Exquisite...

It's no secret that I have an unhealthy obsession with art books. Book By Its Cover has fed that frenzy and long been a favorite blog, so I was super excited to hear from Julia that The Exquisite Book is now available. Authored by Julia Rothman, Jenny Volvovski and Matt Lamothe (all of ALSO), the book has a really interesting format and is sure to be incredible. I can't wait to see my copy in person (you thought I could resist a book like this?!). You can see more images of the book here and pick up a copy here. Congratulations, Julia, Jenny, and Matt!

Good surprise, bad surprise...

Yesterday a stranger asked me if I was pregnant. I'm decidedly NOT pregnant, but do need to start jogging. The photo above? No, it has nothing to do with being chubby. EZ E was on a car kick this weekend at my parents' house and left a lovely row of matchbox cars in an old cabinet. A colorful surprise...unlike the crap surprise of someone thinking that I look pregnant. Off to jog.

Creative space...

On our next trip to NYC I'd like to check out moomah. It's such a great idea and I wish we had a creative, family-friendly space like this where we live. Unfortunately, Chuck E. Cheese reigns supreme around here. EZ E loves it, but that place makes me tired just thinking about it. Has anyone ever been to moomah? Is it as fabulous as it looks?

This weekend...

Any fun plans for your weekend? My sweet PRH has to work this weekend and I am taking our nieces to see Justin Bieber. Yes, seriously. I'm not really familiar with his music, so it should be interesting...this is what happens when I try to be a cool aunt. Hope you all have an interesting weekend and I'll see you again on Monday.

*image found via a merry mishap (originally from skona hem)

Staycation...

We've already started our weekend with a bang. Here are a few more photos from our staycation in my parents' backyard. We were loading up the good old Volvo wagon with blankets, beer, and watermelon when EZ E found a dead butterfly on the floor of the trunk. He was initially sad that it was dead, but was convinced that it came back to life when the wind made it fly out of his hands. He also insisted on wearing the bear claw necklace and "camping hat"...


Here he is checking out PRH's work while Kicky and I observed from a nearby blanket...



until both Kicky and EZ E became more interested in checking out the smores. I brought Nutella instead of chocolate squares and it was quite fabulous...


Here we are hanging out in the bus, coming down off our early afternoon smores high...


This was pretty much our last hurrah before the semester starts for PRH and EZ E, so I'm glad it was such a blast.

Home again...

We had SO much fun camping last night! I thought we were going to freeze, but it was actually pretty warm in the old VW. I think the Smithwicks probably helped a little. Good times! I'll be back later with more photos from our mini-adventure. Have a great day!

Stop the presses...

We were getting ready to go camping, but unfortunately it just occurred to EZ E that Kicky doesn't have her own ribbon hanging on the side of the refrigerator (next to great-grandpa's military-issued fork...a deferential spot to hang it, I know). EZ E is correct, although how exactly he knows that she doesn't have her own when he can't even read...well, it's beyond me. I hadn't had time to make one for her yet, but we've decided to halt all camping prep in order to make a quick ribbon for our little Kicky girl.

Chatter...

Conversation with EZ E after he hit Kicky in the face with a toy:

Me: Hey! No way, man! Hitting is not OK!
EZ E: I guess I'm going to go sit in a chair.
Me: Yes, you should go do that.
EZ E (walking away): Oh man! This is SO not my day.

Last days...

We're taking advantage of the last days of summer here in the states. Bubble-blowing is definitely the order of the day, followed by a night of camping in my parents' VW bus. Three cheers for that! Do you make fancy plans for the last days of summer?

The young artist...

EZ E scored this old school fisher price art kit the other day and we're both pretty psyched. I had one when I was little that is now grossly incomplete. This one is well on its way to being incomplete also. Young artists.

Cuffed...

