stapled on the bag-top, and, done!

Children's Notebooks

This is an old project of mine, and I wasn't planning on making more of these little books anytime soon. But then a little friend of Adelaide's came over to play one day. He spotted one of Adelaide's note-books, and said excitedly to his mom: "Mama, I have this book, but mine is a Dolphin book!" I was quite touched by this, but then I realised that we had given the book to him over two years ago when he was only 2 years old, and that he remembered and kept his little book all this time. I then knew that I should really make up more of these lovely little books. (More information on this project and a description how-to is here).

Making Cupcake Flags

Another old project which Addie and I recycled for her birthday (and probably always will) was our cupcake flags project. You are welcome to download our finished template and make cupcake flags, too - more information is located here.

Together on a particularly dark and grey afternoon, we printed out and made a little box full of dozens of these cupcake flags, ready to poke into cupcakes at her birthday party (I managed to convince her to have homemade cupcakes instead of a store-bought birthday cake - cheaper, easier, cleaner, and zero utensils or plates required).

Addie - well - she really just loved gluing up and folding her flags up over toothpicks, and so I let her go at it. (Secretly, I placed her glue-gucked fingerprinted flags aside when the time came to poke them into the fresh little cupcakes... shh!) No harm done, she was so pleased to help, and it was sweet for me to watch the little boys at her birthday party playing and waving their little cupcake flags. It's funny, sometimes, what little children find joy in.

waiting days

2011-03-16T16:23:00.001-07:00

These days are waiting days, and I've puttering away in my workroom, wrapping up orders, and preparing to close my shop for a few months when my new little baby comes in the next few weeks.

I am still accepting a few last orders - including orders for my black walnut address files, which previously have been out of stock for many months. If you would like to make a purchase, please do so sooner than later - as I will be closing my shop in the next week or so.

Thank you for visiting me, and wishing you all the best and a lovely springtime! xox sharilyn

making sweet paper + fabric pennants

2011-03-05T12:47:00.001-08:00

One afternoon while playing, My daughter Adelaide offhandedly announced that she wanted to "make flags for all of her friends". With this little comment, she inspired me to find a way to do just that.

We also found that they could be personalized with letters of the alphabets, and would make lovely cute + inexpensive gifts for the children at Adelaide's upcoming birthday party.

After brainstorming and a few prototypes, I was able to come up with a plan and template to make personalized pennant flags out of paper and fabric, and a few other simple materials.

These little pennants are quite simple to make and to personalize, but because I made 20 of them, I began several weeks in advance, working on a few in batches here and there. Because of this I found that they were quite an enjoyable project to work on.

If you would like to make your own paper + fabric pennants, I have created a tutorial, with all the information and steps you will need to do so. You will need to download it along with the pennant tracing template, and they are located here:

http://www.lovelydesign.com/downloads/lovelydesign_pennant_instructions.pdf

http://www.lovelydesign.com/downloads/lovelydesign_pennant_template.pdf

I greatly appreciate your thoughts and feedback! Please do let me know if you try these pennant instructions out - how it goes and if you have any thoughts on corrections which should be made, and how I could make them better.

In most projects I try to have my daughter "help" out as much as possible with both the decision making and crafting process. This is not always easy, and often requires incredible amounts of patience and preparation. And often have to catch and remind myself to chill out! But she loves to help so incredibly much, and I have found the rewards of teaching and making with my daughter to be phenomenal.

With this project, we took some time on an afternoon to simply make a project out of gluing the wooden beads onto the ends of the bamboo skewers, which we eventually would use for the "flag poles". Adelaide loved this activity and I found her to be really quite good at it - I found myself only having to trim the pointed ends off the skewers, and wipe any excess glue.

I also had Adelaide involved in the decision making with fabric and colour co-ordination choices according to each child. It is often very interesting to me to see how she thinks about things, and her reasoning behind her decisions - for example: "Nyomi is always smiling, so she should have yellow like the sun!"

I am hoping that my daughter and I will always inspire each other.

These little pennants were a hit at Addie's party, and they make lovely gifts for birthdays, special events, or for no reason at all! You can make one, or many, it is really up to you.

making personalized children's buttons

2011-02-25T18:51:00.001-08:00

Over the past several weeks, Adelaide and I had been planning and preparing birthday treats for her to give away at her birthday party. I would like to share some of our projects with you over the coming days.

Something that I've been wanting to make for children for some time now are little button pins. This year, I was able to borrow a 1" button maker from a generous friend, and so I decided to make buttons for Adelaide's little friends who would be attending her birthday party.

I have found that little children really love and seem to appreciate having items personalized especially for them, so already knew that I wanted to make first-name-initial pins for them. However, I found myself procrastinating and a couple of days before the party I had yet to even begin. Because of the lack of time, I ended up doing a quick computer search through my old work for inspiration (something I often when looking to create something on the fly). I came across a flyer I had done for our neighbourhood parent-and-tot group years back now, and realised that I could easily pick and choose from my already-made-file to create cute portrait buttons for each child.

Technically, it was easy and fairly quick to modify my Adobe Illustrator file for each child's portrait, as they are composed of just a few simple shapes. The biggest challenge really was trying to correctly recall 18 children's hair styles and eye colours! But when each child's quickie portrait was done, I would show it to Adelaide, and found that she could enthusiastically identify each child. Relief!

Once all of the letter and portraits were finished, we printed them out onto regular paper and Adelaide was able to help me load up the button maker to pop out the buttons - a rather satisfying job which only took a few minutes.

I am always a little bit nervous, when making things for people, that they will end up being disregarded and simple tossed aside. This is especially so when creating things for little children. But I have been rewarded, and have found little children seem to love, appreciate and just know when things have been made especially for them.

And it was lovely to have one usually shy little boy grab me aside many days later, to show me that he had his little buttons pinned proudly onto his winter coat. Once he was sure I had seen, he flashed me a big grin, and then he was gone.

four years old (today)

2011-02-13T06:40:00.001-08:00

"All of the days I travel with you,
dearest to me, child.
You are dearest to me, child,
dearest to me, child...

All of the bells I ever knew
ring out at the same time.
We look up at the same time,
together..."

Happy Birthday to my sweet sweet girl, Adelaide.
Thank you for bringing such a light to my world
and for becoming my heart and my soul.

addie's chalk, my boots, and a quiet place

2011-02-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've received some concerned comments and emails, wondering where I've been and if everything is o.k. over here. I am happy to write that all is well, and I thank you so much for your care.

With this pregnancy I've been feeling very worn down and very introverted and just so... quiet. I've been looking ahead to having this baby coming, and being very reflective about it all. And so, I have been laying low, both in blogging and in real life as well.

I do wish to be back here more again, but please know in the meantime I am just off in a quiet place.

Love to all of you!

an invitation for an almost four-year-old

2011-02-09T15:25:00.001-08:00

I recently set some time aside to make invitations for my daughter Adelaide's upcoming birthday party. I've actually not been in much of a party mood, and for a time I was kind of hoping that I could slip this one by her - but no luck! Addie has been chattering on and on and on about her birthday for months now, and so I finally realised that I need to just get it together and plan something special for her.

So, I was feeling rather blank and kept waiting for the elusive inspiration to come! Finally, one afternoon Addie made a random little comment: she said that she wanted to "make flags for all of her friends". And I finally had ideas, with which I made a loose sketches to keep for later.

When I had some time, I went through my bin of fabric and paper scraps and selected out many appealing bits (Adelaide helped with this). Using my sharpest scissors and an exacto knife, I cut out lots of triangles and other shapes, and with them made my composition. I then scanned them into photoshop, where I cleaned up my image and decided what was missing, and scanned and added accordingly.

When satisfied with my image, I saved my file into a .tif and placed it in Illustrator. I do this because I despise working with typography in Photoshop, Illustrator is much better for this kind of work. There I then added the copy, going back to slightly tweak the background image in Photoshop a couple of times until it worked out best for the space. The typeface I used is from the Neutraface family, a font which I adore!

One completed, I printed them out onto heavy watercolour paper using my (Epson Stylus Photo 1400) desktop printer, trimmed them down using a sharp new xacto blade and metal ruler on a cutting mat, and rounded the corners using my corner rounder. Ready to go!

In this age of evites and emails, invitations seem almost redundant, but I love the idea of having made an invitation for my daughter each year, collecting them up just for her. My goal, eventually, is to frame them up all together, year by year, for her to keep for always.

This is my gift to her.

christmas gift tags for me and for you

2010-12-20T00:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I spent much of the morning wrapping up christmas gifts. It was a goal of mine to try and keep my gift wrapping simple yet personal this year, and so I decided to design up my own little gift tags to use and share with friends and family. And, I thought it would be nice to share them with all of you, too. A little gift from me to you.

If you would like, you can download a page of these gift tags for your own personal use, here now:

http://lovelydesign.com/downloads/lovelydesign_christmas_tags.pdf

notes: I printed out my gift tags onto one of my very favourite papers: Strathmore Acrylic linen canvas, which can be purchased in various size pads at good art supply shops. Even though this paper is heavy (246 lb), over many years I have had no problems printing on this and other random heavier weight papers, with my basic desktop printers, and the printed results are so pretty. (My current printers are an inexpensive Canon Pixma ip4200 and a larger-scale Epson Stylus Photo 1400). I just top load manually feed the sheets one by one. Simple.

But course, you can print out your tags onto any paper you wish - card stock or heavier the better for these tags, but whatever works for you and suits your fancy!

The only real pain about these little tags is that you and I both will have to trim them out by hand. I used a sharp new exacto knife and metal ruler to trim the rectangular tags, and then when it came to the round tags, I just trimmed them out by hand. (Having a movie playing in the background while trimming helped, too!)

Well, It is my sincere hope that many of you will like my christmas gift tags, and are able to use them and find them lovely and useful. Please do let me know!

And, I sincerely wish you all a magical holiday time, and coming new year, filled with love, light, joy, and so much inspiration. Thank you for visiting me here in this place, and for your wonderful support over the years. It means so much to me, and for this I thank you.

xox

sharilyn

making a garland of doves

2010-12-18T22:50:00.001-08:00

I've had this notion - to try to make a garland of doves together with my daughter - floating around in the back of my head for a while. Finally, yesterday when Adelaide and I woke up it just seemed like a good day to try and make one up.

To make our garland of doves, Addie and I first googled and did a bit of research about doves. We learned a little about them, and that they are one of the most recognised symbols of peace. We also found some images of different doves, and from them we drew a dove body and a set of dove wings using Adobe Illustrator. I distracted Addie and was able to take a few minutes to do some quick print outs and test on how our doves would work and fit together. When happy with a design, I printed out several copies of our dove layout onto thick watercolour paper, and we were ready to paint!

To paint our doves, I first I brought one of our bird books to our painting table, page opened to a Mourning Dove for inspiration. I showed Adelaide how the bird was mostly white, but also had what looked almost like gold and silver feathers, too.

I then cut out one set of my watercolour paper Dove template - 2 bodies and 1 wing - and got Adelaide painting. I cut up some sponges into 1/2 - 1" pieces for her, and gave her small plates squirted with a bit of white, silver, and gold acrylic paint. Being the same easy technique that she used to paint her autumn leaves, she immediately remembered just what to do and got to work, dabbing and sponging away. So simple!

When Addie had each Dove painted (2 bodies and 1 wing per dove), and the paint was still wet, I set up a 'sparkle station' on a chair, a few feet over. I let her choose from small packets of extra-fine white, gold, and silver glitter, and she would sprinkle her painted Doves. In this manner, together we created 8 (approximately 5") Doves - me cutting, her painting and sparkling. And. then... it was time for a break, and lunch.

After our lunch break, the Doves were dry and We were able to flip (just the) wing pieces over to paint and sparkle them up, too. While they dried, we began to prepare them to be glued, gathering up our supplies: an exacto knife, white school glue, paint brushes, bulldog clips, and string.

