britt hermann

design up at UrbanCollective

2011-10-28T14:29:00.000-05:00

A while back I was contacted by the lovely Wendy at UrbanCollective, and today our collaboration comes to life. Very excited about this. Take a look at her and Jennifer's gorgeous shop! And my design, of course, please look at my design.

Count me in..

2011-10-25T08:37:00.000-05:00

Decided for many reasons, to join twitter. For one, I check other people's.

It may be only October

2011-10-18T16:07:00.000-05:00

But I'm skipping ahead to Christmas thanks to She&Him. Check out the new holiday album with a free listeny sample. Do it. Turn it down so no one at works thinks you're crazy.

Miss Representation

2011-10-13T20:27:00.000-05:00

Please, please watch this amazing trailer. Then on Oct. 20th tune into the OWN network to see the feature film.

is it my birthday?

2011-10-12T16:36:00.000-05:00

'cause I just found the Ira Glass sex tape.

Feminist Ryan Gosling

2011-10-11T10:43:00.000-05:00

you're welcome smart ladies

long live the wrong!

2011-10-11T08:22:00.000-05:00

It's early morning and I'm gulping coffee in my studio as I write this. Soon I must get out of my pink bathrobe and show my face at my both my low or non-paying jobs (glamorous!). But first will you hear my story?
Something like five years ago my brother and I were at my mom and step dad's house helping clean for some event. We had music playing. You know that song by Pearl Jam I think? It goes like this: "Feeling, doo doo doo doo doo ta doo do..On a Sunday afternoon". You know? While shaking out rugs, I am enthusiastically singing along to this song I have heard since I was a little dweeby highschooler.
And I go, "Feeling like a ham and mustard sha-ake" No shame. That's how the song goes. My brother stops dead in his tracks. What ensued was a lively argument about the lyrics and an obscene (was it 50 or 500?) bet. Google machine!
Can you guess? Right. I was super duper wrong. Who would right a song about a ham and mustard shake? Actually the song has nothing to do with food so why did I think the lyric fit at all? I don't know. I was WRONG.
So this all comes up last night when in my macro practice class we had a lecture on the power of making mistakes. I brought up shame and how in my home growing up shame was accidentally used all over the place. I mean, we like slathered our toast in shame. So screwing up, saying the wrong thing, getting worked up, we all do these. Why the shame (self shame, imposed shame, shame cold shoulder) ?
We all exist in our own mini paradigm. What is valuable to me, what is rude to you, all these little lenses in which we view each other. The minute we start believing that we must protect our "rightness" with our lives, we shut ourselves down to the glory of being wrong. And when we have too big a reaction to others when they are wrong we perpetuate the shame factory leaving them with no other option but to fear you.
This story ends well. My brother reacted like this: He didn't make me pay that over zealous bet (possibly there was a double or nothing that followed) and for the rest of his life, when that song comes on the radio he can sing loud as he wants that he's feeling like a ham and mustard shake. Tell whomever is nearby the story of his sister and her mega-bet and probably have a good chuckle.

The time I went apple picking

2011-09-29T20:38:00.000-05:00

and fed them all to this nephew kid

Aussies need soldiers, enter ladies.

2011-09-27T10:27:00.001-05:00

While in Germany visiting my brother the infantry dude, I had the honor of debating the issue of women in combat roles with him and his battle buddy. They, being smart and modern men, are all for equal rights for women. Except in the army. I heard their concerns loud and clear, and most of them make sense in a male dominated subculture like the army. Things like deployment, bonding and the chauvinistic language used to "keep morale high", it would be a lot of changes!
So, this week Australia announced that they will now begin allowing women into combat positions. They need more recruits and this is a great way to hit a demographic that has until now been excluded.

"This is simply about putting into the front line those people who are best placed to do the job, irrespective of your sex," - Aussie Defense Minister Stephen Smith

CBC (that's Candanian Public Broadcasting) Age of Persuasion

2011-09-22T10:15:00.000-05:00

I've exhausted This American Life through 1995. The next best show on radio? Where else would you learn men used to propose with fur coats?!

are you racked with free time?

2011-09-21T14:33:00.000-05:00

'Cause you could just solve this murder mystery from 1948. Or you could just read the incredible ("he must be dead to the world") story and then go sew your name into all your pants.

