A bit of whimsy!

a new world

2011-10-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Ok. I have stopped writing and designing for over a year butI have not stopped enjoying your comments and visits to my blog and am forever grateful. Can we just pretend it never happened?

As you all may know i have been busy practicing homeopathic medicine and finishing up my clinical internship in Berkeley. which means i had to move from L.A to the (beautiful) North Bay area. It has changed my life dramatically. The good news: I have helped a lot of people feel better - which makes me feel better. Secondly, I enjoy the wine country immensely. Not just because I enjoy wine:) It has so much to offer. Fresh air, a serenity and soulfulness that i have not experienced previously. Yes, i miss L.A. occasionally. Maybe it is the spontaneity, the spur-of-the-moment gregariousness of the city where friendships can cross borders of age, nationality and background - some lasting others transient. Creativity bubbles under the surface and can be teased out by anyone with the desire to do so. But the truth is, i never felt home there. Maybe i wanted something more for my little girl, for my family. A feeling of coziness, community, integrity. L.A. has many unique faces but it lacks honesty and it is too generous with its pretentiousness. It's easy to get lost in it.

Somehow when you move to a brand new place and are not in your 20's anymore your believe system gets blown out of the water. Your insecurities magnify. But somehow with my new found love and passion of Homeopathy, and my sweet 5 year old daughter and amazing husband, I was able to shine some light on my values, my depth of character and we took the plunge and moved to Petaluma in Sonoma. Just 40 minutes north of San Francisco. So far nobody is regretting anything! It feels like a new world. And my amazing hubby just rolls with it. We love our new life style. We met beautiful people. There is no disguise here. What you see is what you get. You can find it all: An abundance of charm, antique markets, and victorian homes, rolling hills reminiscent of the english country side, egg farms, stunning coastlines,

simplicity and new friends owning their vulnerability. Life is good.

There is no shortage of antique markets, flea markets and farmer's markets here. The pictures are taken at china camp in the bay area. My daughter and her twin friends pretended to be shipwrecked and with Halloween coming up their imaginations where running wild.

And now i am off to visit all of your beautiful blog worlds to see what you have been up to and to get inspired.

Feel free to visit a journey to health where i let my hair down and talk about anything related to health, detoxing, chronic diseases and homeopathy. If you have any questions - please ask:) I am always happy to hear from you.

be well,

White on White

2010-02-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

today i feel like running off to France and taking a deep breath at 'La petite Bastide'...
found {here}

In tune with nature

2010-02-15T09:57:00.001-08:00

What inspires me this Monday morning? living on the rocks, and in tune with nature (island style)...

eclectic kitchens...
patterns in unexpected places and frosted-glass cabinets...

every surface coated in white including floors plus cheery hues {through accessories}...
and of course: tranquility through wood pieces and a mix of soft-toned touches!

when i saw these images i found it hard to tell where art ends and house begins. have a beautiful day everyone...

{images found: here}

...alive...

2010-02-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

{this is one of my favorite people in the world...Sienna. My daughter....so full of energy and life and love. I couldn't have asked for anything more!!! she has a smile that lights up the whole earth. She is so alive. She is happy. She is loved...she brings so much joy to me, that it seems a pity to keep it all to myself.} {here she is having fun with a dear friend of mine who is also a very talented photographer. somehow when Sienna is with her she just lights up.}

{and here is us. enjoying our girl play in the front yard. have you noticed as you get older more things move you to tears? and I am not even a crier.}
What are you t.h.a.n.k.f.u.l. for?

Bathed in Light

2010-02-11T10:27:00.001-08:00

Nothing is in good taste unless it suits the way you live. – Billy Baldwin
{found here and here}

like.want.need.

2010-02-10T09:58:00.001-08:00

{ l i k e } + { w a n t }
{ l i k e }
{ w a n t } + { n e e d }
{ n e e d ! }

{ l i k e } + { w a n t }

this morning i visited { indenfor & udenfor} and became seriously house-jealous after i stopped in. . By the way i found this gem of a site thru by-geisslein, one of my favorite blogs for serious eye candy. Enjoy your day everyone!

A Painting of Words

2010-02-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

I think last year has left me slightly giddy and melodramatic. I have neglected this blog and all of you my dear friends. The truth is, I had a lot of family drama to work through, and health issues that seem to have a direct correlation. I do believe that our physical well being is a direct reflection on our emotional and mental state. If i were actually writing about my personal junk here this will be the last post you will read, and you'll be throwing tomatoes at this blog. So, the turmoil has left its traces but I am better now. Life itself is a string of constant gain and loss, but there is something in painful experiences we are taking with us that is precious.

