Grandma's Garden

Meet Leslie. Born and raised in Longbeach, CA and known as a surfer girl. (Can you tell by the tan? By the way, she's tan year round...)

She works in the garden while watching 10 kids. Not her own, but others. She runs a daycare from her home and teaches swimming lessons. Incredible woman.

This is her garden. I envy it, after just recently moving into a new home where the backyard needs some help, especially the garden...

Isn't it beautiful? I think she should be featured in Sunset magazine or BHG. Don't ya think?





A lemon tree in Colorado?


Two cute clocks that she found at Wal-Mart for only $10. Good find Les!


Neko, the cat.


Cute sign.




Lovely pathway.


Cute archway.



Fire pit and log bench. How fun!




Peaceful stream that recycles the water. And a cute bridge. Make note of the hot tub in background. Gotta love that! The best part is that it is off of the master bedroom.



These are Char's new yellow rain boots. Aren't they adorable! Grandma Leslie got them in Japan for her son when he was only like 1 yr old. She has kept them that long. I guess that makes them vintage right? And from Japan. Can't get any cuter than that!

Vintage Applesauce Label

Inspired by vintage applesauce labels, I was able to create a label of my own. First I painted an apple with watercolors and then took it into Photoshop and created a halftone pattern. I will probably print these out around Christmas time and put them on my freshly made applesauce and give them away as gifts. Won't that be fun?


Labelstone shop


Momma's Applesauce

applesauce

It took about 7 hours to make 19 quarts of applesauce, but I did it! With the help of my husband and some advice from my wonderful mother and grandmother. Thanks! Plus, only one of my quarts didn't seal. Not bad, for my first go around at making homemade applesauce. Here are a few pictures.

picking apples

I had loads of fun picking apples this morning from the trees in our backyard. I picked 2 boxes full of them!

I'm going to make applesauce out of them tomorrow morning. I've never done it before, but with the help of this tutorial and a Victorio Strainer , I'm sure I can figure it out. Wish me luck!

I'll make sure to post some pictures of the finished product.

fun with frames

I saw something like this in the latest Fossil Magazine and it inspired me to try something new in Photoshop. I purchased the frame from istock photo and painted the butterflies by hand with watercolors and put it all together. Fun huh?


This is an idea I had for a printable 2010 calendar. It was fun to hand draw the frame for it. What do you think? Should I do the other 11 months in the same style and sell it in my shop?

Amy Butler Skirts

I have been busy sewing skirts for Char and I. I like to call them "mommy and me" skirts. They are made from Amy Butler fabric, which I love! I have been meaning to finish my skirt for like a year now, but couldn't get my friend to help me finish it. So, I decided I would just finish it on my own. No pattern! I kind of just made it up. And then I made up Char's pattern as well, based on another skirt that she had. Aren't they fun!

free desktop calendar

Just in time for fall, a FREE screensaver for September.

This time it is saved as full resolution for a 1920x1200 screen. Just right click on the image and save it to your hard drive. Then use it as a desktop calendar to see what day it is.

Enjoy!

look-a-like

Who does Char look more like? Me or Chris?


Muffin, 1 yr old


Chris, 1 yr old


Char, 1 yr old


Char, 15 months old


Char, 13 months old

new photos

Just wanted to let you all know that I have posted some new photos of my work here if you would like to view them. Let me know what you think. And of course, feel free to purchase one of my books or cards for a friend, lover, or someone special in your life.

Alexander Girard

Urban Outfitters

I'm absolutely adoring this great print from Alexander Girard . It is available over at Urban Outfitters.

Alexander Girard is a legend and has created so many amazingly beautiful things. These are a few of them.

Fashion pillow


Urban Outfitters

Girls Tee

MaximoDesign.com

Puzzle for the Kiddo

MaximoDesign.com

my workspace

Just wanted to post a few pictures from my office. I cannot express my excitement of finally having a space to call my own. A place where I can create and make a mess and leave it behind by just shutting the door. Love it!

I consider my style vintage modern. I like modern with it's clean lines and whites with a mix of vintage with all of it's raw wood and great typography.



The closeups...

Miranda camera that someone was going to throw in the dump and I got to have it. I think it works? Photography series from TimeLife. The best books on photography.


Keys from a luggage set I bought at a consignment shop. They are smiling, isn't that cute?




A few of my new books with ruffled flowers and coptic bound. Also, a book I designed for my mother with all of her recipes in it. That is her on the front holding one of the twins.




Two great books "The elements of Typographic Style" by Robert Bringhurst and "A Smile in the Mind". I've organized all of my magazines with IKEA's holders. Gotta love these!

pretty packaging

I was recently inspired my a great idea over at oh, hello friend who had a lovely package exchange. Too bad I missed it, because it would have been a blast.

But, I decided to make my own lovely packages and mail them to some friends. It was so much fun and I hope they enjoy getting the packages as much as I had making them.

a free HOPE card

Visit Cardstore.com to send a free HOPE card from now until Monday, Sept. 7 to someone you love or admire. Get your free card today. {Just enter code SENDHOPE at checkout.}

Plus check out their giveaway and get 25 free thank you cards .

They have some amazing cards designed my some amazing designers. These are a few of my favorites.





{images via Cardstore.com}

and the winner is....

Chosen by hand and by me, from this cute little bucket...



my good friend Rachel!


Please email me here with your address and I will send you the blue and brown polkadot coptic stitch book with the flower on top. Pictured below.


This is the one you wanted correct?

Thanks everyone who participated. I will be having another giveaway on Nov. 19, which marks my one year of blogging on Mufninc!

Have a fabulous day everyone!