evening light

Pico has little interest in feather toys or catnip-filled mice unless I hold them in the light and cast their shadow on the wall. I catch her staring at the wall almost daily, mesmerized by the shadows of swaying trees or cars racing by.

Lucy, however, prefers to watch the real thing.

easter brunch



Just a quick hello to let you guys know we're hosting a brunch the day before Easter. It's a potluck, so bring whatever you'd like to share except deviled eggs. The Hammeses will be in town, so this brunch will be extra special. You can post your dish in the comment section.

I'm looking forward to it!

dirty birdy, Marissa is thirty.

Wish I could take credit for the lovely flamingos, but I can't.


The first birthday party of Marissa's I attended was twenty years ago. Though I started in September, I still felt like the new student at her sleepover, awkward and shy. Since I had never been to her house before, she tried to convince me she had a sister (why??) and that there was a civil war soldier buried within her family room walls. Those were the days of innocence before sneaking out and stealing sips of wine coolers became common place.

a very random post...disjointed and meaningless, but a post nonetheless

Well, no progress has been made on the patio, as it's been in the mid 30's recently. The rain has transformed the dirt into packed mud and I'm not looking forward to picking up the project again. Warm weather has a strange effect on my brain.

So, since it was a wee bit chilly last weekend, we spent the whole time spring cleaning and working on various design projects. The 1888 album art has been uploaded and the music mastered, so now we just wait for the final product. I'm trying to get some Tshirts printed, but haven't managed to get back one quote. I'm starting to get nervous we won't meet the April 7 deadline, so I'm going to start pestering people tomorrow.


A few random things that have caught my attention and earned my affection as of late (without explanation):
• TLC's new show - "My Life as a Child"
• All the podcasts available from NPR now, including Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me & Fresh Air
• The Annuals (music)

Reasons I haven't given up all hope in advertising in the last week:
• Was able to design a wedding invitation and have it approved without revision - wahoo!
• Got an approval to move forward with a large TV campaign
• Attended a lecture given by BooneOakley which lifted my spirits and made me feel like a loser all at the same time (this happens frequently).
• Scored some tasty brownies at an art opening over the weekend

Speaking of:


Yes! Tasty brownies and a fun house mirror! Art openings are fun for the entire family.


Alright, I go to sleep now, but first a picture of pine cones.

Good night.

i'm building a patio

I like to say that in my best Jeri Blank voice - "I'm buildin' a patio, Orlando." I woke up Saturday morning and decided that I needed to start digging up all of our existing patio bricks that very minute. So I did.


Poor Bobby. I know he woke up, looked out the window, and groaned. Another impulsive Cassie project - yay! So, the plan is to expand the patio, fan the brick along the perimeter, and fill with gravel. Plus, build an arbor for cover. No biggie.

I'll keep you updated on the stages.

Saturday evening:


Sunday evening:

I've got blisters on my palm, but at least my back is not sore. Manual labor is for the birds! Bobby sat in a chair and shoveled out the dirt. Classy.

corner of my home

I'm late to join this group on Flickr, but here a couple of my favorites.

i messed up my template.

Anyone know how to fix my header? See the ghost type floating overhead?

the creature says:

mcsweeneys 22

Just received the 22nd volume of McSweeneys. It's exciting to tear off the tape, open the box, and view the beautiful design object lying within. Three small books within one casing, each one magnetized to the spine to stay secure.

my little nefertiti


A sewing project gone awry is turned into a feline accessory. No Dr. Seuss jokes, please.

all done!

I finally finished The Quilt – the one I've been working steadily on since October. The completion was bittersweet, but I'm excited to devote my time and attention to some new projects.



I turned my back for one minute and a little someone decided to claim it as her own.

bunnies!

When stressed, I find great comfort in roaming the aisles of Target. Looking around to see what design trends and designers they're going to capitalize on is a pleasurable activity to soothe my nerves. I've been known to spend some lonely Friday nights there placing items in my basket, only to take them out before checking out.

I worked all last weekend, so last night I made my escape. While walking in, I called Bobby to see if we needed anything. Cat food. Always cat food. The little monsters can't get enough Fancy Feast. This was my reason to go to Target...yes, that's it.

The real reason – I love holiday decor and store displays. Target uses some great designers for their in store displays and theme items. So, I headed to the Easter section and was not disappointed. Beautiful, colorful, vintage-inspired bunnies all done contemporary Japanese-like vector-style. Lots of gradients. Make sense? It does to me.

Unfortunately, the graphics didn't translate well to plush like last year's campaign. The stuffed bunnies looked cheap and the necks were too delicate for the over-sized heads. But the plates were delightful. I bought a few.
I wish they were ceramic.

There were some really cute colorful metal buckets which would make great containers for a child's room. I couldn't justify the purchase.

These wooden eggs were adorable, too, but I think the decals would easily peel off.

If I had a child, I would definitely buy one of these:

One last thing: Isn't this the scariest Easter bunny costume you've ever seen? There are arms growing out of its head.

a leisurely stroll in the neighborhood



We found a little world hidden in the reeds.


Looks like he's waiting for you to come home, Rae. He's still there!