Two Sarah's amazing prints

I love these heads....in person they are even more amazing.

Stunning....

I heart bears and this one is just too good

The idea of talking to a lark intrigues me

While I was at Urban craft uprising this year I came across 'The Two Sarah's' booth and I was instantly in love. My Ma bought me a teeny tiny wood block with a head on it and I will cherish it always. I almost bought the heads print but I was supposed to be shopping for others so I took a card and I know someday soon...that head print will be mine...and The Bear and the Bride too.
I love the simplicity and honesty in this work. The gazes between the animals and women are intoxicating. I have also been a fan of collecting doll heads for sometime now....although in my clear the clutter frenzy I did let a bunch of my doll heads go...
Anywho...if you have never been to the 'Two Sarah's ' Etsy shop...you gotta go right now and check it out.
Here is the Bio from their Etsy profile....

Bio

If you are in Portland and would like to see more of my work, stop by Lark Press, located at 3901 N Williams. We're open Wednesday through Saturday from 11-6, and Sundays from 11-4. It's conveniently located next to Pix Patisserie, as well as near several other neighborhood gems. At Lark you can also see in person the lovely work of fellow Etsy sellers larkpress and bittersugar.

By the way, I am Sarah Landwehr, and the other Sarah (Fitzpatrick) is collaborating with me via Melbourne, Australia, so her presence on the site is currently more theoretical, but I'm still leaning on her glory and genius from way over here.

In other news....our little Soren has bronchitis and is feeling terrible. Memphis is still getting over her cold/virus and has a cough. Her hives/rash is getting better but she has cried numerous times telling me that people will think she is a freak...poor thing. No matter how many times I tell her she is beautiful she just goes over to the mirror and says...I look like a freak. I am still on the hunt for glasses. Life right now is very very busy but good. Things are about to get crazy....but that's okay.

The work of Patrick Winfield....is MAGICAL

all the above images belong to Patrick Winfield and I am just using them here to share his work with you....

I just stumbled on the work of Patrick Winfield and I fell in love with this series so very much.
They are polaroid compositions and man are they amazing. I am in deep deep love with the top one up there...so so gorgeous. What inspires his vision....

He says:

Everything.

Life.

Death.

And all the stars in between.

You can find out more about him here...or go to his website...here

I for one am amazed by his genius and I especially love the use of color. WOW!!!

I would also like to take a moment to thank all of you that commented, read, thought about my last post. It really and truly means the WORLD to me to know that I am not alone and that it's okay to have a bad day...I mean I know it is...but you were all so kind to me....thanks so much !

On motherhood....sometimes a very thankless job

So...on this blog I try to be upbeat. Not complain too much. Stay positive. You get the idea...well today I have to vent. Lately I feel like all I am doing is picking up toys, cleaning our home, walking the dog, doing home errands, driving Memphis to and from school, helping with homework, laundry...laundry...laundry....and I am not doing enough for me. I have not been able to sew much.
When I do have a chance it seems I am either ready for bed (exhausted) or I have to help with something else that is not my own. Like this week...Memphis was sick Monday and Tuesday...stayed home from school. She had a cold virus, slight fever and felt really crummy. This is the week of her Valentine's day party in her class and the week that she got to go to a Valentine's day party in the evening. It was a fund raiser event for the PTA and we signed her up. Her best buddy was there and it was last night...she had a blast....but she did not finish her Valentine's due to afore mentioned sickness and barely had time for her homework. (because if you miss two days you have two additional days to catch up on) They also made their Valentine's day bags at school one of the days she was out sick and she did not have time for that either. Seriously, when your kid is feeling bad she barely has time to do her homework and eat dinner. So I helped her with all the homework, I made the Valentines, I made the bag for the Valentines and a few of my evenings were eaten up. That's okay, I want to help...I do love her to pieces after all and it is my job as Super Mama to help with all the little things. The little things always turn out to be the very most important things in the universe.....and all this week Soren (will be 2 years old in April) was a total spitfire and a half. Yelling, getting mad when he does not get what he wants right now, wanting something every 20 seconds, trying to eat snacks all the time instead of meals, throwing toys at his sister, biting and basically destroying worlds...well ours anyway. So this morning while I was in the middle of my usual madness that is my morning...trying to get Memphis to school on time...I was showing her the Valentines and telling her to make sure not to crush them. She looks in the bag and says 'oh great! They are supposed to be in alphabetical order' and then she stamps her foot down a few times and walks off in a huff. My feelings were very hurt. Then we drop her off and we go to TJ Maxx to find a small Valentine's gift for hubby...and the entire time Soren was bonkers and in the end he was just yelling. He had already thrown all the snacks I had brought on the ground and drank the bottle I had with us. So on the way home...while he was endlessly screaming...I cried just a little....but kinda really deep sobs. He fell asleep before I cried. I know, I know much worse things are happening in the world and I am a very lucky person to have all I have but today...today is the day that I have every once in awhile. The kind of day that I just feel lost...like I have lost myself just a little. I love both my kids dearly but today...today I am having a bit of trouble. I know tomorrow will be better (especially since Jason will be home) but today seems endless and so I thought I would vent. Say in words...put it out there and maybe just maybe I would find myself again...Happy Weekending to all of you...and to all you Ma's out there I just want to tell you YOU ARE MARVELOUS, FANTASTIC, GORGEOUS and you are doing a great job so just hang in there with me!! There is strength in numbers you know :)!

