Piccolina Designs

Christmas Reading Recommendations

2011-11-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

There is something special about holiday traditions. Every year I watch A Christmas Story. I don't really watch it anymore, but rather listen to it on an endless loop while decorating or baking or wrapping presents. But nonetheless, the DVD is out every year.

The same applies to holiday books.

Every year, my mother would give me books for Christmas. Usually a book or two for my reading level, but I always received a beautifully illustrated hardcover children's book which had an inscription written in the front cover and dated. We follow the same tradition of books with Little Tomato.

Now entering the month of December, my favorite holiday books are making the scene. Reading by the fireplace is optional, however the hot cocoa is required:

The Christmas Magic

Author- Lauren Thompson

Illustrator- Jon Muth

image credit: ziggityzoom.com

This book has become a new favorite around here. I am a sucker for anything illustrated by Jon Muth; not only do you have frame-worthy illustrations, but the stories are almost guaranteed to be spectacular.

Great Joy

Author- Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator- Bagram Ibatouilline

image credit: amazon.com

Beautiful illustrations and a simple story of compassion and love for others.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

Author- Susan Wojciechowski

Illustrator- PJ Lynch

image credit: amazon.com

This is my favorite Christmas book of all time. If I could own only one Christmas book, this would be it.

A sad, reclusive woodcarver is visited by a widow and her son. They are new to the town, and she has realized that her family nativity set is gone. She asks the woodcarver to make her a new set before Christmas. He grumpily accepts the job, and is visited the following week by the widow and her son- the boy wants to watch him carve. As the woodcarver works, the boy teaches him about his nativity set- each figure and why it was special. Slowly, as each visit approaches, the woodcarver is softened by the kindness of the widow and the joy of the boy. The illustrations are warm and heartfelt and the story is lyrical and poignant.

My recommendation: Get an early edition! The newest edition has done a hatchet job on the illustrations, both shrinking and cropping them. I was beyond disappointed to see this. The 1995, 1998 & 2000 editions look to have the full sized illustrations.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

Book Review: Press Here by Herve Tullet

2011-08-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

Little Tomato has a new favorite book: "Press Here" by Herve Tullet.

The book starts with a simple yellow dot and the instructions, "Press Here." Each page instructs the reader to interact with the dots. Whether by pressing, rubbing, shaking or clapping, each action causes a reaction on the following pages. Little Tomato is squealing with glee at the end, as she is clapping as hard as she can.

Check out the video on Chronicle Books.

Note to parents: If your children have a hard time 'powering down' at night, this may not be good bedtime book material. It is by no means sleep-inducing.

Enjoy!

Littlest Tomato

2011-08-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Nope, not a sister. Just this little doll I whipped up the other day.

Littlest Tomato

She has been complete for some time, but I was completely stuck on how to dress her. So, dejected, she has been moping about my sewing room willing me to 'clothe her in cuteness'. Finally inspiration struck in the unfortunate chocolate stain on a cute Little Tomato shirt. While the shirt was ruined, the soft jersey ruffles on the arms were pristine and just begging to be repurposed. So I grabbed the scissors and away I went!

So, finally making her debut, Littlest Tomato! In her party dress and pigtails, she is ready for fabulousness. Her 'likes' are tea parties with all the girly trimmings, balloons, carousel rides, polaroid cameras, and Little Tomato. They're buds. :)

If you are interested in making your own, check out Wee Wonderfuls by Hillary Lang. It is a great resource with a variety of plush patterns, not just variations of the same doll. Littlest Tomato was constructed with similar techniques, but I created my own pattern for her.

Hello Again

2011-08-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the silent treatment from my corner of the blogosphere (yes, against my better judgement, I used the word 'blogosphere'). Truth is, it has been a chaotic 2011 with few crafty projects in the works. So, what has been keeping us so busy? Well...

We are moving.

To this:

A farm!

The past several months have been full of planning, designing, preparing our house for sale, and of course the miserable summer heat wave that has plagued the midwest. While I will be sad to see our house go, as I am very fond of our home, I cannot wait to dig in the dirt and enjoy evenings of cool breezes and cicada songs from a screened in porch.

A couple of projects I was able to squeeze in and some house sneak peeks are forthcoming. :)

Zoo Inspired Reading

2011-03-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Isabella the tiger cub at HDZ.

Hello Spring!

Little Tomato and I have been stretching our legs outside, enjoying the warm weather.

This week we visited the zoo and of course we had to visit the tigers.

The zoo has a baby cub who steals the show with her bouncy play.

However, Little Tomato's favorite animals to see are 'the monkeys.'

Specifically, the Siamang gibbons.

These gibbons are incredibly animated. Their voices can be heard from across the zoo in chorus with the peacock calls.

