Little Ocean

Learning to Breathe Again

2012-01-30T09:02:00.008-06:00

Solomon watching the snow fall, and playing guitar with Mommy.

Well, so far I've been doing good by my resolutions. Actually, the first month of this new year I feel like I've lived a completely different lifestyle. It's all thanks to working less. It was kinda difficult to pull myself out of the cycle of making new deadlines and goals for Little Ocean. I should have the spring collection designed by now, but.... I'm happy to say that my jewelry line is doing well in my online shops and the few boutiques I work with so I don't have the pressure to keep designing and pushing forward. I've just been filling orders, only working the two weekdays that the boys go to daycare, and not even thinking about work for the rest of the week. Those of you who are self-employed understand how work can slip into every nook and cranny of your time and energy if you let it. I can relax so much more, have more fun with the kids, and get so much other stuff done on the weekends just from not THINKING about work!

This fall Makai and Solomon will start going to Mara's school for the full week. I can't believe my stay-at-home mommy time will be over forever in 8 short months. I've been looking forward to working more, but now that it's really happening this year, I'm feeling a little bittersweet. I want to keep my easy work pace through the summer to be sure I can enjoy my time with them, so I will not release a spring/summer collection this year. Fall/winter probably won't happen either. But I'll be designing one or two new items every month or so to be listed randomly. And I will, of course, continue to sell my current jewelry line and I have MANY women's and children's clothing samples from past seasons to be listed soon.

I'm thinking about how back in 2005, my husband and I moved into our dilapidated house, had Mara (I went into labor the third night we spent there), Matthew started his carpentry business, and I started Little Ocean AND my old boutique, Fasten ALL IN ONE YEAR. And life hasn't slowed down much since. This may be the biggest break from craziness that I've had in 7 years. I've freed up time to do things that have been on my to-do list literally since we moved in to the house that long ago! Already some of those tasks have been crossed off and I feel so much lighter.

I'm saying a prayer of gratitude for all that I have today. It's basically everything that I've asked for and worked for over this crazy crazy time. A modest but steady income from Matthew and I each doing what we love, an almost-finished beautiful home, healthy happy kids, and an awesome marriage. On those stressful nights years ago when Matthew and I would argue about money and I was trying to convince myself to close the store because it was sinking us, and our house was a contruction-zone, and I would sew until 3am and wake up with the kids at 6am (while pregnant!), and never could find time to do the laundry...I often thought about the party we would have one day. I would think about how one day we would get to that place where we could finally BREATHE, and we would throw a big party and invite all the people we have in our lives that supported us through it all.

Now I'm embarrassed by my corniness. But I'm throwing that party this summer.

In the New Year...

2012-01-18T06:00:00.002-06:00

Picture of me participating in the Brazilian tradition of offering flowers to Iemanja the water goddess on New Years Eve for good luck.

I realize I'm a bit behind the game with declaring my New Year's Resolutions. But I've had these stewing in my mind for a few weeks and honestly I was just waiting for myself to finish blogging about my Rio trip.

And really, that brings me to my first resolution. In 2012, I challenge myself to de-organize my task list. Try to stop obsessively doing things in a A before B before C fashion. Of course my skills in organizing plans and being strategic are valuable in my very structured life as a parent. But too often I get hung up in deadlock because I resist simply doing what I think of when I think of it. I demand more spontaneity and permission to do things even when they're not next on my to-do list.

Secondly, I resolve to let myself be an artist. It goes along with the spontaneity. I believe that I can find the time to flex my creativity in projects that have nothing to do with Little Ocean. Projects for my enjoyment and expression solely. I need this badly. I need to make things that will not be for sale, not used by anyone for any reason, won't even be blogged about.

And that leads me to my final resolution. Stop trying to document everything! It slows me down when every time I do something exciting, not only do I have to do it itself, but I also have to document it. Instagram, I'm looking at you. Forget about it!

To sum it up, 2012 will be slightly spontaneous, totally strange, and full of art that I will make and throw away but no one will ever know.

Rio de Janeiro Part 4: New Year's Eve

2012-01-17T12:01:00.003-06:00

Copacabana Beach is the site of the world's largest New Year's Eve Party. Though I had planned to write about it in this final recap of my trip, the experience was just too huge to blog about it.

All I have to share is this picture of Matthew and I watching the mile-wide fireworks display on the beach in a crowd of 4 million. You can't tell because it was pouring rain, but I'm actually crying.

Rio de Janeiro Part 3: Streets, Art, and Music

2012-01-17T06:00:00.002-06:00

Aside from the architecture, Rio's streets themselves are beautiful. Full of color, pattern, history, people, music... The place is buzzing with art from their many universities, museums, and cultural centers, all the way down to the cafes, music clubs, and alleyways.

We walked a TON while we were there. Here are a few of the sights from the streets.

Almost all of the sidewalks in the entire city are mosaic like this. There are different patterns in different neighborhoods.

Notice the shoeless man sitting in the back doorway of this church. We entered the main doors of this amazing 18th century baroque church and walked around taking pictures (see my last post) in awe of the details all the while hearing Vivaldi echoing gently off the marble. When we came to the back door we finally realized that the classical tune was coming from this man's harmonica!

Here is club we visited in Lapa. Such a great vibe. The beautiful 19th century building was decorated with the most interesting and swanky antiques throughout. The dance floor was crowded with people dancing for hours to the live band playing samba and bossa nova.

Rio de Janeiro {part2: amazing architecture}

2012-01-14T12:58:00.007-06:00

I'm kind of a historical architecture nerd, and this elegant colonial city has plenty of amazing 17th - 19th century buildings for me to geek out on. Eye candy literally everywhere. From the immaculate and stately to the mysterious, decaying and neglected.

Rio de Janeiro {part 1}

2012-01-09T22:13:00.003-06:00

Well, we got back from our 10 day trip last week. I know I've said a few times that it's good to be home, but as I look at these pictures I can't help but feel like I'd really rather still be in Brazil.

More pictures and a recap coming up....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2011-12-26T11:17:00.002-06:00

Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday! We're just about to leave for the airport now, so excited! See you in 2012. I'll hopefully be sharing tons of beautiful photos when I get back!

Thrifty Christmas

2011-12-23T23:30:00.005-06:00

Here are just a few of the home-made and altered thrift store gifts the kids are getting this weekend. We spent very little this year, which was necessary due to our Brazil trip.

We actually made these blocks for a friend but we had extras so we decided to give some to Solomon. If you have access to a saw, all you need is a square-end dowel and some non-toxic paint to make your own.

Makai is going to love his appliqued t-shirts! He's really into having animals and dinosaurs on his clothes. If I wasn't so pressed for time I would have taken it a step further inspired by my friend's awesome work.

