beauty that moves

handmade by others saves the day

I had such high hopes for this little guy. I imagined him to be finished, printed, and in the hands of Emily's teachers as we all parted for the holidays. The owl is their school symbol and I thought it would make an enjoyable and meaningful gift. It is nowhere near finished... I think I will finish it over Christmas break and tuck it away for end of the year gifts.

This holiday season has been the first in my adult life that I have worked outside of the home five days a week. Oh my, what a challenge. It has been such a relief to enlist the help of others for gift and goodie making. Instead of my owl print, Emily's teachers were given handmade soap. Made locally by a gal that my family has a rather important connection to so it seemed quite fitting. And her soap is truly amazing.

Tomorrow my girl turns twelve. In previous years I have been able to blog a few words on her special day, but honestly, this year I feel utterly speechless. Twelve seems so huge. At twelve years old I was babysitting, had a phone in my room, and was slow dancing with boys to Stairway to Heaven at school dances (geeez....). She is a very different twelve than I was, she is better. And that is all I've ever hoped for.

As you can imagine, we have a lot of merriment going on around here. I think I'll step away from the blog until next week. I hope your days ahead are filled with the abundant beauty and magic of the season. Many blessings to each of you!

simple and frugal (last minute) handmade gift idea

 

The title of this post applies only to those of us that have an abundance of the essential ingredients already kicking around. ;)

I could make twenty of these earring holders without spending a single dime. I'm guessing there are a few of you out there who could do the same. In my area, there is never a shortage of embroidery hoops or doilies when out thrifting/flea marketing. I've got stacks and stacks of each around here. From time to time, I like to make jewelery, whenever the mood strikes. There are always plenty of beads and findings in my studio as well. Soooo, if you are like me and have these sort of things hanging around your house than go ahead and make an earring holder... combine it with a pair of handmade earrings, and you have a sweet and low to no cost gift to give!

Simply secure a doily tightly onto an embroidery hoop. You could stop there... but I went ahead and trimmed the edges and folded them around the back of the frame, securing with hot glue. Yes, it was weird and hard to cut into a doily. But it was all in the spirit of practicality and repurposing. I have never had a place to organize my earrings before, it's pretty great to have them all arranged in such a pretty way finally.

Am I too late? Do any of you still need a gift idea? Maybe you would just like to make one for yourself at some point. Many thanks to Tiny Happy for the idea and inspiration!

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"Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it." ~Goethe 

Many blessings on this winter solstice... it is our favorite day of the year.

all is well now

The words in this image are grounding and just the reminder I needed as this whole process shook out for me. I went back to the printer after work today and things were looking even worse than they did yesterday. Some of the colors were borderline day-glo. Not pretty. Then I remembered Kendra's comment on my previous post. She suggested I stay right there and wait out the print job, approving along the way. I did just that... there was also a different printer that stepped in to help, and now I am a very happy girl (thank you Kendra!). The colors are beautiful and accurate people! I am so pleased... I began listing a few prints in the shop. I hope you enjoy them.

This whole offering is strangely liberating.

Don't forget, for the next few days prints will ship out within one day (Sunday excluded). That may help some of you. I'm sorry for my tardiness this season. You are all so kind to check in here day after day to read about drawing after drawing... have you scrolled through the last few posts? Oh my. Things will return to a more familiar balance next week. Take care!

what does one do when the printer messes up?

Well... I am here to tell you that it's possible one laughs nervously at the counter disbelieving what she is seeing (the wrong paper, the wrong crop, poor color quality even though we had tested it the day before... turquoise should not print as royal blue...). She could feel weak and say yes to her girl's request to buy chocolate on the way out of the store, even though it is one hour before dinner. She will likely buy some for herself as well. There is a chance for an exhausted tear or two at some point in the evening, when she goes home with no artwork. Somehow though, this recipient of a messed up print job does manage to keep it in perspective, knowing the shop feels responsible and appreciates that they are working so hard at this very moment to correct it all. She will work hard to keep the peace and not feel too frustrated.

