Heirloom Nursery: Jennifer Murphy Bears

You've heard me sing Jennifer Murphy's praises before--she and her work are wonderful. I'm so excited to share that we've been talking about creating a custom made bear for our baby....

Once upon a time, when I met S, he had just returned home from a 6-month stay in a backcountry Oregon ranch, an hour and a half from the nearest town, writing in solitude, where there were--being a city girl this always gets me!--black bears. Wild black bears roaming around, eating blackberries, scratching up wasp nests, doing all the things very real bears do. It was a special time for him to say the least--out there roughing it in the wild. And now, here we are, six years later, with his memoir about that time due out next spring a new little bear on the way even sooner. I'm so thrilled Jennifer is going to help us celebrate and commemorate with a another bear friend to be dragged around with love.

If you missed out on the JM spring sale yesterday, definitely sign up for her newsletter to get the latest on the up-and-coming and read up on her sweet blog. Oh, and wish her congrats as well! She's also due this summer with her first--hooray! hooray!

Heirloom Nursery: Style on a Budget

What a wild week--I'm so sorry to have been away for so long and can't wait to get back in touch! Hope you're getting the first tastes of spring where you are. We've got daffodils here but also a couple inches of snow in the forecast...could it really be? Whew!

In the midst of my busy business, I've been dreaming about the nursery for our baby-boy-to-be--a surprising challenge and a delight. You know me: I love big colors, sentimental art pieces to keep, staying on budget, craftiness, hands-down good design. After our wedding last year, I thought, how different could it be? You pick a palette, pick a theme, have some fun. But, wow, the project and the resources are completely different (as S says, 'look out, baby culture is after us!')--or at least it seemed at first.

Wanting to hold on to those same principles, I decided to simplify, simplify, simplify. Instead of buying an expensive coordinating crib set, I went with a nice basic white bumper and skirt for the vintage-looking Jenny Lind crib we chose (I'm sad to say I don't see them in the Land of Nod collection anymore--it's a beautiful, inexpensive piece--if you can get your hands on one, snap it up!). The beauty of this is the set cost $60 (total!), it looks so clean and fresh, and now I can mix-and-match sheets, curtains, other furniture, accessories and what-not to my heart's content.

That one choice has made the designing process really come alive and now that we're back to basics, I'm ready to build up the vision: I found this sweet wild kingdom mobile (from Copenhagen Styles), three colors of gingham sheets to match (Pottery Barn Kids), and a 'Keep Calm' poster that I could potentially add (for some humor, of course!--this one from the Keep Calm Gallery). So, what's next? I'm on the look out for some patterned fabric (maybe from Purl) to complement and contrast the gingham...some fun toys and accessories...some fine touches of heirloom pieces...hmmm! Any suggestions for me? I need all the help I can get!

Heirloom Nursery: Baby's First Quilt

It's no secret I love quilts--really love them.

Recently, I've been editing the memoir of one of our quilter friends and got to thinking about the possibilities for our baby's first quilt. Looking around for nursery bedding, I've been pretty disappointed in the range of colors and style for little boys (did I mention? we're having a boy!). Everything is blue, red and brown and--I'm going to say it!--so boring (!). Have you noticed this too?

This feeling led me to start researching the baby blankets of the past at our local museum, Lincoln's International Quilt Studies Center. What I found was that the traditional of the crib quilt is really a fascinating one--especially here in the Midwest where these small blankets were an Amish tradition. The rich blacks and deep blues, the modern-feeling stripes, blocks and cubes. Hope we can find a way to do something similar--so many creative possibilities for our tiny new guy!

The New Heath

The new special edition Heath pieces are so minimal and so vibrant. Don't you just want to eat your granita out of one of these? (Maggie & Shiv, any recipes for us?) The color is simply just right.

Location, Location

Readymade's WPA poster series is so spot on--especially these two. I've lived on both coasts but somehow not until I moved to Nebraska did these ways of living really come into focus for me--farmer's markets, gardening, bicycling, local schools. I'm a city girl at heart but somehow living here is the perfect fit.

Pretty Primer: Crafty Books

Friday evenings, sometimes S and I go out for dinner and head to the bookstore--it's one of the best dates, hands down. We dream about travel, art, nature, music...there's simply nothing better.

This trip I found some lovely new sewing books: Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter, Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule and Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross and John Gruen. I just adore the aprons and baby bloomers in the Ross and Gruen book--patterns included. So many great projects, now I just need to learn how to run a sewing machine--this girl can hand sew like there's no tomorrow but...! Most of my clothes were handmade as a kid--isn't it great that the trend is returning and with style?

