flowers… and baskets, of course!

Hello friends! Days have slipped by as I've been immersed in end of the year activities with my children. Summer vacation has finally begun, and my view (above) from over the kitchen sink gives you some idea of the lushness that envelopes us at the end of June. I love it! The wildflowers are early and abundant this year… 

My perennials are quite happy too!

So- I'm filling the house with bouquets! Probably my favorite thing about summer is gathering flowers. Maybe even more than all the fresh veggies and fruit. Which is saying a lot.

In between shuttling children and clapping hard for all of their achievements- I've been savoring some awesome sunsets...

And sewing. Of course…

more

baskets!

These natural ones are my favorites. I say that about all of them, I know. But really. It's true. I'm also working on a very cool rope basket project just for all of you... hope to share it in a week or two. Part of it includes coming up with new shapes… and how cool are these squares?!

I've just listed the three naturals below in my shop… you can find them here.

This bucket design was one of the first to sell out at Squam… need to make more. Something very lovely about the handle being part of the same single length of rope used for the entire vessel. I'm thinking it would be perfect for holding so many things, but especially yarn or wooden toys.

It's available here.

Have a super summery weekend!

baskets and skirts

Happy Monday friends! It's the last full week of school around here and I'm hustling to make the most of it in my studio. Summer is definitely upon us and there's been swimming, horseback riding and ice cream cone eating aplenty… but I haven't slowed down my sewing machine. There are baskets listed for the first time in my shop!  They are each naturally dyed in summer hues of water and sunshine. I've also listed some feathered indigo pouches. YES!  Go take a peek right here.

On Saturday I taught some lovely ladies how to refashion a t-shirt into a skirt at Craftstitute. I'm in love with their studio space… Clear, clean and flooded with natural light from gorgeous windows everywhere. 

We're talking about another rope basket class, so I'll keep you posted. Ithaca is a fabulous weekend destination this time of year!

Have a great start to your week!

release banner

 I thought I'd share this yesterday… but it was just too dark as the snow began to fall. So I let go… Ha!

Hope all of you east coasters are cozy and warm today. We were only hit by a normal winter storm out here… nothing epic. Only a pretty, fluffy and very white morning to wake up to. And some shoveling, of course! But I have strong arms.

As I said last week, my word for 2015 is RELEASE. January has surprised me with quite a bit of loosening and unleashing so far. A colorful little banner feels like a celebration of these and all future "releases". Each triangle holds specific ways I'd like to "let go" written on the back. The watercolor illustrations are great reminders… from releasing arrows, to blowing dandelion dreams into the air, to soaring sparrows.

I am letting go of negative patterns, old dreams, toxic energy and making way for the new and fresh.

I am releasing exciting ideas, big dreams, lofty goals, and joy out into the universe.

It all feels quite freeing... 

And so very happy!

The triangles are stitched together on my sewing machine, but punching holes and threading through some ribbon would be an easy alternative. You might like to try one yourself. Either create pictures for your word of the year… or maybe you'd like a release banner too. While I was waiting for the snow to stop falling, I scanned these and made it into a pdf!

 You can find this lovingly illustrated RELEASE BANNER in my shop, where you can download it and print them onto card stock to hang up your own bit of letting go! Yes!

thankful sale and talismans!

 I do hope you're enjoying a warm and happy end to this week. I wanted to take this moment to let you know how deeply grateful I am to be able to share this space with you for all of these years- what an amazing community of friends you all are! I think of you as I slip outside with my camera… as I try out new recipes… and always when I make something!

 

And I've just made something for all of us who follow our creative passions and want to wear what we love close to our heart… here are the first three of my line of Talismans- Tools of the Trade.

 Each side is a tiny reproduction of my hand carved stamps. The sewing machine reverses to scissors, as you recall. The yarn ball has a sheep on its other side and the camera has a roll of film (for all of us nostalgics). You can see more pics and read about each one in my shop where they are now available to purchase. And while you're there- I'm having an incredible sale! My tried and true patterns are all half off and my book is 20% off! These prices will last through the weekend. All are wonderful ideas for holiday gift giving.  Visit my shop here.