At first glance, the Siamang looks like a normal 'monkey'... until it fills the giant pouch in its neck with air. It sounds like the low-key hum you hear when you blow over the neck of a bottle. Then comes the whooping calls and swinging about.

Little Tomato is enamored by them.

In the spirit of our zoo visit, I thought I would share some favorite zoo/ world animal inspired children's books:

Agate by Joy Morgan Dey

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead

The Zoo by Suzy Lee

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

Follow the Line Around the World by Laura Ljungvist

Alphabeasties by Sarah Forss & Sharon Werner

Pssst by Adam Rex

Who is your favorite animal at the zoo?

What is your favorite zoo or animal story book?

Playroom Tour

2011-02-24T14:24:00.000-08:00

Two long months later, the painting is finished!

See this post for details of the design process.

Light paint + natural light = larger looking room.

I knew this, but it is still amazing how much of a difference it makes.

In case you are wondering:

Not decals.

Supplies:

Triangle & Ruler.

Pencil.

Painter's Tape.

Paint.

Sharpie Paint Marker (if applicable).

Sketch out your design to scale. I did mine on the computer, but this can be hand drawn as well. As long as the design is to scale, it will keep proportions of the design accurate to your room.

From your sketch, draw your design on the walls with a pencil. I used a triangle & a long 24" ruler to keep everything level and square. For the sun, I did the old-fashioned trick of a central point attached to string with a pencil at the end. I drew the largest radius first and shortened the string for the inner concentric circles.

Don't be afraid to improvise!

If you notice gaps in the design, or you didn't account for that outlet (or wall base, or light switch, etc.), don't fret. That is why you start with the pencil (and a nice big eraser).

I added a hot air balloon, relocated a car, added a van, and threw in an airplane.

And I like it better.

Once your drawing is complete, it is time to tape!

For the non-square items (ex. hot air balloon, helicopter, vehicles, sun, etc.), I did not tape, but rather applied several coats very carefully with a steady hand.

I used Frog Tape for this project, and while it was certainly not perfect, it did a much better job than anything I have used before.

Paint.
I used the Sherwin Williams- Color to Go paint. This paint is about $5 for a quart.
I purchased 5 colors, so for this complete cityscape it was under $30.
And plenty left over for future projects.
(Imagine what this would be in decals...)

Plan on spending a lot of time on this kind of project.
As my colors were very saturated, I needed 2-3 coats + touch-ups after removal of tape.
I also did outlines of black using the Sharpie Paint Marker. It worked great.

There you have it.

Additional details:
Target Itso Bins. I used these for color inspiration (and storage).
I felt color was needed on the floor, but could not find any rugs that would coordinate.
So I got a few carpet tiles, cut into a pattern, and duct taped together on the underside.

The airplane banner:
Light grey felt fabric with thin strips of an accent green felt as piping on the top & bottom.
I used iron-on transfer paper to print the alphabet letters and ironed the letters onto the felt.
I adhered the banner to the wall with adhesive hanging strips (giving the banner a wave off the wall).

Book Review: The Zoo by Suzy Lee

2011-02-20T07:53:00.000-08:00

The Zoo by Suzy Lee

I am a big fan of Suzy Lee. Her books have few, if any, words, but convey stories exquisitely through the illustrations. Though I still feel that her book "Wave" will always be my favorite, The Zoo is another great Suzy Lee book.

Synopsis: A little girl goes on a trip to the zoo with her parents. The illustrations on these first pages are washed out grey tones as the girl visits empty cage after empty cage with her family... with the exception of a colorful peacock that catches the girl's attention. She absentmindedly wanders away from her family to follow the peacock, and as she does, the greyscale background of the empty zoo transitions into a vivid green one.

The following pages are a contrast between her parents search for the girl in the grey empty zoo and the girl's adventures in the colorful oasis of animals. "We watched the hippos in their pool," the book narrates, on a greyscale page where her parents are searching for her at the empty hippo pool. The following page shows the peacock leading the girl to a colorful pond with happy hippos and monkeys who have escaped their drab cages.

In the end, she is found by her parents asleep on a zoo bench. As the relieved parents carry the little girl home, you can see the animals in the background watching her go and, as she smiles at them, the book states, "I love the zoo. It is very exciting."

Ode to Cooking

2011-02-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

Doesn't this just look delectable??

This Valentine's Day weekend I had a SPECTACULAR dinner made by the Fabulous Mr. Dish.

Now, there is COOKING, and then there is the ART of cooking.

This meal was MOMA material.

To be honest, I don't remember the name of a single thing I ate; but I can tell you that I was beyond tempted to lick my plate. And the table decor? Yeah, that was the Fabulous Mrs. Dish. Tulips & roses, candles and crimson linens, French cuisine... Husband and I had a spectacular evening with spectacular friends.

