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The Tale of Two Dressers - one.

   
 
Many moons ago I started and kind of finished a dresser makeover in Max's room. {Like most things in his room, it originally belonged to his sister and was ready for an update.}  It involved removing old hardware, finding new hardware, cutting the hardware, filling holes and painting the drawer faces white. Relatively simple and I loved the results.

 

 
Recently, I decided to revisit the makeover and line the drawers {I just finished lining Miss Pippy's dresser drawers and remembered I never did baby boy's!} So, this weekend Max and I made a trip to the fabric store where he received his frist lesson on prints- plaid, polka dots and paisley. He liked plaid. : ) As always, I bought way too many options, but, once home, settled on a fun turquoise reptile print.

 

 
Now, this final decorating touch should have been easy as pie - cut, glue, repeat - except that I can be a spazz. I carried all four drawers down the stairs and into the garage, no problem. But clumsy me, when I stacked them on Billy Webb's work bench, the top drawer decided to take a high dive. That's not good. A few broken pieces later meant the drawer wouldn't stay together and one circle hardware is now an abstract oval. Oopsie. Enter Billy Webb. After a deserving roll-of-the-eye, he mixed up a batch of bondo and slapped the drawer back together - where it would dry overnight. Come morning, perfect!! Thanks, Billy Webb.

 
 

Anywho, I think it turned out great, oval ring pull and all!!  Next up, Miss Pippy's pink beauty.  Remember this?

 

 

 

Mommy/Max weekend.

 
 
While Daddy and Pip were reelin' in the big one and conquering coasters, Baby Bear and I had our own special weekend - swimming at the club, shopping & noshing at Ikea and visiting the coolest kids Museum around  - The Please Touch Museum. 

 

It's two levels of kid-friendly playzones, activities and pretend play and Max had the best time toodling around, especially in the dedicated toddler zones.  No big kids allowed, so little ones can run around and go wild without worrying about blazing head first into a big kid.   After about an hour of play, Max caught sight of the Carousel and couldn't wait to get on.  I picked the perfect time to go - late on Sunday afternoon.  It was crowded, but not too and the only not-so-great moment came in the pretend grocery store where little ones go wild with pint-sized shopping carts, grabbing goods.  It was packed and Maxi got tossed around a bit, so no food shopping for this little buddy.  He was much happier to snack on raisins in the safety of his stroller and watch all the little shoppers while perched in his seat. 

 

Check out some of the highlights^* offered at this Philly treasure:

Alice in Wonderland and River Adventures play areas.

City Capers, which features the John Wanamaker's Rocket Monorail from the defunct department store and part of the set from the Captain Noah and His Magical Ark TV show.

Space Station, which features a series of display cases with over three decades of Star Wars toys.

The Walking Piano by local kinetic artist Remo Saraceni, made famous in the film Big.[4][5]

The Woodside Park carousel, built by the Philadelphia-based Dentzel Carousel Company in 1908

Playhouse Theater - As a key component of the overall museum experience, Playhouse performances by in-house performers present unique opportunities for playful learning, imagination, innovation and audience interaction featuring music, movement, folklore and/or puppetry, all while introducing children to live arts.

Program Room - Each month, there is a new set of art experiences, which include a studio art experience, a sensory art experience and a manipulative art experience. Whether you are painting with your child for the first time, or building a tower with blocks, the Program Room is an ideal space for parent-child interaction.

Story Castle - Stop in for daily storytimes, meet a storybook character, or read a book on your own in this relaxed environment. Programming in the Story Castle is accessible for kids at all developmental and ability levels.

 

 
 
 
 

{What local treasures are in your neck of the woods?}

 

 

{*source Wikepedia}

 

 

pin love {yellow}

my monday morning favorites.

 {1, 2, 3, 4}

 

Yellow often falls to the bottom of my most-loved colors list, but, lately....

It works so well in Maxi's room, I find myself loving the look - with a slight of hand.

 

{Pinterest}

 

movie magic.

 
{images, W.E.}
 
If impeccable costume design is any indicater to film quality, W.E. will surely soar the ranks.  Though, Madonna's cinematic touch {director} has yet to impress, so w.e.'ll just have to wait and see.  December 2011 - I'll be there. 