(found via the hairpin)

feed your family grape galletes

2011-09-15T10:07:00.000-05:00

Um, hello Punchfork. Where have you been all my life?
Go now, create yourself a profile so you can save recipes!

Put me on a turning stage and teach me French, too.

2011-09-13T07:44:00.000-05:00

Y are you thinking of Britney's Pepsi ad from ages ago?

2011-09-08T08:50:00.000-05:00

What generation are you? I run with the Gen Y, or Millenniums. Are you an X or a Boomer? Do you not fit in the tiny spaces? Here is my real question: Why (why!) when I think the word 'generation' do I get this visual? Please, someone solve this neurological mystery.

Also, what do you think about this uber-duber great generation? And don't say you think it's silly to chunk these groups together and generalize the hell out of them, because we're agreeing right here and now that in this case it's excusable.

What does Y look like? Well, when I go to the library during the day to get my David Sedaris books on tape I am mingling with more and more stay at home dad's and we all know words such as LOL and WTF. Then there is the obvious like Middle Eastern uprisings organized through social media.

Guys from my generation are so radically different from Xers and Boomers (Xoomers?) and that is, in my opinion, because the women of Y are innate feminists. We were not girls who fantasized about getting a career in a male dominated field . Unlike our mothers, who had to "go back to work", we would be career careerists.

What do you think? Did you read Goosebumps or Babysitters Club? How did your voice sound when you recorded "Just Can't Wait to be King" on your boombox? Is your spouse a good sharer?

Let's talk

2011-09-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

I'm using big girl letters. Just wanted to get that out of the way before we moved forward. Good. It's settled, capitol letters are okay again.Next on the agenda? What say you we have a little chat about the irony of fleeting interests? It has come to my attention that keeping a blog (it's been like 5 years! cake?) can be rather difficult when you are trying to portray a personality that makes sense.

Are you laughing? No? Please do. Lets both have a good chuckle together. Ah-ha-ha. But seriously, can I just come clean? I'm a fickle-pickle. I have to start writing about stuff again. September 2011 parenthesis may be more (feminist eyeshadow) than the September 2010 (inspiration woes). Furthermore, I'm about to start a class about African Transitions, so stay tuned for October (Kenya ladies need my help). On that note, I think we are properly transitioned now. I'll drum up something good for tomorrow.

i'm baaaack

2011-09-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

took two full weeks and one half week to recover from europe. how about we get the photo bit over? yes.

of course there are about a gazillion more which if you so please you may view here. obviously we had an incredible time. it was a the perfect beginning to a life of travel. can't wait to start planning (and saving for) the next trip...

2011-07-19T11:22:00.000-05:00

pinch me, someone. please. but not so hard it leaves it mark because i'm leaving in three days for europe. two years ago, i was enviously reading blogs of friends who had done painting classes in italy, or had stayed on a sheep farm in ireland. i honestly (with loads of self pity) couldn't picture myself pulling my shit together enough to do this.
but it turns out, you can save money. it's not fun. it leads to fights about makeup, breakfasts out, books, and whether self tanner is an essential. then, one day it's time to go and you have somehow produced that sum of cash, and kept your fake summer glow.
wish us luck on this adventure! most of it is rather un-planned, so when we return i will have plenty to tell.

adios!

work

2011-07-16T16:42:00.000-05:00

etsy stuff i like: hunger games edition

2011-07-08T13:51:00.000-05:00

arrow print

feather pin

awesome leather jacket

golden bird in flight

orange backpack

arrow earrings

now you have two choices. buy me all this stuff. or read the books.
let me know if you need my address.

i want some summer coral

2011-06-24T12:10:00.001-05:00

only $36 from here.
lovely!

and shorts, too.

2011-06-23T12:22:00.000-05:00

I just completed a two week long training to be a sexual assault crisis worker for next year's internship and then promptly returned home and watched an HBO documentary on the same subject.

which proves i'm crazy.

(also, i promise to stop treating this like a lengthy twitter feed soon.)

2011-06-09T16:52:00.000-05:00

and also, why i'm never leaving my bed again

(with a side of lolcatz).

why i don't get my nails done

2011-06-09T13:44:00.000-05:00

even though i'd really like to.