Coincidentally, i found a book or rather it found me. It is called "The Love Ceiling" by Jean Davies Okimoto. It is a story about the pull between family and creative self-expression. It tells of a woman who finds the courage to confront the toxic legacy of her father, a famous artist and cruel narcissist. I am not finished reading it but i can assure you that anyone who has been wrestling with a difficult father will find inspiration and solace in these lucid pages. It is a painting of words.

I am back here at 'A Bit of Whimsy' for good and owe many of you a visit to your inspirational worlds. Thanks for being a part of mine, thank you also for all your nice comments! I really appreciate every single word!!

{ images: from here }

what's wrong with a dog?

2009-11-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

Mother doesn't want a dog.
Mother says they smell,
And never sit when you say sit,
Or even when you yell.
And when you come home late at night
And there is ice and snow,
You have to go back out because
The dumb dog has to go.

Mother doesn't want a dog.
Mother says they shed,
And always let the strangers in
And bark at friends instead,
And do disgraceful things on rugs,
And track mud on the floor,
And flop upon your bed at night
And snore their doggy snore.

Mother doesn't want a dog.
She's making a mistake.
Because more than a dog, I think
She will not want this snake.

Judith Viorst

from "Poetry to make you smile" foreward by Jane O.Wayne
[photo credit: Paul Costello, Melanie Acevedo via domino]

fingerpainting:

2009-09-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

My girl and I had too much fun today!!

what a treat:

2009-09-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like a whimsical mouth-watering bakery. We like to find a new one every weekend. We are bakery lovers! This one immediately took me back in time when i was a little girl. We used to visit a place just like it every Sunday. I can still smell the subtle nutty sweetness of grated coconut, old-fashioned candy, homemade cookies and purity ice cream creations. It was the highpoint of the week when my sister and i shared a layered banana split with double whipped cream (the REAL kind!). And i swear it was even better than listening to crickets buzzing.

Thank you for reading, caring, commenting and...following along. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. I hope you treat yourself! G.

i invite you to share your fondest childhood memories or favorite weekend habits. Can't wait to read it. [Photo Credit: inspacelocations]

{letting go takes love}

2009-07-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

just sharing my favorites this morning. have a lovely day everyone!

“ Whatever life takes away from you, let it go. When you surrender and let go of the past, you allow yourself to be fully alive in the moment. Letting go of the past means you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now."
~ don Miguel Ruiz

{images:anthropologie}

{Swedish Summers}

2009-07-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

I love Sweden in the summer. and i love emmas blogg. then i found images from swedish photographer Annika Vannerus via emma's blog and i had to share a visual taste of the swedish lifestyle with all of you so you can feel what i feel. enjoy!

{Just Hop, Skip and Jump}

2009-07-12T11:11:00.001-07:00

you wanna make new friends? {Meet Meryl, Moira, Abe and Bernadette} just "hop skip and jump" but don't fall. :-)

{ the fun is in the detail }

2009-07-10T10:02:00.000-07:00

this morning: some of my prints had to be embellished with beautiful fine glitter and then packaged. it's one of my greatest passions. wrapping things. Is that sad? oh well, anyway i take a lot of time and pride in selecting just the right string and the perfect card etc. The last bit of detail is the tiny paper flowers and rhinestone. I know it will all be torn apart as soon as it arrives but i also know it will make my customer smile before they get to the good stuff. :-)

So, while i was busy with all that my daughter Sienna, decided to do her own pretend wrapping and packaging and i looooved the result.

Have a lovely day ladies!

{it's all so simple}

2009-07-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

- Hans Hofmann

morning my lovely friends. may you smile today and may your day smile back at you.

via: paulmassey photography

{fast forward}

2009-07-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

morning! i know it's only Tuesday with still so much on my to do list for this week. and i am already late for my daughters playgroup and dance class...but when i saw these images via delicatessen + via maryruffle i had to fast forward to the weekend and all i wanted to do was count seashells and feel the sand between my toes.

Wishing you a week full of ocean treasures!

