rainbow birthday party

and now, pictures. as promised, the balloon garland + the highly-anticipated rainbow cake!! we celebrated dani's third birthday on a typical grey afternoon in june in vancouver. typical this year, anyhow, ugh. but that's another story.

my sweet kiddos under the balloon garland. colours inspired by my little lady's favourite hues -- she is all about pink + purple + turquoise, as most little girls are. i had to throw in the yellow, to avoid it being too sugary sweet. balloon garland tutorial found on design mom. i was delighted by how super easy + quick it was to make! i also embellished the party hats, following instructions from oh happy day.

[a little aside, do you see the turquoise vinyl table cloth peeking out in the corner there? that is a cloth my mom has had since my siblings + i were kids. it is present in every single one of my childhood birthday party photos. awesome nostalgia. also, i swear my mom is not a hoarder.]

cake, stage one. the night before the party, i baked sixteen mini loaves of cake. yes, sixteen. each one a different hue. four colours, with four shades of each. i was surprisingly excited watching the coloured cakes bake, it was pretty fun! time consuming, but fun.

cake, iced and ready to go. candy-coloured rainbows, of course [i am terrible at drawing with icing. i know, the rainbows just look like a big 'm']. dani didn't know that the cake underneath was a rainbow of colours -- she loved the icing, but was completely enthralled by what was underneath!

cake, after cutting the first layer. i LOVE how this looks! it is so much fun. as long as it took to bake each piece, i will definitely do it again. all of our guests were delighted by it, and it just looks so darned pretty.

my one tip would be to chill the cake for a couple hours right before slicing, to make sure it has a bit more integrity. i didn't have the chance, and you can see we had some crumbles in the middle. i would also recommend not dragging the knife through the centre, but rather slice down and lift straight back up, to avoid smearing the icing between the layers.

cake idea + inspiration came from this photo, which i found via the delightful molly.

all in all, i think the party was a colourful wonderland. a super simple theme that is easy to carry out with everything [favours were also colour coordinated, as were napkins, plates, and drinks.] i'd do it again for sure!

the other thing i learned saturday, i am pretty terrible at taking pictures at a party. these photos are rather awful i think. i don't know, maybe it's that i feel rushed, don't bother taking the time to stage a nice photo, or snap a bunch of pics too quickly? whatever it is, i will try better next time. my apologies for the poorly photo quality of this post. so poor, in fact, that i didn't even edit them, so you are seeing them in all their raw glory. so sorry.

celebrate

birthday candles image via LaBrancaro on flickr

psst. today's my birthday! so i'm having a little sale in the shop, my gift to you as i celebrate with cake + candles...head on over to the shop, use coupon code march10 today only to save 10% on everything in stock {even custom orders}. have a great day!

making valentines.

carefully writing all his friends names, picking out a colour to draw them each a heart, signing his name with a flourish. i love the way his tongue occasionally peeks out the side of his mouth while he's concentrating.

kindergarten valentines. this must be some kind of a milestone, right? well, even if it isn't, i'm savouring every moment. he just loves his friends + classmates so much, and that makes me feel pretty proud.

this super-fun valentine card idea came from design mom. we love how they turned out! my husband made some fun photoshop magic to fancify the photo. my little guy wrote the names on white card stock, and we glued the photos to the backs. so sweet!

happy birthday

to my sweet husband. he may not like the fact that i'm posting a picture of him here, but he'll just have to live with it.

happy birthday to the most wonderful man i've ever known, and the best dad i could ever imagine for our kiddos. love you!

ps - we'll be on this beach in 10 days! i cannot wait.

birds + birthdays

cheerful blossoms canvas print of original art by lorena siminovich, petit collage

my little gal is turning two in just over a week, and we'll celebrate with a little party in the park, similar to what we did last year. i hate to say it, but i haven't had the chance to really plan a pretty + sweet + coordinated bash for her, and since she's only two, i would imagine she won't really notice. i will pull a few things together before the big day, but i know she'll have a perfectly fun time just running free on the grass.

detail, cheerful blossoms, by lorena siminovich

now, if i was pulling it all together this year, it would most definitely be a bird themed birthday. sweet d is obsessed with birds, in particular crows + seagulls. now i can't imagine a seagull theme for a two-year-old's birthday, can you? but fun, bright, poppy birds? that, i can get on board with. while i was looking around for thoughts + ideas, i came across this kim vallee post, and immediately hopped over to petit collage for inspiration. i love lorena siminovich's work, and it is just perfect for a little girl's party, don't you think? here are some other ideas i would have pulled together, had i been thinking ahead. [kim also featured the little birdie cupcake toppers. so cute!]

images via shops as listed below, clockwise from top left.

instant party :: bunny with a toolbelt {perfect table decor, as i'd be making cupcakes, not cake}

rainbow trees 2, one of a kind 3d bird art :: pragya k

bird ceramic cupcake stand in robin egg blue :: whitney smith

pins - 2 birds :: moloco {fabulous for little favours!}

patchwork happy birthday bird party banner :: earmark invitations

little birdie cupcake toppers :: the cupcake girls

i always love sending a little edible favour home from a party, and these incredible bird sanctuary cookies would be perfect. i had to share a large picture of these cookies because they are a. may. zing. can you even stand it?