That Mini Boden shirt was only $1. The stripes match the Zhu Zhu pet outfit she got from her grandma recently. I already had the sailor patch to pop on the pocket. She's going to think it's so cute to match her little buddy!

Also, we bent the no-toy rule just a bit and got Elijah some "new" Sega games (he love it old-school) and Mara is getting a doll along with some of my scrap fabric and my old sewing machine. I'm really looking forward to designing and making doll clothes with her!

busy bits

2011-12-22T11:28:00.003-06:00

The past week has been a real whirlwind. I don't think I've mentioned this on the blog, but Matthew and I are leaving the kids with my parents and going to Brazil for a week. We leave the day after Christmas, and we'll be in Rio de Janeiro for New Years! We've been planning this trip with Matthew's siblings and his parents for over a year, I can't believe it's finally come!

So all in one week I'm going from finishing up orders for the busiest holiday season Little Ocean has ever seen, to finishing up gifts and prepping for Christmas, and then to packing and preparing to leave the country.

I've done a pretty good job of keeping myself together. I've actually got some great homemade gifts in the works and should be able to wrap them up tonight. Hopefully I'll find time to post pictures here tomorrow. After that, you won't be hearing from me until 2012!

Last-Minute Sale

2011-12-15T23:26:00.003-06:00

I've had a busy week making lots of Christmas orders. I've gotta get all this work done so I can start buying and making gifts for my own family and friends. Every year is the same, I'm so last-minute!

I closed down the shop for clothing orders, but I actually have a few extra jewelry pieces in the studio right now that need homes. Who out there still hasn't finished their Christmas shopping like me? I would like to reward your bad procrastination habits with a super-duper discount. All my necklaces are 50% OFF until I run out. Also! I am upgrading all shipping to Priority Mail for no extra charge. So you can buy your friend the necklace that you wanted for yourself, because now you can afford two! Get on it! My last trip to the post office will be on Monday.

Thrift Score Thursday: Christmas Kitch

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

I'm not a big Christmas decoration lady. Ever since being a teenager, when it's time to "deck the halls" I usually feel like rolling my eyes at all that tacky hoopla. But as I get older, I've been feeling more nostalgic about it. Suddenly all that kitch is starting to feel like a sacred tradition I never before understood.

Also, I didn't used to like the idea of buying a dying tree and hauling it into my house just to throw it away in a month. For years we've used a house plant (this weird cactus) as our Christmas tree. Last year the older kids protested, I gave in and we got a real tree. I admit, it's pretty nice.

Last year we didn't have a star on top. This upset Mara and she made a point to look for one when we were at the thrift store last week. Lo and behold, she found one that looks just like the one my parents used to put on our tree when I was a kid!

Our other decorations and ornaments were all home-made or handed down from family.

We put the tree up after Sol was in bed, so it took him by surprise when he came down in the morning. He kept crawling around it pointing and saying "Oh wow....ow, wow! wazzat?"

Pan Collar Dress

2011-12-07T07:00:00.002-06:00

I decided my popular little girl's blouse should also be a dress, especially for the holidays. I found the perfect blue plaid cotton and the pale grey/green lace exactly matches the collar and the little fabric-covered button in back. All materials are reclaimed vintage, as usual. Available here in my shop in size 6 months through 6 years.

Everyone please make your made-to-order purchases by Tuesday the 13th to ensure Christmas delivery for domestic customers. Sorry international buyers, it's too late to guarantee Christmas delivery now.

Tasty Tuesday; Sorta Hummus

2011-12-06T13:28:00.003-06:00

Sometimes you want to make hummus, but the grocery store near your house is ghetto and doesn't have tahini. So you buy other types of nut butters instead, not thinking much about the substitute because you don't really like tahini that much anyways....

Well, I guess hummus isn't hummus if it doesn't include both chickpeas and tahini. So I tried to come up with a new name for my special dip made with cashew butter. But cashew+hummus=cummus, and I don't think that's a very good name at all.

Whatever it is, it's really yummy, healthy, and very easy to make.

Ingredients

3 cups cooked chickpeas*

3 tbls cashew butter

1/2 cup plain yogurt

handful of parsley

1 lemon's worth of lemon juice

1 tsp grated lemon zest

1/2 onion

2 cloves garlic

1 tbls olive oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp pepper

*I always use home-cooked chickpeas because it's more economical, but you can use cans.

Put the parsley, lemon juice and zest, onion, garlic, and olive oil in the food processor to chop it all up. Then add the rest of the ingredients and process it until the chickpeas are all mashed and everything is mixed. Then you're done!

Garnish with parsley if you're going to take photos for, I don't know, your blog. Otherwise just grab a carrot and dip it right into the food processor. :)

Milwaukee, do this tomorrow

2011-12-02T09:33:00.004-06:00

I'll be at Hover Craft's 2nd Annual Event on Saturday at Sweet Water Organics from 12-6pm.

I'll be bringing all my newest freshest women's and kid's clothing.

Thrift Score Thursday - Sol's Room

2011-12-01T05:28:00.001-06:00

I realized yesterday that everything on Solomon's walls were thrifted. The awesome sail boat hanging has a story behind it here. I should do a full room tour soon.

Tasty Tuesday -girl scout style

2011-11-29T09:22:00.003-06:00

This is funny because I was just looking over the info to start a girl scout troop for my daughter and her classmates, thinking about all the delicious "carmel delights" I'll have access to as a troop leader, when I ran into this recipe! I'm going to make some of these for Christmas, yes!

The NO-TOY Christmas

2011-11-28T08:00:00.009-06:00

Among the many things we stash in the basement, you will find two large storage bins full of toys. One bin is for the toys that have been all played out and are waiting to be donated, the other bin has toys that are "out of rotation". That's right, even though we empty that donation bin at Goodwill at least every three months, we still don't have room for the rest in our home and I hide some from the kids so that they are fun to play with again a few months down the road. I am not responsible for bringing all this stuff in the house! I buy the kids nothing but second-hand clothing and the occasional (2 or 3 per year) vintage toy or book I can't pass up at the thrift store. The true culprits are birthday, Christmas, and no-reason gifts from the many generous relatives we are blessed to have so close to us.

With the holidays looming, Matthew and I thought it out and we planned a No Toy Christmas. In preparation for this, we sat down with the kids and had a talk. We talked about their material possessions. We took them down to the basement to show them THE BINS. We talked about money, the environment, the true meaning of Christmas. We talked about the way that MOST children on this planet live.

Then we wrote this letter. It took a lot of courage to send it to all our relatives.

***

To all the beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents,

We feel very blessed to have you all in our lives. The holiday season is the time we most experience your warmth and caring for our family. We very much look forward to spending time with you and we love to see the ways you enjoy the children and marvel at their growth. The generosity you show in your thoughtful gifts to the kids is always appreciated.