{j.un.k.}

2009-07-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

ok, i admit it. i am a junky. i find beauty in old vintage things and enjoy brushing the dust off it all giving them new life and making them unmistakably my own. if there is a junk yard or flea market, chances are you'll find me digging thru the beautiful heirloom treasures. so last weekend i was a happy camper when i found a vintage children's rocking chair with an interesting story a beat up bench from way back when and a rickety old desk... however, i need inspiration when it comes to finding unconventional decorating and organizational tips... because sometimes, when looking at empty walls and open shelves, i am simply overwhelmed.

so here are my picks for you to enjoy:
{bottom image}: Obrien and Schriddle Frames via designaglow
plus i was simply delighted when i found loads of inspiration via visualize + designmilk + sweethomestyle

{a happy day}

2009-07-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

yesterday, a day full of silent suns.

my birthday.

8:30am (sparkling blue eyes are singing happy birthday to Mommy - a brand new version)
9:00am (coffee in bed from my sweet hubby)
10:00am (blueberry pancakes + more coffee)
11:00am (a tall handsome orchid - such a poser)
11:30pm (a special gift - the sweetest fairy picture from my little girl)
12:00pm (a phone call from my long time friend Stefan from Germany)
12:20pm (the phone keeps ringing with sweet voices wishing me a happy day.)
1:00pm (package arrives from Germany:-) a George, Gina & Lucy bag)
1:30pm (a late lunch with friends, some shopping)
3:00pm (my best friend Dolly called from Germany- i miss her)
4:00pm (still talking to Dolly and her amazing daughters who really want to see Sienna)
5:00pm (opening more gifts and playtime with Sienna)
6:00pm (a promise from my hubby to get out of town next weekend)
7:00pm (my dear friends Rachel and Jonathan are watching Sienna for a few hours-
i am forever greatful)
8:00pm (shabu shabu dinner with the hubby and hot sake)
9:00pm (enjoying the best meal ever)
10:00pm (time to pick up Sienna. more good times and more wine. she was a good girl. so they say:-)

and today my dear friend Jen will stop by with her incredibly cute girl Julia. our girls really miss each other since Jen moved to Manhattan Beach. i miss both of them. we are taking the girls out to dinner. i am excited to see them.

(sienna really wants to be her big sister i think, she loves her so much. )

thank you to all my friends. i can feel the love.

images from here

{hold that thought}

2009-06-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

...the courage to be just me.

make it
a
good day
my lovely friends.

make it different

sweet

challenging perhaps
painful

let it pull you out from the inside
let it give life to you

make it
yours.

make it belong to you. just you.

and let love in.

images via overflowing + restartmyheart

{don't chase your dreams...}

2009-06-24T20:08:00.001-07:00

I love contemporary, new cutting-edge design, but even more so i love old (new to me), vintage things. i'd trade the most sophisticated steam shower for a long soak under the stars any day. i have always been in love with claw-foot tubs but this one with a hand painted design inspired by the sea made me swoon. and the kitchen with those seaglass colored appliances rendered me speechless...enjoy your day!

"Dont Chase Your Dreams..

CATCH THEM"

{images:coastal living}

{one smile at a time}

2009-06-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

well it's been a long year, nearly two to be precise! although i have not written about it there is a lingering need to somehow shout if from the roof top and lose the weight of it. (a post on my blog will have to do for now)i have always used writing things down as a therapeutic activity. especially now that the worst part seems to be over. i have been battling a debilitating and sneaky immune disease this past year (and a half)... i've been in and out of doctor's offices more than i can count and i've missed nothing more than being healthy. i've missed waking up with a smile on my face and with a purpose. being able to fully take in the little quirky smile on my daughters face when we play hide'n seek. i have missed being able to do everyday things with my family and friends. and for the past 6 months i have missed being creative, being outdoors and taking pictures, painting, drawing! my shop is aching for new art work.
i do hope this is over for good... i am smiling again {one smile at a time}.

and i swear from now on you will never ever hear me say again "i don't have time" .. you gotta make it!

for the meantime just wanted to say thank you to all those who have been so supportive of my blog and visited despite my infrequent visits to yours!! thank you for your loyalty. sending you lots of love!

.....5-4-3-2-1 ready or not here i come!

