Papier Mache Magazine

I'm so impressed with this new online children's magazine from Australia called Papier Mache. Gorgeous with a capital G.

Thanks for the link, Brianna. Nice find!

2218 Blake Street, Berkeley CA

Because Jared & Liz are moving to San Francisco, Jordan is trying to recruit the rest of the family. She sent me a link to this charming house in Berkeley. I want.

Bold Move

So the latest gossip/news among my siblings is that Jared & Liz (of Say Yes to Hoboken) are moving to San Francisco. We're all very excited. And at least one of us is very jealous (that would be me). I heart the city by the bay.

Their big news is good news to someone-yet-to-be-determined — because they'll be renting out their gorgeous house in the Avenues of SLC. Know anyone looking for a place? Tell them they can find more info and photos here.

Work Spaces that Work For Both Moms and Kids — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

For my last post as Guest Mom, I'm going to tackle a big one: work-at-home-space. This year I moved my studio back to the house and the topic is on my mind. As any working mom knows, it’s sometime hard to balance home life with work life. But striking that delicate balance is all the more difficult when there is no defined line between home and work. The most important design tip I can offer moms who work at home is to find a way to incorporate your kids into your work space. They will be less apt to interrupt if you give them something to do, and a place to do it in. Kids like to feel included and there are creative ways to do that.

Once you've established your work area, it’s a good idea to add a toy desk for your kids. There are quite a few space-efficient and attractive options out there, like the Klick desk and chair set. If you don’t have enough space to offer them their own desk, then reserve a special spot at your desk. Another great multi-purpose solution is a daybed. If your work space permits, a day bed is a great way to accommodate overnight guests. Otherwise it makes an excellent spot for kids.



More ideas:
-I like to put aside a special box full of crayons and pens so that they can do their homework beside me as I work.

-In my office, I have a grass cloth tack board where I keep my ideas and reminders. One side of the board is reserved for my stuff, while the other is reserved for my daughters.

-Similarly, we have a marker board in the office. One side is for my drawings and measurements. The other side is for the girls. -When the kids do come into the office, I can keep them busy by giving them a “job” to do — little design tasks that (hopefully) keep them busy and buy me valuable time to catch up with work.

It's been a great week! Thanks for the comments, questions and feedback. Thank you to Gabrielle for having me. Last question goes to you: What are your best ideas for managing work-at-home-space?

My Daughters' Bedrooms — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

I love to design kid’s spaces because there is a lot more room for whimsy and daring. When I was designing my daughters’ rooms, it was an exercise in balance. I wanted them to feel empowered to make design decisions (they are after all two very creative little souls), but I also wanted to make sure that their rooms flowed with the rest of the house.

We started with by defining color palette: one that the girls loved, and one that also fit with the rest of house. From there we chose complimentary but distinct wallpaper patterns as the base of the design.



The next major step was choosing the right bed. Both girls wanted “cananopies,” as they called them, so we had to figure out how to give them two similar but, again, distinct canopy beds. For the elder, we chose a vintage bed. For the younger, I custom designed a high canopy bed for the tight space; the large pot drawers below provide extra storage.

Next we considered durability. We chose furniture and finishes that are non-toxic, but also multi-functional. We also kept in mind the fact that kids use their spaces heavily — there was no reason to spend a fortune on something like bedding. We took a standard coverlet from Bed Bath and Beyond and added a bit of appliqué. Suddenly, we had what looked like custom bedding at a very budget-friendly price.

And since it’s important to me to instill a sense of heritage, I mixed in family heirlooms with the new features. We put a vintage French vanity that has been in my family for years in my younger daughter’s room as her desk. And my elder daughter has my grandmother’s rocking chair in her room.

The result is two similar but distinct rooms that are fun and youthful, yet quite timeless. We hope the girls will enjoy them for years to come.

5 Things You Could Buy for Father's Day

What? It's really the end of May?

Here are 5 things I've been considering for Father's Day. (Ben Blair, don't read this.)

1) T-shirt from Robotcha.
They come in kid size and grown up size. Ben Blair is sort of obsessed with robots.

2) Custom Fingerprint Cufflinks from Womily.
Womily has this amazing line of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, keyrings, etc) called Touch, that feature the fingerprint/thumbprint of someone you love. They send you a kit to capture your print, you send it back, and they form it into jewelry. So cool! You could capture your babies thumbprints. Or if you have two kids, you could capture one fingerprint from each. Ben Blair is all about a great collection of cufflinks.

3) Comic Book Wallet.
Made by the disabled from pages of recycled comic books. Available as passport holders as well. I don't think Ben Blair read many comic books as a kid, but they are certainly the basis of his favorite movies as an adult.

4) Belt from Strapped Belts.
Made in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (where we honeymooned), I think these glass buckles are beautiful. And manly enough to keep Ben Blair's jeans around his waist.

5) Black Lacoste Polo Shirt.
Apparently Ben Blair's most recent version of this shirt was misplaced in the move. Bummer. Because he looks really good in it. In fact, I'm not sure if I've met a man that wouldn't look good in a black Lacoste polo.

Trash to Treasure DIY — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

I don't know about you, but for me, Spring brings out the urge to turn the house upside down for a yearly purge. As I'm hauling things out to the curb I have to remind myself: don't be too quick to throw away the stuff you find in your garage — remember to keep your eye out for hidden treasure.

Some of my favorite trash-to-treasure projects so far (pictured above — click to enlarge the pic):

-I turned an old bank door handle that I bought years ago from an online auction into a new towel rack for our guest bathroom. A new coat of nickel plating and presto, it’s good as new.

-I found a group of old lamps from the seventies in storage and were able to revive them as Mediterranean-esque sconces for a client’s bathroom.

-I took vintage Moroccan lanterns and replated them with nickel. One made the perfect hanging fixture for a regal bathroom for a client. The other two were hung in my own kitchen.

-I also love to mix modern and vintage so when I found some amazing old claw foot bathtub pedestal feet, I refurbished them and used them in my master bath. They go really well with the clean lines of the modern cabinetry.

