a tour and a giveaway... ready, set, go!

Life has become increasingly surreal. Or maybe it's just the opposite. This moment is so very real that the vividness of it has hit me with a clarity I've never experienced before. So as I sign a stack of books(wow!), I also take a breath and savor the rhythms that ground me. Those everyday moments, that have always been my favorites, hold a particular sparkle right now. This weekend saw Sunday waffles, flocks of children tromping through our woods, a garden finally getting some attention, lilacs and laundry, and a rekindled and beloved chore... tucking in the chickens at night.

That reality beautifully balances all of the extremely exciting  announcements that will be par for the course during the whirlwind that begins tomorrow. May 1st starts the tour... and what a wonderful one it will be!

reinvention: sewing with rescued materials blog tour

 week one

5/1- sew liberated

5/2- Craft

5/3- Resurrection Fern

5/4- Apartment Therapy

week two

5/7   Whip Up

5/8   elsie marley

5/9   Poppytalk

5/10 Annekata

5/11 Pink Coyote

week three

5/14 Betz White

5/15 Etsy

5/16 Sew, Mama, Sew!

5/17 Made

5/18 Wiley Craft

 I am so grateful and excited to have these fabulous sites (and the talented women behind them) at my side to share and celebrate REINVENTION to the fullest! Giveaways, interviews, insights, projects, contests... you name it, we're doing it!

Before we get going, I have some books to gift you! I have three signed copies that each come with a reinvention notebook. I'll ship them anywhere in the world! If you already have purchased one, you know what lovely gifts they make. Perhaps for a special mama on Mother's Day. Please leave a comment in this post (with your email or blog) between now and Thursday 5pm EST.  I'll announce the randomly selected winner on Friday. 

Happy Monday!

signed copies!

This whole early publishing business has meant that many of us are experiencing the book for the first time simultaneously. I love, love, love that! I've always felt that we were in this together... you are not just "my readers"...  no way. You are my friends! I wrote reinvention with you in mind... this week's e-mails, tweets, and comments are like little hugs and kisses through out the day. And Rachel Fix, the lovely woman who wrote my first review on Amazon, I could bear hug you right now! Those boxes that arrived last week are my author copies that I'm giving to all of the friends and family that played a role in making this book possible. My box of books for all of you?It's arriving on Monday... so it's high time to put them in my shop. Oh my goodness gracious, I get to say something so thrilling right now:

 I have signed copies of my new book available right here! 

 To make it really special, I'm including a locally crafted eco notebook, hand printed with my scissor stamp, for the first 25 customers. It's the perfect spot for jotting down all of your reinvention inspirations! Thanks to my local business angel, comrade, and confidant Jan for introducing me to these little pocket beauties.

Happy reinventing!

Happy weekend!

reinvention: behind the scenes #1

Welcome to my new series:  "a behind the scenes" peek into the writing and creating of my new book reinvention-sewing with rescued materials. I always love hearing the back story or gaining insight into someone's process. I thought you might too, so I documented bits and pieces over the past year and am so happy that I can finally share it with you. You know I'm patient, but this was a long wait!

It was just one year ago, in April, that the first of three photo shoots took place. The spring session was done entirely at my mother's barn. I love being behind the lens, but I still have so much to learn. I wasn't up for being the designer, stylist and photographer for my first book.  And although I shot the cover and opening image (yay!), I knew I would need to seek help for the rest. In order to create the images that I wanted, I called upon my sister in law, a professional from down in NYC, Deborah Donenfeld. She's been snapping pictures of  my children since birth, so I was intimately aware of how she sees the world through her lens... how she tells stories with her photographs.  I just knew that she'd be able to do that for each project in reinvention.

Deborah's ability to chase light and evoke emotions with her play on shadows is just what I hoped would help capture images with soul and sensitivity. Stitching with found and rescued materials deserves to be honored that way. So she would take this...

and turn it into this... the opening to the burlap chapter. I believe a humble stack of coffee sacks has never looked so soulful, nor inviting. Makes me want to run and get my needle and thread!

branches and dates

 Yesterday's storm took us all by surprise and as much as we enjoyed the excitement, I'm carefully watching our frozen lilacs and clearing away fallen branches. Most of our magnolia and the front half of our crab apple were damaged. There is an almost primal feeling of loss when seeing the limbs ripped off of trees we hold so dear. The trees on this land are all old familiar friends, but these two that are closest to our home feel like family. One was planted when my son was small, the other has stood in front of our home for generations. So I'm scheming  how to honor those branches. The magnolias might be the perfect diameter for some new chicken roosts. Considering we named one of the hens Magnolia (Maggie) the day before, it seems fitting. The rest of the fallen wood is up for grabs... for wooden blocks, for gardening projects, fire pit stumps seats... we shall see. I'm determined to make a little magic out of it.

