Sewing School :: Day 2

When two of my mama friends asked if I would teach their eight year old daughters to sew, I jumped at the chance. I distinctly remember learning to knit in an after-school class taught by my 4th grade English teacher, Mrs. Broughton. I remember how weirdly special it felt to be at school after hours— to be learning something other than English from my teacher. It felt… mystical—as if we were somehow conspiring. As if she was teaching me what I really needed to know in life. read more

A Valentine

Is it ever too soon to introduce your kiddo to Adobe Illustrator? Not if you want to spare him a fate of crying and falling apart every time he tries to edit anything he makes on the computer…ah hem…not that I end up in a crumpled heap, speed-dialing my graphic designer whenever I am editing my pattern templates… (hi, Flip!) So, I’m taking the coolest online class in Adobe Illustrator over at Nicole’s Classes and I have learned so much already in one week. Am having so much fun. read more

put a bird on it

It seems that I can’t stop putting a bird on things (watch hilarious video here). I was asked to create some auctionable artwork with my daughter’s class for a school fundraiser. I made a diptych of painted and collaged birds and flowers. The two-year olds helped me place and glue all the little fabric flowers onto the stems I had already painted. This exercise was certainly like herding cats. Two-year olds have an amazing lack of understanding about what is up or down or here or there which made the finished pieces so much better. Adult minds are so limited by comparison. I made sure not to edit or correct their choices—they all put the hearts sideways and the flowers not on stems. It was awesome. I must try harder to let go of my understanding of pictorial space in my normal adult life!  🙂 read more

12 minute birthday bunting

Six years ago we left the hospital with our baby boy. After the beauty of his birth and the exquisite privacy and interiority of the few days that followed, the world seemed completely new as we drove home. The road was filled with cars still and I didn’t understand why. It was Super Bowl Sunday and I couldn’t believe that they hadn’t called it off—that the world was still going on. Didn’t they all know that our baby had been born? Wasn’t the world completely new to everyone? No, but it sure does feel that way when you bring home a baby. read more

we’re in a little museum show

So, I was asked about six months ago if my husband and I would like to be included in a show at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art called Artists and Their Children. I thought it was nice that they included us. My husband is an artist too. We didn’t come up with a plan and just figured it would evolve. Which it has. And because this is a fun opportunity to showcase the beautiful mess that is our family’s creative life, I wanted it to just be playful. So for six months I silently curated the flotsam and jetsam of creative offerings that churn out of the day-to-day. Most things are not actual art objects but instead are creative solutions to homemade toys, which is to say—weapons. I think necessity is the mother of invention and if you don’t give your five year old a light saber he’s gonna make one himself. read more

Gender cake?

Have you heard about the new trend in baby gender announcements, gender reveal parties? My darling sister-in-law (and brother) did just that a few weeks ago. Here’s how it goes: the couple goes to the twenty-week ultrasound, but instead of searching for the baby’s gender on the black and white monitor, the expectant couple does everything in their power NOT to see the dangling member (or its absence). The technician writes the baby’s gender on a card and seals it into an envelope. The parents-to-be drive directly to the bakery and drop off the results. The baker pipes either pink or blue frosting in between two layers of cake and then ices the cakes as usual. The gender is later revealed at a party when the couple cuts into the cake in front of family and friends and they all learn the gender together! Click here to read about the trend. How much fun! See their picture below to find out if I will have a new niece or nephew… read more