orange sugar home

this moment....

2010-08-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

"this moment" post inspired by lady of the arts blog. my oldest friend (35 years!) sent this to me. her children are playing pirate ship in her living room. i love the one in the beard. i've been acting as cruise director/camp counselor for my kids. so come night i am whipped. once school begins i'll be able to sit still and read your beautiful blogs. until then, hope you are well.
paz, k

blue saturday....

2010-08-09T06:19:00.001-07:00

we made our annual trek to michigan for blueberry picking. the sun beat down on our heads and arms but fortunately there was a cool breeze as we picked in the long rows of berry bushes. summertime. the berries burst in our mouths as we sampled a few and uncovered some stray blackberry bushes. such abundance. a perfect morning. hope you had some perfect moments this weekend. happy monday! paz, k

pies and smoothies and crumbles to come.... do you have any good blueberry recipes?

good living....

2010-08-06T13:53:00.001-07:00

great for an adult or child. you could spend a

whole rainy morning rearranging!

too cute and cozy!

would love this wallsticker in almost
any room

so clever....

a field of flowers in my bedroom

would be most welcome

i like to surround myself with beautiful things and i know you do too! if joyful things are tucked in corners and papered on walls it makes me a happier person. be sure to check out this incredible aussie store ferm living. just another way to make you sunny inside. have a perfect weekend of peace and rest! k

what a little girl wants....

2010-08-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

oh boy, summer days with the kids are wonderful but since they're finished with camp now i'm on duty 15 hours a day. so, my blogging has been lagging and i'm so sorry i haven't been visiting your blogs! i'm missing them terribly. hope you all are well and soaking up the glorious sun and warmth. the photo above is of my 6 year old and her collection of silly bands. they're rubber bands that come in different shapes like dolphins or flowers, princesses, airplanes etc. i wanted to show you all because i'm curious if this is a trend in other parts of the US and if there are cute little girls and boys wearing the same rainbows on their arms in Europe, Australia, and Asia as well. do tell!! paz, k

a note of hope....

2010-08-02T06:19:00.001-07:00

on this blank canvas of brick in memphis, tennessee jeff zimmerman created the note for hope. it represents both human potential and human struggles common to us all. it brought a rainbow to a corner of town in need of some hope. i love murals. in fact, one of my dreams is to have a building serving the community with some sensational mural facing the street so when folks drive by they will know it's a place of love and possibility.

do you have a favorite wall mural?
paz to you on this beautiful summer monday! k

do you know....

2010-07-31T16:43:00.001-07:00

the african-american artist romare beardon? he grew up during the harlem renaissance and was known for his stunning collages as well as his paintings and drawings. i love his work and in particular i'm inspired by his powerful collage work. enjoy!

i'm very slowly getting over my summer bug. it has turned into a cold now and my H had it for a few days. ugh! ick. i hope you all are well. i hope to be myself come monday!! happy weekend to you. paz, k

i need a betty....

2010-07-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

ok, so i don't have a bike - yet!- but i can dream. that's what blogging is all about i think - dreaming. i would love to have a sweet betty bag join me on a summer or fall excursion to the local farmer's market. i'd load her up with good things to eat - and ohhh how pretty she'd look. the magic is that they turn into totes!! heaven. do you have a betty bag? find them here. paz, k

a day in michigan....

2010-07-28T05:52:00.000-07:00

i've been meaning to post these photos from our trip to our friend's vacation home in michigan. it's a beautiful home a block away from the beach and our friends are the finest hosts. one might not think of michigan as having incredible beaches, spectacular sunsets or cozy beach towns but it does. hopefully next weekend we'll go back and pick blueberries.
i've been a little slow on posts these past few days because we've all been a bit sick. summer bugs are not fun! hope you all are well. looking forward to catching up on your blogs soon. paz, k

oliver counting away

the enviable kitchen

they bought this gorgeous table in england

little helen floating

have you been to the beaches in michigan?

growing into....

2010-07-26T14:06:00.001-07:00

one day i'd like a whole wardrobe of eileen fisher. i love the sophistication, the muted tones and the simplicity of shape in the designs. i also like how you can mix many of the pieces together. i will grow into this person slowly. what about you? do you own any eileen fisher?

you must see her fall collection here. fabulous! happy monday to you, friends. paz, k

adorable dw....

2010-07-24T20:50:00.001-07:00

these products are all from the very cool scottish designer donna wilson. you can find her odd objects, stationary, blankets, tea cozies and more here. hope you're having a fabulous weekend. images of fall keep popping into my head and i can't say i'm thrilled. my son has been asking for pumpkin pie and my mind drifts to burnt orange leaves and new scarves but i don't want this warmth or the long days to end. i want to wear my flip flops for another 6 months and let my arms continue to brown in the sun. what about you? are you looking forward to a change of season? k

cool calder....

2010-07-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

i'm a huge fan of alexander calder. even writing his name makes me have butterflies. there is something about his work that sings to me, in me. i have my eye on a book at a used bookstore call calder at home. have you read or seen it? they're photos of his work and his home life. i'll post pics of it if it comes home with me one day. i owe my love of calder to my oldest friend's parents. they inherited a REAL calder piece that to this day sits outside of their bedroom. it is a gorgeous mobile i used to touch as a child and watch the different parts move, dance, sink, and lift. if only i had known then what i was touching.....happy thursday! paz, k

here

2010-07-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

oh those ceilings!

maybe a screen behind the bed as a headboard?

loving this furniture from lombok out of the uk. modern sleek design mixes well with traditional as always. which is your favorite? still on the hunt for the perfect bed but i think i might just find some nice fabric for a headboard, get a king size bed on a frame and call it a day. that way i won't be committing to something i might end up not liking in a couple of years. i am a bit fickle with furniture you know.....paz to you today. k

japanese streets...