********

Yesterday maya*mail went out into the world. It featured the above banner which was made out of  a recycled Tyvek mailer- the instructions can be found in Reinvention. A very exciting blog tour will begin on May 1st, and locals (and anyone that ones to make the drive!) are invited to join me on 4th and 5th for two exciting events at Ithacamade (right next to Mama Goose). See details below and mark your calendars!

Ithaca Gallery Night Friday May 4th 6-8pm Ithacamade Many of Reinvention's projects will be out on display so that you can literally step into the book. I'll be on hand for discussing everything from the virtues of recycled wool suiting to the excitement of rescuing a gorgeous vintage  tablecloth. Come chat with me!

Launch Party and Book Signing Saturday, May 5th 1-3:30pm Ithacamade Live fairly close to downtown Ithaca? Please come celebrate my book's birth! Bring your copy for signing, or purchase one right on the spot.  I also invite you to come ready to do some simple making. A project table will be set up for assembling Reinvention's  "jersey blossom bands"... a perfect Mother's Day gift. See you there!

books and chickens

The last few days have been filled with so much joy and excitement- it's unbelievable... and so very welcomed! I will always remember it as the weekend that the book and chickens arrived. They seem to go hand in hand and will forever be linked as the start of a new path.

And these two loves have been right by my side- delighting in it all! After going through each page and doing a bunch of happy dances together my son looked up and discovered an upside down rainbow above our heads. It was totally miraculous... no rain anywhere close by, just an upside down rainbow beaming down at us. Could there be a more perfect symbol of happiness than a smiling rainbow?

The next morning we prepared to welcome our flock. Final research was completed... thanks to Ashley English, whose books are always perfect family reading.

We'd heard that our broody hen's work was done and quite successful. She had helped these three ducklings hatch and now was ready to to move on down the road.

and into her new home...

We have five hens and a very sweet rooster. Oh, I had forgotten how entertaining chickens can be! And how beautifully they share their message of abundance. On our first real morning with them, we ran down at the crack of dawn... before the rooster even crowed! These were waiting for us. The first eggs.

What a sweet and quiet Earth Day gift... a true lesson in gratitude.

What a weekend!

And since no one wanted it all to end, the universe smiled down on us once more. I looked out my window this morning at 6am and this is what I saw...

"Happy snow day! Happy home day! Happy chicken day!"- straight from the mouth of my ecstatic girl.

*********

reinvention... and it feels so good!

I took you and my iphone out with me to sit under the trees and open up one of the most exciting boxes of my life. I did it all on video! One take... it's very REAL. But so far it's stuck on my phone... as soon as my savvy son gets home, I hope he can teach me how to upload it. For now, I'm savoring this moment and waiting to see my children's faces as they look into the box next! It's a heady, heart overflowing feeling... seeing this dream come true. I wish this experience for each of you. We all have the potential to take a vision and make it real. That idea that you've been gently holding... go DO it!! YOU CAN!

********

In honor of this weekend's Earth Day,  I will be at the Saturday Ithaca Farmer's Market sewing t-shirts into market bags for their  Kick the Bag Habit campaign. Please come by and say "hi" between 1:30-3.  I'll be sure to bring a copy of reinvention-sewing with rescued materials for anyone wanting to take a look. Wahoo!! Local launch party and celebration details will be announced on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend!

******

almost

And just like that, the boxes containing my books arrived yesterday. We were out late riding bikes and having a picnic dinner. I saw them sitting on the front porch when I pulled into the driveway. No one else noticed in the hustle of unloading the car. I quietly carried them into my studio. After so much anticipation of this moment, I was suddenly not ready. My vision of ripping open the boxes amidst shouts and hoopla suddenly shifted.  My long journey deserved a bit more ceremony. I haven't opened them yet. Crazy? No. I waited until the house got quiet... now and in the light of morning... I put them out on the picnic table. I stared at them... patted the boxes lovingly... but I'm about to drive on a field trip and it's getting late... so back into the house they go. This afternoon. It's a date. Meet me right back here. 'kay?

take off

I know it's a bit quieter around here these days, but big things are brewing behind the scenes. BIG, I tell you! Lots of announcements and fun stuff is on the way. Why? Because book launch excitement is almost upon us. I hear I may be holding a copy of Reinvention for the first time... any second now. And just this morning my aunt received a special notice from Amazon... it's shipping early! Like next week!! I just took a peek, and it says the magic words: in stock. Holy moly, the count down has truly begun! My first book is about to take flight, and I can't wait to share the ride with you!

