July 29, 2008

Good with Ketchup

This is the dinner we ate tonight: Garden Pasta with Spinach Pesto (from my favorite cookbook).

Here is what the kids had for dinner tonight: Garden Pasta with Spinach Pesto (disguised with marinara from a jar.)

I'm going to start taking pictures of my disguised meals and put them in a cookbook using either Blurb or Tastebook and call it Good with Ketchup. I think a collection of our family-friendly recipes disguised in ketchup would make nice gifts for my friends having babies.

At my current rate of getting things done, the estimated completion date for this project is 2020!

Posted by jana at 7:39 PM | Comments (3)

July 13, 2008

A little late but DONE

My friend Brooke invited me to do a kids craft swap with another family. I did the mental calculations and decided I might be in a mental institution by then but oh well, the kids would love getting something in the mail. I said yes.

Sure enough, things were even crazier than anticipated when I had to shave a week off of my timeline for being sick but I got it done! Only two days late. Not so bad.

I made a concentration game out of all the photos Karsten has been taking. The photo of my mom's rooster timer in her backyard finally had a use! He's been taking my camera and posing his stuffed animals in various poses too. Those all came in handy! I made an extra game for my kids and it was a hit, and Karsten liked that his photos were used.

Now that I have it down I think I'll make another concentration game for one of Britta's friends for her birthday.

Michelle from Kids Haus created some great banners for her swap. I may have to steal that idea too.

I've never done a swap before but I can tell I will be waiting for the mail just as eagerly as the kids.

Posted by jana at 10:38 PM | Comments (2)

June 17, 2008

37 happy little things

37 ideas for my 37th year. My theme this year is Little Things.

36 was over run with me trying to do too many Big Things and as good as doing Big Things sounds, I realized it is the Little Things that matter the most to me and my family in keeping us all happy. (Perhaps this is because I am married to a man who plans to Rule the Mobile World. One of us should Think Small.)

In order to keep myself on track or side tracked from those beckoning Big Things I have made a list of things to do this year. I'm also trying to keep the list fun because afterall, it is my birthday. You won't be seeing any "clean the garage" type goals on this list (well, maybe just one of those.)

1. Create an ABC photo book for Britta.


2. Visit a museum.


3. Visit an indie gallery.


4. Hear some live music that does not include a mosh pit or start after 11pm. Shesh, I AM old.


5. Learn how to use the manual settings on my Nikon D60.


6. Print a photo image to canvas.


7. Go to the zoo.


8. Create another photo book using Blurb.com


9. Camp on Orcas Island.


10. Write a will. This is the only non-fun thing on my list but I think it is high time I get it done. I'm embarrassed to type that I have yet to do this.


11. Cook with my kids


12. Go on bike rides with my kids. This means I will have to find my bike and maybe even pound the rusty forks back together with a rock.


13. Row the rowboat to the Cove for a picnic.


14. Download the printer profile for Costco's photoprinter and calibrate my monitor.


15. Do more post-editing to my photos.


16. Finish the effing bag I started sewing when I was 36.


17. Make 6 pillows in 7 days.


18. Get my irrigation system fixed so I don't spend my summer watering my plants and then watching them die because I won't always remember to water them.


19. Get an inspiration board


20. Spend the night in a yurt, or Andy's office. Can't decide which would be more of an adventure.


21. Order moo cards


22. Crochet something more complicated than a scarf.


23. Take my kids to a concert.


24. Spend almost every morning at the pool this summer swimming and playing tennis (Karsten anyway).


25. Find a creative community to meet up with a few times a year. This might just mean hijacking Becca and Shawna for projects when I can.


26. See something at SIFF.


27. Schedule more movie club meetings.


28. Create a new signature summer meal. Any suggestions? I'll need a summer drink to go with the meal.


29. Take the family to Portland.


30. Help my kids have a lemonade stand.


31. Pimp my basement. looky


32. Drinks and dinner on the Pink Door or other summery deck with a-mazing food.


33. See the tulips blooming.


34. Read this book for 2008.


35. Read a classic book to my kids.


36. Have my son read to me every day.


37. Make homemade pasta with my pasta maker.

If I can cross these off my list by 38 I will call it a good year. If anyone hears me talk smack of starting a text messaging service for creative inspiration, you have my permission to box my ears.

Posted by jana at 9:35 PM | Comments (4)

March 12, 2008

Easter basket alternative

Karsten doesn't need another frilly easter basket. When I was at Value Village the other day I found this cork trunk and some comic books. I cut out a bunch of comic books and glued them on the front. Now I just need to decoupage it before the easter bunny shows up. I also found a huge stack of great children's books to fill it with (and more comic books!)

