two straight lines

Wonder-ful

Well, this is the condition of my studio today after a whirlwind of deadlines in the last week.  About a week and a half ago I was contacted by an editor at Wondertime magazine asking me to do a craft idea for a fall issue.  A busy weekend of ideas followed, then there were directions to be written followed by making the projects they approved for the photo shoot.  The boxes have been fedexed, and now its time catch up on the deadlines I've missed, most notably, my item to be included in the One in Ten Charity Auction.

So, please pick up the October issue of Wondertime.  I'm thrilled, and frankly honored to be included in such a high quality publication.  For those who haven't seen it, I described it to my girlfriend as a parenting magazine similar in feel to Real Simple.  It has a calmness about it that sort of makes me want to crawl into its pages.  And when I gave a nod to them last week, it wasn't because I was working for them.  I had told my husband the weekend before they contacted me that I had an idea for a column to pitch to them, and I subscribed to the magazine and began reading their website.  That's how I found their printables and decided to post about them.  Strange how things work out sometimes.

So I'm off to clean the packing peanuts off my kitchen floor.  I'll leave the studio for tomorrow...

Hey- Look What I Made!

No more scrawny newborn over here as Lucie weighs in at 15 1/4 lbs. at four months.  Sweet chubby baby.  She's all show-offy about her newfound rolling over skill.  She may have done it sooner if I would remember to put her down.

Things may be  bit quiet over here for a few days.  If I owe you an email, please be patient.

A few more for good measure...

Question~ Answered

Has anyone noticed whether or not Michael's carries the double-sided crepe paper from Martha Stewart Crafts?  I don't want to drag the family there tomorrow if they don't have it.  I've never been actually looking for it while I was there.  Thanks!

Update: They did have it.  It was in the bottom left hand corner of the Martha Stewart display at my Michael's.  Both of my local Michael's have the same basic set-up for the MS products, one side of one aisle, plus a seasonal kiosk elsewhere.  This crepe paper is gorgeous, and as far as I can tell only comes in one size 12 x 12 (one of the commenters mentioned a larger size).  They do have tissue paper, glassine, and vellum in larger sizes.

All Play, No Work

Not much solo crafting going on around here, only the kind that involves a little helper.  Have you checked out the printables over at Wondertime?  We tried the picnic play one this morning, first letting Elliot sharpen his scissor skills, then we printed a second copy and laminated them with our Xyron and made up a game.

Our rules:  Each player takes a picnic blanket, and all other pieces are placed in a paper bag.  Players take turns removing one item at a time from paper bag until a player gets 1 plate, 1 drink, and 2 food items.  If you draw an ant, all items must be returned to the bag.  Note: 3 year olds have a hard time resisting looking in the bag while they pick. 

I've been researching schools for Elliot and reading about the Montessori approach, so I ordered him some items recently from Montessori Services-- a pitcher, some little glasses, a knife, a chopper (shown), a cutting board, vegetable brush, etc.  He's really enjoyed "helping" while I make dinner.  He even sets the table complete with itty bitty glasses for his Dad and me.  He chops our fruit for us and eats as much as he chops.  So cute.

We tried paper mache a few weeks ago.  Elliot made a canister for the dog biscuits by covering an oatmeal can with newspaper, then stickers.  I have a great book about paper mache that I keep meaning to post pictures from.  I bought the book a while back when I saw the work of Julie Arkell at Takashimaya.  I think I could really enjoy that medium.

Really Random

OK- this has absolutely nothing to do with the other giveaway. I was just wondering if there is anyone out there who wants this Christopher Blake elephant birdhouse.  I was at his shop maybe 7 years ago and I couldn't decide between this elephant and a bird, and he gave them both to me for the price of one.  Well, it was broken in a move (I think my husband dropped it in the garage.) and I've never used it, and I don't think I ever will.  We are uncluttering bigtime, and I want it to go to someone who really wants it.  I always thought it would be cute in a circus themed nursery.  The break is clean, but I think I'll leave the gluing to whoever gets it so that it doesn't break again in shipping.  The item is free, but I would like you to paypal me $6 for shipping just so I know you really want it and aren't just getting your jollies asking me to send you free stuff.  Please only request this item if it is something you really want and have an immediate use for.  I'd say its about 16" long.  I'll decide how to choose someone after I see what kind of response I get...

