Bench Cushion

We got this great bench from Pottery Barn over a year ago, and I keep meaning to make a cushion for it. I've been playing around with a couple fabric ideas.

I've had this fabric from Maine Cottage for awhile that I thought I would use in another project that didn't work out:

It looks nice on the bench, but I think this pop of red would be more fun (fabric from Company C):

On further thought, I think the fabric from Maine Cottage would look better on a seat cushion for my office chair. It ties in nicely w/ the subtle colors from the rug:

I'd like to trim both cushions with some type of piping/cording. I'm no expert at that, but I'll just have to play around with it. Now, I just have to find the right foam for the cushions, and another project will be underway!

Sweet Easter to You!

Last year, I designed The Sweet Little Book of Cupcakes written by the talented bakers of Sweet, a popular cupcake shop in Boston and Cambridge. One of my favorite photos in the book was of these Easter cupcakes. I'm a little afraid of the whole fondant concept, so I think I'll be making an Easter bunny cake instead. I bought the cake mold from William Sonoma several years ago, and I've had two successful attempts with it, and one big flop that left me running out to a bakery at the last moment. The key is to get the cake thick, and let it cook completely.

Here are is a peek at the book:

P.S. Anyone who knows me well, knows how much my son Jake likes pink. I found this adorable shirt at Crewcuts. I've never tried their clothes for him before, so I'm hoping it will fit well when it arrives! He'll be so handsome, won't he? I just love dressed up kids for Easter. Don't you?

Happy Easter everyone!

What did you work on today Mommy?

Jake (sweetie that he is), has started asking me about my day at work while we're eating dinner.

"Today, I designed a book that Auntie M painted the pictures of birds and flowers for."

"A book about birds mom? Are there nests in it?"

"Yes, sweetie, and you can have a book when it's done!"

(OK, it's not really about birds, it's a little inspirational quote book.) Here's a sneak peek:

Welcome to New York

Here's a sneak peek of another fold-out play set I've been working on. The theme of this, of course, is New York City, and will feature 3 fold out scenes of Manhattan with several paper dolls, and NY city characters (artists, dog walker etc) to assemble and play with on the fold-out scenes.

The cover is rough, and I just pieced things together to show the illustrator, Amy Saidens, what we had in mind. I think it's really fun. What do you think? Does it make you want to visit New York?

Mustaches...funny or tres passe?

Part of my job is to spot trends. If you look around, you can hardly miss mustaches popping up all over just about anything. My boss was surprised...mustaches? Really? Well, just look. I'm not sure if the trend is now on a downward spiral, but if you ask me, a fake mustache is usually funny. What do you think? Is there room in the market for another mustache item?

This trend has certainly covered all the major product categories...

Baby:

(From top left, clockwise: Booties: Pleasantly Plump Knits; Onesie: BK Chic Boutique; Pacifier: Piquant Designs;  Print: Sugar Fresh)

Home Decor:

(From top left, clockwise: Print: ReStyle; Digital transfer on Pillow: Black & White Designs; Glass: Bread & Badger)

Party:

(From top left, clockwise: Straws: Sew and Such; Mustaches on a Stick: Loriii; Fake Mustaches: Amazon)

Personal Style:

(From top left, clockwise: Necklace and Ring: Supermarket; Carstache: Urban Outfitters; Shirt: Red Brick Wall)

Stationery/Gift:

(From top left, clockwise: Note cards: Screw You, Martha!; Pencils: Crib Candy; Journal: Sass and Peril; Pen: Seltzer) 

P.S. Jake is lucky he's not a baby anymore. I'd definitely be pushing one of those pacifiers on him!

Simple and Cute

I was browsing through Etsy today, and came across these darling pillows by Sukan. Every now and then I see something, and wish I'd come up with the idea myself! So instead, I'll just share her lovely creations with you!

Painting with a twist

I've got projects on my mind lately, and the desire to play with paint...with a twist! While exploring fun paint projects lately, I came across these cool paint supplies from Rustoleum that I never knew existed.

Of course, I've known about chalkboard paint, but did you know that they have glow in the dark paint, dry erase paint, and magnetic paint? How cool is that? I've always believed that at least 25% of creativity is knowing about the right supplies. Another 25% of the equation is actually having the supplies on hand so you can actually get started!

Have you tried any of these paints? If so, I'd love to hear about it, and see what you made!
Have fun creative friends!