This year, we'd like to offer some gift suggestions that will hopefully make holiday shopping easier for you, and the holiday aftermath easier for Matthew and I. Each year, we come home from family parties with carloads of plastic, packaging, electronics, and do-dads. By the second day home with the kids' new treasures, toys are already broken, game pieces are lost, and an insatiable desire for MORE STUFF seems to infect the kids like an addiction. Last week, after what felt like the 100th trip to Goodwill with another box of old toys, we decided to have this year be a NO-TOY Christmas. There are many alternatives we have listed for you. Please don't feel confined to the list and feel free to call us if you have questions. Also, the older kids have chosen a charity that they will be donating 10% of any money they receive in Christmas cards. We've listed them so that you can make a donation in their name if you'd like.

General Suggestions

-Books

-Movie Tickets

-Ice Skating Pass

-Roller Skating Pass

-Rock Climbing Pass

-Art Lessons

-Music Lessons

-Craft Supplies

-Sports Equipment

-Stationary

-Restaurant, or ice cream or candy shop gift certificate

-Music CD's or iTunes credit

-Music or Theatre Performance Tickets

-Memberships to museums, cultural organizations, etc.

*Please call me if you're considering a membership to a museum or other organization so I can make sure we don't get doubles.

Charities

Mara-Hunger Task Force

Elijah-Rainforest Conservation Fund

We sent this letter in a fancy letterpress Christmas card with copies of hand-written lists by Mara and Elijah of their favorite things to do.

It was not hard at all to come up with this list of experience gifts and unique items that the kids would LOVE to receive. I'm still thinking of more things we could ask for that are NOT TOYS.

I am not a grinch, and I know I am not alone. I hear the "Gosh, our kids got so much CRAP this Christmas" all the time. And these parents aren't complaining about the quality of the stuff (although these days almost all our toys are indeed built to break) they're simply complaining about the overwhelming mass of material items that they've been burdened with. It's especially hard for us families who don't have much money. You know that these toys represent hundreds of dollars just washed down the drain because the kids would have been just as happy with half as much stuff purchased from Goodwill costing 1/100th the amount of money. Hell, two days later the baby is still playing with the wrapping paper and hasn't even touched that Baby-Genius-Light-up-Dinosaur-Sing-a-long-Pal.

I could go on and on and on. I don't like what the materialistic Christmas rituals do to our children, our culture, our environment. I think about all the millions of children in this world who don't even have decent food to eat let alone any toys to play with. I am also reminded of The Story of Stuff. A good thing to keep in mind this season especially.

I'll let you all know how our Christmas goes. Hopefully we don't upset anyone and the children really enjoy their non-toy gifts this year.

sale!

2011-11-23T14:24:00.002-06:00

Now thru Monday Nov. 28th get 25% off everything in my shop and my etsy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Save the Turkeys!

2011-11-22T10:11:00.004-06:00

No, this is not some PETA call for turkey liberation. I LOVE my Thanksgiving bird! This is my 'Tasty Tuesday' shout-out making sure all you Thanks-givers pay respect to the bird and the earth that sustains us by not throwing away what is left over after the dinner. Make turkey stock with it, guys!

Carrot ends, celery ends, onion peels, potato peels, lettuce stems, stems from herbs, pepper tops, ...all of these items are thrown out in kitchens daily, especially on Thanksgiving. Take these leftovers which are very full of flavor and nutrition, add a picked-over turkey carcass, garlic, onion, herbs, peppercorn, and a few cups of water, simmer for a few hours, and you'll have yourself a delicious broth which you can freeze and use all winter in your home-made soups.

Don't leave out these key ingredients.

You'll need two big pots (at least 8 quarts).

After simmering for 4 hours, put the second big pot in a sink full of ice water with a colander over it. Carefully pour the stock in, throw out the solids, and let cool before putting in containers and freezing.

Old yogurt containers work great for freezing the stock in soup recipe sized portions.

There is really no limit to what you can add to the pot, so I wouldn't worry much about the ingredient list, but for more helpful tips and instructions, use this recipe here.

Monica Canilao

2011-11-21T08:00:00.003-06:00

I was first introduced to Monica Canilao the same way I've been exposed to many of my current favorite artists, via Faythe Levine's old gallery Paper Boat. In 2007 Monica showed her work along side Mike Brodie's photographs. I was blown away. I briefly met Monica before I saw her art. She was in town for the show and had finished hanging her work early so Faythe took her down the street to my old boutique. Monica struck me as very warm and authentic. She bought a dress which she wore later for the opening.

Image from Paper Boat's flickr. See more photos from the 2007 show here.

Monica's collages incorporate forgotten objects like worn textiles and vintage photographs. In them, the colors and textures of antiquity and decay are jolted by neon geometric details and enchanting imagery. She has since started doing huge installations which take the same aesthetic of her collages and turn it into an environment, which is truly magical.

Images of Canilao's most recent installation at Lopo Gallery from here.

This past summer Faythe had Monica back to Milwaukee for the installation"What's Lost is Safe" in Faythe's new space, Sky High Gallery. Since she was coming from out of town and had only 5 days to create her installation, Monica had called for Milwaukee people to donate materials for her to work with. I dropped off a box of old notions, a shawl, and other do-dads and got a chance to see her working, dying old lace and tablecloths in back of the gallery. At the opening I was excited to find my little objects woven in to the installation. I was enchanted with the honor of being a part of her creative miracle.

Above photos from a studio visit with Monica over at In The Make.

Also see;

A great interview with Monica and Bunnie Reiss whom she has been collaborating with for the Lopo Gallery installation. A neat process video of said installation.

2011-11-18T06:59:00.002-06:00

Those Europeans know how to make children look so adorable. Love the styling in the latest collection from Dutch brand Kids Case.

Thrift Score Thursday

2011-11-17T08:33:00.003-06:00

Mara is hands-down the best dresser in the family. She hasn't let me dress her since she was three years old. All I do is provide the wardrobe, she handles the rest. Won't even take suggestions from me. She doesn't need me, her creative sensibilities keep her looking smart. (See this post from two years ago.)

Red crochetted top she used to wear as a dress when she was smaller.

Her favorite stripy dress, and a cabbage patch doll I got from a rummage sale. Vintage coat I've been holding onto for a few years waiting for her to grow into it.

new 'do

2011-11-16T09:10:00.000-06:00

Some things have stayed the same for years. Like these boots that my friend gave me have been my favorite since forever ago, and knit dresses with thick tights is all I really want to wear in fall/winter. Other things change. My hair has been long for a while and I finally went back to a short style (inspired by a favorite movie). It's taking some time to get used to. You may have noticed the new 'do in one of my product shots. But otherwise I've been kinda sheepish, as I like to wear my red hat over it 24/7. Not because I don't like the cut, I just need to ease into it or something.