{image from here}

{papier-mache}

2009-06-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

papier mache is a very cute online childrens magazine that comes out twice a year. it is worth checking out with beautiful photography, introductions of quirky art, shops, gift ideas and trends you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

glamorous.magnificent.strange.unimaginable. {enjoy your weekend}

2009-06-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

“ Everybody has a secret world inside of them. I mean everybody. All of the people in the whole world — no matter how dull and boring they are on the outside. Inside them they’ve all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds…. Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands, maybe."
— Neil Gaiman

{http://weheartit.com/entry/474342}

kreative blogger award:

2009-06-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

i just learned that I received the "Kreativ Blogger Award". Thank you Elisa! I was honored to receive this award from Elisa, she is a very talented and creative artist who inspires me everyday. Her blog "peskycatdesign" is delightful and fun. she makes the most beautiful bags. you must check out her Etsy shop, for the most unique creations!
Being given this "Kreativ Blogger Award" means I must now choose seven things I love and seven blogs I love. So here we go: (and this time i will try to obey the rules - and only list "7" of my favorite blogs!)

seven things i L.O.V.E.:

1. my family. getting to know our "little girl". watching her blossom, take on the world and chase her dreams. watching her smile her infectious smile. looking at her sleeping. hearing her say "mommy love you more"...just listening to her.
2. my amazing friends.
3. making a mess with paint and basically just making a mess out of most things.
4. eating (anything!) (OK, i am not crazy about chopped liver:-(!)
5. anything that makes me smile (when i don't feel like smiling).
6. the texture and taste of a foreign place. (i love traveling anywhere new)
7. unpretentious people.
8. saffron scented erasers

oops! i broke the rules again. i really ment to list just "7".

seven blogs i L.O.V.E. :

i am glad i get to pick another 7 of my favorite blogs (in addition to the 20 i picked below:)

1. mati rose
2. MoniqueDuke
3. Anmutig
4. Zest & Thyme
5. Restee Reveuse
6. Everyday Possibilities
7. fine little love

The above blogs are created by wonderful people who do wonderful things that inspire me! They are all nominated for the Kreativ Blogger Award by me and are welcome to list their favs as well. You are all welcome to use the Kreativ Blogger Award logo as well!

one lovely blog award:

2009-06-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

i am delighted to announce that the fabulous Sasha from "Everythingfab" and the fabulous twin sisters of "BOWQUET" have both given "A Bit of Whimsy" an award !!!!!! The "One Lovely Blog Award! "Now it's my turn to pass on the award by sharing all the fabulous blogs that inspire me...!! (thank you Sasha!!! and thank you to the Bowquet sisters!!! )

i gratefully accept the "One Lovely Blog Award" and in doing so i will post the Rules of Blog Award Acceptance:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

now it's my turn to spread the love:

i hereby award the following blogs the “One Lovely Blog Award”…and i broke the rule too. I am passing the award to 20 amazing blogs - just because!

(in no particular order)

{Blossom}
{by-geisslein}
{Thursday Sweet Treat}
{Cre8iveJuice}
{4little men}
{Hindsight}
{this is glamorous}
{Villa Anna}
{Tea For Joy}
{Pesky Cat Design}
{Evoked}
{a mad tea party with alis}
{Q's Daydream}
{MadeByGirl}
{Absolutely Unique}
{the b-line}
{Rediculously Awesome}
{Moments of Pleasure}
{i love moonshine and piffle}
kelly rae

under the sky:

2009-05-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

what's on the agenda this weekend?

i have canvas art in the works that needs to be finished. finally!

for some reason i never just work on one piece at a time. i always have 3 different projects going at once.

oh, i almost forgot the best part of this weekend is our picnic in the park with the kids.

one of siennas' friends is having an outdoor birthday party.

no rented clowns, moon jumps or donkey rides,

just a fun filled day under the sky with delicious food.

we may do a treasure hunt "dora style" or pretend we are taking a trip to the south sea with pipi longstocking.

either way i know the kids will have a ball.

i looove picnics :-) see you monday!

{pics 1+2+3}

this is the idea:

2009-05-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

a dream lighter than a cloud. go get yours.
{idea2lifestyle}

images of inspiration

2009-05-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

l.o.v.e.d these images.

they have been blogging my way
this morning.

have a wonderful day everyone!
{ photo 1+2+3+4+ 5+6+7 }

with love and pita:

2009-05-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

i had kitchens on the brain lately. i love nothing more than eating, (drinking wine!) cooking and hanging with friends on the weekends.

or any time really.

one of our dear friends happens to be a chef and since i am always hungry, every time we are at their place for dinner - it feels like Christmas to me.

finally, though it can be intimidating to cook for a "chef", i found the courage to whip up a greek meal for them. i figured even a chef probably wants to be fed sometimes.

i had way too many people over for my small space but we all huddled around my tiny dining table and had a (meat) ball - with tzatziki, pita bread and greek salad.

oh, and really good wine.

the only thing that can beat it is being in Greece!

i am still searching for my dream kitchen and until then i figure it’s the process of cooking with friends that will give my kitchen (no matter what it looks like) some soul, not an expensive stove.

