house wren studio

off she goes

 

My favorite part of the M-F mornings is when Maggie comes down to the kitchen to get her coffee and run out the door for the train to the city. The outfits she puts together give me some kind of serious mommy thrill....the little girl who went to school in mixy-matchy duds and now her lovely business style that makes everything look amazing- professional but hip. We still shop Salvation Army together. I would choose something that is way too dowdy on me, but on her, it's so cool. So this morning, she wears my old skirt that made me feel like my mom. On her, it looks awesome. The lacey tights, high-heeled boots, shiny white belt, big earrings. I would never do that! Can you picture her going, jeez mom, quit it! What's with you and this blogging camera madness?

I went to the NY Gift Show today to see what the new game is in the gift market. I thought of her when I put my church sale picks together...vintage sweater, glittering junk jewelry, Jackie O swing jacket. She was long gone by then. I think she would have looked me over and said okay, you can do that. Interesting how I wait for that now, for the approval. The 3 of them know what looks good, what doesn't. I am sometimes a little off. Like the way Mags used to put plaid workshirts with pink flowered shorts...when she was 3. I remember a friend with me watching her come down the steps when she was that little. The outfit was so random and wild. I started to say something. My friend saw it coming and stopped me, "No one is going to think you picked that out. Let her go. She thinks it's cool." So glad I shut up on that stuff. What did I know?

I just returned from a 6:00 dinner, getting into pj's for AI, uh, Friday Night Lights (got my days mixed up). Early bird dinner, TV and bedtime. How things change, but kind of stay the same too.

c is for cherry...

That word cute used to be a word I challenged myself to avoid, but I'm bringing it out again. It's rapidly becoming my favorite word for so, so many things. Just really like the way it sounds. It's like a little shout. I made these tea cozies (spelled cosies in England) exclusively for Cherry's online store and must say that they are, you know, CUTE. The decorations are actually pins- so when you aren't serving tea, you can wear the pin. I thought it would be good to have it be removable for washing too.

Do treat yourself and go to the reopening of Cherry's cottage store. It has been freshly restocked with all sorts of adorable goodies for the home. Our friend Fiona at Nonnie has contributed quite a few must-have creations. I confess that I am excited to have my work represented in a store, online or not, in England.

I know that CUTE was also my main descriptor yesterday for this. Having overused darling, sweet, adorable, dear, I can't think of any other words for awhile. Just a little while. I'll get tired of this one too. Anyway, while you are out cyber-shopping, stop off and visit Bayberry Cove. The Sweet Mountain Holiday Collection is looking so...well, you know.

it's snowtime!

 

My little gang of Sweet Mountain Holiday cuties is having another performance week at the NY Gift Show. Hope they are all smiling and sweet as can be for the buyers. Still think they are the cutest! xoC

edit....goodness! look what is available for preorder here!

it was nidicolous

Little Miss Smarty Pants is going back to skool where she will review Latin, Greek, French and German derivatives. The Bee-Gonias were wiped out in the first round by the Beelievers, the village clergy, Father Byrne, Reverend Colwell and Reverend Harkness. The killer word for our round was depilatory which 3 of 4 teams spelled with 2 L's. Reverend Harkness persuaded his team to go with only one L and they won the round. We went out in good company though with the Latin team and the Middle School teachers. There were 5 rounds with 5 teams winning and moving forward. The Library Lit-wits, the History-onics and the Writers' Bloc were contenders. In the final, the Word-ly Women walked off with the honey jar.

It was our small town life at its best. Meredith Vieira was a witty, good-natured MC and Jon Scott, a clever enunciator. There was an airhorn for a buzzer which was replaced with a whistle after the first round. The judges wore mops as wigs, the HS jazz band entertained the audience and the raffles were impressive. Everything it should be and the Fire Department kicked arse...making it into the final round!

Some of the stunners--

nidicolous

adjective

(of birds) remaining in the nest for a time after hatching [ant: nidifugous]

otiosity, gaucherie, bijouterie, persiflage, derailleur, idiosynchratic, couloir, tachycardia.

All in all, a delightful way to raise money for the library and to visit with friends and neighbors on such a cold night. I think we are already looking forward to an annual event.

we'll sea about that

Don't you think most people are either spellers or non-spellers, born that way or how many years of Latin you take? Like singing, it's a gift. I don't think it has anything to do with intelligence. My family is half and half: spellers/non-spellers. I am one of those annoying spellers who always scans a menu, directory, letter, etc. for misspellings. Before I order, I announce to everyone what the various errors are. Caesar Salad. Rolling eyes. A big sign went up in town with a misspelling ---stationery has an E as in letters--and I walked past it several times with the intention of going into the shop and telling them it's wrong! How can you hang that up? Fortunately, I held back. Someone else did that dirty little job. It was altered badly with a big hand painted E slapped over the A...trying to match the font, but not even close.

Tonight our town is having a Spelling Bee. It's a fund raiser for our library in the tradition of one that is apparently held on Nantucket. Sponsored groups enter with a 3 person team and it's set up like a tournament. But word has it that teams get to confer on the correct spelling, put it on a dry-erase board and hold it up. Really the intent is to have a good time, raise a bunch of cash and provide entertainment for a cold January night in the village. So I'm on the Garden Club team, the Bee-Gonias. We are wearing garden hats, bringing our clippers and gloves (not white ones, gardening ones). The fire department has a team as well as the Historical Society, local authors, and several others I'm sure. Man, it's the talk of the town. They are letting the seniors in first to avoid the mad rush for seats when they open the house. A certain Today show co-host who lives in the area is the MC, another news anchor is the moderator and our friend Kate flew in to be one of the judges.