So here I am, taking a very deep breath and daydreaming about potential decoupage projects instead of offering these prints to you this morning. The printer said tomorrow at the latest the correct order will be ready. I'm not used to having any part of my handmade life in the hands of another. There is a definite letting go piece to it all.

choosing to be brave

I am not a person who over-thinks things. I tend to jump into new ideas with both feet and ask questions later. Sometimes this has bitten me in the you know what, mostly it has opened doors to places unimaginable. Sure, at times this is a nerve-racking approach to life, but the magic that is experienced when unexpected and beautiful things happen is worth every bit of risk. And if new ideas or plans fall flat and go nowhere, the humbling experience holds perfect wisdom as well.

I am going to have a little art sale.

It will be very low-key, but I promise my entire heart will be in it. And then some.

I'm thinking all will be ready and printed (that part is in the hands of a professional) tomorrow night, maybe Thursday. Items will ship out the next day (for the next several days) so that will help most of you who are thinking about gift giving, but I know it's cutting it close. My timing isn't always perfect, but my intention is.

There is probably no need to tell you all this is super scary. This new found love I have with the quiet of paper and pen is a deeply personal experience. My hope is that others can feel that, and these drawings will evoke a personal connection for them as well.

Your encouragement has been such a gift over the last few months. Thank you doesn't even begin to capture my gratitude.

these are the rules

Everything applies to these three little rules. I picked them up at one of the workshops I attended over the summer along with the poem I've already shared. The presenter of that workshop has been a Montessori teacher for 25 years now and she said these are the only classroom rules she's ever used.

I began using them in our classroom in September and I must tell you, they work beautifully and could easily be applied as home rules, not just classroom rules. The best part is you never have to say to a child "you are not being gentle with that book." Instead, try phrasing it as a question... "are you being gentle with that book... are you being safe with your body when you run across the classroom like that... are you being kind to the worm when you pick it up and throw it across the sandbox?" It's amazing how empowered and accountable it feels to self-correct their own actions by providing answers to your questions.

This little group of children will likely remember me for three things; my basket, green smoothies, and this friendly set of rules. That feels pretty good.

update, found treasure, new art

My little shop is finally updated! Sunday night is likely the strangest time to do such a thing... but it looks like a few of you have already picked up a set of bulk food sacks, thank you!

I spent the day cleaning out more closets. Remember last week when I found my favorite green shirt? Well, take a look at the green found in my closet today...

Isn't that crazy!!? As exciting as it was to find a little jackpot (in December of all months), it's really pretty shameful when I think about it. Shameful because I have no recollection of a point in time where I felt I was missing nearly $250! And I should have felt such a moment because that kind of money is certainly not a bag of peanuts to me. Now maybe I will go pick up those new glasses I so desperately need. Thank you messy closet and absent mind.

Finally, some new art I've been working on this weekend. It is so nice to leave it all out and to sit down for 10 minutes here and there (between closet cleaning and goodwill sorting, of course), adding bits of color, patterns, words (compliments of Thoreau).

It all makes me very happy.

bulk food bags update

Many months ago I posted about my new line of bulk food bags for the shop. I did complete them as planned  but never listed them in my etsy shop, and many of you have been so kindly and gently wondering WHY!?

Let me back up a by explaining my "marketing" or "pricing and design" philosophy a bit. I should defend myself by saying I am aware it probably lacks logic or practicality for someone creating artistically with their own two hands. It is used by the folks at Ikea... I don't know when, or where I picked this thinking up, but it has been my approach to designing and pricing goods for a long while now.

I read the designers at Ikea practice what some consider a backwards method to marketing. Others would say the opposite, that their practical style and accessible price points make them progressive and sustainable in the design world. Their method? Design the general function and aesthetic of an item first, then a market price, then work towards the "product" that satisfies those goals.

