Author: Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Gina Munsey is a Mexico-born, Eastern Europe-raised missionary kid who ended up being a Californian by way of Florida outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She lives her days full of coffee and adventures while her 12-year-old learns Mandarin Chinese and Greek, her 3-year-old uses all the markers, and her artist-husband creates worlds from pixels and light. A blogger since the turn of the century (ouch!) she's an editor, co-op teacher, and writer who has only completed four chapters of her languishing manuscript. You can find Gina right here at oaxacaborn.com, or in the middle of [home]school surrounded by stacks and stacks of books.

I’m planning a Scandinavian Christmas series!

Image via Lantliv i Norregård

In case you think it’s crazy to talk about Christmas already, well, December 25th is actually THIS. CLOSE. Can you believe it?

The Scandinavian Christmas post I did last year on the topic is my number one most-viewed and most-pinned post of all time — year-round, not just during the holidays — so I’m excited about an entire dedicated series.

So, do you have photos of your home to share?

Or perhaps you’d like to contribute a blog post on Scandinavian Christmas traditions?

Or maybe you’re a fellow admirer of Scandinavian Christmases, and want to share a brilliant round-up of wintery Nordic images (properly sourced and credited, of course)?

Or maybe you live in one of these countries and want to share your experiences?

Email me oaxacaborn at gmail dot com to be included in this great series!

Conversations with Designers, Little Style

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT :: Très élégant! French Children’s Clothing from Le Carrousel

September 11, 2012November 1, 2012 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

I was very excited when Marie-Laure Renier of Le Carrousel emailed me this week with a preview of her Fall/Winter children’s collection. She designs each of the classically French garments to give the impression that “the glamour and perfume of Paris raise from each piece”, and I think she achieves that very well. Très élégant!

Oh, and don’t miss this charming little video. The music is beautiful — Aveline started dancing around the living room when I played it.

Le Carrousel Fall Winter 2012 Collection as seen on Oaxacaborn dot com

Elegant French Children's Clothes - Le Carrousel Fall Winter 2012 Collection as seen on Oaxacaborn dot com

French Children's Clothing - Le Carrousel Fall Winter 2012 Collection as seen on Oaxacaborn dot com

French Boys' Clothing - Le Carrousel Fall Winter 2012 Collection as seen on Oaxacaborn dot com

The handmade collection, which includes clothing for boys, girls, and babies as well as accessories, will be available in the Le Carrousel shop soon. Thank you so much for sharing, Ml. Renier! Now I want those stripey socks and shoes in my size. ;)

Which is your favorite piece in this collection?

Le Carrousel Shop | Le Carrousel Blog | Gallery/Blog | Facebook
—
Image Credits:
Video, and first two photos: Audrey Ricoul
Remaining images: Claude Blaser

Babiekins Magazine, Poetry & Words

WRITING & WORDS :: Issue 10 of Babiekins Magazine

September 10, 2012November 1, 2012 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

I haven’t actually blogged about this yet (although if we’re connected on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram you’ve already seen this).

I had the honor of appearing in four separate spots in the latest digital issue of Babiekins Magazine —

Aven Clothing: Designer Interview [pages 45-48]
Madeleine P’tite: Artist Interview [pages 49-52]
The Pie Pixie: A Childhood Memory of the Tooth Fairy [pages 57-58]
The Unbreakable Bond: What I Want my Daughter to Know [pages 247-248]

I’m incredibly grateful to my editor, Priscila who believes in me and has handed me this huge opportunity — and to my mom, who has always, always encouraged me to keep on writing.

Big thanks also goes to Mitch from Aven Clothing and Madeleine of La p’tite Madeleine for being such wonderful interview subjects, to the talented Maia Chavez Larkin for illustrating my Pie Pixie story, and to Deb Schwedhelm Photography for the photograph of Aveline and I that I’ll treasure forever.

Life in Photos

LIFE IN PHOTOS :: Sometimes

September 8, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Sometimes, when you’re going for this photo…
Coffee and Noah and the Whale CD titled The First Day of Spring - Photo on Oaxacaborn dot com …you get this photo instead… Toddler stealing coffee - Photo on Oaxacaborn dot com …and it ends up being a whole lot better.

I love my crazy-haired coffee thief.

Life in Photos

LIFE IN PHOTOS :: Not your average target audience.

September 2, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Toddler reading Popular Science - photo via Oaxacaborn dot com Popular Science's youngest reader - photo via Oaxacaborn dot com
Safe to say, this probably isn’t the demographic Popular Science was aiming for.

Conversations with Designers, Little Style

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT :: Flannery O’kafka’s “This is Glasgow” Collection for Toto Knits

September 1, 2012November 1, 2012 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

One of my favorite things about working with the Babiekins Magazine team is the wonderful people I’ve had the privilege to meet (well, virtually meet. The world is a huge place, but t’internets helps make it a whole lot smaller).

One of these talented artists is Glasgow photographer Flannery O’kafka — and let me tell you, if you aren’t already following her work, it’s time you did. She works magic with her camera and happens to also have incredibly photogenic children. (I tried, but couldn’t pick favorites from her blog or portfolio, so you’ll just have to go look yourself.)

Recently, she teamed up with Kenya-based Toto Knits and designed some beautiful knitwear. The collection, aptly named “This is Glasgow“, is inspired by “the industrial palette of the early 1900s: black, grey, charcoal, off-white, and a bit of teal to reflect the water.” It’s a perfect palette, if you ask me.

Now doesn’t her son Hugo make you think of an incredibly well-dressed Oliver Twist? And don’t you think Betsey Trotwood might have dressed young Copperfield in something like Toto Knits?

All images by Flannery O’kafka for Toto Knits.

Life in Photos

Sugar and SPICE.

August 31, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Toddler in grey leggings and grey tank - photo via Oaxacaborn dot com

If little girls are made of sugar and spice, this one’s been a little more on the spicy side lately. That sparkly barrette in her hair? She used it to…
scratch…
lines…
into the flat screen tv.

No, you can’t have another barrette.
Sorry, book pages are not for eating.
Neither are crayons.
Neither are the bubbles in the bath.
Cheese crackers ARE for eating.
But please don’t smash it against the white wall.
Or put it in the dryer.
Now don’t stand on the chair.
WAIT! Either the diaper or the toilet. Those are your only two options.

Oh, lordy. It’s been a long week.

Inspiration

INSPIRATION :: Gorgeous Art in Oliver Jeffers’ Newest Book

August 29, 2012November 1, 2012 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

It’s so easy to get lost inside the wonderful world of Oliver Jeffers. The latest book from the talented Irish illustrator is due out in November, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Doesn’t the beautiful art just draw you in? He often sells prints and apps which correspond with his books, too, which I think is very clever.

Images via oliverjeffers.com