What Goes Up Must Come Down

Ruby has been crawling on top of everything lately and either getting stuck or falling off with a thud. I have more proof of this on my camera but it's sitting across the room and I can't be bothered to get up and upload the photos from this week after the day we've had. It was so full of activity and projects and errands and adventures in our front yard that I'm worn out! Ruby and Sebastian are both changing right before my eyes it seems and I'm thankful that we are enjoying being on this side of a third tooth and some recent power struggles.


Speaking of power struggles, we played a new game today with one of my projects for the Small Craft class that I'll share later today. Sebastian called it the 'One-Eyed Truck' game but really it was him chasing after me doing karate chops and me hauling him over my shoulder and putting him in jail until he escaped. Again and again and again. Then we used our new contraption as a pirate ship and then it was a train. And we went to China and saw Kai-Lan. Aren't you jealous? She says Ni-hao.


Anyway, go tell the lovely James of Bleubird Vintage how adorable her new little one is and check out some of the fabulous guest posts that are up while baby and mama (and daddy) get to know one another. I've got another little tutorial over there. Congrats, James and Aubrey! She's beautiful.

Check in around 7 p.m. for full details and registration for Small Craft! I may pee my pants!
xoxo,
Rachel

Bright Blue & Pink

As a person who loves color, I find spaces with a palette of bright pinks and blues to be lively and uplifting.

clockwise from top left: (photo 1) living etc., (photos 2-4) emily henderson, (photo 5) via peacock feather blog, (photo 6) angie hranowsky

Pieces to inject the colors into your own space:

clockwise from top left: studio sofa, hot pink lacquer box, bright blue lamp, bright pink ikat pillow, madeira rug, mod blue frames, floral two tones floormat

Don't forget to enter to win the pair of blue lamps! Last day to enter is September 3, 2010 (11:59 PST).

Small Craft Online Class Sneak Peek!

Elsie Flannigan and I are excited to share a little taste of our Fall Online Class with you! Aptly named, Small Craft is full of projects for little people. We've created 30 projects that let your favorite kiddo explore their imagination through dress up and creative play and included plenty of style with ways to customize their wardrobe, tips on room makeovers, and hands on projects to encourage your budding artist.

My projects have already been kid tested and approved but now I'm wondering why I didn't save some of them for Christmas presents! I might still be making multiples of a few of them because every kid needs a traveling puppet theater and dress up chest in their arsenal of creative toys! We've included a little something for all ages and can't wait to share full details with you soon. Check back on Wednesday, August 25th for the project list and more photos. Registration will begin that evening at 7 p.m. CST. We hope you can join us in making their world a little more magical!

xoxo,
Rachel

The First Day Of Preschool or The Longest Day Of My Life

Sebastian is off to preschool this morning with his new red backpack, his new red cot blanket, and his new red WITH TRACTORS pillow. (I'm writing this early in the morning having just finished sewing together his new red cot blanket and red WITH TRACTORS pillow so we haven't actually sent him out into the world on his own just yet.)

I'm talking myself into thinking about all of the things I will be able to do with my days when Ruby is napping (she takes some long ones!) but I'm pretty sure tomorrow will be spent wondering if he's wandered out of the bathroom with his underwear around his ankles looking for help with pulling them back up, or if he'll go hungry because the lunch options won't include any of the FIVE things he will actually eat, or what the teacher will think she heard when what he actually said was F.R.A.G.O. because his dad just got back from Army camp and we've been using that term a lot.

I know, he'll be fine. Right? And I'll be the one crying, right? I'm so proud of my son and how excited he is about trying something so new and unknown and can't wait to hear how it went. And I'm really hoping he won't be disappointed when he realizes he gets to do it again and again for about 18 more years.

xoxo,
Rachel

Design Star

This weekend I'll be tuning in to HGTV to watch the finale of Design Star. I've been pretty disappointed with this season (serious lack of wow moments, annoying contestants like Nina, and what was with all those weird group challenges??) but regardless, have tuned in (well, background watched) to watch the contestant Emily Henderson. I had previously seen Emily's portfolio and loved her aesthetic (her designs would surely grace the pages of Domino if it were still around).

photos from Emily's portfolio

This past episode was the first time she really had a chance to show her talents and she didn't disappoint. I love the fabric she used for the focal wall (which by the way my friend Bryn has 2 yards available of in her shop), the fabulous green sofa, and the overall eclectic, personal and intimate feel she created.

photos via HGTV

Emily's show concept is to take a client's personal fashion style and transfer it into his or her home. Sounds like something I'd definitely watch! I'm rooting for her!

Friday, You Are Just In Time!

source

It's the last weekend before school starts for my boys so I plan on being absent from this online space as much as possible in order to enjoy this transition. I also have to clean a whole box of Quaker Oats out of a chair, make a cot blanket, attend to the neglected housework, and make sure my son has learned NOT to dump three whole rolls of toilet paper into the bowl again. OR ELSE.

I plan on pairing it with an iced latte or two and a trip to the thrift stores to find myself a hat rack. I hope your weekend plans are more lovely than you expect they'll be.

xoxo,
Rachel

BUST Magazine Feature!

I don't know why I haven't already posted about this because it has been one of the most exciting pieces of press I've ever received. I was contacted by BUST magazine earlier this year to share photos of my home in their Homegirl column and was kind of beside myself that they were interested! I sent in some self-portraits and we did a phone interview and then I kind of forgot about it until my copy came in the mail last month. It was pretty thrilling!

Anyway, it was fun to get to share photos of our home in printed form. Thank you to BUST for the unique opportunity and to all of you who shared your congrats through twitter comments! And a special thank you to Danielle for sending me an extra copy that showed up at her doorstep to replace the one Ruby practiced her shredding skills with. Now I'll have one to show my teenage daughter when she's old enough to think I'm so 2010. Ha!

xoxo,
Rachel

p.s. Today was the day Brett and I first met after English 101 on our second day of college classes Freshman year. That was ten years ago! Brett surprised me again this year with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a trip to the new cupcake shop downtown. I think the fact that he celebrates that day every year when I usually don't remember is pretty fantastic. Thanks, love!