Posted by jana at 11:04 PM | Comments (1)

March 4, 2008

DIY: Nostaglic t-shirt to pillow

Last week I created a pillow from one of Karsten's old tshirts that I couldn't bear to store in the attic or give away. Michelle has posted about the pillow on Kid Haus. Thanks Michelle! And yes, bribery does work with me.

Here is my Flickr photo set for how I created the pillow.

Posted by jana at 8:23 AM

February 23, 2008

Plan B : Building the Obituary

Exciting news: I took some of my Seattle cards into a coffee shop, Local Color at the Pike Place Market and they said they would carry them.

Now I really don't want to sell that many cards. I am not sure why exactly I would want to sell cards for hardly any money other than to build my obituary (as my mother-in-law reminds me is a good idea). However, I spend so much of my time empowering my kids, husband and the corporation that employs me to realize their dreams that I guess I feel like I need to carve out a little slice of that for me.

Plus now if I add "photographer" to my resume I can finally justify buying a fancier camera than my point and shoot one. Really it is all about me getting better toys* and building the obit.

___________________________
* The camera referenced above does not come out until the end of March which is a dangerous amount of time for either the car to break down again or the IRS to tell me I owe a bunch of money. Fingers are seriously crossed for this one!

Posted by jana at 11:43 AM | Comments (1)

February 12, 2008

Chore Chart Update

Thanks to Michelle for giving my chore chart a shout out. I'm honored that it would make the cut for such a great blog. Also, this is a warning to any of you parents who may click on the above link: watch your wallet! The KidsHaus site has so much designery goodness that it is very dangerous.

The chore chart has been a great parenting tool for us, especially for Karsten. He loves making check marks on his chart next to the image for the chore he completed. I have some stickers for the chart but it is something about the action of making a big check mark that really satisfies him.

On the days when I'm more motivated to get the kids to bed so I can pick up their toys later they're motivated by the chart to do it on their own. Woo! I am now wondering why I didn't make one of these forever ago.

Posted by jana at 12:03 PM

February 2, 2008

The Project 365 Party

Ordering ice cream at Costco.



Makeup at Marco's

It is exciting to see more of my peeps joining Project 365 -- or as Ursula pointed out since it is leap year it should be Project 366. Maybe I'll keep it 365 so I can use one day as an amnesty day. You never know when my battery for my camera might die.

The Round Up:
David Berlinquette
Hey Dave, you need to update with some photos. How is that for motivation? I like seeing snippets of your day. Okay, I promise not to harass you in public again. I'm happy to have company for Project 365.

Drew
It should be illegal for someone with a law degree to be able to take such good photos. Not right.

Ursula
I got to oogle her new Chanel purse and tea at the Georgian Room. Oh yes, I do want to be Ursula.

One thing I'm finding out about myself in doing this project: I can be lazy. Very lazy. I sometimes don't take more than 30 seconds to think about my photo of the day. The other thing is that my shyness can be a problem. When I'm out in public I don't want anyone to see me taking a photo. I try and be inconspicuous.

But still, I'm having fun reviewing my photos just to remember "oh yeah, that day" and see a variety in my photo taking.

It is not too late for anyone else to start. You just have to take photos for 365 consecutive days starting any time. Let me know if anyone else starts up.

And before I go back to the work I *should* be doing instead of blogging I should link to this site: http://photogamer.com/for a photo challenge every day. I haven't participated but am thinking for another lazy day I might check it out for inspiration.

Posted by jana at 12:30 PM | Comments (2)

January 24, 2008

killing two resolutions with one stone

I didn't want to take a photo today. I forgot to put the camera in my purse today and the kids were almost in bed. I started thinking of what weird thing I would take my photo of before midnight. Light bulb! I'll use this new year's resolution to take a photo of my other new year's resolution: floss the kid's teeth every day.

I have been failing in the flossing every day part but at least the kids are flossing more often. I've been taking a photo (for good or bad) every day. I've managed to eat less sugar -- although today I had a ginormous cookie at work and then followed it up with another cookie (from Australia so I couldn't pass it up). Today was probably a low point for all of my new year's resolutions but I'm seeing results on all fronts so I'm going to try to keep them up.

Posted by jana at 9:09 PM | Comments (3)

January 8, 2008

Project 365 : 2008 Progress

I was wandering around the market on this not-so-nice evening and snapped a photo because, well, I HAVE TO. But I like how it turned out so I'm happy with my resolution so far. Today was a tough choice between the photo (right) and this one.

