Spring Babies and Cupcakes

I am getting ready to celebrate a very important day for me, the anniversary of the day I became a mother.  My darling daughter Emma turns 17 tomorrow. We knew Emma was special right from the beginning, there were all kinds of unusual events associated with her coming into this world. On top of everything, she was a breech baby that could not be turned (oh yes, they tried, they really tried!) and was born by C-section on the date of our choice, a date we thought was entirely suitable to all the rarities we had experienced with her, Friday May 13, 1994.  Needless to say, 13 is a favorite number for us :)

With Eric, camping out. Yes, her hair is still that curly.

Emma is spending most of her birthday in tech rehearsal for a play in which she is performing,  so Jim made dozens of cupcakes today for Emma's cast and crew. I had fun sprinkling all kinds of candies on top.  I love the colors against the vanilla buttercream frosting, so joyful and fresh, the essence of spring and of children and of many happy memories. I will make her favorite cheesecake this afternoon, and we will be busy wrappng and decorating later today. During all these preparations, I hold in my awareness an appreciation of just how blessed I am.

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week, The Importance of Play

Eric's and Sharon's wind up toys, kept within reach on our desks

Teach us delight in simple things.

~ Rudyard Kipling

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week, What is Your Dream?

art quilt made to honor our daughter Emma and her dreams

(she is almost 17 now, by the way...)

I have a dream...

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of My Favorite Jewelry Designs from One of My Very Favorite Artists

This is one of my favorite designs from one of my very favorite artists.  I love this necklace because of its clean simplicity and use of natural materials.  Mostly I love it because of the love that is in it.  My daughter Emma made this for me when she was 4. 

She's now 16, a freshman college student, a very talented actor, an artist with a fabulous design sense and a natural flair, and oh-so-lucky for me, someone who shares my love of all that is vintage.   She asked why I had this necklace out, wondered if I was going to "take it apart".  I guess I do that a lot :)  No, my darling girl, this one is all about love, giving love, receiving love, sharing love. This one stays together always.

Studio Snapshot. Vintage Postcard Inspiration

Early 1900's antique post card...

Although I regularly sell vintage and antique post cards at Bumbershoot Supplies, there are a few that I keep for myself because they inspire or touch me in some way. This card sits on a shelf in my studio, by the ribbons I use to wrap up jewelry purchases, so I see it all the time. I love this card because it reminds us that amidst winter, the memory and the reality of spring is still present. It also reminds me of my snowy Canadian childhood - we don't get much snow here in Seattle. Plus the back of the card is very sweet, it was written by a mother on behalf of her young daughter, clearly too young to write herself: "Here is a card Miss Olga McMillan sends to Marie. I would like to ask you what do you want Santa Claus to bring you for Xmas. I remain your friend." The address is merely a name, city and state.  Imagine that... 

Mothers. Mama A Rainbow. Mixed Media Monday

This is my entry for this week's Mixed Media Monday theme of "mothers".  This art quilt is my attempt to capture a very special moment in my life, a unique Mother's Day present from my son Eric. We're not big on Mother's or Father's Day, we basically try to approach every day as Mother's Day and Father's Day and Children's Day. So it was a real surprise when Eric sang me this song (lyrics below) on Mother's Day a couple of years ago... I still get a bit teary every time I read these lyrics as I hear his incredibly beautiful clear boy soprano singing this song for me.  I deeply value my role as a mother to Eric and my daughter Emma, and I can't think of anything that has blessed me more in my life than the presence of three very special people, Emma, Eric, and my husband Jim.

Hand dyed fabric, ribbon, transfer of Eric's heart drawing, then stitched, photo transfer, stamping, crystal, vintage rhinestones.

Mama A Rainbow 

~Jim Nabors

What do you give to the lady who has given

All her life and love to you

What do you give to the reason you are livin'

I could window shop the world

Before I'm through

Mama, a rainbow

Mama, a sunrise

Mama, the moon to wear

That's not good enough

No not good enough

Not for Mama

Mama, a palace

Diamonds like door knobs

Mountains of gold to spare

That's not rich enough

No not rich enough

Not for Mama

Mama, a life time crowded with laughter

That's not long enough

Not half long enough

What can I give you

That I can give you

What will your present be

Mama, young and beautiful

Always young and beautiful

That's the Mama I'll always see...

That's the Mama with love from me

What can I give you

What will your present be

Mama, young and beautiful

Always young and beautiful

That's the Mama I'll always see...

That's the Mama with - love - from - me...

Vintage Children. Mixed Media Monday

There must be some strange synergy going on.  Some time ago, I chose a Monday in Seattle photo featuring vintage children (who happen to be all "in a row", the theme for this week's Think Monday - Think ATC). Last Friday's Art Creations Friday challenge featured an image with 2 vintage children, I invite you to see my piece here.  And the theme for Mixed Media Monday this week - you guessed it - "vintage children". 

For this ATC, I've used molding paste to obtain the background texture and movement, with painting and foiling over top. The figures, vintage woman and girl, are a sticker of a Mary Cassatt painting that I trimmed. 

Vintage Children. Art Creations Friday

This is the first time I've participated in Art Creations Friday.  I could not resist these two beautiful children, especially as the image is French and I have been working with some recently purchased antique French seed package labels. 

This is a tea stained tag, with stamps and rubons, over which are laid a copy of one of my French seed packet labels, trimmed around the flowers.  Also stitched, and embellished with vintage French ribbon (from 1943) and vintage flower cabochons.

Monday in Seattle. Picture and Quote for the Week

("For Children Only", Woodland Park)

The world is a playground and life is pushing my swing.

~Natalie Kocsis

Studio Snapshot

They keep me company...