d.Sharp Journal

sympathies

Today, wishing the victims and families in Texas and Florida the comfort of peace.

Like many people, I am sure, I try to work daily to remember all that I have to be grateful for.  I want to have that sense of gratitude tethered to me at all times, but caught up in the bustle of life, it can fall away. Events like those in TX and FL are a rude reminder of how horrific a person can be; at the same time it reminds me how many, many more good people there are in this world. Sterling people I may know for a lifetime, a passing acquaintance, someone whose actions, even in the smallest of ways, restores my faith that there is good. Chances are, you are one of them - thank you.

lovenotes

My heart breaks - this is such a sweet child.

Artful clutter

Definitely digging this house in the Times. Plus , 90 acres in the Catskills - oh, to be there this time of year!

 

for this Halloween

We escorted Merlin and Captain Hook through the neighborhood. They were calling for rain, but we seriously lucked out with the weather - especially because part of C's Hook costume is made with coffee filters. M's Merlin costume was great at keeping him warm, although he later ditched the felt beard.

You night remember that C has a real sweet tooth, needless to say he was ecstatic about going door to door and asking for candy - both of them 'shopping' the bowls for their favorites, despite our reminders not to. However, they both told us they were done for the night and we skipped a block or two on the way home.

 

We let them have a couple of pieces that night and then they have the choice of keeping the candy or picking out a dozen pieces {to be doled out} and trading the rest in for a small toy. Do any of you put any limits on the candy for your kids?

hope you had a great Halloween!

And yes, success. Only one piece on Saturday and one piece on Sunday and the plan is no more - I will miss it.

{Did you see that Colbert Report where he is waxing poetic about the wonder of sugar and that it is Jesus's dandruff? That is what pops into my head now when I think about it.}

 

Boo

Almost forgot to wish you all a happy Halloween weekend!

My plans, and I am saying it here, just ONE piece of candy Sat. and Sun. - then I can send the rest off to my husband's work. { please know that this is a pretty revolutionary concept for me, speaking of - have you seen This Is Why You're Fat? That is some scariness.}

I am sure I can survive the deprivation and be back Monday. Have a great one.

Best,

Denise

Titled

M has been enjoying art class at school. Brought home some of his drawings/paintings. The titles on the back:

The Course of Events

Whackyville Skyline

Age of Wonderously Complex Physics

Landscape of Crazytown

The Preposition of Hereafter

Tickling the Ivories

very cool!

This year

Can you guess what C is going to be for Halloween? The boys had great fun at a Halloween party this past weekend, it was good for me - it meant I wasn't finishing their costumes on Halloween morning.

C has a throat thing going on - he feels fine though. Is it wrong to be amused by it? I asked him how much he was looking forward to Halloween...

 C's voice

VH

My friend Amy {you really need to meet her - chronic niceness}has started a new blog - Vintage Holiday. Her weekly posts will center on vintage holidays as they approach on the calendar and she will have a monthly giveaway{!}. I can't wait to see more.

I dream

of bookshelves.{ and seriously covet that globe}

 

 

 

 

I am....

bringing sexy old and infirm back.

There are few things that can make you feel older than tweaking your back. I considered going to the doc for pain meds but decided I didn't want to be in a waiting room during flu season, if I can help it. I hope to spend less time hunched over today!

Let's be friends

online prozac = these photos of unusual animal friendships at Let's Be Friends

 

{there's even piglets in blankets}

collect+create

The work and installations of Jean Shin are lovely to behold. I especially like the deconstructed shoes.

 

Amen.

love this guy!

into extraordinary

Kevin Van Aelst transforms the ordinary - love these photos.

 

simple ideas

I like these ideas for wrangling kid's curios. From my clippings pile - a past issue of Real Simple.

a girl can dream.

Have you ever done guided meditation? When asked to find my 'happy place', it looks a lot like the pages from Vintage French Interiors, I speak fluent French, G and I are the only customers at the flea markets and my wallet is heavy.

{Oh, and I have a lot less body upholstery.}

 

Behold - Gravestones

I like my vintage cast iron S & P shakers.

May they rest in peace.

Putting the box of 64 to shame

Look at all of these lovely colors. 500 Colored Pencils is a subscription - 25 colors for 20 months. "A time-release of inspiration and color." Beauty!

Found via Daily Poetics, among, I might add, so many wonderful objects, poetry, and little paths to follow.

ha!

I am easy to amuse.

 

Yo Barack,

Congratulations President Obama

 

So many different reactions and comments online regarding this - I like: the Secret Service is to be on the lookout for Kanye West when President Obama accepts the Nobel Peace Prize.

camo

Artist Liu Bolin doesn't use Photoshop - just crazy great at painting himself. {the bottom picture!}

Yesterday,

my primary thought was: oh s**t, I only have one year to get all grown-up and put together before I turn forty. 

Sketchbooks

Sketchbooks: The Hidden Art of Designers, Illustrators & Creatives is a great read/see/get-inspired tome. My books are filled more with chicken scratches and illegible notes to myself.{which makes for interesting reading later, when my memory has failed} Now inspired to do more sketching and imagemaking.

a page by Pablo Amargo, above.

 

Works above by Pep Carrió
 

pages I like from Oliver Jeffers.

 

Nienie's day

Are you a reader of her blog or remember and have been following her story?

It has been over a year since the plane accident that severely injured Stephanie Nielson and her husband, and she is now going to share her personal story on Oprah.  A powerful story of recovery. It airs tomorrow, Wed. the 7th.

4 more down.

 Condé Nast is folding Gourmet {after 70 years!}, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and Cookie magazines. I was receiving  Cookie in order to complete my subscription when they canceled Domino.

Being the mag hag that I am, I have to say: wah.

okay

this is a sign I need to get out of more.

Most folks don't bother calling my cell, because I am extremely easy to reach on my land line {like, always home} - so it makes sense that in the past month I received more cell calls from my brother's BUTT than any one else. Social butterfly, I am.

We hope you

have a great weekend.

Rescued

The One in 8 Million project at the NY Times is fascinating. Short, poignant first-person videos of a wonderful panoply of New Yorkers.

The most recent is a antiques dealer/animal rescuer. HERE.

{thank you Stefanie Rinza!}

Epic Kludges and Jury Rigs

Have you been to there I fixed it?

{My favorite so far has been the battery operated toothbrush -  someone MacGyvered  this dental instrument by scotch-taping a toothbrush to a vibrator.}

This brand new storm door makes me chuckle as well as a reader's comment: I think I see Edward Norton beating himself up in the backyard.