Tasty Tuesday

2011-11-15T10:03:00.004-06:00

Ok, so I'm dangerously close to being ridiculously corny, I know. But Thrift Score Thursday has been going so well, I thought it would be a great idea to start another weekly tradition on the blog. Keeps me consistent.

This morning I made kale chips. I've never had them before, whoa they are so yum. So light and crispy, I can't stop eating them. I used a recipe from here and made a couple adjustments;

1 bunch kale, hand-torn into bite-sized pieces (discard the tough inner stems)

1/2 tsp curry powder

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp sea salt

1 Tbsp lemon juice

Olive oil or canola oil cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Spray 2 large baking sheets with canola or olive oil cooking spray. Whisk together the olive oil with the lemon juice, sea salt, and curry powder. Make sure your kale is rinsed and thoroughly dried; use a salad spinner and blot with paper towels afterward to get rid of excess moisture. Drizzle the oil mixture over the kale and toss with your hands until all surfaces are coated.

2. Spread the kale in a single layer on the baking sheets, and pop them in the oven for 18-22 minutes, flipping the kale once halfway through baking. The kale is done when crispy and slightly browned on the edges.

Enjoy!

Shop Update!

2011-11-14T19:06:00.002-06:00

The new Holiday Collection is here!

thrift score thursday

2011-11-10T15:42:00.003-06:00

Favorite fall items found at the thrift store. Home-made faux fur hoodie and Minnetonka moccasins.

2011-11-07T08:44:00.003-06:00

Happy Daylight Savings End! Doesn't it feel so good to wake up at the same time, yet have a whole extra hour? I hold on to that for as long as I can. It's the perfect time of year to resolve to wake up early and exercise daily. This morning the whole fam did our pushups, sit-ups, and jumping-jacks.

coming soon...

2011-11-06T10:45:00.003-06:00

The Little Ocean Holiday Collection is set to be released Monday the 14th.

I just photographed the new children's items on my kids this weekend. Makai was the toughest to shoot, he was just too goofy.

thrift score thursday

2011-11-03T17:09:00.003-05:00

I found this hand-made baby quilt a few months ago. I like that it's crooked and wonky and some of the seams are coming undone. The backing is pretty heavy so it does a good job of keeping Sol cozy at night. My favorite square is the one with the little stone house.

Our Halloween

2011-10-31T21:08:00.003-05:00

Hope you and yours had a wicked Halloween. My family had a blast. The kids went to 3 Halloween parties, trick-or-treated twice, and had a sleep over at their grandparents' house all in one weekend! And while the kids were away Saturday night, Matthew and I went to a couple killer parties ourselves.

I had a lot of fun making costumes this year. Sol was Mark Twain, Mara was a bat, Makai was Zorro (for about 30 seconds), Elijah was Luigi, Matthew was Mummy Tu-pac-tunkhamen, and I was Cleopatra (the Elizabeth Taylor version).

Happy Birthday, Solomon!

2011-10-31T09:30:00.004-05:00

What a full weekend. Besides a very busy halloween holiday, we also celebrated the last 1st birthday in our family. I can't believe it's already been a year.

Sol with his grandpa.

thrift score thursday

2011-10-27T16:40:00.003-05:00

Vintage sweater and wagon, old hightop chucks.

these people...

2011-10-26T13:16:00.004-05:00

Researching the family's halloween costumes. Mostly a historical figure/celebrity/classic character sort of a year for us. There are only a few more days to complete them, and some of us are more put-together than others. The mister is totally on his own with his get-up, but I've been doing the rest of the family. It's a combination of costumes and props from previous years, thrifted items, and handmade magic. So looking forward to partying and trick-or-treating!

2011-10-25T12:20:00.000-05:00

apple truck

2011-10-20T13:59:00.003-05:00

Because we basically only shop at the thrift store, we end up with a lot of cute vintage clothes and toys. There's no color theme I love more for kids than the primary reds, blues, yellows you find on those old Fischer Price toys and little appliqued sweater vests.

The kids grow so fast. I think I'll start posting pics of these special little outfits and toys on the blog weekly to document the adorableness before they're outgrown. What should I call it? Thrift Score Thursday?

CLEAN STUDIO

2011-10-17T13:40:00.004-05:00

This morning the boys gave me hell when dropping them off at daycare. I pretty much got my heart broken by each of them. But I've been super productive catching up with orders from boutiques, making changes to the blog design, and cleaning my studio. So even after the tears this morning, I still feel good about the new schedule.

2011-10-15T10:39:00.007-05:00

This week the family made a big change. My youngest two boys started "school". I have been mulling over the option of part-time daycare for months and months. It's been a REALLY difficult decision.

Us poor mothers and the expectations, judgements, and guilt we must endure when it comes to the daycare decision. I know I am guilty of passing judgements. When a woman tells me she's a stay-at-home mom and doesn't do any part-time job or volunteer work I'm guilty of thinking "What does she DO all day?" ....psh!....How silly of me! I know what she does all day, and it's hard work! Or when I meet a woman who works full time and has been dropping off her child at a daycare center five days a week since the kid was 6 weeks old I think "Jeez, are you more interested in living your more expensive lifestyle than in raising your own child?" Unless, of course, she's a single mother raising her kids without help (the most SUPREME mortals in existence!!!) ....It is so wrong of me to judge, and my prejudices have clouded my own outlook of my roll as a mother in juxtapose to my desires as my own person. Every woman (and man) makes this decision based on very personal situations.

For many parents, daycare isn't even an option. Either they wouldn't be able to find a job that could even pay enough that there would be anything left after the cost of daycare. Or they are absolutely dedicated to taking advantage of the opportunity to be home with their kids. For me, it was a combination of both. I've always taken care of my kiddos during the day, always been a stay at home mom, even while running my business. I've been able to barely pull it off with the help of my husband's flexible schedule and my parents and in-laws who are so happy to spend time with the kids weekly. But I finally realized that what I was trying to do weekly was still just impossible and it was begining to wear me down. I've started to notice a kind of depression or lack of inspiration. When I saw that my time with the kids had begun to feel boring and I ran out of energy to make adventures for us, I blamed the distraction and stress of my business and thought about closing down the shop for a while. That idea made me sad beyond words. I ruled it out. I had to. Creating fuels my soul. There is no substitute. Also, FINALLY, my business is thriving in a way that could actually pay me well! This lead me to the hypothesis that maybe if I make more room in my life for my art and business, I can actually accomplish more as a mother and homemaker too.

Mothers are the guardians of little fragile hearts. But firstly, we are the keepers of our own souls. Of course sacrifice is the main ingredient in parenting. But souls must be nourished daily, otherwise the most important gifts from us to our children (laughter, inspiration, passion) will run dry.

So two 7 hour days each week they will be in someone else's care while I work in my studio at home. Just one week in and I can already feel the fog of chaos lifting and the bags under my eyes fading. And something else wonderful is happening, I'm feeling closer to Makai and Solomon than I have ever felt. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder.....