Thanks again for all of your love, encouragement support! 

12/12/12 sale!

Come on by my shop at noon when the shelves start filling up... and then help me EMPTY them! I'll have a lovely assortment of printed and stitched goods, many of them will only be $12. Each one is made by me just for you (or someone you love). I'll also have signed copies of  Reinvention 12% off. It's going to be fun! Prices are subject to change after today, the 12th, so seize the moment!

for the night owls

I've always loved owls. My grandparents had owl art in their bedroom, and I grew up associating dreams and sleep with these magical birds. As an adult, I have never been anything but a night owl. Recently they've been coming to me with a message. In fact, a barred owl swooped in front of me so suddenly a few weeks ago I knew it was time to listen to the specific wisdom it seemed to be sending my way. Sleep more. My mind is so restless at night that I have a hard time shutting down and turning off the lights. I often joke about being nocturnal. I know quite a few mamas that are in this same boat, not to mention all of the restless children out there that can't settle down for a good winter's nap. We all need our sleep and are becoming a culture that is increasingly more sleep deprived each passing night.

I have deep faith in the effectiveness of the organic lavender sleep pillows that I make. I thought carving the symbolic image of a night owl finally getting sleeeeeeeepy would double the medicine for any wakeful wonderers.


Yesterday I had one more late night and printed this sweet fellow on handkerchief weight linen and stuffed it with 99% organic lavender and 1% ecofill for a soft little head. The organic twill tape makes a nice spot for hanging on a nail by a bedside... but I'm sure it will mostly be snuggled under a pillow easing us all into sweet dreams.


I'll have a dozen available tomorrow at my 12/12/12 shop update along with soft camera ornaments and  printed eco-notebooks.

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sneak peeks and updates!

How can it already be the last day of September? Well, when you pack a month with out of town guests, school beginnings, art workshops and a fair (and the prep and sewing that precede them), milestone birthdays, and the editing adventures of your first book... well, it does seem to fly by in a blur. October has been nearly glowing beneath the pages in my calendar, and when I turn the page tomorrow I expect I may even here trumpets blowing and glimpse a fireworks display! October is filled with so much excitement: happy and long awaited announcements, my biggest bucket giveaway,  and a new pattern... that will be FREE! Oh yes, and there will be my first shop update in far too long. Not a huge one, but
I have several beatiful items that I brought back from the Squam Art Workshops that will be for sale in my etsy shop at noon EST on Tuesday October 4th. If you've ever wanted one of my burlap buckets I'll have three or four with gorgeous typography. I also have one left of the large natural ones that's made from a favorite thrift score- a heavy linen/hemp blend fabric. It's easy care (washable) and would make a great addition to a natural/green nursery. Along with  a few garlic sacks, you'll have the makings of some very nice early holiday shopping! There will be other items too... notebooks and banners. These two banners have traveled with me to June and Fall Squam and both times they've  hung in my workshops. They have been infused with creative energy and I would like to make  them available to someone who not only finds the words inspiring, but wishes to have a little bit of that Squam magic in their home! So have a great fall weekend folks... I'll see you in October!

more yarn balls and pouches

The main inspiration for my yarn stamps was my favorite knitter. The above pouch was a gift for her and was just waiting for the stamp to be carved. I'm very pleased with how this little ball printed on linen.So, I'm making more!

In fact, I'm trying to make one every couple of days for the next few weeks. Each one is different in size, fabric selection and even prints.

It all depends on what scraps need to be used and my mood at the end of the night (when I've been whipping them up). This Indigo bunting Burlap one features the selvedge of the linen. I use a lot of deconstructed linen clothing for sewing, so I don't always have selvedge to work with. When I do, it feels like a treat, and I don't want it to go to waste.

Here's the back...


