It’s no secret that I love Orla Kiely’s designs.  A couple years ago, I fashioned a dishtowel into a bag because it had her beautiful pattern on it.  When faced with a blank-canvas iPhone case made to be cross-stitched, I settled on erinsy’s simple design.

I found my case at Connect Design, although I’ve seen them at Purl Bee as well.  I got one for Evan, but he can’t decide what he wants on it. He’s leaning towards these Monty Python characters by Wee Little Stitches on Etsy.  Of course, only a few characters will fit on the case.  But I think it’s brilliant.

Remember me?  I was having an industrious second trimester, and then I got tired.  That, and I’ve been busy getting Emily ready to start school.  Yep.  My 4 year old is in Pre-K now.  I can hardly believe it.

So now I have a little extra time every day to do stuff.  Whatever that may be.

Yesterday, I made a doll for my dear friend’s baby who turns 1 next week.

She’s based on Hillary Lang’s sweet “Bonneted Baby” in Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love.  I adore Mrs. Lang’s book.

I made the “Mermaiden” doll for Emily a couple months ago–at the height of my industry.  Emily wanted the doll to look just like the picture. :)

Lula’s doll, however, is quite different from the original doll.

She’s almost entirely hand-stitched.  And I changed some details to make her more “Lula.”  Although, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lula in a bonnet.

So I guess having a 4 year old in Pre-K and a 3 year old who still naps could work out well for me.

At least for the next 2 months before the New Baby arrives. :)

In case you’re wondering, this is what the belly looks like these days:

I’m 17 weeks along, and all is well.  My energy level is much improved, which means I want to do things like paint the living room and clean up the backyard.  I will say that I hate taking my vitamin every day.  Ladies, is it common to feel that way?

I’ve been researching bento boxes too.  Emily starts preschool in the Fall, and I want to send healthy, happy lunches with her each day.  Bento lunches seem to embody all my ideals, plus they are an exercise in creativity.  Here’s a great post on Parenting to get you inspired.

While I’m sharing links, here are some great blogs that are new to me:

• I’m crazy for Pink Friday, a Swedish blog with lots of color and cheer to go around.
• Emily Henderson won Design Star on HGTV and now has a show of her own.  I like her blog.
• Nana Company has lots of pretty patchwork and inspiration.
• Bare Wunderbar is another fabulous Swedish blog with beautiful interiors and inspiration drawn from a variety of sources.

And some shops I’m loving right now:

• The Wheatfield, which you’ve probably seen, has the most beautiful watercolor prints I’ve seen anywhere.
• Pop Chart Lab is perfect for the nerd in your life, be it you or your man or your best friend.  There’s something for everyone.
• Need a new clock?  How about an old one instead!  Clockwork Universe has some of the most adorable vintage clocks I’ve seen gathered together in one shop.

Finally, I’m fully addicted to Pinterest now.  How did it take me this long?!  You can find me here.

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 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

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. :)

This little space under the stairs has a teensy bit of my sewing paraphernalia in it, so I’m just gonna call it the sewing nook.  As you can see, there’s no table on which to sew and very little storage for several boxes of fabric.  And I have quite a good deal of the woven stuff.

The doorway with fabric is a boarded up door that apparently used to be the backdoor of the house.  It was closed off sometime after the back porch was turned into a kitchen and another room and bathroom was added to the back of the house (circa 1950).  I can hardly imagine how tiny the house must have felt in its original state.  Of course, it used to be a summer beach cottage.  Neat, huh?

The dressform seems to scare my guests a bit, like there’s a person freakishly lurking in the corner.  But I’m hoping to put her to good use once I get more settled here.  It’s gonna happen.

What are some of your favorite decorating resources?  I love Decor8 and Design*Sponge.  Now that we’re in our new home in Norfolk, I’m scouring all my favorite sites for ideas.

Here are some places inspiring me now:

• all the luck in the world - Cheerful and fresh and handmade
• Smile and Wave - Rachel Denbow epitomizes vintage-modern, which I adore
• here’s looking at me kid - I love Mandi’s interior and her vintage wardrobe
• nice*room - the name says it all
• AprillAprill - I don’t have to understand the language to appreciate the blog, but the English translations are nice :)

We’re on the market for a new sofa too.  I’m so torn between slipcovered furniture or leather.  And the price difference is kinda huge.  So I’m having analysis paralysis.  Oh, and Evan needs to sit on a sofa before he’ll commit.  Understandable.

I like this one at Ikea.

I just have to share this video of my grandmother reading her poetry.  The poem is called “Midnight Haulings,” which I find eerily relevant to our current state of affairs:

Well… I’d better get back to work.  We’re moving tomorrow!