bird sanctuary hand-iced sugar cookies :: eleni's new york

so, would you want to come to my baby girl's fictional bird birthday party? now i'm feeling really guilty about not having much planned. i'll make up for it ten-fold next year, i promise.

this little blog

why do i blog? i've been thinking about this a lot this past couple of weeks. there are many reasons. what started simply as a place for me to catalogue my finds, and talk a bit about my work in between, has become a real hobby + a true love for me. it's like my nightly therapy as i sit here and toodle around the web, thinking about what i'd like to post, narrowing my choices, finding just the right products, designers, artists, places to feature, just the right pictures to show. i really love it. and after just a little over a year, i can't even imagine not writing here nearly every day.

fete print :: cosas minimas by blanca gomez [i love all of her work!]

a few weeks ago, i was delighted to find myself included on a shortlist of blogs written by moms living in greater vancouver. i hope people don't see me as an impostor on that list! i am not a mommy blogger. i don't write about parenting! this is my place be away from that. while i do mention the kids here + there, i need this place to just be me, a woman, undefined by my identity as a mom. you know when you're at the park, and the other moms know you as "o's mom"? isn't that amazing, how you go from being your own self, to your childrens' mama? please understand, i am not complaining!! i love it. i just find it fascinating. and i do it myself! i can't even tell you how many times i remember the child's name before the parents'.

i wonder if that is a factor of getting older, or perhaps it's that dreaded 'mommy brain' we all talk about while pregnant!

printed ceramic bowls :: horn of plenty :: available at room6

i am not saying that i don't enjoy reading about other people's parenting or mothering. i do, often! heather of dooce, whose no-holds-barred discussions on parenting makes me laugh day after day. gabrielle of design mom [who is expecting baby number 6 - amazing!], who eloquently posts about where design + motherhood intersect. amanda of soulemama, whose graceful + honest + gentle approach to parenting makes me strive to be a better mama. there are so many others out there, so much inspiration, so many amazing mothers.

architects of the pacific northwest :: miller | hull:: via chronicle books

vancouver mom is looking for what they call the 'ultimate' vancouver mom blogger. i am beyond honoured to be included in their shortlist, and even more thrilled that people have gone out of their way to visit me here, really read my blog, and decide whether or not they'd like to vote for me. are you visiting here for the first time? i'd love it if you'd say hello. and if you like what you see here, i'd love for you to come back, or tell a friend!

fayette tunic :: makool loves you

if you're feeling so inclined, i'd be so very happy if you'd cast a vote for me. today is the last day the polls are open, and the results will be announced on mother's day. how apt! thank you for all the support, i really appreciate it.

birch alphabet :: bookhou

the photos i've included in this post are things that i've got on my current wishlist. perfect for mother's day, don't you think? perhaps my husband is reading...

in dreams :: about a year

{ the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams }

eleanor roosevelt

one year ago i embarked into the world of etsy, and opened up my little shop. i didn't realize at first how it would affect my creativity, my thoughts, my family, my dreams. there are days when i can't even remember not doing this, day in and day out.

i love the fact that i get to be creative every single day.

when i get new fabric in the mail i can hardly contain my excitement. the feel of it, the colours, the brilliant patterns. i live and breathe fabric. my son loves seeing the new things i create, and i hope i'm instilling in him the importance of making. while my kids are, of course, my main focus during the day, i think it's good for them to know that i am working hard, and that they are the reason i am doing this. when i find myself really busy and swamped with work, i remind myself of that. the fact that i get to be here with them, every day, and watch them grow + explore + learn + play. that this is the route i chose, rather than go back to work. i won't say it's not a struggle at times, but it is so so worth it.

i have gotten so much out of this past year, more than improving my skills, or making a little money. i have found a place in a most incredible community. through etsy, twitter, this blog, and my favourite online reads,

i have met some incredible people. people whom i consider friends and colleagues. like-minded people who are quick to offer advice, wisdom, encouragement, thoughts, and ideas. cheerleaders of indie and handmade. people whose opinions + thoughts are ones that i value and look forward to hearing. there are so many of you! thank you, all. i think you know who you are :)

to express my thanks, i want to offer a little token. i've been working on a new line of goodies, the peek-a-boo naturals collection. part of this new line is made up of products i offer already, made with a bit of a twist. part will be new designs, things i've had in mind for some time but haven't yet gotten to the sewing machine. i'm not ready to reveal the new items just yet, but here is a peek at some of the fresh linen mini buckets. i hope you like them!

i will be giving away one of my new mini peek-a-boo naturals buckets to a lucky winner! if i get more than 50 comments, i'll give away another one, too! the more the merrier. i will keep the giveaway open until may 6, and announce the winner[s] on the 7th. to enter, please leave a comment on this post [kindly only one per person]. you can say whatever you like, but also let me know which colour palette is your favourite from my new line.

ocean, flora, or forest?

to sweeten the celebration, i will be offering 15% off everything in my shop, starting today at noon through monday noon. prices in the shop will reflect the discount, no need to wait for a revised invoice, shop to your hearts content!

i truly appreciate all the support and cheerleading i've received this past year. i get to be doing something i've always dreamed of. creating, doing what i love, for me and for others. thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

{edit :: may 6th, 11pm. giveaway now closed! thanks for all the lovely + thoughtful comments, i really enjoyed reading them all. i will announce a winner on may 7}