I find some days I have multiple shots I like and some days I don't have any.

Posted by jana at 11:08 PM | Comments (3)

December 16, 2007

Picnik saves Christmas

Every year I make a calendar for the relatives for Christmas presents. Every year I wait to the last minute.

Fortunately this year I used picnik to edit my photos and it went so much more quickly. Photos that were originally unexciting suddenly look so much more interesting. And better yet, I cranked this puppy out in 1 evening.

After 18 years of using Photoshop I'm hooked on picnik. I'd say that is quite the endorsement.

See photos from the calendar here. Spoiler alert if you're on my calendar gift list.

Posted by jana at 10:23 PM

November 18, 2007

Weekend projects

Project 1.
I framed the photo of Andy and Lupe in Mexico. The whole inspiration was from finding this beautiful Volkswagen van hot wheels that was Andy's when he was a kid. I scored in getting mother-in-law that always finds such cool things -- and then keeps them. The van found its way to our house via a box of Andy's old legos. When I was putting the legos away this rolled out and made its way into a frame.

I tried finding some sand to put in the bottom of the shadowbox but when I walked the beach at 10pm I couldn't see any fine white sand. Maybe later.

Project 2.
New comforter cover! The kids and I spent the day at my parents house and I used my mom's serger to make this. I probably should have waited for better lighting to take the photo but oh well, gotta do these things while I can.

The pattern is from Swedish textile designer Lotta Jansdotter's book. My mom had checked this book out at the library for me but I had to return it before I started the duvet cover. Fortunately it was easy enough without directions. Well, easy enough because my mom really knows what she's doing and doesn't mind helping me. Thanks mom! Here's another photo of it.

Posted by jana at 9:59 PM | Comments (1)

November 4, 2007

Little weekend projects

Karsten's new desk area is slowly coming together. There's still more to do but the main thing is he can do his homework here.

Little cat "art" I cut out from a vintage book I bought at a garage sale and then framed.

I made a valance for Britta's room. The curtain rod needs a bit of tweaking before it will hang quite right but that is a project for next weekend.

Britta's room is morphing more organically than I had anticipated. I feel like I should have put more thought into how it should look. I guess the second child always gets ripped off in these things.

Posted by jana at 8:50 PM | Comments (1)

October 9, 2007

"See Dad Surf" shirt

Here's the shirt I finally got around to making using a photo of Andy windsurfing. I sewed it on Saturday right before guests were about to show up. I was quite confident it would take me 5 minutes or less to sew. That was the estimate until I sewed the shirt together... twice. I was just so confident that my seam ripper was tucked away downstairs hidden. Regardless I did finish the shirt in about 10 minutes.

Ten minutes is also the amount of time Karsten wore the shirt before breaking open his lip on the playground today and bleeding all over it. The shirt is in the wash as I type but I may be adding some strategic patches or something to cover the blood stains.

Posted by jana at 9:09 PM

Picnik test

I finally checked out this new online app called picnik.com. Sure I could do the same thing in photoshop but let me tell you, picnik makes it easy. And fun.

I had to take a screenshot of this example because the fancy filters are for premium account. I'll be investigating the premium account.

Here's the original photo so you can see how much I changed it.
Update
Turns out the premium account is free right now. I just didn't hit the "share" tab to discover this until after I'd written this post.

Posted by jana at 1:23 PM | Comments (3)

August 31, 2007

B R I T T A

Found this cool spell with Flickr site [via Nested]. I think I'm going to have it printed out for Britta's room. More cheap "art", yay.

Posted by jana at 5:40 PM

August 17, 2007

Caption this

I bought a white t-shirt for Karsten that seems too plain for such an animated guy.

Idea:print this photo of Andy windsurfing out on the photo fabric then sew it on to the boring T.

Here are some ideas for captions Andy and I have brainstormed:

1. Quote bubble with "Hi Karsten!"

2. My dad can fly higher than your dad. (Andy rejected this one)

3. My dad can fly

4. My dad gets high (I rejected this one)

5. Air Dad (figured kids not from the 80s wouldn't get this one)

Any more ideas?

Posted by jana at 3:50 PM | Comments (3)

August 16, 2007

Pillows + props

I added a photo of the pillow I made to the Sew Mama Sew Flickr Photo Pool and Sew Mama Sew blogged about it on their blog. I am honored to be included among people who probably know what they're doing when they start sewing and probably don't have to call their mom for help every time they fire up their sewing machine.

