Sunny Saturday

It is a gorgeously sunny Saturday here in Portland. Wish I was feeling up to more than I am. Suddenly feeling as though one of the many things that are going around just might have caught up with me. I want to feel up to going for a hike, or going out to take some pictures or thoroughly cleaning and reorganizing at least one room in my house. I'll be lucky if I get to and through my self-defense course I'm scheduled for today and then bed. 

I have managed to muster enough energy to snap a few pictures of what things are like around our house today. Give you all a small glimpse into my world. Trust me, you probably don't want a big glimpse. Too wide an angle on this camera and you'd get to see all the piles of clothes and things that need de-cluttering! 

See if you do it just right (careful of the angle and all), you'll see a lovely and pretty clean looking living room: 

I do however want to hang that leaves photo on that space of yellow wall soon rather than "leaving" it (get it) on the mantel. 

Otherwise, however from this photo, things are looking good. 

Yes it is very typical to find random Nerf guns without a proper home -- taking up space in a laundry basket, which is in turn living on a chair (who needs to sit down). You have no idea how many surfaces we can cover in a day thereby forcing us to sit anywhere else other than actually on the chairs in our living room. 

Of course there are several ways to think 
this. Who needs to worry about how comfortable a chair may be when it will house various backpacks, Nerf toys and clothing? 

All these chairs normally have to do it look good and be prepared to hold up various accoutrements of daily life! 

I guess I'd like them to be actual chairs that we sit in more often but probably not so much today except the one in the top photo -- it is ready to go unless of course we figure out something to clutter it with. 

And despite the fact that it is 11:00 a.m., I am still in my robe! I may not be on my game today, but check out Olivia, the ever vigilant guard dog looking for anyone or anything she can use as an excuse to bark. 

And yes that's me outside in my front yard in the glorious autumn sun ... in my bathrobe ... snapping the pic! 

Frankly the we both look a bit ghostly in this particular shot. 

Watch out Kim Kardashian! I'm making a fashion statement on this laid back Saturday -- or NOT! 

And last but not least in this glimpse of our world today, is this photo that seems to show not only some semblance of tidiness (but if you look super close also clutter), but more importantly an empty wall! This wall normally holds our Advent calendars when we get to that point but of course it is too early for that. For now, I believe it needs a little something to spice it up and I have an idea. 

For now it will remain an idea because I'm feeling frumpy but I'm hoping by posting this to motivate myself to create something for that spot to share with you soon (maybe tomorrow on Studio Sunday)!? 

What would you put in this spot if you were decorating? Do tell ... share a comment. 

It's Studio Sunday Again

Here's what has been in my studio most recently (as in today and yesterday): 

This is the latest bedroom door sign I've gotten to do. This time for Adam. It is on it's way to California. 

I took one of the leaf photos from yesterday's blog post and played with it, adding a phrase I remember a friend of ours sending to her then boyfriend (now husband) with a note and a leaf... and added it to the shop. Planning to hang it in our golden yellow living room soon. Here's hoping both leaves and love are in the air this autumn.

Next up should be pendants. I got chains to go with them but they are 24" long and that just seems too low to wear with most outfits. Someone tell me if I'm wrong. I'm hoping to return for shorter chains but for now I may just sell the pendants, allowing folks to add to chains they already own or going out and finding ones they love to go with my pendants. 

Hopefully 3rd time is the charm. I've had two attempts so far following a tutorial. First time didn't work well at all but I figured out that I needed to work on wax paper and hadn't been told to cut the photo quite a bit larger than the glass and cut down later. 

Second time was better but I found that the way the tutorial told me to trim the photos didn't turn out as well as I liked. Luckily, I experimented and got one good pendant (Country Door) and figured out to use my matte knife rather than scissors or nail clips for my trimming. Wish me luck. If they work out, a handful of pendants just may show up in the shop this week. 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi 

Tutorial Tuesday - Cute!

To be honest, I was trying to think of a tutorial and there are a few I could do but I just didn't have enough time today. When I got home from work and picking up the kids, I went into the shop and finished this wedding sign! 

I also paid bills and did a craft run at Joann's. I got some more white paint, ribbon, this fun "something blue" wedding backdrop fabric and some fun Steam Punk letters for experimenting. 

And so the Tuesday tutorial today is one I sooooooooo want to make rather than one I already know how to make! I have a new favorite blog written by Gabrielle Blair, mother of six, who lives in the French countryside blogging about the intersection of design and motherhood! Check out her Design Mom blog and her awesome tutorial on The Perfect Gift: School House Gift Box. 

Gosh knows I only have 3 more days to get it done and delivered to school teachers and administrators, but I can sure try! Don't you love it... so cute: 

And speaking of cute, I just hare to share the most adorable pictures sent to me today by the Mama of two of my favorite customer (and a favorite customer herself), Ruth and Quinn! They look SO happy with their door signs -- it makes me happy! 

Ciao for now, 

Mama Zuzi

Thankful Thursday

Good morning to the last day of my 40's! This morning despite being inexorably sleepy, I am very thankful for so much and grateful to so many. 

First off, a big thanks to everyone who has participated (so far -- LAST DAY TO COMMENT) in my birthday blog comment contest: 

molly, judi, laurann, tina, belinda, lisa, cathy, sean, desiree, anna, bess, shulamit, sofie & celia

There is still time to enter & WIN but not much. Today IS THE VERY LAST DAY to enter. It's easy... comment on any post in the blog and you will be entered to win. I will draw winners tomorrow on my birthday!  

I am also so very thankful to my the wonderful folks who ordered from Mama Picture This in May: 

lindy, molly (& ruth & quinn), elizabeth, daren, laurie, amanda jane, valerie, sierra & bonnie! 

You helped to make it a wonderful month!

Ciao for now, 
Mama Zuzi

Up-cycled Personalized Special Order

 

 

Some times you just gotta pull over

Today I had to take photos at an event for my day job. It was nice to have a long drive in the country although I found myself wanting to pull over every other minute to take a photo for myself of something interesting. Time constraints being what they were, I did not except just once to take this picture: 

Something about this old corner market, now abandoned and in particular these doors, called me to pull over and stop. 

I have always found myself particularly drawn to images full of patterns and with a truly graphic sensibility. I often like to take photos of things as close up as I can or in a way that breaks away from the obvious "this is a building with a top, sides and a bottom." Not sure if that will make sense to everyone but it resonates with me. 

I have also always been drawn to color. But in this photo it isn't about color, but truly lack thereof that makes it beautiful... that and the interestingly diverse patterns made by the juxtapositions of the gravel road, the porch slats, the siding, doors and beam. I find this image similar in feel to the Shaniko pictures I recently added to my shop. I suppose that makes sense as Shaniko is a ghost town and what is still there is mostly aged, weathered and abandoned. 

I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I do. Have a wonderful day and I hope many wonderful doors open for you today and every day. 

Best always! 

Mama Zuzi (Sue)