Kicking Back with Papier Mache

A while back my friend MN over at Interior Divine told me about Papier Mache magazine, a quarterly online Children's magazine. I've been wanting to make Lois a doll and remembered seeing some really cute ones in one of their magazines. I thought I'd peek back for some doll-making inspiration, but then I just got lost in reading the magazine and looking at all the pretty pictures! It's a very fun, creative magazine. Don't you think so too? These images are from issue three, where I saw those cute dolls made by Jess Brown. A handful of the first images here are from an article on her, her work, and her home. And I could just look at her web site and blog all day. I'm in love with all of her dolls! 

This image above is from Jess's blog. The dolly on the right is wearing the Liberty fabric I just used for coasters. Looks very cute on a doll. And the images below are just a few other random images I like from issue three. 

Lolo's Room

Lois's room is finished! It's been pretty much finished for months, but I wanted to make something to cover the dark fireplace and finally did that this week. I also wanted to finish her bunting. Both are done so welcome to Lois's room! If you saw her room in San Francisco or saw pictures on my blog, it's basically the same, mostly all the same stuff anyway, but I hung things in a different arrangement and she has some different curtains now. Almost everything in her room is either from Ikea, a flea market, or a thrift store. Here's the tour...

Daybed from Ikea and lots of pillows. One can never have too many pillows! At least I can't.

Some of the pillows are store bought, but a few are handmade. My aunt made this red ruffle pillow that I love. 

This bird and tulip pillow came from a thrift store and I made the patchwork pillow behind it from one of Alicia Paulson's patterns. 

Little doll named Lois came from the Alemany flea market in San Francisco. 

Stripes here is from Laku, one of my favorite San Francisco shops. 

Artwork by my nephews. Frames from Ikea. 

Artwork from a high school friend. You can see it larger here.

Vintage books in a pew holder and "L" is for Lion vintage fabric from my friend Alex. 

The wheels on the bus go round and round! Bus painting my Mose Tolliver. One time when I was in, I dunno, maybe middle school, I painted over one of his watermelon paintings--eek! I guess I just thought I could improve it. Woops. 

You are Beautiful by Cathy Nichols on etsy. 

Vintage Child Life magazines. Lisa gave these to me. I love them (just look!) and wish I could win bids on them on ebay, but I never do. The magazine holder is from Anthropologie. 

Bunting! I made this bunting with her name on it this week. This is above her crib (which is from Ikea). My mom found the apron in an antique store. The dress on the far left is from Vintage Touch on etsy and the one on the right is from a shop in Atlanta, but I can't think of the store right now!

Curtains and her dresser (the top of it anyway). My aunt made the floral curtain, but I can't remember the name of the fabric right now. It's an older Amy Butler fabric. I think it's from her Gypsy Caravan collection. I made the yellow gingham panels to go underneath. 

Custom bookplates from Oiseaux on etsy. 

Lots of vintage books on a spinning rack my mom bought at a flea market (this thing weighs a ton and has been all over the place).

Above the book rack is artwork by my friend Michelle. 

Flea market treasures and a party hat made by moi.

One of her birth announcements that I made. 

My solution to a very dark red brick and black fireplace. It's actually very pretty under the curtain, but it just didn't go with the room. The curtain isn't perfect by any means, and I couldn't find a pole to fit close enough to the top, so I should have made a wider hem at the top to let it ruffle out, but this is at least better than before!

That's all for the show, folks. Hope you enjoyed it! 

My New Favorite Thing . . .

Lisa came over this week for coffee and banana bread (and to see the baby of course!) and brought me more vintage books and what is now my new favorite thing: Child Life Magazine. I had never heard of it before, but I'm so happy I have now and that Lisa gave them to me. She gave me three copies from the 30's, and I love, love, love them!

The magazines are filled with stories, games, and educational information. The illustrations are especially engaging. They are so beautiful, and knowing that they were created in the days when all graphic art was done by hand makes them look even more amazing. I've been scouring ebay for more and found quite a few. I placed one bid on a lot of 8 but lost to someone else, but there are many more to bid on. (Isn't ebay wonderful?!) Here are a few pages from Child Life. Click on the images to view them larger.