Friday Fotos: All in a Day's Work

TGIF always brings back something important if you're a working mom: Make sure you love what you do.   For inspiration, look at what Designing Mom Aya at Chronicle Books got to do along with her crew the other day...  A "fashion sewing book" that will be published in a year was in need of some creative styling and who to best model the dresses but some of the Chronicle team?  The first photo below is Aya striking a pose (go Aya!).  Click here for the full post.


Have a happy Friday and weekend everyone!

Shop: Tiny Frock Shop

Pamela Thompson of Tiny Frock Shop wrote to me about her darling vintage shop for dolls and I just had to share with ya'll!  With a fashion background (working for Betsey Johnson and Anna Sui) she decided to start an online "frock" shop for your little one's best friends...  Barbie never looked better if you ask me and what a wonderful and affordable way to introduce a love for vintage fashion to your daughter.  Click here to visit her shop! 

from Pamela:
I am a new Mom and fashion designer who worked in NYC for over 18 years. Once my daughter was born, my husband and I decided to move to Chicago so my daughter could grow up near family.


Since I can't get fashion out of my system, I decided to open an online shop that marries all my loves and experiences (vintage clothing, kids, play, dollies and editorial fashion) into a business that will benefit moms and children alike.

Shop: Rock Paper Scissor

Lauren of Rock Paper Scissor is a beloved retailer of mine and someone I always look forward to seeing when we are in New York.  Her blog captures her to a tee...full of spunk, wit, style and tons of paper and style finds.  For a recent post, Lauren asked us to send her some photos of our studio and workspace which we were happy to oblige.  Click here to read the full post!

Guest Blogger: Annette Tatum on her Favorite Things

by Annette Tatum

Thank you to the team at Designing Moms Blog for asking me to be a
guest on their site. I am the owner of both Annette Tatum and Little
House collections which are companies that specialize in custom
designed textiles and products for the home and the nursery. I have
been creating and building a business for the past 15 years and have
been often asked what inspires me when I create? What are my favorite
things?
I find that with a busy house like mine filled with four children (ages
7-19), what inspires me the most is my family. They encourage me to
keep discovering my creative inner spirit as well as keep me focused on
what is important.


Having a studio at home as well as a store just down the street keeps
me on my feet. Half of my days are filled with running a business,
working on product development and other day to day management tasks.
The other half is filled with mom stuff. Dentist visits, school lunches
and after school activities. I don’t get to linger too long on things,
which is why I like a little of everything. My life changes quickly so
I find that my style favorites change fast too.
In my studio I keep a lot of my inspiration. Journals filled with
ideas, trims and buttons and other small details. Fabrics I love and
more. Most special are the little works of art or small notes from my
family that remind me that what I do matters.

We travel a lot as a family and finding inspiration is never too hard

to find . I have also recently finished my first book "The Well Dressed
Home" for Clarkson Potter. Between the business and my family
adventures…. inspiration is something that I often just stumble upon.


One of my favorite go to for inspiration is fashion. I love the details
and the constant change of looks and ideas. This is a recent fashion collection I did for the release of the book. Visit our blog for more.


In my own home some of my favorite things come from my china
collection. I love to collect odd assortments of china. Plates that I
just love for no reason. Cups that might be used for some fantasy tea
party.

Vases and old oddities that I love just because. Color always inspires…
A detail from my favorite dining chair
An old tray that I found at a local antique house. I love anything with
birds… Some of my some of my collection of dishes. Old florals mixed
with mother of pearl flatware.
My children’s homework/ art room… I love any space in the house that
offers up room for creative time.
My journals.. they are my place where I keep all my ideas and
inspiration. I love referring to them for ideas or just to look at
beautiful things.

A Creative Life: Designer Annette Tatum

Annette Tatum answers questions about her "Creative Life" which involves juggling four kids and a busy career as designer and now author. I'm so impressed with Annette finds a way to remain detailed and attentive to her work and clients all the while balancing all of the to-dos in her day. She's also got some great tips on decorating your kid spaces!

Your gorgeous book, "The Well-Dressed Home" is so inspiring in how it bridges one's fashion aesthetic with their decor sense. What's your advice for moms constantly on the go who may have lost touch with their personal style?