-It’s also relatively simple to take a tired old chandelier and give it new life with a few simple touches.

-And you can easily re-invent something by simply changing its function. I found a vintage Lucite umbrella stand ages ago but have recently started using it in our bathroom as a toilet paper holder.

Are you a trash-to-treasure kind of girl? Any success stories?

Table Project Update

More sneak peeks of the table project!

Isn't it amazing? It's enormous. And weighs 300 pounds or so. I love it so much! I know I owe more details and sources — a full post with more pics is coming. Now. Do I leave it as is? Or try to age it to look like this one?

Reincarnated Kids Furniture — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

I think being a mom, and understanding moms’ needs, actually makes me a much better designer. When choosing furniture for kids (my own or a client's), I try to keep a few things in mind. The pieces must be durable, safe, and preferably timeless. I’m a huge proponent of pieces of furniture that ‘grow’ with your children and can serve multiple purposes. This prevents parents from constantly replacing and throwing away pieces — clearly not the most sustainable or affordable option.

For example, I love the Oeuf crib that converts to a toddler bed or the Stokke convertible changing table that can become a desk, play table, or even a CD rack when your baby outgrows its first function.



Another example, the Tottoman, was created for one of my clients who needed additional storage. But we raised it on casters and added safety hinges so that toddlers could use the over-sized soft ottoman as an impromptu walker. It also makes a great hiding place. : ) As the child grows, the ottoman can be re-upholstered in different fabrics and live a long and useful life.

A third I idea I love to see implemented: converting old heirloom dressers into hip changing tables. Once your child outgrows them, you can re-convert the table back to a chest of drawers. A new set of hardware and a new coat of paint can update any tired old piece of furniture into a new and timeless piece. Brilliant.

Have you reincarnated any of your furniture? I'd love to hear your stories!

Be Kind to Mom Space — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

Hi Ladies! Happy to be blogging here this week. My first post is all about mom space.

Ideally, all moms would have a “Be Kind to Mom” Space at home — a separate room where husbands and kids aren't allowed. Obviously, not everyone has such a sanctuary, but here are a few tips on how to carve out some Mom space in any home.

Start by locating a spot in the house where you can get a bit of privacy. For some this might be the bathroom. If that’s the case, invest in some scented candles and Lucite necklace stands. Set aside some space on the counter where you can display all the things that make you feel lovely. Make the time to take a hot bath. One of my favorite tricks: bring in some orchids and steam them in the shower with you. A few small touches and any bathroom can feel like a spa getaway.



If you're lucky enough to have a dressing room, take full advantage of it. I've filled mine with happy things — framed artwork that reminds me of my years in Paris as a student, and drawings by my kids. I love how the cowhide rug feels on my bare feet.

For some moms, your space might be a little reading corner in the living room that you can make cozy and welcoming. Invest in the perfect chair, then pair it with a little vintage table where you can set your tea. Add a great cozy throw and not-too-bright-lighting, and you’ll feel miles away from the craziness of everyday.

And if you really can't find a space to carve out, then create a mobile sanctuary. There are several companies that make great drawers set on casters. Fill the drawers with pretty things and make any small space in the house your own with a mobile mom sanctuary.

How about you? Do you have any special mom space in your home? What would you include in your mom sanctuary if you had one?

Hello Lara Fishman

A new Guest Mom this week! Her name is Lara Fishman and she's an interior designer in LA. I don't know her in real life, but I do know this: she's the genius behind Designers Call — a new company with the goal of bringing professional design services to those who previously haven't had the time or funds to hire a designer. Intrigued? So was I when I heard about it. That's why I thought she'd make a great Guest Mom. (Plus there's something called a DesignWagen, which sounds rad.)

Here's a bio of Lara I stole off of her site:

Raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Lara was influenced by her mother's passion for interior design, antiques, fine art, fashion and her talent for merging disparate styles, colors and patterns into beautiful cohesive living environments.

After studying French Literature at Tulane University and living in France, Lara cultivated a deep interest in European design traditions. In 1998, she completed a four-year course of study at UCLA's prestigious School of Interior and Environmental Design, working concurrently as a furniture designer to expand her knowledge of the custom-design process.

In 1998, Lara joined Kelly Wearstler Interior Design (KWID) as a senior designer and design team supervisor for residential and commercial projects such as The Viceroy and Maison 140, before founding her full-service interior design firm, Storm Interiors, in 2000.

In 2008, Lara launched Designers Call, a specialized decorating service that addresses the growing need of consumers seeking professional design services but lacking the large budget or time required by the traditional design process. Lara is an allied member of ASID.

So ladies. We have a professional interior designer with us this week. A woman with a mission to make design services available to all. I think we should take advantage of this opportunity by asking her lots of questions, no?

Sisters Gulassa Shop

Sisters Gulassa — the cross continent textile design duo — has opened up a little online shop. I think their cards are so handsome. Also. Don't miss a peek into one of the sister's homes on Cookie.

Steel Furniture

I don't need a new dresser right now, but I want this one — it's fashioned from raw steel.

Jane Says

My brother Jared gave us tix for Jane's Addiction tonight. Woot! Will I see you there?

Memorial Day

Today was the first day in a whole month that I've a had a scheduled sitter so I could get some solid work done. It feels so good! Working without interruption = sweet satisfaction.

My mind is all over the place. Friday was the last day of school. We're making mental adjustments to the idea — because school won't be out in New York till the end of June. And really, I barely had time to learn the teacher's names and the school year is already over. To celebrate we went hot-tubbing at our friend's house and had a sleepover.

Memorial Day was ideal and played its role as the first day of summer perfectly. We had a laundry/clean-the-house morning and then BBQ'd with the cousins through the afternoon and evening. Some of the party festivities: Football in the shared green space behind out house. Hamburgers, brats and hotdogs. Rain. Guitar Hero. Playing patriotic songs with the chimes. Watching the Nuggets/Lakers game. Fireworks on the wet patio.



