Superman was no match...
the scarf I made for my husband was too easy...
and "Tom", the bird I made of my son, has lost his shiny button eyes and his brains.
WARNING: this image is graphic...
All this (and more) happened in a matter of days thanks to this puppy.
It's a good thing he's cute.
Is it really the end of August?
How did the summer slip away so quickly? Well, I hope everyone has stayed busy and cool in between the relaxing, lazy moments.
Looking back, I guess we've been busy. We did a little home improvement by having the house painted and an entry portico installed. Not quite how I designed the arc but it's still nice...and most importantly, it keep the rain off our heads.
I'm still in search of the right lantern. There are a LOT of ugly light fixtures out there!
We took a trip up north. First, to the AMAZING Children's Museum in Boston, MA. We loved this place! So well organized and all the interactive displays and rooms were VERY well designed. Check out the main atrium and the incredible 3-story bent wood climbing sculpture!
Then, we visited family in Phippsburg, Maine. We spent a few quiet days taking in the scenery, having lobster and exploring nearby attractions. The boys really enjoyed the Maine Maritime Museum and the boat ride on the Kennebec. I really enjoyed my lobster dinner.
Last but NOT least, we visited college friends who live in Rhode Island. They recently welcomed their second child and we were so glad to meet him. We had a great time with them. On one of the days, we went to the beach at Newport and the shore was covered with red seaweed (or jellyfish)! Here's Rob spearheading an ambitious sand castle project. It turned out great and it kept the kids busy!
In addition to swim lessons, summer camp, family visits and BBQ's, I guess our puppy has kept us busy. Look how big he's gotten. Sniff is a really good dog and silly when he sleeps on his back...
One thing I didn't get to do this summer is garden. Since the painters had to work near the garden beds, I had to take a year off from growing veggies. I miss it. Look how sad the empty garden is.
Next year, I'll do DOUBLE!
Okay, maybe not. But I will move forward with gusto!
Next week the doors open at the local schools. Can it really be the end of summer?
I am straying from the architects/designers to highlight another strong woman in history, Mary Cassatt. I don't know much about this talented painter except that she created her own style while socializing with the great Impressionist and male counterparts, Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh and Pissaro. I like to envision Cassatt talking "shop" with the male artists at their local Parisian cafes. At least, that's the image I retained from reading Irving Stone's bio-novels about Vincent Van Gogh and Camille Pissaro. (Why didn't he write a book about her life?)
I think any woman who made strides in self expression and career advancement deserves serious recognition. She was extremely talented and perservered in the male art world. Now who couldn't find inspiration in that?
Someone please explain to me why everyone talks an octave higher when babbling baby gibberish to a puppy.
Alright, I am guilty. I mean, look at that face. Just woook at dat face!!!
Yeah, soooo, we got a new puppy. The boys have been asking for nearly a year and we finally thought the time was right. Plus, we were waiting for the right dog for our family and this one is THE ONE. We found our beagle and corgi mix through Pet Rescue. The foster family who took care of him and his siblings were amazing. When we met this puppy we knew instantly that we had found the right pet.
On the ride home, our 4yo named him Sniff. Turns out, it's a perfect name for the ever sniffing beagle breed.
Sniff and I had a few bad days of housetraining (must remember to be forgiving) but, knock on wood, he's been accident free for 4 full days...and he's only 11 weeks old! Okay, maybe it won't last but I'm learning his signs and he's learning the rules of the house.
We knew our 4yo Dr. Dolittle would be head over heels for a pet. Our 6yo has been wonderfully responsible and affectionate. My husband grew up with pets and he LOVES having a dog in the family. In fact, I think his work stress dissipates faster with Sniff by his side. Me, I am adjusting to being a "mom" again but I am enjoying the easy demeanor of our puppy and his positive affect on my guys.
We all have a bad case of Puppy Love.
Next in the series of great women designers is Margaret Macdonald. Her famous husband, Charles Rennie Macintosh, is well known for his architecture and influence on the Art Nouveau/Arts and Crafts movements but it is their incorporation of interior design, furniture, textiles and art which is what I admire about their collaboration. Together with two other students of the Glasgow School of Art, they created the 'Glasgow Style'. This era in architectural design is one of my favorites. The integration of nature and the harmony of porportions is a true lesson for all of us in our eco-friendly era. Plus, I just LOVE how they designed each room with full detail.