As a mom of four, I am constantly dressing myself and my home for whatever is easiest. Sometimes I even get stuck in a "style" rut. To get back in my groove I try to look for inspiration in magazines, on blogs and from friends. I found that as my children get older it is much easier to find my personal style. As my own time has become more available , I begun to update not only in my wardrobe, but my home. Magazines, blogs, and friends are often a great, quick way to "check" in to style trends and ideas. I think that when our children are young we are so busy taking care of little ones that our personal style for ourselves often gets put to the wayside. As time goes by and children get older I find it much easier to pursue my own style interests.


I love that readers can see themselves in each of the categories...from couture bohemian to retro resort. How do you assess your clients' styles when you have your first sit down meeting?

I don't want to stereotype anyone upon the first meeting so I am usually careful to remain open and not judge a book by its cover. I have been pleasantly surprised over and over by clients' choices for home decor that, had I opened their closets and taken a peek into their wardrobe first, I would have seen many other styles they actually were attracted to. I cannot tell you how many times when we were making this book that I explored the closets of the homeowners only to find that their wardrobes often reflected their choices for home decor. Our lifestyles are made up of many layers of styles and I think it is important to remember that each client has his or her own "dress" code already in development. How open a client is to adding more layers is what makes the process fun. Many times I have begun a project with a person who states that there style is one way or another, only to find by the end that they are happy to add another style layer to their home. I think we all buy what we like or love. Our homes should reflect that too regardless of what defines our style.


What are some inexpensive but instant ways to spruce up a kid's room? If there was just one item to splurge on, what would it be?

A quick way to spruce up a child's room is bedding. It is easy to change and usually needs refreshing every now and then. I just today re-dressed my 9 year old Lena's bedding. She choose the pattern "daisy" from the Annette Tatum Collection. When the bed was all made, it made such a statement and instantly updated the room. When it comes to "splurging" on an item for the room I usually invest in something that I consider one- of - kind; wall art, a small decorative chair or an interesting new chandelier. I love finding a treasure that sets the room apart and makes the room feel special. I also like to splurge on framing my child art for the room. It costs a little bit more, but a work of art is worth it.



Were you rearranging furniture and dreaming in colors from the time you were young? How did you become a leading interior designer?

I have asked my mother the same question! I don't think I did. I think I liked "organizing" which in turn lead to moving existing furniture around to give the room a whole new feel. I often still do this in my own home. I try different pieces in new locations. I love moving things around and it often creates surprising results. Once for a photo shoot, I moved the living room into the family room and created an all pink tea party for the day. My girls loved it and wanted it to stay that way forever. Smaller moves have also helped me find homes for pieces of furniture that I thought were never right. The path leading up to interior design has been a winding road. I have studied architecture, product design, fashion and textile design. So I have done a little of everything and lot of somethings. I don't know if "interior" designer is the final phase but the book has inspired me more to be open to the lifestyle aspect of design more that just the product itself. I am loving the fashion angle to home decor because I love how fashion moves through seasons. It is fast paced and exciting. Full of drama and detail. I would love to see more of this in home decor.

You mention you are a family of six with four kids...I'd love to know what a typical day-in-your-life is like! Any personal tips on how you've managed to balance such a busy career and family life?

I am a good juggler!! I don't know how I get through some days and sometimes things fall through the cracks. I always try to take my kids to school and pick up them up - and then I work in between. This is a fairly new routine due to my youngest in now out of kindergarten. I think I often mentally make a list of priorities too. I know that as my oldest just went off to college that time passes so quickly, so I try and find time to slow down. Sometimes I just have to say, "nothing at work is that important." I also have found that in this group of 4 children, they are often able to help each other, which in turn is a great help to me. My children come to my office after school. They have been around my work since they were little so it all seems so natural. They have all been to a trade show!! So, aside from the day to day schedule of school and work I try and create pockets of time for my family. Weekends I try not to work and after school I leave the cell phone in the car..most of the time. And just when I get it all figured out and it seems like there is a routine, it all changes again. Someone starts ballet, another one has baseball and the balancing act begins again.
You've worked with some of the top celebrity moms out there...Minnie Driver, Maria Shriver, Marcia Cross Sara Michelle Gellar, ... How much did their children's styles factor into the design process of their decor? Who was the most fun to work with?