When all of our Dove pieces were dry, we began to assemble our birds. Carefully, using another unpainted Dove body as a template, I cut the 1.25" cut across the Dove's body (front). lining up the second body piece, (painted sides out), I was able to match up, mark, and cut the same slice in the back piece of the body. Folding the wing down it's centre, I inserted the wing, first through the front body piece, and then through the back body piece. I then slid the wings and adjusted them so that the two body pieces matched up and the wings were centered nicely on the Dove.

Next, with a paint brush and plate of white school glue, Addie was able to help me glue the body pieces of the Dove while I held them open for her. Leaving the now glued body for a few seconds, I gathered up my string, and then ran it through the centre of the glued Dove's body - one string end coming out at the beak and the other at the tail wing. I clipped both the beak and the tail wing with a bulldog clip for a couple of minutes, to set without shifting around. In this manner, we strung together 8 of our birds - beaks and tails together as though they are kissing.

Placed all together in a garland, our painted Doves are quite beautiful and I find there is a quiet, simple sweetness about them. We hung them from our fireplace mantel, flying happily together. Adelaide was thrilled and we are both very happy with the results of our project.

We have found these painted doves to be quite lovely and can be used in many ways - hung altogether to form a garland as we have done, or kept as single birds for a simple ornament or gift topper. The project can be kept easy - creating just a single dove, or extended - creating multiple doves for a garland. The doves can also be made in all sorts of sizes, large or small. And these doves store easily because their wings fold up flat - so they also can be mailed off and away... perhaps even as a small gift in a christmas card.

p.s. If you'd like to make up some Doves of your own, here is our template - in .pdf format - for you, now:

http://lovelydesign.com/downloads/lovelydesign_dove_template.pdf

p.p.s. If you make this project and use the template, please let me know how it goes, and if I could make any changes or additions to my description, or the template, to make it better!

baking up christmas

2010-12-15T17:25:00.001-08:00

Because of my diet (gluten, dairy free) I don't ordinarily do a lot of baking, but somehow last week I discovered that my daughter Adelaide is a very happy baker. And so, together we spent a few days baking up a storm!

We made batches of chocolate peppermint cookies (a recipe I found in an old Martha issue), cranberry shortbread (which is my favourite - an old family recipe which I love to add sundried cranberries to), glazed lemon cookies (a recipe I found through Sally Shim's blog ages ago and have been meaning to try), and classic gingerbread, too (recipe from Martha as well). While I didn't sample too much, I hear back from many eaters that all these recipes are very nice and very yummy!

Then Adelaide and I sorted and packed up a dozen cookie samplers to give and mail away as gifts. We used crisp new white tea towels for lining and arranged them carefully in pretty bowls and willow baskets. I designed up a gift tag using Adobe Illustrator, and printed them out onto a sheet of heavy Strathmore acrylic linen canvas paper. I also printed out a photograph which I shot after baking a batch of cookies - Addie pausing in the middle of happily licking the wooden spoon - and included it along with the tag, tied with a pretty ribbon around our bowls and baskets.

Just last night we drove all around town, Charles, Addie, and I, singing along to cheesy christmas carols on the radio, surprising our best friends and dropping off our homemade cookie gift baskets to them. It was such a sweet and lovely evening, and I feel happy to have shared it with those whom we love the most.

counting blessings

2010-11-24T19:27:00.001-08:00

Sigh. Already, it is love.

Perfectly healthy, happily kicking away inside of me (right now!). And playing with the toes - so sweet to watch! Amazing how 10 minutes of a routine ultrasound appointment can make everything in life perfect again. We are grateful and ecstatic and so looking forward to meeting our new little one.

And my worries and frustrations are swept away as I count my blessings.

overflow

2010-11-23T15:20:00.001-08:00

This morning I woke up with another idea for a little quilt in my head, and I've been itching to sew all day since. It is these times I get the notion in my head - "If I really get down to it, I can sew the entire quilt in one day - Addie can help!!!" Yeah, right! Usually I am so busy with everything else life brings that I never even begin. At least today we did some drawings of the idea, and even this feels like an accomplishment!

My head has been full of so many ideas lately, there are so many projects which I want to create. But I am beginning to become a little frustrated with it all. So many ideas, so little time to actually make them. Scrap papers with notes and drawings are littered all over my nightstand and workroom, with little to no movement on them. I feel like my brain is starting to overflow.

So I am planning on closing down my online stop in the coming week. Not that I have much to sell these days, but orders have been coming in a brisk steady flow, and any spare time I have is spent fulfilling orders. This is beginning to frustrate me, and I am growing more certain that I am not up for a Christmas rush this year. I am longing to have even just a little bit of time to work on some of the ideas whirring around in my head. If only I could get them out into reality!

and the winner is...

2010-11-06T20:17:00.001-07:00

And the winner is.... sunny!

sunny said...
Come home to me, beautiful, luxurious card file, come home to me.
12:06 PM

Well, it sounds like the address file has found a wonderful home. Thankyou to everyone who entered my giveaway, truly I wish that I had a little something to send to each and everyone of you. But I will be having more giveaways soon, as I have a few "extra" address files, and some other items to find good homes for as well, so keep in touch!

Sunny, I will try now to track you down, but if you read this before I reach you, please contact me with your mailing address information.

Thanks again, everyone!

another quickie giveaway

2010-11-05T09:19:00.001-07:00

Hello! I am now looking for a good home for one of my handmade address files.

This file is in almost-perfect condition. It is made of ecologically harvested solid maple wood, and finished with a nice non-toxic satin finish. The only thing 'wrong' with this file is that it has a small rough patch on the back side of the top of the file. I actually don't mind it, but others may not so much and so it is not for sale.

Each of my address files is of my own original design, and are designed to be both timeless and very functional. They are filled up with 200 address cards, each of them cut and punched personally by me! (I can now cut these cards with my eyes closed) Many of the cards are patterned with my own designs and printed on recycled paper, some are solid-coloured cards, and some cards are cut from re-cycled cardstock such as vintage library book cards. Each file is numbered, personalised to the recipient, and made with a whole ton of time, care and love!

If you would like to have one this special address file to call your own (or give to a friend) please leave a comment and I will randomly pick a winner tomorrow evening (Saturday, November 6th, pacific time) This contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. Good Luck!

This contest has now ended. Thank you to everyone who entered and left a comment!

making autumn leaves

2010-10-28T11:35:00.001-07:00

The past several weeks, Adelaide and I have been spending many hours out and about and gathering. Acorns, chestnuts, pinecones, pretty twigs and branches, and so many beautiful Autumn leaves. It was out on one of our gathering expeditions that it occurred to me, studying the make up of a leaf, that we could possibly recreate our own leaves using a little bit of wire, paper, and paint.

To make our own Autumn leaves, we first went out on a walk all around our neighbourhood and gathered up a variety of fresh leaf samples, in all types and sizes. We brought them home and together traced about 2 dozen out onto sheets of 80 lb drawing paper. I then cut a few out, and got my daughter painting.

To paint the leaves, I had 3 bottles of acrylic paint which we had picked up at the dollar store: red, orange, and yellow. (although, really you would only need red and yellow.) I squirted a little bit of each paint colour onto individual saucers. I then cut up dollar-store sponges into 1/2" - 1" blocks, and showed Adelaide how she could dab a little paint onto each sponge and use them to dap and mix and blend colours all together to paint a leaf.

I found at first it was good to give her a big leaf to paint, so she would have lots of room to experiment and check it all out. I placed several real leaves alongside of her, and together we examined them closely. I showed her how not one leaf was a solid, single colour - each was many colours blended all together: red, yellow, orange. And I also encouraged her to try to do her best to cover all of each leaf so that no white would show, just like a real leaf.

While Addie happily painted away, I used a glue gun and wire cutters and began to cut and glue wire "spines" onto the back of each leaf. When the glue dried, I found that I could bend and shape each leaf to look quite real. With a bit of trial and error, I found that a thinner wire around 16 - 18g worked best for these leaves. I glued and collected up a bunch of paper leaves in this manner, and bent and worked the wires until they looked authentic and were ready to be painted up. As Addie finished up her first practice leaf, I was ready to pass her the leaves I had ready-to-go.

Note: After seeing how the paper leaves dried - quite solid and stiff, I think that it is important to bend your leaves into shape first before painting them. I found that if I bent the wires when the paint was wet, the paper could tear. And if I bent the wires when the painted leaves were dry, then they could crack.

Painting leaves kept Adelaide very occupied and busy for almost two hours. Together we ended up making about 15 or 20 leaves in this manner, and so it was time for a break. Leaving the leaves to dry, we headed to the forest to find a nice branch for them. By time we had returned, the leaves were mostly all dry, and I found that they had dried quite solidly - surprisingly, they weren't very fragile at all. Happy with the results, Adelaide and I selected some of the prettiest leaves and I used bits of brown florist tape - which I had purchased ahead at Micheal's - and taped leaves to the branch, one by one.

Placed all together on a branch, Adelaide's leaves really do look quite real! At the very least, they do not look like they were painted by a three-year-old. Adelaide was thrilled and we are both very happy with the results of our project.

These painted leaves are so lovely and can be used in many ways - taped onto a branch and kept in a vase as we have, or perhaps all along a branch for a thanksgiving table centerpiece. I think it would be nice for perhaps each member of a class or a family to paint their own leaf, and write their names on them to make a family tree. Or even woven into a garland for a door frame or window. All around a wreath. Or even just to keep as a single leaf, tacked to a bulletin board to keep for always. I think that it may be nice to make some more leaves in spring or summer, all green and yellow and happy.

painting bugs with vegetables

2010-10-17T18:19:00.001-07:00

The past week or so, I've been starting to feel quite a bit better, and so I've been working on trying to get things back to normal around here. Really simple things, like trying to get back into cooking dinner, which is something I couldn't bear at all when I was feeling so nauseous all the time.

The other thing that is forefront in my mind is to try to get my relationship with my daughter back-to-normal. Not that it's gotten horrible or anything - but I just haven't been myself the past few months and I think that it was starting to wear on her a little. I don't blame her at all, or myself really, either, but that's just what life had given us. And so I've been focusing on once again making the most of our time together, and getting our simple, loose routine back. It feels so good.

Because Adelaide is the kid who seems to focus well and enjoys working on projects, I've been taking some time to gather up craft ideas, and research and prepare simple craft kits for her. I'm collecting these ideas up, ready-to-go, in a big bin. It is my hope that by having many activities all ready for her, that maybe on days when I distracted or struggling (and I know there will be lots of these days coming) I will be able to have Addie pick a ready-to-go project out, and get her set up and going. Fingers crossed!

So the other day we awoke to a particularly nasty wet and dark day. Feeling a bit fried, I pulled out the idea bin, and after much consideration, Adelaide decided that she would like to try and paint ladybugs with vegetables - which is a project I found and adapted from the wonderful book Farmyard Tales Big Book of Things to Make and Do. This turned out to be a wonderful project, required minimal assistance on my part, and she was entertained for an entire afternoon.

To paint the ladybugs, we used one potato and one carrot. I mixed up shallow plates with tempura paint powder in red and black. I showed her as I cut potato in half, and then cut one of the halves into thirds. I poked a fork into the half potato, and showed Addie how she could use it to dip in paint and stamp many red ovals with it. She stamped several pages of ovals in this way. By time she was ready to try another type of stamp and colour, the paint from first pages had dried up.

I then poked another fork into the 1/3 of the other potato half, and showed her how to stamp on top of the red ovals to make the heads of the ladybugs with black paint. Once she had finished, we cut a carrot, and she used it to dip in the black paint and make the spots of the ladybugs. When they were dry, we added antennae with a black pencil crayon.

After making many ladybugs, Addie announced that she would like to make caterpillars, too. Her idea immediately reminded me of Eric Carle's classic children's book The Very Hungry Caterpillar and I ran and grabbed our copy of the book for inspiration. Together we saw that we could use vegetables to re-create this caterpillar, too. After poking around in the fridge, Adelaide chose a zucchini, baby carrots, and a celery stalk to make her caterpillar. She chose the zucchini for the caterpillar's body parts, celery for feet, and a baby carrot for the antennae.