All of which, but me, have the ability to cook.

Confession: I am an ABYSMAL cook.

I routinely microwave leftovers to a rubbery food-looking inedible mess.

The oven and I have a little arrangement: As long as I clean it and otherwise leave it alone, it won't set off the smoke alarm on me.

A year into our relationship, I thought it would be a good idea to invite my now-husband over for a homemade meal- even though I was fully aware of my cooking abilities. I chose what seemed to be a simple cheesy chicken and rice dish and that evening he arrived to find a decorated table and dinner presented nicely on plates. We sat down to eat and as he put that first bite in his mouth I heard a loud CRUNCH. In all my cooking wisdom, I purchased the non-minute rice. As the cheesy chicken sauce was blended with the rice, this was not an easy fix. My poor date spent over an hour trying to salvage my disastrous cooking venture. Finally he turned to me, laughed, gave me a big hug, and said, "How about I order us a pizza?"

Bless his heart, nine years later, he still hides his trepidation every time I get that urge to cook something in the kitchen.

Happy Valentines Day!

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings...

2011-02-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

I typically don't make a big deal about Valentine's Day.

However, this year, inspired by this delicious twine (and needing a little break from painting), I sent a few valentines out to some special friends and family.

Brown paper packages tied up with strings.

Now for that silver white winter that melts into spring...

Book Review: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

2011-01-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch on Amazon

My favorite Valentine's Day read is "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch" by Eileen Spinelli. The story was written in such a way that it is both simple and full of depth. The illustrations complement the story so well that I cannot imagine the story without them.

Synopsis:

Mr. Hatch is a sad man. His story begins with a description of him,

"Mr. Hatch was tall and thin and he did not smile."

The story continues by describing his daily schedule, which never varies and is dull and grey. The illustrations that accompany this first part of the story are done in washed-out and grey tones which reflects the lack of color and light in his life. (The character very much reminds me of Harold Crick in Stranger than Fiction, a delightful movie).

One day, Mr. Hatch receives an unexpected package from the postman. He opens the box to find a heart-shaped box of candy and a simple note attached: Somebody Loves You.

This small thing, a simple unexpected gift, makes Mr. Hatch smile. From here, color seeps into the pages of the book and Mr. Hatch's life.

I won't give away the ending of the book. But suffice to say, it will give you that 'warm fuzzy feeling' that Valentine's day is all about.

Enjoy!

Another Little Project Gone Out of Hand...

2011-01-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

As the cardboard house and Christmas present have shown, I tend to take a simple idea and go a little overboard with it. (Okay, let's be honest, way overboard).

This month's out-of-hand project was a complete redesign of the playroom.

As soon as she began walking, our daughter started taking over the living room. To contain the chaos in a room with a closable door, husband and I converted our office into a playroom. Which basically meant just taking our stuff out and putting her stuff in. Until recently the room donned blue-green walls and plain white curtains that the previous owners left to us. I have been itching to redo it for some time.

So... I thought the first step would be to upgrade the storage in the room; a small Rubbermaid tub as a toy-box and bookshelves is fine for a toddler with teething toys and blocks, but not-so-much for a little girl with art supplies, puzzles and dress up clothes.

When I realized that replacing storage in the room meant unscrewing the child safety straps holding bookshelves to the wall, I thought it was a great opportunity to spruce up the paint in the room. (You see where this is going- it is my own little "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" moment...)

Being the designer I am, I didn't feel just an accent wall would be fun enough for a play room. I mean, this was my opportunity to go crazy with a room! So I started playing with options in Photoshop. I drew my color palette from the Target Itso Polka Dot bins (love, love, love them), and my first renderings played with the idea of oversized dots on the wall.

Too plain.

Then I looked at some options of vinyl wall decals. When I saw this Ohdeeoh room tour with the city skyline, it reminded me how much I adore the illustrations of Laura Ljungvist.

I had my inspiration.

Paint Swatches and Laura Ljungvist books.

I sketched up elevations of the walls and begin painting.

This is just a sneak-peek photo. I am still working on the long wall cityscape, and some finishing touches in other areas. To be continued!

Interactive Backdrop?

2010-12-26T14:03:00.000-08:00

Little Tomato's big Christmas gift this year was a 'labor of love' from mom.

{Any suggestions on what to call this would be welcome! At the moment I will call it an interactive backdrop.}

I envisioned this project when I saw these fabulous felt playhouses on Etsy and a blog. Since Miss M already has a cardboard play house, I envisioned something that would coordinate with her house and would be an interactive play and learning experience. I sketched out a design and began working...

