St. Patrick’s Day 2013

March 18, 2013 by mymateriallife

Clockwise from top left: Maybe this was overkill.  I thought I’d try a little food coloring in my recycled Irish bear snow globe. I am totally judging this book by its cover; isn’t it beautiful?!  I could not resist buying it when I found it at Recycle Bookstore in Campbell last week (though this one is new).  I just started it last night. A gift of Irish whiskey from our next-door neighbors. We enjoyed some in Irish coffee, but nice […]

Categories: Beverages, Celebrations, Miniatures, Other Holidays, Other Textiles, Reading Material, Sweets • Tags: green punch, lemon-lime kool-aid, st. patrick's day, whole wheat honey wafers

Midwinter Mobile

January 20, 2013 by mymateriallife

It’s warmed up in the San Francisco Bay area this weekend, but we just came through an unusual cold spell.  You know it’s cold when you see people in coats in the middle of a sunny day in this part of the world.  Anyway, I have a few good things to share with you in this post.  I made the mobile you see above using a wonderful product by Kikkerland Design, their hanging photoclip mobile.  So simple, so elegant, such […]

Categories: Furnishings, Kid Stuff, Paper, Reading Material • Tags: crystal snowflakes, diy mobiles, flensted mobiles, harbin ice and snow festival, kikkerland hanging photoclip mobile

Three Fun Finds

November 3, 2012 by mymateriallife

I can’t say I’m ready for the eggnog lattes that are already being sold in the coffee shops now that Halloween has come and gone, but this is a fun time to scout for new and interesting holiday items to use yourself or give as gifts.  I just found the Christmas tree fabric at IKEA the other day.  It’s fantastic, isn’t it?  That’s two yards draped over an Ektorp sofa.  I was just looking for a space in my house […]

Categories: Reading Material, Miniatures, Other Textiles, Christmas • Tags: anthropologie, ikea's textiles, target, margareta fabric, gamago, snowglobe salt & pepper, the elements of style, maira kalman

Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch House

September 30, 2012 by mymateriallife

We had my birthday brunch at The Ranch House in Meiners Oaks (right next to Ojai) last Sunday.  This is a restaurant that was founded by Alan and Helen Hooker in the 1950s.  My parents took me there to celebrate a good report card or something like that when I was a junior or senior in high school.  I can remember the dress I wore, but everything else is a little fuzzy.  I never thought about it much until Saveur […]

Categories: Places, Reading Material, Sweets • Tags: alan hooker, beatrice wood, buttercream mint frosting, golden cake, ojai, saveur magazine, the ranch house restaurant

Kiki Magazine’s Beach Towel Tote

August 15, 2012 by mymateriallife

Wow, that’s bright.  Here’s what it looks like on the opposite side … This is a towel that folds into a tote that I made with two IKEA towels and some embroidered ribbon purchased years ago according to these directions in the June/July 2012 edition of Kiki magazine.   Do you know Kiki magazine?  I’ve been meaning to tell you about it for a while now.  It’s a magazine for girls with an emphasis on fashion.  What makes it interesting […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Reading Material, Sewing • Tags: beach towel tote, ikea's textiles, kiki magazine

Swimming Pools I Have Known and Loved

July 21, 2012 by mymateriallife

The last couple of weeks have been full of swimming and pools.  I’ve just finished catsitting for a friend and neighbor who invited me to use their pool while they were away and what a lovely treat that was (they keep their pool so blissfully warm). Then on Friday Samantha finished up a week of daily swim classes and in addition to that I’ve been reading this book by Lynn Sherr … Great cover, isn’t it?  This is a wonderful […]

Categories: Architecture, Places, Reading Material • Tags: hearst castle, lynn sherr, madonna inn, roman baths, swim - why we love the water, swimming pools, westlake village inn

A Gift From The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright

April 26, 2012 by mymateriallife

Source: A Gift From The Lonely Doll, Dare Wright Are you familiar with the Lonely Doll series by Dare Wright?  I think this one (A Gift From The Lonely Doll, 1966) might be my favorite.  The photos are so beautiful.  Look at the lighting in the middle photo; I’m crazy about that one.  And then there’s that knitting.  I think I’m going to read this to the kids at today’s last Sticks & Strings knitting class session.  I’ve put together […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Knitting, Reading Material • Tags: children's books with knitting, dare wright, the lonely doll, wallace and gromit - a close shave

Something To Remember Her By

April 13, 2012 by mymateriallife

I have no position on reincarnation.  But if I ever have to be reincarnated, please don’t let me be reincarnated as a feral cat. These sketches are an attempt to hold onto something of a little grey and white tabby that I first saw in our neighborhood several months ago.  I never took her picture, so I tried to find a cat photo on the internet that looked something like her and sketch from that.  I viewed her as an […]

Categories: Cats, Reading Material • Tags: feral cat books, feral cat care, feral cats

Grace by Howell Conant

February 24, 2012 by mymateriallife

Samantha is eagerly awaiting a new American Girl Doll catalog.  We were sure we saw our mail carrier put one in our box the other day, but it was the Barbie Collector catalog (with Will and Kate on the cover), not American Girl.  There was, however, a beautiful doll version of a classic American beauty in her wedding gown in the catalog – Princess Grace. Samantha didn’t know who Princess Grace was, so that gave me an opportunity to get […]

Categories: Reading Material • Tags: Grace Kelly, Howell Conant, Princess Grace