Also a very talented friend of mine, Michelle Maclise just started a blog focusing on design and kids, two of my very favorite subjects. Here's the email from Michelle:

So, being that I spend my career hooked up to the internet, how could I possibly avoid writing a blog? I’ve put it off long enough due to a lack of time and, frankly, a worthwhile topic. I’ve been attempting to illustrate on the side in hopes that I’ll start creating my own textiles but, who am I kidding? I’ve got approx. 5 hours a week when I’m not consumed by work, playing with Sabine & Clara and keeping the family and house afloat. So, until I have time to do all the things I dream of, a blog appears to be the perfect segue to discuss all things that make me excited: Kids + Design.

I’ve only started, so there’s not a lot to read. What I’d love from you are topics and ideas that I could possibly feature in the future…

Kid centric design: Their rooms, organization, furniture, toys, art, music…you name it… Focusing on all elements that make an inspiring surrounding for a child.

so, be kind…I’ve only just begun. I will be making my blog more robust over time – it’s rather bare-boned right now.
Hopefully I’ll have the time to keep it up!

http://roomtogrow.wordpress.com/

I'm already scared at how much money I'll want to drop every time I read one of her posts.

Posted by jana at 9:41 PM

July 23, 2007

From pixels to paper to... fabric

You know you're a Seattle native when you are happy about the rainy weekend. I invited over some more kids and let them destroy the house while I tackled a few projects.

Karsten and Britta got some new aprons. Britta likes hers but Karsten wasn't as excited. I guess if it had Spiderman or Darth Vader on it the apron would be much more exciting. Andy thinks once they start painting with them on they'll be more excited.

I didn't really think out the idea of making fabric letters before I started (see this photo for details). I ended up making them into light patches using the thermo bond stuff and then using a fancy stitch around the edges but that was pretty tricky for a novice sewer like me. The font for the letters I picked out had serifs on them but once I realized what I had gotten myself into I cut them off.

I made a few more as gifts. I used the orange fabric to make curtains for the bathroom.

And now the sewing machine goes back in the garage until another rainy weekend.

Posted by jana at 10:09 PM

July 21, 2007

Adventures in crafting

A year ago today I was enroute to Copenhagen, ready to start another adventure abroad. Today all I have done of the Summer 2006 Adventure scrapbook are these first few pages. At least it is a start, even though I haven't even finished scrapbooking from Norway 2005... or the kid's birthdays from 3 years ago....or most of my life.

Copenhagen has influenced a few of my recent craft experiences though. I bought some Marimekko-esque paper to spruce up the corner cupboard I picked up at an antique store for Britta's room. It was faster than painting since I really don't even have much time to shower (ha ha).

I had some left over paper and voila it looked good decoupaged on this tin I picked up at the Target dollar bin.

I am starting to feel like it is time for another adventure, although for now I'll just have to drag out the last ones via crafting and visits from friends. Richard and his girlfriend will be visiting from Amsterdam soon. And Greg from Scotland is coming in September. Can't wait to catch up with our international friends! Perhaps another adventure will come along soon enough.

Posted by jana at 12:13 PM

May 16, 2007

Happy Mother's Day

Yeah, I know I'm pretty late with my wishes. It is my mom's fault. She's the one who instilled in me the curse/blessing of thinking "I can make that myself" even if I have no idea what I'm doing. It all started with my last trip to I Heart Rummage and seeing charms I thought would be cuter with photos of my own kids in them. A few months later here they are, the little charms I made at the local stained glass store. I learned how to soder today! I'm posting this tonight on my blog and hoping neither of the grandmas will check it out until after tomorrow when I give them their presents.

Sunday my mom, sister-in-law and I had a fun day of shopping. Afterward we went to my parents house and had lasagne that my dad "cooked." My mom and I went through some of my Grandma's things while we waited for the food to heat up. My mom showed me boxes and boxes of jewelry and said, "this is just the beginning." How my grandma had so much stuff in her little studio I'll never know. Anyway, it was almost like my grandma was there giving me this stuff for mother's day. She was always such a good gift giver and here it was, the first mother's day after her passing and I got a ton of great things from her. It is all fun vintage stuff. Check out the King Tut jewelry. I love it!

My new jewelry box (below). Britta got a great art deco jewelry box and some fun jewelry too (not pictured).

...and here is a little donkey and elephant planter:

I am taking this week off of work and am loving it. I am finally getting to all of those projects that are so backed up. Really I need to take off a year or so to complete all the projects I have in my head but a week will have to do. It feels good not be the frantic mom trying to work, keep the house together and the kids together all at the same time. I wish I could be this relaxed of a mom all the time.