2010-07-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

i love japanese design and fashion. this site is incredible. get some tea or a lemonade and stroll through this site for a bit. happy monday!! k

perfect patti....

2010-07-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

i just finished a very interesting article in the latest vogue (gwynny is on the cover) about patti hansen, wife of rocker keith richards. i like reading how lovers meet and how they make it work for so many years. patti is a private person but bladder cancer has made her come out into the public now. she juggles many roles as mother, wife, spokesperson, matriarch. i was curious about her career as a model in the 80s so i did a search. no wonder keith fell for her and her wild blond locks. their daughters are just as gorgeous!
the article on Gwyneth was not as well written. i didn't think it dug deep enough into her life roles and her new cookbook. however, the photos of her are amazing. maybe i'll start doing a magazine article review each week. fun! hope you are having a beautiful weekend! paz, k

amazon here

sublime design....

2010-07-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

there is something in me that makes me feel as if i were born to live in scandanavia. i'm fascinated by the design, the culture, the way of life and by the fact that so many products, innovations and trends continually flow from this part of the world. this site is amazing! scandanvian design showcases incredible artists and their works and really makes me want to create wonderful practical art too. check it out.

are you a scandanavian fan too? paz, k

i heart....

2010-07-14T15:09:00.001-07:00

vintage lighting. i found these at the british shop the french house. it is a joy to wander through the furniture and accessories at this site. this is my dream shop. do you like vintage fixtures?

have a beautiful evening! k

do you know....

2010-07-13T20:10:00.000-07:00

the wild and sometimes bizarre work or billy und hells? these portraits are my favorite. what an eye he has for the dramatic! i found these in one of my very favorite british magazines (i say that a lot i know) living etc. happy wednesday....any magic for you today? k

extra large....

2010-07-13T08:42:00.001-07:00

you must check out this fabulous site surface view that enlarges vintage prints. it's my dream come true! i love these two beauties - and would love them more 47x47 inches on my walls. are you a big print person? k

mommy earth, daddy sun....

2010-07-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

last evening at the dinner table my littlest one said "where did the earth and sun live when they were babies?" translation: how were they formed and was there something that created them like a mommy earth and daddy sun? kids are a wonder. i am so happy to know you nori. you help me to embrace this mystery. after all, we don't really know for certain how we came to be here floating in space - and i'm just fine with that. what about you?
happy tuesday my friends. paz, k

angel here

happy monday....

2010-07-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

paz, k

pass it on here

beautiful things....

2010-07-12T06:06:00.000-07:00

my good friend heidi from dreams intertwined hosted a tin swap on her site a few weeks ago and i was paired with a wonderful woman from ohio who sent me these treasures. we shared some of our passions with one another so it was so touching to open the tin to find vintage fabrics, bath salts, a heart collage, an antique book and print and more!! check out her site here. thanks ang!! i'm putting together another one just for fun for a friend of mine in california and my book group is collecting items for a friend's 50th birthday. we're gathering things which represent her or our friendship and we'll put them in a lovely tin. great way to reduce, reuse and recycle. enjoy!

have you participated in a tin swap before? i'll share some of the other items folks sent in another post. have a sunny monday!! paz, k

just remember....

2010-07-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

i just found this amazing blog called geninne's art blog. she has a fabulous etsy shop you might want to check out. i love this print in particular. paz, k

the sweet proposal....

2010-07-11T18:08:00.000-07:00

congratulations to gorgeous emily blunt on her marriage. i love, love this proposal. have you seen young victoria?! prince albert is quite dreamy...... hope you had a wonderful weekend. any interesting proposals come your way recently? also, if married, how did your love propose to you? my h proposed to me in a dark hallway in his apartment on the southwest side of chicago. we were supposed to sit on the steps of a beautiful cathedral but my plane arrived too late to get us downtown! funny how things turn out. k

yummy....

2010-07-09T04:14:00.000-07:00

i'm in what feels to be a perpetual search for the perfect bed. i could go very modern or very ornate and feminine. what about you? do you sleep in your dream bed?

happy friday!! k

sweet dreams here

oh lawrence....

2010-07-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

so, kansas surprised me with a sweet little college town called lawrence. bookstores - sometimes three to a block, beautiful jewelry stores, cupcake shops, excellent restaurants, diversity of spirit, mind and population. oh, i'll be back. it was rich with life. have you been? photos below:
1. iron fence or art!!
2. pool joy right in the middle of lawrence
3. best veggie burger i've ever had!!
4. if i'd stayed any longer i would have visited this little tattoo parlor
5. bath shop i saw from the distance
6. love these bricks - the extraordinary in the most ordinary of places
7. crossing back over the great mississippi - home bound
8. hinge and nails at the boyhood home of h. truman - what life in those nails! who hammered them and was it raining on that day or snowing, was it some one's birthday or the beginning of summer?
9. abundance - we are blessed with this land

thanks for coming along my friends. hope you saw some things that surprised you and gave you joy. paz, k

these wooden wings....

2010-07-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

yes we are home. i've been doing laundry, unpacking and trying to catch up on sleep!! hope you had a great 4th of july. do you read ready made magazine? yet another fave of mine. i was struck by a pair of wooden wings in the most recent issue. a very cool south african couple had them hanging on a white wall. love them!!! found these for $12,000 at mews antiques. gulp. how beautiful they are! do you know of where to find such lovlies more reasonably priced? k

happy 4th of july!!

