I have loved these little lips since I first saw them on the 3D ultrasound picture.

He is quite proud of his teeth.

And is working on getting all his molars. Hard work for a two year old.

Happy little Fox

Erin,  help!  Do I want to buy this?   I have been looking at several paper mache trophy heads and the ones you sent me from West Elm have been my favorite ones so far.  I like the wildebeest or maybe I like it better because I go into shock at the price of the [...]]]>

Erin,  help!  Do I want to buy this?   I have been looking at several paper mache trophy heads and the ones you sent me from West Elm have been my favorite ones so far.  I like the wildebeest or maybe I like it better because I go into shock at the price of the Gemsbok.  But it also reminded me of this marble bust I saw at the Smithsonian.  I’m pretty sure I would love  the Wildebeest really anywhere in the house but maybe particularly in my kitchen.  But do you think it is too small?  As I told you before, I have been wanting to add some modern elements to my house and I love the whimsy of this.

It just so happens that we have snow over here and quite a bit too.  I love it.  I would be happy if we had snow all the way till spring.  Alas, we don’t get it that often but when we do I think it’s so cosy.  We have been listening to lots of Harry [...]]]>

It just so happens that we have snow over here and quite a bit too.  I love it.  I would be happy if we had snow all the way till spring.  Alas, we don’t get it that often but when we do I think it’s so cosy.  We have been listening to lots of Harry Potter infront of the fireplace.  Eric and I have been watching Bleak House on Netfix.  I would highly recommend it.  And eating plenty of brownies, the soft dense kind with plenty of walnuts and butter.  Here is the brownie recipe incase you should want to join in on the eating.

Best Cocoa Brownies:

10T. butter

1 1/4c. sugar

3/4c.+2T. cocoa

1/4t. salt

1/2t. vanilla

2 eggs

1/2c. flour

2/3c. walnuts

Combine butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt.  Heat mixture till combined and melted and you want to remove your finger quickly.  Set aside till just warm.  Add the eggs one at a time.  Stir in the rest of the ingredients until just mixed.  Bake in an 8×8 pan at 325 for about 30 minutes.

As I promised, a post on Anwyn’s bedroom makeover.  If the room itself looks different- it is.  We made some room changes so the kids could have a play room and what a great change that has been.  All the toys in one room- phew.

Most of the pink is gone as promised, but touches remain. [...]]]>

As I promised, a post on Anwyn’s bedroom makeover.  If the room itself looks different- it is.  We made some room changes so the kids could have a play room and what a great change that has been.  All the toys in one room- phew.

Most of the pink is gone as promised, but touches remain.  She is my only girl after all and I still love pink.

I painted all the rooms in the house Brown Bag so I could change things up whenever I wanted without having to repaint every time. I move things around too often.

I made the "A" pillow using a template off the computer.

This cute little dresser was from Caitlin who didn't want it any more, if you can imagine.

I repainted the chair in gold.

And used Anna Maria Horner fabric. I love some of her fabric.

I just had to keep the pink flowers and the star we picked up in San Francisco.

Of late Anwyn has loved designing and coloring clothes, shoes, hats, bags and everything in between.  Watching a few Project Runways with me has definitely fueled this interest.  This fabulous little book Eric and I picked up in San Francisco at Anthropologie has been perfect.

If you are at all like me, I come across fabric I just love all the time.  I hold it and think long a hard about  just what it is that I would [...]]]>

My little mouse has been running around on a book so I thought I might get a real mouse pad for it.

If you are at all like me, I come across fabric I just love all the time.  I hold it and think long a hard about  just what it is that I would do with it .  And thinking of nothing because I already have plenty of pillows and really don’t enjoy sewing all that much, put it back.  This is a little project just in case you should run across a smallish piece of cloth that is calling your name and you simply must have it.  It need be no bigger than a mouse pad, in fact mouse pad size is perfect.  With that bit of cloth and some Heat ‘n Bond you can make a perfectly adorable little pad for your mouse.

