max and me and kinfolk

the third volume/spring issue of kinfolk is available today! 

i've been sinking into my copy with left over lemon cupcakes and a bit of quiet this afternoon.

 

i'm not quite sure how it's possible, but every new issue gets more and more beautiful than the last...

 i was lucky enough to get to contribute a few new simple paintings and a illustration for this issue...and got the chance to write a small essay about time spent baking and making messes, just me and my max. 

it's a fun read, knowing now that the katie who wrote those words had no idea she would soon have another little set of hands eager to help in the kitchen...

these are a few extra photos from our shoot for the issue...oh how i cherish them.

 

p.s. did i ever tell you that kinfolk is carried in anthropologie stores? good grief, it's a bit of a dream to go into your favorite store and see your name and work on a product on a shelf!

now that calls for another cupcake!

happy happy tuesday!

cookies for santa

max and i have been busy christmas bees this afternoon...making messes and baking cookies for santa.

baking with buddy is something i cherish...especially this time of year. i've never known someone to use so much icing...or sprinkles. or to insist on baking in his underwear. he's surely my kind of guy!

this year has been funny with max and christmas believing. 

he's always been a little leery of the idea of a man breaking into our house at night...presents or no presents. he's just never trusted santa. 

(remember this christmas when he wore a ski mask to bed and hid a plastic sword under his pillow? and this one where he stalked santa at the mall?)

this year he is full of belief and trust! he even has justified the improbability of santa delivering presents to the world by theories of worm holes and time freezing. it's been a real hoot! a gift, really. 

 

i hope all of you celebrating have the happiest happiest christmas! 

sending lots of love and peace and joy to your family from mine. 

xoxo

carrot top

our poor little garden didn't fare so well this year...too many critters and hot sun and vacation days away without watering. but last night we discovered that our carrots are alive and well and busting at the seams! i've spent the better part of the rainy afternoon here in ohio digging up the perfect carrot recipes...cookies and cakes and tortes and soup.

it all has me dreaming up all sorts of fall baking projects for me and max. 

i can hardly believe it's right around the corner.

the filling

i've spent the better part of my day today cursing martha stewart. 

and parisian macaroons.

and myself for not following instructions and going rouge when i had no business.

i'm in the throws of baking and hot glueing and glittering for a certain someone's party tomorrow.

(or for absolutely no good reason at all if you're my amy reading this)

 

but after having to dump a bowl of too salty macaroon filling down the drain...i decided it's time for a blogging break and some more birthday lovin....

 

june is a lucky month for dazzling women.

today is my grandma bessie's day.

she turned 87 and believe me when i tell you age means very little to her.

 she is as sparkling and spirited as they come.

she is full of style and class and the sweetest substance. 

i've always said if i could just be a pinch of what she is i would be a fearsome woman to behold.

i've got a ways to go...

until then, i'll be fumbling around in the kitchen...making more messes then actual food. 

but there's still all sorts of joy in that. even in my spotty, lumpy-dumpy, imperfect macaroons (minus the filling...matt just came to my rescue and brought home unsalted butter for me to give it a second go).

and it's because they're made out of love. 

with some defiance to all sensible rules.

 

i think i get that from bessie.

happy happy birthday grandma! 

and happy weekend friends. i can't wait to share party pictures with you!

and hopefully one good macaroon.