Garden Party

Jordan taught me that if you're looking for pretty party ideas, wedding magazines are one of the best resources. She's brilliant like that. In the current issue of Wedding Style Guide there is a story on a Garden Party Bridal Shower that made my heart go pitty pat. I'd love to throw the same party — not as a bridal shower — but just as an excuse for the ladies to lunch.




I love the tagged canning jars ready to host fresh flowers that the guests arrange themselves. I love the hearty sandwiches served on sheets of brown paper. Lots of lovely details. Bonus: you can even get free downloads for the party stationery — invitations, hang tags and signs — so that you can throw a party just as pretty as theirs.

And if you're not subscribing to this Australia-based magazine, you might want to do so. Wedding Style Guide is a treasure. Full of gorgeous photography and brilliant party and entertaining ideas.

Moxie Kids

The Moxie Iris Dress by Ses Petites Mains. 18 mos. to 8 years. Available only at Moxie Kids. Perfection.

Goodies from Beehive Bazaar

Knowing how bummed out I was about missing another Beehive Bazaar, the lovely organizers sent me a box filled with goodies so I could experience some of the BB wonder here in New York. Lucky me!

Beautiful and functional (my favorite combo), hand-painted garden tools. The cutest little reversible apron you ever did see. And a cheery wool-sphere necklace — that I have been totally coveting. The package absolutely made my day. Thank you Steph and Molly and Noelle!

Man Stationery

The best thing about today is that it's one day away from Ben getting home. He's been on a business trip since Monday night and I've been trying to pace my Motherhood Patience so that I'm not completely worn out before he gets back. But alas, my patience is running on fumes today and I've been offering up incessant prayers that my children be especially charming today so that my only desire is to hug and kiss them and buy them yellow balloons.

Because my mind is on manly Ben, I remembered this fantastic line of stationery I spotted on kirtsy. They're called Man Notes and you can find them (and their silly names) on Pretty Bitter.

Ask Design Mom Week Starts Monday!

Do you remember the last Ask Design Mom Week? Well it's awesome. And it's back. And it starts on Monday.

Here's the story: every so often I realize I have become a serious slacker about answering Ask-Design-Mom Questions. So. I take a week and post as many as I can. Then I answer some. And you, the clever reader, answer some as well.

A new twist for next week: I'm hosting 5 different excellent Giveaways — one a day, Monday through Friday — to thank you for your help in answering all those worthy questions. So meet me here on Monday for good questions, good ideas and good prizes. I can't wait!

More Refurbished Plate 411

I've received a few emails asking for more information on the plates I posted about last Friday — the plates we made at the Method Party. And happily, I've rounded up a few great photos so you can get a better idea of how it works. By the way, the photo at the top is from Danny Seo's home. He made a whole series of plates and displayed them in his workshop — aren't they fabulous? And don't you want to move right in to his workshop?

Here's how you can make a wall of plates for yourself:


Come up with a silhouette. You can draw it from scratch or trace an existing one. Or maybe just do a bunch of circles or stars. Whatever you envision, it needs to be outlined on a sheet of computer sticker paper.


Cut out the silhouette.


Pull off the adhesive backing and place the sticker on your plate. We used old plates that had been picked up at Salvation Army. A great way to reuse!


Choose a color (I still can't remember the name of the paint. Anyone else?), and cover the entire plate surface with paint. You may need a few coats to achieve the color and coverage you're looking for.


When the paint is dry, use a pair of scissors to carefully tug/scrape the sticker away from the surrounding paint toward the center of the sticker. You will want to work carefully or the paint edges can come up. Don't panic if they do — you can touch them up with a small paint brush.


When the sticker is removed, bake the plate at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. (No word yet on how durable this ultimately makes the plate.)

And that's it. Now. Why not host a plate party and make your own collection? Like the idea, but not up for making your own? Check out the work of Sarah Chiat. Refurbished plates with all sorts of good-looking, sometimes edgy silhouettes.

One last note about the party. We were lucky enough to be joined by Amanda from Goody Blog. She is darling and friendly and I loved the post she wrote up about the event. Many of these great photos were taken by her — thanks Amanda!

Emma & Avery

If you have a wedding or other special event this summer and you need something just right for your daughter to wear, find a dozen drool worthy options at Emma & Avery.

Emma & Avery is also perfect for anyone with a daughter that insists on dressing like European royalty.

Porridge Home

Fun to see that Porridge is expanding their great clothing line to include bedding! Looks gorgeous.

Random Links

Since the power in my neighborhood has been randomly turning off on this completely storm-less day, I will embrace the randomness and give a list of unrelated, but interesting links that have been on my mind.



Sugar City Journal
An excellent blog. Written by two sister-in-laws on the opposites sides of the country. Very inspiring. Lots of ideas and projects — like the pretty detailing on these stairs.

Xerpi
This is a site to organize all your favorites sites. It's like bookmarking on steroids. With the ability to do things like visually group related links and add notes. I've been using del.icio.us for my bookmarks for the last 18 months or so. I use it to keep track of sites I've posted about and sites I want to post about. But I'm thinking about switching to Xerpi. It looks like it has a ton more features to help me track things more efficiently.



White Trash Mom Handbook
Don't you love it when one of our own (bloggers, I mean) makes good? Hooray for Michelle of the infamous White Trash Mom blog, who just had her first book published! It's filled with lots of funny anecdotes and practical advice on not letting the pretentious aspects of Modern Parenting get you down.



Tollipop
Another fantastic blog by a talented and interesting illustrator.

$1 Summer Movies
AMC is hosting dollar shows all summer long to benefit charity. Lots of recent kid hits like Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, Alvin & The Chipmunks and Shrek The Third. I love matinee movies in the summer! You can't beat an air conditioned spot and a box of milk duds when getting to the pool sounds like too much work.



Memorial Day Quilt
Look at this beautiful quilt Scribbit posted about. Made by friends to commemorate the death of her young nephew. For materials, the friends used sections of his blankets and clothes and pajamas — even including tags occasionally as reminders of his ages and stages. What a gift!

Collapsible Reusable Grocery Bags

Part of being a Mother in 2008 means not being able to meet friends at the park without some discussion, minor or major, about reusable grocery bags. And I'm not even exaggerating at all. Grocery bags are a big topic. Huge.

So of course, my eyes are constantly peeled for the best bags to recommend. And it's true, I've already linked to several different types in previous posts. But today, I'm going to introduce two different versions that focus on the ability-to-become-small as one of their chief aspects.




First Baggu. It's a great website with great photography. So you should probably check it out just for that. The bags are sturdy, generously proportioned (they hold the equivalent of 2-3 grocery bags), they sit flat when they are filled, and they come in great colors.





Next, meet Flip & Tumble. Featuring another smart site with a little video that shows you how fast it is to collapse these bags — easy as balling a pair of socks.

Flip & Tumble bags are so small that it's a cinch to keep one with you all the time. And in a pinch, the ball will double as entertainment for your toddler.

Beaba

In one week, I heard about this little appliance from three of my best sources — leading me to understand the Beaba is one hot little number. All three mentioned that it was French. That is has been all the rage in Europe. And that it's just now available in the US. You know how I get that longing look in my eye for anything Euro-chic. . .

Why all the fuss? Because the Beaba is a multi-tasker. It steams. It blends. It warms. It defrosts. All in the same compartment. And it does it under 15 minutes. Enabling you to make healthy, fresh meals for baby without much trouble or mess.



I'm thinking this will make a perfect baby gift — especially for my friends who've already had a baby and still own all the traditional gear. Especially cute paired with this wholesome baby cookbook.

Laviva Home

Oh my. I'm pretty darn excited about this find — sent in by DM Reader Catherine C. It's called Laviva Home and it's a website started by the talented Laura Aviva who was formerly the Director of Creative Projects at Travel & Leisure. (Sidenote: doesn't that sound like a terrific title? I'm thinking it was probably a hard one to give up.)

She left the magazine about a year ago, and has used her knowledge of world travel to put together "curated, online trunk shows" of really beautiful items from around the world. The first show (the one that's currently on her site) is called "Textile." The next two are tentatively scheduled as "Object" and "Collective."



Laura is both the curator of these trunk shows and owner of the website. Her goal as she puts together the collection is to make sure each item “tells a story, reveals a history, and evokes a sense of place.” The first one features seven different kinds of beautiful textiles from a number of far-flung locales. Items like Turkish hammam towels (I can't guess how absorbent or practical these are, but they are gorgeous and I'm coveting them) and Mexican bedspreads (my sister Jordan has been craving one of these beauties for ages).



The website is simple and easy to peruse. The items are beautiful and reek of quality, purpose and exotic places. I think it would be wonderful to create a home where items like these would fit right in. A really delightful collection to browse and day dream about. I can't wait to see the next trunk show.

Memorial Day Weekend

Is it really truly already Wednesday? This week is going so fast, it's like a pretend week. Before it's done and gone, here's a quick report on our busy, happy weekend.

Friday night was a Father and Daughter Campout. Ben and Maude and Olive drove about an hour North to a lovely little campground at Whaley Lake. Betty will be old enough to join them next year. Campfire, s'mores, tents and canoes. A good time was had by all.

On Saturday, we met Ben and the girls at Benton Brook Farm. Twice a year the Darger Family (Benton Brook's proprietors) hosts pretty much everyone they know at their incredible farm in Massachusetts. It's an all day event with games and food and dancing and loveliness. This year, they added a charming little green tractor which spent hour after hour circling the farm and offering rides to the wee ones. A great day!



The great picture of Oscar at the farm was taken by Laura B. Speaking of Laura, my family didn't do anything formal to mark Memorial Day this year, but I loved reading about what Laura B did with her family.

Growing up, her family would spend this holiday bringing flowers to the graves of loved ones — not necessarily military people — just anyone they wanted to remember. Laura lives far from home now but wanted to give her children some of the same feelings she had on Memorial Day. The solution? Her husband looked up the gravesites of all sorts of famous people buried in the driveable New York area and they spent the day wandering through four different graveyards and leaving flowers in their wake.



Just a few of the graves they visited: Herman Melville, Miles Davis, Joseph Pulitzer, Rachmaninoff, Babe Ruth and Duke Ellington.

Wasn't that a fantastic idea? What a great excuse to get to know some out-of-the-way places. I fully intend to copy this idea next May — if I can wait that long.

