custom tees + neat website = super cool fun

been working on a deadline today so no time to write and post, but I would like to share this awesome local shop with you.

through a super fun, simple to use interface you can design your own t-shirt. i haven't ordered this way yet but I have had shirts printed here before. they have nice quality, good cut shirts.

even if you don't need a new shirt go play with the site.

dandelion

i love the image of a dandelion. i even used it in part of the graphic imagery for my wedding. I think this duvet cover from Nicole Chiala and Kristina de Corpo of amenity is just wonderful. This room actually looks like a wonderful guest room.

It's on sale at Public Design


I also really like this one its a bit more inline with my tastes lately.


How can you not like the beauty of this plant? And it is so good for you. That reminds me that I need to make a new dandelion tincture while the plants are still big and healthy.

is this a journey?

you know that saying "It's the journey not the destination"? My college used it, "Education is a journey not a destination". I've been thinking a bit about it. What does that mean for an average person who goes to work everyday.

I have about a half hour each way commute to my workplace, and everyday I take the same route there and the same route back. Exhibiting such routine behavior isn't normally part of my nature but with this trip there is no way around it. It is just faster and safer to take these routes.

So a big part of my personal physical journey for the past 2 1/2 years has been this drive and I really really don't like it. I listen to music, NPR, podcasts. I think. I don't talk on the phone if I can help it. I space off. I think about my work. I drink coffee. But none of this keeps me happy for very long. This journey is more like standing still, going backwards or spending time in prison.

I've got to change something and find some bit of the "Journey" in this commute. I started by taking the below photos while driving to work yesterday. It's interesting to really look at the places I zoom by in my little silver bug.

























here's what I see:

Bumbershoot billboard. I worked on that festival for 5 years and I am so happy with how far I've come since then.
Space Needle. Living in Seattle is super cool. Good to remember. I friend of mine worked on some really cool interactive exhibits here.
Viaduct. A rickety old elevated highway that has earthquake damage and should be torn down. I'm thankful when I can drive over without being stopped by traffic. It also reminds me that I am happy I didn't go into politics or city planning which were both on my list.
Baseball Stadium. I have great friends who love baseball. going to a baseball game at the old stadium was the first time I came to Seattle. I was 12.
The streets are clean. That is nice. There are lot's of lovely respectful people that live here. I had a great time meeting a number of them at the neighborhood bbq on Tuesday night.
Cargo Containers. A lot of people are doing art and building structures with these. I might want to do that someday.
The Bug dashboard. This is a great car to spend time in. And how cool that I can afford a nice car.
Clouds. Is moving to Northern California ever going to be an option for us? There are lot's of nice things about winter and fall here.

a place for a cake.

I have always loved cake. the whole concept of a cake is full of good feelings and unlimited creative possibilities. I think most of us have a cake memory as one of our very first memories.

Moms, Dads, Grandmas and Big Siblings made cakes with us, letting us stir the batter, lick the beaters and maybe help with the frosting.

We are presented at every big moment of our life with a cake. Remember, putting your whole face in the cake when you turned one? Smashing cake into the face of your newly wed spouse? Eating that crappy grocery store cake in a conference room on your last day at a job you wish you had never started, or eating that crappy cake looking around at the people in the conference room and realizing that you actually care about these people and are really going to miss each of them and this stuffy room?

In college the phrase was coined, "Make any excuse to eat cake" This seems to sum up our relationship with cake. Do we celebrate with cake or have a celebration so we can eat cake?

If you know me you know I love ritual and intentional celebrations. I love it when people care enough about the people around them and the event happening to do a little more, make it a bit more memorable. To me bringing out an embroidered table cloth to cover the picnic table can make all the difference.

This week I finally found a real, classic, cake stand. Check it out. The photos are a bit dark. The sun wasn't cooperating.





I am so happy. Looking at it fills my head with visions of fancy cakes and future celebrations. Putting the next birthday cake on this stand will give it a slight elevation into the realm of history making cakes. Not the larger history of the world but the history of my family and friends. Lifting the cover to reveal a sweet smell and closer look will be a new ritual....well maybe not a ritual but at least I can determine the exact timing of my child's nose dive into the frosting when they turn one.


I looked around and found a few lovely cake stands if you would like to get one for yourself.

I really like this concept even though it is a bit cheesy.
available here



dots are wonderful.
available at Pottery Barn

This one would look fabulous with a German chocolate cake sitting on it.
available at Target



Luigi Bormioli

find it here



Oh, cupcakes! This is a beauty. I like the recessed circles for the cupcakes to sit. Horchow

I just found the following two via The Hostess with the Mostess's June post. Thanks!

boats and pinkshirts

i just made two very lovely discoveries.

pink shirts and car wrecks is a wonderful design/inspiration/personal blog. check it out. from this blog i learned of an artist Ann Wood. All I can say is wow! Here is her blog and her website.

tube fighting

Ha! I love this. There is a group of people getting together to have cardboard tube fights. They are called The Cardboard Tube Fighting League It just makes me giggle. I might have to join them at the next fight.


more photos

ice cream cone cup cakes

Oh my goodness! i was just brought back to a very happy time. see this? this is a classic ice cream cone filled with cupcake. my mom used to make these for my birthday. she would top them with ice cream not frosting like you see here.


thanks for the memory Cup Cake Blog

My mother was the best maker of birthday parties. she attended to every detail and made sure there was something to make you go "Wow!" or "oooooohhh." Most years she would help me and my sisters hand make a pinata that she would decorate with tissue paper. She would bring it to my school so my class could help me celebrate. This was always a total hit and made me out as a very cool little girl.

i will have to tell you about our amazing handmade costumes when the season comes around.

thanks for giving me the entertaining gene momma.

canon baby

I found my new camera and it should arrive tomorrow! Watch out blog readers you are in for some awesome photos.

Canon Powershot SD800

multi-culti cutie

my dear friend is pregnant and out there seeking all things cute for baby. she found this great shop today.
i wish i would have had one these shirts as a little girl. for a few years when we lived in Texas everyone thought i was Mexican. i was even assigned to the bilingual bus! this was great for my culture diversity. development but hard on my sense of identity.

pin cushions & etsy

Last Christmas I made a bunch of really lovely felt pin cushions. iIcame across a couple pictures of them so I thought I would share. (not the best photos but you get the picture)



I kept one for myself and it is just the best pin cushion I have ever used. I think I'll make some more and put them up on my etsy shop.

I'm so excited to start selling on etsy. I'm going to start with a random mix of vintage items and handmade items. It's going to be pretty eclectic at first. I'm most interested in doing it so I can connect with other people and get feed back on my designs and finds.

I've been spending a bit of time browsing shops for inspiration. Check out these lovely ladies.

Trixiedelicious. this was a featured shop today. I'm so into pretty vintage ceramics lately and i love the attitude of all her pieces.


thejunkinmytrunk. oh my goodness I love these. I just need to decide which to order then I'm going attach it to a very cute little cardigan sweater.


belleandboo. her illustrations are so tender and sweet. and how wonderful to find illustrations with brown curly haired girls like me!