Operation grass and wall removal

Today kick starts day one of operation grass and wall removal! After trying to remove our lawn ourselves and breaking our back in the process we decided it was time to call in some help for this project. So the bobcat arrived early this morning and is removing the lawn in the back right now. Today they will also remove all the front lawn and tomorrow the broken, falling down cinder block wall between us and our neighbors will be coming down! We will be spending our 3-day weekend building a new fence, ahhh the joys of home ownership! It's not all that bad though, we will be spending Sunday on a boat relaxing and then it's back to fence building on Monday. Lots of photos coming in the next few days.

I'm also still working on getting my office/sewing room finalized so hopefully I will have before and after photos soon!

Black and White Geometric Pillow Covers

I just got done with this new design and I'm really happy with how it turned out! I designed this bold geometric pattern and screenprinted it by hand onto 100% linen fabric. Pillow covers are hand sewn by me in my San Diego studio. Available now in my shop

 

 

Backyard Deck Plans

Last weekend my dad, who is also a architect (lucky us), came down to show us some plans for our new deck we plan to build in the backyard. I've been imagining it in my head for so long now it was really exciting to see it on paper! Now we have to figure out what materials we want to use. I prefer the look of real wood but I know it can be high maintenance so we are going to shop around and look at the wood alternatives. Anyone have any good suggestions for something that holds up well and doesn't look too much like plastic?

For now I leave you with some updated photos of our living room. We still don't have shades, ugh. BUT I think I have FINALLY found a solution (fingers crossed)! I'll let you know if it works out!

Accordion Pillow Cover

I have this lovely new pillow cover now available at my etsy shop

 

 

 This handmade pillow cover is made from 100% linen which is a natural material. The accordion folds gives the cover a lot of texture which I love! Cover is 18" X 18" and is great alone or can be paired with other pillows.

Squash Blossoms

Wow, the weekend went fast, but doesn't it always? I spent all day Saturday cleaning out the garage and pricing items for our garage sale which took place on Sunday. I have so many house projects in the works but it was time to take a time out and get the garage situation under control. We want to make this space into much needed studio space and I just haven't had the time to go through all the boxes just sitting around since we moved into the house so I finally did it and it feels great to have cleared out all that clutter! What a load off!

Since I've been busy ripping out our lawn, working on new designs for my shop and cleaning the garage I don't have any new photos to share so I thought I would share this photo I took of one of my new favorite things, squash blossoms!

We have been hitting up the local farmers market a lot this summer and we have taken a liking to squash blossoms. Check out this delicious squash blossom recipe on Vegetarian Times website. Have a great day!

A Modern Farmhouse

I've always thought it would be really awesome to own a old rustic farmhouse with a huge barn that I would turn into a art studio for me and a music studio for my husband. The house would be rustic with those old wood plank floors. I would decorate it with modern furnishings, with touches of vintage and rustic farmhouse décor. I created a treasury on Etsy of items I would put into my dreamy modern farmhouse and yesterday it made front page! You can check out these beautiful items here

Patti Smith Just Kids

I love to read. I use to spend my summers lazying around the swimming pool engrossed in a book. It seems now though, I'm always too busy to read and when I have time I'm so exhausted I read through two paragraphs before I start reading the same sentence over and over until I just fall asleep.

In June I went to Mexico for our wedding and honeymoon and so I had time to lay around, relaxing and yes, reading! After hearing several good reviews of Patti Smiths Just Kids book and after hearing her wonderful interview with Terry Gross on NPR I knew this was the book I wanted to read on my vacation! I read this book in just a little over a week and I just fell in love with it! If you're an artist and/or have any interest in the art/music scene of the 1960's and 70's you must read this book.  I am in no way a book reviewer, all I can say is if you're looking for a good inspirational book to read full of 1960's-70's New York art scene history you should read Just Kids.