Browsing the shelves, I also leafed through How to Be an Explorer of the World by Keri Smith and she has come up with such a refreshing list of 'explorations' (one of my favorite words, by the way!)--many of which would be great for the kids, too. Take this one for example:

Exploration #46: "Found Patterns -- Collect or document as many patterns as you can find while on your travels. You may decide to use only patterns in nature, or human-made, or both. Pencil rubbings work well for this."

You could write, collect scraps, draw, paint, record audio descriptions...so many possibilities. Once upon a time, when I was in ed school, I had a professor who had a whole lecture class--I'm talking 100+ people--observe the moon. Those were the instructions: 'observe the moon.' It was simply remarkable how many ways we approached the assignment. I've never forgotten--what a lesson in the range and depth of human curiosity. What are your favorite explorations?

Great Books: Baby's Box

In my 101 things list I mentioned expanding my children's literature collection and now I have a great excuse for doing so...such a guilty, wondrous pleasure! I found this funky 'Squirrel Brand' peanut taffy crate on eBay and I've been filling it with favorites:

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco
For You Are a Kenyan Child by Kelly Cunnane and illustrated by Ana Juan (plus Juan's website is the most sweet and wacky thing)
The Five Senses by Herve Tullet (love this multimedia book for kids and adults alike!)
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats (Keats collages have always been magical to me--plus, little Willie looks a tad bit like our pooch!)

Don't kid's books just make you feel like the world is so curious, rich and alive?

Designing Wedding Heirlooms: Blumchen Vintage

Oh, someone please plan your wedding with some of these vintage florals from Blumchen...! Invites, favors, napkin rings...so many possibilities!

Travel Diary: The Hambledon Gallery

Each time I'm in England, I love to spend a lazy day in Winchester walking the streets, enjoying the cathedral (Jane Austen's no less) and perusing the shops--all especially fine in the summer. I was reminded today, going through some old memorabilia, that, without a doubt, my favorite boutique is The Hambledon--such a wonderful collection of well-designed goods. Each time I'm there I buy myself a new Cath Kidston change purse--as a tradition and because I use mine so often (every day, I admit) that the beloved thing gets tatty after awhile (I still have the first one I ever bought from 10 years ago!). Now, I'm so glad to see, they have an online shop. Elderdowns, Kilner jars, hawthorn and almond scented perfumes...so British, so lovely.

Wedding Week on Good Stock

Good Stock is having a week of wedding books and I can't wait to see what Kim has created. Check out the beautiful bindery here.

Home Is Where the Art Is: Tony Fitzpatrick

Looking at the latest copy of Poetry, I found myself completely enamored with the cover art by New Orleans artist Tony Fitzpatrick. The events of Hurricane Katrina are something I care deeply about--watching the documentaries, reading various writers experiences, taking in the photographs. I don't have any direct ties to the community--no family or friends, never traveled there--but, years after the levees broke, I still feel this great empathy for the people of the region. In an interview with the Times-Picayune Fitzpatrick was quoted as saying: “We love in poetry but, unfortunately, we live in prose. Sometimes the two are not congruent. What we remember of love is usually a fiction. What we aspire to is haiku: short, sweet, perfect.” Aren't these collages doing just what poetry should? The music of the words, the energy of the images, the vital remembrance.

{Click images to enlarge and see all the wonderful detail.}

Last Day of the Rose & Radish Sale!

One of the most charming shops online and, I imagine, in person (I'd love to visit!), Rose and Radish is having a January sale--but it ends today! Thinking ahead for Valentine's, there are just so many fine pieces to choose from. Enter code THANKS09 on the shopping cart page.

Home Is Where the Art Is: Rose Cabat

Reading through the NYTimes art section today, I feel in love with this image (top) of Rose Cabat's pottery. After her children were raised, Cabat returned to making the art she loved as a child. Often working in isolation, critics have said her work is truly original, influenced by no other potter or trend. Cabat created a line of pots she called 'Feelies', vessels with narrow spouts and glazes that feel feathery to the touch. Some are as small as 2 inches (to fit in your hand!) and others of much grander sizes. Get this: Cabat is still living in Tucson, she's almost 100 years old and she continues to make work! I can't get enough of the jewel tones, the rich earthy tones--I need to see them in person. I'm truly becoming ceramic obsessed...!

(Images found here, here and here.)

Sweet Find: Bold & Noble

Simply elegant--I love these intricate, folksy designs from Bold & Noble. I'm all about giving art--wouldn't these be great for weddings and baby showers?