Working with celebrity moms is always fun and many who I have worked with I now call my friends. Working with a new mom can create a bond when you are designing the "nest" for their new baby to come home to. I try to keep the process simple, easy and low key. Many celebrities are often bombarded daily with requests and demands. I try and keep this part of their lives personal and private. It is not like they are sporting the newest handbag. A baby is coming and like any new mom to be this time is special and I try and honor that. Since the baby has not usually arrived yet, the design choices usually reflect the mom's personal style. I loved working with Marcia because creating a room for twins is unique and exciting. Minnie was great as well. She had two separate nurseries to design. One more classic and beachy, the other more bohemian. We have many celebrity moms that visit our shop and know our products. I am always happy to be asked to help create something that is unique and expresses their own special style.


What's your next big venture? Do you have any plans to write another book (if so, any hints on what it might be about)?

Next... a book possibly.. maybe two. Two different subjects so that could keep my plate full. I am still traveling on a book tour for The Well Dressed Home and that has been fun meeting so many people in other towns across the country. I love the small discussions that result from the book and have really got to see first hand how many people love the book. They are actually using the philosophy in their own home designs. I am also launching an online store for www.annettetatum.com finally and working on new patterns and products for Little House as well. Somehow... even if I don't plan my next big venture... it finds me!

A Creative Life: Mazie Kane

by Designing Mom Liberty of Libby Dibby



On Amy at Mazie Kane (photos taken by our friend Sonja)...

What is a day in your life like?

A typical day for me begins around 6:30am when I am thrust into the craziness of getting 2 of my 3 kids off to school. The rest of the day varies with errands, a trip to the gym or a quick jog hopefully, and time spent with my youngest son. If I am working on orders or creating new pieces, I usually begin them sometime in the middle of my day before it's time to pick up my kids, begin homework or take them to classes or practices. And then of course there's dinner, bedtime and me collapsing on the couch for a new episode of Lost or SYTYCD!


How do you juggle motherhood and art?
It is sometimes difficult for me to juggle motherhood and art. I try and fit it in throughout the day if I can, since I'm just about useless at night. As a previous dancer, I still love taking dance classes and that is the most challenging. I do try and squeeze in a class here or there, but not as often as I would like.


Where do you draw on for inspiration?
I am inspired by vintage findings, especially if they are wood or some sort of metal. I also love discovering new, pretty papers. And I am always inspired and in awe of other etsy artists as well as the displays at Anthropologie!


How do you recharge your creative batteries?
If I want to recharge my creative batteries, I will check out the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market or take a dance class. Both can really feed my soul.

What's one thing on your creative to do list?
One thing on my creative "to do" list is to become more proficient at sewing.


If you could do one thing this year that was totally frivolous - what would it be?
If I could do one thing this year that was totally frivolous, it would include a spa somewhere with wonderful girlfriends and some great food and wine.

Welcome new Designing Mom: Sara

I always know it's going to be a great Monday when I get to introduce a new Designing Mom. Our newest "Make" contributor has projects that will make you dizzy with creative inspiration. Sara of Creative Jewish Mom lives in Israel with her family and it's evident their beautiful surroundings and family life inspire the innumerable crafts and projects she carefully creates and documents. In fact, her cake for her four year old looked so fun it inspired me to try one for my own little one's recent birthday (even though it turned into a misshapen macaroon tower). I hope you are inspired by her projects as well! Read on about her and please help me welcome Sara to Designing Moms!


Hi, I'm Sara of creativejewishmom.com, and I'm so happy to be here joining this amazing group of designing moms! I'm originally from Northern California, studied design in graduate school in New York, and worked in both advertising and the garment industry in Manhattan before choosing a totally different lifestyle and cultural experience here in Israel. I now live with my husband and five children in the gorgeous rolling hills of Northern Israel, where we have chosen to raise our family in a quiet and relatively non-materialistic environment. I work from home as a freelance graphic designer and crafts writer, and have started my blog as a first step in a larger plan to hopefully develop a product line and publish my work.

I'm what you'd call an all around designer and crafter, and I love the challenge of using both my knowledge and creativity to come up with design solutions for clients as well as for my own personal projects. I truly believe that having the opportunity to raise children stretches us in ways that also make us even better designers! And for myself, having chosen to live in a place with no shopping malls or large stores nearby (and in any case certainly nothing even close to a JoAnnes!) I have been forced to be even more creative with decorating and design solutions for my home as well as creative outlets for myself and my children.