I have worked closely along those lines of thinking. I want my handmade goods to wind up in people's hands, not sit on my shop shelf. I also need to show respect for myself and try to "pay" myself a "living wage" for my area. I don't believe in supporting companies who pay their workers with a bowl or two of rice a day, why would I create my own business to follow such practices? I promised myself I wouldn't do that. It's not sustainable and it's not ethical.

Still, it is important to offer goods at the best price I can, with the cutest design possible. This has usually worked out just fine as I tend to focus on vintage/repurposed materials that are thrifted for far less money than brand new supplies would cost. Everybody wins, the earth included! I had a bit of a philosophical breakdown however with these bulk food bag sets.

I had decided to use new fabric for these. I thought that would appeal to people overall as these were to be in contact with food. I also wanted to be able to make many sets in certain colorways and knew I would need large amounts of each fabric to do so. I also thought these would "whip" right up as they are quite simple in construction. I underestimated the "cost" in both of these areas. They used far more fabric, and took far more time (with their lovely french seams) than I had estimated. I should have pictured it all more accurately, but I didn't. In the end, I was holding many sets of beautiful bags that I really needed to charge a lot more for than I was willing to.

But really, what is the point of me hanging on to them all? I have plenty of my own... and you have been asking for them... how about a sale!? A $25 sale!! That feels good. I have about eight sets (each containing 2 large and 2 small bags)  in various colorways, and will update the shop with them at some point on Saturday. They really are wonderful, and that price is what I was hoping for in the beginning. I'm happy to forget about the extra time and materials and enjoy this limited run for what it is. A little bit of oops... a whole lot of function and beauty.

keeping busy... courtside.

This is where you will find me two nights during the week and once on the weekend, until... oh... March, I think. The lighting is great in the gym! Even if it doesn't appear so in these shots, trust me, it's so bright and clear... really helps me to see what I am doing. It almost makes me forget that I really, really need to get new glasses.

Hey... who's that tall, handsome coach over there? I know him! They won't let him play on the teams... instead he is handed a clipboard and instructions to coach them, not join them. And that girl in the front... I think she's wearing my shirt! Hmm...

It's okay though. She's working hard at perfecting her wrist action, running every single suicide the coach asks of her (I think she actually likes those!), scoring a whole bunch of baskets and having loads of fun. Good times ahead for the winter months.

I hope to be back tomorrow. I'm feeling very grateful these days and I seem to be on a bit of a blogging kick too. If I get lost in the tasks of basting and pie dough rolling however, I think you'll understand, and please have yourself a lovely and mellow holiday.

studio destash sale... coming up!

We have realtors coming... it's marked on the calendar. It's happening. This house will soon be listed (and hopefully sold shortly thereafter).

As we move toward clearing out and packing up, it has been made clear that I have way more fabric than a girl needs... or will realistically use in this lifetime. I need to part with a great deal of it, we just won't have the same amount of space in Vermont that we have here. But no worries about that because purging and simplifying our belongings (even further) feels amazing.

So a studio destash is in order. Here's how it'll work:

• I have attempted to loosely categorize colorways... choose from blues... greens... white backgrounds (think vintage sheeting)... pinks... earthy - includes browns, yellows, reds, oranges
• Each bundle weighs a generous 3 lbs. and is packaged in a 2 gallon ziploc .
• I think I will have about 20 or so to list.
• Each will contain a combination of vintage and new. There may even be a little piece of vintage clothing in some... I often take apart partially tattered vintage clothing to sew with.
• These are not bundles of dinky little scraps... there are many large pieces including yards or half yards in each.
• They will be priced to sell at $10 a piece. Awesome.
• All will be ready to go early Friday morning!

A couple of years ago I participated in a scrap swap and Grace sent me the most beautiful collection. It was surprising and wonderful how much inspiration can be found in a random assortment of surprise fabric choices. I hope my studio destash is your studio pick-me-up!