2010-07-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

freedom....moksha.....liberty.....liberation....awakening....fully alive....more compassionate....more loving....grateful.
what does this day mean to you?
paz, k
stars in my eyes here

wakeeney, kansas....

2010-07-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

above - the little red church
on interstate 70- heading east we came upon this converted church that was filled from floor to ceiling with antiques in wakeeney, kansas. i imagine that the church was here long, long ago and had a little dirt road in front of it - maybe even a path through the tall grasses and farmers from far away would come on hot summer sundays or frosty winter mornings - for weddings, baptisms, funerals. empty churches don't seem right to me. there should be singing, shouting, praising going on.....now, it's an antique store filled with iron pots, buffalo skulls and dinner plates from the local bank with images of the Last Supper. ok, so i was in heaven though feeling a little guilty. i bought some deer antlers for $25. most everything was overpriced - didn't seem like the older gentleman who owned the store was interested in getting rid of any of it. perhaps he liked it piled high up to the windows. the past was the new congregation. photos below:

1. a collection of vintage luggage at the original entrance of the church
2. so good potato chips tin i should have bought instead of the antlers - isn't this image fabulous?!
3. sweet red rocking horses
4. crocks (?) on the blue wall
5. i wonder whose kansas kitchen wall she used to hang on
6. more wonderful crocks
7. original church windows - love this
8. oh, what a great old bowler hat....who did this belong to? was it a treasured possession?
9. at the pool at the koa in wakeeney
10. the fields surrounding the campground - amazing
11., 12. some fun signs i saw on the way to wakeeney
13. beautiful kansas

there is a motor cycle convention here tonight at the campground in lawrence, kansas (i'll post on lawrence another night!! ) hope to get some needed rest - but doubt it if the firecrackers keep going or the revving of the engines. ugh. hope you have an adventurous and creative friday friends!! paz, k

i heart the west....

2010-06-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

the trip is slowly winding down. we only have a few precious days left on the road and truthfully i'm a bit sad. we've looked forward to this for so many months and the more i camp/rv the more i love it. i wish i lived in this part of the country where you can put your rusty ol' rv in your backyard and no one would think twice about it. i love this land. ohhh, and i love the magazine sunset! it's the perfect magazine geared toward adventurous or vicariously adventurous folks who live (or wish they lived - or visited frequently) in the western part of the united states. it's hip and probably is well known out this way. i'm subscribing the minute i get home. photos below:
1. playing on the shore of the colorado river
2. moab, utah koa - i seriously loved this town for its outdoor enthusiasm, the wonderful desert heat and incredible evenings in cool breezes
3. the three gossips at arches national park - amazing!!
4. one of the arches in the park
5. the highway heading to moab!! it was a bit intimidating
6. learning her lessons
7. a magical river we drove along until it beckoned us to dip our feet in - magic

happy wednesday to you all!! thanks so much for checking in. sorry i haven't been by your blogs regularly. i 'm so tired at the end of the day! i look forward to catching up soon. paz, k

iron, like a lion in zion....

2010-06-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

above - sitting at the picnic table as the sun sets looking at this amazing view - while blogging!
good evening all! we're outside of bryce canyon in beautiful utah. we visited zion national park today and are still in shock from all of the incredible veiws, rock formations and undeniable spirit in the canyons. this place is truly majestic and right here in our very own country! photos below:
1. sage grows everywhere - i can't get enough of its smell - this is right next to our motorhome tonight
2. koa campground outside of bryce canyon, utah
3. incredible aspen trees - shimmering in the sun in dixie national park (what a place!!)
4. emerald fall in zion national park - see the water overhead?
5. tunnel in zion - the kids screamed going through
6. kids playing in the virgin river in zion
7., 8. heading into zion! breathtaking
9. my boy in a tree where he would always like to be

have a wonderful weekend!! hope you're summer is superb so far. paz, k

at the edge of creation....

2010-06-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

hello friends! thanks so much for your kind and encouraging comments. we saw the grand canyon today. i took a ton of photos on my little 6 pixel camera but i thought this photo says it all - or maybe you hear the silence too when you see it. it just is. it truly took my breath away approaching the view. what an utter marvel.
i'd post more but the internet connection here in page, az is not so great. so much to say about the Navajo, their land, the poverty....it is all so overwhelming. you cannot turn your head away from it. what to do?
happy friday to you all. good night, k
ps. thanks so much to hey, lady grey for the beautiful blogger award! yeah!!! i do try to please but mostly i'm so honored that you all read any bit of this thing. xoxo

in the desert i sit....

2010-06-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

above - after the rain storm in santa rosa, nm ("I've seen fire in the sky....")
there is too much to say about how beautiful this country is. i'm sitting at a picnic table in holbrook, az smack in the middle of a desert and the sun is setting, making the clouds pinks, purples and oranges i could never adequately describe. the wind is blowing warm, dry air and i can see straight off into the desert. the moon is peeking out from behind a dark cloud and appears to be full....
sorry not to post yesterday but the internet connection in santa rosa, nm was not so good. photos below:
1. making dinner on the grill in holbrook, az
2. swimming girls in santa rosa, nm
3. the rainstorm in a santa rosa, where they said they hadn't had rain in months - it was wild
4. found item - route 66 (we are driving on route 66) on a little walk at the campground in nm
5. our first cactus in nm
6. beautiful dry earth in nm
7. spotted lizard who welcomed us at the nm campground - the kids were thrilled!
8. grain silo on our way to santa rosa
9. kids putting on a circus for us in elk city, ok - loved ok! such incredible open land
10. pastures, plains in ok!
11. night in elk city
12. sat under this lovely tree at the end of the day in elk city - peace.

thank you all for taking a look! on to the grand canyon tomorrow!! hi mom and dad! good night all, paz, k

red earth....