The kids made cute little votive holders a la Nie, and hung them in the apple tree, but it was too wet to light them. Nobody minded. : )

Giveaway — Lisa Leonard Designs

Ladies! Today's Giveaway is a dollop of pretty on top of a bowl of beautiful. Some lucky lady will receive a $150 Gift Certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs! Her pieces are lovely. Each one is handmade — hand-cut, hammered, antiqued and polished from sterling silver. Perfect for everyday. And $150 is enough to pick out something for you, and for a bff.



You can create a custom necklace or bracelet (maybe even something to remind you of the loved ones we remember on Memorial Day). Or you can pick from her inspired offerings. Either way, I'm betting you get compliments every time you wear a Lisa Leonard Design.

Leave a comment to enter and have a fantastic weekend. Since I assume you'll all be BBQ'ing on Monday, natch, I'll post the winners on Tuesday. Happy Memorial Day!

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Update: Congratulations, Whit! You are the winner. Thanks for entering, everybody!

Cinnamon Bears

Apparently certain candies are regional? I don't think I saw a cinnamon bear the entire 8 years I was in New York, but they are widely available here. Happily, I heart cinnamon bears. Which is why, when I came upon the 5 lb bag of them during a midnight run to the grocery store, I said: yes, please.

Five pounds is a lot of cinnamon bears. A lot. If you're having a craving, please stop by so I can share them with you.

Western Eden

See the picture above? It's the desert near a small town in Utah called Grantsville. Beautiful in its own right, but not very inviting or inhabitable. My Aunt Janet and Uncle Gary own several acres of that very land and have spent the last 10 years turning it into their own Eden:




Amazing, right? And having spent several idyllic afternoons on the property, I can tell you the pictures don't do it justice. I'm not sure if I know anyone that works harder than Gary or Janet. You can read more about what they did in an article here. (More pics too!)

Painted Piano

The piano looks so good! If you've been thinking about painting your piano, then run, don't walk, to your nearest paint shop and get yourself a quart of high-gloss enamel. You don't have to paint it green, or any particularly bright color. But if you feel like your piano needs a fresh start, this is the cheapest, fastest way to go.

I had been wanting to do this project for 9 years and kept getting intimidated by it. But there was no need for fear. It was actually very straightforward and is one of the most satisfying projects I've finished in ages. Here are my notes, in case you're considering a paint job.



The best candidate for something like this is a piano that's not worth restoring. Ours was perfect. It was the piano I grew up with and it was pretty beat up when my parents originally picked it up for a bargain $300. By the time I inherited it, it was even more war-torn and the first thing I did was get 3 bids on having it refinished and restored. All three refinishers told me it would be about $2000 to restore the inside and $2000 to restore the outside and that the inside was just old, and even if it was restored it wouldn't be as good as new. All 3 recommended sending this one to the junk yard and buying new.

But new was out of our budget. And so was a $4000 restoration. I got some other opinions, and it was decided that the piano was good enough for lessons for the kids (the kids were babies at the time), and that we could get a more serious piano when and if our kids became serious piano students.

So we just kept the piano as it was and I dreamt of at least giving it a shiny coat of paint — for 9 years. Some years I thought a glossy black would be lovely. But then I felt like black would seem like I was trying to make the instrument more formal than it really was. Later I thought maybe a white coat that we could sand down and make sort of rustic would be nice. Then for about the last 3 years I decided turquoise would be the right thing to do, but I never made it happen. When we were moving, the piano was so depressing I almost left it behind. But Ben Blair said we should bring it to Colorado.

Saturday morning I was craving a challenge so I decided to finally tackle the piano paint job. When I got to the paint store I had a vision: go big or go home. I decided on Grass Green then and there. I bought one quart of hi-gloss enamel, one quart of primer, tinted to match the paint, and a paint brush. Grand total: $40.

By Saturday afternoon I had primed it and painted 2 coats of paint. At that point, I decided the green was a little too yellow, so I took the remaining paint back to Guiry's and asked them to green it up a bit. They spent a half hour with me (as the store was closing) getting the color just right. And they didn't charge me. (I will be a customer for life.)

Saturday evening, I added one more coat and then came back to the project on Monday. Monday I did two more coats. Tuesday I did some touch ups. And tada! It's finished.

Unexpected thing: I can already see this will be the signature piece in our home. I had never thought about a signature piece for our home, but because I went with a bold color, now we have one. Every person that comes in the house is drawn to it. Everyone wants to touch the keys. It's been played more in the last two days than it has been in years. Ben Blair wants to host a recital and call it Variations on the Green Piano.

Other unexpected thing: a piano is big. Physically and visually. It's not just a small accent piece. Once you have a green piano, you basically have to design the room around it instead of just work it into the existing space. Which means I need to talk to the landlord about painting the walls...

Seeing our newly painted piano makes me super happy. I think the only thing that makes me happier is when I watch my kids playing it while they're standing on books (wink). Green wouldn't be right for every home, but it's perfect for ours. I feel like I just bought this piano 10 more years of life. Next up: time to get it tuned.

Edit. To answer some of your questions.
1) The color is Benjamin Moore Yellow Green (but in my mind it looks more like grass green).
2) I didn't use oil-based paint.
3) According to the paint store: yes, you should sand off any existing hi-gloss finish before you prime.
4) I don't have any "before" pictures to share. I did have some. But they are gone. Because I am an idiot and mistakenly erased them.
5) Yes, I painted the bench as well. When I have the room more put together, I'll share a photo tour.
6) I did not disassemble the piano, but an expert or less-lazy person would have. I painted with the keyboard closed. Once the paint was dry, I opened the keyboard and painted around it with a smaller brush.

Happy painting!

Table Progress

I've been trying to figure out what kind of table I want in our dining-room-turned-art-space. Should I buy one? Maybe the Strut Table I've been in love with for ages from Blu Dot? Should I build something? Maybe use trestles from Ikea and a hollow core door? Except Colorado doesn't have an Ikea. (What the?!)