One ugly little mouse pad and some Heat'n Bond is all you really need.

Make sure to cut out a square slightly larger than the pad.

Iron the Heat'n Bond to the fabric then peel off the backing and iron to the mouse pad.

Voila! A cute little mouse pad.

And best of all you don’t have to sew one little bit.

I thought you all might like these French bread bags and if you have the teensiest bit of sewing knowledge they will be a cinch to make.  It is another way to make and and another use for the bread bag shown in the previous post.  They are perfect hostess gifts to take to all [...]]]>

I thought you all might like these French bread bags and if you have the teensiest bit of sewing knowledge they will be a cinch to make.  It is another way to make and and another use for the bread bag shown in the previous post.  They are perfect hostess gifts to take to all your Christmas parties.  I use mine to serve French bread on the table since we tear ours, but they would be just as lovely for a bottle of wine.  Either way the process is the same but the measurements may be a bit different.  The letters I used were from dfont, an amazing site if you have never checked it and have a total love of fonts like I do.

I like to use a natural linen. It has a French look, but obviously you can use whatever cloth you would like. Cut out two rectangles 23x21 for the bread bag. This will also acommodate a baguette loaf. For wine the measurements would be smaller. I like to French seam mine to have a cleaner look. To do this simply put right sides facing the right way and sew a 1/4 in around the bad. Then turn so the right sides are facing in and sew about a 1/2 in seam around the bag again. Then hem the top.

   

My favorite part is painting on the monogram. Using letters from dfont, I cut out and trace the letter on the bag.

 

I like to use the metallic paints to paint on the monogram. I still love a bit of glitter. Just be sure to put a paper between the layers so as not to get paint on the other side.

Voila! Beautiful!

Here is a bit different monogram.

All ready for a party

Well, now that the decorating is done Christmas can come.  These are some snap shots from around the house.  And now I can do the fun things like shopping for the last little bits of Christmas gifts, baking cookies, and shhh don’t tell the kids but we’re going to take them to the Nutcracker.

I really just want this chair. I'm definitely taking inspiration from it.

Well I have had fun with the pink.  I needed to get the urge to paint Ralph Lauren’s Aruba pink out of my system and now I am ready to grow up and do something a tat more mature.  Anwyn is going on [...]]]>

I really just want this chair. I'm definitely taking inspiration from it.

Well I have had fun with the pink.  I needed to get the urge to paint Ralph Lauren’s Aruba pink out of my system and now I am ready to grow up and do something a tat more mature.  Anwyn is going on 10 and she can’t have hot pink furniture her whole life, can she?  Well, I guess she could but really if truth be told, I want to decorate something, or rather redecorate something.  I’ll have to keep you posted on the changes.  There will have to be plenty of gold and glitter.  I’m sure Anwyn would agree.

I don’t want to spend lots but something like a new dresser is in order, lamps, frames, curtains.  You understand.  The problem is when I get the idea to redecorate I want to do it now.  The timing is not perfect as I have not even decorated for Christmas.  Eric groans as I try to do everything and then turn into a smoldering wreck.  I’m not a patient person.

Because darkness can’t come soon enough at this house on Halloween day, I got together a little craft for the kids and think your kids might enjoy it too.  For the project you just need graph paper and colored pencils. [...]]]>

Their pictures became quite creative. Here we have a little witch under a full moon.

Because darkness can’t come soon enough at this house on Halloween day, I got together a little craft for the kids and think your kids might enjoy it too.  For the project you just need graph paper and colored pencils.  All that is required is that they make pictures using only squares.  It ends up being like cross stitching on paper.  And for as simple a project as it is, my kids have been at it for a couple of hours already.  One of them said, Hey, I forgot tonight we get to trick-or-treat!”  Success.

Should your kids need a bit of inspiration here you go.

Canon made a pirate.

Here are Athan's little dogs.