Hello! The amazing Kim Family Auction — by Guest Mom Laurie Smithwick

First I'd like to thank the Academy... Oh no. Wait. Crap. Not that speech. Aaaah, where is it where is it. Ugh, this freakin desk is so Aha! Here it is.

Thank you thank you Gabrielle. I can't tell you how honored and thrilled I was when you asked me to to guest mom here at Design Mom. Even though I've been in the blogging business for a year, I still feel like a newcomer to the party and your invitation made me feel warm like curried carrot soup. Even though it isn't cold enough here in North Carolina for any kind of warm soup this winter. Just yesterday, a blustery 70 degree day here, my daughter Lucy asked me when it was going to snow. I hate that I couldn't offer her any kind of definitive answer. Will it snow here this year? Who knows. Will it ever snow here again? Who knows.

The very idea -- a dawning awareness -- that it may never snow here again is, for me, one of the things that makes the Kim family story all the more unsettling. In these greenhouse times, when most of us (on the East coast at least) are lamenting our balmy Thanksgivings and our Wet Christmases, there's the James Kim tragedy to keep us scratching our heads in disbelief and dismay. Where did all that snow even come from? Why couldn't we send the Kims some of our 65 degree Thanksgiving?

Moving on to a more positive aspect of the story, I assume you've all heard about the Kim Family Benefit Art + Craft Auction? And if you haven't, holy cow, please do yourself a favor and go see it right away.

To quote the website, it is An auction of fine art + craft to benefit the family of James Kim organized by sisters Lisa Congdon and Stephanie Barnes and their mother Gerrie Congdon. 100% of the auction proceeds will go to the The James Kim Memorial Fund.

And let me tell you, the things here are beautiful. Actually, let me rephrase that. Individually, the things here are beautiful. But viewed as a group, as a mission, as a manifestation of massive collective good will, they are magnificent. Here are some samples, to whet your appetite.

I'm sorry I wasn't here to tell you about this before the auction ended, but hopefully most of you design mavens already knew about it.

I'll have more upbeat posts to follow, but I can't promise any better design than what you see here.


fairy tale suitcase, by meg rooks


"the songs we love by", by amy ruppel


ginger and charlie. a little mohair kitty and her friend. by lynn roberts


machine patchwork quilted pillow, by lisa congdon