Then I saw this photo in Downtown Chic, the Sixx Design book I just posted about, and fell in love. It's so old and worn and beat-up and beautiful. My kids could paint on it or cut on it or dent it and it wouldn't matter even a little bit. So I hired my nephew Josh to help me build something like it. We don't really know what we're doing, but the rough nature of the finished project allows for mistakes. Which is perfect. Here is our progress:


We're building it as big as we can based on the sheet metal that was available. We think when it's finished it will be able to seat 10 very comfortably, and 14 pretty comfortably. Once it's built, I'll decide on the finish. Possibly I'll try to make it look aged. (I have no idea how I would go about doing this, if you have any tips, please share.) Possibly I'll just paint it.

Once it's finished (assuming the table turns out cool), I'll write up something with more details, sources and instructions.

Projects

It's late here, and I'm just sitting down to the computer for the first time today. Feels a little strange.

Here's the thing. I got all excited about some house projects and I pretty much let them take over my life. For example, my piano is now green. Benjamin Moore Yellow Green to be exact. Also. I am now the proud owner of a sheet of metal measuring 60" x 114". My nephew Josh and I spent the better part of the day hunting down said metal and we both feel pretty accomplished about our success. We plan to make a table top out of it.

Expect reports on both projects as they progress.

One more thing. Saturday morning we had the pleasure of dropping by Duffey's Cinnamon Rolls. We were told they were the best cinnamon rolls in the world. We were not disappointed.

Downtown Chic

Guess what arrived in the mail yesterday? Downtown Chic. The book by Sixx Design — the husband-wife interior design collaboration. (Remember the interview I posted with Sixx Design? It was awesome.)

Friends. This book is the best design book I've read in ages. There are at least 10 ideas I want to copy right this minute. No really. Just last night I started drawing up plans for a new master bed and a work table for the art room based on images from the book. It is inspiring from start to finish and will leave you wondering why you didn't think to buy a horribly ugly building on the edges of Soho and make it beautiful.

Also. I love the glimpses into the life of any big family. I love seeing the similarities between the house I grew up in, the house I run now and the house in the book. Big families just engender a certain amount of chaos that is appealing to me.

My personal favorite part of the book: seeing my little sister Jordan's blog, Oh Happy Day, featured on page 20. Anyone who is a fan of Jordan is good by me.

Fun Shops to Check Out

Some of my recent posts at Cookie's Nesting blog: 1) Great baby announcements and invitations from a new-on-the-scene company, Paper Culture. 2) Haciendo el Indio, a design and illustration shop in Spain that is producing beautiful children's products. 3) Adorable plates and placemats from Smiling Planet.

New Sofas

We left our tired, well-used sofas on the street as we packed up our house in New York. Which means we now have very little to sit on and are in couch shopping mode. Here are four I'm considering:

1) The Florence Knoll Sofa in fabric by NJModern pictured at top.


2) The Bucktown Sofa by Chiasso.


3) The Bantam Sofa by DWR.


4) The Abby Sofa by Chiasso.

These are all between $1100 and $1800 — about what I expect to pay for a good quality sofa in not-extravagant fabric. For a total bargain, there's also this simple silhouette:


The Buse Sofa from JC Penney. More of an over-stuffed feel than I'm looking for, but you can't beat the price: on sale for $499.

Thoughts?

Mini Moderns — Now in Clothing

Mini Moderns, one of my favorite wallpaper/textile design shops has partnered with Clothkits to create a collection of easy-to-make dresses featuring Mini Moderns print designs. How cute is that? I've never tried Clothkits before but now I'm all curious.

Kind of a wallpaper theme happening today. Unexpected, but I like it.

Draw-Your-Own Wallpaper

Spotted on kirtsy. Kellie of Scrapblog redesigned her long hallway with 2 gold paint pens, a step stool and 3 hours of time. She based her pattern on an image (the one at top) she found in a Fossil catalog. Fabulous!

I like this so much I might have to copy. Lots more photos and details if you click through.

Sidenote: have you been browsing the links at kirtsy this week? So much good stuff. Don't miss out.

The Perfect Dress — by Guest Mom Starr Keller

I'm in love with this dress from Anthropologie. I want to wear it for the family photos I've been trying to schedule for months. If the family photos never happen, at least I'll have this pretty dress to wear.

Betty's Birthday

Betty Blair turned 3 on Saturday.

Of course, that is probably a lie, because I can not imagine such a thing to be true. I started this very blog on the day she turned two months old in an effort to ward off post-partum depression. (It worked!) And that was only like last month or something.



We put together a little party for her on Saturday afternoon. Pink cupcakes and a few simple presents. I scrambled through a few yet-unpacked boxes in search of the gift wrapping and party decorations and found this darling flower garland from Martha Stewart's craft line to add to the festivities. Perfect!



Highlights of the day:
-The Sabey cousins came by with a ginormous bag of Skittles, which are Betty's favorite.
-We lit the candles and sang Happy Birthday four times in a row because Betty loved it so much and kept asking us to do it again.
-After the kids were in bed that night, Ben Blair and I scouted out the nearest theater and saw Star Trek. Go see it too. It is awesome.

Summer Dresses for Little Girls

I've located my nearest Target. It is big, well-lit, well stocked and fully staffed. I love it. While I was there, this collection of dresses for toddler girls by Osh Kosh caught my attention. Have any of you seen these? Really great patterns and colors and so fun to find this much variation in one collection. Even better in person — these pictures don't do justice them at all.

Lesson learned: never go to Target without your camera.

Be an Original, Upcycled Vintage Bride — by Guest Mom Starr Keller

One part of Starr Strung that has come to mature quickly over the past year are my bridal jewelry and accessory lines. Specifically, the vintage section gets more attention than I ever thought possible. I know most of you reading are young mothers and aren't planning your wedding, but for any of the brides-to-be out there, here are some thoughts on using vintage jewelry in your wedding.

I have always adored vintage pieces, and can remember the first time my mom ever handed me a family keepsake to have as my own: a three-strand, freshwater pearl necklace with a tiny crystal rose clasp from my great-grandmother. I wouldn't change the necklace one single bit, but it did inspire me to go on a limb and incorporate upcycled vintage pieces into my work.

