LOMA studio

I completely changed the office! Yes, that's right. I tore apart a perfectly lovely space to create a new perfectly lovely space. It is now an office/studio hybrid.

Let me give you some solid reasoning here... First a little background. This is what the space looked like before. You can see more photos and read the full post here. 

It was amazingly functional for us at the time. The kids really did use that little desk. Like always. And the bookshelves. And the easel. The work/play arrangement did work. But fast forward a couple years and the kids were too tall for the desk/chairs, not to mention they are now in school full day. As for me, there wasn't enough storage. For books, for papers. I mean, I work from home. I'm also a stylist and have SO. MANY. THINGS. Pretty things that should be out there for all to see. So, I felt like built ins would be the way to go.

After many hours trying to measure, plan, wood shop, etc. it became clear that the project was over our heads. John ended up finding these shelves at Farm & Fleet for $30 a pop, they were selling their displays. They were that gross laminate, so we did have to sand and paint them. We also bought three but they didn't all fit, so we decided to build a desk in between. Not what I would have wanted if I had my choice, but we needed a place for the computer anyway. We added the doors at the bottom for more functional storage- you know, all the crap in bins you don't want anyone to see.

I love this space, and it functions in many ways for me, since I do many different kinds of work. I can work on the desktop computer, or use my laptop on the table John built. (The table matches the desk exactly, they are both white oak, he did an amazing job) The shelves hold all my props for styling photos. The acrylic wall calendar helps me plan for social media clients. I use the other wall to create my macrame wall hangings. The desk/table is also cool because it functions as another dining table, when we have dinner parties the adults can eat separately from the kids.

John and I are in the middle of starting an online shop, LOMA Goods. You will be able to find macrame wall hangings, woven wall hangings, wood bowls, cutting boards, rolling pins and a small vintage section. John's already sold a few live edge tables! I am currently working on the website, hope to have it up soon!

What do you think? Which configuration do you like better?

christmas card 2017

The annual, "we need Christmas card pics, everybody wear what I tell you and please don't cry and sit up straight and don't hit your brother and stop moving so much I really hope we got at least one good one" photo shoot!

supper club

It's funny how the idea of food changes throughout your life. Babies are generally adventurous eaters, enjoying every new flavor they experience. Then you get all picky. Green things are gross, non-green things are equally gross. I think Lola ate 3 hot dogs the other day. Then time turns you into a college student where solids seem to take a backseat to liquids. Luckily, you move on from that and end up having kids of your own. You find yourself making curried peas and all of these wonderful things. Which takes me to this point in my life. Food has brought me friends. Food is a reason to gather together. To talk about the week, share experiences, laugh... and eat. I found friends who have inspired me with their passion for food and for life. We get together as often as possible, and for me, it's all about challenging myself to make things that are out of my comfort zone. And what I've realized is, I end up loving everything because it's not just the ingredients that went into it. It's the love, the effort, the time, the mistakes. It's an excuse to be with my friends and my kid's friends. I wouldn't give it up for the world. And if you just made it all the way through that introduction, thanks! I'm going to start to feature some of our "supper club" get-togethers. Here is our very first.

We started out with some cool cheladas while we watched the kids frolick.

The main dish was enchiladas, and they were amazing! A lot of love in those layers...

Dessert was a tart with pastry cream and strawberries. We have a pastry chef in the house kids. Be jealous, be very jealous.

Til next time!

christmas card outtakes

Garfield Park Conservatory has this fountain with a tile mosaic that is beyond words. I knew it would be perfect for the kids Christmas card photos this year, a cool 180 from last years pics.

We got some really great shots of the kids, but there are so many that make me laugh out loud that I just had to put all the outtakes in a post.

And just keepin it real- it's not always (ever) easy to get the good shots. You just try to make them laugh and click away for 10 minutes crossing your fingers you get good shots. Or you force them into position like this.

Are they cute or what? We even got some quick family photos with the tripod.

christmas gifts 2016

Per usual Christmas starts out with the best of intentions. Then December 22nd and 23rd come around and I am frantically making, sewing, baking... But then we celebrate and it's all a distant memory, only fun and laughs in that wine haze we all know and love. 

We did make some fun gifts this year, though. Like check out these cutting/serving boards John made. On his own. With his hands. We both wanted to keep the "living edge" of the boards, which created organic-looking shapes that I think pretty great. We treated them with a natural oil but gave a small dropper bottle with each board just to maintain a nice finish.

John is going to start an Etsy shop to sell more. We're toying with a good name- John's Wood just doesn't seem right... :)

I made jam, because duh. I found the recipe here, and let me tell you- try this. Make this recipe. You won't be sorry.

John's got a beard. My dad has a beard. My brother-in-law has a beard. So natch I made some beard oil. A friend of mine gave me this recipe and I followed it exactly because I don't have much experience with essential oils and didn't know what I liked. When I have some more time to experiment I might try other scents, but we all ended up liking this one. 

Another good Christmas in the books. Now to make room for the 648 new toys my lucky children received...