monday thoughts (on a thursday): homeward bound

I'm reading Homeward Bound by Emily Matchar. It's a study—researched and annotated, but with a conversational, anecdotal tone—of, according to its subtitle, "why women are embracing the new domesticity." Matchar talks about her own ambivalence toward all things homey and retro, and she explores the cultural forces that led so many women to try a different path from our career-minded elders. Matchar knows this shift isn't only for women; men too are making artisanal pickles and tending backyard chicken coops. Progressive, blue-state hipsters and conservative home schoolers alike are part of this movement. And they all seem to read mommy blogs. (She also makes the case that the "new domesticity" isn't necessarily working; artists and craftspeople who truly support themselves with their work are extremely rare. And the blogs can present an unrealistically rosy and unattainable picture of home life. Is "domesticity" just another way for women to feel bad about themselves?)

I've thought about this cultural movement myself, if you'll forgive the term, and I relate to it: I'm a mother who left work to be with her kids, and now I'm an art consultant who embraces the accessibility and affordability of Etsy. I like supporting (and buying directly from) independent, small-scale artists. So the book (and responses to it, on Etsy and Amazon) is definitely making me think: about mass production versus handmade work, and the merits of each; about the overlap between environmentalism and traditionalism; about nothing less than women's life choices, including my own.

small-bag conversion

Madewell Sloane mini satchel

I always carried the biggest purse. I think the habit started when I first had my son and had to tote a diaper bag. And I love the look of a big slouchy (or structured) bag. But my right shoulder didn't like it so much: your kids get older, but your body gets older too. And since it's been years since I had to bring diapers anywhere (hallelujah), I finally made the switch to a snappy little crossbody earlier this year. As part of my very pared down fall shopping list (gray jeans, check; tall gray suede boots, on their way; workout clothes, still needed), I'm thinking of adding to my collection with one of these.

Rebecca Minkoff Skylar mini

Furla Ginger mini
(love the ball chain, not the logo)

Clare Vivier Duffle Petit
(love this one most of all)

monday thoughts: summer slow-down

It's about to get all sporadic up in here. Tessa is grooving along at her day camp, but Charlie just finished his second adventurous stint of the summer and is about to slow things down with some afternoon-only art camp. So that means it's all me all morning; I see lots of hikes and pool visits—and a lot fewer blog posts—in my future.

monday thoughts: keeping it interesting

Jennifer Ament, Mask (from Serena and Lily)

I was recently talking to a friend from college who has known me well for a really long time. She writes about art for a living—and thinks deeply about art (and many things)—and she's always great to talk to about art, style, family, feminism, and life in general. She lives across the country, but we manage to see each other for big life events (weddings, babies), and we check in on the phone every couple of months. And the other night as we were catching each other up, she said something about her own situation that really struck me. In her words: Life is good. The challenge is to keep it interesting.

Tom Moglu collage

Her life is a little different from mine (she works full time and has one toddler), but she summed up exactly how I feel. Life is good, and the challenge is to keep it interesting. My life is indeed very good; I feel so grateful and lucky that I don't have to worry about all the basic stuff. I should take more time to be grateful, in fact. And as for the keeping-it-interesting part: I don't know what adjective I'm reaching for, but I have a sense of time passing, of needing to remember moments, of "this" being "it." Charlie riding his bike ahead of me down our hill at dusk, past rabbits crouching in the grass and the sweetest honeysuckle bushes all around. Tessa riding a horse on the hottest afternoon of the year so far. My kids joke-fighting in the back seat of the car as we wait out a thunderstorm in the grocery-store parking lot. This lemonade-stand sign, and the sight of my kids pouring from a sticky pitcher and counting quarters:

Just as I don't want to take things for granted, I don't want to let life be boring, either. (The flip side of appreciation is being satisfied with too little.) And I don't want to let myself be nothing more than a mom overly identified with her kids. So the challenge is the balance: gratitude and appreciation, coupled with newness and change and...keeping it interesting.

Serena Mitnik-Miller

What does this mean in concrete terms? Should I reach out to someone from my past? Should I take a class, or a trip alone? I'm always looking for ways to make this blog relevant—to myself and to my readers (few as they may be).

etsy roundup: business card holders

Juls Sweet Designs

I just decided that I cannot live without a business card holder. Somehow I've made it just fine this far, but I have to rectify the situation right now, with something punchy and cute and kind of girly, so it's easy to spot inside my purse. Isn't it great that Etsy lets me find really affordable versions? Plus I don't have to go to the mall.

