Repost from Neatloaf: Magnet Grocery List

This is an old post from before we got our snazzy camera, when we were clacking away at typewriters to post on our Neatloaf blog (okay, okay, we used computers). Emily had fun making a magnetic grocery list. Check it out:

As promised, I tried my hand a set of my own grocery list magnets. Here's what I did:

1. Make 1 1/2 inch circles in whatever program works for you. Have fun coloring and adding text. I could have spent all day tweaking the colors for milk and eggs! I went with 18pt Tahoma type.

2. Punch out your paper with a 1 1/8 inch circle punch. You'll need the whole button-maker setup, which I realize isn't in everyone's studio. We get our supplies here. Instead of pin-backs, I used magnet circles. (If you like this general idea, but are looking for less of an investment, try printing your "swatches" directly onto inkjet magnet paper and cut out by hand.)

3. Line 'em up and admire! I set out to make only a few magnets, but to make the "grocery list" even remotely functional, you'll need to have at least one or two dozen to cover most pantry staples. 

I could definitely see making sets of these as hostess gifts!

Those Girls: What I Learned at Alt // Part 2 by Emily

(Read Andie's post in Part 1 here)

In some ways, my experience at Alt Summit in San Francisco was very much what I expected: lots of inspiration, lots of business cards/usernames, and lots of goodies! You could tell that everyone was enthusiastic, and I appreciated the community-focused energy that everyone brought to the table.

Like Andie, I found that I was just as worried about representing our business, felt the need to reach further than I could, and was a little drained by the end. A week later I still feel like I'm absorbing the experience! But there are a few stand-out moments that convinced me, yet again, that Andie and I have something very, very special in running Assemble.

Photo courtesy of Alt Summit and atly
Lessons in Running a Creative Business
Conviction
Mariam Naficy said that in order to sustain creative energy, we must rely on our conviction and courage. These are things no one else can give us--they come from within. I can be a better business owner/mother/friend if I stick to what I believe is true.

Focus
Wendy McNaughton reminded me to "Focus on the work, not the showcase." Social media is a large part of what we do as bloggers and artists sharing our views, but at the core of our business is what we create, not who we show it to. This helps me see that the process of making things and evolving is more important than constantly asking for outside validation.

Photo of an overhead drawing by Wendy
Passion
Mike McCue insisted that "Passion and drive aren't coachable. The rest is." He was referring to hiring your team. In Assemble's case, the team consists of only Andie and myself. But how lucky are we to have coordinating drive and passion?? If it were a matter of shaking a few more hands or going over the day with Andie, I'd pick my partner every time. And that should never be undervalued.

I went to San Francisco with the inkling that Assemble, as well as my personal life, could benefit from a deeper sense of self-worth. I am amazed that this "inkling" is actually a loud and clear voice saying:

• Andie and I ARE the authorities on our own creative paths.
• Assemble represents an avenue for success.
• The journey IS the reward.

Emily's Fashion Tips for the New (and On-the-Go) Mom

Constantly dealing with baby spit up and playing in the wet sandbox with a toddler prevents me from being too creative with my wardrobe. But that doesn't mean moms should be confined to a life of oversized hoodies and leggings. New moms should be able to feel cute enough to go out for coffee without much fuss, and still be comfortable enough to play at the park. So how do we juggle the need to be accessible to our kids and still feel like hip mamas? Here are a few common conundrums and my tips for getting by:

1, 4. Always running around? Ditch the bulky diaper bag. Especially now with two kiddos, I need both hands available and I run in and out of the house several times before getting on the road. Go for versatile slip on sneakers and a cute backpack. I opt for the Foldsack No. 1 and these comfortable Bensimon Tennis Shoes. Hey--check it out! Assemble colors!

2, 6 + 7. No time to shower? Use dry shampoo, a pretty scarf (this one's from the always subtly chic J. Crew), and some NARS lip gloss. I just discovered dry shampoo last year, and it's a miracle! And, the NARS makeup can be used as blush or eye shadow!

3. In-between sizes? Instead of black leggings, which are an easy habit to fall into while losing your baby weight, find high-waisted jeans with a little stretch. These high-risers from Madewell are my go-to pair.