Though I dabbled in crafts as a teenager, I spent many more hours playing sports and even studied science in college! I developed my true love for design while studying and later working in Manhattan, and my love for crafting was born here in Israel, a result of my need for some creative stimulation. My best ideas are the ones that quite simply pop into my head, but I'm certainly influenced by everything I see, and I've been very inspired and learned many valuable crafting techniques from the vast array of craft blogs and websites now rapidly multiplying on the internet. My day is a fairly typical of any work at home, stay at home mom! We are all master jugglers and if a ball gets dropped here and there hopefully it's something that isn't breakable! All of my children are now in school, so I theoretically have mornings until 1:15 free for my own projects, and I usually return to the computer after the children are in bed. Late afternoons and evenings are family time and I try to do craft projects with my kids as well as getting outside for some fresh air when the weather permits. I've put together a little photo essay to give you an idea of what my life looks like, at it's most photogenic moments that is!

I love plants! As it turns out, because we live in a complex of homes built on a hill, I don't have any actual land! Fortunately I'm a designer and came up with a solution: I built a large rose bed next to the entrance to our home, and have created a garden like feeling with pots containing many beautiful and flourishing plant species. In any case, my plate is more than full, I wouldn't know where to find the time for an actual garden!

I've always loved climbing roses and found a spot for them too! I just love this photo with our mountain view in the background. Flowering vines are particularly exciting, especially this fragrant stephanotis.

I call the style of our home "Moroccan meets the sixties in Upstate New York" if that makes any sense to you! I try to keep the house spare looking as it's much easier to clean and quickly organize when there's not too much around. (You know like when an unexpected visitor calls and says they are in the neighborhood and the house is upside down! ) I have added details with stenciling and combined some of my flea market finds with touches of Moroccan iron work and lanterns.

The neutral palette I've created is a great backdrop for splashes of color, and I love to decorate for holidays and special occasions with artwork I've done together with my children. Recently I've been bitten by a little crochet bug, resulting in some fun handcrafted items hanging around the house here and there!

Since creativity is such a large and joyful part of my life, I make a serious effort to sit down with my children for some art time, and I encourage them to work on projects themselves, to build confidence and foster a love for crafts!

Of course appreciating the world around us is an important part of life too, which means taking the time to get out of the house and explore! We like to take walks through the antique cobblestone alleys of the old section of our town and discover artful details. At the top of the hill on which our city is built is a nice park with stunning views, lots of open sky, and a great spot for a picnic. This time it's whole wheat pizza roll-ups that mom baked for the occasion!

Another favorite destination is the nature preserve just below our home. We love the stunning views of the country side, the wild flowers in the spring, the occasional grazing cow, and the opportunity to do some nature collecting! Whoops, the sun is setting already? Where has the day gone?

A Creative Life: Angela Adams

What a treat... Designer extraordinaire Angela Adams took a few minutes to answer some questions about her "creative life" with us today! If you don't already know about her famed, gorgeous rug designs, then you've got some catching up to do because she has since gone on to create bedding, bath, pillow, bag, glass collections that will leave you breathless. Her latest launch is a quilt collection that won't break the bank available at Macy's.

Quilts, rugs and bags aside...I am just completely enamored with Angela's natural sense of design and interpretation of nature. Be sure to check out her website for more!

Quite a few of us here use your bags to double as stylish "diaper"
bags and we'd love to know if there are any other products from your line that you'd recommend for moms on the go?

Thanks for carrying our bags!
I like the small leather clutches, for added functionality in your totes…. You can quick grab one when going to the market or post office.

Any suggested favorite rugs for the little one's room? I so appreciate how playful they are without being too baby'ish (my personal favorite for the nursery would be ocean in seaglass!).

Kids have always spoken our design language so fluently. They get it. So it really depends on what vibe you want that particular room to have. I would lean toward fun designs that can become games… Pooky could become a fun Twister board. And textural rugs like Ocean are so soothing you just want to nap on them.

What inspires you and your work?

Mother nature inspires me more than anything.

Were you creative since you were a child?

