Cub-isms and Picasso

Jacqueline with Flowers, Picasso

The past few days have disappeared so quickly. Sometimes, I feel as if time is racing ahead of me. Each day is so precious. I just want to savor these days of summer with my daughter for as long as I can. I miss her so much when I'm working. The ache never goes away when I leave her all day in the care of others. I hate it. As working mothers, we are forced to throw an invisible switch to deal with these feelings. Our time together has done us both a world of good. When she saw us a few weeks ago, Grandma said we were both so calm. Yes, in the natural realm, that's what is supposed to happen, a mother and child together. Why can't it be that way for everyone?

I'm still thinking a lot about homeschooling. But unfortunately, I don't think a single mom like me has many options here in NYC. I have strong views about education and what it should be. I'll leave it at that for now.

We had a lovely lunch picnic with a friend and her daughter at our favorite place, The Alice Austen House. We have passed so many lovely hours there this summer. It has become a place we call "ours." It is our yard, because we don't have one. And we just feel good there.

Now, I'll share the "cub-isms" with you. I hope they will make you smile.
When we arrived home late this afternoon, I was playing Pandora radio while doing the dishes, and "Across the Universe" covered by Jim Sturgess was playing. She stopped playing and slowly made her way over to the computer and just stared at the screen. I knew she was listening..."Nothing's gonna change my world....Nothing's gonna change my world."
Pause. Listening. Thinking. Slowly...
"Mama, he's right. (Quietly, pensively.)"Nothing's gonna change..."

I held my breath. Sometimes, she just blows me away. She was thoughtful when she said it. I didn't ask her to elaborate. I didn't need her to. It didn't matter. She went inside the music. She heard the words. It was beautiful.

Later, after dinner, a less philisophical girl cub started the conversation:
"Mama, Sponge Bob is poopie." (The television wasn't on and we don't watch Sponge Bob.)
"No, he's not. He's a sea sponge. He lives in the ocean."
"No he doesn't, Mama! He lives in the sink!!"

As for the Picasso, I love everything about this painting. The style. The colors. The form. The subject. Everything. And I want that dress.

On the crafting front, I've been photographing like crazy. I've also been playing around with a lot of paper. Bookmarks, Albums made out of paper bags, and the latest ATC's (thanks, Jenn!) I tend to work on a small scale, so this has been wonderful for me. After seeing the post on playing card notebooks courtesy of whipup, I'll dabble some more with the cards.
My ATC's are not "scrapbooky" looking. I don't have scrapbooking supplies, so I'm using old magazines and vintage children's books, wrapping paper, ribbon, thread, glitter, whatever I have around the house. So far, they seem to revolve around the themes of childhood and coming-of-age, so I'm going to keep going with that. I'll post some photos soon!

Psychedelic Chick

Grand National "Talk Amongst Yourselves" (Thanks for the tech help, Arlene!)
Love this band. Thought I'd share some music this evening.

Cousins

Cousins, Great Kills, NY
July 2008

The children in the photo above are Girl Cub and her beautiful cousin.

Spending time with the two of them always reminds me of the relationship I had with my cousin, Diane. For the first seven years of our lives, we spent practically every weekend and holiday together. Our mothers were first cousins and we lived a short distance away from each other.

Summers were always spent together. Diane had a big backyard, complete with a swing set, pool, and the most glorious wheeping willow tree I have ever seen.

At age seven, my mother unexpectedly passed away. We moved over an hour away to live with my grandparents. It seemed like another universe altogether. My late Uncle John, sweet soul that he was, would pick-up my brother and I every friday after work. He would drive us back at 4:30am on a Monday morning, just so us cousins could be together again.

I guess we did this for a few years. Then things got hard and my aunt and uncle separated and sold the house. We all struggled. Life went on and on as it will do. We were out of touch for too many years. I lost her, my cousin, my sister.

When I was in my early twenties, I received a phone call from my cousin, Diane. She told me that she would be getting married and asked if I would be her Maid of Honor.

I got to stand beside her on that day, in the place we both knew I belonged.

I will never forget this act of love she showed me. She had remembered me and remebered how things would have been if life hadn't pulled us in different directions.

We are forever connected by blood and memory.

Made by Cub and her Mama

"The sun made it up and the sun rang a little bell, just a little so all his friends could come." (This sun drawing is on the second page...Sorry.)

"Good morning, flowers. Did you have a nice sleep last night?"

