house wren studio

little things

 

"There are no little things. 'Little things,' so called, are the hinges of the universe." 

--Fanny Fern

This is one of my very favorite quotes, used it in my last book and often go back to it. My life is all about little things and not just the ones filling baskets, boxes, bins, bowls. Robin's lovely little thank you gift, a little bit of sunshine, someone's little hug, a little birdsong.

I am scattered today with too many little things...and some are unhinging my universe. Like the airlines. Being the travel agent for a college kid is not a little thing.

Having said all that, today's post is kind of skimpy, definitely a little thing. At least you can admire this amazing flower-basket-towel-holder that Robin just knew I would love. She's right. I do, I do!

The tagbook post returns tomorrow unless I am online all day and night trying to get this plane ticket straightened out. Fingers crossed.

Update...got the ticket home for Christmas....revised and threw more money at the one I got for her in August which I could have bought for less money today. So much for early bird.

mo's tagbook

My new blog friend, Janet over at Primrose Design is posting a series of wonderful tutorials on handwork and embroidery. Nice to see that handwork is again a popular craft. We both collect old treasures and handworked linens. She makes them into darling pillows. I just pile mine up somewhere-- well, I did hang some for cafe curtains in the kitchen. That's 2 of 200.

The first edition of my website had a series of projects that were fairly popular. That feature didn't make it into the redesign so I'm going to offer some here. There are lots of cute projects available in my books, too. Can't say this is really a tutorial, more like sitting next to me in class and listening to the back story. Judging from the interest in those placecards, I'm starting with papercrafting -- the tagbook I made for Mo that was featured in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion June/July issue, my favorite magazine. This is sure to be a tear-jerker holiday gift if you make it for a friend or family member. I first saw this tagbook format when my super-talented friend Dede Thompson showed me the one she made for her grandmother five or six years ago. The coolest scrapbook I ever saw. Since then I have made my adapted version for a number of friends and family -- one is still out there, having mysteriously gone missing at a scrapbook company's headquarters ---years ago! Hmmmm.....don't want to think about that now.

You can start with the kits available or you can make your own book. The accordion book format works well if you glue or sew some of the pages together to make pockets. Snip openings in the fronts of the pocket pages before you seal the pockets. Hope you are getting that-- it's a little tricky, but you will find your own method for bookmaking that works with what you have. (Not much of a tutorial so far, huh? Just not sure how to go through all that step by step and not scare you off.) This 5 x 5" book of Mo has 4 pocket pages.

Cover the front and back of the book with a neutral paper that you can decorate with more layers. I am really fond of the b/w composition paper because everything I like looks great on it. Next I layered a smaller square of my favorite paper pattern that I made with a potato print and love still more than any other...seemed summery and bright for our little Mo. I had to trim it a little after I added the closure (with an elastic strap for a yawning book) from 7 gypsies which is also a good source for book kits and materials.

For the main focal point I sized and copied the beloved silhouette that our friend and illustrator, Jeff O'Connor made of her. To surprise me, dear Anne O'C french-braided her hair that day long ago and then Jeff cut the silhouette...actually it's of all three darling girls. What a dreamy 40th birthday gift-- good thing it was framed so I didn't cry all over it!

What - you don't have a handcut silhouette? See what you do have. Your central image could be a photo-- maybe in black and white. I stacked the trimmed image onto 2 more layers of paper and edged the last one for a picture frame look. Then I was lining up all my favorite book phrases so I could choose the one I liked best for her, but as you can see, I finally just made a little border of all of them which is much more fun than just one! The uniform look of the type makes a crisp outer frame for the cover.

A scrap of old book paper from the margins stamped with her name waited nearby until I found and added the textile and charms. (I use a muffin tin to sort bits and scraps for a project.) The trusty button box offered up the big, pearly button with jumbo holes -- perfect for a ragstrip woven through it. I have a big ragball of that polka dot fabric and hoard it like it was gold or something. What better place for it than here! Before I attached the button, I added 2 charms --our star, our heart--under it with needle and thread and then placed the MO tag.

So, that's it .... for the cover. Wait 'til you see what goes inside!

xo, charlotte

 

Wow, you are all so nice to find my blog and write such sweet notes and comments. Thanks so much. It helps to know someone's reading all this blabby-gab.