5. I'm late already?! Get a watch - time moves faster with wee ones. Try to find an easily wipe-able band. I like this one from Breo.

8. Breastfeeding. I despise those wrap-style jersey nursing tops. Opt for button-downs (for easy access, yet full coverage) and choose a pattern, like this adorable one from the GAP, since they help hide messes.

Images as linked above.

Emily's Tips: Five Things You Can Do For a Second-Time Mom

I'm two months (to the day!) into life with two kids, and wow! Things sure are very different the second time around. I appreciate helpful gestures now more than ever. Here are a few things my friends and neighbors have been doing that makes my life more manageable that you might be able to use for your friends who have a second (or third) babe in the house.


Photos via our Instagram
1. Help around the house! The first time around, I didn't really want too much domestic help. I wanted to figure out my little bundle and how to juggle being a mom. I was also embarrassed of my stack of dirty dishes and unswept floor, so I didn't want anyone thinking I couldn't do it. This time--please, PLEASE come grab a kid, do the dishes, vacuum, make the beds...no more shame, just desperation.

2. Tell her she's doing a great job/looks great. Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies! I know things are frazzled around here, so please ignore that I'm still wearing my husband's sweatpants for the third day in a row.

3. If you go to the store and live nearby, ask if you can pick something up. With one kiddo, getting out of the house was a nice treat. I enjoyed getting coffee, or running lots of errands. But with two, the thought of shopping is unbearable, yet I always could use something random.

4. Bring food. We've gotten so many wonderful goodies from the neighbors. We've received the following, which have all been saving graces: A frozen meal--nice to be able to save it for later. A hot homemade meal--perfect to have delivered piping hot right before dinner. A bag of healthy snacks--non-perishables like chips, salsa, soup, left at the front door. A take-out dinner delivered--give us the menu, you order and deliver! We've loved it all.

5. Keep checking in. Sending notes, emails and texts makes me happy, but it can be impossible to respond quickly, or sometimes at all. I need connections to the real world, so please know that I'm here and still appreciate those shout outs.

Got any suggestions of your own? What saved your life when you had a little one?

Welcome, George!

We're so happy to announce the arrival of little George Addison Grosse. Born early Sunday morning, baby George (and mums Emily) is doing swell, but we thought we'd take the day off to rest & visit anyway. Congratulations to the Grosses and welcome, Assemble Baby!


Drawing by Christian Powers

Those Girls: Emily's New Year Resolutions // Part 2

2013 is already set up to bring major changes in my life. Assemble has made the first leaps towards its transition from commercial retail space to a new online format. And, my husband and I are expecting our second baby boy anytime in the next few weeks. I wasn't sure I needed anything else on my to-do list, when it seems that New Years resolutions are more daunting than inspiring.

That said, there are still things I want to accomplish. I decided that as long as my resolutions excite me, they are worth pursuing. As Andie mentioned last week, the key to making changes is being specific and realistic. I'm adding emphasis on the most important factor for me: energizing. I have no time for draining activities (big or small) so things I do this year will be directed at re-energizing my body and soul.


1/Fedora: Topshop USA, 2/Noteset: Sugar-Paper, 3/Art work by Nikki McClure, 4/Glasses: Warby Parker

1. Be (more) bold. This is the loftiest of my goals, but the most important. My relationships, my business goals, and my personal style are all in need of courage. I'm afraid to say "No" people and "Yes" to accessories. I worry about making definitive decisions just in case it's the wrong one. I'm afraid to wear a hat -- they make such a statement, don't they? But here's the thing: I'm not a plain jane or complacent person. So now is the time to step it up and embrace my more quirky side.

2. Correspond. There are more people I'd like to write to than I can currently keep up with. It is the one habit of procrastination I have picked up since my first kiddo was born. I'm quite embarrassed by my lack of correspondence. My goal is to have a stationery kit right at my desk, complete with stamps and my address book, so that I can send my "thank you's" and "thinking of you's" right when I need to.

