1. Spring - Cherry Bokeh, 2. Crushing on the crochet blanket., 3. presto-chango., 4. Daisy Joy, 5. Untitled, 6. crochet corner, 7. blossom & blanket, 8. She left pieces of her life behind her everywhere she went. It’s easier to feel the sunlight without them, she said., 9. LADY & BIRD

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

I apparently have an obsession, because I’ve had about a dozen poster shops open in my browser for 2 weeks, wandering back and forth between them.  This is just a tiny taste of what’s out there or even what’s in my browser.  It just happens to be an international selection.  Enjoy!

I’ve had my eye on Inaluxe for a while.  Their colorful poster prints are from paintings and range in subject matter from birds to abstract shapes that remind me of Matisse.  Beautiful.  And from Australia.

Please be Still’s use of sayings is very much akin to “Keep Calm and Carry On” without being so ubiquitous.  I love the “Everything is Going to be OK” and  “Make Something Good Today.”  Beautiful reminders.

Hsin Ping Pan makes childlike prints that make me smile.  The Taiwanese posters would probably go better in my kids’ bedroom than in the kitchen, but I’m okay with breaking rules about these sorts of things.

Restyle creates beautiful Scandinavian-inspired graphic works with classic modern designs like Cathrineholm bowls, Eames rocking chairs, and eye charts. I pretty much love it all, but I think this teapot is my favorite.  This artist is based in the Czech Republic.

I don’t know what it is about that wall… Maybe it’s because the wall isn’t particularly functional.  It’s a long kitchen wall with no cabinets or counter space.  It also faces the dining room.

And, as you can see, the dining room has it’s own special situation with that rose border.  It came with the house and just looks like an awful lot of work to remove.  It’s called “Norfolk Rose,” which adds a whole new level of whimsy and whatnot.  I sort of feel guilty about wanting to remove it.

So anyway.  I did a quick Picnik edit in Flickr to see how the iconic “Keep Calm” poster would look on the wall.  It took me literally 2 minutes to do this.  I actually can’t imagine paying $25 for a poster I can create in 2 minutes in a simple editing program.

But I might pay like $7.

Since I’m on the market for a poster, I’ve been scouring Etsy for great posters/prints.  I’ve seen some fabulous stuff, and I’ll share some of those links soon.

What do you think?

I missed sharing my inspirations!  See credits below.

1. Crewel World, 2. The Coffee Table, 3. february flowers, 4. new print, 5. natasha’s favorite corner, 6. Marie Nichols Inspiration, 7. Untitled, 8. Queens Park Interior, 9. Untitled

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

We checked in on each other periodically.

I made a quilt top for Jacob, and she made art for Daddy’s office.

That’s our family, an extra baby, and an alien flying over us.  Emily’s the clothed one.

Which makes sense.

She’s our quick-change artist.  You can’t tell, but she’s wearing 3 skirts between her dress and pants.  Layers are in.

It’s amazing to me how a thrifted wool blanket can brighten a room.  I found this one with my mother-in-law while on vacation last summer.  Can you believe it was only $15?  I couldn’t pass it up.  I think I shrunk it a bit when I washed it, despite washing it gently in cold water and laying it flat to dry.  I mean, it had to be washed, right?  Who knows how long it sat in the antiques mall before I adopted it.  Anyway.  It still fits perfectly over this settee (borrowed from my MIL… She sure is a huge help!).

Here’s a little perspective on this space, lest you think I have endless corners to share.

Yep, that’s my “sewing nook” to the right.

So far, this room seems to be more of a foyer than a living room or even a craft room, although it’s too big to just be an entryway.  It’s also lacking a closet (and we don’t have a coat tree).  So when we have guests, their coats and purses get dumped on the granny-square-covered settee.

No big deal.  It’s one of those things you worry about when you first move into a space.  Then you just cope with it.  Or buy a coat tree. :)

And they’re alright with sharing a room.  For now.

Afterall, they are preschoolers.  Preschoolers who endlessly entertain one another.

I made Emily’s quilt for her birthday last October.  And I couldn’t leave it at that.  I had to make a matching pillowcase and giant strawberry pillow.  She was grateful.  I was surprised.  It doesn’t sparkle or light up, doesn’t have ruffles, and has no Disney Princesses.  I had no idea she’d love it.

I based the quilt on Amy Karol’s wonderful Bend the Rules Sewing lapquilt.  It was perfectly easy and simple — which is just right for the preschooler set.  Agonizing over something that will be washed hundreds of times is just plain silly.  And Emily’s quilt has been washed at least a dozen times if not more since it’s debut.

Now it’s Jacob’s turn.  His bed is a little sad in comparison.

But I’ll be making the same kind of quilt for him as an early birthday present.  The quilt he has now was Evan’s as a child.  It’s sentimental and wonderful in its own way — just a bit threadbare.

Here are the fabrics I chose for Jacob’s quilt.

I think he’ll love it.  He’s sweet like that.  I plan to use the first fabric for a pillowcase as well.

And I might make a whale-shaped pillow to finish it all off.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Before we left Tulsa, we sold well over a hundred books through Craigslist.  Kinda crazy.  Now most of our books (besides a few stacks here and there) fit right here on this little bookcase.  We don’t purchase many books anymore.  We’re huge fans of borrowing from the library, although the occasional new craft book or thrifted novel finds its way onto our nightstand.

The framed painting is by Jack Perlmutter.

The other painting was my Valentine’s Day gift to Evan.

I think this scene needs a plant in it.