And the winner of the other giveaway is Chelsea.  Chelsea- please send me your address.

Update: It's Melissa's lucky day, I've decided to give it to the first person who asked...

Quilt Studio

Quilt Studio of Mozell Benson

Man, I have no intention of posting so much, but I keep thinking of things to tell all of you...I am completely dying over the quilt studio built for Gee's Bend quilter Mozell Benson by Auburn University students that is featured in Metropolis this month.  It is so incredible, contemporary with an amazingly organic feel.  Makes me want to scrap it all and build my eco-farmhouse somewhere.

Quilt Studio of Mozell Benson

More here.

Press

One of the most fun and gratifying things about blogging is having others appreciate and recognize your work.  I do this all for fun, in the hopes that it will point me in the direction that I should be heading.  Little by little this has been happening as I weed through the various parts of the projects that I take on, and manage to craft a creative life for myself.  I came across a quote a few weeks ago that I really liked~

Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.
James M. Barrie

I have been amazed by the generosity of the blogging community, and have tried, in turn, to be generous.  I have learned you get much more in return when you give with an open heart.

In the past few weeks Two Straight Lines has been mentioned on several blogs that I respect immensely, and I wanted to point you in the direction of those posts.

Cookie Magazine
Design Sponge
Decor8
Apartment Therapy~ The Nursery
IkeaHacker
Craftzine

Thanks so much for posting about the things I create here in my home for my family.  It is truly appreciated.

A few fun links:
Divine Children's Clothing from France: La Fee Clochette
Inspiring Blog: Good + Happy Day

Resource: I purchased the high chair above- probably the most impractical high chair ever- when I was pregnant with my son at a consignment shop in Maplewood NJ.  I assumed it was vintage at the time, but when I got home closer examination revealed a sticker at the bottom marked "Druker Inc. Wooster St., New York, New York, made in France."  After investigating it a bit, I realized this is a high chair manufactured by the same company who makes the woven bistro chairs you see all over France (and that when I am a wealthier person I will have in my kitchen).  So, it is a modern highchair, complete with seat belt, made in France.  It is one of my favorite things, although we don't use it.  Maybe for dollies someday?

And if you've made it this far, a little prize for you.  Leave a comment here by Monday night, let's say 10PM (my bedtime) and I'll draw a name and send off a little prize.  Not sure what it will include, but I'll cook something up.

Yay- glad that's over!  Didn't mean to drum up so much praise, really.  And the winner is #125- now I just need to figure out who that was:)  Thanks to everyone who commented.  I'll show you what the prize was soon, I promise.

Flip-Flop

I finally got around to making myself a little essentials bag.  It's hard to tell from the photo, but that's dark denim with the print.

PS- the fabric is a Japanese import that I bought at Haberman's last year.  I know they don't have any currently, and don't know who else would carry it.  The selvedge reads "Printmaker International," which looks like it is in New York.

The Blue Bird Wish

We've been cleaning out our garage, which resulted in a rather large pile of things to be donated, so I decided to brave the thrift store today with the kids.  To be honest, unlike most bloggers, I'm not a huge thrifter.  I actually love old- particularly vintage- things, but I really don't feel like this area has very good thrift stores.  I've lived places that do, for example, I think Minneapolis is thrifty Heaven.  Garage sales and estate sales every way you turn.  Why is that?  Why are some places better than others?  That would be an interesting anthropological study, or at least a fruitful one.

So anyway, out we head to a new-to-me thrift store, and I had a feeling there was a treasure to be found.  I got a few things, which is really all I wanted-- after all I'm supposed to be getting rid of things, right?  I happened upon a book called The Blue Bird Wish Comes True published in 1960.  Now, I was a Blue Bird, and I remember very little about it except for the very adorable wooden blue bird name tag I got to wear.  Who knew that this book holds the very philosophy that my life is built upon?