3. Go see more fine art. I love, no, adore, museums. But I can't tell you the last time I was in one. This is heartbreaking for an art history major and former gallery owner. I am always inspired by what people do/make, and in addition to reading art journals and blogs, I NEED to get my butt into a museum (art or otherwise) to feed my creative spirit. I'm starting with the Nikki McClure exhibition at the Bellevue Arts Museum, showing through February 3rd. The piece pictured above, Rely, reminds me so much of me holding Henry (wearing a hat, even!) and I'm immediately called to see it in person.

4. Finally get glasses. This is more practical than anything, but I have been in denial way too long. I need glasses. I knew it when a customer walked in the shop and I embarrassingly greeted her thinking she was a dear old friend. Oops! I can't see street signs when I drive, which is also not very safe with babies on board. So I'm making the commitment to buy the frames I need and want, keeping in mind my #1 resolution to be more bold and #3 resolution to really go SEE more art.

Those Girls: How Do We Spend Our Time, Really?

Andie wrote this post a while back about how being perpetually busy is a mix of what you need to do and how you manage your time. I'm sure everyone can agree the the holidays add more things to our to-do lists. For me, it is the season mixed with Assemble's big move online, and a second son due in two months. My own "Day in the Life" pie chart is a generalized peek into my current habits. What are the expectations of a modern mom/wife/business owner and what should I, or what do I want to change?


I wonder, "How do people fit in all of those other things, like putting on lipstick and coordinating outfits and Instagramming the leaves blowing in the wind?" As you can see from my chart, time to shower is minimal, and tea with neighbors wouldn't even make my monthly list! If you count it all up, I actually put more than 24 hours of activities into my day, but that's because things like watching TV are also (admittedly) times spent with Henry and/or playing on the web.

My Homework: Dispel the myth that all of those other girls have more than 24 hours in a day. How? Here is the chart I concocted based on how I perceive those girls to spend their day. I'm pretty embarrassed to admit I actually think people live like this--a completely balanced life of friends and work and plenty of sleep.


So, if we perceive each other as 24-hour super managers, then we may also realize that we all work pretty hard to get things done, while supplementing with fun projects and activities that might not further our status as Woman of the Year. And that: is just fine.

What does your day look like? Is there something you should change for productivity's sake? Or, should you do the opposite, and take on an hour or two to relax for self preservation?

Emily's 9 Holiday Pantry Must-Haves

It's almost Thanksgiving! We want to celebrate here at Assemble with a special Thanksgiving theme week. Now through Thursday, a new post just for the season! Today, Emily takes it from here!

. . .
More than presents or decorating, in our house, holiday means baking! I find myself stocking up the pantry with the very first signs of fall, in anticipation of breaking out my cookie press and loaf pans. I want to share my nine favorite pantry staples, from an otherwise very long list. I'd love to know what's in your cupboards, too!

1. Chocolate Chips
I am a firm believer that higher quality ingredients make a huge difference in baking. So it's funny to me that I really like to use good-old-fashioned Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chips in my cookies -- I keep both milk and semi-sweet in the pantry year-round. The result is always consistent.
2. Tillen Farms Maraschino Cherries
From filling my mother-in-law's cherry bread to garnishing whiskey sours, maraschino cherries have a place in our holiday pantry. But I simply can't stand the bleached-and-dyed processed ones. Tillen Farms is a Pacific Northwest company that makes these all-natural cherries without dyes, sulfates, or preservatives. Score!
3. Solo Almond Filling
Almond paste is easy to find all year long, but I have a harder time finding almond filling for pastries, so I stock up as soon as I see these in the fall!
4. Darigold Unsalted Butter
Good butter = good baking. Darigold is a Northwest, farmer-owned, dairy co-op. I usually use unsalted when I bake, but their sweet cream salted butter is wonderful for cooking or buttering bread.
5. Crisco
Good thing Crisco has a very long shelf life, because I use it only once a year. But it is important -- recipes that call for shortening mean it. It'll make pastries flakey and cookies crumbly, where butter will fall flat (literally.)
6. Walnuts
I keep pecans and almonds around most of the time, but for some reason, holidays mean baking with walnuts. I prefer to buy them raw, in the bulk bins at our market. Nuts are expensive and get bitter if left out too long, so I just buy what I need.
7. Neilsen-Massey Bourbon Vanilla
Buy the best vanilla you can afford. You can smell the difference.
8. King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
I swear by King Arthur products, especially when baking bread! It has the most versatility, and will create high-rise breads or super tender pastries.
9. Organic Pumpkin
From October through December, I love making anything pumpkin flavored. I started using this Farmer's Market organic version and like how rich and pumpkin-y it tastes. Although, Libby's recipe for traditional pumpkin pie is impossible to beat!

