shimandsons

oh, martha!

I first read about the new Martha Stewart :: Crafts line over on Sarah's weblog [Amy K also wrote a post here]. So I was happy today when I ran out of hot glue gun sticks because it gave me a good excuse to check out the line in person. Oh.my.goodness. I was a bit overwhelmed because 1) I love coordinating packaging materials, 2) I've always dreamed about designing my own party + gift giving kits [so I'm living vicariously through Ms. Martha and 3) it is really too much goodness in one place. I had a difficult time figuring out what to buy, because in reality I don't need any of it [you should see my craft supply stash]. But I decided to treat myself to a belated birthday present and picked up a tiny package of assorted baker's twine [have I mentioned my love for baker's twine yet?].

And I always regretted not purchasing a ribbon box from Martha's old catalog [this line is very reminiscent of it], so I added one to my cart. Now some of my favorite twine + trim are sitting cozy inside their new linen ribbon box.

Some of the other cute things I saw were: 1) sweet cupcake liners [the world would be a better place with cuter cupcake liners, no?], 2) color + patterned glassine paper [to line your baked good boxes], 3) cupcake boxes, 4) wide assortment of bags, boxes, labels to package favors/goodies, 5) coordinating craft supplies [glue, pens, cutting mats, etc.], 6) fun DIY kits [the tissue paper pom poms being one of my favorites] and 7) free project idea flyers.

Not to be a downer, but I do wish the albums + linen boxes came in different colors [they only offer three]. Actually I think it would be perfect if the MS Crafts line offered the same colors as Russell + Hazel's office goods, so I could be matchy-matchy. And although I don't really love the whole old fashioned look of some of her products, I'm very excited about this new line and I can't wait to see how it progresses. [Just to show you how excited I was, after I left the store I called my friend Sumi and told her to go check it out. She turned her car around [she was almost home], called me from Michael's and we had a item-by-item commentary.] Anyways, if you don't have a Michael's near you, I think they will eventually offer the goods online. Hooray for cute craft supplies!

Update: Sumi found the tissue paper pom poms tutorial. I'm planning on making my own non-pastel version soon.

Reminder: I'll be posting a link to my little online shop here tomorrow morning, 5.1.07. Doors open at 10am PST.

lotta love

I love Lotta's Lifestyle book [ISBN4-07-238374-0]. I picked it up last year at our local Japanese bookstore. It is full of inspiration--photographs of her old studio in SF, glimpses of her personal sketch book, favorite recipes--basically if you love Lotta, you will love this book.

I love how her designs are so clean, simple and organic. And I like how you can always spot her work in a shop because her style is so, well, "Lotta" [for lack of a better word].

One of my favorite pages in the book is her product tag collection. I think I'm going to make a pin + board and start my own "shim + sons" tag collection. It will be interesting to see how those little pieces of paper evolve over the years. I'm already thinking of new tag designs, but first I better use up my current stack of labels + tags. Which means I better go make a few things to stick those tags on!

[P.S. I've been doing a bit of spring cleaning in my studio and have set aside a pile of Japanese craft books. They are either books that I've browsed through at the bookstore, brought home and never touched again or duplicate copies from Appah's trip to Japan. I'll be putting them up for sale sometime soon, along with some Japanese fabric. Stay tuned.]

i love...

:: juicy cantaloupe :: japanese bowls ::

:: a sweet yogurt face ::

:: a trip to the zoo ::

:: looking for the giraffes ::

:: edamame ::

:: dinosaur pancakes [well, actually the boys love them] ::

:: little hands :: holding hands ::

:: a yummy bbq with friends :: a weekend of home-cooked meals [thanks, Appah!] :: a long drive through the countryside :: time with my family :: these candle cups :: these blocks :: this pendant :: these ceramic rings :: many things over here :: and here :: these cork binders :: this cup :: this stool :: these rice bowls :: this bedding :: this salt + shaker set :: these bowls + plates :: this work table :: these pillows :: this table ::

cut -- stitch -- press

I've been having fun changing things up a bit with new designs. You might have noticed that my most recent batch of pin + pockets and wall + pockets are more subdued and simple, reflecting my minimalist roots. But I still love a little fun patchwork here and there, so I'll also have a handful of "old school" patchwork wall + pockets in the shop.

One thing I've learned this past year is I'm not very good at mass producing things. I can work on one or two wall + pockets at a time and then I need to move on to something different. Although this is not the most efficient way to work, it really is important to me that I enjoy the entire creative process. So it is a good thing I love paper as much as I love fabric, because it provides just enough distraction in between sewing projects.

I'm working on new designs for fabric + cards, gift + tags and gift + labels. I'll be spending time this weekend [while the boys are napping] narrowing down color combinations + designs and finding the perfect paper for each piece. [This is my idea of a good time.]

Oh, and if you live in the Los Angeles area, check out the Earth Day sale this weekend at ReForm School [15% off everything!]. They will be giving away free trees with every purchase. [My apron + sets are in stock and you can also check out Jill Bliss' beautiful new artwork while you're there.]

[Note: Check out all the vintage button goodness people have been sending/receiving via the swap.]

9::15::35::12

:: working for the past 9 days ::

 

:: 15 pin + boards, wall + pockets, pin + pockets made for the s-h-o-p ::

 

:: 35 more things to make for the s-h-o-p ::

   

:: 12 days until the s-h-o-p opens [5.1.07 @ 10am pst] ::

:: 0 presents made/bought for Big J's birthday [uh oh] :: 1 day until the weekend [hooray!] ::

in the silence

:: thinking of the students who lost their lives yesterday morning :: praying for their family + friends :: holding my boys a little tighter :: remembering each day is a gift ::

baby j :: 22 months

:: love this boy ::

:: and this chubby hand ::

:: which always has a car/train/truck in it ::

:: its been a fun 22 months ::

just a friendly reminder...

...to send out your vintage button swap deux packages today!

i love...

:: kapi dduk :: korean-style mochi ::

:: and so does Baby J ::

:: sweet fabric ::

:: chocolate dipped shortbread cookies :: from our friend who just returned from the big island ::

:: fairytale fabric from superbuzzy ::

:: celebrating our 6th anniversary :: time flies when you're having fun :: dinner at whiskey soda lounge [Neua Naam Tok...very spicy...very good] :: dessert at pix patisserie ::

:: a new stash of linen ::

:: and pima cotton ::

:: these linens :: this vase :: this new collection [I've already requested unisex smocks and/or big girl/little lady smocks] :: this salad bowl :: this star light :: this platter :: these forks + spoons :: this teak bowl :: these photographs of orla kiely's home :: this junior society :: this pendant light :: this breakfast site :: the in/out julie fabric over here :: everything here :: this home :: red velvet cupcakes from here [Appah just returned from another trip to LA :: fyi, the strawberry cupcakes are also yummy] ::

coming up for air

:: twill tape + tags ::   

:: apron + sets :: 

:: patchwork + apron and patchwork + towel ::

:: sent off to ReForm School ::

:: last minute photo tags :: so folks can see what the apron + set looks like unfolded ::

:: more photographs here :: back to work :: see you later "awigaytuh" [as Baby J would say] ::