Judge A Book By Its Cover!

YAY!! So I just finished the front cover of the book I've been referencing over the past couple months. My mom (Lena Wood is her pen name, for those of you who know her otherwise) and I started work on the book this past spring and it's been quite a project!! Hopefully we'll be wrapping it up over the next couple months.

It's been such a personal, involved process. Family and friends have modeled for me. Daniel has done several illustrations. Friends from my college days at CCM have done interviews. There's been tons of meeting and planning and thrifting and painting and photoshopping in the wee hours of the night. And much more to come! Fun stuff!

Even the cover is personal. That green floral fabric swatch at the bottom--from one of Granny's blouses. The orange and yellow floral swatch-- from one of Papa's old wallpaper sample books. That's my sister in the top left corner, my set from On Golden Pond top center, my hand in the middle, my sis and her husband on stage at Crossroads, Daniel's illustration, lights from my Wizard of Oz set... Can't wait to have the whole finished product in my hands (but I guess I'll have to).

Today I am teaching art at a youth center downtown and then tonight I get to have some "crafting and hot cocoa" time with some of my girl friends! We're starting to see the light through the fog of moving and unpacking. Things are looking up!

Have a good one!!
Arian

Feelin Fallish

Signs of fall are starting to pop up all over the place. This time last year when we lived in New England I think we were already sporting jackets and scarves. So the warm temperatures in Cincinnati are a bit deceiving. But no doubt about it...fall will be in full swing soon!

I'm so proud of my 4-year-old's 2-wheel bike skillz. I'm pretty sure I was seven before I lost my training wheels.
I stocked up on some fall-y candles. Now our place smells like pumpkin pie and cinnamon rolls...not quite as good as the real thing, but way fewer calories.
I rescued this autumnal colored bag from the Goodwill pile at Granny and Papa's house over the weekend. I'm not sure if my grandma made it, but I'll pretend she did.
And I'm sporting my lumberjack outfit--- well, a lumberjack who does her lumberjacking in a skirt. And my white hat, which is a staple in my cool weather wardrobe, made its first appearance today. Yep, fall is just around the corner.

And finished up this painting based on a dream my good friend had. I'm liking this heart umbrella motif that keeps appearing in my work. I've got plans for a few more over the next couple days.

Tonight we go to sign the lease on our new place--YAY!! Lots of work to do!!!

Arian : )

Porch Life

We spent the day yesterday on Granny and Papa's porch taking in the familiar view, watching the birds, laughing at the kids...missing Granny.




I brought home another box of vintage goodies. I'll have pics once they find their proper home in our living space. But one of them is this vintage, glass lotion bottle. Granny was a long-time user of Jergen's lotion (there is still some in the bottle) so the smell inevitably reminds me of her.

Well, I'm off to do some cleaning and organizing. Hope your Sunday is a peaceful one!

Snippets of Normal

It's been SUCH a transitional month that I'm starting to forget what "normal" looks like. But I have seen comforting hints of familiar over the last couple days.

Like the familiar faces of family and their smiles (after a week of lots of tears).

And treasures from Granny and Papa's house that have found their way into our new living space (aren't Papa's old shoes sweet!). The rug was made by my great-grandma.
This vintage sheet found deep in their closet. I plan on making a simple quilt with it once I find time for crafting again.
And art supplies that are finally getting a little organized.
We're slooowly starting to find our rhythm again...one that will hopefully include lots of art, long walks, cozy fires in our fireplace, dates with my husband, gardening, picnics, and family...LOTS of family.

Left on Williamstown Rd., Right into the year 1970.

Me: "Granny, we live close by now. We can come see you often!"
Granny: "Is that a promise or a threat?" ---- 89 and still sassy

My grandma just moved into a nursing home, maybe temporarily, maybe for good. She's 89 but it still seems too soon. I'm just glad we live close to her now so we can be a bigger part of the rest of her life.

After the nursing home, we stopped for lunch at Papa's favorite hang out -- the Red Carpet Restaurant. He can walk in and ask for "the usual".
To get there take I-75 to the Williamstown exit, and then turn right into the year 1970. The place is a gem. I must have one of those hanging light fixtures.

So if you find yourself in bustling metropolis that is Williamstown, KY swing on by the Red Carpet. May I recommend the "Hubert Lusby Special".