Bambina

Handmadetime

Jaden Design

Brooklyn Love Designs

Zen Nature

Ecolution

pink for spring

Malissa Ryder print from Leif

I really wanted to post some photos from around the house today. But I'm having computer problems, and I can't seem to get them from my photo app onto this post. So imagine a lovely shot of the peonies just opening in our garden—and a just-so-stylized one of some watermelon cubes beside some arugula and scallions on a wooden cutting board. Are you picturing it? Anyway, I don't usually go for warmer colors—and the only red you'll find in my closet is the swoosh on my sneakers. But I have a girly side, and I definitely like pink. And once I figure this business out, I can't wait to show you all the pink outside our house right now.

Dress from Kate Spade Saturday

Amethyst print from Land of Nod

catching my eye

No theme, no real point—just a few pretty things (all images from my Pinterest) that have caught my eye this week: a bag from Anthro, an anchor bangle, a filigree pendant, a blousy Mexican-y top. Oh, is it Mother's Day?

monday thoughts: photos of (my) kids

It's magic week around here: the trees are blooming and the light is perfect.

I'm getting personal today, and I'm just throwing a bunch of thoughts up here this morning, so bear with me. I love taking pictures of my children. I remember moments better; I get to see what they looked like; I get to have something to do, something in my hands, something that makes me feel a tiny bit creative at least, while they're playing. And I like the finished product: I definitely break the rule that says you should display family photos only in private rooms, as a cabinet in our living room is covered with shots of my kids and dog. As for the is-it-art question, my answer is the same as it always is: It's art if you say it is. Besides (at the risk of sounding cheesy), what's more beautiful and meaningful than your family?

These three are some great examples of professional family photographers who transcend the cheesy and make personal art. And I can vouch for this guy myself—he's incredibly talented (at photography and writing) and just plain nice to be around.

Fiat 500

I'm never really sure how much my kids understand what I do. They sort of get the art-consulting side (helping people buy art isn't terribly complicated), but this blog is kind of mysterious and off their radar. So when Charlie offered a recommendation, I had to take it. Here you have it, a 10-year-old boy's idea of great design: the new Fiat 500. He's dead right: The redesigned, relaunched Fiat is smart, sharp, adorable, sassy—and it's got great lines and comes in great colors. If I needed an extra very tiny car for zipping around Bethesda, this would be my choice, hands down. The only question: sage green, silver, or (call me crazy) candy apple red?

almost

I like the color and shape (and sentiment—why not?) of that image. (It's from Pinterest. Know any details?) Something about the image—the bright bright blue, the childlike fish, the French command "free"—taps into what I'm feeling about spring and growing and not being quite there yet. Bear with me; I know it's a stretch. But I'm impatient with what's coming, when I haven't even relaxed after the last thing. I've never been good at in-between. When I should be reflecting and relaxing, I'm too focused about what's almost there: my business, the next season, a long-planned-for trip.

Still, the feeling of almost. Isn't it nice when art can capture that?

brights and logos, for a change

elSage hoodie

I'm tired of all the gray and cold, and we're about to take a family trip to someplace warm and tropical. So these fun, old-school tops are making me happy right now, even though I usually dislike logos or other words on clothing. As I took out all my own summer stuff to pack for our vacation, I realized it was all so...black. And navy. And dark gray. I admit that I might never wear all this color (it's tricky with blonde hair—or maybe that's just my excuse), but I sure do like to look at it.

(Another thing: I've noticed, looking over these blog pages and my Pinterest boards, that I'm definitely drawn to color in art. That was sort of a surprise too—I've thought of myself as a subdued, neutral kind of person.)

Anyway, I don't know what kind of internet access I'll have while we're away, so I'll be taking a little break from the blog. Back in less than two weeks!

I don't wear red (orange?), but I like this hoodie.

Aviator Nation baseball tee
(who doesn't look good in a baseball tee, really?)

Yes, a baseball tee.

I do love California.

camouflage?

(from Pinterest)

I'm not sure how I feel about camouflage as regular clothing. Is it offensive for a non-member of the military to wear it? Do the heels make it even more offensive? Is it cute or cool or ironic? Or just plain ridiculous for a (ahem) suburban (reluctant) SUV-driving mom? (Shopbop has some advice. Take that for what it's worth.)

Gap

Zara (not online but maybe still in stores)

thursday: mild cravings

Boden flats
(shoes again on this blog?!)

Right now I'm not craving anything in particular. But I am *sort of interested* in a bunch of things in general. The theme, if there is one, seems to be a dark background with a touch of spring color.

Maje top
(also comes in an equally pretty dress)

Boden girls' embroidered dress

Milly Paola tank

So much for the theme. But I really like this.
West Elm pillow

JCrew cashmere raglan

Heather Taylor's new linen collection.
(And the blue teacup.)

the white ribbon on etsy

Electric blue

My fantasy shoes tend to be heels. But these ballet flats—handmade, in great colors of  upcycled suede or leather, by a European couple working in Berlin—are making me reconsider.

Teal suede

Peach suede

Gold!

"Audrey"