I had a crafting hang-over this morning. Stayed up way past my bedtime turning paper bags into little books. So at the start of this very slow morning, I began folding up a piece of paper into a little accordion. Nothing serious. Just messing around while she colored on the floor. Something to keep my hands busy. "Mama lets make a book together." And here is what we came up with.

Words by her.

Drawings by us.

Ready to Create

I have collected vintage children books for a while now. I will buy the non-vintage variety (used) if the art is unusual or exceptionally appealing. Over the past few days I've been quite lucky with my finds. Here is a bad photo of some of the goods. I'm too tired and lazy to try for a better flick, sorry. The Growing Story by Ruth Krauss is a total score. This is a first printing 1947 edition. Big smiles all around! She wrote two of our favorite books, The Carrot Seed and Harold and the Purple Crayon.

I Live in Tokyo is not vintage. I found it on the library sale cart for 10 cents and couldn't resist. This one evokes the enchantment of daily life in Tokyo with exquisitely detailed illustrations and descriptions.

In the bottom right hand corner is a (piece of) this lovely vintage pillow case found at The Salvation Army. I will use this to practice making some more birdies this evening.

I've noticed that when I tell people on Staten Island that I bought this or that at The Salvation Army there are some wierd looks or just silence. I guess some people don't get it. There are basically no thrift shops here on the island. There was an excellent one, but it closed last year. I know of one little hidden gem and then the rest of my thrifting needs get satisfied at good old "Sal's Boutique," as we called it in college.

This book was originally published in 1956 and you can totally tell by the lovely drawings. This magic was also purchased for 10 cents at the local library sale.

I have some high hopes for creating goodies for my etsy shop with these, but the more I look at them, the more I fall in love with them. How the heck can I take a scissor to all this goodness?

Ugh. What to do?

The above illustration makes my heart sing. It is so adorable. Again, apologize for the bad photo. It's from the Ruth Krauss book.

Girl Land Sara, if you're reading this...I thought of you when I found this one. It was printed in Japan and published by Playmore, Inc. I've coveted all of those great vintage 3D books you are lucky enough to find in Detroit for way toooooo long. Now I've got my own. Hee, hee. I adored these as a child and had all but forgotten them. Until I found your lovely shop.

Now I am off to finally bake that chocolate zucchini cake I have been talking about for way too long. Hopefully, tonight there will be some serious crafting happening here. Hope everyone is enjoying the day.

Etsy Love

I've been spending a lot of time on etsy lately, probably too much. I wait in anticipation for the lovely packages. People are so creative. I love to see how each person chooses to express it. Today, I received a very special treat on my doorstep. This thoughtfully wrapped package was sent to me by the wonderful Heather from Beauty That Moves. It smelled soooooo good, too. If you haven't already, check out her blog. It is truly food for the soul and a treat for the eyes.

This is the fabulous pouch I purchased last week. It was difficult to choose just one, but this vintage fabric just speaks to me. I can't get enough of it. I still don't know if I'll use this as a cosmetic case or something else. It's almost too pretty for that.

I have a real weakness for all things dutch and folk-arty. So, I had to exercise an extreme amount of self control while tralling new etsy shop Pony Party.


I passed on the cutting board but caved in when I saw these two cuties. They will live in my dutch-style wood shelf which needs some legitimate inhabitants. There, I justified this purchase!



I have been inspired by everything around me lately. Finishing up some great books I will write about in a future post. Also watched documentary The Business of Being Born. What an important film. Every woman needs to see it. (Another future post.) Last night I watched In the Realms of the Unreal about the life of artist Henry Darger. I enjoyed it. His life, artwork, and 15,000 page novel are fascinating.

Feeling better today. If the weather holds out, there is a live Afro-Peruvian dance party at the children's museum tonight. Can't wait to boogie with cub who told me, "I'm gonna shake my bootie!" Like mother, like daughter.

Under the Weather

I guess all the summer time fun we've been having lately finally has us pooped.

This lingering heat wave hasn't helped. We were really good soldiers in the beginning, too. After spending under an hour at the gym, we stayed in the rest of the day. Playing, cleaning, napping, and indulging in one of our favorite things to do.

Long live Play Doh!

Even better...Scented Play Doh. Oh, my. You haven't lived until you've sniffed the Rose scent. Pure Heaven.

And a random question...Why have neighbors on three sides of our building let their pools turn green? Just wondering.