Because of a little paint, paper, and vegetables, Addie and I both had really lovely afternoon. Projects like these may cost a couple of bucks and take a bit of time to think up, research, and prepare, but they truly can make the difference between an awful day, and an absolutely brilliant one.

making on-the-go baby change kits

2010-10-06T21:20:00.001-07:00

These days, several of my best girlfriends (and guy-friends) are expecting their first babies, and so I have been trying to come up with baby gifts that I could make myself, and would also be handy and useful. But I found that my hand-made ideas kept getting too grand and out-of-control! I finally realised that I could manageably make and give something that I found incredibly handy and used every single day when I was a new mom: on-the-go baby change kits.

When I was a overwhelmed new mom, one of my best mama friends did me a huge favour and informed me that I really didn't need a diaper bag (or a hundred other baby essentials). She told me that when she headed out with her two kids, she would just throw a diaper, some wipes, and maybe a spare onesie in her regular shoulder bag. At the time, this really was a revelation to me! I never did buy a diaper bag, but I did end up making several little change kits.

In each kit I could quickly and easily stow the items I would need while out with my little baby Adelaide : a spare diaper or two, some wipes, a change mat (love these ones: they are all we ever used, in or out of the house), and maybe a change of clothes. I would keep a few of these change kits handy and ready-to-go, and I could quickly grab one on the way out the door and toss it in whatever bag I happened to be using that day.

I used these kits pretty much every single day for several years, and I still do - but these days I keep one bag filled with snacks such as crackers, seaweed, an apple, and a drink bottle, and one filled activities such as a storybook, a child's note-book, stickers, and crayons. I rarely leave home with my daughter without them, and they really do happier afternoons out-and-about.

To make the on-the-go change kits, I followed my pattern for draw-string gift bags, but made a few minor variations: To make a 9 x 11.5" change kit, I used two pieces of 10"x13" fabric instead of one, folding, and pressing the bottom seam as the sides of the bags are also finished. I also ended up skipping step 2, and simply pinned the folded edges of two bags sides together and sewed them once this way. (If any clarification is needed: please just let me know!)

With no exposed seams, these bags have been designed to be long-wearing. and should last for many years. I often throw mine (made from 100% cotton) in the washing machine (gentle) and dryer (tumble dry low), and have found they hold up perfectly.

To give the gifts, I picked up some nice and sturdy wicker baskets and filled each with two baby change kits and a few other baby items that we've loved: a couple of wonderful board books, a bottle of our favourite baby bubble bath, and a small wooden toy. (I love wicker baskets such as these, as I find them wonderful, appealing, and so useful for storing baby supplies, children's toys, blocks, or art supplies in).

I then made up a little gift tag in adobe illustrator, explaining the kits and the idea behind them. I printed them out on my desktop printer on to this lovely heavyweight linen-canvas paper. When poking around looking for a way to attach the tags to the baskets, I was happy to discover that I could use a pushpin and tack it securely right to the basket. I happened to have many thumbtacks that I had glued vintage buttons onto a while back, and so I used them to attach the tags to the wicker baskets.

It is my hope that my new parent friends may find these little on-the-go change kits as handy and useful as I did. And perhaps someday you may make some up for your expecting friends, and they will find them handy and useful, too!

Addie's list

2010-09-21T11:02:00.001-07:00

Lately, Adelaide and I have had a lot of time to lie around together and make plans.

One of our many plans is to try and hand-make all of our gifts from now on. And so together we've been spending a lot of time planning and plotting our christmas presents. What could we make for - - - ? What about - - - - ? We've been scouring children's craft books and googling for more ideas, trying to figure out just what we could make for our presents.

So far, we've yet to actually take any action on this - but the planning is quite fun! Adelaide adores this type of conversation so much. She really gets so excited about it all, and never seems to tire of the subject.

The other evening when I said we should make some lists, she ran to the art room and came back with a random sheet of cardboard, so that she could write her own list. While I was jotting down on my paper, she began her own, asking me how to spell each name that came to her. (Her printing is getting quite good, but still needs help with a some letters - such as M and R and S.)

What I found interesting is that while I wrote our a list made up of people - relatives, neighbours, and friends - Adelaide's list was composed only and entirely pets!

I love it and I think that I will keep it forever. It reads: Teddy, Thomas, Tex, Elliot, Jack, Miso, Tecal, Jasmine, Ming, Otto, Maddie.

So the next little while we will try to find ideas for and make little presents for the truly important ones - our many animal friends.

first days

2010-09-18T08:38:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I took my daughter Addie to her first day of preschool. She's been talking about and asking to go to preschool every single day for months and months. I finally got off my procrastinating butt and enrolled her. She did very well - a little bit too well!

I wasn't really expecting a three year old to want so strongly to go to school. I guess... that she's ready, but I kind of am not. It's actually quite hard for me to type this without tearing up. It is a menancholy happiness.

I took these photographs of Addie just before we left for her school, and it was really hard to capture one where she wasn't wiggling and dancing around so excitedly! When we got to school, she skipped on in and got right to it. I stayed and hung around for the whole class (feeling kind of silly) but just wanting to make sure she would be ok. She was.

This past week I have been feeling, and hoping, to begin to get back on my feet. The past several months have been filled with many moments of joy and anticipation, but also filled with so much sickness and frustration. I have been struggling every day with the severe morning sickness, and I really wouldn't wish this on anyone. I am now over 12 weeks pregnant, and hoping that maybe I will begin to feel a bit better in the coming month.

And so, we are expecting another little one to come to us this coming spring. And sending wishes out into the universe for this baby to be healthy and strong. For the birth to go smoothly and safely. And for all to be well.

mini gallery

2010-08-28T16:52:00.001-07:00

The other day I was distracted on my computer, and my little daughter Adelaide kept coming up to me and asking for tape. Again and again, tape. Tape, please, Mama! (I love it when she calls me that... Mama.)

When it eventually occurred to me that perhaps I should be curious as to what she is up to, I went and saw that she had begun her own little gallery in the hall. She was very occupied, busy hanging selections of her 'work'.

Once so blank, this is a now very happy wall. I have left her free to add or take away, taping up what her latest creations, or perhaps a little something catches her whimsy. Nothing fancy, often just a simple scribble upon a scrap of paper.

I am blessed to have a happy, happy child. She is always able to find such joy in so little. This little girl has brought such wonder and life and light and happiness into my life, and every day I am so grateful to her, for giving this to me.

in between days

2010-08-10T13:39:00.001-07:00

Here are some photographs from these in between days..

The past little while I've been quite sick, and so Adelaide and I have been spending a lot of time cuddled up in bed together reading stories, doing activity books, and drawing pictures. I'm surprised and in awe of how well she has been handling me not being very well - Thank goodness she has reached an age where I can explain things to her, and that more and more she also enjoys time to herself.

As much as possible, I've also been trying to get as many orders together and out from my big shop run, a couple of weeks ago now (where did the time go?!). I appologise for any delays, but now I am almost done. Thank you to everyone - for ordering - and for your patience!

Our cats Jack and Elliot - of course - are thrilled with my lack of health and are extremely supportive of me staying home all day and being in bed for much of it.

They are also always supportive of my creative projects, offering companionship, monitering my progress, watching over of my work space, and offering me lovely photographic opportunities, too!

To me, cats make the best studio-mates.

an edition of books

2010-07-27T10:58:00.001-07:00

The last couple of weeks I have been delving into my paper stash and counting, cutting, and sorting dozens of stacks for another edition of my pocket and journey books. They are now currently being bound, pressed, and dried and will be ready to mail out later on this week.

These little books are made with so much love. Each is filled with sixty-five different papers foraged papers from all over the world. Tucked in between them are many different envelopes and pockets, for little treasures to be saved forever in.

~~If you would like one to call your own, they are up for sale in my shop here and here. They usually don't last long, but I should be making another edition up, later this fall as well.~~

WOW! Thank you to everyone who placed an order for these books. I am a little bit overwhelmed! I have now listed them all as out-of-stock, but I may have some more to add once I've waded through the orders. If you'd like to be notified when I have more available, please send my an email. Thank-you!

If you would like to order a book in another colour then I have listed in my shop, please just let me know. I may be able to make you up a book in another colour. Here now is a chart of my collection of bookcloth:

Which colour would you choose? In the past the robins egg and clover green have been the most popular, but so far this time by far the cherry and cream soda have been the favourites - these sorts of things are always interesting to me!

drawing addie

2010-07-26T09:04:00.001-07:00

The other day Adelaide and I sat down at the kitchen table, with a cup of coloured pencils between us. I was distracted for a while, focused on drawing myself a little girl. But when I glanced over, I saw that Addie was very busy drawing her own little girl, too. These drawings make me happy.

The past couple of weeks, it seems as though Adelaide's brain has been developing at a huge pace. And It's really amazing for me to watch her learn, everything, at such a quick and desired pace.

She is drinking in the world.

tonight, in the meadow

2010-07-20T20:55:00.001-07:00

I took this photograph tonight while we were out wandering around the meadow together. To me, this image is filled with a whole lot of happiness. Isn't it marvelous - photography? And that it has become just so easy to capture these glimpses from life, and keep them forever.

This year, there have been so many wild animals coming about our place, much more than usual. So far in the past few weeks there have come several deer with their fawns, a bobcat, a cougar, coyotes (always, coyotes), and a mama black bear with her twin cubs.

I read that due to so much of the cool grey weather this year, their natural food sources are scarce, and so they are coming to look for food supplies. Makes me think twice about wandering around in the meadows and bushes with Adelaide like we normally do. We are being extra careful.

a house full of prints

2010-07-19T15:37:00.001-07:00

Decemberists poster: www.heroandsound.com
wall paint: Gossamer Blue by Benjamin Moore

Probably the question we're asked most when we have visitors over is "where did you get this/ or all of your prints?" (and "what is the paint colour on your walls?") I've also been receiving a lot of inquiries by email on these things, and so I decided to gather all of this information up, both in photographs and sources - to have as as a reference for myself and to share with others. And so, the last couple of weeks I have been taking photographs - such as this one - when I get a moment (and the light is co-operating.)

I began collecting all sorts of frame-ables over a decade ago, when I was still a student at Emily Carr in Vancouver. I began to find all sorts of flat items which caught my eye or were made by friends: posters and prints, old maps, charts, vintage linens. My collection keeps growing slowly over time I don't think I will ever stop or be done framing and hanging. These posters and prints have become wonderful souvenirs from my life, and just looking at them can bring back all sorts of memories.

long ago, I had decided to begin to frame everything up in simple Ikea Ribba frames, all in black. These frames are affordably priced, come in a variety of sizes, and have always been readily available over the years.

If required, I always cut the mats myself by using just a super sharp new exacto blade. I don't worry about using a professional mat cutter to get that nice bevelled edge (because no one really notices it, and it doesn't really bother me to have straight-cut mats). Of course, you can also purchase a mat cutter online or at your local art shop - in fact I think I have one somewhere, but I just can't be bothered.

Other must-have tools for I use for cutting my own mats are a clear quilting ruler to measure (works amazing!) and largest possible self-healing cutting mat which is a fabulous investment and definitely worth picking up at Michael's when they have their 40% off coupons. And, I always measure twice, and cut once!

When framing, It is also very handy to keep things clean - as the frames may be full of static and attract all sorts of dirt. I keep a bottle of glass cleaner and a non-static glass cloth to wipe and wipe. And I check and re-check the front of the frame before pinching the frame all closed. Because there is always some wayward dirt that gets in there, somehow, which will need to be removed before you close it all up.

