We have an exciting give-away for you today! Lisa Leonard Designs is giving one lucky winner a $75 gift certificate to her shop. I don't know how you'll be able to choose if your number comes up... Lisa infuses each of her pieces with so much love and light... let alone exquisite craftsmanship. 
Go check out her thoughtful range of custom necklaces, then peek in on the exquisite line of "inspired" necklaces... and there's more! You'll discover that many of Lisa's pieces are beautiful reminders of what is most important to you. If you'd like a chance at this wonderful gift, please leave a comment in this post before Sunday 5pm EST. I'll announce the winner Monday morning. Go explore her shop... I bet you'll be instantly inspired by what you find. I'm uplifted each and every time I visit her blog and her store... she's that GOOD.
Thanks for this wonderful gift, Lisa! So happy you're here!
I really enjoyed this week's shared meditations... that's really what they ended up feeling like to me: little meditations. I had planned out my content for all three days, but ended up changing Tuesday and Wednesday's posts spontaneously to what I was doing (collecting sticks) or where my thoughts were (risk taking) right in that moment. It was a bit of improvisation, and I loved it! So here's one more bit of what's happening RIGHT NOW. A big winter snow storm has begun and we're all enjoying a cozy pajama day.
"Birds learn to fly, never knowing where flight will take them."
When daily life does not leave room for the usual creative outlets, I end up finding new ways of expressing my need to make stuff... like this snow sculpted unicorn (while my children dug ice caves several feet away). This was just as satisfying, if not more, than carving a stamp or sewing a bucket! Good reminder to me that I can find ways to be creative anywhere, anytime. And yes, the icicle "horn" is what got me started. Hope you have a creative and magical weekend!
I have an exciting sponsor give-away for us today! Silk Oak is generously offering an entire set for the family to one lucky reader! What is that set?! The two pieces above (which comes in sizes 3 months to 6 yrs), a unisex v-neck T-shirt and a unisex hoodie for the grown-ups... and all in one of my favorite designs: that sweet night owl!! Whoooot!
For details about their dyeing process and more check here. If you'd like a chance to win, leave a comment between now and Saturday at 5 pm EST. I'll announce the winner on Sunday. Thanks Silk Oak for this fantastic and generous give-away! Good luck to all of you...
We rediscovered the wonders of popovers this past weekend and ended up baking them two days in a row. They're a cross between a muffin and a mini custardy souffle. My family loves them straight out of the oven with a smear of jam. The batter is very simple and can be made by children with only a little assistance from a grown-up. Popovers make a perfect activity for a snowy afternoon snack, but I've honestly been loving how easy they are for me to whip up while everyone is still in bed in the morn. The smell of them baking brings the sound of little feet scurrying down the steps to peek in at the magic happening in the oven. Watching them POP over and PUFF up is definitely part of the fun. There are many recipes out there and lots of "right ways" to do it. I've tried a bunch of them, but come back to my own improvised one.
P.S. We just made them again... that's three out of four days! Oh my!
Enjoy!
I'm loving sunrises through our icicles. I could get lost watching the light shift during these early morning moments. I usually only have a second at this time of day, but this week my children will be home with me, and we get to leisurely begin our days. I'm really looking forward to some good, cozy time and lots of winter romps. Even though the snow piles are still high, I'm sensing the season shifting, and I want to savor it. I don't usually feel this way in February, but time keeps speeding up on me and some slowing down is in order.
Thanks again to all of the wonderful readers who volunteered to sew buckets this weekend. I could only choose a handful, or I think it would have felt like too many cooks in the kitchen, if you know what I mean. I'm sure I'll do this again each time I create a pattern, because the input was invaluable. Thank you Cauchy, Katie, Kelley, and Bonnie(let me know if you have a link and I'll gladly add it)!! These lovely testers all gave the pattern a big thumbs up, but they helped so much with the tweaking and clarifying of details. I really feel like I can send it out with confidence and excitement! It's in the shop... happy sewing and filling buckets!
Look what I found outside in the snow! I was just in time to meet the mail carrier... and what surprises she had tucked under her wings! Click on the photo below to enlarge.
Go ahead and peek inside...
With her permission I will be taking the entire mailbox inside to protect it from the elements. It will be waiting on my daughter's nightstand when she wakes up on Valentines' Day. Grandma Bunny will be on hand to read letters and help determine which doll gets which. I've put aside a handful of tiny treasures (baby stones, shells, sea glass, you get the idea) that will be wrapped and tied with string.
I'm loving the preparations for my daughter's miniature Valentine surprise. Of course, that big brother of hers will be getting plenty of his own LARGE treats... but tiny seems just right for my youngest. What was in Grandma Bunny's bucket?