2010-06-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

we entered oklahoma today and again the heat is remarkable. it's dry but the sun is fierce. the terrain has changed again. you can tell we're moving towards the desert. the earth is red here in elk city. we saw some cows bathing in a small pond and the water was as dark as red velvet cake. the dirt on the edge of their bath was rust colored in dark lovely layers. shade is highly desired at the campground and we were fortunate enough to get some good trees to protect us from the sun and to tie up the clothes line. also, the pool is only about 10 steps away! there's a playground but the equipment is too hot to use today. we're staying inside for now but we'll get back in the pool before bed. what do you know about oklahoma? photos below:
1. oklahoma - the land is getting very dry
2. red soil
3. tootsie out the window
4. pool time!!
5. the playground - sooo hot but love how old it is
6. how to draw a turtle
7. staying busy....

thanks so much for following along. i think we're off to arizona tomorrow. be well. paz, k

first day of summer....

2010-06-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

happy birthday son! we're in joplin, missouri today and the temperatures were in the high 90s...what will the desert hold for us? the landscape has become more green and there are valleys around every bend. we've also started seeing insects we're unfamiliar with. new lands....sometimes the forests carpeting the valleys seem to go on forever. photos below:
1. something yellow caught our eye at our campsite
2. st. louis arch! thank you Saarinen
3. birthday presents at daybreak
4. lots of naps
5. company on the road
6. ikea fabric on the couch - much nicer to sit on something our own - happens to match the curtains too!
7. joy

thanks for stopping by....the days are long with driving time, pool time, cooking, cleaning....not much different than home but much simpler. i like it this way. one pot. one pan. one mission for the day....to be together. happy summer to you! what did you do today to celebrate summer? off to oklahoma tomorrow. k

here we go....

2010-06-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

we arrived in granite city, il earlier today and it was hot!! the pool at the koa (kampground of america) was heaven. photos below:
1. cornfields in southern il
2. a bridge over a beautiful green river
3. my doll telling stories with her eboo cards - love these!!
4. she rides along with us on the dashboard
5. dinner in the almost suffocating heat - ikea fabric on the table i finished on the edges
6. towels drying in the sun
7. clovers from my other doll on the picnic table
peace....

thanks for taking a peek. hope your day was good. what did you do this weekend?

good night. on to missouri tomorrow....k

on the road again....

2010-06-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

sooooo very tired. tomorrow morning we set off on our motor home trip and i will certainly be happy to just sit and stare out the window at our beautiful country. we've had dance recitals, a wedding, eye doctor appointments, camp, grocery shopping for the trip, packing the motor home, family graduation parties (i could go on) all within the last 24 hours. i'm going to take a hot shower and then go to bed but first i wanted to say hello and tell you that the bride wore a creamy white dress with a buttery yellow sash. why didn't i bring the camera? too tired to think of it. the reception was held at what likely was a country manor at one time with stables on the property. it was lovely. it stormed during the reception and afterwards the sky was purple and the night air was filled with the sound of crickets and quiet bird song. stay tuned....i'm sorry i'm missing your blogs right now but i will catch up when i get a moment. paz, k
freedom

i heart....

2010-06-18T11:26:00.001-07:00

wire sculpture. what about you? always reminds me of calder and oh boy am i a calder fan. i'm off to my niece's wedding. will report on her dress, the flowers etc when i return....happy friday!! paz, k

metal marvels here

flower girl....

2010-06-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

i keep burning pots of rice, milk for tea and most everything else i'm cooking these days. my mind is elsewhere other than in the kitchen. i think i'd like to be lost in a field of wildflowers or on my back gazing up at a universe overflowing with stars. we all need silence and solitude to grow, to develop as better people. where do you find your peace?
thanks so much for all of your comments. i feel so blessed to have your attention for a moment or two!!
let us not look at ourselves but onwards, onwards to the ideal life of man, and take strength from the leaf and the signs of the field. let us labor to make the heart grow larger as we become older, as the spreading oak gives more shelter. that we could but take to the soul some of the greatness and the beauty of the summer! - r. jefferies, pageant of summer

paz, k

gold is back....

2010-06-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

i can't get over these rings. i read that gold is coming back for brides. for so long platinum was the most desired for that fourth finger but now adventurous brides are wearing rose, white and yellow gold in fabulous styles. if your budget is limited you could go for a semiprecious stone (sapphire etc - even a black diamond) as the center stone instead of a diamond. i love the floral details on these rings by mcteigue

which is your favorite? have a great evening. k

hip eco tip....

2010-06-16T12:58:00.001-07:00

my newest infatuation (other than experimenting with collage and learning how to do a bit of embroidery) is making small bags from vintage and newer fabrics to bring with me to the grocery store, drug store etc to cut down on those awful plastic bags (one less bag in a landfill!). this cute striped fabric was originally a sheet, then it was my brother's boyhood curtain and now a fruit bag to tote around my pears, apples, bananas and plums. now, i'm not much of a seamstress but i figure with patience and practice i can get better and make some really swell totes i'll pass on to my friends!! do you sew? happy wednesday~

the shape is enjoyed....

