Artist Spotlight: Clare Elsaesser

I'm so excited to share the work of Clare Elsaesser with you! I recently saw one of her paintings on pinterest and just loved it. When I went to pin it I realized I had already bookmarked her as a favorite. A sign! I needed one. Her art feels abstract to me, but also whimsical, which I love.

For the next 2 weeks three of Clare's exclusive prints will be available in my shop. I feel honored to feature her as my first artist in the store, and know you will love her!

I had the chance to ask Clare a bit more about her life and inspirations and here's what she had to say...

How and when did you begin painting?

I began painting, and studying painting in high school though I never really enjoyed it back then (I think mostly because I was so messy, and always wound up coated in paint at the end of the day). I have only been painting consistently (almost daily) and appreciating the process, for three or four years.

Your art is so unique, and so you. I love feeling like I could pick out one of your pieces in a group. What is the inspiration behind your art?

Thanks so much Chelsea, though lately I have had the feeling I am one of many doing the same thing! I am inspired by tons of things; nature, fashion, old photos, stories and daydreams, perusing Pinterest, people, quiet and solitude, and of course Kai, my husband and his artwork.

Do you have a favorite piece, and/ or are any of your pieces made for specific people? 

Ring of Roses is the one painting I keep going back to when I make new work, but usually once I am finished with a painting I am ready to move on to the next one. Aside from commissions, sometimes I make paintings just for fun for specific people. I made a flower painting for my penpal friend Ines last year, and occasionally I paint with a person in mind; often an artist who inspires me, sometimes someone I have known, and once in a while just an imaginary character.

I know that your husband, Kai, is also an artist (whose work I love), do you share ideas and inspiration with each other? 

Oh yes, definitely! Kai and I spend so much of our time talking about painting and inspiration...probably too much time, since we live in kind of an isolated place and don't get out much :)

Doesn't her life, tucked away in a little California studio with her husband, sound so dreamy? Thank you so much Clare!

 This is the print I chose for my home, and I can't wait to get it framed and hung in our new home. 

Building a Summer Wardrobe: Kids

If you're like me the warm weather just consistently came, and you're probably doing closet inventory. It's something I love and hate doing each season. The thought of new clothes is exciting, but it's daunting when you have multiple kids & I'm always praying that most of last years clothes will still fit.

In the past Tate has been able to wear her clothes for at least two years, sometimes three. no joke. Slowest growing kid ever. Awesome for our wallet. This year however, she has outgrown almost every single summer item from last year. She's grown 3 inches this year! The boys are in the same boat. I needed to do a major inventory, and basically restock their entire closets with new clothes that actually fit.

I do 99% of my shopping online, for better options and convenience. Shipping fees are no big deal to me when I consider how much time, and how stressful it would be to drag my kids around shopping. Shopping for the twins is equivalent to an adult going to the DMV. They instantly become their worst, most impatient selves. The internet has so many more unique options as well. 

Just like decorating my house over time, I try to do the same with my kids clothes. Otherwise I think you tend to buy just for the sake of having something, and not because you truly love it. Obviously you can't take a year to build a summer wardrobe, but think about starting it early spring and going until June, and pick from different stores. It's easier on your budget, and you end up with more unique items.

Here are the items I've bought for my kids to get us through summer:

1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 7/ 8/ 9

I usually hunt for good items for a little while, pin them, and then wait until I find a discount code, or they go on sale to purchase them. You know not to buy anything from Crewcuts full price, right? That stuff always has 40% codes.

10/ 11/ 12 

I still think it's harder to find unique things for boys. In the end, I ended up find a lot at Gap (so generic) but I like how their boy clothes are styled for little kids, and not styled for teens but intended for kids. I'm not a fan of dressing my two year olds like mini Biebers. 

1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 7/ 8/ 9  

That little bear tee was so cute (and cheap) I got one for each kid!

Hopefully you found something you've been needing or want from this & I'd love to hear of any great or unique finds you've bought! Now, let's hope I don't have to replenish this all next year:)

A Modern Coastal Boys Room

Some New Arrivals are in my shop this week that I'm really excited about! The dotted Ghita Rug in particular I'm slightly obsessed with. I think it's so versatile, and can see it brightening up a mudroom, hallway, kitchen, and obviously kids room! 

 I'm working on a shared boys room for a client right now, so little ones have been on my mind. I immediately thought about this rug, in the navy dot for a perfect modern coastal boys room.

This room, a little more sophisticated, is a room to grow with. For the boy who is still okay letting you have an input, and hasn't decided that he only wants sports banners and posters of hot chicks on his wall, but he's also outgrown the nursery/toddler room and wants something older and cool. 