(no, really it's cause i'm broke)

SHOP SALE

2011-05-25T10:21:00.001-05:00

http://www.britthermann.etsy.com/
almost everything is on sale.
trying to clear out some space for new work.

now that school is over

2011-05-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

i need to starting studying things that really matter..

us.

2011-05-16T08:24:00.002-05:00

wild thing

2011-04-28T16:17:00.000-05:00

the new chant goes like this

2011-04-27T08:33:00.000-05:00

London, Paris, Munich, Rome, South of France, Barcelona, Normandy, Paris, London

months after gleefully deciding to travel europe eurail style this summer, we are actually doing it. so much was contingent on everything aligning perfectly. children needed three weeks of grandma care (check), cash needed saving (check-ish), work and school needed to give us the go ahead (check!).

our tickets are bought for july 22-aug 13. we are flying into london for the first leg of our trip. while there, we are planning one of our only hotel nights. hopefully by the tower, history buff here. after exploring london for a day we are taking the famous underwater chunnel to paris. good grief. paris. for a girl who hasn't left the country yet, this is amazing.

eurail pass in hand, we will go from there. including but not limited to a visit with my brother and his wife in germany, a historic orgy in rome, hikes in the south of france, the beach in spain, and normandy and caen!
this is indeed, the trip of a lifetime.

not usually into make-up tutorials

2011-04-20T15:10:00.001-05:00

but i might have gone out today with out glitter if not for madison.
phew.

(around 2:19 you'll hear "you really got to fry it")

fear friday

2011-04-08T07:57:00.000-05:00

i always think of socialism when the TP sucks.

thanks yale

2011-04-05T16:45:00.000-05:00

for those of you who get to hear my constant chatter, you know i am mapping out a fantastic career in obesity prevention. yes, i'm passionate about fattness. it's a gift.

oh, and how i go on and on about this theory on reward centers and food and homeostasis destruction and yada, yada.

but yale, oh thank you yale, has just released the first ever study on my theory! how exciting for all!!

(well, me.)

2011-04-04T13:27:00.000-05:00

clare, you sweet girl

2011-03-25T09:14:00.000-05:00

you stole my heart, yet again with this magnificent piece of work!

ching chong, i love you

2011-03-25T08:52:00.000-05:00

i don't usually get caught up in viral hilarities or drama for that matter, but the wallace vs. wong case really blows my whistle. here we are guys (for those of you who remember pre-internet days!) living in a time where (probably very regretful) bullies can be stunted by one cute asian boy with a guitar and a sense of what is funny and just.

wisdom

2011-03-20T09:18:00.000-05:00

i've just had four wisdom teeth taken out and i'm looking like a doped up chipmunk. it's not a pleasant experience, let me tell you.

new floral band

2011-03-12T12:29:00.000-06:00

i could do this forever.

more lace

2011-03-11T12:48:00.000-06:00

available here!

women in kenya make beautiful things you should buy

2011-03-10T11:51:00.000-06:00

if you read this you'll see why you can feel great with your new beaded beauties.

i'm going to buy these on pay day.

excuses and thanks

2011-03-09T13:43:00.000-06:00

first off, thank you! thank you to all the wonderful people who, in purchasing my art, are making those quiet moments before sleep each night so gleeful. i keep myself up dreaming up new pieces, and wondering how i got so lucky that this is what i'm doing right now!

on the other hand, blogging has come after research, race studies, women studies, policy studies, obesity studies, working, driving four hours a day, laundry, painting and working out. other than those, i have no excuses. but really, if i were blogging, i'd be ranting about inequality and systematic failures so it's for your own sake that i use my blog for the artsy side of me. 'cause the other side has way too many ideas.