When we bought this home, every single wall in it was painted this horrid colour. It looks (and feels) very much like unfinished drywall, or 70's beige pantyhose, both of which can suck the life right out of you! I painted over most of the walls, but left this (the stairway and hall). But now I see that I really must paint it, too. White!

resources:
www.thesmallstakes.com
www.kozyndan.com/shop
www.cavallini.com
www.merchline.com/pushmepullyou
www.presentandcorrect.com

I picked up this wonderful poster on one of my visits to Copenhagen. It is a reprint of the original 1951 design by Viggo Vagnby. Luckily, you may also order it from anywhere in the world right here!

The lower poster, titled "Manhattan" by Jim Datz, is from threepotatofourshop.com

and, I believe the top (Broken Social Scene show poster) was once available from www.thesmallstakes.com

This happy print is by Wayne Pate, and I ordered it from his online shop here:goodshapedesign.com Perfect for a child's play area, as we have placed it in our home.

This original 1954 screen print is one of my most favourite things. I found it buried in a flea market in Copenhagen, and bought it for a good price because the side was torn. I simply cropped it a little bit when framing and so the tear can't be seen.

The wall colour here in our kitchen is Grand Teton While by Benjamin Moore.

Here above my partner Charles' desk is a poster which was designed by Charlie Harper, titled the "ATLANTIC BARRIER ISLANDS". It and posters of other locales by him are available for an excellent price here.

Alphabet poster - honeyandbloom.com

Blue Skies Above (bird poster) - www.merchline.com/pushmepullyou/

Anatomy of a Murder re-print: (Saul Bass) - LA Flea Market find

Original Antique bird lithographs, purchased inexpensively ($10 each?) on ebay here. I often wish that I had purchased many of them and filled up a whole wall!

resource: www.lovelydesign.com

Here are two posters which I researched, designed, and wrote myself. They are all about Beautiful Conifers of Canada (blue) and the Beautiful Broadleaves of Canada.

Originally when I created these prints, I had no idea that they would sell so well, but the response was wonderful, which makes both the designer and nerd in me very happy. If you happen to be interested in owning one or both, I have the last few dozen for sale in my online shop here.

Well, I still have many framed posters and prints to show, and so I will continue collecting them up and post them when I am able. If you have any questions or comments, please ask! I am hoping to be able to gather up and have all of this information available in one place.

in a little girl's room

2010-07-07T12:48:00.001-07:00

Today Adelaide and I are puttering around the house, wondering what the day will bring us. The light is so pretty that I took these photographs of Addie hanging out in her bedroom.

This room seems to sum her right up. What-you-see-is-what-you-get. Bright and happy and cute and a little girlie but not too girlie. Simple but eclectic, full of surprises. Often neat and tidy yet always filled with favourite things. So much like her.

Our house is small, this room is tiny, and I often wish for a bit more space for us to breathe. But space aside, my hope with our home is create a place where we all - her especially - can thrive and grow and find peace and inspiration and comfort. And above all, happiness.

note: The framed posters shown here are by Japanese illustrator Shinzi Katoh. I mail-ordered them by phone from Penelope's in Chicago a few years ago now, so I don't think they have them available anymore.

The paint colour in this room is a custom colour I had up for my former studio years ago, and I've used it ever since. I love this colour, it is mellow yet happy, perfect for her room. You can find out more information about it here.

to the forest

2010-07-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if it is my imagination, but it really feels like this year has been chillier than most. I've been craving the sun so very much, but up until yesterday it seemed to remain elusive. The odd day when the sun did appear Adelaide and I would run right out into it, and spend every minute we could soaking some up.

I took these photographs (which, for some reason are uploading all jiggy) on an evening when the sun broke through the grey. Adelaide and I headed to the forest to find treasures, pick wildflowers, and feel some warmth.

We have now lived right beside this forest for about three years now, and I feel like it - in many ways - has become a part of us. Adelaide has always known it, and she takes pride in showing it off to visitors, enthusiastically pointing out the huckleberries or wild black raspberries. Lupine or Yarrow. Hummingbirds or Woodpeckers. I love it that she knows these things, and that they make her so happy.

It seems as though I can now always feel the forest breathing next to me, this gentle giant, and I find much comfort and calm in this.

the wonderful men of the world

2010-07-02T12:02:00.001-07:00

These days life is always filled. I am constantly juggling, preparing and filling orders, taking care of household errands, taking care of my girl. I am also helping my partner Charles with his work, as he is intensely busy and also setting up his own studio.

I am so proud of him. It's always nice to see someone with a lot of talent work hard and do well, but especially so when it's the man you love. He works very hard, and he is sincere, and amazingly talented to boot. And a wonderful father, too.

Somehow, I got lucky. Thank goodness for him, and for all the wonderful men of this world. May all us girls know at least one.

good morning

2010-06-17T10:33:00.001-07:00

Even though he is a very sweet guy, I don't often take photos of our cat Jack. He is usually busy running around, off to his secret places, and taking care his important cat business. (Such as leaving frogs for me under our couch.) And his black eyes don't seem to allow for - for me to capture at least - becoming portraits of him. But the other morning I walked into my bedroom and found this in my bed, How could I resist?

The poor guy - he's got it really tough!

Good morning! Was your morning was as lovely as Jack's was? I do hope so. We should all be this cozy every so often.

for father's day

2010-06-16T18:55:00.001-07:00

I've been keeping an ever-growing stack of Adelaide's abstract art for a long time now, waiting for an idea to make something of them. Finally, I was inspired with Father's Day coming up, and so this morning Adelaide and I spent some time together making up some gifts for her Daddy and Grandpa.

To make our Father's Day signs, I printed out the words in Adobe Illustrator (but you could use any program with type), and outlined them in a thin .25 pt line. I printed them out onto sheets of heavy watercolour paper cut down to 8.5 x 15" in size. The typeface I used is called Mrs. Eaves.

Or, if you would like, (and don't mind the way we spelled Granpa) you are welcome to use our templates and size them as you need. You may download them here:

http://lovelydesign.com/downloads/granpa_template.pdf

http://lovelydesign.com/downloads/daddy_template.pdf

When I had some time without Adelaide around, I used a new, sharp exacto blade and cutting mat to cut out the letters. (After ruining too many projects, I now buy exacto blades in bulk and change my blades often). I cut out each letter just on the outside of each line, so that the line would no longer show when the letter was removed. I wasn't too worried about staying perfect and close to the outline, but rather I tried to keep my wrist from tightening up, pivoted the paper beneath the blade as needed. When each letter was cut out, I kept all the pieces in a small box - perhaps the letters can be used for a later projects, and also I didn't want to lose the cut out middle pieces from the letters such as "D".

This morning, together Adelaide and I then went through her stack of artwork. We selected several pages in all colours which had some nice markings on them, and in a variety of mediums - collage, watercolour, crayon, marker, pastel. Then we used the cut out sign as a window to find nice framing for each letter. We also made the words into a rainbow using the appropriate colours.

Adelaide really enjoyed sticking a few pieces of masking tape to the backs of the cut artworks, and then laying the word-frame on top of the art, and patting it down to make it stick. Then we would flip it all over, and tape down it all down securely. When all was secure, I glued another sheet of watercolour paper to the back, rolled it with a brayer, and pressed it underneath some heavy books to set.

Adelaide is really pleased with the results of our collaboration. She is very proud of them and wants to give her daddy her gift right now! She is also usually camera-shy, but she even wanted to be photographed with them!

thirty-four

2010-06-16T13:19:00.001-07:00

Today is my birthday, I am now thirty-four years old.

It feels pretty great, I am happy to be here and I don't have any regrets. I don't really want for anything (except for maybe some more and better sleep, and more time!) I have a wonderful man who loves and respects me. A beautiful, happy little daughter. And two fluffy cats who really love me. And I am able to work on my own projects sometimes, too.

Every day still I am approach these days with a bit of trepidation. After many years of darkness, I am always grateful that these sweet days have come to me. But I am careful and I know always that they could, just maybe, end at any time.

But for today, on my 34th birthday, happiness and contentment is with me. Adelaide and I have spent the morning together in our pyjamas, singing along to the songs of my very favourite band The Innocence Mission, and making cupcakes, and working on our fathers-day art projects.

I couldn't even begin to ask for a lovelier birthday gift.

Except for maybe, that some of my happiness and contentment may come to others, too.

simple and sweet

2010-06-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Last month my computer hard-drive blew out, and I found myself computer-less for a while. While I definitely was feeling major anxiety about it, I also felt an overwhelming sense of relief! It was really lovely to be able to grab some time for myself, rather then those precious few moments turning into computer time. I found myself able to work on projects which I haven't had time to work on in months. It felt as though life with no computer was a little simpler and sweeter.

Now that my computer is back, I've been trying to remember this. I've realised how much time I spend on this box and how I really, in so many ways, don't really need to be. So I am trying to pull away and resist the call of the computer.

Lately, Adelaide and I have been having lovely days together, keeping things simple and trying to compromise with the teasing weather. Both of us are craving warm sunny days - it is already mid June and we are still sleeping in flannels!

I am one of those people that can get down easily by grey weather, but I am trying to keep myself occupied with little projects and household re-organisations to keep myself moving and motivated. Tidying the bathroom cabinets. Moving furniture around. Re-organising the kitchen cupboards. Designing labels. Planning quilting projects. Somehow after years of living like a slob I have discovered that completing these little tasks can help me to keep my mind off the grey and give me a calm and happy sense of satisfaction.

But every once in a while, the sunshine will appear for even just a few moments, and Adelaide and I will get a chance to get out, or at least do some gardening together. Or play games in the sun. Or perhaps host a patio tea party, complete with kitties and catnip.

Our sweet cat Jack absolutely adores flowers and gardens and foliage (and sunshine) so much. He is happiest when the weather is fine and he can be out in our garden all day long. I love it when he comes inside with his fur smelling all sweetly of lavender and herbs.

The other day I brought home some boxes of plants for our garden, and I left one box empty among them for him to make a nest in. He was so pleased - check out the big smile on his face!

I hope that you too have a smile on your face, like our Jack. And enjoying some simple and sweet (and perhaps even sunny?) days as well!

winners..

2010-06-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, MamaAngel and Knotted Nest! You have each won an address file. Please send me your mailing address, and your 1st and 2nd choice of file.

Thank-You all so very much for reading and entering. I wish I had a little something (and lots of money for postage) so I could send you each a gift... hmmmm. sigh. maybe some day!

Have a wonderful week, xo sharilyn

a quickie giveaway

2010-05-31T12:36:00.001-07:00

Hello! I am looking for good homes for 2 of my handmade address files***

The first file is in almost-perfect condition, it made of ecologically harvested solid maple wood, and finished with a nice non-toxic satin finish. The only thing 'wrong' with this file is that it has a small dark spot on one of it's top sides (you can see the little mark in the photos). I actually love this little spot, but others may not so much and so it is not for sale.

The second address file is made of, again, ecologically harvested solid black walnut wood, and finished nicely with a non-toxic satin finish. It looks, however, as though somewhere a long the way it may have been banged, as one of it's back corners is a little bit dented in. You cannot notice it at all unless you pick it up and examine it, but still it will not be sold.

Each file is filled up with 200 address cards, each of them cut and punched personally by me! (I can now cut these cards with my eyes closed) Many of the cards are patterned with my own designs and printed on recycled paper, some are solid-coloured cards, and some cards are cut from re-cycled cardstock such as vintage library book cards. Each file is numbered, personalised to the recipient, and made with a whole ton of care and love!

If you would like to have one of these special address files to call your own (or give to a friend) Please leave a comment and I will randomly pick two winners tomorrow evening (Tuesday, June 1st, pacific time) This contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. Good Luck!