Those Girls: Being Present in Photographs

No one (I mean no one!) likes to see a bad photograph of themselves. I won't try to argue that vanity is all bad, but I think we should take a more forgiving and less critical look at ourselves.

My crow's feet and nose wrinkles tell you I'm laughing for real.
My perspective today comes from being a mom to a two year old and 6 months pregnant with another, and at the same time feeling accountable to Assemble as being put-together and stylish. The mirror and camera are not my best friends these days. So where Andie wrote the other day about hiding within a photograph, I tend to hide from them all together.

I recently read this Huffington Post article by Allison Tate, which convinced me that being present in photographs is incredibly important, especially for new moms. Our families want to remember us as we were, including our imperfections. I want my little boys to see a loving mom, however disheveled and baggy-eyed, who was lost in the moment.


So what am I hiding from? Well, besides general (and totally normal) embarrassment over messy hair and unwanted arm flab, I am more shy about appearing less-than-beautiful publicly as I represent half of a business in which pretty-looking things do matter. It seems like everyone else's blog posts are filled with gorgeous, airy self-portraits, or as if all of our fellow friends have glowing skin and perfect hair. Do they have more hours in the day?

So how can one person juggle both the expectation of being present and being presentable?! There is no real solution, other than acceptance. Andie and I often reiterate that "You can do anything, you just can't do everything all of the time." And so it goes... sometimes I'll be playing in a fort in pjs and sometimes I'll be attending art openings. I will most likely Instagram just the pretty ones, but just know that if I look cute, it probably took a lot of work and there are probably cracker crumbs in my hair that you don't see.

A Few Tips for Being Present and Looking Presentable in Photographs That I've Created for Myself:
• Smile, for real.
• Stand up straight, but don't suck anything in. It makes you hold your breath which looks unnatural.
• For a split second before the picture is shot, remember who you are with and why. That authenticity will be apparent.
• Remember that no matter how bad you think you look right now, in twenty years, you'll think you looked dynamite.

First photo by Jaquilyn Shumate Photography

Crafty Thursday: DIY Wine Cork Stamps and Patterns on Chipboard

It is incredibly easy (and cheap!) to turn a wine cork into a simple stamp. Reminiscent of block-printing, it's super easy to use these stamps to create lots of fun projects! Today's craft: rows of lines and triangles on chipboard.


Here's what you'll need:
• Two wine corks
• Exacto knife and scissors
• Pencil
• Ink pad(s)
• Sheets of chipboard
• Scrap paper to test out your designs


Here's what to do:
Draw a simple outline of a triangle on the flat side of the wine cork (if the cork isn't completely flat, you can slice a sliver off the bottom to even it out.) Draw some parallel lines on the other.
Carefully carve around the drawn outlines, removing cork in little bits as you go. Test out the image as you carve, and make adjustments as you go.
Once you're happy with your images, play around with inks and patterns on some scrap paper. Then stamp! stamp! stamp! onto sheets of chipboard.


Notes:
--It's easier to stamp up bigger sheets and then cut it into different shapes, than to work with smaller pieces. It keeps the rhythm of the pattern more consistent and you don't have to worry about edges.
--Cork has lots of natural inconsistencies, so your stamps won't be as pristine as rubber or linoleum. But that is part of it's charm, no?

Sheets stamped. Now what??
Coaster set!
Bookmarks!
Gift tags!
Stationery!
Take a look at what we came up with:


Make a bookmark for your DIY book with a simple piece of yarn.


Coasters for your carrot juice!


Type a note on your brand, new stationery.
Have fun! And let us see your finished pieces!

Make It Yourself! Emily's Halloween "Costume"

Can you guess what I'm dressing as for Halloween?