2010-06-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

how can one site have so many gorgeous products? check out the japanese architectural and interior design company karaku pottery. karaku means "the shape is enjoyed". love that. this is exactly the kind of stock i'd like to have in my store (imaginary of course)!! what about you? have a great tuesday ya'll....paz, k

goodnight, monday....

2010-06-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

renee. i don't know quite what to say about this woman but she is mesmerizing. what a dress and hair style! i found her on a site called french sampler. renee perle was the muse of fashion photographer j.h.lartigue in the early part of the 20th century. you must check out her other photos on that site.

i caught a firefly tonight. as i walked i heard birds chirping into the twilight. i was again mesmerized. looking forward to checking in on your blogs. summer brings long days with the kids so i don't have my moments of quiet i try to steal during the school year. today i let them jump into a creek with all of their clothes on. a creek, right in the middle of suburbia, weaving its way to another town, a larger river, the magnificent ocean. time to sleep now. good night friends.
paz, k

rain, rain....

2010-06-13T18:49:00.001-07:00

one town over from us there is a very cool summer program going on. artists got together and painted rain barrels that will be auctioned off at the end of the summer with the proceeds going to the various charities in the area. i didn't know what to expect from a painted rain barrel but as always i was blown away by people's creativity and motivation to help one another. these barrels are so beautiful - and so hopeful. i think this whole green movement might actually be catching on. enjoy!
pass it on....k

do you have a rain barrel? what is your favorite green act you do?

happy sunday!!

loving....

2010-06-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

these designs by etsy artist beki wilson. all of her dresses, hats, skirts and tops are handmade!! they are gorgeous. i'd like to have such a simple yet sophisticated wardrobe. what about you?

happy saturday, friends!! paz, k

a healing art....

2010-06-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

we start our summer motor home trip next weekend so i had the kids make covers for their journals. in another post i mentioned i wanted to start experimenting with collage so these are our first attempts at it and i think the results are splendid! can you pick out which journal cover belongs to my son? hint, he likes soldiers....i won't even let him have a toy gun but there is some crazy boy gene that makes them seek out military themed everything!

below is my attempt at collage. the picking, sorting and cutting is so wonderfully therapeutic. what do you think?? be sure to keep posted over the next few weeks for photos and posts from our trip to the southwest.

have a great friday!! paz, k

liberation....

2010-06-10T05:36:00.000-07:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.

It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other
people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically
liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

do you relate to this passage? i do. i must constantly remind myself to shine not for me but for life, for others. go shine today my friends!! happy thursday. paz, k

sunshine here

i heart apple papple....

2010-06-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

happy wednesday!!

this sweet apple papple print is by the creator of fine litte day blog (amazing!!) and you can find it in her fine little shop. elisabeth lives in gothenburg, sweden with her family and a cat named hiro. she is a designer and photographer and she continues to inspire me everyday! her photography is fabulous. check it out...paz, k

the pillows are also her creation and she has adorable cutting boards as well.

design to change the world....

2010-06-08T06:55:00.000-07:00

Abject Object

i have a few years left of seminary but i keep thinking about how i will serve our communities in need when i'm done -(i think all communities are in need to some extent - some spiritually, some in great need of material goods, food and shelter). i love the concept of social design where the objects we make and sell, develop and purchase are developed with the goal of solving some of our greatest socio-economic problems. i would love to get involved with an organization like Project H Design to harness creative energies and empower people while keeping both social and spiritual considerations in mind. check them out. pass it on....k

mission statement: Project H Design connects the power of design to the people who need it most, and the places where it can make a real and lasting difference.
We are a team of designers and builders engaging locally to improve the quality of life for the socially overlooked. Our five-tenet design process (There is no design without (critical) action; We design WITH, not FOR; We document, share and measure; We start locally and scale globally, We design systems, not stuff) results in simple and effective design solutions for those without access to creative capital.
Our long-term initiatives focus on improving environments, products, and experiences for K-12 education institutions in the US through systems- level design thinking and deep community engagements.
paz.

they say when you marry....

2010-06-07T14:35:00.001-07:00

in june, you will always be a bride. (anyone seen seven brides for seven brothers? it's the best musical!). i've been married a while and well, i didn't really think much about my wedding when it happened 14 years ago. i was pretty anti-wedding fluff and didn't know that i could have been creative and put my stamp on it to make it ours. i didn't know we could take photos on a ferris wheel or in a field. i didn't know much then. my hair was too short and i was still a tomboy. he loved me anyway. i love to read bridal magazines (martha stewart weddings!! - not all the time, just every now and then :)) now just to see what the younger generations are doing with their love made manifest. it's amazing! it is one of the most important days in our lives and we should have fun with it - i didn't and wish i had. so, maybe for my 20th i'll wear white all over. in the meantime, i'll have fun dreaming. can't hurt, right?

so, here's my wedding in june (just a dream, but a good one....):

i can't thank you enough for your well wishes for my dad. he is the best. i hope our prayers will help carry him through this all. paz, k

what was your wedding like? or how do you picture it if you plan to marry one day?

oh my! here

happy weekend....

2010-06-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

i'm off to maryland to see my dad who is having radiation treatment for a brain tumor. i believe in miracles so i think anything can happen. this thing might just vanish....so, i won't be able to blog over the next couple of days and i wanted to wish you all a wonderful weekend. any carnivals, or antique shows, farmer's markets for you....? do tell.
blessings to you, k
so cool here

welcome to summer....

