babiekins magazine – The Oaxacaborn Blog

Oaxacaborn's Homeschool Room (as featured in Babiekins Magazine print edition)

Several months ago, I had the exciting opportunity to style a practical workspace for Babiekins Magazine; one that would function both for working from home and homeschooling. (Previously, I had styled a global-themed kids bedroom, too.) Since we live in an apartment, I didn’t have a dedicated room to serve as a home office and school room, so I cleared one wall of our living room instead. And I really didn’t want it to be a primary color menagerie of school posters.

There are a few things I really like about this space. Of course the huge wall map is right up at the top of the list! And I love the big white rug to cover the rental carpet. But I also really love how the wardrobe from IKEA hides away the printer and all the messy office/school supplies — leaving room for “pretty things, my dear”. (Oliver Twist, anyone?) And the pine bench, another IKEA find, is amazingly comfortable, and is the perfect arrangement for my daughter and to work side-by-side.

You might notice there aren’t many books in these photos — our bookcases are actually stashed in various places throughout our apartment, so they didn’t all fit in these photos. But boy, do we have a lot of books. A LOT. (My husband is legitimately concerned about this. Don’t tell him each Sonlight core adds 50 or more, give or take a dozen.)

It’s no secret I’m in love with words. I love to try to untangle the words in my mind, and coax them into sentences no one has ever read before. I love to read the expertly-woven words of not just classic authors, but contemporary voices, too. The middle ages print from the late 1400s — showing the arduous process of writing a book in the 1100s — reminds me that it hasn’t always been easy for one’s voice to be heard. This reminder, along with the “Let Your Light Shine In the Darkness” poster, spurs me on to keep speaking out.

I’m so pleased with the way our homeschool room / home office turned out — it’s such a happy, inspiring, wonderful space. (All styling by me, Gina Munsey; and thanks to Priscilla Barbosa Photography for the images!)

Oaxacaborn's Homeschool Room (as featured in Babiekins Magazine print edition)

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Oaxacaborn's Homeschool Room (as featured in Babiekins Magazine print edition)

You can catch this room in the special “#SCHOOLKINS: Books, Bugs & Discovery” interior design section of the 7th print issue of Babiekins Magazine, available here. And if you have questions about any of the items shown, just leave a comment! :)

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DESK :: Malm, c/o IKEA Orlando
WALL MAP :: National Geographic, via The Map Center
MAP RAILS :: c/o Posterhanger
PINE WARDROBE :: Nornäs used as bookshelf, c/o IKEA Orlando
PINE BENCH :: Nornäs, c/o IKEA Orlando
MOROCCAN SHAG RUG :: c/o Rugs USA
GLASS JAR :: Korken, via IKEA Orlando
CERAMIC VASE :: Stylist’s Own, from Mexico City
BAMBOO SPEAKERS :: c/o Otis & Eleanor
METAL LAMP and EDISON BULB :: c/o Lamps Plus
LET LIGHT SHINE PRINT :: Naptime Diaries
DESKTOP CACTUS & TROPICAL PLANT :: Lowe’s
SPACEPACK BACKPACKS :: c/o lukids.ru
PRINT RAILS :: c/o Posterhanger
MIDDLE AGES PRINT :: Matthaeus Platearius Writing “The Book of Simple Medicines” via AllPosters.com
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY PRINT :: Book Cover Print via AllPosters.com
ROW OF 3 PRINTS :: Emily McDowell Studio and Jessica Sprague Printables
LAMP and SHADE :: Target
COWHIDE :: Koldby, c/o IKEA Orlando
BOOKCASE :: Billy, via IKEA Orlando
PERCH CHAIR :: c/o Room & Board
STUDENT DESK :: Flash Furniture Desk with Metal Book Box, via Amazon
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Inspiration, Little Style

A Global-Themed Bedroom for a Tiny Adventurer: An Original Interior Design Project

April 9, 2015May 30, 2017 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Interior Styling: Gina Munsey | As seen in print edition of Babiekins Magazine

Earlier this year, a kids’ room I styled was featured in the winter print edition of Babiekins Magazine. I shared photos on Instagram and Facebook — but I just realized I never posted any images here on the blog!

It was such a tremendously fun project. I started with the idea of exploring all the different methods of transportation available across the world — ships, camels, elephants, motorbikes. When I walk into this space, I can immediately imagine rattling down the streets of Italy in a Vespa, lifting up high over the ancient ruins of Myanmar’s Bagan in a hot air balloon, or sailing across the waters on a creaky wooden ship.

I tried to pull in as many elements as I could from various countries, too. There’s a doll brought back from a friend’s visit to Kenya, a red and gold bowl and dumpling spoon from Taiwan, pink Hmong textiles, a yellow and fuchsia strand of mirrors and bells originally meant to decorate a camel, an embroidered dress from Guatemala, a row of delightful matryoshka illustrations representing different cultures.

And there’s a cozy reading nook, too, because what better way to transport yourself across time zones and eras than through books?

Thanks to the always-amazing Priscilla Barbosa for capturing this room through her camera lens.

Interior Styling: Gina Munsey | As seen in print edition of Babiekins Magazine

INTERIOR STYLING Gina Munsey | PHOTOGRAPHY Priscilla Barbosa

Babiekins Magazine, Poetry & Words

My Decision to Step Down from Babiekins Magazine

October 3, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Copy Editor Gina Munsey's decision to Leave Babiekins Magazine

After two wonderful years, the time has come to leave my post as Copy Editor for Babiekins Magazine. There are no hard feelings involved, just a season coming to a close — as seasons are wont to do.

My time with Babiekins has given me the privilege of seeing my words on bookstore shelves — a dream I have had since I was fifteen. Nothing can replace all I’ve learned over the past two years. But even more than that, this experience has given me the opportunity to connect with scores of talented people all over the globe, and it’s those personal relationships for which I’m most thankful.