"The Blue Bird Wish"

To have fun
To learn to make beautiful things
To remember to finish what I begin
To want to keep my temper most of the time
To go to interesting places
To know about trees and flowers and birds
To make friends

I don't have lofty goals, people.  Just keep it simple.

The illustrations are completely adorable, little girls making handmade puppets and showing them to each other.  Sound familiar?  Filled with recipes and crafts and ideas for helping around the house, it is really a charming primer for domestic life.  And it just happens to match Lucie's room perfectly.

Also picked up- one soft cotton floral sheet and one old school desk, where Elliot's lunch was consumed today.  See it there under the book?

All Together Now

So here's the nursery.  I'm really pleased with how it all turned out, from when I first decided to redecorate it after being inspired by Laura Normandin's doll, donated to the auction to benefit the family of James Kim.  Because this room is attached to our master bedroom, I wanted it to be a space the whole family felt comfortable in, girlish without being frilly.  I pictured myself reading to my children on this low bed, and I secretly hope that some day my kids curl up here together.  I have already started making doll clothes for the little clothesline, and there will be boy clothes along with the girl clothes with this goal in mind.

I'll try and give you a proper tour now, with hopes you'll see how the small parts fit together.  I'll put all the links to projects together at the bottom. 

The photo above shows the wall along the side of my house, where the bed and chair are.  The empty clothesline is up there (just waiting for doll clothes), the decoupaged side table next to the bed, and the little pillow is there on the chair.  The angel, unaltered as yet, is above the chair.  The curtains were the first project I did for this room, made from muslin and bits of an Urban Outfitters bedspread.

Now this view is the front wall of my house, if you were to hop over to my room, you would see three more of these windows also on the front of my house.  Between the windows are the mary jane shadow boxes, the orange table I picked up at an estate sale way before I had kids, and I painted it this color for Elliot's nursery. His nursery was almost this exact color of blue- Benjamin Moore "Early Morning" but the color in this room was part of Martha Stewart's now discontinued line from Sherwin Williams- "Skyline."  On the floor, the lamb chair was a gift from Babystyle.com.  The front of the dresser is just to the right of the lamb.  See here?

This wall has Lucie's dresser, the smock I sewed hanging above it and the butterfly lamp. The doll I commissioned from Laura Normandin is also on the dresser.  See this photo?  That is the door into my room (hello unmade bed), which I have to tell you I absolutely love.  I prefer to have my kids near me at night, so I loved opening the door between the rooms when this room was Elliot's.  The door on the right is the closet, which you can see here. I had the builders put in shelves figuring a single rod is useless for a babies room, and I thought this room might someday be a sewing room for me.  The shelves just lift out if I decide to put a rod in later.

And now we're sort of back where we started, here is the door to the hallway, see the foot of the bed down there?  The clothesline also runs along the side wall of the bed.  This wall jogs in about 18", so the mattress fits pretty perfectly, it makes it feel a bit more cozy to me.  Below this shadowbox is a hook that could eventually hold a coat or bookbag, but for now displays this adorable little dress I picked up last week at the Oliebollen warehouse sale.  I had to, it matched her room.  Below is a little crunch hamper, I love those.

And to reference all of the old posts which have detailed photos-
Inspiration
Curtains
Mary Janes
Mary Jane Shadowboxes
Laura Normandin Doll 
Bedside Table
Tiny Pillow
Bedding and Clothesline
Butterfly Mobile (which didn't make the cut)
The Angel
Smock
Butterfly Lamp and Finished Smock

and a link to the whole flickr set

Update: I have gotten a ton of questions about a few things-

a) the smock pattern is from Ebay- McCall's #7629 c.1981

b) the toy bar was purchased on sale from Babystyle when I was pregnant with Elliot (2003).  It was part of a toy line designed by Josie Bissett, 'cause I think TV stars design the best toys;)  It was ridiculously cheap (maybe $15) and has been a favorite of both of my kids.  The dangly parts are a sun, moon, and little puppy.  It would be pretty easy to make if you are so inclined, and there are some available for a decent amount of money like this one.