2010-06-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

today is the last day of school (yes, i'm a little sad - they do grow so quickly). summer vacation begins for the kids. picnic in the park after school, maybe some cake too....and lots of thought into our wish list for the summer like multiple trips to the art institute, the bean, brookfield zoo, the morton arboretum, oak street beach in downtown Chicago....motor home trip in 3 weeks! blueberry picking in july and the dells in august....
do you have end of the school year or beginning of summer traditions? any ideas? i look forward to some quiet tonight to catch up on your posts!!
have a lovely day, k
memories here

do you....

2010-06-02T09:02:00.001-07:00

collage? i really want to experiment with this medium. i used to love making collages on poster board with magazine clippings when i was in college. it was something that felt so natural to me but i haven't made one in almost a decade or more. i'd like to begin again.

so here are a few questions my friends:

is there supposed to be a theme with each collage or can they just be random images that are appealing to the eye?

what is the best glue to use?

what is the best resource for collage material?

any other advice?

thanks for all of your splendid comments!! tell me more...

paz, k

whimsy here

pretties by kate....

2010-06-01T06:50:00.001-07:00

these wonderful accessories, prints and papers are from uk designer kate forman. she has a passion for french inspired decor and her site is filled with incredible photographs of her work. happy monday!! k

memorial day....

2010-05-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

we just got back from our town's memorial day parade. now there is a fantastic thunder storm - a baptism of sorts for the thirsty plants and trees, the hard soil and hot streets. i love it when it rains. the kids are hoping the sun will come out later so they can go to the pool again today. happy day to you all!! did you parade today? k

love wins....

2010-05-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

outwitted

he drew a circle that shut me out-

heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

but Love and I had the wit to win:

we drew a circle that took him in!

edwin markham

happy sunday. paz, k

walker evans here

supersized prints....

2010-05-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

did you see the martha stewart issue where a very cool couple had these prints in xlarge (approx 32x40) hanging in light blue frames in their kitchen?!! it was amazing. i would like to do the same some day. supersized prints are my

fave!! you must check out the site artthatfits.com to see the other beautiful selection of prints they have. happy saturday friends!! k

from a friend....

2010-05-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

these little lovelies were dropped off by a friend. just when you think there might not be enough love and joy in the world to sustain us all a jar of white peonies appears and you are forced to count your blessings once again. spread the love today.... k

just a peek....

2010-05-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

outside your window. what do you see today?
a matisse exhibit is running at the art institute in chicago. i must go before it closes late june. school is out next week so i think we'll take the train into the city and go see this little blue room in person. happy friday! paz, k
matisse, the window

layers....

2010-05-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

what a miracle unfolding. hope you are having a splendid day. k

happy thursday....

2010-05-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

what is something lovely you are doing today? I'm picking more peonies to put in bottles to give to friends and put in dark corners of the house. paz, k

mussi musings here

p.sunday....

2010-05-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

stayed in the house again today with my little sick one. i thought the warm weather would cure all of these colds!! looks like it might rain outside. the soil is cracked in spots and desperately needs some water. i hear the ice cream man's music down the street. oh sweet spring. the peonies are open and their heads are so heavy they are falling to the ground. hope you all are well. i need to check in on your posts later tonight. i've not had a moment to do so. enjoy this amazing artist's work. pamela sunday. very cool name and Wow! those sculptures are outrageously wild and so beautiful.yes, i kinda want to be her - even for just a day.

paz, k

so cool here

i heart cavendish....

2010-05-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

happy tuesday friends!!

i am a complete magazine addict. one of my favorite foodie magazines is saveur. i love it because it not only has wonderful recipes but also has such interesting stories about food, its origins and social and cultural impact in our world. it is a great read. i just finished an article called Fruit of the Future by dan koeppel and learned 5 fun facts about our little yellow friend you might not know:

1. entrepreneur andrew preston made the U.S. fall in love with the banana more than a century ago
2. the banana is the most popular fruit in the U.S. - we consume more of it than we do apples and oranges combined
3. andrew preston created united fruit co. - today it's called chiquita
4. a banana is actually an herb - the world's largest (hmmm...)
5. cavendish is the type of banana we are accustomed to eating - U.S. originally ate Big Mike bananas but their crops were devastated by disease
so, go on out today and eat your cavendish!!
i can't thank you enough for your thoughts/comments and kindness. thanks also for helping me to continue seeing the world through your eyes - for training me in observation of so many little miracles. paz, k

street gallery....

2010-05-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

here
i find street art to be obnoxious at times and yes illegal (mostly) but i also find it to be a needed stroke or act of rebellion of the common person - a shot to the mundane life that might just shake someone out of their everyday trance of going, going, going......it might just make one stop

here

and think,

here

or smile,

here
or laugh.

how do you feel about street art?

happy monday! paz, k

snaps from the weekend....

2010-05-23T18:46:00.001-07:00

graue mill - a little river running through suburbia reminding me that once there was nothing but trees and fields and marshes here

beautiful mill wheel

stone wall by the riverside

thrift store finds!!

english tin tray and floral dishes to hang on my wall -

i have a rotating wall display of them

eco tip: buy plates or trays for your walls from a thrift store then when you are done with them you can pass them on to others with something yummy on them like a cake (ie for a new baby, thank you gift, just to say you love someone or really really like them...)

couldn't leave this little blue bird behind

japanese retro print from on a very cool plate i bought for $2.
it will likely makes its way to my wall after i use it

for pancakes and sandwiches and then i'll pass it on

carnival in the strip mall in aurora, il

probably my favorite snap.

i love carnivals in strip mall parking lots.

have a wonderful night. sweet dreams. k

a happy sunday morning is....