Sources:

Ghita Rug *(also comes in Olive & Sea Foam)

Day Bed

Dresser

Cross Pillow

Linen + Navy stripe pillows

Sea Grass Ottomans

Whale Wall Art

Silver Decorative Octopus

Buoy Lamp

Porthole Mirror

Wire Storage Bin

Modern Rocking Chair

Barn Light

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Wyatt and I are off on a little road trip to house hunt in Indianapolis. Wish us luck, it's slim picking! If you'd like, you can follow along through Instagram.

Toots!

Our week in photos

Gosh this week has flown by! With Mothers Day, our 9th Anniversary, Tate splitting her head open, and me and Tuck both getting sick it's been hard to blog. I had grand plans for posts, but they will have to wait:) In the meantime, here are some snapshots of real life, happening this week.

 Popsicle season is here/ Tuck's wonderful ankle rolls and nubby toes/ Finn climbs in the kitchen sink/ Cord plugged into the butter? Finn was here.

 Finn takes care of sleeping sick Tuck/ Tate shows off her new shades/ Afternoons at the park

Tuck sooo happy chewing on his block/ Monkey Tate/ Teeth brushing together/ Beautiful blooms out our front window

Friday Faves

A little roundup of my favorites from this week, enjoy!

1/ This Ikea Malm, turned into stunning grasscloth console table is blowing my mind. There are so many Ikea Hack's out there, and while great, most of them kind of overwhelm me. Marianne pointed out this took her about 4 hours, and some precision cutting, but I think that's SO worth it considering the statement this makes. A good size grasscloth console table like this from a store would cost a small fortune I assume. I am seriously considering finding a spot for one of these in my house.

2/ Wyatt requested a "hearty salad" for dinner this week, and I found the perfect one. Yum!

3/ Lucite Deer Antlers. Must!

4/ Adding these floral Jack Purcell's to my Mothers Day list

5/ DON'T forget to enter the Joy & Revelry Pinterest Contest. It's a $500 shopping spree folks!

6/ This room is my current favorite.

7/ Bryn Alexandra has a fabulous Mother's Day guide for what to make, if you're needing inspiration.

8/ Have you seen the new Spilled Milk blog? It's a collection of photographs, organized by a weekly theme, by 19 talented Mothers. So much beauty happening over there.

That's it! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Mother's Day to all!

On Raising Boys

*photo

Raising boys, thus far, has been such a ride! There was the initial reaction when I found out that both the little bodies in my stomach would have penis's and I cringed a little. Boys? I thought. I only knew how to do girls and now I was getting double of the sex I knew nothing about. 

Then I got excited thinking how Wyatt will have some more men in his life since he grew up the only boy with 6 sisters. The guy deserved to have some boys! Still, I was nervous.

Common adjectives I would hear moms with boys use were: crazy, dirty, messy, rambunctious, loud, boisterous, energetic, rough, smelly. Holy smokes, I'm going to hate having boys I thought. I like clean, quiet, organized, and pretty. 

But at the end of every mother describing her boys like above, she would always end with some bit about her boys being attached to their moms, so loving and sweet, funny. "There's just something special about boys" I heard all the time. I honestly didn't have a clue what to expect, and it was hard to imagine myself thinking anything could be as lovable and charming as Tate.

Fast forward to now, they're two barely and I'm head over heals obsessed! My boys, especially Finn, are ALL of those adjectives that I was afraid of, and do you know what? They get away with murder because I just find them so darn cute. I've had to become a different mom with them- more relaxed, more energetic, more patient, more creative too. I shower less, keep my house messier, make simpler meals, and play outside more. Sometimes, a lot of times, it drives me a little crazy. But mostly it's masked by all the laughter (or crying!) that happens in our home now that they're in our family. The things those boys do, all the craziness that is them, makes me laugh so hard! Like why is it so funny to throw everything? Where is ALL that food going? Are they ever going to stop climbing on my furniture? It makes me giggle just thinking of it all. Boys are hilarious.

All those other moms of boys were right, there is something magical about little boys. Do you agree? I am surely sucked into it. They are crazy, and they ruin lots of stuff. But they are so so sweet and loving. They cuddle with their mom, and drag their blankies around the house, suck on their fingers, and smother you with open mouth kisses. It's amazing! 

I'd have 10 more boys if I had more energy.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

My mother has very directly influenced my style, and even more so, shown me how beautiful every day life can be. From a very young age I remember my mom painting, sewing, cooking, writing, and decorating. With each talent, hobby, or mundane task she did, there was beauty in it. She showed me how to create a beautiful life the best way a Mother can, by example. I'm sharing my favorite products that I know my own Mother would love. Beautiful items that she can, and would, use every day to enrich daily life. 

1. Linen napkins $58
2. Rae Dunn Crown Plates $79
3. Horn and bone necklace $28
4. Mini painting $30
5. Le Labo candle $70
6. Recipe Tin Box $34