Little Architecture

Andrea, a-former-West-Elm-designer-turned-jeweler, sent me the link to her Pico shop. The name of her line, Little Architecture, caught my eye. I checked it out and wasn't disappointed. Beautiful pieces — with clear architectural inspiration. I especially loved the bracelets. (I am all about bracelets these days.)

Apple Shift Dress

I would put Betty in a simple dress every single day of the summer. Like this cute little shift dress from Little Season's etsy shop. Apple-y delicious. A steal at $20.

Zeichen Press

The cards from Zeichen Press are smart and funny. The CD/DVD covers are beautiful. Apparently intelligence and beauty are not mutually exclusive. Letterpressed. Of course.

Winners — Method Cleaning Products

Another great Giveaway from another great sponsor. Congratulations to the 3 big winners:

-Shiloe who said, "This will help me with my belated Spring Cleaning."
-Kathryn who said, "Just even looking at the products makes me excited to see how they could brighten every room of my house!"
-Angela who said, "I luv Method!"

Happy Day to you lucky ladies! And thank you to the generous sponsor, Method Home.

Random Giveaway — Method Cleaning Products

Oh how I love pretty packaging. And pretty packaging of products designed to make your home prettier (and cleaner) are the loveliest of all. If you feel the same way, you'll be delighted to know that this Giveaway is an opportunity for Three Lucky Ladies to win huge, overflowing giftbags from Method Home!!

What's in the bag? I'll tell you. But first I have to tell you about the bag itself. It is awesome. The Method Reusable Market Tote. Silkscreened on the outside. Plain blue on the inside. And the whole things stuffs into its own inside pocket. Making for a tiny little pouch you can keep in your handbag. Plus, it's filled with even more swag than the partygoers received last night. Take a look:


Squeaky Green Book
Reusable Market Tote


Sea Minerals Hand Wash
Cucumber Dish Soap
French Lavender All Surface Cleaner


Lil' Bowl Blue Toilet Cleaner
Omop Wood Floor Care Kit


Method Kid Squeaky Green 3-in-1 Shampoo
Method Kid Squeaky Green Body Wash

Plus coupons. So you can try out more items from their so-much-more-extensive-than-I'd-imagined product line.

That's quite a bag full. If I say so myself. And really, it's yes sir, yes sir, three bags full. Because three of you will win identical enormous Method Goody Bags!! Here's how all the loot looks hanging out on my kitchen table:



These yummy products are bound to make a particularly dreary task bright and happy. Hooray for non-toxic products that are beautiful and smell good! Hooray for shiny clean houses! Happy commenting.

Thank you Method!

-------------

Random Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until midnight PST on Monday, May 26th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-The winner will be randomly picked and announced Tuesday morning.
-What are Random Giveaways? Read about them here.

Method Party

Best Thursday Night Ever. Can't wait to report. The event: I hosted a fantastic party at the Method pop-up shop in Soho. I can freely say it was fantastic, because I was responsible for nothing more than the guest list. And I should mention, the guests were the best part — a smart, hilarious and creative group of women from my neighborhood.



The highlight of the evening was refurbishing second-hand-store dishes into works of art. Our crafting leader for this project was the famous Danny Seo. Who kept us entertained and informed and happy. He is lovely. And clever. And patient. Danny has an empire of books and dvd's and magazine columns and tv appearances and I'm embarrassed that I didn't know more about him until last night. But he is some kind of creative genius and I have serious plans to stalk his blog forevermore. The most important thing you should know about Danny: he was named one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People magazine. Because he's a total hottie.

The basic instructions: we used sheets of computer sticker paper to draw a silhouette. In my case, an elephant, but there were all sorts of great ideas. Fish rounding the edges of the plate. A well-drawn initial. A beautiful moose. Then we adhered the sticker to the plate and covered the plate with some kind of made-for-ceramics paint. When it was dry, we peeled off the sticker and voila! there was our silhouette on our happy refurbished dinnerware. We were told to bake them for 20 minutes at 350º to make the paint permanent.

What a great project! I think this would be fun to do with my kids — I'm having visions of a cute set of dessert plates for the holidays.



The food was yummy. The company was yummier. And to make things even better, while the paint on our plates was drying, we discovered the Method photo booth. Designed to showcase cleaning confessions — our dirty little secrets.

There were lots of photo booth photos that had been left behind by past party goers. The one that made me laugh the most said: I like bacon more than friends. And I don't mop my floors. I had 3 thoughts when seeing that photo: 1) Totally. 2) I think I would be bff's with the subject of that photo. 3) She should totally check out kirtsy. It's like a bacon showcase over there.



After we photo-boothed to our hearts content, it was time to send us home with generous swag bags: reversible, reusable grocery totes filled with Method cleaning products and a super cool tee that says "Cleans Like A Mother." Fun, right? And then we headed out into the beautiful New York night without so much as emptying a garbage can. Can you beat that? Being the hostess of a great party with no responsibilities but showing up. Lovely.

Why a Method party? Because Method is super smart. They know the best way to showcase their products is to get them in the hands of real women. Which they did. And we can't wait to try out our goodies. I've been a Method Handsoap fan for ages, and I'm totally ready to branch out now and see how I like their other products.

The only regret: the shop is small and I could only invite so many people. But you know how I hate anything exclusive. Exclusive is sooo anti-social-media. So to help you take part in all the fun, how about I host a great big Method Giveaway? Watch for the forthcoming post. . .

Party Hats Hurrah! — Guest Mom Amy Sharp

I love finding wonderful birthday party ideas for the wee ones on the web. I often find moments of bliss here on Design Mom and other places like here, here and here.

I ran across an amazing idea today on this lovely blog — a Robin Hood party! How Charming!!! Here is a video tutorial on how to make the Robin Hood hats.

Imagine if we could harness all of the creativity and pizazz of all of these super awesome people...we could power the world!



And here's my sad little goodbye:

I have had a wonderful time here this week on Design Mom. I felt at home and welcomed by all of you. Gabby has such an amazing site and equally fabulous readers. (I am so jazzed about all of the new blogs I am discovering!) Merci! It was good to relish a bit on creativity this week as I think it is so important for our souls as mothers. We are the keepers and nourishment of our children's bliss...

Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

I encourage you to talk to other mothers about creativity and inspiration as we have so much to share with each another. Big kisses to you Gabby — you inspire us all!

As Ever, Amy

Books of the Week — Bob Gill

I love these books so much! And was delighted to find that Phaidon just reissued them. I think Bob Gill is a genius. He was a freelance illustrator in New York before he moved to London in 1960 — where he started a design firm that eventually became Pentagram(!). What a cool guy. I love that he has both Pentagram and awesome children's books on his resumé. Nice.

In A Balloon for A Blunderbuss a child starts with a butterfly and imagines what he could trade it for. A butterfly for a wishbone. A wishbone for a flag. A flag for a straw hat. A straw hat for a green umbrella. Until eventually he figures out a way to trade for everything-in-the-world.

In What Colour is Your World? there is a simple discussion of how different people view color. A gardener would see things in green. A milkman would see the world in white. And an artist might view color altogether differently.

The style and illustrations are perfection — authentically retro cool. These books would make great gifts for the children of any artsy parents you know.

Simple Art/Learning project for the summer — by Guest Mom Amy Sharp

A really simple project Finn and I worked on recently was to make a feeling/emotion wheel.

We took two pieces of cardstock, no actually we cut two identical circles from our cereal box and used the blank sides. I used my xacto knife (don't ya just love any excuse to get it out?) to cut a two inch square on the top circle near the edge. We then attached the circles together with a paper fastener or a fancy brad if your a scrapper.

We marked with pencil several squares as We turned the top circle and then took the circles apart to fill the squares with photo feelings. Finn choose the feelings and on that particular day they were nervous, happy, loving, angry, peaceful, and junky.

We took photos of him acting out these feelings and printed them out and pasted them on our squares. The whole project was quick and really rewarding as we talked a lot together about emotions.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a wheel attached to our faces? It would be great to just adjust an attitude by a simple turning motion near the ear and jaw bone. Even if it couldn't change your mood, it could announce to the world the real way you're feeling. :)

I like this wheel template for learning colors, letters, weather, words, and just about anything for any age. I plan on using it for our garden lessons by having Finn learn plants and vegetables! What would you make with the wheel?

If you like the idea of talking about your feelings you can always buy one of these bad boys. I love these Kimochi Emotion Dolls. I know they are pricey but how much are those darn American Girl Dolls? These sweet weirdos spark real conversations I think. Cool!

Back to Business

I'm back from another great trip to Houston. Fun fact: did you know Houston has just bypassed Chicago as the third largest city in America (following NYC and LA, of course)? And did you also know that it is really hard not to eat really well in Houston? Excellent restaurants are plentiful and you would have to go out of your way to find a poor meal.

One of the trip highlights was an inspiring evening spent with the kirtsy girls, Jenny, Brené, Ellen, Lucy and Katherine. What a group! Encouragement and enlightenment all around. No one wanted the evening to end. Plus Jenny was wearing a gorgeous gerbera daisy in her cleavage, so that made for a happy place for me to rest my eyes.

Another highlight: Laura arranged for Laurie and I to stay at The Modern. A bed and breakfast housed in a fantastically cool building. It's lovely. And hip. And chic. So chic that Dwell Magazine named it one of 16 Hip Hotels in America. You should totally stay there. And eat their super yummy organic breakfast — which included the most delicious scones I've ever tasted.



And while we're talking about cool places where you can stay, I'll mention that I've got a comprehensive post on playtents up at Cookie's Nesting blog today. Check it.

Grow Them Well — by Guest Mom Amy Sharp

There is something amazing about the introduction of summer. The knowledge that is is right around the corner is enough to make us purr. The sunshine rubbing all over me last weekend reminded me of how very special this summer will be. My son is old enough this summer to really invest in summertime, but I am old enough to be tempted to stay inside in the air conditioning if I don't let the inspiration flow.

My family is working on a garden this spring/summer and it is proving to be very exciting to learn to tend the earth. I started off here at you grow girl and here at kids gardening to learn some basics and soon found that gardening can be so addictive.



We are working on the garden as a whole concept. We planned, shopped, started seeds, planted, and now are tending as a family. We have started to journal daily about our garden and plan to run to the garden before breakfast in our pajamas. We pray it goes as well as it sounds in our minds :)

There are so many activites and lessons that go along with summer and gardening. Check out these books and even if you live in the city and have no land to dig- there are books like this to help you catch the gardening spirit.