Cream Cardigan, Orange Dress, Yellow Tights
Candy Corn! I'm reluctant to call this a costume, however. These are pieces I already own and wear regularly anyway (Thanks, Target.) Cop out? Perhaps. But I'm going with it. Day to day tasks in a candy corn costume with an active toddler sounds daunting, BUT I might add a pointy white cap to up my legitimacy. The Fred Flare original inspiration was much cuter (and now SOLD OUT), but my version will have to do this year! See below:

Images via Fred Flare


What are you going to be?

Great idea: Little Free Library

Have you heard about this amazing new movement: Little Free Library? It is a take-a-book, leave-a-book concept where individuals or groups can host a book nook for their neighbors. Beginning in Wisconsin and Minnesota, there are now about 3000 of them across America. With goals of spreading good cheer, literacy and library awareness, LFL provides a handful of bird-house like starter nooks (about $250 and up) or you can build your own.

I would LOVE to jump on this bandwagon, especially since I live on a block full of kids. I bet if a few of us parents got together, we could split the cost and create something super special! Who's with me?!

Photo source: DesignMom



Photo source: Apartment Therapy

Great Goods by Quill & Fox

How pretty is this new stationery by Quill & Fox? Husband and wife team, Andrew and Yas Imamura, do it all from their home studio in Oregon. I'm drawn to their nostalgic styling and soft colors, reminiscent of Rifle Paper Company (another one of my fav's.)

I am currently trying to figure out where I can put this print in our house -- perhaps right above the coat rack, where our guests can see the tiny "visitors welcome" sign. It also reminds me of a favorite book we read to Henry, "The Little House." by Virginia Lee Burton. Adorable.

DIY Hand-Stamped Fabric Gift Wrap

Let's combine a few of my favorite things: fabric, stamps, yellow, and gift-giving!!!

I wrote about "Give" wraps by Chewing the Cud last year. They have some great new colors out! But I wanted to try my hand at making my own. The point is reusing what you have, right? So here's what I came up with...


What you'll need
Scrap fabric -- 28" x 28" is ideal for all-purpose wrapping, but obviously use you have
Stamps -- or some interesting object you don't mind dipping into ink
Stamp pad -- suitable for fabric (ColorBox or VersaCraft work well)
Scissors or a rotary cutter and a straight-edge

What to do
1. On a flat surface, stamp your fabric. Be as calculated or as free-form as you like.

2. Let your ink dry completely, or heat-set by ironing the wrong side of the fabric.
3. Square off your fabric using a straight edge and rotary cutter or scissors. You can leave the edges raw to keep things simple, but I sewed them under with a straight stitch and contrasting thread.
4. Tie fabric around your package by bunching at the top and securing with ribbon, or using a Furoshiki-style wrap.

Something Old, Something New: Weathervanes

Something old: 19th century weathervane broadside


Something new: USPS 45 cent stamps
And...Something I'd love to have: Screen-printed rooster tea towel

Bringing Old-Fashioned Back to the Table

Table linens have come back into fashion, especially fabric napkins and tea towels. A simple piece of cotton is a great canvas for a designer, and people are increasingly interested in reusable goods. I'm a sucker for anything that goes in a kitchen, it's no secret. But I particularly love to collect the old fashioned bits and pieces that aren't quite as common anymore.


Napkin rings. I see why people don't love to use these. They only serve one purpose - to hold your napkin in a little bundle. But they don't have anywhere to go once your guests pull them off, and they aren't always easy to clean or store. Still, I love to mix and match my wooden sets, that I bought at garage sales for $1. I think they are an easy way to make a guest feel special.


Candlesticks. I don't know too many people that regularly use taper candles at the dinner table. I do, but only for special occasions. I keep a shoebox in my hutch with all of my seasonal colors, wrapped in wax paper. My eclectic collection consists of both brass thrift finds and beautiful crystal from Tiffany & Co. Just remember to light your wicks before setting out, and use a snuffer instead of blowing out the flame to prevent wax drops from flying.

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Welcome to Our New Blog!

With our decision to go exclusively online in January 2013, we decided to go upwards & onwards with a brand new blog! We can't wait to get started. Become a follower or add us to your RSS feed! Welcome, welcome. -Andie & Emily


Photo by Inward Facing Girl