I've moved! New blog address.


My new website + blog is emilyneuburger.com.  Please visit me there!

If you have this site bookmarked in a blog reader, you'll want to switch to emilyneuburger.com.

Thanks, and see you in my new space!

xo emily

p i c t u r e d


*We spent last weekend cleaning out my belongings from my childhood home.  I'll write more about that experience in another post.  In the meantime, here are two friendship bracelets that I made during one summer. I know there were many, many more,  but these are the only two that survived.

* Sunset as we were driving south.  Going fast. 

*Birthday cake picnic for a friend.  Lakeside.

*Storey Publishing gave me a few of these Show Me a Story storytelling wheels, which they had made for spreading the word about my book.  Playing with it is a little bit addictive.

* A girl and her cat.  

You can follow more of my daily photographs  on Instagram -- @redbirdcrafts.


Happy Friday, lovelies.

xox e

s t o n e s

A little mid-summer watercolor.

Why not break out your pencils and liquid watercolors and make some stones? Kids too!

I think that maybe I was unintentionally meditating while painting the organic stone shapes.  Now I'm thinking that it would be a really nice intentional practice: clear your mind and paint stones. 

In peace.

xo e

some things.

In preparation for the launch of my new website (emilyneuburger.com), I've tidied up my blog and designed a fresh, new banner for the top.  For those of you reading this on a reader, you might want to click through and have a peek.  I'm feeling really happy about the change.
 
Today, Lori from the Camp Creek blog posted about this short video with Maira Kalman.  Knowing that I am typically instantly inspired by her work, I clicked play.  And, of course -- Maira Kalman never fails to fill me up.  The video was just what I needed to listen to this morning.  It was introspective and comforting in the big picture kind of way and she left me feeling a bit more settled on this Wednesday.



"I have enough.  I have all that I need."

It is so nice to be reminded.

Happy day, friends.

xox
E




p i c t u r e d

* Choices, choices, choices.  As someone who wears glasses from the time I wake until I close my eyes at night, choosing new frames is a big deal.  And, actually, a frustrating deal too.  Does anybody wish to commiserate with me?

* This is the newest addition to my vintage children's book collection.  It was given to me by my dear friend Lea who apparently knows me very, very well.  

* Mushrooms (ink & watercolor) from a Smith College Library Archive project.

* Sophia Loren taking a catnap in a sunbeam.  Nothing new here. Have I mentioned how in love I am with my sweet cat?  And, my sweet cat's beauty spot?  So in love.


Have a beautiful and restful weekend, friends.

xo e

we went to the ocean

These are a few photographs from our week by the ocean.  One of our favorite days was spent at the  Audobon Bird Sanctuary in Wellfleet.  It was a quiet spot with trails, tall trees, baby birds, and tiny crabs that popped out to say "hello" as soon as we stood still. 
There were three other families walking the trail that day, but we were the last to make it to the shore.  Once we arrived, the others had left making us feel as if we  might have the been the only ones walking the shore that day,  alone with the birds and the steady wind. 
Do you spy our little turtle friend?  She was determined to crawl on top of a lily pad. It was a sad thing, really, because she kept sliding off and would quickly try again. 
The tide was swiftly coming in, so Tom and the girls planted themselves on a sand bar and waited until the water surrounded them.  They declared the last sandy spot their own personal island.  It existed for six whole minutes, which happened to be just enough time for an interpretive ocean dance.
 Another friend.
Bird photograph by Tom Neuburger
 It was a beautiful day.

Have you been on a summer adventure?  I'd love to hear!  

xo e



t-shirt necklaces

These simple necklaces came together with just some jersey and a jar of assorted beads.  Instead of the usual wire or twine, we cut strips of t-shirt jersey, and yanked on them so they resembled cord.  It was an especially satisfying summer afternoon project -- the children loved transforming fabric into cord and it involved yanking.  Enough said. 
Here are two piles of t-shirt jersey fabric strips.  The strips in the pile on the right have been pulled tight.  I love how they look like piles of seaweed.

How to:

1. Cut thin strips (about 1/2" wide and 24" long) of cotton jersey fabric.  Jersey fabric has rows of v-shaped knit stitches (wales) on the front and loops on the back.  Be sure to cut the  jersey fabric against the grain (or across the v-shaped stitches).  This way, when you yank on the strip, it will unravel and condense, and form a nice tight cord.  When cutting your strips, do remember that it will almost double in length after it is pulled tight.

