perpetual pull to procrastinate per the presence of peonies

secondsister

Did I mention to you that it's peony season? Well it is.

And that's a big deal for me. I do love my peonies. They are my favorite right after hydrangeas. As a singular blossom, they are singular. They make a person feel pretty just looking at them. Wouldn't you agree?

secondsister

Yesterday, instead of washing and packing and getting the house generally in order for Sugar Daddy to take up the post while I'm gone for the weekend, I took photos of peonies. Because it made me happy. And you know what they say about momma being happy.

So I took some photos and fed the babies and ate a handful of pecans. Then I looked at the clock and I only had an hour before I had to start dinner and the laundry needed to be cycled and the dishwasher needed to be unloaded and I still hadn't found those thingamajigs that my sister asked me to bring with me.

So I sat down with my watercolors and pens and doodled more peonies.

Birdie plopped down at my feet on the floor of my studio and ate animal crackers. I keep them handy for times when I need to bribe small children.

This is how the day went. And this is why I was still packing and doing wash into the wee hours of the morning and why I hope that no one asks me any hard questions today. I'm too tired to think.

All I know is it's peony season and that's a big deal.

secondsister

life

Ello' there!

I'm busy busy busy over here in our little home by the sea. I've got jewelry orders rolling in left and right,(and thank you very much for that because it makes me feel like a supa star), and a little trip to Utah for the Casual Blogger Conference this weekend where I will be speaking on niche blogging (whatever that means, I can't believe I actually fooled people, adults!, into thinking I know what I'm talking about) and there's always the babies to keep me hopping. By the way, why am I not losing any weight with all the running around I do? Riddle me that!

Secondsister Summer collection will hit the shop on June 1st. It's a rather small collection but what can you expect from the woman who lives in a shoe? I nearly didn't have a Summer collection at all. I know. Can you even imagine?

And then there's Finnigan Seamus. Finnigan, Finnigan, Finnigan. Whatever will we do with him? He's been so naughty these last few days and he has the gall to look me smugly in the eye even as he reeks of deviant deeds involving the trash. And why, oh why was the trash left to his leisure? And please do tell me why he insists on sleeping by my side of the bed so that the pungent smell of sour waste wafts my way all the live long night. Where's the justice in this life I'm living?

But I digress. Here's a little peek into what's to come. I finally decided to bow to the recession, that pesky damn recession, and design some pieces that are easy on the pocketbook. If we are all going to be poor, at least we should look good don't you think?

the little things

Amelie 1 year old

I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
~Henry David Thoreau

At thrity-six I'm learning to live. My children are teaching me what life is really all about. It's the little things.

Yesterday I held all of my children in my arms (there's three now you know). Amelie planted open mouth slobbery kisses on Henry's head and tried to poke him in the eye. Thom put his skinny little arm around my neck and told me a knock knock joke. They wiggled and squirmed and we laughed.

Last night I rested my head on my husband's chest and listed to his heart beat. Beating for me.

It's the little things. Like being naked in the sun, eating a banana.

Dear Universe, please record these moments that make my heart sing and play them back to me as I leave this life so that I will know that I really lived.

first birthday

You fluttered into our life one year ago and things have never been the same.
We love you.

*******************************************

Regarding your questions about this post:

I made the chandelier and no, I don't sell them. Only made one. I won't be posting a tutorial because, quite frankly, I didn't photograph the process and it is a long process. If you really want to make one, drop me an email and I'll send you my phone number. I'll give you the specs.

I got the glass bottled soda at Von's Supermarket- not glamorous but true. If you live in the L.A. area, check out Galco's. You can also shop from them online. We make a trek up to L.A. about once a year to go to Galco's. It's great if you are into soda pop.

The little butterflies atop the cupcakes are just buttercream sugar cookies.

I bought the paper straws online at Hey Yo Yo. Love that shop!

I'd like to thank the good people at Martha Stewart Crafts for supplying me with two different butterfly punches, gift bags and cupcake flags. If only you had sent them to me for free...whatever, I'll give you credit anyway.

And I'd like to thank the Good Lord for supplying me with the gorgeous little girl in the photos, (yes, she's mine). She also didn't come free.

dream sequence

1. Sweet Dreams are made of ..., 2. Cherry Blossom Sky, 3. Pink Lemonade, 4. Hydrangea Lolipop, 5. peony1finalweb, 6. Dreaming, 7. Peonies and lilacs, 8. B L O O M, 9. S A K U R A, 10. soft pink, 11. pink flowers, 12. roses and cream, 13. Untitled, 14. Blossom, finally, 15. Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?, 16. Untitled

I interrupt this lazy Sunday afternoon to bring you this dream sequence.

envy

I'm not a butterfly girl per say. I'm not a heart girl either. You can keep your sweet little hearts thank you very much. I won't be needing them on my clothing or anywhere in my house.

But lately, well lately, I've been a little fascinated (is that the right word?) by these winged creatures. They keep popping up in everything I create. I think it might boil down to envy.

Just watch a butterfly as it flits about your garden. They are so carefree, light and graceful.

For a girl with her feet firmly on the ground (surrounded by laundry) it seems impossible to ever be so blithe.

So I will continue to create my little butterflies and maybe if I work hard enough and long enough, someday I will be an old grandma on a porch and when a butterfly flutters by I will be able to say that I am as carefree as he.

wednesday

Act I

Fussing. Ug. Diapers. Bottles. Burp. Breakfast. Baths. Diapers. Lotion. Clothes. Backpack? Lunch box. Kindergarten. Bottles. Burp. Naps. Workout. Shower. Laundry. Cleaning. Studio.

Act II

Fussing. Diapers. Lunch. Bottles. Burp. Laundry. Toys. Hugs. Playing. Laundry. Kindergarten. Market. Snacks. Diapers. Bottles. Burp. Naps. Laundry. Studio.

Act III

Fussing. Diapers. Laundry. Playing. Laughing. Screaming. Crying. Daddy! Dinner. Dishes. Wrestling. Diapers. Pajamas. Bottles. Burp. Bed. Quiet. Boy. Reading. Bed. Negotiating. Bed. Silence.

Act IV

Brushing. Washing. Talking. Reading. Watching.

Act V

Fussing. Bottle. Burp.

Finito

Blogging.

Award?

she's one!

Today my little girl turned one. ONE! I simply can't believe it.

We sang Happy Birthday to her after dinner and she opened a few gifts that came in the mail, but the real shindig is planned for Saturday.

Stay tuned.

gretchen & gilley

This much is sure: Some tea towels are just too cute to use to dry dishes.

If fortune brings you a tea towel as cute as this one that I received from my good friend Maren, might I suggest that you find a way to affix it to your body?

An apron is always a good idea.

Oh and orange gingham? That's always a good idea too.

Gretchen Luikenhuis is my paper doll for the month of May. Gretchen likes to read American stories about cowgirls and heros of the Wild West. Her favorite color is periwinkle. Please keep this in mind when you color her clothing. She likes to walk her little dog Gilley down to the corner bakery on Saturday morning for a banana cupcake. Please feel free to print her out any size you like.

the cup is half full

Finding inspiration in these gray May days.

Please click photo for credits.