2010-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

pancakes in the sun. what made you smile this morning? paz, k

*cakes on my new thrift store dish i adore!

waiting....

2010-05-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

for you to open my friend. happy saturday all! k

rug love....

2010-05-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

do you fancy any of these rugs? i fancy them all! i think they would work almost anywhere in the home - living room, dining room, child's room....

have a great evening!! k

bold beauties here

helicopters....

2010-05-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

happy friday!! what are your plans for the weekend?
here are some worn but persistent helicopters (that's what we call them) trying to find a safe place to land and root and finding respite in my daughter's hands at that moment. i love those little hands. paz, k

transplant to the country....

2010-05-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

you must check out saidos da concha blog. concha is a portuguese transplant living in the english countryside of straffordshire, england. she creates such beautiful photographs and even lovelier patterned clutches. it is a delight to wander through her blog and live vicariously in a place where meadows are the norm and bowls of fresh cut flowers adorn her home like jewels. enjoy!

happy friday friends!! paz, k

be sure to take a peek at her sweet etsy shop too! i have my eye on the pencil cases for my kids this summer. we can keep our crayons in my purse all neatly packed.

pretties....

2010-05-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

nice as a beach cover too

so elegant!!

just adore these boots!

from the fabulous joules (UK) spring collection.....yummy. do you have a favorite pick? k

today....

2010-05-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

what do you wish for today? i wish good things for my dad today. happy thursday friends! paz, k

miracle seeds here

dream ring....

2010-05-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

next year is our 15th (!!) wedding anniversary and i am scheming....abigail heche is a fabulous jewelry designer in sw michigan and i have taken a liking to this particular ring (the cross ring) along with these simple stacking rings. likey? abigail emailed me that a diamond or white sapphire could be the center stone. obviously the sapphire would be a little easier on the wallet. anyhow, i have some time but it will take me a year to make up my mind. do you have a dream ring?

**a little afraid, I can't read any of your wonderful comments for this post.....

country living....

2010-05-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

lucy grossmith creates these whimsical paintings in rural suffolk, england. yet another woman living the country life surrounded by nature and its infinite inspiration. i think maybe in another life i must have done the same. what about you? paz, k

starting the day....

2010-05-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

fresh flowers in a white pitcher...here

perfectly sweet egg cups...here

charming latte cup for your tea or coffee....here

happy wednesday friends!! k

i heart annabel grey....

2010-05-18T08:43:00.001-07:00

first of all, she has the best name. second, she is a sensational fabric designer and artist. i found her in British Country Living magazine (love it!). check out her new site for cushions and fabrics for upholstry and curtains. i think you will heart her too.

happy tuesday! paz. k

do you know....

2010-05-17T15:30:00.001-07:00

frederick childe hassam, American impressionist painter (1859-1935)? i am in love with his attention to color and light and singular moments of bliss.

who is your favorite impressionist painter?

thanks so much for all of your wonderful notes! they are delightful to read.
paz, k

light and wonder here

new day....

2010-05-17T06:45:00.001-07:00

finish each day and be done with it. you have done what you could. some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. tomorrow is a new day. you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. -emerson
happy monday to you! k

field of joy here

disappear for a year....

2010-05-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

sometimes we dream about taking the kids out of school for a year to travel about the world. we dream about living in farm houses in places like County Kerry, Ireland or Normandy, France (above!!) and letting the kids wake to birds and gardens, empty beaches and end their nights climbing trees, sitting wrapped in blankets by warm fires, watching the sky light up with stars we miss in the city. i do believe we can make anything happen.....would you disappear for a year? k

paradise here

loving....

2010-05-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

these spoons and plaid blankets from the amazing british site blodwen.com
happy weekend to you all. we are off to a hotel in the city to let the kids have some pool time. see you sunday. paz, k

buried treasure....

2010-05-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

ok, i think i just found my new favorite site for design. i know it's been around but i'm new to all of this so it's like having found buried treasure. have you visited print and pattern? this blog celebrates "the world of surface pattern design". mmmmm...... here are some of the pages from her book (can't wait to buy this!) Print and Pattern. amazing!

have a great evening!! i'm hoping to have some more time tomorrow to visit more of my blog friends!! k

lucky lucy....

2010-05-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

one day i'd like to have colorful, artful tiles as a back splash above my stove. i found these tiles in one of my favorite magazines Country Living, British Edition. if you haven't picked up a copy of this magazine you should. it is so full of real life country folk living in the gorgeous english countryside making canes, weaving wool, and creating practical yet lovely pottery. lucy dunce is one of the lucky ones who lives a life creating beautiful ceramic objects like these amazing tiles. enjoy!

thanks for looking!! have a wonderful evening. k

gaga over aga....

2010-05-11T19:17:00.001-07:00

have you seen this?! this is the Aga designed by the famous British pottery designer emma bridgewater. isn't it fabulous? wishing i had a lovely country kitchen where this would take center stage. could you have it your country kitchen? k
polka dots here

Matisse....

2010-05-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

makes me smile. have you seen this children's book about him? it is splendid. it is filled with such spirit and joy and a sense of who he was as a human and painter. even if you don't have children it is one of those books that you can proudly keep on your shelf. have a blessed day today, friends!

this quote reminds me of what so many blogging women are doing. they are strong because they continue to create. thank goodness.

paz.

sunshine....

2010-05-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

on my new dish (i have more but the sun was resting so nicely on this one). isn't she pretty? have a wonderful evening. k

hip eco tip....

