Happily Ever After.

Hey all you newly engaged folks out there! Let's plan your wedding! Boutique Bridal Bazaar is this Sunday, January 12th from 12:00-4:00 at the Tudor Arms Hotel. Bring your best friend, mom, and groom to check out this very fun event showcasing Cleveland's talented makers, chefs, venues, photographers, bakers, and more!

This wedding show was so much fun last year and nothing like your typical wedding event. I'm excited to participate again! There are so many great ways to specialize your special day and all of these vendors are there in one place to help you plan! 

I will have ready to buy pieces to finish off your final details and I'm also available for custom work too. Just fill me in on the details and color schemes and together we can have the groom and all his men looking dapper on your day! Check out the website for more details and then come by and see me!

Last Minute Market.

There is just something special about a handmade gift. And if you don't have the time to make it yourself finish up your shopping this Saturday, December 21st at Last Minute Market in Lakewood! 13000 Athens Ave, Lakewood, 44107. It is a huge show and so much fun every year. This will be my third time participating and I look forward to seeing familiar faces and also getting a few last minute gifts! Check out their website for more details about all the vendors that will be there.

I have lots of great new things for all of the dashing gentlemen in your life, including those of the canine type.

I'll have neckties, bow ties, tie clips, and more! Come by and say hello!

Get Made.

It's that time of year again! Time for holiday shopping and parties! Come out and see me and tons of other fabulous Cleveland artists at the MADE in the 216 Holiday shop! The kick off party is this Friday and here's the scoop from the one and only Jennie Doran, shop owner extraordinaire!

It's MADE's 6th Birthday!!

Join us this holiday season as we celebrate great design and the Cleveland artisans that make it happen at R/S's annual MADE IN THE 216 HOLIDAY SHOPPE!! There is tons to do in our fabulous Ohio City neighborhood, and MADE is right in the thick of it!

We've got THE gifts for everyone on that list, and we are open 7 days a week, 11-6!! Located inside Room Service at 2078 W. 25th St.

(Extended evening hours beginning 12/8)

Do be sure to join us for our OPENING NIGHT PARTY shenanigans on "Black Friday" NOVEMBER 29th at 4pm. 

Our favorite DJ Peter Pleasurecruise is on the tunes, and we'll have very own MADE brew on tap, wine and hot toddy's! Scrumptious treats provided by the fabulous Becca Ritterspach of the newly launched Save Room!!

Afterparty goes down at The DUCK ISLAND CLUB, just a skip from R/S at 2102 Freeman Ave in Tremont. 

Don't miss it friends!!!   Love Local. Shop MADE.

Adventure Day.

Saturdays are our Adventure Day. We'll do anything from taking a walk to the farmer's market to riding the train to the West Side. This Saturday we took ourselves out the Patterson's Fun Fest. We made a foolish mistake of calling it a "donut hunt" from the moment that we woke up. So our punishment was getting asked every three minutes where the donuts are. So once we got ourselves out there we had to get some stat or else the meltdown would get ugly (worse). 

Just look at that happy donut eating boy. Crisis mostly averted. The day couldn't have been more beautiful. The blue skies were unreal. However, allow me to warn you that on the weekends the entrance price is double plus there are several activities (face painting, pony rides, etc) that require more money. Lucky for us this guy is too young to notice such activities when there are tractors to ride and corn mazes to run through.

The best part of the morning was by far the giant slide. He raced down and ran back up to stand in line. He even talked about it all weekend. So I guess the price wasn't too bad if you take that into consideration. Hope your weekend had a little bit of adventure to it! Happy Tuesday!

Three Things. In Red.

I think that September is my favorite month. The weather here is almost always so lovely, it's one of those times that Cleveland has bright blue skies and the overcast grey takes a much needed break. We have been out soaking up the end of summer with friends at BBQs, picnics, and now watching football. When I finally connected my phone to dump some photos today I noticed the vibrant colors that I've been capturing and wanted to share. This dahlia farmer at the market has the most beautiful bouquets that I admire weekly. I was standing and talking to a friend about how I should just buy some since they clearly make me happy. But then I didn't...and I've been thinking about them ever since. Why do I feel like flowers are such a splurge? They bring a little beauty indoors but I always hesitate and think, next time. 

Beet juice does not in fact make me happy. It's so red and pretty and misleading. I've tried it twice, gotten some advice about how to make it better. But I don't know if I can subject myself to this flavor again. But isn't it so cheery?

I woke up one morning thinking about the end of summer and decided that I needed to get as many tomatoes as possible before they are gone. I love them when they are in season. They taste like summer and are tangy. I hope you have a happy Monday!

Art in the Petit Parc.

This fall marks the first time that I made a collection for the season. I have an incredibly tough time narrowing down fabrics so I usually just buy what I like in small quantities. This time I wanted to try something a little different. So I'm happy to unveil the Simple Hands Fall Collection. I'm obsessed with patterns, shapes, and colors. I found these lovely linens and picked out a few that I hope you like!

You'll be able to come and see them in person next week. I am really excited to announce that I am taking part in this fun event again! Please come and join me and lots of other creative and amazing Cleveland makers for a fun night in Lakewood! Here's the info!

It’s that time again friends! Join us for the 4th Annual Art in the Parc; a celebration of summer and creativity at Chartreuse.  This show and sale is a way to showcase our fellow like-minded artists and designers who support our studio and create fantastic art. Please stop by for a few summer sweets, treats and libations as you peruse the “Art in the Parc.” Some of this years artists include... - Erica-Frazier Young of On the Lookout Jewelry - Alicia Costello of Simple Hands, bowties for all the fellas - Brian Jasinski of Grey Cardigan : illustration & prints - Sara Hoover of Small Screen Designs - Piper Toth of One Sydney Road : home accessories ...to name just a few Please invite your friends, the more the merrier!

