Hello, I’m back. I ducked in last Friday to slap on an “open for business” sign, then quickly left. I had been glued to my computer for so long, my hands were beginning to lose their unique human properties and nearly fused themselves with the keyboard and mouse. Scary.

I owe Ryan majorly for a couple of late nights he spent running the press and cutting my stationery down. And for adhering to an unreasonable production schedule that only a wife can get away with. Also, a huge thanks to Raya for taking product shots of my prints.

So I’m going to switch gears now and share with you a free download. This evening, I was working on an “e-” version of a save-the-date card for an upcoming church activity (recycling an old illustration of mine):

And it came to mind that this would make the perfect Halloween download. So if you could use some stationery for a fall or Halloween-themed event, click here to download a printable PDF. The design has no text or copy so you can customize it for your own use.

Happy fall!

More products to be added to the shop over the next week!

Was catching up on some blog reading I’ve gotten behind on, when I came across this sweet post from one of my absolute favorite blogs, Smitten Kitchen.

As much as I told myself to not go there, I couldn’t help feeling those motherly pangs for a needy little newborn that would snuggle into the crook of your neck and make teeny-tiny snorts. (If I had said the last part of that sentence aloud, it would’ve come out two octaves higher than normal.)

Looking at these old pictures helps relieve the aching a little bit.

{Newborn Kai, 6-week–old Dax}

I should be working. Instead, I am procrastinating by taking pictures of my work mess (it looked so pretty) and blogging it. But procrastination or not, I will be opening up shop next Friday. Yup.

Too much work and not enough play makes me dull and grumpy, so I am super excited to attend the free screening of Coco Before Chanel at the Skirball next Wednesday. Free! Raya is coming with and hopefully some other girlfriends of mine. I just need to lay the pressure on thickly and/or bribe with free babysitting. Yes, I think free babysitting will break them.

Thanks to Rubyellen for the heads up about the event. She’s also doing a giveaway (ends tomorrow) for free tickets to the Skirball, so if you’re local, make sure you click your way over to her blog. Last year, we took the boys to the Noah’s Ark exhibit and they loved it.

Isn’t it funny how prep for a craft usually takes much longer than the actual craft itself? Even if Kai prefers to smear paint everywhere and inevitably takes off to play with cars or Star Wars Legos, I still enjoy myself.

In case you try this: 1) Acrylic paint works much better than tempera, and 2) You get a better print if you lightly dab the paint onto the potato using your fingertip instead of dipping it into the paint. Happy printing!

Have you met Anna yet? She’s my sister-in-law. She’s from Russia. And she’s very pretty. If you take a picture next to her, beware. And be especially conscious of sucking it in, sitting up straight, and posing on your good side. This is important.

Over Labor Day weekend, we traveled to visit Ryan’s family, and Anna and I spent a couple of hours taking pictures in downtown Fresno. She: armed with a vintage Russian 35mm camera. Me: Holga. Good times were had posing next to trees, running through empty streets, and sitting much too long on wet grass.

I’ve fallen for film. I’ve decided that if I had the choice, I’d choose a Rollieflex over a DSLR. Not that I’d be good at it or anything, and again, not as if I have the choice. Or the opportunity any time soon to be a Brooks student. But I’ve been noticing that most of my favorite images are film.

The hard part is waiting for it to be developed. Expecting to pick up a CD of images from the photo printer yesterday, I was disappointed when he instead sent me home with my film strips so I could proof them. Boo. But I guess I’d do the same if some person kept coming to my high-end photo shop with crummy Holga images that had to be scanned in manually, one by one.

Yay for successful test sheets back from the printer. Yay for blue skies filled with airy clouds. Yay for good friends that bring over pizza and surprise goodies from a favorite bakery. Yay for half workdays and the husband being home early.

I’ve been truly needing a break this week. I’ve been feeling that there isn’t enough hours in the day to accomplish all that I need (want) to do, and I’ve been struggling with that. And also with lack of sleep. And the attack of the terrible two’s.

But today I had the ultimate Friday. My heart is so full, and I am grateful for all the blessings in my life. For acts of kindness. For a loving husband so receptive to my needs. For sweet little children who throw their arms around my neck and tell me I’m “wow.”

Small reminders that the big picture is very good, and that I can do this.

Speaking of modest clothes, I have a high-waist pencil skirt from British store ASOS up for sale. Brand new, never been worn. Just tried on in vain. It would cost too much to have the necessary alterations made, which is why I’m attempting to foist it onto you.

UK size 10, which translates to a medium. The waist measures 35 inches around. Size chart here. Paid $45, but asking only $28+shipping. Email me if you’re interested.

Hope you enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

Heard this on Morning Becomes Eclectic today and so glad I was able to find it, because don’t you hate it when you hear a song you like, and you’re madly writing down the lyrics on some scrap piece of paper while sitting at a red light, only to fail at finding the song through Google? There has to be a better way.

Anyways, this is Taken by Trees, covering Animal Collective’s My Girls.

I’ve been inspired lately by all the outfit and style posts popping up on the blogosphere, and thought it would be fun to bring all like-minded, style-conscious, modestly dressed ladies together in a wardrobe-remix type Flickr pool.

So here it is: Sunday Best, where we prove that ‘modestly fashionable’ is  not a contradiction.

The group is public, so if you have a modest outfit to share, join in (you’ll have to start a Flickr account if you don’t already have one). Hope to see you!