Kisses. I covered chocolate chips with aluminum foil and added a slip white tissue.
Who doesn't love baby kisses? They will be arriving with Valentine parcels and teeny cards via the Swallow Post inspired by Tasha Tudor's Sparrow Post. All of these little ideas were hatched after reading about Tasha Tudor's life in Heirloom Crafts.
I've always adored her delicately illustrated children's books and was fascinated to read about how she incorporated artistry into her daily life by preserving many 19th century traditions. The photos are gorgeous and depict Tasha making candles, spinning wool, hand stitching her clothing,tending to her goats and creating magical dolls and soft animal sculptures.
The image below absolutely captivated me.
In her hands are the carefully saved miniature Valentines that she created for her children's dolls... known as the Sparrow Post. After one glance, I was off to get my scissors... an idea was forming. I can't wait to finally show you the Swallow Post tomorrow!
May we all age as gracefully and with such creativity left in our fingertips.
The second issue of GreenCraft has hit the newsstands, and I ran out to pick up a copy. It's so exciting to have found a publication that speaks to me on every single page. I know I'd love it even if I didn't have an article printed in it... but I do! I really thought that I would be calm and dignified, happy but you know... composed when I opened it up. Nope. I squealed. Midday in a full Barnes and Noble parking lot. By myself (which was a treat in its own right). You might not know that side of me. I sometimes squeal out loud when I'm excited. Got it from my mom. Totally embarrassed me my whole life, and now I feel for my sweet children.
Next time you're at the bookstore go pick up a copy and take a peek, there is so much to see and make on every page of this issue. Have a great start to your week!
Please welcome Lisa of Lil Fish Studios as one of our most recent sponsors! I've long been a fan of Lisa's work and am truly honored to introduce you to her beautiful felt art... oh but maybe you already know and love her too!
Lisa's famous for her beautiful felted acorns, but really she can do anything. She's just as comfortable with her band saw as she is with her wool roving! Put a camera in her hands, and she'll create a still life that will take your breath away. Yes, she's impressive! Her work is deeply inspired by nature and she's always incorporating it into her creations, which use recycled and natural materials. I really loved reading her interview as an Etsy featured seller, and I think you will too. If you're enamored with Lisa's work, make sure you follow her blog to be alerted to shop updates. Nothing stays on the shelf for long. Her most recent foray into felted terrariums is nothing short of brilliant!
Thanks Lisa! So glad you're here!
I'm so pleased to introduce you to one of our new sponsors, Silk Oak! If you've ever been to Ithaca, New York you've probably come across Silk Oak, a woman-owned, family run silk screen business that's been an institution around here since the '70's. How exciting to have the opportunity to promote a local designer, Jan Rhodes Norman, and her wonderful wares. It seems that everyone in my town has a well loved Silk Oak in their closet... including my family and friends!
Jan believes in " growing a business that nurtures our families and strengthens our community, while working every day to show respect and concern for the earth." Thanks Jan, so happy you're here! In addition to their on-line shop, they've now expanded to Etsy and are available to every one. Please go give them a visit to see their entire selection- it's vast and wonderful!
I was so impressed with how excited you were about my "tiny love" project for my children. We all love little things so much! Well, I have enlisted the help of Grandma Bunny as I squirrel away diminutive gifts and decorations for this year's Valentine's Day. Don't you think she's the perfect partner? Why, you're not familiar with my daughter's dear rabbit? Please read her history right here.
I know you'd like to string some mini hearts, too... a medium sized child would be a perfect helper. It's quite simple. I cut out pink and red hearts from a catalog (just the right paper weight) and put a single stitch through each one with red thread... well actually, Grandma B. helped me whip it up. Her sweet flannel paws wield a needle better than you'd ever imagine!
I'll also share the lovely woman who inspired this miniature collection. Some of you have already guessed. Her initials are T.T. More soon!
February is a challenging month for most folks in these parts... cold, gray, and yes, a bit dreary. Memories of running barefoot in the grass are almost impossible to conjure up. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to prepare for the oncoming gloom by planting another round of paper whites. I placed them next to my little terrarium (that's still going strong one year later). Growing something green in the middle of winter keeps me smiling and bridges the months until I can get my fingernails dirty in my yard. I was recently inspired by a friend's kitchen table "garden".
So, yesterday I picked up some potted organic herbs and created an edible centerpiece. The smell alone re-wired my February brain. Mint, basil, and cilantro are the fragrances of summer time in my plot out back. I was transported. And how fun is it to pick your garnish and put it directly on your plate? My kids will tell you "it's awesome!" I placed the pots in a rusted out mail tray (that I love so much) and surrounded them with our lake stones to complete that summer memory feeling.
