can mean only one thing…

and loving this

Can’t wait to see him live next month!

So I finally got back my Holga pics from watching the Chapman swifts.  I’ve said it before, it is my favorite fall tradition.  The swifts gather and go down the old chimney of Chapman Elementary.  Pictures don’t do it justice, but here are mine.

(this pic shows why light leaks are a good thing-those little black specs, those are the birds)

and this pic shows the real reason the kids love to go, sliding down the hill on cardboard.

I am now offering a framing option for my portraits, and these are gorgeous frames!  I am currently offering them in 8″x10″, 11″x14″ and 16″x20″ sizes.  Also, the below pics show a new portrait.  I used my son as the subject, well he and his ‘lumpy.’  This is his very well loved constant companion.   You can order one with your own child and their best bud here.  And while this paticular painting shows a boy, obviously girls have their best bud, too.  So, it is most definitely available as a portrait for a little girl.  This is probably a good time to say that these portraits make a wonderful holiday gift.  I will be taking orders for Christmas up until early December (but the sooner the better, right?).

As of today you can find my work over at poppytalk handmade.  A great spot to start your holiday shopping!

round and fat, turn into a jackolantern just like that!  Ian learned that at school last week, keep getting it stuck in my head.  Anyhoo, we did the annual pumpkin patch trip this past weekend and had wonderful weather.  October can be so beautiful here.

wearing grandpa’s hat

his head was even smaller than mine.

I got these paper pom-pom kits the other day and they do not disappoint.  I think the silver ones will be sticking around for some time…

I spied this over at ann wood ’s blog this morning.  I think this will make the perfect centerpiece to our little Halloween to do coming up (though I harbor no illustions ours will be quite as fabulous as this).  The kids are going to be so excited.  I’m thinking spray painting it black will give it that extra creepy factor. That’s it, our weekend is plotted.  Make cardboard castle.

is really here.  Our heat is on and the kids are begging for fires in the fireplace. 

A few sketches I did yesterday working out some ideas…

So many gorgeous inspiring things around this week.  Here are a few of my favorites

this AMAZING light made out of trash bags (via the new york times)

and this too clever use of cardboard (via ohdeeoh).  Our kids live for a delivery so they can repurpose the box.  As I write this there is a giant box structure taking up half my kitchen.  It is their castle, complete with draw bridge and windows. 

 happy weekend!  I’m off to enjoy a weekend of soggy soccer!

We are a good 5 months off from our next kids party around here, but I found these this week and am filing them away for future use.

awesome baloon sculpture via cookie

and these adorable party favors,  how cute are they?  Found here (via evlove)

And then back again.  Ian starts ‘full day’ kindergarten tomorrow(you get a choice here).  The only big change to our routine is that now I will only be walking down and back from school two times instead of three.  I am going to miss my little mid-day walk down to pick him up.  Though, I have to admit, I was getting a bit worn out.  I took some pictures of our little daily adventure..

I love peeking in all the beautiful gardens on the way…

there are the ever popular giant mushrooms which require a good looking at and prodding everyday by the kids…

down the ’secret’ stairs…

and you guessed it, back up again!

I am so flippin excited to share these with you!  They are beautiful and would make such a wonderful gift.  I am offering two options.  The first is 12 individual panels featuring illustrations of YOUR snapshots.  Each picture is hand drawn in ink and then digitally colored, printed  on gorgeous paper and mounted to wood panels.  Here is a little peek of the calendar I made from our family snapshots. 

Candid pictures work best, as do images that show the subjects whole body. 

The 12 panel calendar is beautifully packaged, bound with italian cotton ribbon,

I am also offering a single image large print calendar…

You can see more details and purchase them here.

Have you seen the pictures of the filming of the new Alice in Wonderland movie dirceted by Tim Burton?  Wow, can’t wait for this one!

My kids are in full prep mode for Halloween.  Wasn’t it just summer?  Holly came home with a costume diagram to help in the planning…

I’m looking forward to the weekend, this week just flew.  I will have (knock on wood) a really fun new product available starting Monday!  I’m really excited about this one, stay tuned.

Is cuteness a word?  Thinking not, but if it was, these are what you’d see under the definition.  I spotted these over at poppytalk this morning.  There is a link to Pillpat’s flickr stream where you can print them out your self!  I know my daughter (and I) would have so much fun making these.

…just not my garden

a benefit of having lovely neighbors with overflowing gardens!

I saw these over at modeco kids yesterday, and I have to say, they are the cutest little houses around.  I have been having quite an attraction to little houses of late and doing a lot of playing around with some ideas of my own.  

available over at petite flaneur’s etsy shop

New in the shop!

 I have many more in this series that I will be adding today and throughout the week.  Also, right now it is offered mounted to a Birchwood panel, but I will be offering them as prints as well.