***This contest has now ended - comments are closed. Thank you to everyone who entered!***

Three Years Old

2010-05-26T23:39:00.001-07:00

She can talk forever and often does. Why? Constantly. Why? Why, Mama? Why? She will announce, so strong and determined, her many ideas and plans. That she wants to become an animal doctor one day. That she is an Artist. That she is going to learn how to drive. That she wants to go to school. She loves to announce her favourites to the world: Magenta pink (not baby pink). Pancakes. Har Gau. Sticker books. Sushi (Avocado Roll). Grandpa. She adores collecting up all of her treasures and sorting them out, laying them out in neat rows. Seashells. River Rocks. Pinecones. Ribbons. Buttons. (Clothing with pockets is the best). She likes to leave seashell gifts at our friend's and neighbour's front doors. She cannot walk a few feet from our home without pausing to pick up something. Sticks. Buttercups. Salmonberries. Earthworms.

Everyday a little bit more I can see that she has a wonderful sweet heart, calm and kind, loving and strong. And everyday I am still so surprised that she - somehow - came from me. Often wish I could hold her forever as my little girl, just three years old. But I also am so looking forward to knowing her and watching her grow up, and away.

a special candle

2010-05-25T18:54:00.001-07:00

Over the past few weeks, I've been dealing with a couple of big blow-ups. First off, my daughter Adelaide stopped sleeping. Then, my hard drive blew out, leaving me computerless and in fear of never accessing my records or work again.

There are few times in Adelaide's childhood when I've turned to the baby books. Long ago I threw away most of the standard books which seem to come to you when you have a child via well-meaning relatives or friends. I found that relying on my gut served us much better, rather than worrying what, for example, my child should be doing developmentally on her 232nd day.

I am not dedicated to one specific parenting philiosophy, and I have found no one book which is my parenthood bible (although I have discovered a few gems that will stay on my shelves: How To Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way, You Are Your Child's First Teacher, Simplicity Parenting). But mostly I prefer to pick and choose that which resonates with me and leave a lot of bits right out.

But then, there are some experiences with my daughter that have left me curled on the floor, crying to myself and wondering just how I will survive... I'm sure all parents out there know exactly what I am talking about! This is how I found myself when, for the umpteenth night in a row Adelaide was awake for all hours delusional and screaming. My exhausted brain and blurry common sense weren't helping me this time... Time to drag out those books.

And so, realising how much of Adelaide's world was mixed up with vacations, family visiting, and increasingly later bedtimes, we have implemented a tighter family schedule. Dinner at 6, bathtime at 7, storytime and bed before or by 8. And, one absolutely magical special sleepytime candle.

I can't remember which book recommended a candle for bedtime, but I cannot thank the wisdom of the author enough. I kind of thought it was just an overly simplistic idea - to have a special candle especially for a little child's bedtime - but I was at a point that I would try anything and so out came a candle. We make a special event of dimming the room, and lighting the candle together with a match. When the candle is lit, it is a magical, special, quiet time. We speak in whispers. We watch its dim light glow reflect throughout the room. And it is time for sleep to come.

This special bedtime candle has worked absolute wonders with Adelaide, whom was never really a great sleeper. It seems to even have helped with me (I've never been a good sleeper, either) And the two of us have been sleeping wonderfully well in it's soft glow ever since.

Another magical even has occured since the introduction of the special sleepytime candle - I have tried it out and with it lit Adelaide has begun napping mid-afternoon again, several times a week. Before the introduction of the sleepytime candle, she hadn't napped at all in well over 6 months.

I am not sure who is more thrilled with the special sleepytime candle and Adelaide's new sleeping and habits... Myself or Elliot. He is just ever so pleased to have his little girl napping once again. (This can't doesn't miss a beat!)

PS. I now have my computer back, but I am still sifting through it's remains, hopefully and anxiously. But 2 years of Adelaide's childhood in photographs are just... gone. I am left thankful that I've kept this blog because I still have it and it's record of many of my days and experiences with my daughter. And... I've missed all of you, too! I hope you are all happy and doing well.

(almost) ready for the tiny stitches

2010-05-11T15:28:00.001-07:00

I have been craving much to sew and to quilt all winter long. But only now that it's spring - and sunny and warm outside - I finally got a moment to finish piecing together my Autumn quilt top. I only need to pick up some more ivory fabric with which to add a border, and then all of the thousands of the tiny stitches will begin.

It would be nice to have this quilt finished, all cozy and ready for when Autumn and all of it's grey and cold return later this year. I am hoping, but I know full well that likely I'll be working on this quilt for a long time to come.

But being in the hand-quilting phase gives me permission (in my own head) to begin on another very special quilt which I've had floating around in my brain - and on scrap papers - for a long time now. If I can bear to make the first cut!

keeping inspiration

2010-05-03T12:43:00.001-07:00

The past many months I have been feeling bored of home and craving time away, and so last week, Adelaide, my mom, and I went on an semi-impromptu girls vacation to Hawaii. We had a marvelous time in the sun, hanging out at the beach, swimming in the beautiful ocean, going for long walks, and eating many treats such as the freshest pineapple, shave ice, pho and Japanese curry.

I haven't been feeling very creative recently, and so I was hoping that a trip away would help me to find some of my waning inspiration. But as the week went on I began to feel just a little bit uneasy, because although the trip was marvelous in a "get away from it all" type of way, my inspiration was just not returning. I was feeling... flat in that department. I started wondering to myself, what I would do if all of my inspiration, ideas, and creativity just faded away, and never returned. I began to feel a little bit lost in the world.

And so we returned home to Vancouver. We walked in the front door and I was hit so hard with the cozy happiness of our house. I had really forgotten how great home can be! Once again I saw and I felt the life which, together, we have made for ourselves. And, quietly waiting for me, all of the neatly organised treasures which we have loved and brought into our home. Adelaide's rocks and seashells, much loved old books, family photographs, art made by friends. It felt so good to be home.

And woosh - Inspiration hit me. Hard! In the most unlikely of places - my home. I was filled with an overwhelming desire to create once again. I have so many ideas and all I want to do is lock myself in my workroom and make things! Hurriedly, I jot down ideas and throw together Illustrator files full of shapes, colours, textures. Swipe some chalk from Adelaide and scratch out thoughts onto my neglected chalkboard. I am attempting to capture even a little bit of what is bursting in my brain. Trying to keep it all, trying not to lose it once again.

For of course... my real life as a mama is a little bit more pressing. Adelaide, as if sensing my distraction, is desperate to regain her status as number one in her mama's world. I have been trying to find a way to keep this inspiration and not lose it in amongst all the million other little things that overtake my life and my brain.

Tooth-brushing, pants on front-ways, matching socks, hair-doing, healthy snacking, vegetable eating, tidying, playground visiting, crossing the street, showing, teaching, lunch-making, unclogging stroller wheels, laundry-doing, folding, tidying, bed-making, vacuuming, chasing, changing, tear-wiping, distracting, cat-litter changing, playdohing, cupcake-making, stickerbooking, role-playing, socializing, wiping bottoms, flushing the toilet, bath-running, hair-washing, band-aiding, comforting, story reading, kissing, hugging, encouraging, loving.

But I am happy. I am thrilled that inspiration has returned! And feeling a little bit silly for doubting myself. For becoming a mama - and all that becoming a mama brings - didn't change who I am. But it did make me so much stronger and much more patient and full of more love than I knew was ever possible.

And so I have made my choice. I am determined to encourage and capture my inspiration, and I am determined to be a fabulous mama, too! Here's to making the decision to be the best mamas that we could ever be, and - somehow - not losing ourselves in the fray.

our miniature garden

2010-04-30T12:08:00.001-07:00

I used to be bothered by a small gap which ran all along the steps of our stoop. The gap was only a couple of inches wide, but in places very deep. This careless flaw irked me, and I often imagined a little foot, hand, or treasure eventually becoming stuck in the crack.

Last summer Adelaide and I spent about a month together, planting a miniature garden in the bothersome gap. A little bit here and there we chiseled and dug it out a bit more, sweeping and clearing away carefully like a couple of archaeologists. Once our task was done we traveled by bus to our favourite garden centre, where we were reassurred that our choice in vegetation - chicks and hens - would last the cold winters of our Canadian mountain. Together we then carefully selected our favourite little babies, loading then up in our stroller for the journey home. Several bus trips and transplants later, we had our miniature garden, running along each of the 11 steps to our front door. A pretty little solution to the possibility of a trapped toe!

I am so pleased that our babies have survived the winter (although it was mild) and they are thriving! Adelaide and I have now begun to clear out the opposite side of the stairway, in preparation of continuing our miniature garden. The gap on this side is much smaller and less irksome, but I am hoping that these magical little plants would love to call this place their home.

wish

2010-04-16T10:36:00.001-07:00

The past few weeks all I have wanted to do is hang out with my kid. Adelaide seems to have reached this wonderful stage of her childhood and she is so much fun to be with. The sun has also returned and we continue on our day-long expeditions all over the city.

But even though I am having the best times of my life, every so often I feel a bit guilty for enjoying this all so much. It seems that out there in media-land there is so much about the misery of parenthood and every so often I begin to wonder if there may be something wrong with me.

But every single day I am aware of my happiness, and understand that it may be fleeting. I am thankful for this time in my life, that I love being a mama, and that my daughter is happy and healthy. And I send a silent wish out into the world, that maybe just one more mama might have what I am so blessed to have, too.

And a lovely weekend, to you all.

xox.

good morning house

2010-04-08T10:44:00.001-07:00

Every so often a morning comes when I am too exhausted to get out of bed. (Most often this occurs when I've worked into the wee hours) Sometimes when this happens, I will strongly inform Adelaide that she can either cuddle in bed with me, or go play on her own. Most times she will bring her basket of blocks to bed and she plays so earnestly and builds so elaborately that it's not long before she has me playing, too.

Addie makes the most elaborate and wonderful houses from these simple blocks, often using every single one of them. Her houses inspire me very much.

Here is from this morning... By time it was all built, I was fully awake and both of us were ready to go make breakfast.

p.s.

I found these blocks over a year ago now from a little shop on Pender street in Chinatown, Vancouver - for $1.99 a set of 20 or so. I am sorry but I don't have the name or address - my recollection is hazy by now. I bought them for me thinking that I'd just set them up on a shelf because I think that they are so pretty and cute, but then it turned out that Adelaide loves them and plays with them all of the time. I ended up going back and picking up 5 or 6 more sets, because at that price, I couldn't resist. I have seen similar vintage ones around the internet every so often, but never these exact sets.

Adelaide's collection of wooden people and animals are mostly from Daiso in Richmond (Vancouver area) or from this well-loved yet simple little dollhouse set.

pink

2010-03-30T19:25:00.001-07:00

Lately Adelaide and I have been the happiest when we head out into the city for day-long adventures. We take the bus downtown and will spend all day wandering the seawall, having lunch together at favourite yummy spots, perhaps pausing for our favourite hot chocolate, hitting a few shops or bookstores or the Aquarium. Many times we will visit our friends Tristan and Isolde at Lost Lagoon and the amazing Blue Heron nesting site. And often on our days out we will stop by a business-end flower vender for 3 bunches of tulips for $5.

The only problem is that, with dozens of amazing and wonderful colours to choose from, Adelaide will only ever let me buy pink tulips. Pink! PINK! PIIINK! She will moan and I really don't have a choice but the pink... some fights just aren't worth fighting.

Pink. I always thought that - maybe - my little girl may be one who adores another hue. I've surrounded her with, encouraged, and shown her a whole world of colours, but she will pick pink most every time. Perhaps this will change some day, but for now, my Adelaide is just one more little girl who loves pink.

waiting for the sun

2010-03-30T09:35:00.001-07:00

A typical day, when we are at home with the sky full of rain and grey outside. Often these days move at a snail's pace, and I try to keep us busy with proven good time killers: long bubble baths, lots of activity books, toddler-paced (slow) walks through the wet around our block. The cooking of dinner from scratch. All the while trying to keep things tidy so that we don't go mad in our own clutter.