I've had brides ask me to incorporate an old family heirloom into their bridal jewelry, and have been prompted recently to seek out specific circa pieces for other brides-to-be. The end result is always, without fail, a perfectly unique ensemble of jewelry that a bride can cherish forever. Also, if you're someone who wants all of the tiniest details of your wedding to be unique and specific, incorporating these vintage components guarantees there won't be anyone else wearing the same jewelry.

Once you make a decision about your personal wedding day jewels, consider picking out vintage jewelry for your bridesmaids. Gifting bridesmaids with jewelry for your wedding day is a great, economical way to thank them — you are going to ask them to accessorize regardless, why not give them the perfect jewels? So much more fun than the same old monogrammed cup or key chain!

Interested in finding your own vintage accessories? I suggest seeking out pieces from the 1940s and '50s — it seems to me that the women of these eras took great pride in their appearance, and the jewelry and findings from these generations certainly reflect that. Once you've found something fabulous, think about how to repurpose it — rhinestone brooches can be upcycled into focal points of pearl-strand necklaces, while sparkly bits from clip on earrings can be made into stunning hair pieces.

Kid Size Guitar

For a look-how-great-your-new-house-is surprise for the kids, we gave them a child-size guitar. They LOVE it. It sits next to Ben Blair's guitar and in the evenings we can get a little bit of a jam session going on.

The kid guitar is from First Act. It comes with these handy little cards you can slide beneath the strings to help you learn and memorize the chords. Such a great kid gift! And the price (under $30) seems so reasonable to me for a pretty little instrument.

Paring Down & Upcycling — by Guest Mom Starr Keller

I will never forget the look on my sister's face several years ago when she first walked through the front door of the home I had full intention to buy. Old, yes. Nearly dilapidated? Check plus. As my sweet honest father walked around and pointed out things of great concern: exposed electrical wires, etc., she just took a big breathe and said, "Well, Starr. I'm certain you will make it nice."

We laugh about that conversation now — both of us were going through divorces and finding our own way as 20-something mothers, and we were literally bulldozing our way through each day and minute as it came. I decided on a house to own, as she signed lease papers for an apartment in town. Often during those first months of realizing what I had actually gotten myself into would my thoughts drift to how easy she had it with no yard to look after (or poison ivy vines to rip off her siding, for that matter!) and when a maintenance issue arose, she simply dialed the front office of the complex.

Regardless, the elbow grease and long hours of scrubbing and such have paid off — my little humble abode is now quite comfy and although my growing family of five now fills every nook and cranny, we are decidedly happy with our surroundings.

One thing that I absolutely had to quickly come to grips with in our historic parlor home was that space was, obviously, a big issue. And my years of pack-ratting (I'll admit it, even though I do love organized chaos) things from high school and even love letters from my grade school days were over. With the main renovation underway in the form of a spacious bathroom, I relearned what it took to stay organized, on-track and dedicated to creating space for my family.

My saving grace, especially while contractor numero uno came and ripped my entire center of living space and left me with literally no walls and a standing toilet (talk about relearning the importance of privacy!), was to first: cleanse and purge high traffic areas. But the best part, and the point of my sharing this post: finding organizational tools to make this momma's life easier.

Here are a few of my favs and pointers on how I stayed sane during the rebuild of my bathroom and how a discovered "secret closet" became my laundry nook.

1) I pared down. Anything: lotions, sprays of all scents, laundry items that were not used were tossed. I made myself stay on one or two shelves so that the rest of the space could be used for a work area (folding laundry, etc.) And instead of turning to the trash, I asked my mom and sisters and friends if they were in need of some of the things I just didn't use - some of the scents and such were more their "smells" than my own.

2) Because I don't like to dry most of my clothes, I installed a hanging rack that actually folds into itself for easy storing. The Frost from Ikea holds 20 yards of clothes and fabric, which is quite spacious. Another favorite: The Jabba, a 16-clip drying system that comes in the most adorable shade of blue and green. For around $5, it is a steal.

3) The most important thing, as we geared towards moving into our new space(s), was to have accessible "storage" for our kids. Ages 6, 5 and 3, they are all quite independent when it comes to getting their own coats, hanging up bath towels and the like. I liked the idea of storage hooks, but if they were going to be in plain site, I wanted something different. Worldmarket has the best options: For $10-20, you can find pieces that are three-prong and have a great vintage feel.


4) I needed a place to put my personal jewelry collection - the things I make to sell are packaged away as they are created and posted on my site, but as for the pieces that I wear everyday? I had not a clue how to display. While cleaning up after our new freezer was delivered, I found a black rack, of sorts, in the bottom of the cardboard pile. I turned it over and over again in my hands and instantly knew what it was going to be upcycled to be: my jewelry organizer! It's functional and matches the other black accents in my new bathroom space, and it's nice for me to display my pretties when guests are in our home.

5) Finally, as the finishing touches were coming around, decorating was of course on my agenda. I have a soft spot for all things upcycled and wanted to be as eco-friendly and as easy on my pocketbook as possible. I walked through my house and piled everyday items that I looked at day in and day out on my big dining room table. From that gleaning, unexpected artwork came to my attention: My collection of antique bottles from the 1800s were split apart and placed on a barn-siding cabinet in the bathroom to serve both as decorative bits and also perfect tiny vases for spring blooms. A hand-stitched tea towel that I kept setting aside for fear of staining it in the kitchen became a unique wall-hanging. A woven basket placed under our open vanity sink is a perfect container for our kid's washclothes and hand towels.

Now, our renovations are at a standstill until the fall, when Indiana weather pushes us back indoors. Until then, I keep re-organizing and reminding myself on what my family really needs to have around and what we can give away. And even though our space of home is becoming more spacious, I keep my eye out for inexpensive "cures" to chaos ills!

Pretty Things for Mother's Day

For Mother's Day I was spoiled. My kids gave me a beautiful table cloth from Orla Kiely's Collection for Target and the gracious folks at Seeing The Everyday (have you subscribed yet? You must. It is excellent.) sent an unexpected bouquet of gorgeous gerbera daisies. They were delivered by Flowerbud.com and the packaging was out-of-sight lovely.