The project is essentially a PVC pipe frame which is 5'-6" x 5'-6" in size with a fleece sleeve which slips over the frame. The sleeve has appliqued scenes on both sides which were made to be interactive.

Side A: Vegetable Garden

The tree has velcro attachments which allow three-dimensional felt apples to be picked from the tree. I will also be making lemons and oranges to attach in the future.
The vine has velcro attachments which allow three-dimensional felt tomatoes to be picked from the vine. I will also be making eggplant and cucumbers to attach in the future.
The corn stalk husks are pockets for corn cobs. I have not been happy with my attempts at making the corn out of felt, so I plan on purchasing this fabulous pattern... and learning how to crochet in the process!!
Part 2 of this project (I ran out of time before Christmas!) will be to create dirt rows to lay in front of the garden for root vegetables. I found some great examples here and here to use as a guide.

We hope this will plant the love of gardening into our little girl before spring, so she will be a seasoned pro in the garden next year!

Side B: Night Forest

The pond has a pocket in the water to place fish.
Pillow logs and flame were made to place in front of the nighttime scene for a campfire.
Part 2 of this project will be felt marshmallows with holes in the center to place on dowels for roasting and felt chocolate bars and graham crackers to make the perfect mess-free smores!

Next year, we plan on including the little one on our camping adventures, so during the cold winter months we will have plenty of practice telling fireside tales and snuggling under a blanket at her pretend campsite!

Happy Holidays!

No Bake Cookies

2010-12-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

There is nothing quite equal to listening to holiday music with a fire in the fireplace

while making sweets with the family to get one in the holiday spirit!

No Bake Cookies:

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups of sugar

1/4 cup of cocoa

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/3 cup margarine or butter (converts to 5 tbsp in butter terms)

1/3 cup chunky peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups of instant oatmeal

Instructions

Stir sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine/ butter over medium heat until it bubbles.

Boil and stir for an additional 2 minutes, then remove from heat.

Add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal.

Stir until melted.

Drop mixture onto waxed paper and refrigerate until cookies set.

Enjoy the deliciousness.

Happy Holidays!

Vala's Pumpkin Patch

2010-11-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

Vala's Pumpkin Patch: New Farm Animal Band
Cow and Donkey lead the musical medleys and Rabbit leads the harmonizing corn.
"9 Corn" got forked! The three little Pigs get into the grove banging on pails & cans.

I have always celebrated the fall. There is something about the crisp scent in the air, the vibrant and vivid colors of nature, the introduction of caramel apples, bonfires, s'mores, and hot chocolate... it is hands-down my favorite time of year.

When I was a child my family made an autumn tradition of visiting a local pumpkin patch. What began as a modest pumpkin farm with hayrack rides has transformed through the years into a smorgasbord of fall family activities. From their haunted house and corn maze to their bunny village, petting zoo, train rides, pig races, animatronic storybook village and farm animal band- just to name a few! Here is a sneak peek of Vala's Pumpkin Patch!!

Vala's Pumpkin Patch: Bunny Village
Complete with bunny-sized schoolhouse, water mill, stream, houses and barns.
And a bunny scarecrow!
Includes a sign stating that this was provided by "Rabb-i-tat for Haremanity."

Vala's Pumpkin Patch: Petting Zoo
Feed the goats, llamas, camel and goose. I was a big fan of this sweet little llama.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch: Scarecrow Band and Ogre!
One of the first animatronic features added to Vala's, the Scarecrow Band! CD available at the Big Barn Shop.
The joke-telling Ogre.
Photo opportunities are endless. One of my favorites: the stocks!
Stocks are complete with a "Trouble Makers, Malcontents and Lollygagers" sign.

The Little Things

2010-10-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

I count myself blessed to have the opportunity,

every day,

to see life anew through the eyes of a child.

Cirque Tutu

2010-08-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

Last week I worked on the design of a circus themed tutu.

When I thought of 'circus', the first thing that came to mind was "La Nouba" Cirque du Soleil at Disney. I saw this a few years ago, and it left a lasting impression. The theater is designed to resemble a 'big top' tent and at night the glow of the building has an air of mystery, just as I imagine the original tent shows once did. The same circus fare of cotton candy, popcorn, and souvenirs is offered inside as you make your way to your seats. However, the sophistication of the music, the level of detail in the costumes, and the jaw dropping performances are unlike any circus show I had seen before.

While my daughter was coloring beside me, I drew up my idea of a circus themed tutu from this experience. The colors, while not necessarily the primary colors of a classic circus, have a whimsical feel to them. I drew petti-tutu ends and an over-exaggerated bow to the design, as I felt the puffy-fullness and large scale bow reflect the over-exaggerated features of a clown.

The following day, I selected tulle colors and began working...