I am so increadibly lucky to be where I am. I am thankful for my husband who is so hard-working and so supportive of my dreams. Thankful for the frugal simple sensibilities that my parents instilled in me that help me focus on the non-material things and live cheaply so there is time to follow little inspirations. So thankful for the passions I have that make me so happy.

a handy tip for the easily distracted

2011-10-09T09:10:00.004-05:00

As mentioned in my last post, I'm currently working hard on time management, rearranging my schedule, and soul searching to improve my stress to fulfillment ratio. This video by Miranda July is appropriate.

via Bleubird

smells like burning

2011-10-05T09:43:00.005-05:00

When new acquaintances learn that I have four kids, I almost cringe each time in anticipation of the automatic response; "Wow, you've got your hands full!" It's the damn truth, but only half of it. Because next I admit that my husband and I both run our own businesses and are remodeling a 100 year old house and I often get strange looks.

Ever since I was young, being busy was part of who I was. I had a lot of pride in accomplishing much, even if it was for fun. I always had a dozen art/craft projects going at once, was in a band, had 2-3 jobs, was at the library weekly to get books on new weird topics all the way from astrology to photography.

After 6+ years of motherhood, I've finally lowered my expectations and come to accept what is realistic. I didn't slow down at first, Mara was a really independent baby/toddler so I didn't HAVE to. When she was 6 months old, I opened a boutique with friends here in Milwaukee. I didn't spend as much down time with her as I now do with my younger boys. No longer running a boutique, but still running Little Ocean, I have a lot more control over my pace and how much I work. Two boys under 3 years old can certainly suck you dry of EVERY spare minute in your day. Not to mention the shear size of our family is exhausting (laundering, matching, and putting away 42 pairs of socks weekly!) I'm getting used to it.

At the same time I feel a strong need to do more for myself and my family. I regret not having time to make Mara more little outfits when she was smaller, or go on more adventures. I've made a promise to myself that I will do more of these things now. I've decided to become Mara's girl scout troop leader like my mom was for me. And I'm making the whole family's Halloween costumes this year.

I made a "yeah-right" face as I just typed that.

I'm burnt out for sure. That was the theme of this post. I'm burnt out but I'm still pushing forward, adding new projects and setting new goals. I don't know how it is possible for me to simultaneously want to finish my fall collection, start a new design collaboration with friends, sew some pants for Sol, AND crawl under a rock sobbing and sleep for 10 days.

I need to take a vacation and then make some sort of a plan. A serious game plan. I will do this somehow. For now, I think it would be wise to announce that there will be no Little Ocean Fall/Winter collection. Most items have already been snatched up by the few boutiques I work with. A very small Holiday Collection with new jewelry, and women's and children's clothing will be in my shop in mid November.

Wish me luck as I try to sort out my ambitions and become a less stressed and more fulfilled mama.

some print designs inspiring me right now...

2011-10-03T15:55:00.004-05:00

1.&2. bark decor, 3. muelu and jones , 4. iheartfink, 5. thief and bandit

Sessun

2011-09-22T17:11:00.003-05:00

This is pretty much everything I want to be wearing this fall. Love it all.

"Automne – Hiver Ambient 2011″ collection by Sessun.

via Bows and Sparrows

harvesting time

2011-09-21T09:42:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day of autumn. We've already been to the apple farm once. We'll have to go again this season since we ate our whole bag before I even got a chance to make these.

in the studio

2011-09-20T14:23:00.002-05:00

I haven't been working too much the past week. I've got a lot to catch up on around the house. But I did send out 2 little boy's vests for a wedding on the other side of the globe. And I'm preparing to add a new necklace design to the shop.

what I bought

2011-09-16T09:31:00.003-05:00

I did some shopping last weekend at Renegade while my booth helper held down the fort. Really happy with what I found.

Two prints for my kitchen from Yee-Haw Press.

A wooden tie for my carpenter hubby from Wood Thumb.

A hat from Lottie-Da for Makai (and Solomon too if his big brother doesn't destroy it first).

(behind the scenes)

I had to bribe Makai with an oreo to get him to try on the hat. Now he loves it and won't take it off! :)

Thank you, Renegade!

2011-09-14T14:37:00.003-05:00

Well, I think I'm finally recovered from a very busy week of preparation and a very fun weekend of selling at Renegade in Chicago last weekend. Thank you to everyone who came down and visited me and the other 300 amazing vendors. I bought a couple things myself. I'll have to show y'all next blog post.

our favorite children's books

2011-09-07T08:00:00.003-05:00

The lovely Marie of The Blue Balloon had me as a guest on her blog yesterday. I wrote about our current favorite children's books. Check it out here.

busy busy busy

2011-09-05T23:04:00.004-05:00

It's been quiet here on the blog lately because I've been getting ready to sell at Renegade next weekend in Chicago. Our dear friend is being our nanny for the week and I've been sewing and jewelry making nonstop. You can get updates and sneak peaks into my studio by following me on instagram (I'm littleocean). I also share my pics on twitter. It's fun because it's in real time and you can know stalker-y things about me like today I was in the studio for over 13 hours, and I had a beer at two in the afternoon. ;)

galactic apache

2011-08-25T22:41:00.002-05:00

I first found Galactic Apache's headbands at Milwaukee's Hover Craft fair last year. She's finally on etsy. Pure awesome.

someone got an iphone

2011-08-25T07:55:00.004-05:00

I broke in my new camera-I mean-phone last weekend in beautiful Trempealeau, WI.

Instagram is da bomb. Follow me, I'm @littleocean

around these parts

2011-08-19T07:02:00.003-05:00

It's too bad that when you have a lot of great stuff going on you're too busy to blog about it. Here's a quick peak at all those things keeping me busy lately.

A full family schedule.

Indigo dying for current orders and for new fall designs.

Painting my nightstand.

Finally trying to put the finishing touches on our kitchen after remodeling months ago.

Setting the posts for the kid's play fort.

And drinking lots of iced sport tea. so yummy.

Also, we've been traveling around Wisconsin a lot this summer. Most recently I went up to the Elkhorn Flea Market, gone camping in Kettle Moraine, and this weekend we'll be in Trempealeau, WI. (thanks Stephanie for the great photos, *I can't wait to get an iphone*).

in print

2011-08-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

photographed by Louis Bielefeld

Remember that shoot I styled and provided the clothing and jewelry for months and months ago? It's finally published! Two Cents is a small local magazine that you can pick up in most bars and cafes in Milwaukee. Or you can see the issue online here. Almost all of the clothing in the spread is still available in my shop.

cassandra smith

2011-08-03T10:44:00.004-05:00

I've been meaning to pick up one of these antlers from fellow Milwaukee artist Cassandra Smith ever since they debuted in Print Shop Forever, an awesome online art shop run by my other Milwaukee buddy Cortney Heimerl. I was just reminded today when I saw Cassandra's work mentioned on My Love for You. You can get the painted antlers on Cassandra's etsy shop, but the sequined ones are only available on PSF. And I just grabbed this one!

curtains done

2011-08-01T17:20:00.004-05:00

What did I tell ya? Yesterday was a good day. In my new skirt and nice 'do I had a great day with the kids and I had the positive mood and energy needed to squeezed in some time during naps to FINALLY finish the curtains in Sol's room. I have to do this early morning 'me' time more often!