I hope you felt equally spoiled and celebrated.

Handmade Gardening — by Guest Mom Starr Keller

When I was diagnosed with adenomyosis last year, I started desperately doing research on the cause and effects of the disease. All signs pointed to what I was putting into my body, and unfortunately for a lady that loves sweets and the occasional fountain soda (caffeine!), all things that fell in the "refined" processing categories were out. No more food or drink with gluten, which meant a big change in my cabinets and grocery lists.

I grew up in a home full with natural parenting and organic eating long before it was en vogue, so calling upon my roots, I knew how to steer my ship and my family's dinner table into a more healthful way. This was the way our family garden was born: eggplant, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes of all hybrids, sweet peas, and recently, herbs. It has constantly amazed me, and our three little ones delight in how we can take rich soil in little peat pots, tiny seeds, a few days of warm sunshine and a bit of watering and walah! The end result is that we have bright veggies, fruits and herbs of all sorts to enjoy.



Because our kids are still young (ages 6, 5, and 3) labeling what seeds we have planted is of utmost importance. Our first year out, we had 35 tomato plants and one cabbage...so, I turned my efforts to etsy to find creative ways to identify our plantings. I like to support like-minded folks who are supporting themselves, so handmade stakes from Artisan Hands are perfect! And three stakes for $20 is a reasonable price for these little pretties that can be used again. The frequent watering help from little hands won't soil these pretties either.



For little bits of vintage loveliness in the garden, I like the offerings on from the etsy shop Monkeys Always Look. The idea of upcycling old pieces of silver into functional markers is so creative, and eco-friendly!

Happy gardening, made easier with handmade loveliness. It doesn't get any better than that!

Hello Starr!

Dear friends. Please say Hello to Starr Keller! She's this week's Guest Mom and I can't wait to get to know her. Here's a short bio in Starr's words to serve as an introduction:

I am Starr Keller, the face and creative mind and hands behind Starr Strung Jewelry Designs. My jewelry is a mix of fine sterling silver, natural gemstones, and vintage pieces from the past reworked into bridal jewelry, hair accessories and everyday wear. I live in the great Hoosier state of Indiana in a historic, 150 year old home with my family of five.

I recently took the leap from corporate America working as an editor for an antique trade publication to be an independent artisan — and I love it! My idea of a perfect day starts in an antique mall with a cup of organic coffee, and the plan to dig around for good bits of vintage pieces, going home to rework them into upcycled modern art, and then going to my garden for the basis of a good family dinner.

I am passionate about supporting the arts, and those "indie" industry who are independent as well. I am so excited to write here with Design Mom, and share fun things with like-minded readers!

We're Officially Locals Now

Morning all! It's a brand new week. Our house is now wired up. I've got a new Guest Mom to introduce to you today. And I'll be announcing winners of last Friday's Giveaways in a bit. Life is good!

While I'm writing today's posts, here are some pics of our maiden voyage to the library. Library cards were acquired by all.




Most fun thing about our new library: see that phone Oscar has to his ear? When you pick it up, someone on the other end is there to read you a story.

Which reminds me, we have decided to try something new: no cable/DVR. I am a bit of a DVR addict and want to declare from the beginning that I may not last a month without its joys. We're not giving up TV altogether — we just want to experiment with the downloadable options out there. Maybe Apple TV. Maybe Roku/Netflix. We'll see.

While we figure things out, the library has suddenly regained it's prior glory in my life. I've got all sorts of reading time on my hands now that I can't depend on American Idol to keep me entertained. So I'm need of book recommendations. If you've read anything wonderful lately, please leave a comment. I'd love a nice long list to plow through.

Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009 — Coach Handbag

All right, Friends. This is it. The final Giveaway of Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009. As you'd expect, the prize is fabulous: it's a handbag from Coach's Bonnie Collection.

That's right. You read correctly. The prize is a Coach Handbag!!

To be exact, it's the Leather Olive in Green and it retails for $248. It can be worn on the shoulder or folded over as a clutch — the straps are removable and the silhouette is expandable. Basically, it's gorgeous. I can't think of anyone that wouldn't look great carrying this beautiful bag. If I owned one, I would admire it all day long.

If you've ever wanted to splurge on a great bag, you won't find a better excuse than Mother's Day to treat yourself — and pretty much anything in Coach's Bonnie Collection will do you up right. If a splurge isn't in the cards for you this weekend (I hear that), then lucky you — you get a chance to win this great bag anyway. Yay!




To enter, just leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced on Monday (5/11). Thank you for being a sponsor, Coach. Happy Mother's Day!!

Find more info about this week of Giveaways here.

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Update: Congratulations, Ang! You are the winner. Thanks for entering, everybody. Happy Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009 — Clarisonic Plus Skin Care System

For the second Friday Finale Giveaway, the prize is a Clarisonic Plus Skin Care System with Spot Therapy. The kit includes everything you see in the picture below: a cordless Clarisonic® PLUS with 3 speeds, universal charging cradle, sensitive face brush head & spot therapy brush head, 1 oz. trial sizes of Refreshing Gel Cleanser, Gentle Hydro Cleanser, and Nourishing Care Cleanser plus a 2 oz. trial size Refining Skin Polish. The complete set sells for $225.

I've been using the Clarisonic for a couple of weeks now and I'm pretty much addicted — it's an official part of my shower routine (condition hair, clarisonic face, soap up, etc). My skin feels super soft, I could swear my pores look smaller and I love that the whole thing only takes only 60 seconds.

Want to know more? Visit Clarisonic's facebook page or their website.




To enter, just leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced on Monday (5/11). Thank you for being a sponsor, Clarisonic. Mothers are beautiful!

Find more info about this week of Giveaways here.

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Update: Congratulations, Brooke! You are the winner. Thanks for entering, everybody. Happy Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009 — $200 Shopping Spree at DownEast Basics Plus a Layering Kit worth over $50

Happy Friday! There are 3 Giveaways scheduled for today — it's like a super-duper finale to this amazing Mother's Day Giveaway Week. So please check back, I'm writing up the other two posts right now.

