SHIM + SONS

the shoppe :: update 02

   

:: update on 7.09.07 @ 10am :: restocking stationery collection 01 :: fabric + cards :: button + magnets :: patchwork + towels :: pencil + cups ::

giving + receiving

:: giving :: fabric photo album cover for Nana ::

:: holds photos of her cute little grandsons ::

:: appliqued tees + skirts for our little friend's 2nd birthday :: she LOVES purple :: little fabric button flower :: yes, there is no end to the fabric button madness around here ::

:: another little outfit for her ::

:: sent this package to Sarah last month, the shoppe grand opening winner ::

:: stationery goodies ::

:: receiving :: look what Jen B. sent me :: ceramic dish trio :: beautiful texture :: she said she saw them and thought of me :: so sweet ::

:: necklace from Lisa S. :: a little piece of art ::

 

:: package of goodies from France :: yummy chocolate + sweets :: thank you, Valerie! ::

:: giving + receiving :: equally delightful ::

summer sprucing

:: summer cleaning + decorating in full-swing at the shim casa ::

:: finally made some throw pillows for our family room sofa :: only took me three years ::

:: charcoal linen from a local fabric shop :: supplemented with uniform studio hand-dyed linen [it is very nice having talented + generous friends] :: simple linen patchwork + pillows ::

:: and it wasn't planned, but my pillows match nicely with my ah-yi print ::

:: reupholstered [aka "taking some screws out and stretching fabric over the base while wielding a staple gun] the kitchen table chairs :: charcoal ultrasuede :: not my #1 choice in fabric, but it cleans up easily :: one day I'll replace them with these chairs [in white] ::

:: next up :: patchwork + towels for the kitchen :: pillows for the sofa in the living room :: new shower curtains + rug for the guest bathroom :: studio makeover :: oh, did I say summer sprucing? :: make that summer/fall/winter sprucing! ::

ceramics heaven

One of the highlights of our california road trip was spending the day with one of my favorite friends, Sumi. We made a list of places we wanted to visit together and the Heath factory store was at the top of our list. It did not disappoint. The store is stocked with samples of their current lines as well as seconds, discontinued items and prototypes. I think I circled the store over a dozen times [which is rare since I am normally a very quick, look-around-once shopper]. All the ceramic tableware pieces are so beautiful and durable, it is hard not to want one of everything.

There is a section in the store stocked with all their tiles. Swoon! [Note to self: Stop procrastinating and sign up for a ceramics class!]

Have you seen how Heath Ceramics' owners, Cathy Bailey + Robin Petravic, used the tile in their beautiful home? Oh my!

And of course I couldn't leave empty-handed. I bought these triplets. They also had some beautiful prototypes of pieces they'll be selling this fall, all so very good. I can't wait!

Oh, and did I mention that all the people I met over at Heath are really nice? Well, they are! Which just makes me think it is a great company to work for. And even though I missed out on a chance to meet Cathy in person, the kind folks at Heath Ceramics sent me a signed copy of their book. It has been on my wish list for awhile now so it was a big treat to receive it.

It is such an interesting book and very inspiring to me as a designer of handmade goods + [small] business person. I bet many of you would love it.

And speaking of the Heath factory store, I'm super excited to let you know that you'll be able to find some shim + sons' stationery over there very soon!

I'm packing everything up right now and shipping them off to California tomorrow morning!

 

a little thank you

:: writing thank you cards ::

:: a great rainy day activity ::

:: he's all done :: just waiting for me to finish my cards ::

j is for "just a little birthday party"

This was supposed to be the year of no-big-shindigs-family-only birthday celebrations for the boys. Big J has had a big birthday party for the past three years so we decided to take a bit of a break this year and celebrate the boys' birthdays with just a small family dinner. [Not that I don't like to prepare for birthday parties, you know I do]. So Big J's birthday came and went in late April and no big hurrah. Check. Then Baby J's birthday came and went two weeks ago and again, no big hurrah. Check. Then all of a sudden we decided we wanted to have a small joint birthday party for the boys--just a few good friends, some bbq and a cake. So over the weekend we did just that--we had some friends over, fired up the BBQ and feasted on Appah's yummy smoked ribs, chicken + kalbi. The weather was perfect and the kids ran around in the backyard while the adults lounged + chatted. This joint, last-minute, very-belated birthday party was a lot of fun!

:: invitations :: theme--green + grey + J's ::

:: decorations ::

:: the birthday cake ::

 

:: and cupcakes ::

:: favors for our little friends :: sidewalk chalk + bubbles ::

:: favors for our big friends :: homemade shortbread bars ::

 

:: thank you cards ::

:: more photographs here ::

hello, summer!

:: first berry picking of the season ::

:: bucket of strawberries ::

:: our quality control guy ::

:: of course he said they were all "dee-wish-us" ::

:: stuffed, but still considering eating another berry ::

:: may your summer be full of berries + fun in the sun ::

playing around with fabric + paper

:: fabric + paper :: one of my favorite combinations :: making a new batch of fabric + cards for the shoppe :: I've heard through the grapevine that people have been framing their fabric + cards, not using them as cards :: nifty ::

:: designing some new fabric + cards :: ah yes, the fabric button love continues ::

:: and playing around with fused fabric :: still loving yellow + white ::

 

:: I'll be updating the shoppe next week :: stay tuned ::

b.a.b.t crafting :: continued

Like I've said before, a big crafting surge hits before every big trip. Our road trip last week was no exception. I went with my "go to" gifts for our little friends in California--applique t-shirts and onesies--since I was running out of time. I wrote a simple tutorial last year and one of these days I might actually post one with step-by-step photographs. But really, these are so easy to make. [I use either this fusible web or this iron-on adhesive.]

:: for our little 12-week old friend :: tree onesie + matching bib :: I borrowed the tree design from this Japanese craft book ::

:: another tree onesie for my nephew ::

:: and pear onesie for our friend emma ::

:: matching tees for some little boys who are all cousins ::

:: another outfit for sweet emma :: the skirt was made from a thrifted sheet ::

:: patchwork + towel set :: and cookbook :: for my friend Sumi :: she graciously let our family crash at her place for a few nights :: and showered the boys with so many great gifts :: and look what she gave me ::

:: and a patchwork + towel set for our friends who hosted us for one night ::

:: packaged + delivered ::

:: I'm really behind on responding to emails. Thanks for your patience! ::

japanese craft book :: illustrators

:: japanese craft book featuring four illustrators :: ISBN4-7762-0213-1 ::

:: kuniko nagasaki ::

:: dick bruna ::

 

:: ryohei yanagihara ::