Yes, I think all kids are creative and then it’s a matter of holding onto that as you grow older.

What's a typical day-in-your-life like?

When Im not traveling, I walk down the hill to work. Everyday is a little different thankfully, or I'd get nutty. Some days it is focussed on design and others its focussed on business. I like the mix - but I prefer more design than business. Then we usually go out for lunch at one of the great neighborhood spots. Then walk home at the end of the day. I love to cook, so I cook dinner almost every night. Hopefully somewhere in there I got some exercise:)

Greatest reward/challenge in what you do?

Every day I feel fortunate that I get to do what I do , with the peole I do it with. It really is a dream.

A Creative Life: Green Rainbow Shop

I could relate (as I bet all of you can too) to Eva's honest remark about how there is really no balance between family and business and that she works at night from 10pm-1am when the little ones are snoozing. Exhausting I know...but isn't it nice to know that our creative urges compel us to somehow find a way through thick and thin? Hope you enjoy reading about Eva and her Green Rainbow Shop today for our Creative Life. Click here to visit her site!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background

I was born and raised in Katerini, a small town near mount Olympus (the mountain of the 12 gods of Greek mythology) in Greece. I finished my studies and got a bachelors degree in Marketing, while working to a company that provided internet services and web design. That is where I learned lots of ways of researching.

In 1999 I was asked by my many years friend and lover to follow him and start our life together in New York. Who could deny that?!?!

We now have 2 kids, Spiro and Anna who are our motivations and my inspirations. I consider myself as a very stable person, at least in relationships and business. I have been working for over 9 years with a multi tasking businessman and engineer. Learned a great deal in the business part but something was missing…

How did Green Rainbow start?

…Working in New York City, your personal and family time is basically eliminated. Right after we had our son Spiro in 2006 and then Anna in 2008, I realized that I needed more time spent with my kids and family. I also found out that I needed more space for my own creative needs. So, in 2009 I started Green Rainbow Shop.

It is the place where I can research for green and eco-friendly products. It is the place to promote and give another portal to local eco-friendly designers to expose their creations or handmade and natural products. The inspiration for the name was Spiro, he is the rainbow in our life, through his personality, and little Anna is our sunshine!

How do you balance family life and running an online business?

I really do not think that there is ever going to be balance between family and business, even if it is an online one. My best time to work and create? After both of the little ones are asleep, and I have finished with bathing, then get my mac in my lap and start my last shift of work. Between 10 pm- 1am. That is the only time that I find balance and actually I find it to be the most creative and productive time as well!

How do you incorporate green living with your family and little ones?

We have been always trying to live the “green life”, in our own terms. And we believe that every year we become better, since we get to learn more on how to become greener. Since our kids are so young, the first steps and the first lesson we taught them, was using less water when we are washing our hands. Or when we take our bath. The best way to do that is by telling them that other kids want to use the water and it will not be enough if we let it run for a long time. It seems to be working. They definitely take under consideration the fact that other kids will have dirty hands and will need to have them cleaned for eating their lunch!

Greatest reward/challenge of owning your own business?

My greatest challenge is to find my own clients. Seems like when you do it for somebody else it is “easier”. When you are the boss of yourself it is tougher. Why is that?My biggest reward would be working on my own schedule.

Tell us what a typical day-in-your-life is like

The kids and me, wake up between 7 -7:30am and have breakfast, daddy has already started his day. I get to take Spiro to nursery school and Anna stays home with my mother in law- yes we are a typical greek family, having the mother in law babysit the kids while we are at work.- We consider ourselves very happy of having this luxury. The day goes on with emails, readings, phone calls and sales. I drink lots of coffee throughout the day, which is my major guilt but cannot ever resist. At lunchtime I will pick up Spiro from school and go home. Then going back to work and end up coming back home around 6:30 -7 pm. Feeling guilty about that as well… We always try to have dinner altogether. We consider that sitting around the table, even if someone is not hungry is lesson by itself, among other we can give. After the kids are fallen asleep, Green Rainbow will take over again for me, and I will do my final touch ups of the day, answer emails and read some blogs. As of June 1^st , I will be dedicated 100% to Green Rainbow Shop, meaning that I will have more time to express even my own creativity through some new ideas that have been running around my head for a green rainbow design line…even may have more time for a personal blog…