Have a great weekend everyone!

aren't these kitchens amazing? i found them here.

even if i had a pantry like that - i can guarantee it wouldn't look this perfect.

{living more beautifully}

2009-05-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

During my everlasting quest for finding the perfect storage solution i found these images in Schöner Wohnen (“living more beautifully”) it's a popular German house and garden magazine. i couldn't help myself smiling when i saw the lamp in the second image. (you may have to click on the image to get a better look). i discovered that it's my lamp! i bought the exact lamp a few weeks ago at a garage sale in Santa Monica for Sienna's room (bottom image)... i am sure i will get over it at some point today but for now i still can't stop smiling. :-)))

OK, time to go and make ratatouille..(yum).

the spirit of love:

2009-05-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

we know what we are, but know not what we may be.

-Hamlet, ACT IV, Scene 5

{image ONE + TWO + THREE + FOUR + FIVE + SIX - found here}

the playroom: mcvillage

2009-05-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

the images are from a children’s play area designed by uxus design for a mcdonald’s near amsterdam.

uxus’ goal was to create an environment where children could learn about food from the farm to the market to the table.

i found this at Grace Bonney's blog (my favorite): the wonderful designsponge {thank you Grace}

it's been a while

2009-05-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

morning!
we spend mother's day like any other day. our little girl woke me up by telling me everything she did yesterday and everything she was going to do today. then she insisted it was time for me to get up. NOW! i found flowers in the bathroom. simple beautiful white flowers. my husband and my daughter picked them outside. so sweet. ah, i remembered now: it's mother's day. then after a quick, tired glance in the mirror i joined the gang for a cozy breakfast they had made for me. pancakes, fruit, eggs - the works. and there were more flowers. roses, this time. but i learned there was even more. my lovelies had planned a picnic.... my day hadn't even begun and it was already perfect. how was your mother's day?
image 1+2+3+4 -

happy mother's day:

2009-05-10T15:29:00.001-07:00

When I grow up, i want to be a lady like you...

indigorain

2009-05-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

“Sometimes the beauty is easy. Sometimes you don't have to try at all. Sometimes you can hear the wind blow in a handshake. Sometimes there's poetry written right on the bathroom wall.”
Ani Difranco

{ found here}

sleepwalking in daylight:

2009-04-20T11:34:00.001-07:00

Morning, everyone! another Tuesday, it's 9:00am and i feel like i am sleepwalking in daylight. there are too many projects to tackle and its way too hot already. so i decided to take a walk and just breathe. i have been sleep deprived for about three years and after dropping off my girl at pre-school, i went. looking for things that talk to me and wake me up.

i found beauty and sadness right next to each other. One of my customers who owns "LaPartie", a charming Santa Monica stationery boutique is closing her doors. there you could find greeting cards, personalized invitations, letterhead and specialty papers as well as unique gifts. even though i have recently sold my handmade specialty card company "vivavoxstudio" and am now concentrating on my prints and canvas art (soon available in my etsy store:-) i feel a wave of nostalgia and as much as i enjoyed selling my cards at Whole Foods and Kates Paperie etc., i really cherished the small specialty stores. the ones you visit when buying a card means your heart is in it.

i kept walking to make room for colors of summer that inspire the imagination. and there they were, hidden amongst worn-out shelves and rustic pantries holding fabrics with natural fiber and faded floral designs, at the "Shabby Chic" store, a few steps from LaPartie. you probably know, Shabby is closing its doors for good as well (so sad!). another reminder of the uncertainty that's filling the air all around us. two left over chandeliers where lighting up the room when i walked in. but it is always hard to grasp the finality of major changes in one's life and the shattered dreams that used to belong to someone.