As I say goodbye to my editor role, I’m also saying hello to my newest project, Lenka and the Fawn. Lenka is a brand-new online children’s clothing store based around the concept of bringing European childhood to the United States. I’ll be launching the website in the coming weeks.

Thank you all for being so supportive of my creative endeavors; you, readers, are more encouraging than you know.

And Priscila, a huge thank you to you for all you’ve done — I am so thankful for our friendship and wish you and the team nothing but the absolute best!

Life in Photos, Poetry & Words, Travel/Moving

LIFE IN PHOTOS :: My Miniature Flying Companion

July 3, 2013July 3, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

July 2013 - Aveline in Naartjie hoodie

July 2013 - Aveline in Naartjie hoodie with waist ruffle and lace front

Aveline and I are packing this morning, for a little jaunt a couple (thousand) miles over to cooler weather for a bit. This means I write lists and try to collect what I need to pack, and she follows me around immediately removing said items from bags while asking for (even more) kefir and shrieking happily, “Baby help! Baby help with pieces!”

Not a whole lot gets done this way.

This won’t be the first time she’s flown — she’s taken close to a half-dozen trips already — but it will be the first time she has her own ticket and own carry-on. If you happen to be in the airport on Friday, she’ll be the only kid under three feet tall to have a entire twin-size fleece Mario blanket in tow. (My “purse” will be overflowing with snacks and coloring books.)

Oh, and we’ll be traveling with Mr. Fox, too.

As it just so happens, this fox is on newsstands right now. Well, not Mr. Fox himself, but a tale of his adventures as The Flying Fox, Aveline’s traveling companion. He ends up in a stranger’s lap, and witnesses a pair of airline headphones reduced to rubble courtesy of a rogue beverage cart. (You can read more in Babiekins Magazine, Print Issue 2.)

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to tend to a toddler eruption of tears over a small issue in which a plastic figure of Mario is lodged headfirst in the Tinker Toys container.

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Little Style :: Aveline is wearing a Naartjie hoodie.

Inspiration

INSPIRATION :: Babiekins Magazine Print Issue Hits Stores June 24

June 5, 2013June 5, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Babiekins Print Issue 2 - Available on newsstands 24 June 2013 Mark your calendars, ladies and gents! I’m excited to announce the newest PRINT issue of Babiekins Magazine is set to hit newsstands June 24! It’ll be available ’round the world (Barnes & Nobles, Books-a-Million, and select Target stores in the US), but if you can’t find a copy in your part of the globe, let me know and I’ll help you find one.

For this issue, I interviewed some of my very favorite Instagram mamas — Whitney Reeder @whitneyreeder, Deborah Gordon @apieceofcake82, and Claire Moir @dancelittleliar (thank you ladies!)

I also talked with Sue Kleine @sueshine about her precious autistic daughter Sammy Lu in one of the most heartwarming interviews I’ve ever had the privilege to be a part of. On the fashion front, I chatted with Katherine of the American children’s label Wovenplay — and oh yes, Aveline’s airline travel antics make an appearance in these pages too.

And the photography this time around? Just plain-old gorgeous. Wait until you see Deb Schwedhelm’s editorial!

There’s more, but I wouldn’t want to spoil all the surprises, would I? Suffice to say the amazing people who put this issue together are quite possibly the most talented and creative magazine team out there (why yes, I am biased.) I’m so delighted to be a part of a project like this!

Little Style

LITTLE STYLE :: Embroidered Brooch

May 14, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Handmade embroidered linen doll brooch - Priscilla Barbosa for the Babiekins Magazine Blog

See more of Priscilla Barbosa‘s photos over on the Babiekins Magazine blog, as well as some of my thoughts on being too high-strung — me, not her. ;)

Babiekins Magazine, Life in Photos

LIFE IN PHOTOS :: The Brasilian Supermarket

April 30, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Earlier, I had all sorts of things I was going to say, but I think the sun fried all my brain cells. Priscilla and Aveline and I were off exploring this morning, and I am pretty sure all of us are now completely melted — it was HOT today!

But don’t miss her very cool (heh) photo tour of Aveline’s time in a Brasilian supermarket, from our outing to Silva’s last week!

Babiekins Magazine, Conversations with Designers

CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT :: Gigi Rose Gray, the Artist Behind the Illustrations

November 27, 2012November 27, 2012 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

This past year, I’ve experienced the incredible thrill of having my work illustrated. Since the illustrations are arranged by the publisher, I don’t see the art until long after it is completed — and I often don’t know anything about the artist who transforms my words into images. So I was especially delighted to see this interview with Gigi Rose Gray, whose tremendous illustrations appear alongside my childhood tale “The Egg Man” in the current print issue of Babiekins.

When I first saw the two pieces she drew for my story, I was in awe of how someone else could capture the essence of my childhood so well. How could she know what a little girl would see in another country? How could she know what it looked like through my young eyes?

The Egg Man in Babiekins Magazine - by Gina Munsey and illustrated by Gigi Rose Gray

It all made sense when I read what she said about her own childhood: “In Brittany I have memories of a towering armoire teeming with jars of homemade jams, walking along the ramparts of the medieval city. In Normandy I remember the ‘moules frites’ and fisherman hauling in their catch, witnessing a thief make his escape in Barcelona and galloping on horseback through the wild fields of Provence. My work has been strongly influenced by my childhood, as I remember it to be a time of wonderment and exploration which was no doubt largely thanks to my travels.”

How neat is that? This story was illustrated by someone who really gets it. That’s so awesome.

You can see more of her art on sale for a limited time here — and don’t miss the fantastic illustrations she did for another one of my stories here, here and here