Isn't this a wonderful little noteholder? Made from a project in my last book, Between Friends, I got out the directions to review and made one for fun -- well, actually, for Stephanie. Spending my day papier mache-ing cuties in the works.  Not much to show at this point, hands full of glue and paper, but I'm thinking about all the things I want to share with you for the holidays. I think I have a plan. More on that tomorrow.

xo Charlotte

old favorites

   

I did clean up the studio this morning, but it wasn't long before it looked just as before. As hoped, I came across some old favorite vintage fabrics to cut and sew with this morning. They always make me feel creative, especially when they stack up like this. Throw in some buttons and I'm all good.

An afternoon trip to the craft store really did me in though. The shoppers were happy and focused until we hit the check-out lane. One cashier for 18 people! Are you kidding? Several people just walked out and left their baskets of things on the floor where they stood. No wonder the world orders online.

Once home, I tossed my bag-o-crafties into the overflow studio mess and I'm taking the Jake-boy out for a walk. It's another beautiful day. Hope yours is too.

gone

Yes, they have gone home.

Thankfully, sweet Maggie, chef Maggie, crafty Maggie is still here and there won't be any whining from me. She has to go back to work tomorrow. I'll be sad then. But I will get busy crafting which is always the best tonic for worry and/or the blues....read somewhere that someone said, "Feeling blue? Get up and DO!" 

Looks like a craft bomb went off in the studio and it was also the hiding place for excess junk in the rest of the house over the holiday. And there is plenty of that. Straightening up will give me access to some of the buried materials I can use tonight. Maybe even some new ideas as the felts, trims, papers, buttons, paints pass through my hands or land near other things.

I did make some cute placecards for the T-day dinner. Role reversal mother/daughter, I felt like a little kid banished from the kitchen commotion, but certainly had fun tinkering with papers and stuff. I have a box of standard shipping tags on my worktable so I cut and pasted paper scraps onto each and then wrote the guests' names. I prefer the way my handwriting looks in pencil, but it also means that they can repurpose them. (We had some laughs when everyone tied them onto their clothes for nametags.) After I pasted the papers onto the tags, I sewed through them right down the center with my machine. Sewing on paper with a zigzag stitch has long been a favorite technique of mine, especially since the gluestick is not always a reliable adhesive. I like the way the sewing looks on the back too. You have to have another needle for the machine handy. They break after awhile as the paper dulls the needle point.

Tied onto the napkins -or people, they looked pretty sweet.

dinner out

Jake is loving all the attention. Me, too. Another lazy day.

I am trying to post something every day which is a little bit of a challenge. I'm not used to this much writing, but the activity round here needs to be noted.

The girls went off shopping this afternoon and they hit our favorite "disposable clothing" store pretty hard. Looked like they had been to the grocery with all the bags they pulled from the trunk. They assured me it was all sale merch, but whatever, I like it that they get to go off together, just the three of them. Now we are witnessing a frantic fashion show as they try to select final outfits for dinner. Their dad and I are used to watching this, and we get a chuckle when we see that outfit number 5 looks a lot like 2, 3, or 4. We are almost ready to go and are happy that boyfriends, John Paul (Erin) and James (Maggie) are coming too. So the 7 of us will be the rowdy, loudy table in the corner....not their fault though. Let's go!

sit back

       

I think we all would agree that it was a memorable and delicious Thanksgiving. One guest had to bring her own chair -- how could we not have enough?--and it was pretty cozy at the table, but we like that. Only one more fire call just as we carved the turkey. Luckily, she was back again in time to join us. Maggie did an incredible job cooking and planning this feast which really was amazing. The evening was full of family stories, laughs and legends. It's wonderful to enjoy being together this much. Hated to go to bed, but by midnight, I just couldn't manage anymore.

This morning the sunlight washed in over the table in such a cheerful way. Everything was tidied up. Soon enough, sharing a pot of coffee with the kids started the fun all over again. Cooking breakfast in rounds of appearances from sleepers kept the smell of bacon and Dutch Baby in the air. Jake could barely contain himself. Love that no-pressure lazy morning with everyone in their pajamas wandering in and out of the scene. We did eventually get on with the day and had a wonderful walk in the country at Stone Barns. Lots of pictures to assemble into an album later. And now....we are all emptying the fridge for leftovers! Yum!

T is for

 

Thanksgiving.