It feels like almost all the days are rainy and grey lately, and I am looking forward to the return of sunshine. And peeping into the windows of travel agents, scrutinizing the deals, and dreaming of the sun, adventure, and beautiful locales.

treasure

2010-03-26T14:55:00.001-07:00

A random evening last week, and my daughter and I are splashing together in a bedtime bubble bath. Seemingly out of nowhere, she turns, looks me right in the eye, and incredibly earnestly she says to me:

"Mama, you're my treasure!"

Sigh.

Because of this little girl, my heart is so often alive with happiness and wonder... for this I will always be eternally grateful to her.

keeping it simple

2010-03-15T14:31:00.001-07:00

Recently, it seems as though our days have been blurring together, just a little bit. But I feel happy. Inside of me. I think that there may be a 'secret' to life - unique to everyone. My secret may just be to keep it simple. Too bad it only took me three decades to figure that one out! So here we are, happily keeping it simple.

Recently, I heard non-stop chattering coming from downstairs, and when my curiousity finally got to me, I came down to find Adelaide "reading" to Elliot. See how he arches his tail back around her? His bent under front paw? The goofy grin on his face? It's love.

I love it how these two are good together... Adelaide and Elliot are almost always together, and they seem to be able to, somehow, bring the best in each other.

Now that our television is (still, very much, maybe even forever!) broken, Adelaide's desire to do her daily paintings has returned with a vengeance. She had stopped for some time, but she is once again painting about an hour almost every day. She calls it her "work" and she is very serious about her work!

I love sitting back and watching her. Often she will give funny commentary to her paintings. Make up stories, sing her funny songs, or often repeat "I am an Artist!" over and over again.

...It's pretty peculiar, how the time change has left me feeling today. I feel so worn out and so groggy! Only one lousy hour ahead, but already it is almost 3 o'clock and Adelaide and I are both still in our pyjamas. And for all my persuading, I can't seem to trick Addie into crawling back into bed with me for some snoozing. She's getting too smart for me.

making march (a pattern for you)

2010-03-13T23:56:00.001-08:00

Here for you now is a pattern for this funny month of March. I very much hope that it may inspire you to make some nice things with it. (And if you do, you will share them with me, too!)

This month I am inspired by the crocuses and narcissus which sprouted up in our garden and all along down the road. And a long-lost spring snowfall which blanketed them all.

If you would like to, you may download a full page of this pattern here:

march_pattern.pdf

Using your desktop printer, you can print the pattern out, and make lots of nice things and spread a little springtime... perhaps many little seed packets to give away. A Pinwheel or two for your favourite kid. A flutter of pretty paper butterflies... or a flock of paper birds! Give a gift in a homemade paper vase favor bag. Perhaps you will invite a few friends over for a lovely brunch with pretty place-holders. Make up a bouquet of pretty paper flowers, in a paper-banded vase. Or filled with paper-berried branches! Or perhaps even a posy of paper flowers for your favourite boy (or girl).

Or collect all of the patterns up, one from each month and save them for the perfect project - I will try to download another pattern every month.

I sincerely hope you like my patterns very much, and that you can find many projects for them. Please do let me know!

And Thank-You to everyone who has shared their photographs of their pattern-creations with me. They are fantastic to receive in my in-box and I love them!

collage collage

2010-03-06T15:58:00.001-08:00

I've been meaning to share this special place with you all for some time now. Adelaide and I could spend all day here in this happy, inspiring, and cozy spot. It is actually the only place where Adelaide has taken a look around and announced "this is just like our house!" Yes, we fit right in.

This place I write of is Collage Collage, a children's workshop and store located our hometown of Vancouver. Our friend Erin Boniferro opened it up last year, and we love it! Collage Collage is such a perfect spot to visit with children because - in my experience - so many children's destinations tend to be just too much. Too much activity, too much stimulation, too much volume, too many stressed out parents and crazed kids! Collage Collage is like an oasis to me in that it is such an super inspiring and creative place for both adults and children of all ages, yet it is such a calm and cozy environment at the same time.

Erin is fantastic with kids - she is so incredibly accepting and patient, and never condescending to children, which is something I really admire and appreciate. She is the type of woman who can bring out the best in little ones (and big ones!), and this I love about her and her very special little shop.

Last month we were happy to have Adelaide's birthday party at Collage Collage. I told Erin that we were having a little bird birthday, and she was awesome to tailor-make up a party especially for Adelaide's ideas. She planned a story time for the children with several bird story books, and to follow there was a discussion all about birds, and then some bird-type art projects (which Erin created especially for 3 and 4 year olds). First the children made their own little nests using all sorts of scraps of yarn, string, and twine. And then to follow, Erin had the children make their own birds by colouring, gluing collages, and glittering paper birds-on-sticks, which she had prepared in advance. So perfect and so cute!

The three birds that Adelaide made that day proudly hang in our kitchen now. Every so often I will catch Adelaide chattering away and realise that she is making up stories and pretending with the little birds, all from her seat at our kitchen table. We will often then take the birds down and talk about them and play with them together. She is so proud of them, and I think that they are one of Adelaide's most special creations which I will have to keep for her forever.

Collage Collage

621 Kingsway (at 15th + Fraser St.)
Vancouver, BC
604.569.1929
info@collagecollage.ca

www.collagecollage.ca
www.collagecollageshop.blogspot.com

a winner

2010-03-03T18:06:00.001-08:00

Our week has flown by so quickly, but here I will now find a winner for my recent giveway of a shiny new copy of the wonderful children's book Zoe and the Fawn. Thank you to everyone who has visited me and for your comments!

And the Winner is: Shelese!

Oh my goodness! This book would be so perfect for my best friend and her little daughter. Her little girl is named Zoe. She is about 9 months old, and has a heart defect. She is so special because ever since we were little my friend told me that she was going to name her first little girl Zoe. Zoe had to undergo some serious heart surgeries immediately after birth, and hopefully only has to do one more. We looked up what her name means, and it means "Life". It is the perfect name because she originally didn't have a very good chance of living. Now, things are looking a bit more optomistic! Even if you don't chose to give me/her this book I would so love to know the author's name so I can try to track it down myself. Thank you so much for always being so generous!

Well, I don't think that I could ask for a more beautiful match for this sweet little book. Shelese, if you haven't already received my message, please contact me!

If you are interested in finding a copy of Zoe and the Fawn for yourself or your little ones, here are the details now:

Zoe and the Fawn, written by Catherine Jameson with illustrations by Julie Flett. Published by: Thetus books, ISBN-10: 189477843X, ISBN-13: 978-1894778435.

I have also found a few copies available here:

Thetus Books (Publisher)
goodminds.com
amazon.ca

And, to all of you, thank you all so very much for visiting me and leaving such sweet comments. Receiving and reading each and every one of them is such a joy, for this I thank you.

xo
sharilyn

just another day

2010-02-26T09:37:00.001-08:00

It's a grey and dark and wet outside our window today and we are just beginning our day. Adelaide is moaning, I must get off the computer and find something new and interesting to do with her. It is just another day.

I just wanted to write and say hello, Tell you all a Thank-You! for visiting us here. And, I wonder: Where are you? What will you do today? What is the weather like outside your window? How does this make you feel?

I am hoping that our just-another-day may turn out to be a lovely and special one. And your day, too.

xox.

zoe and the fawn

2010-02-23T15:42:00.001-08:00

One afternoon several weeks ago, Adelaide and I walked over to the University book store. We were rewarded with a marvelous book find, one which I had never seen or heard of before. The book we discovered that day is called Zoe and the Fawn by Catherine Jameson, and it has become one of our very favourite storybooks. It is a calming book, so gentle and unassuming, yet so sweet and charming in it's simplicity. And with such wonderful illustrations by Julie Flett... Adelaide and I both just adore it!

The story is of a little girl named Zoe, who along with her father, discovers a fawn curled up under an Aspen tree. Together, they decide to search for the fawn's mother. Along their way, they discover many different animals of the forest, and as they do the Okanagan (Syilx) names appear in the text.

So, this afternoon Addie and I went back to the bookstore and snapped up the very last copy, because we love this book so much that we wanted to share it with you all.

the t.v. is broken

2010-02-20T15:47:00.001-08:00

Here is our morning, spending time together in the studio.

Several weeks ago, I broke the TV. Or at least this is what I told Adelaide over breakfast one rainy monday morning. She listened to me intently, took it all in and then... her face broke, her shoulders slumped, and she cried and cried. Sobbed. Much to my amazement.. I was not really expecting this kind of reaction from her at all. How could the TV have become that important to my little two-year-old?

At one time, Addie had very little interest in ever watching television. She just seemed to prefer to do other things. But one of my goals is to (try to) have balance in life, and so I thought a little bit of watching together here and there would be fine. It is great fun to share some of my very favourite movie clips with her - Scenes from wonderful films such as Kiki's delivery service, My Neighbour Totoro, Mary Poppins, Bambi. Adelaide began to love the characters and songs from these films, and every so often we'd watch a little together. These times were such a treat.

But then... over the past few months, my work and store have been busy and busier. And all of us became very sick, one by one by one. More and more it became easier to stick Adelaide in front of the TV - just for a few moments. Sometimes, when I was sick and with no help available, I would collapse with exhaustion on the couch beside her and try to get a little rest. Sometimes I would bring work down and try to get things done. And then I would end up leaving her downstairs on her own while I worked upstairs. More and more this became familiar and then, routine. Somehow along the way, it became normal for Adelaide to watch television every day. Somehow, these most treasured times of my life became something so easily taken for granted.

What I didn't realise until later was that she was also growing into a miserable child. Much of the time she would be unhappy - whining, complaning, and disagreeable. Not fun to take places or be with like she used to be. Everything a fight. Often she would wake in the night, screaming, crazed, unconsolable - not letting me near her. It felt as though the connection that Adelaide and I have always had was fading, and I began to panic in my heart that I was doing something wrong. I began to fear that simply following my gut when it came to parenting was failing my daughter. I felt as though the person who I am closest to - her - was becoming a stranger to me, at only two years old. I wasn't ready for this distance now, and I'm not sure if I will ever be.

I considered it all a lot. And then I finally realised that, like most things, I have change myself first. In order to change her. I realised that I have been taking on too much, and that this is not what I want at this time in my life. I had forgotten that I will never have these days with her ever again, and how important this time with her is to me. And that I need to remember to treasure this time with her, not take it forgranted simply because our time together has become just part of an everyday routine. The norm. Not special.

And so I broke the TV. (or, unplugged it, and took the batteries out of the remote control)

The first days were hard. HARD. No TV for Adelaide means so much more work for me as a mother. Each day all day I am constantly playing, reading, singing, dancing, creating. Just being with her, teaching her, showing her the world. At the end of each day, I have been falling into bed exhausted and sleeping heavily all night long (for once in my life).

But all of this hard work is only for the short term, I have found out. The result of the no TV experiment is amazing! Both Charles and I are very much stunned and are constantly gawking at the results - for we absolutely have our wonderful sweet little daughter back again. Chatting, singing, dancing, dreaming up games and play-times which send my brain boggling. She is co-operative, fun and easy-going. She makes up and plays her funny little games on her own, independently. She once again is a joy to be around.

And she is back with me. We are connected, as we once were and always should be. Both of us now have little to no interest in the television. Being together is so much better than that!

Adelaide's cupcakes

2010-02-18T00:03:00.001-08:00

This photograph was taken on the morning of Addie's third birthday. The sun was shining so warm and brightly in our kitchen, Grandma and Grandpa were visiting, and we had tea and sweet cupcakes to share. And still she would not smile even a just a little for me and my camera!

Adelaide requested cupcakes many, many times for her birthday, and so I - spotting a gluten-free mix at the market - was inspired by and made these ones in miniature. They turned out far better than I expected, yummy, light and moist. No one could even tell that they were gluten-free, and, oh my was it ever nice for me to eat a cupcake once again!

After mixing up and baking the cupcakes, Adelaide and I were inspired and so we decided to make some little cupcake flags together. She art directed (barked orders at) me for the colours and patterns, I cut them out, she glue-sticked them, and we folded them over the sticks together. She's getting quite good with her little fingers - soon I'll be able to really put her to work for me!