If you cut the jersey with the grain, it won't do much when you yank it.  Experiment with both techniques.

2. String beads onto necklace.  If you find that the holes in the beads are tiny, use an oversize needle (needlepoint, etc.) for threading the cord through.

3. Tie the ends or, if you are feeling serious about your creation, use some jewelry findings to create a clasp.

Necklace design and bead selection is always a fun activity around these parts , but the colorful handmade cord seemed to make it extra fun.
I loved watching them gift necklaces to each other.
With the ocean on my mind, I used wooden beads with briny green jersey.

So much of this project is about the colorful cord, so please dive into your pile of old t-shirts for inspiration.   And, have fun!

xo e

p i c t u r e d {summer reflection series}

This photograph is a family favorite. It rests in a frame on my daughter's bookshelf. Her grandparents at the lake often speak of "the photograph of the marshmallow on the mountain" and the magic of roasting her first one.  

Thank you for joining me this week as I spent time with some of my favorite moments of summers gone by. 

Enjoy this day, friends.

xox e

  
Each day this week, I'll post a summer photograph from the past four years.  The photographs that I've chosen show some of my favorite summer treats and moments.  My children will pop up in a few, which means that you'll see them when they were chubby little babes (sigh). 

p i c t u r e d {summer reflection series}

Local peaches mean the end of summer around these parts.  This means that I was feeling sad and happy in this moment before my first bite.
 
Each day this week, I'll post a summer photograph from the past four years.  The photographs that I've chosen show some of my favorite summer treats and moments.  My children will pop up in a few, which means that you'll see them when they were chubby little babes (sigh). 

p i c t u r e d {summer reflection series}



We were on the coast of New Hampshire last summer, playing with rocks and water until we were tired.  


Each day this week, I'll post a summer photograph from the past four years.  The photographs that I've chosen show some of my favorite summer treats and moments.  My children will pop up in a few, which means that you'll see them when they were chubby little babes (sigh). 

p i c t u r e d {summer reflection series}

Tiny, red plums from our CSA farm.  Sweet, sweet, sweet.
 
Each day this week, I'll post a summer photograph from the past four years.  The photographs that I've chosen show some of my favorite summer treats and moments.  My children will pop up in a few, which means that you'll see them when they were chubby little babes (sigh). 

p i c t u r e d {summer reflection series}

I remember feeling so lucky to be hanging with that grass next to that fence under that sky. 
 
Each day this week, I'll post a summer photograph from the past four years.  The photographs that I've chosen show some of my favorite summer treats and moments.  My children will pop up in a few, which means that you'll see them when they were chubby little babes (sigh). 

p i c t u r e d {summer reflection series}

That one cheek shows you how much fun she is having, right? Oh, my baby.

Each day this week, I'll post a summer photograph from the past four years.  The photographs that I've chosen show some of my favorite summer treats and moments.  My children will pop up in a few, which means that you'll see them when they were chubby little babes (sigh). 

p i c t u r e d {summer reflection series}

Each day this week, I'll post a summer photograph from the past four years.  The photographs that I've chosen show some of my favorite summer treats and moments.  My children will pop up in a few, which means that you'll see them when they were chubby little babes (sigh). 

p i c t u r e d {summer}






* One afternoon in my studio.
* Backyard play: a crown made out of hay and 
  dried flowers
* A giant Queen Anne's Lace flower growing in
  the middle of my herb garden. It stays.
* The annual 4th of July bicycle parade(one 
  of my favorite community evens)
* Raspberry peach iced tea because it is hot,
  hot, hot.


Stay cool. And, happy summer evening breezes to you.


xox e


July 4th


Happy 4th of July to all those who live in the states.   Tom mowed the lawn.  The kids romped, and I baked a cake, did a bit of thrifting, and worked on some exciting plans for my fall classes.   We'll be eating dinner with my parents and my aunt and uncle in a few hours. It is a good day.

The recipe for the flag cake is from here. Deb says that the people at her party raved and gushed about it.  I'll let you know how it went on my end. Why the disposable tinfoil pan?  Because, as it turns out, I don't own a 9" x 13" pan (I know!), so I had to act quickly.

Have fun! Splash! Yum! Boom! And, all of the rest.

xox e