The final Cirque Tutu!

*Fabulous photography provided by Katherine Marie!

Today...

2010-08-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

... We picked fresh raspberries at a farm ...

... We spent time with good friends ...

... And we cooled off at the water park.

How are you spending your hot summer days?

The Cat's Meow

2010-08-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Isn't this mask just the cat's meow?

I modeled this one after the leopard cat, which has dramatic markings around the facial features... but I think I will be creating another iteration on it now that I found this stunning photo. The combination of white and chocolate along the eyes will be pretty fun to play with.

Back to the sewing machine!

Cookie Time!

2010-08-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Cookies!

Last week I made a felt cookie and dough set for my cousin. Cookies are an extremely easy felt food project to complete, especially since it really doesn't require a pattern (aside from cookie cutters).

See this tutorial for the basics.

I made a few modifications to the tutorial:

Instead of separate 'uncooked' and 'cooked' cookies, I just stuck with the one set.

The felt red icing is sewn onto the cookie with a satin stitch to make it look more crisp.

I used contrasting pink thread satin stitches to make sprinkles on the cookies.

Enjoy baking!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

2010-08-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

1) Animal Carousel. Unfortunately the Giraffe and Tiger do not move up and down.

2) Face to face with a lion!

3) A Peahen preening her feathers, to impress the eligible bachelors.

4) Don't be Koi with Me Pond.

A few facts about animals learned yesterday at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo:

*Orangutans are among the most intelligent of apes. The zoo had a orangutan who not only created a tool to pick the locks of their exhibit (to go galavanting around at night!), but cleverly hid this tool in his jawline to conceal it from the zookeepers!

*Like human fingerprints, zebra stripes are unique to each zebra.

*Only the male of the species is called a Peacock.

1) I just couldn't resist photographing the peafowl in the flowers.

2 & 3) In the Butterfly & Insect Pavilion, you get to walk among the butterflies.

4) Peafowl in love.

The End.

Peafowl

2010-08-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

Trivia for the Day:

The male of the species is a Peacock.

The female of the species is a Peahen.

The babies are Peachicks.

And the general term: Peafowl!

Fabulous day at the zoo today. More later.

What Are the Words Again?

2010-07-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

My mother visited last weekend. Now, my daughter has a great love for ducks. And of course, the rubber duck is her favorite water toy. So as my mother was playing with her in the inflatable pool, she taught her a song she used to sing for me, "Six little ducks that I once knew; fat ones, skinny ones, tall ones too..."

Once she left, my daughter wanted me to sing her the song. So I used my favorite cheat for song lyrics until I had it inevitably memorized: Bussongs.com. On this site you can find pretty much any children's song lyrics imaginable. You can search by a specific song, or look for songs on a specific theme (animal, counting, nature, etc). Thought I would share this great find, as I know we all have that moment where we do the embarrassing 'mumble hum' for the words we just can't remember.

Summer Evenings Spent Planting

2010-07-09T20:23:00.000-07:00

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens, noproblemgarden.com

Black Hills Adventure

2010-07-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago, shortly after my daughter's birthday party, Husband came home from work and we sat down to dinner. Nothing out of the usual, except that the gears in his head were turning. He was talking about camping earlier in the day with a co-worker, and at dinner he did some calculating in that head of his. We hadn't been on a vacation in 2-1/2 years.
We were overdo.

Fast forward to two weeks later. We had our camping checklist and gear laid out, maps marked up for the campgrounds and trails in the Black Hills area, and our sitters lined up for 6 full days of an 'outdoor adventure'.

Lesson Learned #1: Have a Solid Understanding of the Size of your Vehicle.
While husband and I did a vast amount of research into the proper gear, food and supplies required for camping, we neglected to remember that our last vehicle, a 'small class SUV,' had far more trunk space than our updated 'crossover.' After a good hour of finessing, all four doors could close and we had almost 18 cubic inches of space to spare! Next time... pack less.

Lesson Learned #2: It Isn't a Good Idea to Take the Highways to South Dakota when it is Apparently Flood Season.

Evidently 'April Showers' took a raincheck into June this year (pun intended). While the interstate would probably have been an easier way to drive to South Dakota, the highways through rural Nebraska are far prettier. We opted for this route, and planned to break up the driving into an afternoon of driving, an overnight at a small hotel, and a late morning check-in at the camp site.
While this was a great idea in theory, we did not plan for the sandbagged roads and detours we ran into along the way. We also did not adequately check the current weather situation for that evening in Northwest Nebraska. So we were caught on a highway with no ditches, no tree cover, and no turn offs, during a severe thunderstorm with 70 mph winds. Next time, interstate, you are my friend.