2010-05-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

happy monday, friends! my kids go to quite a number of birthday parties and i'm always trying to do things a bit differently to help the environment and educate my kids about the 3 r's (reduce, reuse, recycle). i try to stay away from traditional wrapping paper and gift bags. instead i like to wrap books (it's the easiest!) in grocery bag paper then i decorate it with stickers or stamps or these wonderful paint dots (above). how do you wrap your gifts these days?

paz.

it came in the mail....

2010-05-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

when i was little we used to shop at woodward and lothrop in columbia, maryland. there was a candy counter in the department store and we would order caramels and what they called "surgary" chocolates or vanillas. they were put in a box and wrapped in white paper. when the department store closed we didn't know if velatis existed anymore but my mother who has a bit of a sweet tooth tracked them down in washington, d.c. and surprised us by sending a box of the sugary chocolates and vanillas for us to savor and delight in for the next few days - or at least until they last. do you have a favorite childhood memory of a sweet?

thanks mom! paz.

you are....

2010-05-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

my angel mom.
happy mother's day!! I love you so.
happy mother's day to all the mamas out there. paz.

me and mom in some photobooth somewhere in the 70s

oh seraphine....

2010-05-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

last night my H and I watched seraphine. it is the true story of a simple working woman who secretly mixes paints (think waxes and ground up flowers) in her little apartment and paints passionately, obsessively into early morning. she claims her angels instruct her to create. she befriends a collector who is struck by her talent......I cannot say more! you must see it for yourself. it is fascinating and oh what cinematography!! here is some of her work.

it is wild and possessed. i always think about those people who could potentially create masterpieces but simply don't have the means to do so because of gender or class limitations. let me know if you get a chance to see it.

paz. happy weekend.

angels here

the Spirit Broods....

2010-05-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

O earth! thou hast not any wind that blows
Which is not music; every weed of thine
Pressed rightly flows in aromatic wine;
And every humble hedgerow flower that grows,
And every little brown bird that doth sing,
Hath something greater than itself, and bears
A living word to every living thing,
Albeit it holds the message unawares.
All shapes and sounds have something which is
not
of them: a Spirit broods amid the grass;
Vague outlines of the Everlasting Thought
Lie in the melting shadows as they pass;
The touch of an Eternal Presence thrills
The fringes of the sunsets and the hills.

R. Realf 1834-1878

what more to say? Happy Friday! k

miracle here

loving....

2010-05-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

these line of cards from positively green cards.

"some people are so much sunshine to the square inch"

i adore this one!!

sending you all some big love today. paz.

simply berries....

2010-05-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

just bought these dishes on sale at macy's. they're from the cellar dinnerware berry collection. they remind me of danish design - simple, blue and white and perfectly practical. paz.

in love....

2010-05-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

with vera wang's ikat dinner collection. such a happy pattern. must start saving my pennies....
k

kitchen lab love....

2010-05-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

these are kitchens created by fabulous chicago designer rebekah zaveloff. it appears as if great care is executed in the design of these spaces. you can tell she loves what she does! maybe one day she'll come to my home....enjoy!! which is your favorite?

look a that back splash!!

happy wednesday. hope the sun is shining where you are! paz.

the hive....

2010-05-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

i've come upon a wonderful site called the beehive co-op. it introduced to me the idea that as consumers we should not only consider how far our food travels but how far our fashion and other luxury items travel ("fashion miles"). all of the items are handmade. here are some of my favorite picks from the beehive shop:
*ginkgo leaf bag above

iPhone leather case - love this!!

the buttercup

mixed silverware note cards

circle vases

thanks so much for taking a peek. have a fine day friends!! k

beehive here

hitomi kimura....

2010-05-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

tatami pattern

i like to rearrange things in my house. my family is not too fond of this habit but it gives me a great deal of pleasure. i'd like some new colors in my living room so i hear that one of the best ways to accomplish this is by changing accessories like the pillows on a couch. well, on my etsy search (there are sooo many great pillows on etsy!) i came across this incredible Japanese designer Hitomi Kimura who hand prints her fabrics. they are stunning. each and every one. just the shot of color and pattern i need. and if you are in need of a fab journal for a rainy day or tea cozy she's got that too.

more pillow finds to come!! paz.

goodies here

iznik beauty....

2010-05-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

iznik fritware, ca. 16th c

"Ottoman ceramic artists took much of their inspiration from nature and created designs incorporating both recognizable plants, flowers, and trees and stylized leaves. Familiar species depicted on this plate include tulips, palmettes, and cypress trees."
walters art museum

a little beauty to begin your week. happy monday! k

sharp house....

2010-05-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

did anyone see this feature in vogue's spring issue? home to the sharp family. it is for some reason completely irresistible to me. i have studied the details as if i were cramming for a test. real perfection. what style. you likey?
k

ivie made them....

2010-05-01T17:14:00.001-07:00

can't decide which I love the best. they would all be glamorous (and a bit funky) on my charcoal gray couch. fabulous ruffles and bows. just what a girl needs amidst the chaos.
k

find perfect pillows here

so glad....

2010-05-01T12:42:00.001-07:00

to be writing on my little orange space and reading your wonder-filled blogs again. thank you. happy saturday! k

sweet roses here

the Now....

2010-05-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

off to the market. have a great weekend friends! just a thought to leave you with about enjoying the day, even those moments like grocery shopping that might not seem so special or sacred. they are.
So the only thing that is real, the only thing there ever is IS the Now. e tole
peace.
groceries here