********

prince for the day

Hickory's regal manner inspired some royal attire early this morning. There was a little crown I made for Lulu  perched perfectly upon his head. Hmmm... clever boy-  if only we all had it so good. The life of an adored country cat leaves little to long for. Except maybe some easy field mice!

*******

sweet girls

It was a girls' weekend all the way! My daughter had her first sleepover with her best friend on Friday night. Total success! She and I had a sleep over with this lovely lady on Saturday. Total fun!

You'll have to see what she came to shoot next month, but isn't Thea adorable perched on that stool behind my mom's barn? Nothing like late night giggles with a girlfriend... whether you're little or all grown up!

And yesterday... we met our future chickens and spent the afternoon with them. Craigslist is an amazing thing, no? A few weeks back, while perusing the farm and garden section, I stumbled upon a woman selling her flock of newly laying hens. Turned out she lived only 1 1/2 miles away. On my exact road! With two girls just my children's age! Oh my! We made quick plans for moving the hens down the road once their new abode was freshened up. In the mean time, one of the chickens went broody and has been sitting on a duck egg... a long story that we all hope ends with a happy duckling. While we wait,  it was high time to meet these new friends (the chickens and the neighbors... and a few ducks and rabbits to boot!). The little girls became instant buddies. Oh how rare to have a friend in the country that is only a walk away! Wahoo! And we both fell in love with a mellow little hen named Sweetheart. My daughter asked if she could rename her Sweetie and have it be her very own hen. Oh yes... we can't wait for Sweetie and the gang to join us.

art lab for kids (review)

I ordered this book with the hope that it would arrive in time for some spring break art. My son is away on his big 8th grade trip, and I knew there would be lots of time to spend with my littlest artist. I have a million books about art, craft and creativity with children... some date as far back as my teaching days and a few are essentially "antiques" from the nursery school I was born into- my grandmother's. Did I really need another? Well, we've just scratched the surface of the 52 art lessons included, and I'm feeling like it was a worthwhile purchase. I have two of  Quarry's other Art Lab books (for adults), and I always enjoy how each lesson "shares and relates to the work of a contemporary artist and their own unique style." I also appreciate how each project is presented:  the layout and organization is very inviting. I am thinking that this approach works even better as a children's book. We loved going through the pages together and bookmarking our favorites. Right away we decided to try scribble drawings.

After letting a pencil glide around in a circular motion... aimlessly on paper. Each artist looks for images to appear in the "scribbles". It's likened to searching for pictures in clouds. Once a rainbow, monkey, or penguin (who knows what you might find) are discovered, it's highlighted and colored in. This was a such a wonderful exercise in loosening up and seeing with new eyes. We both had a great time!

Next up were dream animals...


Art Lab for Kids would make a wonderful addition to any home or classroom with elementary age children and up. Many of the projects lend themselves to teenagers, as well... which means it's a perfect book for families with mixed aged kids looking for a book to bridge the years! It's divided into drawing, painting, paper, collage and mixed media and I can't wait to dive in more deeply. The printmaking chapter might be first!

Susan Schwake's Art Lab for Kids definitely gets my thumbs up!

lamb day

I had heard from various sources that my neighbor and good friend just had triplets! Well, not exactly her, but one of her sheep. Last week, my favorite shepherdess (and awesome clothing designer), Woolenmoss' Kate, welcomed two sets of twin lambs- followed by the triplets.

A visit was in order! Since we're currently in the midst of spring break, it seemed like the perfect outing for a bunch of friends.




Oh Kate, thank you! There's nothing like a sweet new lamb... and seven of them was out of control sweetness!

**********

the sweet stuff

It was a bunny filled weekend, that's for sure! Some were made of fruit, two were knit by Laura, several were fingerprinted, and every last little bunny that could be found was gathered up on Saturday night to await for the arrival of jelly beans that were tucked in paws or in between ears.



And a few were taken outside while we did our work- because pockets full of bunnies and treats make the  act of  hammering and picking bouquets that much more magical than they already are.


Hope your weekend was filled with the sweet stuff, too!

*********