SHIM + SONS

shop talk

One of the unexpected perks of starting this online journal has been connecting with other artists + crafters + designers. I particularly find it very inspiring when I come across other mothers running their own businesses while raising young children--two very demanding, yet rewarding roles. Last year I met Jen, founder + designer of the beautiful children's clothing line Sophie + Lili. She sent over some of her gorgeous signature fabric--a modern floral print on fine-wale corduroy.

I incorporated patches of this fabric into a custom wall + pocket for Jen.

And now it is hanging up in her house.

It was a fun experience working around a particular print, especially since I hadn't made any pink + green wall + pockets before. I ended up liking the finished wall + pocket so much I made another one in a similar color scheme, which will be for sale in my little online shop. What's that you say? Yes, it's true, I've been trying really hard not to mention the "S" word around here lately, you know, the "shop" that I was supposed to open eons ago. But for those wondering and those who have sent me email inquiries about purchasing wall + pockets and other goods, please know they'll be available online "sooner" than "later". How's that for being vague? So far I only have a few completed items, but I'm hoping to have a handful of wall + pockets, pin + boards and fabric + cards, all ready for the taking, for the grand opening [which I'll announce here, so don't worry about missing out]. Until then, I'll leave you with a sneak peek of what is to come.

 

change is in the air

Thanks for all the tote love. I've been using my new tote every day and am finding it quite handy for stuffing in little jackets + hats + scarves + toys. It is a good feeling putting to use something you've made by hand. I highly recommend it. As if you didn't see enough photographs of the tote last time around, I actually posted a few more [for you Martha]. And I already mentioned how that raindrop fabric is making its way into everything I make these days. More proof: a new + old mobile.

The wire frame is leftover from the Valentine's Day mobile I made last month. I just slid off the fabric circles and popped on some linen + raindrop stripe leaves. I would still like to work on a non-spiral mobile, but this was a nice quick fix. Maybe this mobile will be sporting some little eggs for Easter. The possibilities are endless.

 

I'm really not ready for February to come to an end. This month has flown by so quickly [yes, I say that every month]. Several weeks were spent visiting local preschools, trying to find the "best fit" for Big J. I'm grateful we ended up registering him at a preschool where I know he will really thrive and be well cared for. It will be a bit of commute for us, but I think it will be worth it. Anyways, I'm sure I'll be talking about separation anxiety [mine, not his] come September! Oh, and then there was our fun Seattle get-away [I'm still craving those triple coconut cream pies!]. And now I'm finishing up my taxes before we take off for a trip to my husband's hometown [Chicago] next week. Speaking of which, you all shared so many wonderful recommendations for Seattle sites + restaurants, if you have any recommendations for Chicago sites + eateries [we'll be splitting our stay between the NW suburbs + the Lincoln Park area], I'd love to hear them. The only thing on our itinerary is visiting family + friends, Shedd Aquarium + Field Musem, and all my husband's favorite eating spots.

i love totes

I'm a tote gal. I have accumulated many bags over the years and I prefer totes over purses. I love having enough room for the essentials [wallet + keys + cell phone + sunglasses] as well as other goodies [sketchbook + notebook + pens + water bottle + hand lotion + dinosaurs + cars + snacks]. I've been wanting a new tote for a long time. I was coveting this tote, but after trying it on in person [over at Pin Me], I realized the handles are too short to go over my shoulder. I know many totes have short handles, but I like them just long enough to slip over my shoulder [I do have two hands I have to hold when I go out.]. I was not keen on the idea of making my own tote since I don't like to deal with thick interfacing. But I like totes with substance + structure, ones that don't just "flop" once you sit them down. I actually love this tote that I received as a baby shower present. We use it to carry library books, which handles the 12-15 large + heavy dinosaur books we check out every week very nicely.

Anyhow, last week I was in Bolt, and found a nice blue/grey brushed canvas + [my new favorite] raindrop stripe print [I'm using it on everything and anything that comes out of my studio these days]. The raindrop stripes reminded me of Orla's beautiful peashoot print [if you flip it upside down], which gave me the idea of making myself a tote. I saw a tote in Lotta's sewing book that had a side pocket to hold a water bottle, which I knew I wanted to incorporate into my new tote. I would like to say that I followed a pattern for once in my life, but in reality I just sketched out a design and cut away. Good idea? Not really. There are several things I would change about this tote, but I won't point out every flaw [there are many], since I am trying to enjoy + appreciate my work.

 

I started working on the tote the night before we left for Seattle. [Why do I always have the strong urge to craft right before we leave for a trip?] I really thought I could finish it up in one night, but did I tell you I lined each piece with thick denim [in lieu of thick interfacing]? Oh yes, mistake #1 [not that I'm counting]. It wasn't the best idea and after 3 broken needles + using my seam ripper way too many times on this project, I decided to get some shut-eye. Fast forward one week. It is finished and it is "good enough". Now on to the things I like about my new tote.