A few highlights of the Black Hills:
Little Devil's Tower Hiking Trail: One of the shorter trails in Custer State Park, we took this trail on our first day. The Custer State Park brochure listed the trailhead as a way to reach Harney Peak, but did not mention much about the 'spur trail' to Little Devil's Tower. This trail is strenuous. The hike is not pretty for much of the time, as this area contains many dead & dying trees, and due to this there is also very little shade. However, once you reach the summit you will find gorgeous views of the Black Hills. This trail is also not very travelled, so you will have far more solitude than the various other trails in the park.

View from Little Devil's Tower Summit

Harney Peak Hiking Trail: There are two trailhead points to reach Harney Peak, and this is the most popular hiking in the park, as evidenced by the t-shirts you can purchase at the State Park General Store which proudly proclaim, "Take a Hike! Harney Peak, elevation 7,242". The hike is 3 miles one way to the tower at the summit. You can see across four states from the tower, and the view is spectacular.

View from Harney Peak Summit

Iron Mountain Road heading north (early morning if at all possible): While we took this road into Custer State Park after leaving Mt. Rushmore and the town of Keystone (which is north of the State Park area), we did not leave the park using this road until the final day of our trip. In general it is a twisty, scenic road through the park with beautiful views of the hills. However, if you take this road north, as we did on our final morning in Custer, you have a *the best* view of Mt. Rushmore in the Black Hills. Well, at least far better than if you go to the monument, pay your $10 to park, and stand next to the hoards of other tourists with their cameras. If you go in the early morning, this road is also full of wildlife still out & about in the woods. A beautiful drive worth making.

Sadly, as our camera was packed under various other things in the car on this last drive out, we have no photographic evidence of this.Lesson Learned #3: Camera always in the front seat.

Wildlife Loop Road: Also in Custer State Park, this loop is in the southern portion of the park. Through this long stretch of road you will see the prairie of South Dakota... oh yeah, and as the road name eludes, wildlife. Our first drive through yielded a couple of sightings of lone deer... over the 30 mile drive. On the second drive through we saw the herd of buffalo. While they are impressive creatures, there is something anti-climatic about shooting photos of wildlife out of your car window as you sit in a long parade of vehicles on a paved road... But still. Worth the drive if you have the time.

Now that I am properly rejuvenated by my summer vacation, I will be back soon with more posts!

Birthday Garden Party!

2010-06-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

1. Tissue Paper Puff Garland

2. Handmade Felt Birthday Cakes for the birthday girls.

3. Farmer's Market Succulents? Ah, yes please!

4. Handmade linen smock, with a flower for flair.

1. Peonies! The scent is just heavenly.

2. Fresh baked strawberry cupcakes, succulents and peonies decorated the table.

Two!

2010-05-31T06:57:00.000-07:00

My baby is two next week. I should rephrase; my little girl is two next week. We just concluded her second birthday party, and it was just amazing to see my little lady actually entertain her guests.

She gives her books kisses and runs up to give us spontaneous hugs. She stops during walks to splash in the water, feel grass, and check that her baby doll is strapped in the stroller okay. It is such fun to see life through the eyes of a child. Her excited gibberish while 'reading' books and manic giggles fill what used to be silence in the house. Her trail of toys, books, and food crumbles clutter what used to be a clean house. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. Happy birthday sweetheart. We love you.

While we try to teach our children all about life,

Our children teach us what life is all about.

~Angela Schwindt

Illustrator Review: Laura Ljungvist

2010-05-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

Laura Ljungvist Illustration: check out her website!

Last year I was working on a children's hospital design (which, sadly, never came to fruition; it was completely reworked design-wise). The inspiration was a linear element which would carry throughout the hospital as a wayfinding element. Each floor of the hospital would highlight features of the city; one floor highlighted parks, another bridges and water, another the cityscape. We wanted a clean-lined, sophisticated graphic style using bold colors that would appeal to children of all ages.

When I stumbled upon Laura's book "Follow the Line" it was like déjà vu. The sketches we drew were eerily similar, and the concept of a line which carries you through space? Wow. It was like she read our minds. And not a single person on the design team had ever seen her work.

Since I first saw Follow the Line, I have collected almost every one of Laura's books. The graphic style is a unique combination of colors and geometric forms. Each page of the three book series not only follows the story, but has activity questions such as "How many cars have their headlights on?" in Follow the Line, or "What shape is the swiss cheese?" in Follow the Line through the House.

As you can see in the illustration below (example page from Follow the Line through the House), there is a line which comes from the left hand side of the page (which is a continuation of the line on the previous page) and becomes the form of the drawers, then becomes the form of stove, the form of the chairs and table base, to finally carry off the right hand side of the page and into the next. I love how the line pulls the reader through the story, while showing the reader how everyday objects can be broken down into simple geometric forms.