(i know, what a boring post..i'm losing interest too. please come back soon, i have new work to post and i'll even snap some pics of the gang)

Lace

2011-02-25T08:56:00.000-06:00

new work, available here

jeremy miranda

2011-02-23T12:07:00.000-06:00

is an incredible artist who caught my attention several months back. as of late, his work has blossomed into some of my favorite current art. his interview over at etsy is no let down. there is no forced whimsy or facade of tortured artist; just great advice.

view from the studio

2011-02-23T10:43:00.000-06:00

note the phallic magnify glass (which is destroying my eyes!)

my sister and I at dinner this weekend

2011-02-21T19:52:00.000-06:00

she said we should share a salad but hated all the vegetables.

flora production

2011-02-21T10:01:00.002-06:00

another new piece completed!

vogue editor is subject of hilarious drawings

2011-02-18T13:48:00.000-06:00

over on the lady mecca.

crossing my fingers for the chief (but the beggar would be alright, i guess)

2011-02-14T13:32:00.000-06:00

found: my calling

2011-02-09T14:03:00.000-06:00

putting things in neat piles like all the wonderful neat people who made this tumblr.

a botanical band

2011-02-07T08:51:00.000-06:00

we have snow!

2011-02-02T20:13:00.000-06:00

snow day

2011-02-01T09:37:00.001-06:00

i'm listening to Cut Copy.
watching the great buried alive epic begin.
constantly checking my favorite daily blog.
hoping that snow doesn't stop books from being delivered
planning to watch a movie and watch the snow fall all night.

snow day tomorrow!

2011-01-28T09:23:00.000-06:00

this is my new favorite book

in the bag

2011-01-26T14:59:00.000-06:00

ironically, i've stumbled upon two articles today about the contents of some awesome girl's bag. each complete with a small fortune worth of cosmetics and a token crumpled "i'm just like you" receipt. it's ironic because the contents of my own teeny, little purse has been under scrutiny for days. so today i vowed to clean it up. but not before snapping a picture of the dumpage so i too could enlighten you with what girls carry around. real girls.

1. my moleskine. but not for strokes of genius, rather to record every calorie and daily weights (after peeing).
2. five writing utensils. no excuse.
3. gum wrappers.
4. gross non-tea tea bags. i don't even like these.
5. keys to the office. i often get locked out, so i'm glad to know these were in there.
6. mascara that makes my lashes look like bug legs. demoted to the bag.
7. comb for teasing out cowlick 3-5 times a day.
8. two month old, smooshed granola bar.
9. 37 cents
10. trident. in the best flavor ever.
11. old, battered tampon.
12. my wallet, which is actually a button holder that came attached to anthropologie pants.
13.deceptive nail grooming kit. actually my nails look awful all the time. don't know why i have these.
14. lipstick i only use on my cheeks.
15. but i am obsessed with keeping them short.
16. post-it notes with my brother's address and spring semester classes. also some stamps.
17. a check book, because there is nothing worse than a credit card not working at the grocery store.
18. a prescription i was supposed to get last month and my token reciept!
19. one small bangle. unknown origin.

a real life conversation

2011-01-25T17:26:00.000-06:00

me: the mouth of my water bottle smells like your deoderant.

nick: sorry, i'll be more careful how i hold it from now on.

new print available this afternoon

2011-01-25T12:20:00.004-06:00

new work!

2011-01-24T20:05:00.000-06:00

available here

the dude abides

2011-01-19T09:06:00.001-06:00

twice a year

2011-01-18T09:57:00.000-06:00

if i had to guess, nick takes my keys to work via his coat pocket. my response is always a deep sigh (loud enough for all to hear and recognize as highly annoyed), a comment on the last time it happened, and finally (and secretly) a greedy little plan for my stranded day.

today, on my no-car-day, i'm re-entering my studio for the first time in a very, very long time.
(this in no way means, nick, you should take my keys ever again. shame on you)

happy birthday weston

2011-01-13T12:36:00.000-06:00

when you were eight, you..

saw the grand canyon
rode 7,000 miles in the backseat
invented military tactics
engineered never heard of electronics
claimed a tree house
won us a game of capture the flag
ate over 200 pb+j''s
didn't lose a single tooth
chose a college
mastered origami

hey girls

2011-01-07T10:48:00.000-06:00

want to impress your hubby/boyfriend/the guy on the subway tonight? check out these tips.

our new years eve in photos

2011-01-03T08:50:00.000-06:00

bathroom renovations and raw peach pie. welcome two thousand and eleven!

2010. it's almost over, how about a best list?