Posted by jana at 9:15 PM

April 30, 2007

School auction class art project

It turns out if you have a design degree and know a little about print and can use Photoshop and Illustrator you are very valuable to your child's school auction.

Guess who got volunteered to do the class art project to be raffled off at the school? Moi. Anyway, I had fun going into the kindergarten to help them make their hearts.

I was able to pull a few strings (thanks Brenda!!!) and get two great proofs to have framed.

The teacher sent me a thank you note that made the whole thing worth while. Excerpt (because this is worth capturing for me) "Yesterday, when I brought the kindergarten children down the steps for chapel, we saw the framed posters. Oh my goodness, I was blown away - I do not have the right words to describe how beautiful I think that the piece is and how truly thankful I am for you.

As the teacher of the kindergarten children, I look at this piece and it holds much meaning, a strong statement about the children and God's love. I am not usually an emotional person, however, once again, tears come to the surface as I just think about the beauty I see in this piece and your generosity of time and talent.

When the children saw their hearts, they all clustered around the picture. Each child had a huge smile on their face as they pointed to their work. They said words such as "these are the hearts we made," "there is my heart," "oh it is so pretty," "I can read the words, Love is _____, Love is kind," "that is from the Bible," "we know that verse," "look, it is all of our hearts put together to make a picture," "look there are our names," "it is a picture about all of us."

Needless to say the children knew their own work and they all saw that the piece made a strong statement about them as a whole. To see the pride on their faces and to hear the joy in their voices was a special moment.

Thank you for all your efforts to help create that meaningful moment for the children and of course to create such a stunning piece for the school auction. "

------
BTW, my son goes to a Christian school in case you are wondering about the bible quote. I blocked off the school name for privacy issues.

Posted by jana at 9:28 PM

April 28, 2007

The Baby Andrej Project

This project could affect future employment.

My manager's last day on my team was yesterday. (sniffle!) I sewed him a doll of himself (see above). He was mad that I got the operating system on the Treo wrong -- he uses Palm not Windows. I should have known. Quincy, Ben, Melissa, Jamie and Jonah took Baby Andrej on a road trip and then Ben made this movie of Baby Andrej's adventures on the road. Hilarious if you know Andrej -- the big one. The other TPM on my team is leaving but only gave 2 weeks notice otherwise who knows... maybe a Baby Jfew would have been born too.

Posted by jana at 12:27 PM | Comments (2)

April 21, 2007

ooooo...new fabric!

Time to find the sewing machine again. This is Amy Butler fabric I ordered from purlsoho.com.

The kids are getting curtains in their bathroom just as soon as I have time to sew them.

Believe it or not, I ordered crazier fabric for our "night club navy blue" bathroom curtains.

Posted by jana at 10:59 PM

April 17, 2007

V is for Vacation

No, I'm not announcing any cool vacations. I wish.

I love what the page on the right says, "Chipmunk and his mother are at the seashore staying in a villa with a nice view of the sea."

I was cutting up this Richard Scarry, Chipmunk ABC book to decoupage onto a little bucket when I ran across these cute pages. I had to stop cutting. Perfect art for the kid's bathroom!

I found these frames at Target for under $5 each. The book cost 25 cents at a garage sale. I've certainly got my money out of that book.

Posted by jana at 10:11 PM

April 9, 2007

Happy birthday dad!

My dad is a tough one to buy for so in addtion to some cool fishing tools I got from a friend, I made part of his present this year.

Top frame.
Pencil holder and matching birthday card. I used one of Karsten's paintings to make the pencil holder.

Middle frame.
I finally tried the No Knead bread recipe from the New York Times. It turned out so good I could barely bring myself to give it to him. I tried making it again for myself and it flopped. Must try again!

Bottom Frame.
The wrapping for the bread from the only paper sack I could find. Voila, happy birthday dad.

Posted by jana at 7:07 PM | Comments (1)

March 26, 2007

Crafty weekend

I was a busy girl this weekend:

1 bucket decorated with a vintage Little Red Caboose Book for new neighbor baby)
1 baby shirt sewed for the new neighbor baby (see larger image to read what the shirt says)
5 cards created
4 presents wrapped
1 weird doll sewed (photo to come at a later date)
Cooked up asian salmon noodle dish. Yum!

I finally unpacked and did 3 loads of laundry and 2 loads of dishes.
I'm exhausted. My sewing machine is going back in storage for awhile. So long sewing machine, I hope to see you again soon for another crafty weekend.

BTW, Andy thinks it is weird to have photoshoots of my projects but for some reason I feel the need to document all activity... as readers may have guessed with the blog.

Posted by jana at 8:12 PM