Sewing again

So
this morning...got up...husband was running late...juggled feeding Soren with making two beds, straightening crib, picking up many many many toys....books, hot wheels, trucks, balls...made breakfast for two kids....got one kid showered...hair brushed...hair done...helped with her hives (she broke out yesterday, poor thing) got Soren dressed, helped Memphis get dressed...all the while Mr. Soren is yelling for this and that and really getting mad....wrestled with Soren to get his shoes and socks and coat on....the entire time was a drill sergeant to keep things running on time (just barely) You see my Virgo daughter is not a morning person and does not care for the restraints of time...
oh yeah...did I mention that I also showered, blow dried my hair, flat ironed my hair put on my makeup, got dressed and brushed my teeth? All while doing most of the above?
finally
got out the door
got in the car
drove to school
dropped off daughter
then
off to Trader Joe's
where
Soren was a handful and very loud
got many looks
got rice, rice milk, Valentine chocolates and wine for Memphis' teacher, Joe's O's, salami for hubby, Sparkling water, Oyster crackers ( that Soren had to immediately eat from box...tried to stop this but the yelling won out) Tomato basil pasta sauce and one reusable bag (because of course I left all mine in the car)
Phew....oh no...I forgot to get quarters and I have to do laundry....
already in the elevator to parking garage...can't go back
in parking garage
Mr. Soren does not want to get in car
wait
grab screaming boy and into the car seat he goes
well
kind of
phew....
then
off to bank to get said quarters
where Soren is saying Hi to everyone and being crazy and then won't leave bank
again
grab screaming boy and put him in car seat with box of oyster crackers...yes the whole box.
Get home
get him to nap
phew....next
laundry time
How is your day going?

Looking back to that little family of 3....we used to be

All of these photos were taken in July of 2007...almost 3 years ago. This was a time before Soren, when our little family was just 3. Looking back I miss the times we used to just get to spend doing what we wanted...before Kindergarten. It was really really nice. I do get to do that with Soren too but it's not the same. With Memphis there weren't any time restrictions really. We would wake up and just kind of roll with it. When we did have a plan to meet up with friends for a play date it was always later in the day. Memphis is NOT a morning person...she used to wake up every day at 8am or 8:30am. Those times were so much simpler and so less chaotic. She really was and (mostly) still is a dream kid. Looking back I think I was a really great Mom. She was happy most of the time anyway. :) Now our mister Soren is here and he is the joy in our lives right now. So carefree, so energetic, so funny...such a complete character in a much different way than Memphis was or is. We love him dearly, truly and madly but since he has arrived our VERY small space has become very hard to live in. I mean we are really making it work but lately...as he grows bigger and bigger we are all kind of going a bit crazy.(We live in approx 750 square feet) Sooooo the house hunt continues and I know that soon things will be better and I feel horrible for complaining at all because I am so very blessed in life. I was just thinking, that's all about a time that seems so long ago now and it brought a huge smile to my face just thinking about that little family of 3 and remembering back then how crazy being a parent was(HA....one kid compared to two is a cake walk really...at least for me looking back)...funny to look back and it's fantastic to have so many memories....also amazing how big our little girl is getting. Life really does go by in a blink of an eye and it's true that you really have to enjoy each and every day as much as you can. I guess I am feeling a big nostalgic today...thinking about our future and what lies ahead. As scared as I am to move...I am really excited for our family of 4 to have a bit more piece of mind and more room to grow. I really am so very very lucky and that's something I try to remember every single day. Happy Monday :)