Sample Page from Follow the Line through the House by Laura Ljungvist

If you are interested in seeing more examples of her illustrations, where to buy her books, or information on Laura, check out her website here.

Phase I: Complete

2010-05-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier, Little Tomato and my cousin Eva are sharing a birthday party this year... and it is next weekend! I still have *loads* to do, but as of now, I can draw a nice big check mark next to the "garland" on my To Do list. Once husband gets home tonight, we can officially hang it up in our living room, but until then... I am eagerly anticipating it!!

Tissue Paper Garland: Complete!

The garland is made of 6" diameter tissue paper puffs tied together with cream organza ribbon. Since we have a tall ceiling in our living room, the BIG puff is going to hang from our ceiling fan in the center of the room. There are four garlands coming off the center ball which are going to attach to the four corners of the living room to give a 'tented' feel in the room. I calculated that I needed 11 puffs per garland, which is a grand total of *45* puffs (counting the big one in the middle).

As it is a spring party, I loved the idea of celebrating everything in bloom. I designed the invitations with a garland of flowers in the upper corner, and printed them on plantable paper so the invitations can be planted and grown into flowers of their own!

Nature Explore!

2010-05-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

Nebraska City, home of Arbor Day, has an *amazing* outdoor play area for children called "Nature Explore" at their Arbor Day Farm "Tree Adventure."

Tree Adventure Path

The Tree Adventure has a wide (read: stroller friendly) trail which winds along a wooded path. As you walk through the 'forest', you will find different animal tracks stamped into the concrete, signs describing the various plants and animals, and interactive sculptures which children can play in/ on along the way. The 50 foot tall tree house is also a great feature to get a stunning view of the forest.

What I call an 'interactive sculpture'

However, as wonderful as this trail is, the vast majority of our time is spent in the Nature Explore play area. This features a "nature's treehouse" (see photo below), a messy play area, a nature's art area, and a gi-normous wooden xylophone / music area for children to demonstrate their budding musical talents.

Nature's Treehouse

The treehouse features multiple levels of platforms with wood railings and a cubby full of play silks. The messy play area is a zone full of large limbs and sticks for children to stack, configure and climb on. And the nature's art area features large cubbies of natural wooden building blocks, shells, pine cones and other natural elements to organize and create designs.

Nature's Art Area on "Giant Tree Cookie Flooring"

Not only is this sensory smorgasbord my favorite playground, but there is a duplicate of this classroom in a 'toddler friendly' size for the wee babes to experience the same outdoor fun as their older counterparts.

If you are not within feasible driving distance of Nebraska City and want a Nature Explore for your own city (or yard, if you so choose), the Arbor Day website has been updated with a "Nature Explore Sourcebook" which boasts a cheat sheet of all of their unique outdoor play materials. Click here for the link.

Terrible Yellow Eyes

2010-04-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

I have been taken in by Maurice Sendak’s terrible and wonderful monsters.

I love the anger, and the frightfulness, and the joy I find there.

I hope you will find something here as well.

-- Cory Godbey

Cory Godbey, who wrote this quote, created a website as an homage to Maurice Sendak and his story "Where the Wild Things Are." It is a collection of illustrations from talented artists who share an admiration for the book. As someone who has also been inspired by this special children's book, it was amazing to see the diverse collection of illustrations. If you also hold a special place in your heart for this great story, check out this amazing site!

http://www.terribleyelloweyes.com/

"My favorite French Quarter"... Or "I've Stuffed Myself to the Gills with French Bread"

2010-02-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

(photo credit: Robert Becker)

So my best bud's hubby, Mr. Dish (yes, pun intended), works at the *best* bakery in Nebraska, Le Quartier (get your menu link fixed, boys!). Mr. Dish is the head baker at their 69th and "O" Street shop, and one of the best cooks ever. (And cue my shameless plug for his delicious food blog The Latest DISH).

So, of course, on my trek to Lincoln for Madzilla to play at the Children's Museum... we made a little stop. And I certainly stocked up on my carbs for the week.

Steve baked me the *most delicious* full sized ciabatta loaf I have ever sunk my teeth into. Perfect crumb and crust (you impressed, Steve? I read your blog and retained the details of the creme de la creme of bread). The entire family ate... oh about HALF of it in one dinner. Three of us. One a toddler. That good.

I also partook of their delectable almond croissant; which I am sure will one day solidify my veins. But I will go out a happy, happy woman. I was even generous enough to share a couple pieces with Madzilla and little Louie, which anyone who knows me *knows* is not a small feat with pastries!!