Rachel Ashwell is talking about her hardship on her blog and says that "Shabby still has a beating heart". I love that! and i have no doubt that she will be reinventing her beautiful original idea.

when i finally stopped looking, i found myself standing in front of anthropologie ( another one of my weaknesses). there i saw a lot of uniqueness as usual and suddenly i was reminded of what i needed to do. a beautiful but seat-less chair is asking for a makeover and waiting for me at home. my bed needs to be made and lunch is not cooking itself. oh! and it's time to pick up my girl.

on my way home i could smell the ocean and it just occured to me, we live so close to the beach, and we hardly ever go. maybe that's something i need to change. stop taking it for granted. and who knows, a new sun hat and summer sandals may take me from sleepwalking to daydreaming. i could live with that.

Thanks to all of you for stopping by! have a dreamy day!

wedges and tin cans:

2009-04-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

we had a sick household now for months and with all the sneezing and coughing there hasn't been much time for blogging, let alone cleaning and organizing. so my house looks accordingly and i am trying to figure out how to put some structure back into my life. there is a medley of art, photography, pretty paper and journals everywhere scattered in my studio. and slowly working its way into my bedroom. then, voila! i found galvanized tins in various sizes holding coral pencils, brushes, and other craft supplies. i thought it's the perfect space saver to hang a bunch of containers above my work surface for easy access. that's just part of the solution. but its a start.

to kick it up a notch, i think i need a pair of new wedges. at least, if it gets too messy again, i can always walk away. i hope all of you are enjoying a weekend filled with inspiration and (finally) some sunshine...i'll be back soon.

[i found these here,here,here and here]

keep your windows open:

2009-04-13T21:18:00.001-07:00

i am so very sorry for being neglectful here on "a bit of whimsy". truth is i have been so busy with friends and family, and of course work. besides watching my little girl eat way too many chocolate bunnies i have been out taking pretty pictures. i have a real passion for windows. they always seem to reflect something. whether i find myself looking out and wishing I was somewhere else or discovering that gazing out of one is unlocking a wellspring of creativity. i usually see an opportunity . especially when i see one that has been left open.

hope you enjoy my pictures. and i truly hope you had an amazing easter weekend!!

oh so sassy:

2009-04-06T19:11:00.001-07:00

the subdued spirit of winter is slowly starting to fade away for i can now finally feel the energy and vitality of spring. It also means that color and light are beginning to hold each other. Dance together. Like old friends, sharing a secret. And with Easter just around the corner, i want to share a secret with all of you. At Oh So Sassy's spring sale you will find an array of delightful DIY dress design projects and sweet accessories. Perfect for your little one's Easter dress!

The creative brain behind these sassy designs says:
"I know one of your secrets. I know that looking around Etsy makes you want to dust off your sewing machine but you're intimidated by the thought of starting a project."

That is where Oh So Sassy comes in. We've chosen coordinating designer fabrics, cut out the pattern pieces, and provided a set of simple instructions for a dress no one will believe is homemade. It's our way of spreading the sass. And it's a great way for you to get creative! You can do this!

[photos:kara may]

true love:

2009-04-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

I feel so proud and blessed to say that today marks my sixteen year wedding Anniversary (we met in a bakery!). And so far, i loved every. single. moment.

Even the not so glamorous ones.

When i saw him on a rainy afternoon we were just two strangers with nothing more in common than a craving for something sweet and two flimsy umbrellas.. today we share not only a love of bakeries but a love for each other. That maybe because i married a man who gives me the strength to stand tall every day, who puts up with my german cooking and overreacting, and when i burn the pancakes in the morning he doesn't tell me i burned the pancakes. And because he taught me to let go when it's time to let go. And when our daughter is acting like a typical 3 year old, he doesn't tell her. He is the kindest most even-tempered and tolerant dad i know. (despite the fact that he is quietly hoping our girl will make it to Wimbledon. Actually i think he is counting on it) And when I say that playing the stock market was juvenile and irresponsible and the stock i wouldn't let him buy went up 25 points, he doesn't hate me.

So today, i am using my quill pen, dip it in indigo ink and write him a card - with an array of layered hearts. I believe some things deserve the permanence of paper.

[photo credit: andersonovergaard]

untitled:

2009-03-30T17:41:00.001-07:00

in a perfect world my passion for photography would have found its way into my etsy shop long ago. but between mommy duties, work duties and everything else duties plus feeling groggy from a lingering, forever-lasting cold, there really wasn't time. this weekend however, i decided to put the outside world on mute and dig into my pictures. just looking thru them gave me a new burst of energy. its time to make them come alive, so i am finally able to introduce a sneak peek. hope you enjoy them...back to work.

old world charm:

2009-03-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

my daughter has been bugging me for a pink bedroom. is it a surprise that we fell in love with this cute, whimsical dream of a little girls room?

there has been nothing but rest on my mind lately, as we have all been under the weather for weeks now. so as i am dreaming about eclectic bedrooms with old world charm i wish you all a marvellously relaxing weekend.