The big day has arrived and my little world is sound asleep. Two out of three girls are home, the oldest, Erin, expected to arrive later in the day after a long drive. There is lots to do, but I actually have a small part in the food production. Maggie has taken on the turkey. In fact, she found one that spent a happy life running free on a farm .....4 hours away from us! Her dear dad enthusiastically supports her natural approach to food and drove up an hour to the drop-off point to pick it up since she was at work in the city. She is also making butternut squash lasagna and plans to spend the entire day in the kitchen. Erin made sweet potatoes at home in Boston and sent a picture of them - pre-drive. They look delicious and marshmallowy sweet. I am in charge of the pies and the table.

And the youngest, Mo, is safely home from college for that first freshman holiday so full of excitement and stories to share. We have all missed her so much this fall. Having her fast asleep at home again is my Thanksgiving.

But....as I am writing this, the village fire horn went off and she bolted out of bed to rush to the firehouse (yes, in her pajamas,) blue light flashing on the dashboard. So much for safe- tucked away- all ours for the day. Whatever the call is, she might not be back for hours. Hoping it is just a smoke alarm, she could be back in an hour or so, but we never know. The fire department is her second family, her band of brothers, and she has missed them as much as us. There will be some hanging out at the firehouse afterwards once their gear is stowed again. Prayers that it is nothing serious, that no one's holiday will be remembered for tragedy.  And that Suzanne's turkey didn't blow up in the deep-fryer on the back porch.

Wishing you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Update-- It was a casserole on fire. Tough way to start a holiday. She is back home - where else? Sleeping.

all of us

One of the things that surprised me about blogging is the instant community it builds. I spend many days alone in my studio designing and making little cuties. It really is what I enjoy, but I found myself talking to one of my creations today, asking it what it wanted to wear. Oh, dear, time to get out for a walk with the dog, maybe go to the store.

Then I saw this basket of dollies, all nations and generations of vintage. They sit nearby and get to decorate the tree once a year. In the meantime they just sit waiting, all cozy and sweet in the basket. Four of them are ones that I made. Two for the Christmas tree in 1980. One for the dollhouse in 1985. And one more wild thing doll made for me in 1989. I think I actually wore it pinned to a jean jacket. That might have been the year of my perm....a hair-don't. The dolls are almost antiques now and one has a scrap of fabric from a maternity dress I made.

Still love them though and the whole bunch reminds me first of my girls, all grown and gone. But just when I feel a twinge of sadness I remember that they will be home soon. And then when I look at them again I think of this new world I landed in. Happy to be here-- in a basket of bloggers, all nations and generations supporting each other with care and kindness. Thanks.

houseguests

Having old friends arrive as houseguests briefly changes everything --in the best way. A very clean and tidy house (and family dog) all fluffed up, local adventures that we might never plan otherwise, bigger pots of coffee and new voices, laughter, conversations, ideas, memories. Robin and Michael came in for the weekend and certainly, there wasn't time to look up at the ceiling fan which I did actually manage to clean.  Robin designed both of my books and anyone who has seen them remembers the beautifully designed pages as much as any of the projects. She is so very talented and has been an invaluable collaborator and mentor for me. Michael is a fine artist whose work shows in galleries and exhibits nationally. They are both individuals who appreciate details (hear me trying to explain my anxiety about those I was in charge of.) In fairness, they confirmed that they came to see us, not a clean house, but I felt better.

Favorite moments--

* dinner in town at our favorite restaurant -special bonus-the entire evening shared with our daughter and her boyfriend. Watching and listening to our children tell their stories and share their world views and ideas at the table always delights us. Our friends are now their friends too.

* shopping the church's Annual Better Clothing Sale on half price day where we found some overlooked vintage clothes (Robin's find, a Jackie O-style coat, still there waiting to be discovered!) and also a few sweaters, ahemmmm, to felt.

* heading into the city to see the Brice Marden exhibit at the MoMA and then attend Madama Butterfly at the Met. The serene beauty of the Marden exhibit and the incredible magic of the opera- the staging and colors, the music, the performance, the heartbreaking story- almost too much for one night.

* hanging out in our little house drinking coffee and talking, talking, laughing, talking about all sorts of new things. I'm so glad they came. We are totally excited now for Thanksgiving and having all the family here at home. Only a few days away!

And we even have a headstart on clean.