Waiting for Ruby

Beatrix

My sweet and talented friend Geeta has once again designed the most beautiful little set! This dress set was inspired by Beatrix Potter,and this one is perfect for Easter,Passover or portraits....

Our Visit to a local Cob studio

While shopping at a Waldorf school craft fair,we met a wonderful potter who finished sculpting her largest masterpiece two years ago. With a little help from some friends and kindly souls,she constructed a cob building on her property in which to hold pottery classes for children and adults alike. She invited us to come and see it,and this past weekend we were able to tour it and then sit inside and have tea and chocolate ginger scones. So beautiful,so truly beautiful.

Many paper lanterns hang from the wooden ceiling inside this little gem.The floor consists of pebbles and straw, because it is a pottery studio,it makes for a very easy cleanup!And because it is a studio,it is very simple,if one were making a residence, it could be more detailed in it's design.

We have been reading about building our own straw bale or cob home for a little while now,so it was wonderful to actually see one and spend time inside one. There are few, if any, cob or straw bale homes in United States cities-and why not? They make so much more sense than contemporary homes.

Be my Valentine... for just a little while

Dear Ruby,

Dad and I make dinner together and have strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting for Valentine's Day but we don't exchange gifts. It may sound corny,but the memories of doing things together is so much better than a tangible item. When you are finally with us,and you are old enough to stand,you will make this tradition a little messier,but a whole lot more fun!

My favorite part of Valentine's day is putting up cutesy decorations that you wouldn't want to look at for more than a few days! I can't live with clutter and little things all over the place, it drives me crazy. When you are old enough to read this,you will know that already! But maybe,when you are old enough to read this,I will have changed because I learned to deal with that better by having a child around,I hope this is the case.

I made this heart garland with a vintage pillowcase,two liberty prints,and felt. I also used an embroidered rose that was cut from a damaged needlepoint purse. I long for the day that you tug at my sleeve and ask me if you can help me decorate. My little love, I am thinking of you always.

Love,

Mom

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

2008 is the year of the Rat in the Chinese zodiac. I think it is really really important to teach children about all the holidays the world celebrates. Though our daughter will be of Chinese descent,we will not only focus on American and Chinese holidays,but also the holidays celebrated by other cultures as well. We will try our best of course, because things do get lost in translation.If you are interested in teaching your child about other cultures as we are, Creative Diversity is a catalog that carries many books and toys that can help. One of my favorite things from their catalog is a poster that shows pictures of people's homes around the world, it always hung in my pre-school classrooms. I also had the wonderful opportunity to work at a Jewish pre-school for a couple of years and I learned so many things to share with Ruby.

This weekend we will celebrate Chinese New Year in Boston, my cousin is throwing a party in honor of the occasion.

I wanted to make some things to bring with us.I crafted felt fortune cookies that I spotted over at Shim + Sons blog, she was inspired by Martha.

I searched the internet for Buddhist proverbs, and I did use many, but I also used Irish,Native American, and American Folk proverbs as well for the fortune sayings. I have red mints and sesame-honey candy to put inside along with the fortunes.

One of the big things for Chinese New Year is to give friends and family money in red envelopes. My cousin is having a lottery for her party. Everyone will bring a small amount of money that we will pool and the winner will take all. I made two envelopes with red and gold embossed paper lined in gold,to hold all of the money. I took an envelope apart to use as a template,my paper was just a little short,so I decided to punch holes and thread ribbon through to tie it together. I think it looks nicer that way-a happy "accident" !

There's Such Beauty in Imperfection

There really is. Freckles. Chipping paint on a vintage bench. a B on an otherwise straight A report card. Mismatched socks. A baby wearing prescription glasses. A goody two shoes saying the F word. You get the drift. But I am still going to say it- the Patriots having a score of 18-1 instead of a perfect 19!

My husband and I have lived in Philly almost 5 years now,but we both grew up on Long Island,NY.Our neighborhood was silent last night-except for us banging pots and pans on our front porch when there was 1 second left in the game. I think a football fan was born last night! We had such a blast of a weekend starting with seeing one of our favorite comedians, Bob Marley ,on Friday night,we enjoy him so much we are two steps away from becoming his stalker.

And here is another imperfect thing of beauty, a table runner I finally finished this morning while listening to the Juno (folktastic!)and Once (beautiful!)soundtracks :

I used the Liberty birdsong and peacock feather fabrics in pinks and blues and linen in between.

 

 

My Etsy shop will not be opening in January as I planned, I have some new ideas (that I am really excited about!)that I need to research before opening up shop.

And,most everything that I am making is taking A LOT longer than I expected so that is delaying things as well. But there is no rush,and before I know it,it will be up and running.