Chloe Kids Spring 2013

Tomorrow is the first day of spring, but Michigan doesn't seem to know it. Today has been filled with snow flurries and temps in the twenties -- the forecast for the rest of the week. I am so ready for sunny days, the smell of fresh cut grass and blooming flowers, but it doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon. Sigh.

That said, adorable chubby babies in white frilly dresses instantly lift my mood. How wonderful are these photos from the Chloe Kids spring look book? These pictures remind me of my childhood: sweet and natural, filled with daisy chains and just a touch of fairy magic. Exactly how I hope to raise my own daughter.

And can I have that last dress in grown up size, please?

Photos for Chloe Kids, via Design Mom.

Olympics of Summers Past

Multiple exposure of the 1972 US rowing crew in Munich, Germany

Have you been following the Olympics this summer? I honestly haven't been able to catch very many events since Netflix is my tv at home, but Chris and I try to watch what we can at his parent's house. Our favorite weekend pastime of late involves parking it on their couch and watching the finest examples of the human form sprint/swim/jump across the tv screen as we stuff our faces with guacamole and Little Debbie treats. That's real life.

In between events last Sunday, I caught a little segment about London's previous Olympic games, held in 1948, which were the first games since WWII. The nerd in me was loving it... interviews from 1948 US Olympians looking back at the past, grainy video footage and photograph stills that were spotted with age. The footage sparked my interest in Olympic games of summers past, so I decided to do a little digging on previous summer games.

1772 Canadian Olympians at the opening ceremony in Munich.
Special thanks to early 1970s fashion for the pimp hat/feather combo.

This is my favorite photo of the batch -- US hammer thrower Harold Connolly
with his wife, Olga, at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Isn't it dreamy? 

1936 US Olympians St. Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe.

The 1968 opening ceremony in Mexico City. No fancy fireworks here, just loads of colorful balloons.

A 1964 medal ceremony for the women's 4x100 relay in Tokyo, Japan. 

Cyclists race on a distorted track at the 1952 summer games in Helsinki, Finland.

1960 US gymnasts clownin' around at the Stadio dei Marmi in Rome.

Am I the only one who feels nostalgic for times I never knew? I wish I could just jump right into the photos, which I pulled from the LIFE archives on Google. I love the history of the Olympic Games and the tradition of worldwide sportsmanship that carries on today. I hope it never fades.

It goes without saying, this weekend I'll be catching up on all my favorite events (swimming, gymnastics, diving) and chanting USA! USA!

Michael Sullivan Photography

How about a few lovely film photographs from Michael Sullivan to start your week with something beautiful? His work is seriously inspiring...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous, right? Even his wintery images look warm and inviting. I love his use of natural light, and the photos with multiple-exposures are so magical. You could easily spend an hour absorbed in all the beauty on his Flickr (I know I did.)

Hope you have a very lovely Monday, friends.

Little Darlings

I am totally loving this new series of prints, Little Darlings, from Sharon Montrose and I thought I'd share. Because it's Monday. And who doesn't love baby animals?

Yeesh

Why is the week after a vacation always so stressful and busy?

 I Still See Monsters by Andrea Hubner via decor8 

Is it because this past weekend I did nothing but lounge around outside, play croquet and card games with the in-laws, and eat an obscene amount of grilled food? Perhaps. A more substantial post is coming soon, promise.

The Burning House

If your house was burning, what would you take with you?

Hannah Queen, photographer

Thanks to Google Reader, I just found an interesting new blog called The Burning House. It asks readers to photograph and share their most cherished items -- the armful of stuff they would grab in the few spare minutes they had if their house was burning. It's so interesting to see what people would pick... a mix of sentimental and practical items. Not to mention some of the photographs are beautifully styled.

Kate McAuley, writer

After clicking through the posts, I noticed that animals make quite a few appearances. So do Apple products, photographs and/or cameras, and journals. Which is all to be expected. What I think is most interesting are the unique items that pop up in the images... a necklace, a spoon, a piece of wood. Family heirlooms, gifts from loved ones, childhood treasures. Those are the items that really tell a story.

Tim Robinson, creative director

Laura Pritchett, artist 

The items, composition, and explanations all seem to form a sort of a self portrait, which I love. Since Memorial Day brings an extended weekend in a few days, I think I'm going to round up some of my most cherished possessions and take a photo for submission. You should too -- what would be in your photo?

The Disassembling of Things

Photographer Tom McLellan picks up outdated, castoff items from the curb, disassembles them and gives them new life in his photographs.

Photo by Todd McLellan via Uppercase 

Thanks to Sharon's Manual Typewriter Rescue Society, I have two beautiful typewriters of my own. I had no idea how complex, graphic, and beautiful their insides were. I honestly doubt a computer keyboard -- or even an electronic typewriter -- would be nearly as beautiful. I also love the alarm clock and push lawn mower.

Inspiration sometimes comes in the oddest places.

She Sings of Spring

First Three Eggs of Spring by Samantha Lamb

The sun is shining warm and golden, the air smells like damp earth, daffodils that I didn't know about are poking up in our yard -- it is officially Spring! Granted, the weather forecast for this week includes snow and the Michigan grass is still sad and brown, but I'm hoping it will be the last major frost of the season. Winter can be magical, but there's nothing quite like the renewal that Springtime brings. It makes me feel like anything is possible.

Lull

Are you familiar with the photography of Samantha Lamb? I came across her photos my sophomore year of college and have been in love with her work ever since. I've been reading her blog lately, where she writes about her artwork and her life at Early Bird Acres, an Oklahoma farm she recently moved to. She drives an old, lovely, chipped white chevy and bakes pies with heart-cut crusts on a daily basis. Her life is a "perpetual picnic" and she captures all the details with her camera. I'm so envious of it all!

Loving Me as if I Have Leaves

Everything about the above photo sings of Spring to me -- sweet, soft grass and budding flowers, reading outside in the afternoon sun, bare feet, picnics with Christopher, wandering through state parks. I also realize how desperately my house needs a soft, worn honeycomb quilt! I may just enlist the help of my dear friend Sharon and make one of my own... my Springtime to-do list is stacking up quickly. Happy Spring everyone!