The bedroom of the Hill House (pictured here) is just a small example of their holistic approach. Every detail was carefully thought out and custom designed. Macintosh is the famous architect but Macdonald's contribution and influence is visible.
This chair, designed for a tea room, is another piece of furniture I would love to have in my home. (Perhaps not in the same room with the Eileen Gray side table.) The intentially tall back provided privacy/intimacy when grouped at the table.
Margaret and her sister, Frances, created some of the most beautiful artwork of that era, like the piece pictured above. (Gustav Klimt, namely the frieze in the Succession Building, is a close second for me!) I could stare at their art for hours.
Please take the time to browse through the links. There are so many beautiful images from their body of work and Macdonald's story as an influential, creative woman is so interesting. Similar to this visionary husband and wife team, my husband and I met in school. Should we find a common creative vision, I wonder if Rob and I will work together?
I've decided to do a series of posts on some of my favorite designers who are women. I couldn't come up with a decent title for the series so for now I'll just use their names.
Having endured architecture school and having experienced the ratio of men to women in the field first hand, I find Eileen Gray's life story all the more fascinating. She was an integral member of the International Style and her influence on the designs of her male counterparts wasn't fully credited. Sadly, she was not alone in the battle for recognition. Many women have and continue to be left out of the limelight. (I would have loved to have attended this event at MoMA.)
The NYTimes article made me sad for women architects but I have to stay hopeful for us gals. The least I can do is honor one of the great ladies on my little blog post.
This is my all-time favorite side table. One day, I will own one in my dream home/pallazzo.
Instead of running out to get one of those cool single cup coffee machines, I asked my parents if I could have their coffee press. You know, the one I gave them that they never use. My dad was happy to declutter their home and I was happy to get a "new" coffee press. My dad carefully wrapped the glass pot in some paper and placed it in a bag for me to transport home. Here's the paper he used...
Am I crazy here or does his "garbage" practice sheets look amazing?
My dad started calligraphy a few years after retiring. At this point, it has been around ten years. Several years ago he submitted work for a traveling exhibit. His art went to four countries, one of them was South Korea. Our extended family went to the exhibit and took photos next to my dad's scrolls. I don't have pictures of that exhibit but I do have two of his scrolls in my living room.
Oh, the framed flower picture is his also. This isn't even his best work! There is one piece that has all Chinese 1000 characters perfectly aligned and perfectly drawn that I LOVE. Their tiny apartment is packed with scrolls, books and rolls of practice sheets. Incredible.
I am so proud of his work. He started doing this amazing art so late in his life. I can only imagine what he would have created if he had started decades ago. I am truly inspired.
When I proposed that we smash our Halloween pumpkins to feed the animals Owen did not hesitate...
The very cold squirrels did not hesitate either. A little cardinal is trying to get its share...
On an unrelated note, I would like a better camera for Christmas but I think Santa is bailing out three naughty auto makers.
Ethan lost his first tooth a few days ago.
We were leaving for Virginia to visit my brother and his family that morning. Instead of taking his tooth with us, Ethan decided to wait until we returned to place his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy. At school, he had written that he thinks the "tooth fairy waves her wand and turns it into a present" so our mission was clear.
When we got home, I made a little tooth pouch from felt and added a button closure.
We placed his tiny tooth inside the pouch and he attached a note to the tooth fairy - mostly asking her to NOT take his pouch "because..." he explained to me, "it happened to Lila in school".
My parents had joined us on our trip to VA so they happened to be here for the big event. Last night as I sewed the little pouch for Ethan, I explained the Tooth Fairy to them. They told me that in Korea, kids throw their tooth up to the roof (roofs were traditionally made of clay tiles so the tooth would make a little sound as it rolled/bounced back down) and yell, "My old tooth for a new one!" in the hopes of getting a new tooth quickly.
We don't have a clay tile roof and Ethan's new tooth has already broken through. I'm not sure how to carry on the Korean tradition. I'm not sure how Koreans do it nowadays either since most of them live in highrise apartment buildings. I guess, we'll stick with the Tooth Fairy theory until I can explain.
This morning, he was delighted to find a little present and his pouch, still under his pillow.