If yesterday's carb overload wasn't enough, today I woke up and warmed Le Quartier pecan rolls for breakfast. While I was told their new recipe was to die for, I was not prepared for the awesomeness that is their pecan rolls (oh- and as an aside, their cinnamon rolls are made with brioche dough and homemade icing). Thankfully I only bought two for us, since I could have easily eaten a pan alone.

Madzilla and I had a Parisian lunch of fresh fruit, French bread and cheese for lunch. I finished with a glass of Malbec and thought to myself, "This can't get any better."

Book Review: "What Good is a Moose" by Joy Morgan Dey

2010-02-01T16:21:00.000-08:00

"Agate" is the story of a moose who thinks there is nothing special about himself. He sees the unique traits of each of his animal friends, but wonders, "What good is a moose?" The watercolor illustrations of his friends, each named after and painted in the color of birthstones, are exquisite. On each page, you learn unique traits of each of the animals, even the moose! A fabulous read before a trip to the zoo.

Feel, Past Tense.

2010-01-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

... into a story board! I haven't had time to add too many pieces for the stories yet, but at the moment the little one is wielding an impressive forest of trees, a cute little house and a couple of lovely ladies ready for some fascinating adventures!

Book Review: "The Surprise" by Sylvia van Ommen

2010-01-22T09:30:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I made a blog post... I struggled with 'what kind' of blog I want this to be... Crafts? Personal stories? Design? I couldn't decide, so I have been procrastinating. Today I decided that I am going to write about what interests me... which is all of the above.

So... Almost a month after my first post, I will begin with a book review.

Let me begin with saying: I am a huge advocate for reading. Every holiday as a child I would receive a book with an inscription written in the front cover and it was always a treasured gift. Books make such a lasting impression on little minds, especially when the love and prayers of their parents are included in their favorite books.

Perhaps because of this, I hold a special place in my heart for children's books. I want to share a few of my favorites in the following weeks, and thought I would start with a little-known, 'all ages' picture book: "The Surprise" by Sylvia van Ommen.

"The Surprise" is a wordless 32 page mystery. The illustrations are simple and sophisticated using bold colors and simple backgrounds to 'spin the tale' (pun intended) of the adorable sheep who is crafting a gift for a friend. This book is the perfect example of 'pictures speak louder than words.' The sheep is given a distinct personality as she measures her wool coat, rides her vespa to the dye store and to the French pink poodle who spins her dyed wool into yarn ... and finally gives the gift she knitted to her best friend. Each picture shows the process of wool clothing from the shearing of the sheep, through the dying, spinning and knitting into a final product. It is a mystery for the little reader who wonders from page 1, "Why is she measuring her coat?" to the end where her wrapped package is taking a vespa ride to its final destination and you finally see what the sheep made for her tall friend. A wonderful story from an extremely talented illustrator in The Netherlands.

Upping the Creativity in our House

2010-01-04T18:10:00.000-08:00

While I love a beautiful blanket of snow on a Christmas morn as much as the next person, I did not sign up for the five foot drifts that graced our home this season. As we were cloistered indoors over our holiday vacation, husband and I decided to collaborate on a 'weekend project'... which went a *little* overboard.

Since the recent release of the Disney Pixar movie "Up" to DVD, I have seen the move *at least* 50 times. No joke. This is due to the fact that our little toddler has developed a massive addiction to the movie, and blistering-cold weather has prevented our outdoor time. Thus, naturally, Mom & Dad chose to take her newfound love and make the most of it. We decided to build her a cardboard "Up Playhouse."

Now, husband will tell you, "I just wanted to stick a couple of boxes together, cut a couple of holes in them for windows, and call it her Up house. *YOU* took it to Crazytown."

Together we put approximately 90 man-hours into her house. Husband was the engineering mind, investing duct tape, wrapping paper rolls & reinforced corner panels to the structure. I was on design duty; planning the architectural features and finishing the exterior by adding paper siding and shingles to the house.

The entire project is composed of used cardboard boxes, cleverly recycled into the walls and rooflines of her new digs. All support pieces are from empty wrapping paper rolls & packing materials that came with said boxes. Mr. Sketch scented markers made a comeback this week, as I drew endless accent lines onto the strips of paper to be glued to the cardboard as siding (with my trusty bottle of Elmer's glue). I'm not going to lie... we went a little crafty-crazy with it.

The interior isn't finished, but is already coming along with it's own cardboard fireplace and "Ellie painting" of Paradise Falls. And, of course, the house wouldn't be complete without a mailbox. Our piccola's handprint will be added to the mailbox in the future, but apparently paint on the hand was a traumatizing experience for the little princess, and we had to abandon ship after her hysterical screaming... Nonetheless, despite the handprint hiccup, I think the project was well worth the smile on her face as she took our hands and pulled us to the front door, wanting to share her new house with Mom & Dad.