:: plain Jane on the outside and a bright + cheery on the inside :: just like me [hee hee] ::

:: large enough to hold all my stuff :: 17"x13.5"x4.5" ::

:: quilted handles ::

:: two side pockets ::

:: perfect for holding water bottles ::

Now I feel the need to make a slightly smaller, more fashionable tote. That's the funny thing about sewing, it's quite addictive.

Gotta go catch some snowflakes in our mouths right now. It's snowing!

lotta love

:: a sweet friend over at chronicle books sent me lotta's new sewing book ::

:: plenty of inspiration inside :: lovely textiles :: beautiful photography :: simple zakka-inspired projects :: many of which are things I've been wanting to make or are sitting in my WIP pile ::

:: and yes, even a wall organizer project :: you know how I love my wall organizers! ::

:: other books I need [ok, want, not need] to add to my library :: amy's new book :: this french-inspired sewing book [julie wrote a nice review of the book :: and go check out her new online shop :: i can't wait to receive some of her beautiful cards!] :: this complex/simple book :: this book by my favorite ceramicist :: and a few of these books for the boys :: happy reading! ::

i love...

:: my Daiso loot :: the shop was right across from our hotel in Seattle ::

:: waffle sticks ::

:: fingerprint animals :: inspired by this book from Melissa + Sam ::

 

:: fabric leaves ::

:: fabric from Bolt :: for a new tote ::

:: and new project ::

:: the spinning alphabet [vis Bloesem] :: this kids snack set :: these placemats :: this apple container :: suburbia in a bag :: this store :: this runner :: these ice cream sandwich molds :: these cookie cutters ::

shims in seattle

Oh, what a wonderful time we had in Seattle! It was the perfect three-day vacation, just what we all needed. We stayed downtown which was great for walking to many of the sites you all recommended. [Thank you again for everyone who commented/emailed me Seattle 411!] It was a bit cloudy when we arrived last Thursday, but then the skies cleared up and it was sunny the rest of our stay. We took advantage of the fantastic weather and spent a lot of time outdoors walking around, which was great for burning off all those extra calories we consumed.

And boy did we eat some good food. We probably had 4 meals a day, plus snacks every other hour. We ate a lot of sweets, which is unusual for our family, but a nice treat. The triple coconut cream pie at Dahlia Bakery is amazing, and I generally don't like coconut. Appah got addicted to those bite-size pies and I believe we ate them every day.

And we cannot forget all the yummy seafood. My favorite meal was at Flying Fish--wok blackened hawaiian ahi tuna + risotto cake + baby bok choy + wasabi cream--but Big J's seafood hot pot was also very tasty. Big J loved the clams at Anthony's Pier 66, he almost ate the entire order by himself.

We also enjoyed all the food over at Pike Place Market. We ate many cheese + tomato + basil paninis over at Beecher's cheese. The flagship, their signature cheese, is so tasty and their tomato soup is the best [we ate it three times]. And I cannot resist French bakeries, so we picked up some goodies at Le Panier.

Oh, and those mini donuts that they sell at that tiny stand at Pike Place Market, so good. We also enjoyed the donuts over at Top Pot Doughnuts, although eating one of those first thing in the morning sure gives you a jolt! [Good thing we mellowed it out with some more food from PPM.] The decor inside TPD is so neat--walls of bookshelves, what a dream.

I took the boys to the aquarium while Appah was working, which was a big hit. The boys loved the sea otters and touching the star fish. We also went to Uwajimaya [so much better than the one out here], Kinokuniya [great selection of Japanese craft books], the International District [yummy boba/bubble tea]. Big J loved taking the monorail to the Seattle Center and then the elevator up to the Space Needle. But my all-time favorite site to see was the Olympic Sculpture Park. The space is absolutely amazing, I could stay there all day.

We loved Seattle and cannot wait to return later this year. [And Blair, we'll definitely meet up next time around!]

If you're not tired of looking at our Seattle photographs, and trust me, I won't be offended if you are yawning at this point, [I did take over 200 photographs], you can see more over here.

seattle, here we come!

:: everything can be made into a game :: 

:: hide + seek ::

:: yes, we played it over and over and over again ::

:: see you next week ::

xoxo

off to reform school 2

Remember the order I sent off to ReForm School a few months ago? Well, I couldn't have been more thrilled when I received a second order the following month. After finishing up the final details over the weekend, I packaged up the order of fabric + cards and wall + pockets and shipped them off. If you live in the Los Angeles area, you can check them out at ReForm School later this week. [And while you're there, check out Lisa's new work.]

:: fabric + cards ::

 

[warning: cloudy weather = poor lighting conditions = funky photography]

:: wall + pockets :: 16"x24" ::

:: wall + pockets :: 12"x16" ::

:: wall + pockets :: 12"x18" ::

More photographs here.

working weekend

:: a little bookkeeping ::

:: putting the finishing touches on an order of wall + pockets ::

:: each one is numbered ::

 

:: and ready to be hung ::

:: with a few little extra details ::