Today's first prize is a $200 Shopping Spree to DownEast Basics plus a a complete Layering Set in white (an over $50 value) which includes a Wonder Tee, a Camisole, a Short sleeved Crew, a Half Sleeve Tee and a Half Sleeve V-Neck. Just in time to outfit yourself for summer!

DownEast Basics is a go-to source for clothing that's both affordable and stylish. I love throwing on one of their lightweight printed dresses or skirts when I need to get dressed in a hurry — but still want to feel feminine and pretty. Also, you must check out the terrific swimwear DownEast is offering this season. Hot!




To enter, just leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced on Monday (5/11). Thank you for being a sponsor, DownEast Outfitters. Yay for Mothers!

Find more info about this week of Giveaways here.

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Update: Congratulations, Sarah of Confessions! You are the winner. Thanks for entering, everybody. Happy Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009 — $200 Gift Card to Red Envelope

For the fourth Giveaway this week, the prize is $200 worth of Gift Cards from crowd-favorite-gift-shop Red Envelope. $200 to spend as you please — woot! Technically. It's two $100 gift cards. So you could give one to your Mother for Happy Mother's Day. And keep one for yourself. Or you could just spend the whole thing and send your Mother a nice note. I won't tell.

Red Envelope is one of the original online gift sources and since their launch it's been nothing but a well-edited collection of smart and beautiful products. Still shopping for Mother's Day gifts? Don't miss their brilliant ideas here and here — my favorites are the Year of Seeds, Handprint Canvas Kit and the Envirosax Market Bags.




To enter, just leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced tomorrow (Friday 5/7). Thank you for being a sponsor, Red Envelope. Mothers are my favorite!

Find more info about this week of Giveaways here.

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Update: Congratulations, Itty_Bitty_Wittes! You are the winner. Thanks for entering, everybody. More great giveaways to come.

Jordan sent me the link to this roll of Facestape she saw on Hi & Low. Wouldn't your kids have hours of fun with this stuff? Wouldn't you?

Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009 — Blue Poppy Jewelry

For the third Giveaway this week, the prize is an amazing ebony and gold Poppy Necklace and pair of Poppy Pod Earrings from Blue Poppy Jewelry. Please don't faint from all the gorgeousness. The necklace and earring combo sell for $202.

I've been featuring Blue Poppy since they launched back in the day with a couple pairs of earrings and one necklace (that's an exaggeration, but not by much). Happily, their line keeps expanding, their style keeps being refined — and I continue to be a die hard fan. Take a peek at their wares. You are sure to love them too.




To enter, just leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced tomorrow (Thursday 5/7). Thank you for being a sponsor, Blue Poppy Designs. Mothers are rad!

Find more info about this week of Giveaways here.

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Update: Congratulations, Kate Coveny Hood! You are the winner. Thanks for entering, everybody. More great giveaways to come.

First Week in Colorado

Friends! The truck arrived Monday morning. Mayflower gave us a window of May 5th to May 8th. But I told the driver as he was heading off that sooner was better — and score! he was able to arrive a day early on May 4th. We tried to be as generous as we could with a tip*. : )

Our house is now full of boxes and I am going through each one. I keep my utility knife handy for box opening (my knife doesn't look like the one above, but I wish it did. Isn't that photo pretty?) There is more purging of stuff as I go and I have an urge to abandon all my material goods and live the life of a monk.

The number one thing about living in Colorado? The Sabeys. We love living near our cousins! What a treat. They have taken fabulous care of us — providing a place to land until our truck arrived, keeping us fed and entertained, helping with the toddlers so we can work and making sure we have good driving directions.

The move has officially happened and now we're busy getting settled. Here's a recap of our first week:

-Thursday the plane landed and we hung out with our cousins. We visited the closest recreation center and got a rec center id card.
-Friday we met the principal at our new school. Had a tour. Met our new teachers. We also picked up keys to our new house.
-Friday night we went to a grownups only fancy church party. I hadn't packed appropriately, so Friday afternoon I did a little shopping and found a fab little black jacket that I've already worn three times.
-Saturday I attended a womens conference that my sister-in-law Lisa organized.
-Saturday evening we went swimming at another Rec Center.
-Saturday night we went car shopping.
-Sunday we met our new congregation and explored our new house. The kids picked their bedrooms.
-Monday morning the moving truck arrived and the boxes were unloaded.
-Monday afternoon we picked up our new car and registered the kids for school at the district office. We also decided on an internet provider — but we have to wait until Friday evening to get hooked up. (I am practically dying without the internet in my home. We keep hanging out at the Sabey's so we can borrow their wifi.)
-Tuesday the kids attended their first day of school. They loved it.
-Tuesday night was Scouts for Ralph and Activity Days for Maude.
-Tuesday night highlight: I organized the garage and finished unpacking the kitchen.
-Wednesday is today. My goal: get library cards and find our new favorite burger joint.

Is that list almost totally practical and boring, or what? I confess, I look forward to the exploring part of the settling in — we can't wait to get to know our new city!

*Tip on tips: we were told the tip should be 5% of the cost of the move, split between the packers and the unpackers, with a larger portion going to the packers. On both ends of the move, we gave the tip to the leader and he was responsible for making sure his team got their share.

Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009 — All About Cute's Orla Kiely Shoulder Bag

For the second Giveaway this week, the prize is a fab shoulder Orla Kiely Shoulder Bag from All About Cute. Again, winner's choice — you can pick flower stem, pear, or my favorite: multistem hatch. Each bag sells for $175.

If you've been reading this blog for very long, you know I'm in love with all things Orla Kiely. Her textiles and patterns are fantastic. I fully covet her handbags and luggage. Luckily, All About Cute keeps their shop well stocked with Orla goodies — as well as darling things from other terrific designers. Extra bonus: All About Cute is offering Design Mom Readers 30% off their entire store as part of this Mother's Day celebration. Just use the code "Mom" at checkout. Sweeeet!