September 2013 5 5:30 - 8:30pm

Being A Boy.

This little boy of mine is a huge fan of all wheeled vehicles. Trucks are really high up on the list so we were really excited to hear about the Cleveland Metroparks Touch A Truck event last weekend. Things started out a little rocky with a skeptical and hungry two-year old but once there was food in that belly he was ready to "be the driver!"

I don't know if I can fully explain just how excited he was...horns were blasting, levels were pulled, buttons were pushed. It was a good day. He was serious about his work getting done. Look at that little face!

I think that we got in every single vehicle there was to get in as Oliver declared "I'm the driver" every time. Happiness abounds in this truck heaven and Papa was a good sport to wear the construction hat as directed by the boss.

It was a great way to start off our Sunday. Thanks for having us Metroparks, we'll be back next time! Happy Monday!

Chasing Summer.

Friday afternoon I got home from work to do a little more work and was feeling exhausted and unmotivated. O was napping at the sitter's house, JJ was a work. I got a few things done then imagined our typical evening of cooking dinner and winding down and I just was not interested. Instead I devised a plan in five minutes, packed some clothes and sent a warning message to JJ that I was on my way.

With both boys in the car I turned on the music and we drove off to enjoy some last moments of summer. We found a waterfront restaurant in Fairport Harbor and enjoyed a lakeside meal in the warm sun. Admittedly JJ was wary of my plan but things worked out beautifully.

After dinner we went to the beach to throw rocks and splash in the water. There were lots of other people there hanging out and waiting for the sunset. We played on the playground and just enjoyed some spontaneous fun. It was a good kickoff to the weekend and it's so nice to just have some time with just the three of us.

I hope your weekend was great. Here's to a happy Monday!

Cleveland Flea: August.

Saturday was one of those perfect Cleveland days, the skies were blue and the sun was hot. Little Man slept way in that morning so we knew we were safe to head down to the Cleveland Flea for an extended trip. Things timed up perfectly and we were able to meet up with friends and family to enjoy lunch and a beer on the Sterle's Country House patio. 

The patio was packed with people carrying bags filled with their vintage find, freshly canned food, and jewelry. We played the fun (also known as the very frustrating) ring toss game while O enjoyed a fresh apple from one of the farmers and a grilled pretzel. He made a little friend and the filled his pumpkin bucket with rocks happily while we contemplating making a purchase (see the industrial stools in the first pic).

After some thought and discussion we went back for the stools happy to see that they were still there. We chatted with the vendor about where he got them and how he cleaned them up so nicely. For the price and the cool industrial look, we knew we'd never find something quite like them. Our long term plan is to redo the kitchen and create an island. These will fit perfectly. We got them in the car and was ready to go just in time as O asked, can we go home now? Too much fun. Thanks Cleveland Flea, it was a fun day!

Sunday Funday!

Another post about Sunday, you ask?! This time I'm inviting you to join me! This Sunday, August 11 from 12:00-5:00 I will be joining some really fun local artists, musicians, and entertainers for the 12th Annual Cedar- Fairmount Festival. Some of those people include Grey Cardigan, On the Lookout, and Three Little B's! Come and ride the rocket car and check out the fun in Cleveland Heights! I'd love to see you.

Sunday Brunch.

Nothing completes a weekend of fun quite like a Sunday morning brunch. We were up bright and early as usual watching cartoons and relaxing when I decided that Mr. Bedhead needed a haircut. I chopped off lots of fuzzy curls that had gotten way out of control and now he's looking quite spiffy. And his reward was pancakes.

Katz Club Diner is new around here so we decided to check it out. The shiny diner cars have gone through several transformations over the years but this bright morning breakfast was really a treat. The coffee counter was filled with delicious looking pastries and they serve Rising Star Coffee that is locally roasted and delicious. O went with ice and cherry compote as an appetizer.

Initially we were a bit disappointed that they don't have a children's menu but apparently O was quite hungry and ate almost the entire serving of these delicious pancakes. I had the mushroom hash and JJ had the corned beef hash. Both were really good and more than we could finish. The staff was nice too so that always makes for a good experience. The rest of the sunny day was filled with playing and errands. Hope you had a nice weekend too. Happy Monday!

Made in the 216.

Hey friends! I'm excited to announce the return of Made in the 216 to Ohio City this weekend! I will be participating in this fun event again hosted by Room Service at a pop up location, 1810 W. 25th St from Friday-Sunday! There will be a whole lot of awesome local artists, bands, and food so please come and check it out! The bow ties are looking pretty fly in my humble opinion. See you there!

Parade The Circle.

Happy Monday! We had an action packed adventure filled weekend so I'm starting the week off with a Parade the Circle photo dump. We hopped on our bikes and rode down to the parade Saturday morning to meet up with friends and have a picnic. Riding bikes is the best way to get down to University Circle when there is going to be a crowd, there was a complimentary bike valet that made it so easy to get in and out of there quickly! 

The parade was kicked off by this veteran followed closely by the Parade the Circle balloon arches that mark the sections off. The boys oohed and ahhed at this giant blue man and the creatures that followed behind.

These giant Playskool toys were so awesome! Do you recognize them? I loved the chattering teeth too.

The sailors with the pop-up Jaws and Giant Squid were SO awesome and definitely my favorite! They pulled a huge lighthouse too and every so often closed up the boards to reveal these giant creatures of the sea.

This parade is a Cleveland classic and I love to see how creative and colorful these volunteers can be. The music is a lot of fun and the boys loved the dancers and drums. I love the people watching too! The Botanical Garden's Glasshouse makes for a perfect backdrop for photos. 

The Dads championed the big hill home with trailers and the boys quickly (and uncomfortably) fell asleep on the ride home. It was a great day! Happy Monday!