In elementary school I wore a thick leather bracelet every day. I have no idea what happened to it, but a girl at our local book store was wearing one the other day and it instantly took me back to seventh grade. So now, of course, I want one and found a bunch that I like on etsy. Which one would you pick? The bracelet above is from sophia pip and the bracelets below are from rad cow...


snapping dragon...


silkstone designs...


arterhaar...


and pink your limb...

Dream house...

How gorgeous is this house that I found on Anna's lovely tumblr? I am SO wishing for a little cottage in the middle of nowhere this morning. What are you wishing for today?

*beautiful photo by Joan Perry

How to...

As promised, here's a butterfly finger puppet tutorial (please excuse the wonky color)...

• Step 1: Choose felt colors and find a template. I already had a Martha Stewart butterfly shape, so I traced that onto card stock. Once you find a clip art butterfly shape that you like, make sure you like the size, print it onto card stock, cut it out, and you're ready to go!
• Step 2: Trace your template twice; one butterfly shape per color of felt. I used a sharpie marker so it would show up easily for the tutorial, but chalk would also work (and would come off).
• Step 3: Cut out two butterfly shapes.
• Step 4: Cut a small half circle out of your left over felt. This little half circle is what makes the puppet a puppet.

• Step 5: Sew the half circle onto the back of butterfly.
• Step 6: Draw out your butterfly design. I drew freehand tear drop shapes, but you can make it any shape you wish. Again, I used sharpie for the tutorial but it would probably be better to use chalk.
• Step 7: I couldn't find my tiny scissors so I used my giant beasts and simply cut small slits in the middle of each tear drop shape to get it started.
• Step 8: Trim around the edges of each tear drop shape.

• Step 9: Lay your two butterfly shapes together. Make sure that the half circle shape is on the outside/back BEFORE you sew the two shapes together (can you tell that I made that mistake?)
• Step 10: Sew along the edge to join the two shapes together. I just used a simple running stitch.

• Step 11: Your two shapes, like mine, may not line up perfectly. Use a small pair of scissors to very carefully trim along the edge. I would recommend just trimming the back edge instead of both at the same time.

• Step 12: For this puppet, I used french knots to make the spots. Here is an excellent french knot tutorial that I found online. For the first puppet, however, I just used puff paint which proved to be waaayyyy easier.

Enjoy your puppet and please let me know if you have any questions!

This weekend...

We have a busy weekend ahead of us, part of which I hope includes de-cluttering this little house. It's getting out of control and I'm thinking about organizing a two-week, upstate New York pop up shop to unload some finds. Want to come? Have a great weekend and I'll definitely see you all on Monday with a belated butterfly finger puppet tutorial.

Hello...

Wow! For lack of something more eloquent to say...thank you and welcome to Aesthetic Outburst! You can read more about me and my little family here. The images above are a snippet of what we do around here...we go for walks, we read books, we pretend to be owls, we make stuff, we enjoy cocktails (at least the two grown-ups do), we feed birds, we have great friends, we climb ladders, we sing, we dance, and we hope you'll visit again soon!

For a feathered nest...

I'm really loving this whole feather trend and thought I'd share some of my favorites. The images above are from Jody Edwards and below are images from groundwork...

golly bard...


Fastsoft Press...


suspect shoppe...


unitedthread...


and New Duds...

Carved...

I saw these carved pencils on the Urban Outfitters blog. They're by artist Dalton Ghetti and I have no idea how I've never seen them before. Incredible. I should send him my pencil collection.

Host with the most...

We had quite a cast of characters at breakfast this morning and last. I guess that's what happens when you have a lot of chairs. Sock Monkey is eating ketchup, Pez, and orange juice...in other words, EZ E's dream breakfast.

Thrift score...

I've decided to drown myself in thrift shopping to avoid thinking about PRH starting a new job. Just kidding (sort of). We did make a stop at the thrift store after our visit to the doctors office and found these vintage puzzles though. EZ E is obsessed and I can see why. They're are so graphic and cute in a perfectly weird way, don't you agree?