I'd Also Like These

After I get my swan boat I would like to pick these up.

I Need A Swan Boat

I need a swan boat and I need one real baaaad!!!! For some insane reason the Lincoln Park Zoo is selling their swan boat fleet. I have always loved these beautiful boats and they are selling them for $800.00 each. What a great work-out it would be to paddle my swan boat in Lake Michigan! There are three things that I have been yearning for:
1. Swan Boat
2. Big Boy Statue
3. Vintage Photo Booth
It is painful to have one of my dream items within reach, but not within budget.

Apron Collection, Show and Tell Sunday

I started collecting vintage aprons about 10 years ago when my daughter was in preschool. I began inviting LuLu's friends over to decorate holiday sugar cookies and this blossomed into a much more elaborate gingerbread house decorating party. I have hundreds of cookie cutters, so we can have cookie decorating parties for any holiday or event. I was able to find the most wonderful aprons at the flea market and I usually paid about $1.00 each for them. The kids love being able to go through all of the aprons and pick their favorite one. At first the kids were timid about getting the aprons messy but I explained that's what an apron is for. The aprons are usually beautifully ironed when I buy them, and that's the last time they will be ironed! I don't mind a few wrinkles, and they will look just fine after a few minutes in the dryer.
Please check out JunqueArt in my favorites to see wonderful vintage aprons!!!

Jessie Smith-Larson

Art and photos by Jessie Smith-Larson

Hey Chicagoans!!!!

Chicago Sculpture Works, 1510 West Fulton is holding a studio open house Oct.4th and 5th from 12-6.
Please visit the amazingly talented artist and all around excellent person, Jessie Smith-Larson. Her work is wonderful as you can see by the images I pinched from her blog "SuperBadFriend" in my favorites. Who else can look as cute as a button while using a saw?

Family History

My husband, Mr. Man can trace his family in America back to 1660 and even further in France. Antoine Crispell came from France on the Gilded Otter Ship and settled just off the Hudson River with eleven other Dutch families. Antoine was a successful farmer and land owner and upon his death he willed this stone house to his daughter Jannetje and her husband Nicholas Hoffman. The couple raised nine children in this Kingston, New York house. Today the Hoffman House is a wonderful restaurant that we enjoy visiting every year. The interior has been restored and it is easy to imagine the Crispell/Hoffman family once living there. We are usually seated in one of the dining rooms, which was most likely the bedroom for many of the children. My children are so lucky that they have such an intimate connection to their paternal family history. They can touch stone walls that their ancestors built 400 years ago!The Gilded Otter is a wonderful new restaurant in New Paltz, New York named after the ship that brought Antoine Crispell to America. The Gilded Otter is another spot the kids enjoy visiting and it's just a short walk down the cobblestone street to the oldest street in America. Some of the original stone houses from the 1660's are still standing and available to tour. The Crispell Family rebuilt the old stone church and it is fascinating to see this glimpse back in time.

Michelle Mayer, Diary Of A Dying Mom

Michelle Mayer is a 39 year old Wife and Mother of two young children. Michelle is in the last stages of her battle with Scleroderma. She is the most wonderful writer, bringing you along on her journey of joy and sadness. I can't tell you how much I have learned from her and how she has changed my life. Please visit her beautiful blog under my Favorites.

Grass Sofa

ReadyMade Magazine 2005

This is one of those projects that has been in my "to do" file for a few years now. Maybe next year.