Also...

Congratulations to Jen! She won the necklace giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered and spread the word. I'll be doing other giveaways in the future.

taking the time

2011-07-31T10:42:00.002-05:00

This morning I got up early and crammed in 30 minutes to make myself a skirt with the bottom of a vintage dress I had cut years ago, and 30 seconds to do something a little nicer than the messy mom bun.

No matter how busy I am, time invested in myself always pays off 10 fold. I am in a better mood now and will have more fun with the kids and get even more accomplished around the house. Everyone wins.

Speaking of winning and time, (hehe) you only have 1 day left to enter my necklace giveaway!

Rainy Day Playdate

2011-07-27T22:07:00.005-05:00

Yesterday Mara had a friend over, but we were trapped inside as it rained all day long. Luckily, Solomon and Makai both took really great naps for me and I was able to help the girls stay busy. I led them to our art supply drawers and the face-paints were irresistible. Mara started the war-paint theme (she did her face all herself-isn't it quite symmetrical!) and it snow-balled from there. They raided my closet, my sewing room, and my jewelry box. I just sat back and documented.

Once the girls started hooting and putting feathers in their hair, I did interject with a little politically correct cultural schooling. "No no, native americans never said 'me chief -ugg-', they were actually quite intelligent, articulate people and they still are today..." But they are just kids and all they know about native people is what they've learned from Disney and the demented text-book Thanksgiving story. It makes me want to give my kids a better experience of the culture. Hopefully some day we'll get a chance, but for now, I think it's ok for kids to play dress up.

In this last pic I made the girls keep a straight face so they'd look like an old photograph of remote indigenous people. Those photos always look so serious. They were having so much fun it was hard to keep from giggling.

giveaway (closed)

2011-07-25T23:14:00.009-05:00

Today I'm celebrating one hundred smiling customers! Lately, the positive feedback on my etsy shop has been really sweet, and I wanted to commemorate that by giving away my popular "Fast Clouds" necklace. Thank you to all my super customers, especially you 100 peeps who took the time to let me know how pleased you are with your purchases!

To enter to win this necklace, please leave a comment below. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. You can earn yourself a second entry by following me on blog lovin. A winner will be chosen next Monday the 1st.

Mariam Sitchinava

2011-07-25T09:07:00.004-05:00

What I wouldn't give to have this woman shoot my next look book!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

keep it short and funny

2011-07-20T22:09:00.004-05:00

Image from here.

Needless to say, life is busy with the kids (especially the young ones), and my business, and our house, and whatever else that's making me feel this suffocating pressure all over me. sigh. I freak out sometimes. The thing that is seriously saving me lately is reading. I'm not a TV person. I don't know a damn thing about "Lost" or whatever else America is so riveted on. I used to be a book person somewhat. But after I became a mama, I didn't feel like I have enough time to get into a book. Finally, 6 years later, I'm rediscovering short stories and essays. Suddenly, I'm unearthing these tiny moments in my day (while nursing Solomon, while rocking Makai, while the kids are playing in the backyard and there's too much sun in the garden to pull weeds....) to pick up a book. I don't have to remember the last thing I read, I don't even have to give it my full attention. I'm choosing funny stuff, because that's all I need out of my literature these days. It's like my television, a little playtime, a deep breath. Right now I have three books scattered about the house ready to instantly provide my with eight minutes of peace. They are all hilarious or at least intriguing and clever.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sadaris is a book of autobiographical essays that reads kinda like a novel. I laugh out loud so much I can't read it while trying to nurse Sol to sleep.

Wild Ducks Flying Backwards is a collection of shorts stories, poems, essays, and reviews by Tom Robbins. Robbins is a whimsical little shit and I love how I don't really know what the hell he's talking about until suddenly I know exactly what he's talking about. In the past I've enjoyed his novels Even Cowgirls get the Blues, Still Life with Woodpecker, and Jitterbug Perfume.

No One Belongs Here More Than You is a book of quirky and awkwardly beautiful stories on love and fantasy and our need for acceptance. Also, Miranda July is amazing in general.

stocked 'em

2011-07-14T21:39:00.001-05:00

I just dropped off this family of necklaces at Project M Boutique here in Milwaukee. They're pretty rad. If you're in the area you should definitely check them out! There are a few Little Ocean clothing items there as well. Most of these necklaces are also in my etsy shop right now.

weathered farmhouse campout

2011-07-08T10:53:00.000-05:00

Speaking of the north woods, I'd like to share this pinboard which is currently my favorite (out of my own). Are you on Pinterest? Let's follow each other.

Up North

2011-07-06T22:31:00.000-05:00

We went to see my parent's new cabin up north for the first time over the holiday weekend. The place isn't finished, but there's a toilet and electricity, so it was better than camping! The property is AMAZING! It's on the border between Wisconsin and Upper Michigan on a little lake with NO ONE around. Silence and solitude. So refreshing.

It's a long drive, but the kids did a good job of occupying themselves.

Three generations.

My boys in their best north-woods attire.

The fourth of July parade in the next town was weird in a good way.

And they tossed the most candy I've ever seen in a parade!

Mara freaked.

My dad made a little fishing pole out of some broken line and a fallen branch. Makai caught the first fish off of their new deck!

Such an awesome weekend.

In the works right now....

2011-07-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

Tank tops for the kiddos. Should be in the etsy shop next week.

2011-06-20T16:52:00.000-05:00

Solomon is working on his wpm with his new vintage typewriter.

Hound

2011-06-13T13:56:00.000-05:00

A new collection from Chicago-based handmade line Hound. I love their Wisconsin shot location.

meet chevron's little sister

2011-06-10T15:41:00.000-05:00

She's a funny little sister because she's actually older. But smaller. I made her before this one along with dozens of other prototypes while working on the summer collection. I went with the bone hairpipe necklace, because I think as a designer I like things to be bold. But I kept this other sample and wore it a lot because as a regular lady, I like things a little more manageable. Well, I've been loving on this necklace (as both longer and shorter) so much I decided it should be part of the collection too.

