Happy 1st Birthday to my Baby Bug Olivia.


This is two months in the making. Olivia finally turned one, we had a party and it's done now. Sad, but on the bright side, she walks, talks and runs around now. She's growing so fast time is slipping away! I'll wait for next years 2nd birthday party but I may design some stuff for it now :)

Our friend, Jessica, captured Olivia's party for us. She did an awesome job.



Fun signs for the party:





Olivia and I listen to our little Pandora station every day before I leave for work while she's having breakfast. A song kept coming on and it kinda became our song. I designed this canvas for her first birthday present.


Teddy had a great time!


Baby William had a good time and passed out the second he got into his seat!

Design on a Dime

I wanted to show my latest endeavor. We have a new space and we needed something above the couch so this is my inspiration and my completed project!

I saw these on the fabulous discount website One Kings Lane only about 2 weeks ago. I loved so much and thought they would be awesome on our couch but I'm not in the market right for $2,000 pillows...

I don't care if i'm judged by this next comment ;) I watch Gossip Girl and always loved the huge Prada picture in the background in Lily's pent house suite foyer. The whole condo is decorated brilliantly glam but I like this large piece to calm it all down a bit.


Restoration Hardware has a few subway pieces that are similar but I didn't see these until today.

Of course, I don't have a penthouse suite in the upper east side nor do I want to invest in new pillows right now so I decided to make a scaled down/up more dramatic, personalized version of these things I've found.

I started with laying out the different places in my design program. I was actually planning on this, but decided it would be a job I couldn't take on since I like to have a painting finished in one day :) I'm all about instant gratification (and more recently with nearly one year old that would be almost impossible).



I decided to print on canvas to have a sharp clean look. I just got the finished piece Saturday morning and it turned out exactly the way I wanted it. I'm so excited. My finished piece is so much fun. I love how personal yet stylish it is. And what an amazing conversation piece!! I did, however, miss a couple of our favorite places but I'll put photos of the Running of the Bulls and other great adventures Jeremy and I have been on in the foyer right next to our home sweet home Chicago poster by our one and only Jenny Beorkrem. So now I still have this large canvas sitting in our dining room to be painted...What will it be next.

Martha Stewart Knows Best!


 

Everyone needs a little help while at a wedding whether it be a new city or not. You are friends with the bride and groom, (let's hope) their likes are your likes & vise versa - so these handy maps help you find the couples (in-turn your new) favorite restaurants, bars, clubs and parks!

And don't forget to add it to your wedding website as well!

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/invitation-enclosures-etiquette

http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit=&q=wedding+maps&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US