[photo credit: 1,2,,4]

a flicker of a moment:

2009-03-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

A lot of my ideas come from notes and sketches I made during my travels to England, Greece and Spain. I have lived in Europe half of my life and have known these places but every time I visit, I seem to re-discover them. Sometimes my ideas come from things people say, a half-lit church or from something as simple as a dandelion. My daughter's imagination and spirit continues to inspire me. So does a flicker of a moment, a dusty memory or the texture and taste of a foreign place.

But there is one special place in my heart - a Spanish island, called Lanzarote. My parents took my sister and I to visit the island when we were little. I recently returned with my husband but this time we were fortunate enough to take our daughter along to discover the artistic gardens, cactus plantations and colorful groves. Along the coastline one can see the naked, black, dry, sunburned sand and hear the volcanoes breathing. One evening we strolled past a striking old façade that enveloped a picturesque courtyard. There were Natives singing, enjoying meals and drinking wine. All these foreign faces were smiling at us while shuffling to squeeze us in. We sat down on a long wooden bench amongst these strangers and let their tender hearts grab hold of us. Barefoot kids were playing and giggling everywhere. We danced, sang and dined on Papas ( 'wrinkly' potatoes boiled in sea water) and Puchero (Vegetable Stews). There was a lot of laughter. We couldn’t understand a word anyone was saying, yet the air was filled with promise and harmony. Our daughter had the best time with her new little friends and before she fell asleep on my lap that evening, she whispered: “Mommy, this moon is so much bigger than ours”. This experience was like a love-letter. And ever since receiving it, I have been trying to write back.

After we had returned home to Santa Monica, we took a stroll again and this time my daughter said, “Mom, can you make a wish upon a big moon?” Sometimes I wish I could hold on to those moments forever. “Where do wishes go”? One wonders.

What inspires you?

[photo credit: Gret@Lorenz, jeroen020's ,Doblonaut]

one of a kind

2009-03-23T09:16:00.001-07:00

meet artist özlem haluk. she started her delirious love affair with literature and acting at the age of ten and finds herself persistently seduced by a vast array of subjects and has an ardent passion for art, photography, gender studies, psychology, philosophy, music, dance fashion, traveling and is a lover of words. her work also graces the debut issue cover of ANTLER, an inspirational new online magazine. A feast for the eye.

2009-03-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

"One cannot live well, love well or sleep well unless one has dined well." Virginia Woolf

Enjoy your weekend!
[photocredit: rachel saldana still life]

her latest flame:

2009-03-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

Today, I had to remind myself again how precious and fragile life is. The news of Natasha Richardson's tragic death floored me. So I made a pact with myself (and every time something tragic happens I do this): Not to sweat the small stuff anymore. Don't forget to laugh - out loud! Life is too short. No more stressing over the fact that my daughter doesn't eat vegetables or fruit. (and, yes I have tried cutting the cucumber into funny faces. At some point i have even glued a carrot to my nose and pretended i was pinocchio). The truth is we can always find something to smile about.

Most memorable events in life begin without cognizance of their significance. We are so consumed and rushed everyday that it's easy to forget what really matters to us. When i found this photograph of my little girl holding hands with her cousin Liam at the northern see in Hamburg/Germany (two years ago) i couldn't believe that it had found its way into the bottom of my closet shelf.

From now on, instead of tossing things where they don't belong, i will make an effort of saying "Look at the way the waves from that small rock run all the way to the shore".

(are you smiling yet?)

"Her latest flame"

My sister drags her boyfriends home to meet us
Subjects them all to family scrutiny
They disappear for hours up in her bedroom
Then disappear for ever after tea

Where love's concerned, Ella is like a Mountie
Fierce and direct, she always gets her boy
Dad says that she's a 'shamless little hussy',
Dumping each suitor like a broken toy

Ella can't see what we all find so funny
Boys are like fish to her, there's plenty more
Love is a game to girls like Ella
Perhaps it's because she's only four

Lindsay Macrae

[From "Poetry to make you smile",found at Anthropologie]

i fell in love:

2009-03-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday i fell in love. I have been in love before. But this time it was with a photograph. When i saw it a peaceful beat of wings turned into gentle flutter. And life snapped into harmony. I am wordless.