Treasure Hunting

The owners of our borrowed home will be coming back at the end of this month which means we'll be moving into the now unfinished (hopefully soon finished) basement. I'm excited about it, actually. I love the design challenges that small living spaces present. I've always wanted to live in a tree house or a converted train car or something like that. And our years in Japan taught us that small, if done right, can be so much cooler than big.

We gave away pretty much all of our furniture when we moved here from Boston two and a half months ago so we're kinda starting from scratch. But I'm determined to be a beggar AND a chooser when it comes to furnishing our space. I want cheap/free AND cool. So I've been scouring craigslist, thriftstores, and my grandparents' house (thanks for never throwing anything away Granny!)

This old pie safe from circa a long time ago that now sits in my grandparents' garage will soon be our new dresser or pantry, not sure yet. But I love it!

I've got my eye on that old refrigerator drawer. Papa, you might have to find a new container for your rolling office chair parts.

He probably still uses this old fan when he works in his shop in the summer. So I won't steal it. But it IS pretty sweet.
Same with these old tools--I don't want them, just thought they made a cool picture.
Several of our furniture-building plans call for some re-claimed lumber. Thankfully Papa has been reclaiming lumber since the 40's.
Granny keeps EVERYTHING--she's got shelves and shelves of little glass jars just waiting to be re-purposed...hmmmm...
And I think this braided rug my great-grandmother made will also find its way into our new living space. Nothing says vintage chic like 75-year-old dust.

So HOPEFULLY over the next several weeks I'll have fun remodeling/refinishing/repurposing photos to show you. But who knows, life seems to be anything but predictable these days : )

(nothing says "God Bless America" like a Mexico t-shirt. Guess I should have dressed him in something a little more patriotic) : )

Hope everyone is having a great 4th of July weekend. In our town, it's a several day affair-- a kite and sand sculpture festival at the beach, fireworks, live music, street performers, art exhibits, cookouts, and lobster rolls (which I had never heard of til we moved to New England--think "tuna salad" except with lobster meat on a hot dog bun for $10).

And a shout out to my Papa who turned 88 on the 4th yesterday. Every year we joke that all the ceremony and fireworks are in honor of him. Maybe when he turns 98, he'll actually believe it. : )

Granny and Papa's: Prints and Patterns

We just got back from our trip home--great time with family, a beautiful wedding, reconnecting with friends---all very very good. Part of the time was spent at my grandparents' house. They're in their upper 80's and have lived in the same house for almost 40 years. They built it themselves using a lot of materials (rocks, wood) they gathered from the area around them.

It seems like it's hardly changed during my lifetime--same wallpaper, same carpet, same pictures on the wall, books on the shelves, magnets on the fridge, etc, etc. So this time there I tried to capture some of the prints and patterns in their house that are sooo familiar to me. Here are a few....


Tools in Papa's shop. He remembers where he got each one and many are older than me.


a button from the old, broken organ in their guest room


The living room carpet. My guess is that it was made with threads left over from every carpet ever made.


The wall and door of the basement bathroom.


A collection of tins and jars that have lined the top of the bathroom cabinets as long as I can remember.

There are more photos here if you'd like to see!

This Little Guy

I'm working on a new little line of products featuring this guy and some of his friends for the shop. They are a compilation of fun paper/fabric scraps and discontinued wallpaper samples found while rummaging through my grandparent's garage (thanks to Papa who used to own a hardware store and Granny who never throws anything away). They should be available in about a week--ideal for a little stocking stuffer. I'll let you know more later :)

Granny Bird

These discontinued wallpaper samples are some of my finds while rummaging through my grandparents' garage and basement. They are compliments of my Papa who used to own a hardware store and never throws things away.
Here he is hard at work (and he's 87!)



Here's a print I just added to the shop-- a homage to granny and papa's house : )

Enjoyin' the Great Outdoors

We're still visiting family in the Ohio/Kentucky area. The past few days have been filled with lounging, fishin, thrifting, sketching, rummaging for treasures in my grandparents basement, and enjoying the country air and water. Here are a few picks from the trip so far.


Hudson fishing with my dad on Fathers Day



Papa "chillaxin'" on our makeshift hammock.

We'll be back home next week so check back for some updates to the shop. You'll be able to see the results of my rummaging.