house wren studio

pieces of heart :: 8

From a red and white quilt made from old bedsheets that Dede and I bought at a church sale in Forest Park, IL. Zoe and Maury were babies (1988). It was so badly damaged and we  both wanted it so we cut it in half. I made the red button jacket for Mo (modeled by a bear in ME Home Companion book) which is still here in a box somewhere. Dede made a hat for Zoe. (Right, Dede?)

Looks like I hit the button jar pretty hard for this. That's rare, I hoard those white ones like they were silver dollars or something. But then none of them went very far did they?

{edit: I just returned late last night from my trip to LA...so much to tell you and to catch up on here. These posts were preset to auto-post while I was away, but I'm still loving the series and have more to show. Thanks so much for all the sweet comments and emails! xo}

pieces of heart :: 7

The wool felt on top is from what must have been a wool basket scrap turned dolly shawl. It was in the doll clothes box and was one of the things headed for donation. I fished it out at the last minute, stuffed it in my pocket and cut it up that night to make this. The felt on the bottom is from wool coating I thrifted, felted and thought I would hook into a rug many years ago. But it was too heavy and too hard on my hands to hook with it. Perfect for applique though, such a gorgeous faded rosie red and now so soft after all these years.

The ceramic button is an extra from a sweater I made for Erin 25 years ago. It was a big knitting project for me, a novice, and involved fair isle patterns which meant I learned how to change yarn colors and keep the tension even so it wouldn't pucker. I loved knitting it and then seeing the girls wear it. Unfortunately, it was lost on a school field trip to see a play. Would you be surprised to know that I actually drove to the downtown Chicago theater and asked to look around for it. No such luck- it was long gone.

But we all remember it...especially poor Maggie who still hates to hear it mentioned.

Just a silly old sweater, sweetie. Really- I'm over it. Someday we'll make another one- for your little one. xoxo

pieces of heart :: 6

Erin was looking over my shoulder at this image- our homemade valentine from 1988 when she was in 5th grade, Maggie in 2nd, Mo- in our arms. "Man, those were the best! Everyone was passing out punch-out Scooby Doo cards and we had these!" 

Those were the days when I drew our holiday cards, birth announcements and a few greeting cards for a publisher. I could never get the hands to look right so all my decent drawings have paws or claws- even the robot- but this paperdoll snowman (with stick arms) was right up my narrow path. We quick-printed the design onto cardstock and they colored them in. Our best family valentine ever.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  Hoping you get to draw, cut and color with someone you love today.   xoC

pieces of heart :: 5

Felted sweater and skirt scraps from the bag of wool. There is always something in there to play around with. Thank heavens for flower faces and Project Runway.

My mother had a business making decorated basket purses when I was a girl. I helped her by cutting out felt flower shapes and stacking them with coordinated centers which she would glue together beside a cross-stitched plaque. I developed my color sense playing around with those piles of felt, nickel-sized rounds and leaves like summer's green eyes. And perhaps a love of so much more too.

pieces of heart :: 4

Driftwood found here last summer. The mesh tote bag is from our honeymoon in Merida, 1974. Weathered, though sturdy stuff.

I'm off to CHA and LA for a bit. Looking forward to seeing old and new friends and getting an idea of where the crafts industry is heading. Posting more of this series through the week- there are lots of these sentimental hearts. It's been fun to look around here and find different pieces to share- and I love hearing that you are looking around now too. Have a super sunny February week of valentines wherever you are.

xoC....from the other beach. In California.

pieces of heart :: 3

A handmade paper valentine from my friend, Robin. For years now, it still sits on my memoboard and of course, reminds me of her, then me, the wren. Robin & Wren. Robin designed my books and has the most beautiful style, a crisp elegance that I love.
The illustrated magazine cover from a bundle Dede sent to me. She was cleaning out. Hmmm.

pieces of heart :: 2

My first serious craft was rug hooking. Mary and I took a class together in 1980 and I became a dedicated rug hooker. I loved designing my own rugs just by drawing shapes onto the burlap and then getting right into it with materials from a basket. This rug was my version of an antique I saw in a magazine. That apple-green heart is hooked from my father-in-law's trousers, left behind in a closet.
When I look at this, I see those pants and the dismay on Tom's face years later when he asked where they were. Um, yes, I kept them, but.... Then I see the little hearts embedded in the design, the eight-pointed star inspired from a thrifted wood trivet, and the early stages of my rug hooking technique. The beautiful vintage tin now keeps tiny ornaments for the feather tree, though I am remembering that it used to hold dolly things.
Most of all, I see the beginnings of our handmade home. One that used to hold three darling little girls, so happy and busy playing dolls beside me. Right there on this well-loved, heartful little rug.   xoC

pieces of heart

Maggie and I were sorting stuff the other day, looking around for things to pass on. We made up a big bag of soft knits for the animal shelter, our first stop, and a trunkload of things for Goodwill. Of course we shopped the GW after we donated, but only bought one thing. A tarnished silver gallery tray for her apartment. 2.99.

Trying to stay with my mission to clear out, I was getting into baskets this morning when I saw this old collage from '84. Just when I thought I had nothing worthwhile to blog about, here it is. And I think it has inspired a new series I'm starting with this post. Hearts made from sentimental bits. Just in time for Valentine's Day too.

When I look at this little heart collage I see 3 things. The wood sticks in the frame- cut from our beloved mock orange shrub in front of the pink house in 1983. The green knit sweater cuff from my favorite sweater from college. And that big pearly button that I cherished so much. I never thought I would see another like it. Was that THE button that started my collecting craze?

I just rummaged through my wool basket to find a textile to put under it because I know everyone must be soooooooo tired of my painted kitchen tabletop. After I got the camera out and looked at the shot, I really looked at the brown tweedy scrap. Sheesh, it's from a suit I made for my first teaching job in 1975. So, now I'm up to four things that have me thinking about little parts of my life. Like an origami valentine, each one folds into another. I have a lot of remembering to do. 

Another pot of coffee and another basket of mysteries to open. Have to wonder now- what's back there?

There probably won't be another trunkload of donations this week. But I'm hoping there will be lots of little hearts to share.   xoC

super tuesday

What you will do matters. All you need is to do it.   - Judy Grahn

sweet!

The workshop was a great success. Happy girls cutting papers, gluing doilies, bundling flowers, tying ribbons. Everyone went away smiling.

But really-- let's hear it for the NY Giants! An amazing victory last night that was also a fantastic game to watch. We are all football fans here, a divided house, some Giants fans and some Patriots. I like the sound of the game in the background and understand it well enough to watch and follow, but really just want to eat brownies, crowd up on the couch and enjoy having Maggie (UMass grad: extreme Pats fan) at home with us. I wish Mo (devoted Giants fan) could have been here to balance the contest, and the couch. And Erin to explain the ads to me. (Loved the screaming squirrel, Will Ferrell, e-trade baby, Coke balloons, talking stain, Rocky clydesdale! And Tom Petty!) And the boys to provide commentary and laughs. It was sweet to hear Mo so happy last night, the Giants celebrity-expert in Colts territory, where they actually rooted for their Manning brother. Maggie was crushed- though extremely gracious given the depth of her Patriots love. She came around after considering the NY/Boston rivalry- not a Red Sox fan.

I'm going out to CHA next week, and need to get myself somewhat ready for that. I haven't been for a few years, and not even sure what to expect, but I'm going with some of the Silver Bellas, so that will be fun.

Ah, Monday- it's a brand new week! And if you're in New York, this one comes with a Big Blue parade!! O, yeah!