 
Haven't heard the buzz?  Find the plot here:

W.E tells the story of two fragile but determined women - Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) and Wallis Simpson - separated by more than six decades. In 1998, lonely New Yorker Winthrop is obsessed with what she perceives as the ultimate love story: King Edward VIII's abdication of the British throne for the woman he loved, American divorcee Wallis Simpson. But Winthrop's research, including several visits to the Sotheby's auction of the Windsor Estate, reveals that the couple's life together was not as perfect as she thought. Weaving back and forth in time, the film intertwines Wally's journey of discovery in New York with the story of Wallis (Andrea Riseborough) and Edward (James D'Arcy), from the glamorous early days of their romance to the slow unraveling of their lives in the decades that followed. ^{{sourece Wikipedia}}

 
Either way, I love these looks. 

 

 

summer lovin' {Camp Knoebel}

 
Little Emerson Webb had her first official camp-out last weekend.  She and Daddy joined her cousins (she looooves her cousins.  hi wyatt! hi ethan! hi noah!) and a few other families for a fun-filled weekend at Knoebels.  Situated on 292 acres of upper PA land, this awesome playground dates back to 1926 and includes a vintage style amusement park, swimming, camping, golf and so much more. 

 
 
Maxi and I sat this one out (good idea - hellooo, rain), but downpours didn't stop anyone from thrill rides, high dives and loads of fun.  Miss Pippy took home bragging rights for reelin' in the biggest fish and according to big daddy, had the time of her life.  Check it out. 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 {calling all campers?  where do you tent?}

 

 

Oh, September.

  

  

 
 
 
  
 
                               
 

 {mario testino/vogue,  carter smith/elle, by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott/w magazine, Alexi Lubomirski/Harpers Bazaar UK}
 

Farmhouse Revival

 

Is anyone else following the giant restoration project at aesthetic outburst?  I grew up on a farm and all things restored, so this ~ you-must-be-crazy or in love ~ story has captured my eye.   Today, artist and homeowner Abbey Hendrickson shared her vision for their in-need-of-repair barn and I LOVE it.  A red barn?  Tired.  Go black!  She notes the black beauty is by architect Derek Sanders and is her inspiration, "...clean, minimal foliage, black with white trim, and a single red door."

Here's her before -

 
It will be fun (for me!) to follow all that she does here and beyond to get to 'after'.

The thought of raising little ones all the while working on a gigantor home restoration project such as this one is frightening and amazing all rolled up in one.   Good luck, Abbey and I can't wait to see more!

 

 

 {images from aesthetic outburst}

 

DIY done!

 {Potato Print Tutorial}

Ok, for the first time, in like, EVER!, I completed a project.  Woo-hoo.  Daddy and Pip went camping over the weekend (you'll see tomorrow), so that left me with lots of quiet time after Maxi Bear's 8:00 p.m. bedtime.  I'm a night owl, so that's like a whole free day! 

So, as Baby Bear snoozed I put on my beret, poured a glass of wine and carved some taters.  From there, I measured and mixed and plotted and painted until all the happy dots were done.  I knew the art paper was bigger than I wanted, but I couldn't stop myself from stamping - it was fun. 

 
 

My masterpiece dried overnight night and on Saturday, Baby Bear and I made the quick trip to Ikea to frame shop.  I really wanted a floating frame, square.  But, neither Target, nor AC Moore, nor Ikea had one, so I opted instead for a simple raw wood Riba frame.  It would do just fine after a quick painting, which I had on hand from an earlier stalled project.  As the paint dried, I cut down the dots to a smaller square. 

 
 

The whole project did take some time - 3 hours Friday night and an hour here or there Saturday and Sunday (plus a trip to Ikea), but I'm happiest when I'm busy, knee deep in a project (it's finishing them that's the struggle).  And, I'm really happy with the way it turned out.    

So, I'm one step closer to finishing his room {a September room tour for sure}, just in time to redecorate!  :) 

 
{My able assistant.}
 

 

Thank you Oh Happy Day! and Jordan Ferney for inspiring this project.

 

 

 

Miss Pippy {ready-to-wear}

 

Remember this etsy purchase?  Well, I couldn't have been happier when the little treasures arrived - wrapped in the prettiest fabric and ribbon. 

 
{Flour Clothing}

Both dresses are darling -  one vintage (grey plaid) and one hand-crafted (peach floral) by a very talented seamstress.  After a quick mending and pressing by Grandma {thank you! the little chest ribbon pulled loose upon laundering}, the peach beauty was ready-to-wear.  Today saw its first wearing.  Isn't she sweet? 

 

in love with {kid art}

 

i'm a sucker for all things monogram.  this is devine!

 
 
Little Lion Studio via ohdeedoh.