Miss Maren June

8.29 lbs, 20 1/2 inches long, arrived today via C-section (seems she was rather comfy right where she was, and refused to budge no matter how hard my sister pushed and pleaded). Mother, father and baby are happy, healthy and resting comfortably. My cheeks ache from smiling, she is absolutely gorgeous, crab mustard and all.

Secret Married

Good friends of ours were married this afternoon... secret married (my favorite kind of married just so you know!). As luck would have it, Fritz and Tim (the groom) have a client who's a judge and was more than happy to marry them in town. So sweet and simple and romantic.

I wanted to give Mary Jo (the bride) a little something personal to commemorate her day, and decided to put together this somethings bracelet with her old, new, borrowed and blue things. It's simple and sweet just like MJ.

• The new is a tiny piece of circuit board I snipped off a spare optical drive Fritz had laying around the basement (he and Tim work for a network consulting firm so it seemed only fitting I use something techno-based).

• The old is a coin that was my late grandfather's (and one of my FAVORITES). The three flowers are symbolic of Tim, MJ, and their daughter).

• The borrowed is a tiny key that I've held onto for a while now. I didn't want to put just anything on there, it needed to be something that I really loved, and would want returned. Otherwise, what's the point? At the same time, it's a key, so it carries with it some obvious symbolism.

• The blue is a ribbon. Light, lovely and tied in a knot.

I debated adding more charms to it, but decided to keep it simple and symbolic. I hope she loves it as much as I do. I love working on symbolic assembled pieces like this, similar to my sister's wedding purse and the honeymoon necklace I made for another dear friend (sorry, can't find an image). There's something so satisfying about creating something meaningful. Have a lovely, sweet and simple weekend!

secret somethings

A special something for a special someone. Putting this together was so EXCITING! I can't wait until Friday when I can post a picture of what's inside! Just what i needed to get me back in the studio I might add. I've had quite a break, so I'm off to dabble and organize. Happy February! (isn't it the loveliest little month?)

I LOVE the Internet (and coffee, lots and lots of coffee)

http://jacksonpollock.org/

Thanks Fritz and the uber duber hip Tim.

Nearly forgot...

to mention the CPSIA! I first read about this misguided proposition on Kate's blog, and could scarcely believe it. I won't go on and on about the specifics since there are a multitude of sites better able to explain what it is exactly and why it needs to be amended. Suffice to say, it could quite literally bring a screeching halt to the availability of beautiful, affordable, handmade crafts for children, period.

I urge you, please, please read more about it. Educate yourself, sign a petition, send an email or letter to those who have the ability to change this law.

Follow these links to see how you or someone you know may be affected.


http://www.etsy.com/storque/media/bunker/2009/01/CPSIA-Etsy-Resources.pdf
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/?e
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

Avian Bone Syndrome and Sickly Snow Days

E and Noel have had nasty colds, the type that make you miss birthday parties and even school.


Today they are on the mend, not quite 100%, and blissfully unaware that their mean mommy is not letting them play in the snow after lunch. It's not good snow anyway... we typically get the slushy variety buried under a quarter inch of ice. Pretty for a while, then dirty, then gone.

Hopefully we'll watch Howl's Moving Castle instead. We've spent the past FIVE days watching My Neighbor Totoro again and again, and now we're on a bit of a kick. Is it pretentious that our children enjoy Hayao Miyazaki? Fritz thinks maybe, I think not... who knows. Anyway, Howl's Moving Castle is my favorite. Thanks mainly to Emily Mortimer's voice. She is fantastic. Seen here, here and hysterically here (as Jack's love interest way back in Season 1, which I cannot find ANYWHERE on the internet).

Last but not least in this rambling excuse for a post: I went to a taping of Martha Stewart's TV show last week with my dear friend Jenni. So.Much.Stinking.Fun... Not sure if the drive (sans children), all the FREE loot from the taping, the shopping, or the food was my favorite. Or, possibly, it was getting "hit on" by that darling Brazillian and realizing I wasn't out of his league, but rather, he was out of mine (the love of my life was home caring for our darlings, after all, and no one could compete with that). Thanks to never having one of those souvenir-y things with my name on it growing up, I still get all excited when I see my name somewhere out there:

note to editor:
please update my links since the children have stopped being cooperative
and I've no more time (or patience) to finish.
thanks.