I've been really torn about adding it because I've been trying to par down and be better at curating a more streamline collection. I think the thing that makes talented designers stand apart is their ability to EDIT. I have millions of ideas that I'm excited about. But when it comes to presenting a body of work, I need to focus on a theme, grab only the greatest ideas that fit within the theme, and fine-tune each idea into one solid product. But when I succeeded in engineering the form for these necklaces (the cascading V's) I just got so excited because it was something I'd never seen before. So I just wanted to keep doing it with every possible material I could find!

The theme was inspired by native american chest plates, so the bone hairpipe was an obvious choice, but first I found these beads as a tangled beat-up mess as one of those hippie bead curtains at a rummage sale! They're bamboo with weathered paint on them (I think the curtain looked like a waterfall in it's past). So they're reclaimed, cheap, and I've got a never-ending supply. That's not the case with the bone, another thing to consider...

Anyways, I listed it in the Etsy shop here. If you could tell me what you think about all that, I'd really appreciate it. :)

new kid's clothes!

2011-06-01T01:05:00.000-05:00

The kid's summer collection is in the shop!

2011-05-26T10:19:00.000-05:00

Busy morning today. I made the kids dress up so I could check my sizing and snap a few pics before I had to take Mara to school. Yes, those are cookies. Yes, at 7am. The pics turned out so-so, even after cookie bribes. The weather is so crappy and we didn't have enough light in the kitchen. But I'm pleased with the fit of these outfits. Except the bib on the overalls, I'll re-cut my pattern for less width.

cooking again

2011-05-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

We're back in our kitchen! Even though we're not totally finished remodeling we can finally cook again. It feels like I'm making up for lost time here.

Sol loves his homemade carrots!

I'm eating a lot of basil out of the herb garden. That is my carnivore version of a calabrese salad (with salami). And I finally had my first taste of my backyard asparagus, which is epic since I planted it over two years ago!

I love me some Sunday mother-daughter baking!

And gingham cupcake wrappers!

I was shooting a picture of just the muffins when my hubby walked into the room.

Him: "What are you doing?"

Me: "Pretending to be a foodie."

Him: "Huh? Ok."

I don't think he knows what a foodie is. :)

2011-05-22T12:30:00.000-05:00

Now that the new shop is up and running, I've been designing a few new children's pieces and thinking over new dyeing projects. I'm considering adding a new shibori dress to the collection. I'm going to try and combine this technique with this cut. I think I'll sew first, then dye. I still have to find the perfect fabric, though.

New Shop!

2011-05-10T00:29:00.000-05:00

The new shop is open with an all new summer collection!

Go!

mother's day

2011-05-09T09:06:00.000-05:00

I had a lovely mother's day yesterday. We went out for brunch, then Mara and I had some mother-daughter time with a little sewing lesson. She made an adorable little purse. Then I went to a cafe for some alone time and to get some work done on the new shop. (opening late tonight!) I returned to find the kids playing in a little house that Daddy had built with them out of some doors and shelves we had taken out of the kitchen. I love my family. Luckiest mamma ever.

almost done!

2011-05-04T12:55:00.000-05:00

We're still working on the kitchen. It's the home stretch now, really coming together. I can't tell you how much I miss having a kitchen and how thrilled I will be to start using this fancy new space and to finally be done working til 1am every night. Just a few more days!

Matthew installing doors on the cabinets he built.

The kids helping out.

I am so in love with these subway tiles!

shoot

2011-05-03T13:35:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I did a shoot with Lois and Sharon again. We prepped at Lois's house and then did 5 shots at the Lake. The sun was out, and it was 50 degrees, but that wind! It was whipping our asses! Our model, Brandis, was tough as nails in those little summer outfits. I'll share the photos when I finally release the SS11 collection on Monday the 9th.

2011-04-29T09:10:00.000-05:00

Inspired by this editorial by Paul de Luna. I find myself more intrigued by the story than the clothing details.

cursive s/s11

2011-04-19T09:38:00.000-05:00

Cursive's new collection is killer. I especially love the painted quartz pieces!

kitchen tales

2011-04-19T08:38:00.000-05:00

Well, we tore out the kitchen over a week ago and I'd probably describe life right now as chaotic and inconvenient. We're just a day or two behind on our schedule, which doesn't surprise me of course. At this rate we should be able to hook up our stove again by Saturday and have a sink on Monday maybe. For now, the kitchen is in the dining room. We eat sandwiches and microwaved soup that we had stocked up in the freezer. Also, we went out to eat a few times last week, which is yummy, but um, with 4 kids in tow, it's not always very relaxing and it's definitely not affordable!

Matthew is doing all the work of course. I try to help him, but there's just no time. All the little inconveniences of not having a kitchen while caring for little ones add up during the day. Being cramped, having a limited menu, going to the bathroom to get water or rinse things, never knowing for sure where anything is, and trying to coordinate nap-time around the noisy work.... The funniest part is that you have to walk through the kitchen to get to the basementand back door, so while it's closed off with plastic I have to walk out the front door with laundry baskets (or the dirty diaper pail!) and go to the back door to get to the washer and dryer in the basement. We live on a busy boulevard and it feels real silly walking through the front yard with piles of laundry. Also, it's been raining a lot lately! Anyways, by the time I'm done putting the kids to bed and washing all the dishes in the shower, I'm pooped. And any time I have free from the kids during the day I'm working on my spring collection (coming soon!).

Happy Birthday Mara

2011-03-30T23:07:00.000-05:00

I can't believe my little girl is six years old. She has grown up to be such an awesome little lady. The older she gets, the more I remember my own childhood and I get to revisit my inner kiddo and share the silliness with her. My sis gave her some FunDip for her birthday and seeing it induced a nostalgia that had me gushing to Mara about how it used to be my favorite candy and we would always get it while on family trips up north and it's the awesomest cuz you can eat the stick when your done and that's the best part.....she was totally into it.

Also, my mom made her a dress! She's wearing it in the photos. My mom was the first person in my life to teach me anything about sewing, but she doesn't do much anymore, so I was really excited to see that she still has it in her. She actually copied a dress that Mara pointed out to her in an Express ad!

Mara's birthday party with friends is on Saturday. It should be fun!

2011-03-23T14:49:00.000-05:00

Matthew ran out of work. We were planning on remodeling the kitchen sometime this spring, and since this free time is sure to run out and he'll likely be real busy again very soon we've got to jump on the project pronto. It's go time. My spring line has taken a back seat to kitchen planning for now.

Here are some of my favorite photos I've used for inspiration.

Sources; 1, 2, 3,

Happy Birthday, Makai

2011-03-09T15:30:00.000-06:00

My big boy is two years old!

yes please!