Wondertime has a great article on gardening and kids and the awesome Artful Parent blog has a lovely interview with Sharon Lovejoy on Gardening with Children.

Simple or elaborate, you can learn a lot this summer if you dig together in the dirt. Teaching your children to respect the earth and care for mother nature is a fabulous gift. Follow your bliss this shining summer!



And speaking of all this...mama likes:
this and this and this and this and this.

Creative Spaces — by Guest Mom Amy Sharp

I love when Cookie and Wondertime magazines show us the little reading nooks of readers. I daily browse OhDeeDoh to see what innovative and gorgeous kid rooms they will post. I love seeing creative spaces for others. Kids rooms and homes that are family centered make me happy. I love day dreaming of having this or this for my kids.

I think kids need spaces, places of their own. Where do your kids go to read or create or find peace? Do they build forts of blankets or sit inside these charming tents? Would they chill in this?

I know that if my family asked me to create a special space for me, a small room or nook of my own...I would have this light hanging above my head and I would probably be perched on one of these reading this!

It is fun to dream!

Great Art Supplies — by Guest Mom Amy Sharp

Need some supplies to get you started on your Artsy Fartsy Summer? Here are a few inspiring picks:

Modern Kids Twist Crayons
Funky Brushes
Stockmar Crayons
Finger Paint

Create An Artsy Fartsy Summer for your Family! — by Guest Mom Amy Sharp

Some sample art projects I've done with my kids.

Virginia Woolf said, "Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe to order."

Art is a natural tool for teaching. Children are open and creative without effort and adding art into their life can only increase and stimulate their young brains — and work on matter of fact parameters like hand eye coordination and motor skills. Art rules! Come on, even if you worry that you are no artist, you must still love to color. You must still love that fresh new marker from a box?

This summer why not plan a great art camp experience for your child at home? And in this beautiful blogosphere there is no need to re-invent the wheel. I have been checking out some amazing blogs and all of the cool ideas they have for us:

Camp Creek blog is a stellar site that revolves around the authentic art education of a family. Check out the great lists and tips for creating art at home!

Courtney over at Two Straight Lines is super artsy and gives us creative crafts and tutorials! You might have seen her in Wondertime Magazine!

The Crafty Crow is an organized and lovely spot to go and find tons of art projects!

Book Hour Craft Projects provides beautiful craft tutorials.

There are so many wonderful sites out there for ideas. A great choice for an art scaredy cat parent is to hook up with another parent and host a mini-camp-like-experience this summer. I am working on one at my blog and am going to join other folks in my town to virtually create a great summer experience for my boys.

Just remember that young children don't know that you "can't" draw. They just know that you are spending time with them, they just know they are having fun with you! Get out your Crayolas and explore! Grab a sketch book and hit the zoo! Have a colorful summer together!

Inspire Yourself — by Guest Mom Amy Sharp

I try and live a wonder filled life. I try and stay true to my artist soul. My family typically creates something each day together. It may be an art project, a poem, or a cake, but we try and use the spark daily. I think the spark is the magic in your day, the energy that can make a bad day good, or a hard day easier.

Before I share a lot of specific projects or ideas that I have for parents and children, I would love to think about inspiration. People email me and ask me how I think of cool art projects and educational lessons and I always reply that I read and I look each day. I am rarely doing anything revolutionary, simply filtering all the amazing inspiration that is out there through my life.

I like to go to this site and dream about mood boards, which can help you come up with magical ideas! The flickr pool for inspiration boards is amazing and I dare you to not start your wheels a turning while looking. I go to the library weekly and check out tons of activity, art, craft, and lesson planning books like these:
Under Chinaberry Tree
Ginger Carlson
Making Stuff Kids

I keep a basket under my desk of ideas and future wishes and dreams. I tear out magazine articles or scribble ideas and tuck them in there for safe keeping. You cannot do it all at once, but in a year you can do a lot with your child!

I love to browse the web for lovely things to kindle the wonder. I love to go to flickr pages like this one and browse, and flickr is so cool as you can just type in a word like a color or an emotion and just swoon. I love to go to youtube and listen to music from my past as it always makes me feel delirious with passion and ready to tackle a new day.

And then there are the blogs! It is at times too much to think about all of the creative buzz that is flowing round this web. I love to visit my favorite blogs daily and soak up the eye candy and wisdom. I love how I feel when I read my favorite blogs, or discover a new fabulous blog. I feel energized. I feel full of possibility.

Each day is filled with the must do's of life. We must work, run errands, care for others, cook, clean, pay bills, and so on...Why not make creativity a must do for your day too? We are all creative and capable of fostering a sense of wonder in our lives. We must not be afraid to play and learn with our children. We must not be afraid to take the time we need to nourish our souls first. Fill your mind and soul with inspiration and watch it run over into all the parts of your life.

What do you do daily to inspire yourself and your family?

photos from flickr that are lovely/inspire me:
one two three four five

Welcome to Amy!!

About Me: I am the proud and wild mama to two wee ones, Finn and Blaise and doting wife to Joseph the carpenter. I am a part time freelance writer and full-time mom in Ohio. I left my career in education last summer to stay home with my children. I am loving the freedom in schooling my children and blogging daily at www.doobleh-vay.blogspot.com. My master carpenter British hubby and I rehab and flip houses and also make cool wooden toys in our spare time that we sell on etsy.

I salivate over beautiful things at Cookie Magazine, Three Potato Four, kirtsy, Little Red Caboose, Pedlars, Enfant Terrible Shop, Sieben Morgen, and Design Within Reach to just name a few.

I really love living a creative life with my family and strive each day to have an experience with my children that fills their mind with wonder. Blogging has given me so very much and the amazing connections I have made are astounding. I am so very much in love with the blogosphere and am honored to be hosting here in sacred space!

Likes: power tools, radishes, clavicles, spoonerisms, and chicken korma

Dislikes: lines, math, George Bush, and sharing milk based products

I want to have an essay on NPR someday

I used to live in Europe and Joe and I used to travel the world. Not so much anymore. Now we just drink bottled beer and make out in our carport, but life is full and life is good. I hope to share with you some creative ideas for kids and summer time this week. I also want to show you pretty things! :)

Three Things

1) I'm heading to The Stationery Show with Jordan this morning. I am soooo looking forward to this. The Stationery Show could easily be my favorite trade show of the year. It's big but not too big. And it's oh so inspiring. This visit will be even more fun because I'll be with Jordan. Yay! I'm sure I'll have lots of pretty things to share after our little outing. I can't wait to report.

2) The Stationery Show alone is going to make for a pretty terrific Monday. But happily, the fun doesn't end there. While I'm at the show, I'll be using Blogger's new future-post feature to publish a lovely introduction to this week's Guest Mom: Amy Sharp.

Amy is a wonderful person to know virtually. And although I haven't met her in person, I'm betting she's pretty fantastic in real life as well. You are going to love her posts this week! I've had a sneak peak of 3 of them and they make me adore her even more. I was originally introduced to Amy through her fantastic blog Doobleh Vay and through her fine editorial work at kirtsy. I'm so glad you'll get to know her too! She's written up a darling little intro. And if all goes well. It should post all by itself in another hour.



3) It's especially good that we have Amy with us this week. Because I'll be partially absent. I'm heading to Houston this evening for more exciting kirtsy meetings. Kirtsy meetings = spending time with Laurie and Laura = laughing really hard while simultaneously working really hard = happy Gabrielle. This is my third trip to Houston since December. I'm thinking I should just get an apartment there, right? I'll be back on Wednesday.

Enjoy Amy's posts! I'll do my best to twitter some updates from my cellphone while I travel — you can see the updates in my sidebar. (What's twitter? How do I even explain. It's somewhere between i/m-ing and blogging. And I was totally peer-pressured into trying it — thankfully. Because it's awesome. And you should be twittering to. Come on. Try it. One time won't hurt.)

Mini Bento Boxes

I've posted about Bento Boxes before — I am completely enamored with them. Besides being absolutely charming, they are a good-looking and practical lunch box option if you're trying to go plastic bag-less.

But I've never seen any this small before. Perfect for a snack or a small appetite. And I love the colors!

found on kirtsy

Organize Magazine

The latest issue of Organize Magazine arrived in my mailbox yesterday. Awesome! I know what I'll be reading in bed tonight — while Ben Blair is in the wilds of New York with Ralph and Oscar on a Father/Son campout. (Reading about organizing things on Friday night is hot! Super hot!)

If you are as turned on by straight lines and tidy linen cupboards as I am, you should totally be subscribing to this magazine. It is like magic.

In the last issue, there was an article listing the Flylady's 11 Commandments. Here's the number one: Get dressed every morning even if don't feel like it. Don't forget your lace-up shoes. (Putting on shoes puts you in a frame of mind to work, and if they're lace-up, you can't kick them off easily.)

I realize this is a simple idea, but it had never occurred to me before. I tried it. And it totally works! I tell you. This magazine is magic.

Nesting

Starting yesterday, I'm an official contributor to Cookie Magazine's Nesting blog. I'm very excited about this. My first post went up here. To start, expect to see my contributions there on Thursdays — only you may not know it's me. Why? Because (despite the fact that I have never met them) the team of editor's behind the Nesting blog are so unified, that we write with a collective "we" instead of an I. Solid.

Hello Moses!

Jordan and Paul — and baby Moses(!) — just arrived this morning. Moses is adorable. I'm going to go pull out the exersaucer so that he'll have a throne where we can worship him.

They were on a red-eye and are catching up on sleep now. But I can't wait to hang out — I don't think I've seen Jordan and Paul for over a year!

Mod Mom Furniture

I exchanged emails with the super-cool Kiersten of Mod Mom Furniture a year or so ago and her fabulous wares have been on my must-blog-about-list since then, and somehow I just haven't managed to make it happen. So I need to apologize to you, dear readers, because I hate to think I hadn't shared such a fantastic find with you earlier.

Kiersten is the real deal. She sits in her old garage, surrounded by powertools, and she designs then builds gorgeous furniture. Because she's fearless like that. Each piece is hand built by Kiersten using eco-friendly birch plywood, non-toxic finishes, and slow-closing lid support.

The Bertie Box is my favorite — what a perfect addition to the play room!