The artist Irene Suchocki calls herself "the purveyor of little poems for the eye". To me she is just that. Her work has appeared on numerous book covers and recently she has donated some of her prints to EXTREME MAKEOVER: Home Edition (2008 AND 2009). You can find her inspirational blog here ENJOY! and if you feel like shopping for breathtaking, poetic images, stop by her Etsy shop.

crickets buzzing:

2009-03-13T00:46:00.000-07:00

Today i found myself shopping for images of youth and crickets buzzing. I want to know, like everyone else, how to give my life more length, how to hold on to reason and regimens making my skin glow abnormally warm. I want to know, how to plant a seed in my child that will not just grow but blossom with dignity and impressive grace....What are you shopping for today?
[photo credit: Catherine Gratwicke ]

a roadmap:

2009-03-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

Life can be challenging and i am not always sure how to find the answers to all my questions. How to combine motherhood, designing, working, socializing, networking...the list goes on. We do the best we can. While I do not have a road map to help me find the perfect outlet, i do know that it's found rather than written. In the musicality and handsomeness of well-made objects, and in the sacrifices we make for love and things we believe in. So I believe that without feeling much or discovering anything new, life is as luminous as a cheap modern lamp or a mirror with nothing reflected in it. And I believe that it is possible to learn to "see".

When I saw these images on INSPACELOCATIONS by Stylist and Art director Rosie Brown, I found more than just beautiful photography.

a simple walk:

2009-03-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, what should we do today?
Take a walk, do homework, read "Little Nutbrown Hare" or just play dress-up?
To be honest, after last week I wish I could spend the day just dreaming . So we did just that.

But first, Sienna and I took a simple walk to the thrift shop just around the corner from our house. We took a pledge to leave the car in the garage today! Let's see what we will find. It didn't take us long, a vintage chair screamed at us. Begging to be taken home. It was cute, just a tad too grubby. Not that we needed one - we have waaay too many. (We love chairs!) Sienna decided it needed a make-over. And off we went. What color should we paint it? PINK, of course! You may need to sit down for this. It feels like a warm hug from your mom, when you take something old and make it look...splendid!

Now it's time to relax. Wait. Not without a reward: We made yummy muffins. They tasted like peanut butter with a sprinkle of quirky fun on top.

stumbled upon:

2009-03-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

We love living outdoors and the future yard i am still searching for needs to take me to two places. A quiet retreat and a whimsical room. I stumbled upon these gorgeous outdoor "spaces" on country living. Now I know just what i want. Something to be treasured. Simple. Sumptuous.

serene adventures-giveaway:

2009-03-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm giving away a print of "your choice" at the charming site, WishingWillow. To enter the drawing, just leave a comment on their site by midnight Thursday, March 13th. Good Luck!

daylight savings:

2009-03-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

It's daylight savings this weekend which means spring (then summer!) is approaching...these images from Country Home smelled just like summer...can't wait! Have a great weekend!

where do wishes go?

2009-03-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful evening. I took a stroll with my daughter to catch some air, admire the stars and discover the moon. We sang "twinkle twinkle.." when she suddenly stopped and said:''Mommy, can you make a wish upon a big moon"?

...and my next piece "Where do wishes go" was born.

Can you make a wish upon a big moon? Or do you have to wait for a star to make a wish? Where do wishes go? One wonders.

I am extremely honored to be a guest on one of my favorite blogs today... I do hope you'll take the journey with me over to Wishing Willow!
- G.

a place to relax:

2009-03-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's good to be home. After much time in Europe we are back in Santa Monica. Ahhh,the Lake Shrine. Our favorite place to relax when we don't work, paint, grocery shop, cook or play tennis. My print "Believe" was born right after a trip to Lake Shrine a few weekends ago.

eye candy:

2009-03-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

Cortney Novogratz and her husband, are the owners of SIXX DESIGN, a development and design firm with properties throughout Manhattan. They are also the parents of "sixx" young children (and another one on the way). One of their projects is Novocasa Trancoso a brazilian home design. See more ... I want to know: How do they do it?

when the meadows laugh:

2009-03-07T17:44:00.000-08:00

A trip to the zoo produced my latest painting. "When the meadows laugh"
Ever wondered what it's like to take a risk and stick your neck out for something worthwhile? Being able to reach the leaves at the top of the trees? The giraffe can probably tell you.