2010-12-29T09:38:00.000-06:00

2010 is nearing it's end. in honor of an epic year, i've taken the liberty to assemble a list of my 10 favorite films. of course i've not seen them all (i'm still looking forward to true grit, among others). so, of the films i did see, here are the winners:
not in any particular order..
* winters bone
*black swan
*despicable me
*love and other drugs
*restrepo
*inception
*greenberg
*please give
*shutter island
*jack goes boating

how you inadvertantly gave me the warm-fuzzies

2010-12-28T11:15:00.000-06:00

a gift from my mom, dave egger's book of insanely awesome illustrations. but more of a print extravaganza than a traditional book.

yes, believe it. these boots appeared under my tree via my mother*in*law. squeals of delight still ring in my head.

this amazing book was a gift from the man of the house. any frida fan would find judy chicago's take refreshing.

and also from the man i adore, the NPR map!

because i love my public radio and road trips!

yes, it was exciting to receive these awesome gifts. but you know what rocked my world? having people who know me this well.

do you love christmas like i love christmas?

2010-12-27T08:41:00.000-06:00

because i'm pretty sure i love it more.
but just to be fair, i'll give you a post-present. the only kind a blogger can, a linky-doo.

if you're a girl (or a very nice boy) you will want this to be the only (other) website you ever visit. trust me.

coal anyone?

2010-12-22T09:44:00.000-06:00

my kids are about to learn that you don't actually have to behave for a bountiful christmas. santa is either going to look like he's slacking on that whole 'checking it twice' protocol, or that his rules too do not need following.
in their defense, it's royally sucky to be an eight/five year old with an eight/five year old brother who is always in your space. and rules do really need to be repeated six or seven times otherwise who is going to recall 'no hitting' or 'don't whine'. i mean, really. i think we are maxxing out our time-outs here.
it's just unfortunate that we are going through this "you take my pencil and i'll poke you really hard with it" phase right before christmas. it really does make santa look bad.

therapy monday

2010-12-20T10:19:00.000-06:00

i had a repairative weekend that allowed me to shed the stressful schedule of this past semester and peer out, seeking the middle ground between digging myself into a hole of over-achievement and udder complacency.
we tend to forget about the emotional surge that comes after the dust settles. it can be over-whelming, even sickening. it comes to whisper to us those things that we put on hold and i choose to honor these little bubble ups rather than to deny their validity.
today i'm thinking about shame, guilt and connection networks (our nearest, dearest, trustworthiest) . the interconnectedness of these three super powers can be so destructive, and are often the things we talk about least. a lot of the training we receive as future social workers is about the absolute necessity of a strong, reliable network. the problem is, we aren't all taught how to build the right one. how to seek and invest in the right ones. hell, i'm not even sure what the right one would look like.
i'm reading a lot of brene brown's blog posts on this topic and i would recommend to everyone to do some brene browsing too. here's my today picks:
on connection networks and shame
her ted talk (along with other amazing speakers)
on perfectionism and shame

i was concerned

2010-12-19T16:01:00.001-06:00

i wouldn't remeber how to paint non-houses. but nonetheless i pulled out some paper and did a little watercolor doodle.

the weather

2010-12-14T10:22:00.000-06:00

i have blue toes. so not cute. turns out, it's raynaud's disease. super not cute. but i was very delighted to find that the satorialist is on my page today. because the eskimo look is gonna have to come back for me.

2010-12-14T10:14:00.000-06:00

today is my last final. after this i'm back. no more commissions (yes! i finished) no more classes (until feb) and no more elaborate weekends (fingers crossed). i'm in desperate need of some r and r.

i have lots of pictures to go through and post. stay with me here folks...

mug shot

2010-12-06T09:02:00.000-06:00

this kid has cut his own hair, stuck his finger in an open flame, drew with a sharpie on my kitchen counter and now "decorated" his face with permanent marker. all in one 48 hour period.
god save me.

in the spirit to the molten lava core

2010-12-01T09:07:00.000-06:00

*there are tiny snowflakes barreling down

*my staircase is decked with garland and and excess amount of cranberries

*i had a gingerbread bagel for breakfast

*declan and i bought hundreds of blue and silver ornament balls, with a vision in mind

*we're getting a tree tonight!

cheers!

2010-11-17T10:10:00.003-06:00

the end in sight?