Betty's Birthday Report

What is it like to be the youngest of five? Just ask Betty. Who turned two last Friday and who's elaborate celebration involved having the cousins over for creamsicle floats (creamsicle floats = vanilla ice cream + clementine Izze — delicious!). There wasn't even a cake. I pulled out a frozen waffle (with whip cream and sprinkles to make it a bit more festive) just to have a place to put the candle. Let's call it creative instead of bad parenting.

But really, I don't feel bad. Betty is adored by her siblings and parents and cousins and neighbors. And she couldn't have been happier with her very simple get together. Speaking of happy, looking for a perfect two-year-old gift? This card from Grandma was a runaway hit!


It comes flat in an envelope.


Then pops up into this colorful masterpiece.


The candles come out to form a little card that can be signed.

I can not exaggerate the amount of playtime this sturdy little paper cake has filled. It was studied and admired by the big kids too. Made by Hallmark.



Betty's other birthday treasures: a little wooden hand drum that she loves — thanks cousins! And a cute little skirt (plus accessories) in one of my favorite prints from the now retired Sophie & Lili line.

I do love big celebrations. But I also love that when necessary, my kids are just as happy with a simple get together and a cute birthday card. Yay for two year olds! Yay for Betty!

Fine Dining Disney Style

Last Wednesday I was invited to attend a dinner at the James Beard House. I am kind of an idiot. And had never heard of James Beard. Or his home. And just figured it was the name of a restaurant. And then I arrived at the Village address, walked into the brownstone and realized it was in fact a home. The former home of James Beard. Still very homelike.

From what I could gather from the other attendees, James Beard was the first real voice to say: Hey! American Chefs and American Cooking should be great and celebrated. And now there is a foundation that bears his name and give awards to the best American Chefs each year. In fact, I was told receiving a James Beard award is like getting an Oscar for cooking. So that's James Beard.

Now back to his house. After his death, the foundation made the brilliant decision to use his home for special meals. If I understand correctly, great American chefs (from all over the country) are invited to come to the James Beard House to show off their mad kitchen skillz. And then an assortment of press and foodies and such are seated throughout the main floor of the house and get to enjoy the meal. Very cool. I can't believe how enamored I am with the image of all these amazing chefs coming to the same small kitchen to prepare their best recipes. Lovely.



But enough with James Beard. Let's talk about the meal I attended — cooked by the superstar chefs from Disneyland and Disneyworld. I should clarify right up front that I was not worthy of this meal (no one that shows up at the James Beard House with no knowledge of James Beard could be worthy of the gourmet-ness of this feast).

There were 6 courses. Each one prepared by a different chef from Disney's signature restaurants. And each course with a distinct style:

Hors d'oeuvres by Chef Gloria Tae of Golden Vine Winery at California Adventure. There were 3 different kinds. I liked the Shrimp and Sweet Pea Tartine with Candied Garlic and Lemon Relish the best.

First Course by Chef Jens Dahlmann of California Grill at Contemporary Resort. Did you know asparagus comes in white and can be whipped to the texture of mashed potatoes only about a thousand times lighter? Yummy.

Second Course by Chef Tim Keating of Flying Fish Cafe at BoardWalk Resort. I have to spell this one out because it was my particular favorite — Fennel Pollen-dusted Wild North Atlantic Turbot with Maine Lobster, Celery Root, Leeks, and Fennel with Tahitian Vanilla-Hazelnut Emulsion and Montegottero Hazelnut Oil. It was so, so yummy. I had to use all my willpower not to lick the plate.

Third Course by Chef Andrew Sutton of Napa Rose at Grand Californian Resort & Spa. He served sonoma duck with roasted baby vegetables. This was my first duck. (Weird that I hadn't tried duck before, no?) It was amazing. And I wanted to sneak some into my purse so that I could share with Ben.

Fourth Course by Chef Scott Hunnel of Victoria & Alpert's at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This was a veal tenderloin with golden tomatoes and garlics roots and shoots. And I should note here that these 6 courses were not tasting courses — these were full, generous servings. So you can imagine by the time the gorgeous and delicious tenderloin arrived that I was realizing I should have paced myself earlier on. Because it was so flavorful, and satisfying, and I hated to leave even one bite on my plate.

Dessert by Master Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek of Grand Floridian. What can I say? There was cream. There was bittersweet chocolate. There was sorbet. There was caramel-chocolates with sea salt. And more. And even more. And I loved every spoonful.



For those of you who grew up eating nothing but churros and fast food hamburgers at Disney Parks (like me), it might be kind of a revelation that there are 5-star dining options at Disney complete with celebrated Chefs. But there are. And there are lots of them — there's even a Zagat guide dedicated solely to Disney restaurants. If you want to try them (and you should so try them), I recommend calling ahead early for a reservation. Because these restaurants are hot. And fill up fast.



Anyway. The meal was such a treat. Treat as in yummy and treat as in a cool experience. I was seated with wonderful people — seated in the very spot where James Beard kept his bed. (And yes, there were mirrors on the ceiling over the bed area. Not kidding.). The conversation was great. I was able to meet the Chefs and compliment their work. And I was sent home with a gorgeous Disney cookbook. What more could I ask for?

DB Clay Wallets

I have vowed to get a head start on Fathers Day this year. I'm eyeing these gorgeous screen-printed wallets by DB Clay. They look so interesting and masculine and not at all boring. My very favorite is the Time To Swim.

Plus, they're made from an eco-friendly synthetic (instead of leather) called tope. What is tope? I'll let DB Clay explain: Tope is a specialized and sleek material that we've custom engineered specifically for constructing artfully printed wallets. Tope not only improves the look and functionality of our wallets but also reduces db clay's ecological footprint by using environmentally friendly manufacturing solutions. Tope is strong. Tope is durable. Tope is heat and cold resistant. Tope is smooth textured. Tope is water resistant. Tope is robust. Tope is eco friendly and our material of choice for producing Version 3 and Version 3.1 wallets- the only product of their kind in the world.

Don't you feel like pulling out a wallet like this would help your wears-a-tie-everyday-husband feel like he's pretty cutting edge? Like maybe he drives a Harley. Or owns tech stock. Or is kind of a skater. (I've always had a thing for skaters.)

Wallet version 3.1 just came out. Twelve very cool options. And you can own one first. At a hefty discount no less — type in dmom30x and you'll get 30% off your order!! Feel free to spread the word. This isn't just a Design Mom exclusive — anyone can take advantage of this awesome deal.

Growth Chart

How cute is this growth chart kit? It's a 4 foot long jute piece, mounted on wooden dowels and hung with a red ribbon. Twenty tags are included (ten in red, ten in manila) with space to mark your child's name, age, and date of measurement. The little muslin bag is full of large safety pins to attach the tags.

My favorite part: it comes in an heirloom wooden box. I love the textures in the kit — the jute, the ribbon, the pins, the muslin, the paper — I just want to touch every little bit. And I love that someone thought to create it! Genius.

spotted on petit elefant

Goodbye Curls

The real sign that warm weather has arrived is Ralph asking for a haircut. This is the longest he's ever grown his hair — and I think it looked great! But he looks great no matter what. He's just a handsome kid.




The haircut was a family affair. Ben did the actual snipping. All the kids watched and teased and fetched combs and spray bottles and whatever else was needed.

Tree Free Wrapping Paper

Don't these look gorgeous? They're sheets of wrapping paper made out of cotton textile remnants from garment factories. You can buy them at Soolip — and there are about 100 patterns available. I'm thinking they're too pretty to actually use as wrapping.

I spotted these on kirtsy.

Say Hello to Kirtsy!!

I've got some news. Unless you're very new to Design Mom, you probably already know I started another website called sk*rt with two amazing partners. Sk*rt was modeled on a site called Digg and is a place where anyone can share any cool link they find online. It's been up and running for less than a year but is already a pretty darn popular site. I love it. I find cool things on it everyday. And I hope you do to.

That said, we're changing the name. And it happens today. Why? Well, it's because of some unseemly internet drama. The 411: A company with a similar name sued us a few months ago over the domain name. We won. Which didn't surprise us, but apparently surprised them — because now they're back again with an even more massive lawsuit. So. We're changing our name. We have decided to move on. Why fight an enormous corporation with deep pockets and a penchant for sueing tiny companies? And. We don’t believe in skirts fighting. The end.

Which means: we've been working our sk*rts off over the last weeks, and we now have a new name, a new location, and a whole new even more awesome energy!

Sk*rt is now kirtsy.

And I have a favor to ask. I need your help to get the word out, so that no one gets lost and no one gets left behind. Here’s what you can do. You have a number of options. And you can do any and all of the following:

1. Replace your old sk*rt badges with one of these bad boys. Here they are! And go crazy! Feel free to add one even if you didn’t have a sk*rt badge before. Kirtsy badges are the new chartreuse. Which is totally huge.

2. Also, please feel very free to write about it on your blog, or twitter, or facebook, or comment about it wherever you comment, or send out an email, or put up flyers on poles, or chalk it on sidewalks, or do an interpretive dance, or whatever it is that you do, and help us get the word out about the change.

3. Finally, tell anyone you know about kirtsy. And then tell anyone you know who knows people to tell them too. We’ve always said, the more brilliant minds, the better the site. And we don’t want to lose any of those brilliant minds along the way.

To thank you for your help, we've put together a huge contest. If you do any of the above. Let us know about it. In the comments on the kirtsy contest blog post. Or in the comments on the kirtsy entry. Or send us an email at changerocks@kirtsy.com. And you will be entered to win this ginormous Make That Change prize worth over $1,000.

One lucky kirtsy champion will win all of these cool things:

-14 Books from Hachette Book Group
The fantastic Hachette Book Group has published a kabillion great books. And you could win 14 of them.

-A Lands’ End $100 Gift Certificate to buy your new favorite swimsuit.
Lands’ End is known as the long-time go-to spot for the quality and variety (and the best-made swimsuits around). Seriously, a ton of super cute options. How will you chose?

-A Sony DVDirect.
Wow. This is incredible. A quick and easy way to get your home movies and digital pictures to DVD. Very nice. And it can playback on Blu-ray Discs too. For extreme high definition detail of your oh so professional shots.

-An Affirmagy blanket.
We think the Peace blanket is our mantra right now.

-3 cool techy items from Spoon Sisters
A Driinn, the Take Charge, and the ID Pilot Labels. How useful are these products? How cool is this site?

-8 rolls of super cute giftwrap from Hallmark.
And it’s not just giftwrap — it’s adhesive wrap. Brilliant!! If you can operate a sticky note, you can wrap like a professional wrapper of wrappings. You’ll be fancy like that.