All of my zippers are vintage or recycled. Their color often dictates the direction of the pouch. It's an interesting way to approach these mini projects and really encourages me to explore my fabric stash in new ways.

fragile

Hello! So much for my week of perfect pre-scheduled posts. Life doesn't fit into such a neat and tidy package. I must have forgotten. Life can be messy. Recognizing that is helping me through a week of unexpected challenges, amidst the inner turmoil of witnessing REAL challenges across the sea. Oh my, March has been a doozy of a month. My calendar of photographs hangs in my studio and is tacked to our family bulletin board. March is one of my favorites and is entitled:  A Bowl of Promises. These colorful gathered eggs represent so much more than the coming of spring, they symbolize potential and new beginnings... and they speak of the fragility of life.  As a small contribution to Japan's recovery and relief I will be donating 100% of all sales of this print  to AmeriCares.You can find several in my shop.


Some very nice odds and ends to enjoy with you (because we all need a little nice):

• I am a Wish Mama today over at Wish Studio and share my latest idea: The Art box.
• The editors of Craft Hope have adjusted the Baby Kimono pattern back to my original templates and all at 100% sizing.  Yay! Go here for the link.
• Babble's Top 50 Mom Craft blogs of 2011 was just announced and maya*made is right in there. How wonderful!

I'll be back tomorrow with something special for you...

shop update

Well, hello there! I always forget how long it takes to list new items on Etsy, but Mr. Cardinal is right:  "slowly and steadily" I've been adding new items to my shop. It always feels so good to have some fresh stuff in there! Yippee! If I can, I'll add a few more little bits later on, but for now I've come to the end of my ability to sit in front of this computer screen! Time for stretching, some lunch, and then packing up a few of the buckets that already slipped away. I included a few photos here of some new junior journals and this burlap envelope I just love. You'll find them and much more right here. Have a great day... the weekend is just around the corner!

late night sneak peek!

Well, it's quite the late edition, but here's a little advanced look at some of what will be in the shop tomorrow at midday. Several (8x10) prints have just arrived and more may follow... The barn, embrace and bird photo were big requests... the eggs are just a personal favorite and would look so perfect in a kitchen. And guess who gave me that lovely collection of eggs from long ago? Kate from Woolen Moss! Oh, and please ignore the December lighting I shot this montage in... the actual photos are bright and beautiful!


I'll have several buckets of various styles and sizes (including, but not shown, a good ol' WIP)...





I'm having a fantastic time putting together a holiday paper pack. Printing, punching, and recycling... love it! Each pack will contain at least 2 of everything shown below and maybe even a surprise or two. All tags are made from paper bags, kraft paper, envelopes, mailers, and cereal/cracker boxes with craft punches or hand cut by me. They'd make lovely present toppers but are sturdy enough to hang from a tree.

There will  be a return of the cardinal on some moleskines and a few other assorted items I think you'll enjoy. See you at the shop!

soon

A winter shop update is in the works for Thursday. Returning favorites will be joined by some fresh offerings that I'm super excited about! I'll share sneak peeks on Wednesday. Oh, how I love this time of year! Happy day to you all...

shop update

Today is vastly different than yesterday. The skies are blue, the sun is shining abundantly (as predicted), and I'm embracing the turning of the season with a smile,some more baking on my mind, and the  first shop update I've had in months. I wish I could have made more... I always feel that way. So many ideas, and never enough time. You feel that way, too I'm sure. Well, we'll keep writing our lists together.

In the meantime, I'm happy to welcome you over to check out a few new items in my shop.

autumn pillows

Just a little reminder that I'll be adding a few new items to my shop tomorrow at 11 am EST. This morning I went in search of light that would show the true rich colors of these autumn pillows. After marching them through the field and back, it was evident that the best ones were shot inside. Humph. I decided to include an atmospheric one anyway so you can see our season's change. I'm loving these sturdy linen pillow slips featuring color blocks in plum, slate and dark chestnut. Two embrace a bit of that tatting lace from Madison Bouckville. The third has a center square of pleated plum. Each is a stand alone pillow, but would love to be nestled together as a set. More pictures coming when I list everything on Etsy. Enjoy your Sunday and see you tomorrow!