Addie and I would like to share our cupcake flags, so that of you wish you can make some of your own. Here is a .pdf file for you to download and print out. They are quite simple and only require cutting, toothpicks, a gluestick, and little bit of time to make.

You may download the file here:

lovely_cupcake_flags.pdf

From the template: These little cupcake flags are simple but they can make homemade cupcakes even nicer. They are perfect for a child’s birthday, shower, picnics, or any other occasion. I used these flags for mini-cupcakes, but if you wish you can scale them to any size. You can also use a flag as a template to cut and make flags from other papers, such as recycled wrapping paper, wallpaper, magazines, maps, or security envelopes. Or maybe even scraps of cute fabrics!

Adelaide and I very much hope that you like them, please let us know!

almost three years old

2010-02-09T11:04:00.001-08:00

The other day Adelaide and I were about to head out for a walk, and the light was pretty - plus she looked so cute - that I paused to take some photographs of her.

She rarely ever smiles for my photographs - I can't even remember what I had to do in order to get this teeny smile! And, often times this little dog is the only way I can get her to leave the house.

In a few days my little girl will be three years old. This both feels both melancholy yet joyous, eerie yet uneventful to me. Because, in the overall scheme of our lives, this day is just another day. Because even our time together has flown by in a heartbeat, it also feels to me that Addie and I have always known each other, even long before she came to me. And that we belong together, her and I.

For even as a small child, I always felt that something was missing. There was always a constant ache in my heart and no matter what I poured myself into, it was never quite filled. I was constantly looking, wondering, hoping, and waiting.

But I never expected at all, that when my daughter was born and they gave her to me, that I would instantly know: This is whom I've been missing my entire life.

And my heart has been filled.

just for you, and february too

2010-02-07T17:01:00.001-08:00

Here for you now is a pattern for this month of February. I very much hope that it may inspire you to make some nice things with it. (And if you do, you will share them with me, too!)

Because I needed to make this pattern quickly, I drew only three shapes straight away - a heart, raindrop, and dot - to work with. I also wanted to use these particular colours together: warm pink, tomato red, and a soft turquoise blue. This is the month when my daughter was born, and these colours together seem to suit her character... I often use them all together when I make things just for her.

If you would like to, you may download a full page of this pattern here:

february_pattern_2010.pdf

Using your desktop printer, you can print the pattern out, and make lots of nice things... perhaps some pretty little valentines. Or you can make and give away some lovely little matchboxes. Or cut and fold your own envelopes. Maybe make some flags for your homemade cupcakes. Or you can fold a bookmark for your sweetie. Or (like I will do) wrap a small gift for a sweet little girl you happen to know. Or you can keep it digital and use it for a desktop pattern on your computer, or even for a background for your blog.

Or collect all of the patterns up, one from each month and save them for the perfect project - I will try to download another pattern every month.

I sincerely hope you like my patterns very much, and that you can find many projects for them. Please do let me know!

a homemade birthday invitation

2010-02-04T17:43:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I set aside some time to make up an invitation for my daughter Adelaide's upcoming third birthday party. Addie has been chattering on and on and on about her birthday for months now, but one of her ramblings that touched my heart is her desire to invite the birds outside our window to her party. With this she inspired me to make up a little bird birthday invitation and party.

With this inspiration, I drew up a quickly scribbled concept drawing. This little sketch was very rough, but I has happy with the shape of the birds which came from such a quick and loose drawing. I have learned from my partner Charles (who is a professional Concept Artist) that often, the most powerful images come from the quickest sketches. The more a drawing is replicated and pushed, it can become less free and compelling. So, I kept the rough little sketch tucked safely away until I had time to make something more of it.

When it was time, I scanned in my quick little drawing, and traced over it with the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator. This became my template with which to make up some little birds. I printed out a few of my bird line drawings. I printed a few of these little bird drawings out, and used them to cut out collage pieces for my birds. Using all sorts of scraps - fabric, paper, linen-backed wallpaper - I cut the shapes out using my template. I lightly glued all my little cut pieces to a piece of white paper, and when I was happy with the composition I scanned them into Adobe Photoshop, where I touched up any small details and sized the image.

Once my image was ready, I saved my photoshop file into a .tif and placed it in Illustrator. I do this because I despise working with typography in Photoshop - I find Illustrator is much better for this kind of work. In Illustrator I then made and added the 1, 2, 3 numbers and the copy, going back to slightly tweak the background image in Photoshop a couple of times until it worked out best for the space. The typefaces I used are Mrs. Eaves and Engravers.

Then, using my old (Canon Pixma iP4200) desktop printer, printed them out onto this wonderful heavy, linen-canvas paper which I had picked up on sale. Once printed, I trimmed them down using a sharp new xacto blade and metal ruler on a cutting mat, and rounded the corners using my corner rounder.

One thing that I have always been meaning to do for years is to make a thank you card at the same time as making other cards. It is so easy to just put them off (and never, ashamedly, get around to doing) but I am really happy that this time I just pushed myself to get some thank-you's done at the same time. It feels great to already have them, all ready to go!

When I showed Adelaide the finished cards, she kept hugging and kissing them! She loves these little cards so much, that she has been sleeping with them, too!

I really enjoy making things for my daughter - putting a little bit of myself and my love and time my time into handmade things for her. Such as yearly birthday party invitations - partly because I know that I will have them to save for her forever. She really doesn't need any other presents - this is my gift to her.

morning

2010-02-01T12:37:00.001-08:00

I woke up very early this morning. It is marvelous, to have such a solitude for myself: darkened house, complete silence, and utter stillness. The rising winter morning sun slowly streaming through my studio window. My only company is a big orange cat, purring loudly, weaving himself through my legs. To him and to me, this precious time is heaven.

When she awoke several hours later, she looked just so sweet and beautiful, sitting all alone in the big bed. I am happy to have captured this moment of my her just waking up into another new day.

Every morning before getting out of bed, we open up the blinds and peer out together into the new day together. What can we see? Is it raining today? Which birds are visiting our trees this morning? What shall we do today?

This little ritual was completely unplanned and unintentional, but the days we forget and just jump out straight out of bed just don't seem quite right anymore. A little bit of bedside window-peeping seems to be a very good way to start each day together, our bridge between the sleeping and waking worlds.

always another masterpiece

2010-01-23T03:08:00.001-08:00

It is very late, but I am awake, and alert. Listening carefully for my little daughter through the dark. Her heavy, labored breathing and horrible coughing. I've spent most of the last night, this day, and this night just holding her, singing softly to her, rubbing her back and kissing her damp brow. Trying all sorts of tricks to try and get her to drink something. Maybe eat just a little bit. And wishing and hoping with all of my heart that she soon be well again.

It's been several weeks of this now, first me, now her. We've been spending an awful lot of time in the house together. For times like these I've learned to keep a box full of simple children's projects tucked away. This box can mean the difference between a dreary day and a brilliant one! And so, one at a time, I've been pulling out all sorts of happy tricks...

Perhaps there may be some paints, special felt brushes, gummed sitcky shapes. Playdoh. Rolls of coloured paper tickets (with which she makes her careful marks on, and delivers to various mailboxes about the house). Chalk, and chalkboards. Wooden bead sets to make necklaces with. Sticker books. Kumon workbooks. Sweet building blocks. She carefully constucts herself beautiful houses and gardens of blocks, and then she will inform me that I live there with her, too. The two of us, together for always.

This little girl makes my heart just ache.

a pattern for january

2010-01-22T23:36:00.001-08:00

Here for you now is my first pattern for the new year, and the month of January. This pattern was a long time coming, but I hope that you like it and will make some nice things with it. When making it I was inspired by alpine adventures, triangles, a fading hope for snow, the bright turquoise sky outside my window, and the dark chocolate hot almond milk I've been making myself and Addie each morning.

If you wish, you may download a full page of it here:

pattern_january_2010.pdf

You can print it out, and make lots of nice things. Perhaps make up some paper boxes to store teeny tools or tiny treasures. Or wrap up some recycled tin cans to make some simple but nice storage spots. Wrap all around a tin with a lid, slice a slot in the top, and save up all of the pennies you find this year. Or wrap a damaged or unattractive book so that it will look pretty on your shelf.

Or collect all of the patterns up, one from each month and save them for the perfect project - I will try to download another pattern every month.

I sincerely hope you like my patterns very much, and that you can find many projects for them!

back at it, and better homes

2010-01-09T14:08:00.001-08:00

Every year after Christmas I am left with the knowledge that I never, ever, want to make and sell anything ever again! This has lasted with me for the traditional couple of weeks but now, and now once again I have begun to feel mellowed and am easing myself back into working whenever I can get a chance.

Saturdays are my day off while Adelaide visits with her Grandparents, and so I get to... work! But it feels good. To be here, in studio on a grey and drizzly day, puttering around, tidying up, making up address files and card packs and packing orders. And I honestly feel like right now, at this moment, there is no place I'd rather be.

I am taking a little break from making stuff here, and so I thought it would be nice to say hello to all of you once again. Hi! How are you doing? I hope that you all had marvelous holidays and a even more marvelous Season of Sloth!

I myself did quite well - for I have been given the best christmas present a mom could ever get - Adelaide suddenly has begun sleeping heavily all night long, without so much as a peep! Wow, I was absolutely giddy as I just typed that. Now, if only I could start sleeping through the night things would be just about perfect.

I have been wanting to share with you all that our family home is featured in the current (January) issue of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. Here are some photos of the magazine article.

The team that was here did a few minor switches of moving a book or chair here or there, but it is difficult to stage scenarios with a toddler and two cats, and so the photos with us in them are pretty realistic. (We have no make-up or special wardrobes on, just what we happened to be wearing.) Adelaide was pretty shy and was a little bit sick on the first day of shooting. Elliot was in heaven and would just lie himself smack dab in the middle of every shot (except when we wanted him to). And Jack never even showed his even face once. Most of the time if the photographer - Bill Holt - saw us doing something he liked, he would just grab his camera and quickly take some photographs while he had the chance!

But I think that the team who worked on the feature did a wonderful job of showing how things are around our place and it is lovely to have a memento of this time in our lives together, forever.

winners

2009-12-09T21:54:00.001-08:00

I am running around here like a crazy lady right now. I am trying to finish up so many things in preparation before our winter holidays. I have just closed down most of my online store - just a few items remain available, but they will all ship after christmas, most likely in the new year. I will have my journey and pocket books available then, too.

It is such a relief, getting all of these many little things done. Big Sigh.

One of the last things for me to do is find the winners for the "To make a tree quilt giveaway" Here the random generator goes again...

And the winners are: Emily, Cassandra, and Sue!

emily said...
I would love to create this tree quilt - maybe in time for our child's first winter!

Cassandra said....
Hey Sharilyn! I was just thinking of doing a project like this! I am SO SO SO excited! I hope I win! Yeah, these little trees would be so comforting down in Florida and would make me feel more at home...it reminds me SO much of Canada! Yay!!

Sue said...
I love your tree quilt. I live in the Adirondack Mountains and to me it is an every day of the year quilt since I love pine trees of all sorts. Today I am snowed in literally, it is snowing like crazy and I can't go anywhere (kinda a nice feeling). I would love to be a winner, I love your choices of fabric. Thanks!

Emily, Cassandra, and Sue, if you haven't heard from me already, please send me an email with your addresses and I will send your little green packages out to you.

I may be away from this place for a little while, so please have yourselves all a sweet and lovely, warm and cozy christmas-time. Be safe, and be sure to take care of yourself, your friends and loved ones, and perhaps even a few strangers, too.

xo sharilyn

a little forest quilt

2009-12-05T12:16:00.001-08:00

Several weeks ago I was contacted by the lovely ladies of Purl to see if I would be interested in collaborating with them. They had spotted my always-a-work-in-progess tree quilt, and wanted to complete a project and free tutorial based off my design. Of course it was such an honour for me to agree!