-Ten Cases of water from Primo Water.
Primo is the first nationally available bottled water whose bottle is made from plants, not crude oil! A bottle that’s friendly to the environment. What a concept! We love them.

-And finally, a registration to the July BlogHer conference in San Francisco OR a Blogher Reach conference of the winner’s choice. From YouData… a new company that is so freaking smart and fantastic, and you’ll hear much more about them sooner than later. Watch for it. That’s right, this means one lucky winner will be attending a Blogher Conference for FREE. Thanks, YouData!!!

That’s right, kirtsy is having a giant contest with over $1,000 in prizes just for spreading the word and leaving a comment. Easy. Peasy.

And most of all. Thank you for reading Design Mom. And for taking an interest when I post about kirtsy.

kisses, Gabrielle

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway Recap

The Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway Week is officially closed. I'll announce the final winners — and put winners in touch with sponsors — this evening.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Mothers Day Giveaway week — the clever commenters! (Over the course of the week there were 13,155(!) Giveaway comments) The generous sponsors! The beautiful products! I hope everyone felt as celebratory as I did about the whole thing.

In other news: I have a million blog posts I want to write. Betty turned 2 on Friday (can we still call her Baby Betty?) with celebrations happening on Sunday. Then there was Mothers Day — I slept in till 9:30 in the morning — the best gift ever. Plus there were Giveaways to attend to. And a little tiny thing called a major website relaunch for the newly named kirtsy (more on that in the next post).

I can't wait to report with a little more detail about the lovely gift from Ben (it rhymes with muperhero mecklace). And about a super cool dinner I went to at the James Beard House last Wednesday. I plan to fill you in on everything just as soon as I've wrapped up the Giveaway loose ends tonight.

In the meantime, Happy Monday!

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #17 — Breakfast in Bed from Williams-Sonoma

[ Congratulations to Mae who said, "I would love a breakfast in bed that was a little more than soggy cereal and a bruised banana. (Although that's nice too!)" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Here it is. You've been waiting for it so patiently. The final Mother's Day Giveaway. The finale. The big caboose. (Is that a term?) And as you might expect. It rocks. This Giveaway is worth the wait x 10. Get your comments in now for a super deluxe prize package from the finest kitchen supply store around: Williams-Sonoma.

When I say "super-deluxe" I'm not even kidding. The prize features four items — everything you need for the perfect Mothers Day breakfast in bed. Take a look at the goods:

1) The Breville Electric Citrus Press.
It's sleek. It's powerful. And it works on all of your favorite citrus. From tiny limes to ginormous grapefruits. All you have to do is press down on the handle, and ba-da-boom, the motor starts up and does its thing. Like more pulp? Like less pulp? Either way, you're in luck. Because the Breville comes with two stainless-steel strainer baskets allowing you to adjust the amount of pulp in your juice. Easy clean-up — all removable parts are dishwasher safe. Retails for $169.95.

2) Set of Three Monogrammed Bud Vases.
Charming. Personalized. Hand blown in Poland. You know you want these three little luxuries. Each one has its own unique shape — they look pretty displayed together. Pretty on their own. And they'll add just the right touch to your breakfast tray. Retails for $39.00.

3) Plain & Chocolate Croissants Assortment.
This is not a recipe. This is not a baking mix. This is 30 gorgeous and delicious croissants. Made by pastry chef Jean-Yves Charon in the traditional French style, using butter and ultrathin layers of dough. And butter. Half are chocolate croissants — filled with premium Callebaut chocolate. The other half are un-chocolate (read: plain). Preparation is simple: Thaw. Let rise overnight. Bake to a warm, flaky perfection. Ummm. Yes, please. Retails for $72.00.

4) Cuisinart 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker.
Confession. The whole coffee culture is completely unknown to me. So I won't pretend to understand all the fine qualities of this beautiful machine and will instead give you the lovely description straight from the WS site: "Equally suitable for elegant entertaining or everyday breakfast service, this programmable coffeemaker lets you set a brewing cycle up to 24 hours in advance. It’s equipped with a generous 12-cup, 60 fl.-oz. glass carafe for large gatherings, but also features a special cycle for brewing one to four cups when you don’t need a full pot. The attractive design features a stainless-steel control panel." Sounds good, no? Retails for $59.95.

Is it just me, or is this the perfect Giveaway to end with? Four great items from a company that stocks only the best. Williams-Sonoma is the kind of store that even non-foodies are tempted by. It's just such a pleasant place to be. The displays are charming. The packaging is well-designed. The quality is unmatched.

One of my favorite parts about shopping at Williams-Sonoma is the knowledge of their legendary satisfaction guarantee. If you're not pleased with a Williams-Sonoma gift, they will happily exchange it for a product you'd prefer. But honestly, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be pleased with a Williams-Sonoma gift.

Thank you Williams-Sonoma!

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 1:00 PM EST on Monday, May 12th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Monday night.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #16 — $200 Worth of Goods from Paper and Ink

[ Congratulations to Cecily who said, "I love it choose me!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

It's the second to last Giveaway. If you come upon this post over the weekend, it's so going to make your day. Like for reals. This Giveaway features one of the favorite items we discuss around here: pretty paper. With your name on it. The winner will receive $200 worth of paper goods. From the hip shop Paper & Ink Studio.




The prize includes 75 Flat Notecards — personalized with your name — and accompanied by 75 hand-lined envelopes. Size: A2 (5.5"x4.25"). Printed on velvet texture 80 pound cardstock, with rounded corners. Strawberry envelopes hand-lined with a pretty pink floral pattern. Oh my. Hand-lined envelopes always make me swoon.



Additionally, the winner will receive 100 Call Me Cards — personalized with her name and info. Available in lots of good-looking designs. And won't you feel all special when someone asks for your email address and you whip out one of these?




What is it about pretty paper anyway? I'm sure it has something to do with how good a heavy, elegant, paper stock feels in your hand after an afternoon of email and internet. You just can't beat a hand-written note or a pretty little calling card. Mary Carstens, the designer behind Paper & Ink Studio, sure knows how to keep paper simple and chic and really elegant.

Thank you Paper & Ink!

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 1:00 PM EST on Monday, May 12th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Monday night.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #15 — 12 x 12 Print from MeArt

[ Congratulations to debbie and ori who said, "i love this!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Giveaway #15 is all about artwork. Artwork that you get to participate in. That you get to help create. The winner of Giveaway #15 will receive a ready-to-frame masterpiece, valued at $285, from Me Art! This is how it works:




Me Art turns your photographs into artwork. Find a favorite photo of your baby, your friend, even your pet. Choose from Me Art's list of styles, and then you can even personalize the artwork with a sentiment or name. Me Art is available in several size options, but the winner of this Giveaway will receive a 12 x 12 Me Art — a single image with personalization in the style of your choice. Retail value: $285.




The image will be produced as a Giclée print on premium artist grade canvas. It will be stretched on 1 ½” heavy duty stretcher bars, ready to hang. If you prefer, you can redeem the $285 for a higher priced item. What a fun way to display a favorite image.

Thank you Me Art!

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 1:00 PM EST on Monday, May 12th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Monday night.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #14 — Necklace and Earrings from Darleen Meier

[ Congratulations to Amira who said, "how very nice!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

It's Friday. The last day of Mothers Day Giveaway Week at Design Mom. I've got four Giveaways to post! The first being jewelry. Really pretty jewelry from Darleen Meier. I'm going to show you three different combinations of necklace and earrings. You'll want to study them well. Because the winner gets to pick her favorite combo!!



First up: Edith. The earrings are clusters of semi-precious stones which hang above sterling silver rings. The necklace is a coin-shaped pearl that hangs from a cubic zircon. Isn't that pearl just stunning?



Next, let me introduce you to: Regan. The earrings are made out of brushed vermeil, moss aquamarine and rough pearl stone. The necklace is made with a free-forming brushed vermeil, gold-filled chain and a cluster of semi-precious stones. How funky cool is the big gold shape on the necklace? Love it!



Third, take a look at: Kayla. earrings are made with twisted gold-filled wire that are coiled in the form of a flower. Apatite briolette. Charm necklace has a gold-filled round disc, leaflet, natural zircon briolette and pearl. Those earrings are too delicate to be real. So pretty.

Isn't this a great Giveaway? I love when there's a choice. I start imagining which one I'd pick. What I'd wear it with. How it would sparkle on my neck line. And I love Darleen Meier's style. I think it's fabulous that she names her designs after family and friends. I'll bet I would like "Edith" in real life — because I sure like the jewelry that was named after her.

When you visit her site, don't miss her baby jewelry. Really beautiful stuff. My favorite is the little, tiny, Lexie bracelet.

Thank you Darleen Meier!

-------------

Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 1:00 PM EST on Monday, May 12th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Monday night.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Wonderful Mother Week

Hello Friday! I've got four more amazing Giveaways for you today. I'll be posting them this evening. And they'll be available to enter all weekend. Because it's Mothers Day on Sunday. And you deserve pretty things! In the meantime, feel free to enter Thursday's Giveaways.

Also. You could go visit Nie Nie's blog — today I was lucky enough to participate in a week celebrating Motherhood by sharing some of my thoughts on the subject on her fantastic site.

And. Since you can't be expected to make it through the afternoon without more Giveaways, you should definitely stop by Crabmommy's blog to partake in some hedgehoggy freebie goodness.

What a great week for blogging!

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #13 — Three Bags from Aster + Sage

[ Congratulations to Becky who said, "LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Since gone are the diaper bag days, what a way to spice up my own "haul-around"! I hope I win, then I don't have to add to my mom's day would-love list!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

And now it's Thursday night. Which means I should probably be watching 30 Rock. Which is currently the funniest show on television. But I promised to get up one more Giveaway today. And I couldn't get it posted until right this minute, because there was a fancy pantsy dance recital for my Olive this evening. For the record, dance recitals always beat out Giveaways.

But this Giveaway is totally worth the wait. And even though I'm posting it so late, you'll still get a full 24-hours to enter. For the record, you will so want to enter this Giveaway. Because there are three fantastic items up for grabs from one of my very favorite accessory lines Aster + Sage! Here's all the yummy details:



One lucky lady will receive the Charlotte tote bag — in any of the 3 great colors. It's giant and canvas and totally stylish. Perfect for holding the contents of your entire household as you head out the door this summer. You should also know that the Charlotte stands upright so it's easy to fill and wipes clean in a jiffy. For the record, Linda Yesline, the mother who designs the Aster + Sage line, uses it ALL the time.