Over winter break, Mo was asked by her fire chief why she isn't coming home from school to be on the Fire Department team. Love her answer-- I can't spell my own name...that's why they call me MO!  I remember when her 4th grade teacher said she wouldn't need to be able to spell in today's world. There is spell check now, she quipped. Really! The spell check tonight is going to be some kind of noisy, obnoxious buzzer.

I hope I can remember how to spell a few words under pressure, and be an asset to my team. And have some fun too.  I'll be watching my P's and Q's for more than one reason. Wish me luck. FYI...Spell check said I only had 4 mistakes to correct here.  xoC

baby daze

 

Making those sweetheart pins reminded me of the days when little ones were playing on the floor nearby. Tea with other mothers in the neighborhood, knitting, crafting, sharing all those issues about mothering, wifing. I think Valentine's Day in general makes me very nostalgic for my girls when they were little. I happened upon this magnet on our fridge. Dede made it of Mo when she was a year old. I remember that day- now 18 years ago. We were at her house-- baby Zoe and baby Mo playing, running to Dede waiting with her camera. I remember the pink sweater, the dress I made for her, the baggy tights, the drooling chin, the feel of that wiggly babe in my arms.

I remember the day that we took this picture of Maggie too, 23 years ago. Out in the country, she was watching that big bold goose, Tom, through Grampa's cabin screen. Not going out there, he's hissing at me. We shooed him away, got wet in the shore of the lake chasing frogs, happy with Erin outside in the weather. I remember that sweater too, the way the sleeves were too tight for her chubby baby arms. The hand-me-down corduroy overalls, her wispy hair. I remember the way she made us laugh even then, funny baby Mags laughed as if she were at a cocktail party. Such a charmer.

My girls, my valentines.

a dozen to go

Here are my sweetheart pins...below and all 12 also in the photo album to the left (not on flickr). If you would like one, please email me using the email link there on the left too. Putting the name of the pin(s) in the subject line is a good idea. (You can leave a comment here if AOL isn't being nice to your email.)

I'll let you know if it's available and we'll figure out the rest. Paypal is my preference -- for me, it's the quickest, easiest and I can ship by Friday. They are all $14.00 domestic shipping included. Sweetly wrapped for your valentine basket.

Have fun looking -- they are very sweet!  xoC

edit...wow, they are all gone! I hope to bring you more sweethearts another time. Thanks again for all the enthusiasm and support. Off to the packing table.

 

linzer heart pins

Finally got busy over here and made these sweetheart pins. They remind me of linzer heart cookies. Yum! Come back later today, let's say at 7:00 pm (eastern). I will post them all for sale here first (before they go to etsy) and you can pick your favorite.  $14.00 includes domestic shipping and a gifty package, ready for a valentine...or for you!

Each one is different and adorable in its own way. This one is called Josie and the size is roughly what you see here, about 3 inches tall. When they go up tonight, email me and we'll work out the details that way. See you tonight!

journalkeeping, housekeeping

   

I am on empty today. Nothing to make or show for my post. Wandering through image files, I was hoping to find something that would be of interest to those of you who read this blog. Because I didn't make anything today. (Please do tell me what you like to see, what should I make and show you?) I was reading a post over here about inspiration and remembering another that Pam put up a few days ago about her fabulous creative journals. I made one of those too, but couldn't find it. I still can't ...it's buried in the paper case somewhere I think. I'm sure it is somewhere in this room but who knows where. There are now too many places to keep things- the art journals get lost easily. I'll come upon it someday when I am not looking for it anymore. But there is a picture in my file of the inside.

Some day I want to make all these sketched ideas into real works- collages, paintings, stitchery, hooked rugs. Until then, maybe just keep filling the various notebooks with scribbleys. These notepads and composition books from the office supply are super cheap and easy to decorate-- my favorite part. Make a paper or digital collage, size, print and attach to the cover. At least the thing is pretty enough then to leave OUT somewhere....uh, where you could find it when you need inspiration. So, I didn't make anything, but you can. The couch awaits.  xoC

an imperfect world

 

I finished and sent my block for Sabine's quilt to the wonderful ladies over here. I was rushing to get it out the door for the deadline. If I had looked at this hastily snapped photo -- or even the block itself after pressing it, I would have ripped open one of the seams and tried to sew it straighter. I feel like I sewed it to my skirt or something. Once upon a time 20 years ago, I made handquilted pieced quilts for our family. None of the block corners matched, the rules of quilting broken everywhere you looked. My quilting stitches looked like basting. I have come to understand that piecing and quilting is one of the hardest crafts. In spite of the flaws, I so wanted it to be done well - for the honor of being included in this project and of course, for the Kims. Little Sabine will look at my square at some point and be reminded of the imperfect world...not really my intention at all, but I'm pretty sure she will also know it was made with faraway love and hope. I think she will anyway. I will never know Sabine. But I think about her alot, her sister Penelope, and Kati. I imagine their sadness, the depth of it.

One of my favorite quotes is Helen Keller's ... Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. Sabine and Penelope must be sparkling sunshine for Kati. I picture these quilts, made with so many loving hands, spread out on the grass some day this spring. Hoping the Kims can stretch out together, share some happier memories... looking up at the sunshiney sky.