Page and Joelle have now posted their completed Lovely Little Forest Quilt project, along with a journal, pattern, and tutorial on their Purl Bee Blog. The little quilt that they have created makes me happy, and I hope that you will love as well!

Are you thinking of making a Little Forest Quilt, too? I have put together a few special packages, filled with a variety of green and brown fabric cut from my own stash. With each package you will be able to make at least 30 tree squares - more than enough to make the beautiful Purl Bee quilt. (Or you can keep on adding trees and make a larger quilt, as I plan on doing.) With each kit I have also included print-outs of the little tree square instructions, and links to the online Purl Bee project journal. (You will need to supply a few materials yourself, including white background fabric, and sewing supplies.)

This contest has now ended. A big thank-you to everyone who entered and left comments!

a pattern for december

2009-12-03T17:28:00.001-08:00

Here for you now is my pattern I've made for December, I was inspired by the grey afternoons just outside my window, the few brown and crimson leaves still clinging to the bare trees, and the hope in my heart for snow to come.

If you wish, you can download a larger size of it here:

pattern_december_2009.pdf

You can print it out, and make lots of nice things. Perhaps many pretty little paper stars for your tree, or to make some paper house lanterns to sit along your window sill. Or to print, fold, and create a pretty paper wreath with which to welcome good friends to your home. Or perhaps print them onto sticker paper or card stock and make labels and tags for your christmas gifts.

Or, collect them up, one from each month and save them for the perfect project - I try to download another pattern every month.

And, thank you once again for visiting me here in this place!

xo sharilyn

for a dark day

2009-11-30T22:46:00.001-08:00

The days have been so incredibly dark and grey lately, and because of this much of the time I find it difficult to take photographs. But today I was putting together all of the many pages of many books, and I found myself cheered up by these little papers. I cut them from old exercise book covers to be placed inside of old little glassine envelopes which will line the pages of my notebooks.

While preparing them I had this nice thought visit me: That perhaps someday, somehow, these bright little bits will find their way to someone else out there who is experiencing a dark day, just like I have been. And give them a little bit of cheer, too.

I do hope so.

Will you help me? I will be binding up book covers over the next few days, and I am hoping for some assistance in deciding which colours to choose this time around. It is always interesting to me which hues people prefer best at different seasons of the year, and how this varies or changes from year to year.

Which colour would you choose?

a little bit of heaven

2009-11-28T20:05:00.001-08:00

We've been co-sleeping ever since Adelaide was a month old and - utterly exhausted - I finally threw away all those baby books, listened to my heart, and tucked my sobbing, hysterical baby (who never wanted to be put down, ever) in bed with me. And Addie and have slept side by side cozily and happily every night since.

Recently, however, Adelaide has been growing rather long. Her habit of sleeping sideways across the bed - with her feet in my face - is starting to get to me! And so we have decided to try and find her her a bed of her very own.

We took a trip to Ikea, but the toddler beds we saw there just weren't for us. A quick look online showed us that we didn't want to spend a huge amount of money on a designer toddler bed. So we decided to drag Adelaide's old (brand-new) crib mattress up from storage and we just plopped it down alongside our bed. It's a good spot - Addie and I can hold hands when we fall asleep, and in case of bad dreams she can still crawl in with me, if she really needs.

It's been getting really cold lately, and I was having trouble finding a nice and warm blanket for her. I have this aversion to polyester bedding, or wrapping up my kid in synthetic fibers - they just don't feel good to me. After much internal debate, I have finally caved and bought a down duvet for Adelaide. I looked online and on ebay and called all around but was discouraged at the price tags when I found them at Quilts, Etc for quite a bit less than price of other shops, as they are made locally right near our house.

After I brought the duvet home, I quickly sewed up a cover for it out of wonderfully soft and warm pink flannel with polka dots. The fabric is "Be Merry by My Mind's Eye" from Riley Blake Designs. I measured and put together my own basic pattern, but you can find many patterns online to make your own as well. I double-folded all the seams over so that it is sturdier and I don't have to worry about it fraying. I also didn't bother with any buttons or snaps to close the duvet together, but just left a small 14" or so opening a the bottom and it works just fine. I think that a lovely down duvet and cover would make a wonderful gift for any toddler or child... Adelaide's new duvet really is a little bit of heaven!

Now Addie loves her little bed, and insists on tucking in her dolls and showing it off to everyone who comes to visit us. So if you happen to drop by, please don't mind when she drags you upstairs and insists that you try out her new bed!

beautiful sleep

2009-11-20T16:19:00.001-08:00

Today, for the first time in many weeks, Adelaide took a nap.

To me, Adelaide's naps are the most beautiful of all her sleeps. In the light of the afternoon I can see her well, and just how beautiful and sweet and full of peace she can be. Elliot will be the happiest guy around because he'll get to snuggle right in her. And when Addie wakes up from a nap, she is the most charming little person you will ever meet. But best of all, I get an hour or two of time all for my very own... Naps are fantastic things!

Well, since Adelaide suddenly stopped napping several weeks ago, I've become a little frazzled. I didn't realise how important this time has become to me. Suddenly - and without any warning - I don't have those precious few moments a day to catch up on all those many mounting emails, or to put together some goods, or to work on some ideas, package up some orders, or even simply tidy up my studio a little bit. Suddenly, I have found myself without my best personal assistant ever: a little bit of uninterrupted, quiet, solo time!

Each and every time this parenthood thing seems to get a little bit easy to me and I find myself thinking: "Oh, this is great! A piece of cake! I can do this, and I can do it well! And, run my business, too... no sweat!" My little daughter will pick my vibe, and she will switch it all right up. She will get sick. Or start waking up at 6 am. Or refusing to go to bed (or nap). Or maybe she will just need to be held all day long, for no apparent reason at all. Instantly, she will toss me right back on my butt into a much humbler place. Where I belong!

But - today - my little girl napped. Once more. Perhaps for the last time ever. And it was marvelous.

back in stock!

2009-11-11T03:47:00.001-08:00

I've (finally) made it through my lengthy waitlist, and am very happy to have my black walnut address files available (while supplies last) in my little shop once again! Each of these files has been handcrafted with much love and care from sustainable and responsibly harvested wood and materials, and comes filled with 24 alphabet dividers and 200 beautiful cards in assorted colours and designs. Each card is cut from repurposed + recycled paper, or is a print of a pattern of my own design.

I also only have only about 2 or 3 of my light wood maple address files left in stock (but I have removed them from my online store), but I will also have more available in January or approximate. If you are wanting to purchase a maple address file please send me an email to sharilyn AT lovelydesign DOT com.

These days I am also putting together another edition of Journey and Pocket books, and they should be available in the next couple of weeks. Please let me know if you wish to have one for yourself or to give as christmas gifts, and I will reserve one (or more) for you.

Thanks for visiting me, everyone!

a november pattern for you

2009-11-07T11:50:00.001-08:00

Lately I've been making up lots of patterns. My goal is to make up a selection of pretty, yet simple designs which I can use in my own projects. I've found that making patterns sort of soothing and meditative to me - kind of like quilting by hand. And they are time-consuming, too!

I create my patterns using Adobe Illustrator. I draw simple shapes such as dots, hearts, or stars, and add in any colours which are inspiring me at that particular moment. Then I copy, paste, rotate and reflect away.

I thought that it would be fun to make a new pattern for every month to share with you. Here is my first for the month of November, I was inspired by the colours just outside my window. you may download it here:

pattern_november_2009.pdf

You can print it out, and make lots of nice things. Perhaps a little bit for some christmas cards for your friends, to make spice labels or book labels or such, for scrapbooking, or in collages. Perhaps wrap a small gift for a good friend. Or can print it out on to card stock and make up some nice little gift tags or gift cards. Or collect them up, one from each month and save them for the perfect project - I will try to download another pattern every month.

I sincerely hope you like my patterns very much, and that you can find them useful!

pretending

2009-11-06T18:11:00.001-08:00

Our bed is a little boat. This boat is our home, and we sail all of the oceans upon it together.

Every so often we dock at land and Adelaide must spring ashore to quickly gather acorns and blocks for our supper.

Sometimes a storm will come, and we must prepare the ship. We bunker down, and hold on with all of our might!

Ours is a very cozy boat. Where shall we sail away to next?

peeking out

2009-10-26T23:43:00.001-07:00

There are many days which I know are dark and grey before I even peek out the window. Our house will be gloomy and quiet and solemn and even pulling up the shades doesn't help at all. Many times, this darkness gets caught in my heart and I feel a suffocating weight of sadness which is hard to shake.

Today, woke up and there it was again. The darkened house, a grey and wet morning right outside, and a heavy heart inside. Again. And I have begun - once more - to mentally prepare myself for another long and grey and wet winter here in the Pacific Northwest.

But then there were six sweet chickadees at our feeder, a happily singing little girl, cups of tea (and warm almond milk), many puzzles to be put together, and many paintings to be made. Suddenly, several hours have passed us by. And just while we were looking out into the world, the sun came breaking through the clouds shining brilliantly in on us.

This is the only one I captured, before my camera battery died and I pulled my Adelaide up and out of the cozy cat's bed. We will run out into the bright blue chilly Autumn air to kick up leaves, splash in puddles, and go to eat Phở together.

It turned out to be a lovely day, after all.

How was your day today? I hope that it was lovely, too.

paper samplers

2009-10-21T09:25:00.001-07:00

It's been an intense week, first with Adelaide sick and now me. My stomach is hurting horribly again, and so I've decided to go gluten, dairy, and soy-free for a while to try and clear things up a little. This already seems to be helping me, and after writing this I am headed to our kitchen to feed Addie, sort through our cupboards, and hit up some cookbooks for meal ideas. If you have a favourite dish not based in dairy, soy, or gluten, please share it with me!

But in the meantime, one of the things that I've done is made up stacks of paper samplers. Each sampler is filled with dozens and dozens of scraps from my own paper collections. They are nice for people who like to make things or whom are really fond of little bits of paper. (It's in back of my head to once again delve into my stash to make our christmas cards again this year...)

They are now available in my shop, while supplies last!

a visit to my studio

2009-10-13T13:22:00.001-07:00

Come and visit me in my little studio today. Here is a tour - along with an interview and some organising tips - at Apartment Therapy Unplggd.

Hope you are having a great day,

xo sharilyn

close to home

2009-10-09T18:07:00.001-07:00

The past week or so Adelaide and I have been sticking real close to home - We've been discovering all the ins and outs of potty training. Usually during my days with Addie I try to get her occupied, and sneak in a little bit of work whenever I can. But not this week. Frightened of messing my daughter up with my lack of consistancy and schedule, I've pretty much put my work and anything else aside in order to focus on her and the toilet.

All the while at home I've been keeping us busy with lots of little projects - cleaning the house together, baking cookies and pumpkin loaf, moving furniture around. Addie and I are nesting together. We've also made lots of little tags up, which is one of my projects that Adelaide can actually - kind of - help me out with. She likes to sort out colours, help punch the holes and set the eyelets with the little hammer. it is painfully slow going for me, but she is so persistant and determined to help and do whatever I'm doing. She has an awful lot of focus for a two year old.

So the toilet training is going amazingly well, better than I ever expected, and I'm really really proud of her. She's pretty much going on her own and is accident free at home now, and so we've been going on little diaper-less journeys farther and farther away from home.

Today we headed out together, into the forest to forage for autumn treasures. (And for Addie to practice peeing in the bushes) We had so much fun together, chattering away and giggling like fools together in the forest. Most often, my best moments ever are the very simplest ones spent together with her. It really doesn't take much to have a happy kid (and mama).

I can see that little daughter is becoming, just a bit little more each day, her very own person. I feel like often I can talk to her on the same level now, explain things to her straight up and she really seems to respond to this. But it makes my heart ache, knowing that these days with her are not going to last forever. And I know it. I wish that there was a way that I could bottle these times up and keep them forever with me for always.