Plus, the winner will also take home the super cool Carolyn makeup bag. Available in six up-to-date color combinations and sized exactly right. For the record, if you're not using a good-looking make-up bag, it might be time to upgrade. A great bag makes the whole make-up experience much more enjoyable.



And. Just to top things off and make this an extra-awesome Giveaway, the winner will receive the Angie phone/ipod case as well! It has an outer pocket, a cute dog-leash style strap, and it's large enough to fit a blackberry. For the record, it's so cute that you'll look for excuses to pull your phone/ipod out of your bag — just to show off your Angie case.

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you probably already know I'm a big fan of Aster + Sage. I love the style behind the line. I love the philosophy. I loved meeting Linda at the Gift Show and seeing her darling baby. For the record, Aster + Sage rocks!!

Thank you Aster + Sage!

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 10:00 PM EST on Friday, May 9th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Friday night.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #12 — Goodies from The Farm Chicks

[ Congratulations to Emily who said, "The giveaways just keep getting better and better!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Holy cow. We've already arrived at Giveaway #12. You will love Giveaway #12. It's a multi-goody sort of prize. A big sort of prize. And it's sponsored by the home grown, super stylish Farm Chicks. Here's what you could win:



1) Two Pendants. Your choice. Any two.
Made from vintage wallpapers, vintage sheet music, and vintage lettering. They come on an extra-long chain that can be easily trimmed to your preferred length. I love how they look in bunches. But there's more:



2) Two Grocery Bags in Canvas. One green. One red.
Because you know you'll use these in a thousand ways. And how cute are those polka dots anyway? And still, there's more:



3) Retro Recipe Cards & Shopping List.
A set of 20 "Good Eats" recipe cards. So darling that your recipes are sure to taste better, plus a magnetic shopping list — and I live for lists.

Hello fun stuff! Won't you feel all farm-fresh and spring-like when these goodies arrive on your doorstep. Yay for homegrown style!

Thank you to The Farm Chicks.

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 3:30 PM EST on Friday, May 9th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Friday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

I HEART HEDGEHOGS: PART DEUX — by Guest Mom Amanda/Crabmommy

As you gals know from part one, Crabmommy loves me a hedgehog, be it scampering across vintage fabric or balancing an apple on its nose in ponytail holders or what-have-you. Yes, indeedy, I like a small critter with a delicate snout and a prickly disposition. Reminds me of myself.

Once you go on the trail of sweet hedgies in kiddie design, people, the treasures just keep popping out of the woods. For example, check out this gorgeous three-color woodcut print on cotton, by Japanese artist Maho Satoh-Britt:



We are told it features two hedgehog brothers. "Goro rolls himself into a ball like a baby fern and Tattaka rolls him down a gentle hill." Love it. And it comes in right at my choice range of price: $12. Twelve puny ones for original artwork, people! If that's not a deal come poke me with a stick. Get it, frame it, stick it on your kid's wall (or on your own) and call yourself a fab, shrewd, discerning shopper. (And while you're at this site, Mahar Drygoods, stay awhile. It's wondrous.)

Next up 2 hedgehoggy links in one, both at the lovely Superbuzzy, another inspiring source for cute-tasticness. If your little girl must have pink in her room, well hot damn, at least pick this fabric, which will please you both and is also right in there at $12.95:



Finally, go rip a hole in your jeans so you can patch them together with these:



Stop, Crabmommy! You're killing them with cuteness. Me too, people. Me too. I myself can barely stand the sweetness. Hope you enjoy!

Thanks to Gabfab for letting me guest-post here. It's been swell. Do visit me at Cookie for more. And if you loved the hedgehog goodies showcased here and in my first guest-post, please stop by my personal blog Fri-Sun to enter a giveaway for hedgie adorability. yay!"

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #11 — 10 Subscriptions to Eliza Magazine

[ Congratulations to:
1) Lauren who said, "That looks perfect. What a great find!"
2) Brooke Rane who said, "Now THIS looks to be an awesome, fresh magazine!"
3) dakotapearl who said, "What a beautiful mag!"
4) Neen who said, "Oh I always need something new to read. This would be perfect."
5) Heeere's J-dude who said, "Great. Lucky me?"
6) Kathryn who said, "fresh magazines in the mail make me oh so happy"
7) kristi lou who said, "so glad!"
8) Lachelle, Rob & Eliza who said, "I would love to win - it's even a magazine named after my daughter!"
9) MMW who said, "Please please. What a lovely magazine."
10) christel who said, "Great magazine. My coworker would also love this. Thanks"

You're the big winners of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Is it just me or do we have some recurring themes going on this week? Jewelry. Clothing. Stationery. And magazine subscriptions! Awesome. Magazines are like getting a new gift every time the latest issue shows up in your mailbox. Lucky for you — this Giveaway will have ten (yes ten!) winners. Ten happy women will receive a year-long subscription to Eliza magazine.



What's Eliza Magazine? Well. It's your new favorite fashion tabloid. That's what. Best part? The stunning photography. Second best part? Eliza Magazine promises to never title an article: "the sexual secrets to make him want you." Or anything even remotely close to that. (Hooray!)



But you will find great articles on Fashion, Beauty, Health, Entertainment and Lifestyle. And no covers that you'll need to hide from your children. My particular favorite, is their series on the history of the great fashion houses — they've covered four so far, including Gucci and Chanel. Fabulous.

I love the description on their about page: "ELIZA magazine brings you "Fashion without Fiction." We are realistic about everyday women's price points, showcasing pieces that are worth the big price tags and discovering deals at your local department stores that are just as hip. We are realistic about women's bodies: we don't retouch bodies, and we mix real women and professional models. We are realistic about women's interests, featuring fashion and beauty information, current issues, and real life problem solving, all while keeping perspective on what's really important in life." Sounds just right to me.

If you don't win, no stress. You can pick up your own quarterly subscription here.

Thank you to Eliza Magazine.

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 1:00 PM EST on Friday, May 9th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Friday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Server Drama

Well Hello Server Drama! Can you believe it? The Design Mom site was down for just over 12 hours. The last comment that came in last night, before the site went down, arrived at 10:24 pm. And the first comment to come in this morning, after the site went back up, showed up at 10:41 am.

What happened to the server? I'm still a bit unclear on this, but I've been promised we're good to go. So I've already moved on and stopped thinking about it.

My sincere apologies if you tried to access the site during the 12 hour block that it was down. Just to keep things feeling fair and good, I think I'll keep Wednesday's Giveaway open through tomorrow morning at 10:00 am. Sound good? Good.

Thursday's Giveaways are coming up. . .

Also! Winners have now been randomly selected for Giveaway #1 through Giveaway #7. Each winner is listed at the top of the original Giveaway post — right beneath the yellow Giveaway image.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #10 — Custom Stationery by Papered Together

[ Congratulations to LoGunns who said, "Pick me!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Okay! We're going to finish up day number three with Giveaway #10. And the pretty prize for Giveaway #10 is pretty paper, just for you. Doesn't that sound wonderful? You could win custom stationery, designed especially for you, by the creative talent behind letterpress studio Papered Together.



Papered Together offers a beautiful collection of hand-printed cards, coasters, and all sorts of paper goods. Or you can take advantage of their custom design for weddings, birthdays, a new baby — even a new business. And it's the custom design option that's up for grabs today. You could win: A set of 50 flat cards, letterpress printed by hand on 100% cotton paper, plus matching envelopes!!

And when we use the word custom here, we mean the real thing. Not just switching out one name for another, or one color for another. You get to start from scratch. You choose the typestyle. You choose the simple motif. You choose the ink color. Then. Papered Together will put together the layout — you'll get final approval of course — and they'll print the stationery up and send it off.




As a designer, I can tell you this is a very valuable prize. The winner will receive one-of-a-kind stationery, designed and printed just for them. That's a pretty darn special thing to have.



In addition to high quality design, you should also know the printing is top notch as well. It's done entirely by hand on antique presses using fine 100% cotton papers (tree free!) and hand-mixed inks. From design to packaging, every step is taken slowly and with great care. Fantastic. I heart pretty paper!

Thank you Papered Together!

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 10:00 AM EST on Friday, May 9th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Friday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #9 — Pendant Necklace from SuperHero Designs

[ Congratulations to Mindful Mamma who said, "Wearing one of her necklaces would make me feel like a superhero for sure!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

It's lucky Giveaway #9. And it involves a Superhero. And jewelry. So really, you should probably start commenting before you even know exactly what it is. Because, come on, what more do you need to know? Oh alright. I'm going to tell you more. Because it's good stuff. And you'll love the details. The prize for Giveaway #9 is a pendant Necklace from SuperHero Designs!!



Mostly likely, you are already a fan of the gorgeous SuperHero line of beaded necklaces designed by Andrea Scher. You may have noticed them when they were featured earlier here and here. Or, if you've attended BlogHer you've likely seen several — they are totally the hot item at BlogHer. Or again, if your name is Ben Blair, you may recognize them because hopefully you've been browsing the SuperHero site this week. (I've never made a Mother's Day request before, but I would really like a SuperHero necklace this year. I'm just saying.)

But there's something new going down at SuperHero Designs. It's not only about the beads anymore. There is now a pendant option. For the first time ever. And it's beautiful. And lovely. And so of course I was giddy to showcase the new pendant here and feature it as a Giveaway prize. Look what you could win:




Gorgeous right? Made of matte finish sterling silver with a bulls eye on the front and the word "superhero" engraved on the back. Andrea calls it "a little treasure for the wearer, like a whisper in her ear. Whenever she feels she needs a boost she can turn it over and read her little love note." Ummm. What else is there to say?

Thank you to SuperHero Designs!

-------------

Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 10:00 AM EST on Friday, May 9th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Friday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #8 — Skirt and Two Tops from Cool Jane Imports

[ Congratulations to Isabel who said, "Oh my goodness, these are pretty. The colors are so vibrant!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Day number three! Yay for Giveaways! Quick note: Last night, I listed winners of Monday's Giveaways at the top of each Giveaway post. Feel free to scroll down to see if you won. I'll list Tuesday's winners tonight. And so forth. And so on.