2010-11-12T16:52:00.000-06:00

possibly? on the forever house...

whether or not i'll ever finish, it's something i'm quite proud of.

2010-11-08T09:11:00.000-06:00

(photo by nick hermann)

i have big plans. all the time.

i need to somehow manage these over-production bursts, but every time i vow to do so i get so excited about the "down time" potential that i scheme up all the things i could DO. and so maybe, in some loving yet sadistic way, i create this vacuum space to thrive in.

possibly, it is what will define me. if i can work past the planning phase and actualize. finish this degree in social work, get the double masters in s.w. and public health/nutrition (groan), private practice, book deal, working artist, maker of well-adjusted children, the list goes on. i have inspiration and support. now who would trade that for the world?!

halloween

2010-11-03T11:45:00.000-05:00

we like halloween more than any other holiday. theatrics and sweets? it's a deal.

weston was totally on board when nick and i announced our dia de los muertos plans, but declan had other things in mind.

at first he insisted he would be a pumpkin, but upon further review he discovered those only come in sizes followed by months. then it was the fifty dollar mustard costume. eek. not going to happen. and finally we agreed on vampire kitty.

into the realms of the unreal

2010-10-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

while i spend hours each afternoon meticulously painting bricks on a house, i have netflix to keep me company. when i came across this film, i new i had to share. it is amazing. blow your mind amazing.

if you aren't familiar with henry darger and his vivian girls, it's time!

work in pro-progress

2010-10-27T11:35:00.000-05:00

another peek, this time a commission i'm (yes, still) working on. at first i thought i might have bitten off a bit much, but upon further review. this is fun.

2010-10-26T10:21:00.000-05:00

a little peek of what our tribe is doing this halloween (well, except for the little one who wanted to be mustard but settled for vampire-cat)

my hand painted mask...

barcelona, dijon, munich, rome

2010-10-25T10:32:00.000-05:00

i'm still chanting this to myself. barcelona, dijon, munich, rome!
nick and i met when we were young dreamers. 16 and 18. both with a massive case of wanderlust (we named our first born weston, for our mutual adoration of the west coast). our first feat was this year's drive across america. we are now professional road folk, able to sleep and eat in transit without upsetting our bodies to the point of dysfunction (well, except for that stretch between arizona and georgia).

so when i suggested a trip to portland this fall just him and i, and he couldn't get the time off work, he suggested bigger. our second travel summit. and so it goes; backpacks, 2 euro rail train tickets, and a massive load of cameras and film. (pause for squeal of excitement)

saturday night nick and i hit a bookstore and in the software nook, we spread out a map and opened a train schedule. we plan to spend three weeks in 5 countries (well, austria only because its stand in the way of germany and italy). i'm so elated. it's like regret proofing our final years of being a twenty-something.

barcelona, dijon, munich and rome!

he said

2010-10-21T10:49:00.000-05:00

"dad, tell me all the sizes starting with huge"

"theres huge, less than huge, big, medium, small and smaller"

"you forgot teeney tiney dad"

and then there was truth

2010-10-20T08:44:00.001-05:00

an article written by j.j. sutherland for national public radio. i found myself (a non-facebooker) quite comforted by this piece. like a friend...

" On TV, the group of friends is the base set of humanity. From Seinfeld to Friends to Sex and the City to Glee, there are a whole bunch of friends in close intimacy with each other, wandering in and out of unlocked apartments, a fierce closeness. Neil Gabler (who is one of those guys you should read all the time, smart, he is) has a piece in the LA Times, about how that TV version of American social life is not only a distorted vision of reality, it's more of a bizarro, opposite view of how we actually live.

One study found that Americans had one-third fewer nonfamily confidants than they had 20 years earlier, and 25% had no one in whom to confide whatsoever. Another study of 3,000 Americans found that on average they had only four close social contacts, but these included family members like one's own spouse.

This decline in real friendships may account in part for the dramatic rise of virtual friendships like those on social-networking sites where being "friended" is less a sign of personal engagement than a quantitative measure of how many people your life has brushed and how many names you can collect, but this is friendship lite. Facebook, in fact, only underscores how much traditional friendship — friendship in which you meet, talk and share — has become an anachronism and how much being "friended" is an ironic term.

