Frank Rothe

love these images from Frank Rothe found on first-stop

Marcelo in the Real World

Okay, so I love to read. I especially love to read children's books. From picture books to young adult, anything that has magic and mystery and wonder is for me. I find kids books to feature characters who embody these themes more frequently than adult books do, so on any visit to the library I am most often in the children's section than not. True to reading habit, I just finished a YA book called Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork. My friend Sarah, who heads up the children's section at Books Inc. on 4th St. in Berkeley, recommended this to me after we chatted about the best (and worst) kids books available right now.

Sarah was spot on. This story is so thoughtfully written and beautifully crafted I enjoyed every word. The protagonist. Marcelo, is a 17 year old boy who has something akin to Asperger's Syndrome and is forced to enter "The Real World" the summer before his senior year of High School. His actions over the summer will determine whether or not he is allowed to return to the school he has attended since first grade or be enrolled in the local public school instead.

Without being overly sentimental or preachy, the author creates a look inside the mind of a boy somewhere on the outside as he navigates his way into "The Real World." Next up.. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Happy Reading!

Animals!!!!!

I haven't posted for ages because I have been making these guys!!! Meet the animals for the Milk + Bookies story time event this weekend at the Skirball Center. Milk + Bookies is a wonderful children's literacy non profit operating out of LA. Check out their website for a the details! These woodland creatures were made from over 1700 dictionary pages reclaimed from the Recycling Center.

Here are the squirrels in their box which will make it's way to LA Saturday...

The alligator can hold a book or sign in it's jaw (or even a 7 year old's head).

3 owls tower above....
The animals who have been living here the past week left today (despite tears from little ones), on a journey to the Skirball Center. Wish them luck!

Aaron and I went to Community Art Night at Jefferson Elementary. Several Parents started an art group and are creating installations throughout the school. Art Night was a school and community event. There was a tremendous amount of energy and creativity. Kids, parents, friends, teachers were all making incredible treasures including birds made from discarded library book. Many of the creations from art night will be installed throughout Jefferson. Check out some of the video below...

Girls Night

Friday night it was just me and the girls. We played games, made paper poofs in orange and black for Halloween, and most successful was our chocolate project. The girls picked out chocolate molds and we spent nearly an hour mixing colored chocolate, painting the molds and creating white chocolate frogs and teddy bears in all colors.


Its a quick and easy project to do with kids as little as two or three. Even better, both girls were occupied and happy and I was able to sit with them and make white chocolate leaves while they carefully chose their palette and discussed when the candies would be ready to eat. We had so much fun!

Birthday Badges for Little Ones

I made these adorable (if I do say so myself) one of a kind badges for birthdays and celebrations. I found these vintage prize ribbons (for horses) and recovered them with fabric. I used mermaid fabric on some of them from Heather Ross's line Mendocino. I added new ribbons and a bit of glitter paper.  They are available in my etsy store!!!!

They make wonderful package toppers too!

A Reading Nook for Two

My bedroom has been rather dull for months. It always seems like its the last room in the house to receive any attention. I added a little woodland charm last night with some lichen covered oak branches, making this reading nook fit for two little fairies. I made buntings out of scrap fabric to make it even more magical.

A Bedtime Activity

The girls always want a project, but its especially important on nights where its just them and me. Tonight we did a quick painted chocolate project that was lots of fun and none too messy!

By using white coating chocolate, chocolate dies and a plastic mold, the girls created these pink and yellow painted bee chocolates, which are absolutely adorable!

Clean up was minimal and we even got out the paint brushes!

Natural Easter Egg Dying Workshop

The day before Easter I taught a workshop at Maison Réve in Mill Valley on natural egg dying. There were toddlers, teens, parents and great aunts all assembled to learn how to create these beautiful naturally died eggs. The dying was easy, but the distillation and preparation of the dyes before hand was very time consuming.

After researching and experimenting I decided I liked the red cabbage dyes the best, which created this beautiful French blue hue (shown below). Boiled tumeric produced a sunny yellow, and red onion skin produced an olive green. The crazing effect happened all on its own.

For best results on creating natural egg dye, boil 6-8 cups water with 1 head chopped red cabbage for about 10 min, then simmer for another 20. Strain and allow cabbage water to sit for about 2 days before use. When using tumeric or red onion leaves, follow the same process substituting cabbage with the skin of 5 onions and 1/4 cup tumeric respectively. For all dyes, add 2 tablespoons alum (found in the spice aisle) to the water mixture. Alum is a mordant that will help the dye adhere to the egg shell. Allow the eggs to sit in the dye awhile. When you remove the eggs, allow them to dry so that the color will stick to the egg. Try not to touch the egg too much or wipe off the dye. You should have beautiful naturally died eggs great for egg and hunts and Easter decorations!

We made party crackers today for our house warming tomorrow night. The girls were occupied for an hour and did a great job making them! We used toilet paper rolls, filled them with candy then rolled them in crepe paper. The girls used a sticker to seal the paper, then they tied the ends with baker's twine. It was a fun and easy project and they turned out so well! The rest of the afternoon was spent doing other arts and crafts projects and cooking, but I think this was the success of the day!

New Fall Schedule at the^workshop

Fall Schedule now at the^workshop!

Alphabet Books

I love books of all kinds, especially ones with vibrant pictures like the ones found in good kids books. I collect all kinds of kids books, but I especially love alphabet books. The search for a good alphabet book is one of my regular quests. Occasionally a new alphabet book will be published that is different and interesting, like "An A to Z Tresaure Hunt" by Alice Melvin, but usually thrift stores and used book stores yield the the best finds. Small book stores and museum stores will also have more unusual, "arty" abc books like Bruno Munari's ABC. Above are some photos of some of the favorites of my collection. Below are descriptions and links on where to find these guys.

I found Ryan Heshka's ABC SpookShow at Cody's books which used to be on 4th in Berkeley, and is now on Shattuck. I love the imagery (spooky yet childlike) and its small size. You can buy it from Amazon here.



I happened upon The A to Z Treasure Hunt at Books Inc in Alameda. Its published by the Tate Museum, and is the first ABC book I seen that's interactive. The designs are graphic, simple and engaging, plus they urge you to collaborate with the author in the search the for ABC treasure!
Buy it from Amazon here.



Lettered Creatures is one of my best finds! I visited Portland in Oct 2007 just to go to Powell's Bookstore. I picked up this treasure there. Its authored and illustrated by a two brothers, and the content and pictures are stunning! A must have for any book collector. Buy it from Amazon here.

Anermerotics features a side of the alphabet you never knew existed. The imagery depicts an "a forbidden cabaret in 26 acts." The monochromatic images are gorgeous, soft and dreamy and a bit naughty. The remind me a bit of Michael Parke's paintings. Buy it from Amazon here.


PS- I buy books from bookstores all over, and sometimes Amazon too. I've included links to buy through Amazon because people are familiar with Amazon and its easy. But you can request these books from your local bookstore just as easily if you prefer. Happy Hunting!