And now. On to Giveaway #8. How about some more clothes? Because new clothes do wonders for how you feel walking out of the house — or walking around the house. Put your thinking caps on for this one. When you win, you'll get to pick the skirt of your choice, plus two tops of your choice, from Cool Jane Imports!!



I love these versatile 4 season skirts. Lightweight enough to take you through the spring and summer. Heavy enough to pair with tights or sweaters through the fall and winter. Festive enough to wear at a New Year's Party. Or you could dress it down with flip flops and wear it to the pool. Plus the color choices always make me smile. And you get to pick whichever color you like!



And don't forget the tops. You get to pick two. They're flattering, feminine and beautiful. They look great with the featured skirts (obviously) but would also be good looking with jeans and heels or a fluttery, a-line number. Both the tops and skirts are made from a Southeast Asian raw silk blend. The blend turns traditional raw silk (which is luxurious, but tears and wrinkles easily, is difficult to care for, and is expensive) into a still gorgeous, but stronger, easier-to-work-with material that's also affordable.

These are the kind of smart pieces that keep a wardrobe interesting. They're authentic — you can't pick them up at the Gap — and they're very flexible. You'll be surprised how often you want to pull them on.

Thank you to Cool Jane Imports!

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 10:00 AM EST on Friday, May 9th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Friday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #7 — Necklace by Jacqueline Sanchez

[ Congratulations to Wesley's Mom who said, "This would be perfect compensation for all of the legos I have stepped on in the last 15 years!!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

More jewelry for Giveaway #7! Because really, I can't get enough. It's like there's a jewelry renaissance going on out there and I'm determined to take part. You can take part as well. Just leave a comment on this post and you could win this gorgeous and completely playful necklace from Jacqueline Sanchez.



The necklace features a sterling silver pendant with plastic building piece and a 3pt diamond. Hung from a rubber cord. Retail price $250.00. Extra fun: you get to pick the color. Red, green, turquoise, white, navy. Or any other color that Ms. Sanchez has available.

Is there another piece of jewelry that calls out Motherhood as clearly? Lego pieces have been a staple of my every day life for the last decade. They symbolize all sorts of things for me. The daily pick-up-and-put-away that happens in any house with children. The time spent playing together, making something, taking something apart. The creativity and imagination that are part and parcel of being a child — it's amazing what children create with these little squares of plastic.

I love the idea of wearing a lego piece — all grown up with a diamond of course — as a celebration of Motherhood. With the same thinking, last year, I gave Ben Blair a pair of red lego cufflinks from Jaqueline's Young at Heart Collection. He loves them. They're good looking, and draw just the right amount of attention. Her lego designs are available as rings and bracelets too.

Thank you to Jacqueline Sanchez!

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 1:30 PM EST on Wednesday, May 7th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Wednesday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Interview at Coveiter

Lindsey and Julie, two designers who edit the lovely blog Coveiter are featuring a
frank little interview of me this afternoon. I feel like a super-star with all this attention.

And I love it.

Popcornopolis

We received the most-fun-package-ever on Saturday from Popcornopolis. If I'd known it was going to be such a hit, I would have made mail order popcorn a habit years ago. In addition to being eye-popping good fun to open, the popcorn was also delicious — I don't believe a single kernel survived to see Monday.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #6 — Two Bags by SeaCloth

[ Congratulations to Linda C who said, "I heart SeaCloth!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

It's time for Giveaway #6. And I have a feeling that the comments are going to fly in for this one. Why? Because the prize is adorable times two. And I wish I could win it and hoard it all to myself. One lucky winner will receive two darling bags from the fine establishment called Sea Cloth. Take a look:



The happy winner will receive the Sky Lattice Sprint Tote, which retails for $125. It's like SeaCloth has managed to distill Spring into a bag. Perfect for an overnighter or a whole weekend or to stuff in everything you need for an afternoon at the park. It's foldable. It's heavyduty. It's just right.



Plus. The winner will also receive the Grass Lattice Large Cosmetic Bag which retails for $95. It's chic. It's practical. It's oversized and waterproof. And it's just the thing to convince you to plan a little weekend to the beach.

Is SeaCloth new to you? Well I highly recommend browsing their website to see the dozens of pretty things they make — all based on the textile designs and artwork of founding partner Susan Harris. My favorite part: they've organized their collections based on color — which makes for very pretty browsing. I'm especially loving the charcoal and the red.




And I just learned there's a SeaCloth shop in Greenwich, Connecticut. That's only a short drive away. I'm thinking a field trip is in order. I bet the store is fantastic!

Thank you to SeaCloth!

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 12:30 PM EST on Wednesday, May 7th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Wednesday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #5 — Five Subscriptions to Seeing the Everyday

[ Congratulations to:
1) Brekster who said, "What a great mission for a magazine!"
2) Anna who said, "Oh, I would love to browse through a copy with a cup of coffee!"
3) Kendra who said, "this looks so great!"
4) ross and kate who said, "awesome magazine"
5) Daisy who said, "Thanks for the giveaway...it's very appropriate
"
You're the big winners of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]


It's the second day of this Giveaway week and things are running along without a hitch. Thank you to everyone for participating with such enthusiasm. I've got an extra good Giveaway to start off with today. Extra good because there are five winners. Have you heard of Seeing the Everyday? Go ahead and get familiar with this fine publication, because five of you will be winning subscriptions. Yay!



What you need to know: Seeing the Everyday is gorgeous. It's a newly launched magazine filled with beautiful writing and beautiful photography. And it's whole purpose is to bring needed attention to the importance of parenting. Seeing the Everyday aims to cover the "in-between" moments of parenthood. The non-events that actually make up the bulk of the act of parenting. To shed light on how important these small moments are.

If you're looking for a Mothers Day gift that keeps on giving, try a subscription to Seeing the Everyday. You'll get four inspiring issues, once each quarter — each issue completely ad free. (I'm not kidding. There are no ads. None.) And you'll come away from reading each one with new energy and resolve to be a better parent and to appreciate the small moments.

Send an email to your husband right now with the subscription info. He'll feel like a hero every time an issue arrives and you shower him with thanks for this most thoughtful gift.

Thank you to Seeing the Everyday.

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 11:30 AM EST on Wednesday, May 7th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Wednesday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Beehive Bazaar — Spring 2008

Every year I'm tempted to get on a plane and head to Utah just so I can attend the Beehive Bazaar. If you're in the area and lucky enough to go this weekend, you won't be disappointed. Get a sneak peek of the featured vendors at the Beehive Bazaar Blog.



If I was going, I would definitely want to check out the paintings of Colett Yaro, salsas from Anne Made Edibles, stationery from Isabell's Umbrella, and the handcut lanterns of Mariposa Avenue.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #4 — Party Pack from CocoBlu Studio

[ Congratulations to Shea who said, "I want to win!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Today's Giveaway #4 is another great one. I know. I know. They're all great. It's true. And this one is no exception. The prize up for grabs is a custom stationery Party Pack from CocoBlu Studio. Check it:



CocoBlu Studio is all about custom design. And the Party Pack is the perfect example of their customizable genius. The pack includes 25 party invitations; 50 party favor stickers or oversized return address labels; and 25 thank you cards. You get to pick from any invitation or announcement design that they offer — and then make it your own by adding just the right text and photos.



I love it! The invitation and thank you notes can coordinate. And having custom labels for party favors will make your party seem extra-super-special — like the kind of party that my sister Jordan might throw.

Plus you can use the Party Pack for whatever party you'd like to host, whenever you'd like to host it. Personally, I'd recommend throwing a big bash for Memorial Day. Because it's coming up fast. And it's a great excuse for a get together. But a birthday party might be fun as well. Or maybe a baby shower. Or a dinner party. Or a book club. Or whatever.

Too much fun! I'm thinking A Party Pack is my new favorite hostess gift recommendation.

Thank you CocoBlu Studio.

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 2:30 PM EST on Tuesday, May 6th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Tuesday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #3 — Nest Gift Basket

[ Congratulations to Shauna who said, "Gorgeous, inside and out!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Fantastic! Giveaway number #3 is a hot one. You are going to love it. Because it's an entire basket full of goodies. And who doesn't love a basket full of goodies? Nobody. In fact, I'm quite sure that it's the propensity of people to love baskets full of treasure that inspired Lisa to start her lovely company, Nest Gift Baskets.



The winner of this Giveaway #3 will have to make a choice. Does she prefer the Gardener's Eden basket? A gathering basket filled with treats like a “Trake” gardening tool, tea towel, bug spray, gardener’s soap with brush, Fox Gloves, and seed packets.



Or would she rather receive the Do Not Disturb basket? A darling chicken wire container brimming with La Lavande bath gel, lotion, soap & salts, candle — even a Do Not Disturb sign.

How will she ever choose between the two?

Both baskets are gorgeous of course. And either would be happily received by pretty much any woman I know. Happily, they are reflective of all the quality and creative gift baskets available at Nest. Definitely take a peek at their inspired offerings and find the perfect basket for your own mom.

Thanks to Nest Gift Baskets.

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 1:00 PM EST on Tuesday, May 6th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Tuesday evening.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

I HEART HEDGEHOGS. — by Guest Mom Amanda/aka Crabmommy

Owls move over. It's hedgehog time.

Anyone with an eye for sweet kiddie stuff has noticed the proliferation of the woodland theme in children's décor. Me, I'm all for it. I love little toadstools and owls and woodland critters frolicking across a vintage curtain or needlepoint cushion or what-have-you. But while owls have had their share of attention on sites that love good design and kid sensibilities, my favorite animal of all is shy and reclusive online. So I thought to do a little hedgehog-hunting myself and bring you some sweet and also cheap hedgie inspiration. Like these absurdly adorable ponytail holders, perfect for either mom or tot or both!



Can you stand how cute they are? So dang delicious, I almost can't look for fear that I might lunge at the screen and murder them with love!

As if that's not enough, see these baby booties:



Okay, so generic crappo baby shower present from some lame-o registry or one-of-a-kind booties for twelve measly greenbacks? COME. ON.

I've always loved hedgehogs. Their babies look like Rod Stewart (they have no neck and sport a spiky coiffe of hair). Did you also know that hedgehog genes can help determine your child's height? Did you also know that a man in New Zealand was accused of using a hedgehog as a weapon? Me neither.

Hedgehogs: cute, enlightening, inspiring. Brought to you by Crabmommy. I leave you with a link to paper artist eric joisel's amazing origami hedgehogs, and humbly invite you to visit me at my personal website or at Cookie magazine online, where I like to talk about hedgehogs, paper dolls, lame parenting advice, and so forth between predicting your month in motherhood as Astromommy, or talking a smack about momhood in general.