Call a friend today, for no reason, just to catch up. "

my brother's wedding in pictures

2010-10-13T14:34:00.000-05:00

always on the look out

2010-10-13T09:41:00.000-05:00

for beautiful grown up items. like this.

family

2010-10-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

i'm still here. promise.
my brother came home from afghanistan, my dad came in from vegas, more family poured in. my brother got marrried. we partied. and now i'm basking in happy. i have my best friend home, and he is married to his sweetheart.
blog-shmog.

my husband, brother, heidi, me and my sister emma

2010-10-06T09:43:00.000-05:00

the most gorgeous image i've seen all week, possibly month, maybe year. from this drifty project.

botanical original

2010-10-03T17:33:00.000-05:00

available here

clare elsaesser

2010-10-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

if you don't know her, which is unlikely seeing as she is recieving mega blog love everywhere, now is your chance.

you're next sewn painting

clare and i have been chatting it up via etsy for a few weeks now. take it from me, she is the kind of sweet and down to earth that makes you want to just bottle her up!

daydreams

but don't. because we all have to share clare.

new art in my house

2010-09-29T08:40:00.001-05:00

i love getting new art up. i suspect that one day, at the rate i am collecting, my walls (and god forbid, the ceilings if i have to) will be covered.

just putting on my workout clothes

2010-09-24T12:43:00.000-05:00

can change my day. from wasting time on this laptop to running. it lifts my mood, boosts my creativity and all around makes me feel super duper. i'm grateful for my new health. 120 lbs ago, my work out clothes meant nothing to me.

2010-09-24T10:48:00.001-05:00

good bye running out side, next to horses and green feilds.

good bye herb garden and farmers market nun bread and cheese dude.

good bye summer, next year i won't take you for granted.

spotted on oh joy!

2010-09-20T08:47:00.000-05:00

how lovely is this? thanks bekka.

shop love

2010-09-19T10:19:00.000-05:00

i stumbled upon this shop via kelly rae's blog this weekend and i immediately fell for everything it contains. i bought a gorgeous necklace that has just been calling my name, unbeknownst to me until now. if you love pretty, handmade things this shop is a must.

sneak peekaroo

2010-09-17T12:27:00.001-05:00

turns out, just because you can quickly accept a commission doesn't mean you can quickly complete it.

portland, oregon

2010-09-17T09:57:00.000-05:00

we vacation separately because its cheaper, or with the kids (to places close enough to bail when we have had enough whining) which does not include any you-know-what. after almost a decade together, we are trying to plan a fall love-fest. our destination of choice (there were no other contenders!) : OREGON. home, soon, home?

japanese garden, portland, oregon, via grand canyon

i'm doing some sleuthing now for places to stay, food to eat (portland is mecca for vegetarian foodies!), and bits of earth to take in. just planning the planning stage is exciting.

diy treehouse chapter 2

2010-09-13T11:42:00.001-05:00

treehouse started? want to know where to go from there?
1. make your kids wait 4 miserably long days before you build a floor
2. build a second level (and a floor)
3. swear to them you will put up railing next weekend (looking at it is just as fun)

i'll be the girl with the drool on her face

2010-09-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

i can't blog today because

2010-09-09T10:46:00.000-05:00

(based on a true story)

there are a stack of new ikea organizing boxes that reaches the ceiling sitting at the top of the stairs.

my studio will now be 'our studio' and sharing means cleaning up your shit

said studio will also have to suffice as honeymoon suite when my brother comes home from war to marry his bride-to-be.

and while the rest of my house looks like i got my wits about me, this one room in the house is literally overflowing with...well...i'm not quite sure what. but it will be functional again, this i swear.

always glad when we do

2010-09-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

sometimes it's easy to forget how to play, but boy am i always glad when we do.

treehouse diy

2010-09-07T09:45:00.000-05:00

step one: feel guilty that your kids don't have anything cool (ignoring all the cool stuff they have)
step two: buy a cart full of wood, dismissing measurements and logic
step three: hammer and nails and sore arms
step four: quit, throwing hammer to the ground

to be continued...

blooms

2010-09-04T13:59:00.002-05:00

we make stuff

2010-09-04T09:51:00.000-05:00

weston and i took out matching tool boxes of sewing gear and got creative this week. this is what came of it..