The Violet Hours

Time for Couch Crafting

Last night was a smorgasbord of television—the Golden Globes plus the 2 pre-shows, episode 2 of Downton Abbey, then the season premiere of Girls on HBO. It was a hunkered-down, DVR-set, Indian take-out kind of a night. Yes, it is totally permissable for a mother of 2 babes (okay, a toddler and a baby) to zone out for a night in front of good television, but it's also fun to take to some couch crafting. Yes, there are crafts you can do beyond knitting, sans glue and paint, that can be done cleanly in the comfort of your living room. Let's explore the options, shall we?

Pom-poms are the perfect couch craft. Yes, they leave a little fuzz behind, but all you need is yarn, scissors, and your hand to make awesome pom-poms. These gorgeous gems are by Fox & Owl.

Origami is another ideal project for sofa crafting. Here is a great project that you can tackle to get you ready for Valentine's Day! These orgami-heart bookmarks make a perfect Valentine craft for the kids to give out at school. By Oh Dear!.

A tiny needle craft is a fabulous activity to keeps your hands moving during tv time. Plus if you can make something utilitarian, even better! I love this cross-stitch iPhone case spotted on The Purl Bee. It's tradition and technology all in one. You can buy the blank kit here (it comes in 6 colors).

Dear readers, what are other good, clean couch crafts? After all, Smash starts up again soon!

{cardboard tv via pinterest}

Time for Holiday Wishes

Wishing you a very sweet and cozy Christmas!

(2D Christmas tree by Tanja Soeter. Found via Bloesom.)

Time for Quilted Maps

I think the only way to get back is just to jump in feet first. I can't believe that five weeks have passed since I last blogged but these 35 days days have seemed like one long day, broked up into three hour increments when my son wakes from his naps.

But I am vowing to rejoin the blogging world...I miss my daily perusals and posts! So here's my soft re-entry.

I'm so in love with these urban quilts—Soft Maps by Haptic Lab. They are cities and neighborhoods, stitched in quilt form. They are no chump change...the throws are $2,400 a piece, but they are so intricate with their accuracy that I get it. The one above is Manhattan (must have wooden pieces), and below are Park Slope, Brooklyn (my neighborhood—holla!) and Washington, DC.

Spotted via Say Yes to Hoboken.

Time for the Best Day of the Summer!

 

Yes, today is my best day of the summer and that's because I'm visiting the most magical place in the world—no beaches, no Mickey Mouse, no massages...it's Birch Family Camp.

For the last ten years, I have volunteered one or two weeks of my summer to teach photography to the kids and parents of this wonderful place. For over twenty years, Birch Camp has been providing families from the poorest New York communities with extraordinary therapeutic and recreational services designed for people infected — and affected — by HIV/AIDS.

It is the tightest knit family I have ever been a part of, and after just six days together in the woods, we all leave with new friends, new lessons, and sore cheeks from laughing so much. Because I am almost nine months pregnant, I couldn't go this year, so I am going to get my fill for just one day. 

Camp has been suffering greatly due to the economy, and we are desperate for donations. If you'd like to contribute, please click here, or, if you'd like to buy our fabulous Birch Family Cookbook, S'more to Love ($40 plus S&H), with over 100 recipes and gorgeous photos of shiney, happy people, please click here! 

And if you'd like to peak at our photo program, you can learn a bit about it here.

Time for Unusual Tea Bags

After four straight days of rain, I thought my decaf iced coffee summer days were over! So hot tea was on the brain...

 

Donkey Products has an amazing selection of character tea bags. The top image is from their Zoo ParTea series, and the design-your-own group below is from CreativiTea. Don't they just make you smile?

Serve your guests tea in glass mugs to show off these gorgeous origami tea bags. Found via Design Swan. 

Of course, a tea bag on a hanger! Brilliant! Found via Yanko Design, via Pinterest. 

Ew, but funny...tea packaged in cigarette form. This will keep paws off your precious tea! Found via Toxel.com

These tea sticks are so cool!

Time for More Indoor Swings

It's not like me to repeat a topic, but this first swing sent me into a tizzy. It's amazing. Nothing else to say. And a few more great swings to follow...

Designed by Johanna Richter as a piece of jew­elry for your home, the Swing Neck­lace is made from 10 feet of felt balls. Hand­made in Ger­many, avail­able at Sleek Iden­tity. Found via Handmade Charlotte.  

The ME & U swing from Softline is a perfect indoor swing for the entire family. The removable upholstered covers are great for cleaning and comes in great colors! Found via Minor Details. 

With some potting soil, seeds and a bit of water, Marcel Wanders' Swing with the Plants truly comes alive! The seat is cleverly designed to double as a planter, allowing the vines to grow directly up the ropes. Suspend outdoors to turn your garden into an enchanting, pastoral getaway ... or install indoors and add a bit of nature to your interior! Available for sale at Generate.

Time for Kids Seating

I have a thing for little chairs. My husband can't quite understand it, but indulges me about 1 out of 5 times when the buying mood strikes. Here are the newest and greatest that I spotted at ICFF.

These adorable kids' folding chairs are made from cardboard tubes and recycled plastic. Made by Hecmec, a very cool Japanese company. 

Alan Heller designed a kids version of this awesome stool, that promotes controlled, jiggly movement while sitting. Visit ErgoErgo to see products.

Thelermont Hupton, the genius company behind the saw horses from yesterday, designed this amazing stool that also allows for movement while sitting. I love how they look like crayons coming out of the ground.

     

You can add a plush cushion or just flip over the Tingle stool by Luxx Box for versatile seating. They also showed their product, 1Eighth, a stackable wall-like module that makes for creative spaces for kids. Or you can flip one over to make a toy box. 

 

Tatolino is a fun chair that promotes an active lifestyle, says their website. This is one of my favorite products from the show. This child's seat becomes so many things: an interactive toy, a wheely cart, and a super-cool lounge.

There is an exhibition at the Museum of Childhood in London called Sit Down, all about kids' seating. I think a trip across the pond is in order.

Time for a Cozy Fort

After a crazy-long and crazy-busy week, all I want to do is crawl into one of these with a good book and a pillow. And a box of Junior Mints.

Found via The The Bean and The Bear, via A Beautiful Mess

Via Booooooom from their fort contest.

via Anna Inghardt

found via loveology

Check out Oh Hello, Friend for even more cozy, curl-upable nooks. Have a lovely weekend!

Time for Slippers

 

 

Okay, really, it's seriously time for warm slippers. It was the rainiest, most abusively awful New York weather this weekend, causing me to arrive home after every outing (and unfortunately, I had many required ones this weekend) with sopping wet shoes and a broken spirit. Yes, it was that bad.

So it really, really made me want a fresh pair of slippers to, er, slip in to. I found these Collégien knitted ones a few weeks ago on LMNOP, and then saw them again today. No joke, there are over 100 patterns and you can get them in both kid and adult sizes. They are machine washable and have a non-slip, aerated sole. If you know where to buy them in the States, please let me know!

P.S...Here is a classic scene that all New Yorkers will recognize: the umbrella graveyard on the street corner. How many did you lose this weekend?