To enter, just leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced tomorrow (Wednesday 5/6). Thank you for being a sponsor, All About Cute. I heart Mothers!

Find more info about this week of Giveaways here.

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Update: Congratulations, kloth & bolt! You are the winner. Thanks for entering, everybody. More great giveaways to come.

Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009 — Sakura Bloom Sling

For the first Giveaway this week, the prize is a gorgeous Artisan sling from Sakura Bloom. Winner's choice.

These slings are truly luxurious, beautifully detailed and made from handwoven duponi silk. There is nothing finer that you could wrap your precious baby in. Sakura Bloom offers slings in linen and silk — the silk ones start at $260. Never used a sling before? Find helpful tips and instructions here.




To enter, just leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday 5/5). Thank you for being a sponsor, Sakura Bloom. Yay for Mothers!

Find more info about this week of Giveaways here.

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Update: Congratulations, Courtney B! You are the winner. Thanks for entering, everybody. More great giveaways to come.

Mother's Day Giveaway Week 2009

It's here! A whole week of giveaways dedicated to celebrating Moms. Be here every day this week for a generous giveaway — plus two on Friday. These aren't just any old giveaways. Each prize is amazing and was hand-picked by me. And as I mentioned before, each prize is generous. I hope you'll spread the word by linking to this post. These prizes are too good not to share.

Monday's Giveaway: Sling from Sakura Bloom (closed)
Tuesday's Giveaway: Orla Kiely Shoulder Bag by All About Cute (closed)
Wednesday's Giveaway: Necklace and Earrings from Blue Poppy Jewelry (closed)
Thursday's Giveaway: $200 Gift Card to Red Envelope (closed)
Friday's Giveaway #1: $200 Shopping Spree to DownEast Basics plus a Complete Layering Kit (closed)
Friday's Giveaway #2: Clarisonic Plus Skin Care System (closed)
Bonus: Surprise Friday Giveaway #3: Coach Handbag from the Bonnie Collection (closed)

Happy Mother's Day!

Moving Day Highlights

Unexpected happy things that happened on moving day:

1) A surprise neighborhood breakfast. Our street has a first-day-of-school-tradition of breakfast on the lawn while we wait for the school bus. As a super sweet farewell, our neighbors held a send-off breakfast for our family in the same tradition. We were touched and delighted. Everybody enjoyed donuts and juice and then we took pictures of the kids in front of the giant yellow and green Mayflower truck.

2) Figuring out the man who was directing the stuff onto the moving truck was also the driver and truck owner and would be the same man meeting us in Denver to unload. I can't believe how much this put me at ease. It was so nice to see the truck driving off knowing it was headed straight to our new house — and not to a holding station somewhere to be reloaded onto another truck.

3) Feeling at ease. The actual move day was pretty darn peaceful. My oldest 3 went to school. My younger two played at Laura's house. My friend Megan dropped by while the truck was being loaded to say a last goodbye, and everything was so calm that we got to have a great, hour-long discussion about schools and college placement. How's that for an elegant move?

4) As we drove away from our empty house and headed out to pick up our kids, our friend Linda brought by a half dozen giant cupcakes from Lulu's. So decadent!

5) When we picked up our kids, the elementary school gave us a sweet send-off. Ralph, Maude and Olive's teachers organized a combined recess for their 3 classes during the last hour of the day. They all cheered us as we climbed in the car and headed to the airport hotel.

Recorded here so I don't forget.

image here

Happy May

So happy about an early Mother's Day gift for myself: a new toaster for our new home. A four-slicer, no less! We've been managing with an inadequate-for-our-big-family-2-slicer for many, many years now, but it was time for an upgrade. Meet the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster. This beauty is scheduled to arrive on my doorstep today. The kids can't wait to break it in.

Need your own Mother's Day toaster? Here's how to get a deal: use the code “TOAST2MOM” for 20% off any of the Breville Smart Toasters (2-slice or 4-slice). Good the whole month of May!

Happy May, Friends! Be here on Monday for a big week of Mother's Day Giveaways. Awesome stuff every single day.

Changing Diapers, Changing Minds — by Guest Mom Amy of Progressive Pioneer

We started out using cloth diapers with our baby Sam from the very beginning, so I have little to compare them to. However, it seems to me that cloth diapers have come a long way and are far more user friendly than the white squares and pins of the past. Most have velcro and stretchy legs, and many even have pockets so you can adjust the absorbency by adding extra layers. I often get questions from curious moms, who want to know, "But... how exactly does it work?"

Jillian's Drawers has a wonderful solution for those unsure of how to get started. You can try out all the most popular brands for $10 and just return the ones that don't work for you. They call it their "Changing Diapers, Changing Minds" program.

We use and love the Bum Genius one-size-fits-all diapers. They have ingenious snaps that let you adjust the size from newborn to toddler.

Other diapers I've heard good things about are Fuzzi Bunz and Bummis. Go ahead and try them out for yourself!

From Tree to Chair — by Guest Mom Amy of Progressive Pioneer

I go weak in the knees over the right piece of furniture. I love the warmth and honeyed color of real, solid wood. There is really nothing I'd rather sit down to a good meal in, than a great, hand-crafted chair. Growing up in Maine, where everything is steeped in history, we had our fair share of centuries old furniture. That's the wonderful thing about wood; it only gets better with age and a little love and care. Here are a few of my favorite heirloom-quality furniture makers:



Thomas Moser
I mention him first because he has been the inspiration for so many furniture makers and you can see his influence everywhere.



Kalon Studios
I recently discovered Kalon Studios and love their aesthetic; kind of eastern, kind of eco and kind of classic. Their baby furniture is beautiful.

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Salt Lake's own Ivory Bill. We own and love the cabinet pictured at top. It currently holds stuffed animals and binkies in Sam's room and is the perfect height to sit right next to the nursing chair.

Beautiful furniture that you'll have forever is worth the wait. We're currently saving up for the perfect dining room table, one that will hold an abundance of loved ones, that will hold the stories, candlelight, traditions, Sunday dinners and Saturday morning breakfasts within it's grain and grow richer and more lovely as the years go by.