2011-03-02T21:42:00.000-06:00

Doily bath rug made from remnant t-shirt fabric! Squirrellicious

2011-02-28T13:34:00.000-06:00

I provided the clothing and styling for a photo shoot yesterday at this quirky old motel. The spread will be published in 2 Cents, a small local magazine. The first few looks from my SS11 collection are featured. I had such a blast! Everyone was super professional, but also really sweet. The model was a doll, the hair & makeup artist did this awesomely funky bouffant and dramatic eyes, and the photographer, Lois was amazing. There was also a videographer there, so I have a lot to look forward to seeing! Unfortunately, the magazine doesn't come out until May, and I can't see anything until it's published! Ack, I can't wait!

love triangle

2011-02-14T09:09:00.000-06:00

Sometimes this mamma works so hard on the weekends when daddy is watching the kiddos that she forgets to do her most important jobs. I can't believe I forgot to make valentines for school with Mara! I realized this at 7:30 this morning (15 mins before we leave- and 4 hours after I had finished working and gone to bed -oiy!) I live this scenario way too often, so that means I'm not afraid to take it by the horns. I managed to design and make 30 valentines in 10 minutes flat, with the help of Mara of course.

I know that I'm really doing what I love when I can spend 42 hours in my studio over just 3 days and wake up the next day after only 4 hours of sleep and feel rejuvenated. Physically, I feel pretty hungover, but mentally and emotionally I'm awesome. I love what I do! Now I just need to balance things out a little better so I don't miss out on the biggest love of my life- my family.

Cheers to the people we love supporting us while we do the things that we love! Happy Valentines Day!

yummy

2011-02-11T11:23:00.000-06:00

Rodarte for Opening Ceremony is pretty killer.

cupid's earrings

2011-02-10T18:09:00.000-06:00

These earrings are perfect for Valentine's Day. Don't they remind you of bows and arrows? Handmade by Anthem.

2011-01-27T12:57:00.000-06:00

handmade play teepee by moozlehome

Sale!

2011-01-23T10:40:00.000-06:00

Hey! I've reduced the prices on my Leotie necklaces and earrings by over 40%! Get to the shop!

2011-01-23T10:21:00.000-06:00

This nautical stripy fabric in Lauren Moffatt's spring collection looks a lot like the stack of vintage fabrics that I have been storing for my spring line this year. Gosh golly it's so darn cute!

2011-01-19T13:17:00.000-06:00

We went to the library this morning and I feel like I just visited with a good friend that I haven't seen in a while. It's only been 6 months or so, but I had forgotten how much I LOVE that place. Makai also loves playing in the children's area (in Milwaukee's downtown location). Time to resume our weekly visits.

2011-01-13T10:08:00.000-06:00

Solomon and I are finally home after a little vacation at the hospital. On Saturday we took him to the doctor because his cold seemed to be bothering him too much. He was very congested and breathing fast. The doctor was concerned about his oxygen levels and sent us to Children's Hospital. We knew the drill, we had been through this with Makai when he was the same age. He had bronchiolitis, which is the most common cause of hospitalization for babies. Basically, babies' airways are so small that any little bit of constriction or mucus can make it dangerously difficult to breath. So you stay in the hospital where they can give baby oxygen and suction the boogers out while you sit there and wait for the virus to go away.

Not fun. But our super family helped with the other kids so Matthew didn't have to miss too much work. I stayed with Sol the whole time. I got some writing and sketching done, and they had free wifi so I got to watch like a dozen episodes of The Office on netflix.

Sol's doing great now. We're so happy to be home.

geodes and crystals

2011-01-11T09:23:00.000-06:00

Just organizing my inspiration for the spring/summer collection and I noticed this theme.

necklace, sculpture, collage, dress,

Vivian Maier

2011-01-10T15:24:00.000-06:00

I stumbled across Maier's story in the New York Times and was immediately fascinated. The theories about her personal life and the story of how thousands of her very impressive photos have been unearthed and are still being developed is really very interesting to me. Also, I just love depictions of mid-century urban lifestyle.

happy new year

2011-01-05T11:37:00.000-06:00

Hope you all had a great holiday season. Christmas was actually somewhat relaxing for me, and New Years was a blast. We did the annual new years eve party at our house. Home-made sushi, close friends, champagne, and more champagne. Some of us may have had too much. In the first few minutes of 2011 we managed to break several things, including some serious jams on the front porch. This clip (taken with our new christmas present to ourselves, yea movies!) is a pretty hilarious memento of the night.

Solomon will be doing a lot of growing this year. Well everyone will, but him especially. I guess every year we get older, the less growing we do. Anyways, just look at him holding his head up, my heart is oozing everywhere!

December was quite a quiet time on the blog. I've come to consider it an accidental blog vacation. But now I'm back in full force, watch out.

*Solomon is wearing a thrifted vintage sweater.

2010-12-13T09:11:00.000-06:00

New belts are in the shop. Just a few days left to order for Christmas.

Renegade

2010-12-02T17:48:00.000-06:00

Chicago, come and shop! I'll be there on Saturday, and my booth-buddy, Stephanie, will be in charge on Sunday. Please say hello, we're both friendly, as long as we've had enough sleep.

let it snow

2010-12-01T10:09:00.000-06:00

The first snow of the season is falling outside my window. I promise to appreciate the beauty and mystery of the glistening white as long as possible this time. But no doubt by mid-February my crabby ass will be cursing this nasty shit as I haul the 5,000th shovel-full over my broken back.

This editorial was in the New York Times Style Magazine, shot by Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello.

! SALE ! SALE ! SALE !

2010-11-29T10:07:00.000-06:00

Sign up on my email list (right over there---> ) to get the scoop on all promotions in my etsy shop for the rest of the holiday season.

Thank you, Art vs Craft

2010-11-29T09:15:00.000-06:00

It is always nice to show off my collection to my home town. Thanks Milwaukee!

Solomon spent most of the day with me in my booth. He was a good boy and I enjoyed showing him off. But I'm starting to think that taking him to Renegade this weekend might not be such a great idea. I'll start pumping now... ;)

2010-11-25T13:56:00.000-06:00

Working hard on Thanksgiving. I get to punch out at 5pm, and then I'm going to visit some family and eat like a pig. Tomorrow is my last day to prep for Art vs Craft. Wish me luck.

indoor camping

2010-11-22T09:16:00.000-06:00

The weather is turning cold here in Wisconsin. This weekend it was in the 30's. With a newborn in the family, it will be hard to spend much time outside, or even out anywhere, so we're gearing up for a long winter at home. Sometimes it's hard to keep everyone occupied without resorting to movie marathons. My kids don't really play with toys (someone please tell my parents and in-laws this!) but they've got great imaginations. This weekend we went camping in the living room.

Solomon is 3 weeks old already. He's a sweetheart. I can't wait until he's playing with the big kids. But I'm savoring these early days while he's still so small and doesn't yet interact with us. He's such a funny little creature.

Art vs. Craft

2010-11-20T10:04:00.000-06:00

Only one week away! Milwaukee, I love you and I can't wait to show you my latest creations. I will also have some special deals for you just for being my home-town peeps, so don't miss it!