Enjoy!

XX
AMANDA

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #2 — The Fine Art of Family Necklace

[ Congratulations to Cocoa who said, "Fabulous, darling, FAB U LOUS!" You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Oh goody! For Giveaway number two today, we've got another gorgeous item. For you. Or for your mom. Check out this luxe shiny bauble from The Fine Art of Family.



That's right. The winner of Giveaway number two will walk away with this gorgeous piece of jewelry. The Signature Round Floral Half Locket in Sterling Silver. Valued at $190.00.

This single image case necklace is made with that one perfect picture in mind and is designed to be worn image side down, close to the heart. Embellished with The Fine Art of Family's signature floral pattern, it hangs on a 16-inch chain. Photos easily slide in the top of the image case.

It's an instant heirloom. Who will you hand yours down to?

Thanks to The Fine Art of Family.

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 11:00 AM EST on Tuesday, May 6th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Tuesday.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

Mothers Day 2008 Giveaway #1 — Two Dresses from Shabby Apple

[ Congratulations to Sarah who said, "Um, yes please. I am in love with Shabby apple. I am not above begging." You're the big winner of this Giveaway! Please send me an email at the address listed on my blog and I'll put you in touch with the sponsor. ]

Let's start things off with a bang. For our very first Giveaway this week (and there are going to be many, many Giveaways this week) what if you could win not one, but two gorgeous dresses from Shabby Apple? Would you like that? Then consider it done.



Get your comments in. And one lucky commenter will win: the 90 Words dress — a turquoise secretary dress that is to die for. Ruching at sides to flatter hips. Tie at neck. Puff sleeves with band just above elbow. Perfect.



And. She'll win the Daisy dress — from their brand new summer line! It's a white eyelet dress with shirt collar and puff sleeves. The dress comes in at an empire waist and then opens to a flattering A-line skirt that hits at the knee. Let's hear it for summer!

And you will look fabulous in these dresses. Because Shabby Apple is an independent clothing company that concentrates on flattering the female form — without making you feel like you're falling out of your dress. Worried about getting the right fit? Don't be: Shabby Apple now offers FREE shipping both ways on all exchanges.

Just imagine yourself wearing some Shabby Apple finery on Mothers Day this Sunday and feeling like the elegant lady that you are. Dang, Girl! You make motherhood look good.

Thanks Shabby Apple.

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Mothers Day Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until 10:30 AM EST on Tuesday, May 6th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-Winner will be randomly picked and announced on Tuesday.
-What are Mother's Day Giveaways? Read about them here.

More Goodbyes and Hellos

We are sad. Allysha is no longer our Guest Mom. She was wonderful — keeping us all literary and listening to NPR and looking at pretty things. But she had to go. And now. To get our Allysha fix, we must drop by Bells on Their Toes or Just an Orange. And we will. (Thank you Allysha!)

But before we despair completely, know that exciting things are afoot. In the midst of the fantastic Giveaways I'll be featuring today, the amazing CrabMommy (of Cookie Magazine fame), will be dropping in to share some hedgehoggery brilliance with us. Watch for it. And be sure to tell her Hello.

It's going to be a busy, happy day. And I suggest you check back more than once.

Movie Night

Awesome! Just got back from the 8:00 screening. Robert Downey Jr. nailed it. Off to find Ben Blair an Ironman costume and take him to bed.

Migros Had Me At Hello

Mr. Josh-with-the-flawless-eye sent me a link to this post featuring food packaging for a Swiss company called Migros. Gorgeous. And smart. Take a look.

via The Dieline.

Literary Stamps — by Guest Mom Allysha

And last but not least...

Preview

a blog of Literary Stamps. Very fun.

I've had a blast this week being the Guest Mom here at Design Mom. (Thanks Gabby!) It's been so much fun sharing what I love with you and reading your comments. I hope you've enjoyed it! And I hope you'll come visit me at Bells on Their Toes and Just an Orange, I'd love to hear from you.

2008 Mothers Day Giveaway Week

Remember last year's Mother's Day Giveaway Week? It was awesome. And this year's will be over twice as big and even more awesomer. So get your comments ready. Expect at least 3 generous Giveaways. Monday through Friday. From some of the finest sponsors around.

And remember. No baby items. No kids items. Just gorgeous lovelies for the ladies. Whether you're a mother or not, you won't want to miss out.

The festivities begin on Monday. Have a great weekend!

kisses,
Design Mom




p.s. — Last chance to chime in on what the new sk*rt name will be!!! Several new options — check them out here. You could win big. Over $700 big!

Summer Reading List — By Guest Mom Allysha

It’s May. IT'S MAY!

I’m excited because the month of May is sort of like the year’s Summer Preview. The great weather starts to make an appearance to remind you it’s time to make Summer plans.

What Summer is complete without some good books on hand? First on my list to read is Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. Next is LListening is an Act of Love, by Dave Isay, which is a compilation from some of the most compelling StoryCorps interviews (another reason to listen to Public Radio). I am also contemplating a re-run through the Harry Potter series just for fun, because what's a Summer without Harry? but we’ll see.

Here are a few suggestions from my bookshelf for you- (and I'd love to get some suggestions from you to add to my list!)

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. The perfect Summer read. Completely lovely.

Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton. I love Edith Wharton's social commentary & observations. Think Jane Austen, but with way more heartbreak.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Love, betrayal, revenge, redemption. Think if this as your summer blockbuster. And the book is so much better than the movie.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. You are all Anne fans, right? If not, you should be.

The Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull. I just finished the third one yesterday! I have the privilege of knowing Brandon. He and my husband were in a comedy troupe together and Brandon tells a great story.

Book of the Week — Sow and Grow

Happy May Day! I have the perfect book to tell you about — it totally feels like a May Day book. It's called Sow and Grow, A Gardening Book for Children.

And it is just delightful. All of the illustrations are vintage. Actual vintage images, not vintage-like. The book has a cloth covered spine and feels good to hold. And the information is just right. Everything a curious kid would want to know. From the names of plant parts to "how to print with leaves".

There are sections on making potpourri, growing plants from seed, forcing bulbs and branches, terrariums, and a whole bunch more.

Tina Davis is the author and she's done a lovely job. Sow and Grow would make a great reference in a school-age child's library. It's got me all excited to get out my trowel!

Yay for May!

Let's go to the museum — by Guest Mom Allysha

Did you know there are online museums? Most museums have websites and some even have exhibits online, but then there are those museums that exist entirely out there in a little room in cyberspace. Just google "online museums" and you'll get a good listing for traditional and non-traditional museums alike.

Here are two museums I want to introduce you to today:



First, The American Package Museum. It's a collection of old American packaging for all sorts of things from Scotch tape to Crisco cans to Brillo soap pad boxes and more. Not only is it completely entertaining, but some of the package design is really cool to look at.



Then next up, we have The Museum of Useful Things, which is all about "celebrating the Beauty of Function in everyday objects." The Useful Things they exhibit are beautiful in form and function.

And you can buy some of them, too, if you'd like. Because, truth be told, this museum is also/actually a little store, full of interesting things. But they have a noble purpose. (They do have a mission statement.) You can have some of that beautiful form and function in your own home! Maybe you'll appreciate those mundane tasks of life a little more, now.

(And really, the whole museum/store thing is just a dissertation in the making, I can feel it. Anyone out there studying culture and media? Here you go!)

The actual MUT (as it is called) is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. But that does not limit us. We have the internet. So, go! Have a nice stroll through the museum.

Itzy Bitzy

Could I be more predictable? I love me some polka dots and stripes. And I love these happy Spring prints from the Itzy Bitzy line by Zutano.

The Itzy Bitzy collection is designed for babies up to 8 lbs. Now, I've never had a preemie, but I do have very small babies. (Betty was my smallest — she was a week early, weighing in under 6 pounds.) So I have loved having a few "newborn" or "preemie" size options that actually fit. (0-3 months size looks absolutely clown-like on tiny babies.)

I realize they grow out of them within a month. But for that month, it's nice to have at least a few cozy little things that fit. Also. Isn't it a treat to see newborn babies? Heavenly.

Kids' Art — by Guest Mom Allysha

My daughter. . .

We do a lot of drawing at our house. I don't think a day goes by that the kitchen table isn't covered in paper, pens, pencils, crayons, and markers. Despite the cluttered aura of my table, I really enjoy seeing what my kids come up with as they experiment with different ideas.

I have this idea that I want my kids to be able to come to a blank piece of paper unfettered by any sort of convention. They will get more technical instructions as they start school, which is fine. But I want them to learn to trust their own artistic instincts first. And so I buy paper by the box (hooray, Costco) and let them go at it.


. . . and her art.

Here are a few basic tips I use for managing my kids' art:

~ I have plastic containers for crayons and markers. It's much easier to get everything cleaned up when they don't have to be placed row-by-row into a box.

~ Maybe twice a year I sort through my stash to find the markers that don't work and the crayons that are too small, and replace them. Back-to-school sales are a prime time to stock up. And you can recycle those too-small crayons. Gabby posted about it here.

~ For painting I usually have my kids stick with watercolors, although I do have some cheap acrylic paints they can use once in awhile. If I'm feeling extravagant, I buy little canvas boards for them to paint on.

~ We use slightly over-sized t-shirts as smocks — easy on, easy off, easy to throw them in the wash (There. Did you like that little rhyme?)

~I also always use a flat-bottomed mug or bowl for their rinsing water because it helps prevent spills.

~ I like to have some heavier paper on hand for painting (some card stock or actual watercolor paper cut into smaller sheets) and some colored craft paper for special projects.

~ And of course, have a place to display the art work! A bulletin board works great. And the fridge is always an option!

~ Also, be reasonable. Don't even attempt to save everything. Though it's tempting when your child's unique way of looking at the world begins to emerge. But unless you plan to a) only let your children paint masterpieces or b) wallpaper your kitchen in 8.5 x 11 paper drawings, then throw most of it away.

~ I have a file folder for each child where I keep their very best stuff, and they each have a place in their room for the drawings they want to keep. But most of it either gets tossed or gets re-used (we try to draw on both sides of the paper).

But really, you don't need anything fancy at all in order for your kids to create their own art. My girls have spent countless hours drawing to their hearts content with a simple spiral notebook and a pen or pencil.