house wren studio

flipped

 

Someone recently said my blog reads like a fairytale. I thought about that for a long time and decided it kind of should...no one wants to hear about the bummers that interrupt the inspirations. But of course, they exist. Life isn't perfect in our house and certainly not in the studio. Since the daily creative scene rotates on the axis of reality, here is an update on what I'm really doing.

Last Saturday morning, my bride and groom-to-be were sleeping in after a late night arrival for a blissful weekend of wedding planning. The phone rang really early and I jumped to get it so it wouldn't wake them. I recognized caller ID as my mom so responded with a chirpy, Hi, what's up? This is the ..... Police Department. Your mother fell out of bed and hit her head, but was able to use her panic button. An ambulance is on the way and you might want to come over here.

Fast forward to early afternoon at the ER, she's released, okay-ish, nothing broken, but a whopper bump on the head (and nasty black eyes to follow). Shaken up and sore for the next few days, back to baby steps again without much interest in the usual.

Yesterday we played Beauty Shop, Dress-Ups and went out to our favorite spot for lunch. She looked like a fashion plate from the 60's. Big sunglasses, black straw hat and pink lipstick. The day was actually fun- like we'd climbed some kind of jungle gym together, sitting on top, swinging our legs and watching the other kids play tag. Reliving the spill, she said that she was on the floor trying to figure out how she got there. And how to get up. The cat was still up on the bed, perched at the edge, looking down at her. Meowing like crazy. Mom's response to her beloved Sassy: What the hell are you looking at? Get off your poof and call 911!

Laughter is, indeed, the best medicine. We've got plenty of that and by the way, thank heavens for the panic button she wears and the medical alert system. It worked exactly how it's supposed to except that after the police, they called my brother and cousin in Missouri. The ambulance crew head told me to make up a sheet to keep by the door with her name, numbers, weight, allergies and meds. A Grab and Go sheet.... makes sense.

 

******

 

Last night Andy and I went down to the park late, late to watch Maggie play her first softball game with the newly formed company team (advertising). I always loved being on the sidelines of my kids' sports events. Never missed one if I could help it and thought the evening would be like those days when she was a little league kid again. Almost- except that along with James, we were the only spectators on the only bleachers, over by the Visitors (town tavern). In place of warmups and coaching tips, everyone on the opposing team bench was smoking, cussing and admiring each other's tattoos. And whacking the ball out of the park every single at-bat. In the midst of their third or fourth grand slam, the 30-something power hitter stopped on second and hollered at his teammates- I CAAAAAAAN'T RUUUUUUUN!

 

The 40-something pitcher turned, limped a few steps to pick up another short throw and yelled back- Beats sitting on the couch watching American Idol!

 

Yeah, it definitely does. And BTW, everyone on the field needs to go straight home and make their own Grab and Go sheets.

bee season

 

Nicki and I admired the Anthropologie windows at the Rockefeller Center store several weeks ago on our walk uptown. The bee and honey theme was brilliantly conveyed through creative display and recycled materials. Standing there looking at each window, I was reminded of the blogosphere and knew you would enjoy seeing these too. (Click to enlarge and read the messages.) My favorite was the ginormous hive from layered and sculpted paper and plastic bags. And of course, the dripping honey bears!

 

 

 

 

Thanks to everyone for all the sweet comments regarding the needlebook- just like honey from bees! I will definitely try to incorporate many of the suggestions into the next version for my class at artFiberfest in June. (Registration continues on-site for the 5th annual Portland event.)

Wishing everyone a lovely week with extra time for stitching in sunshine. xoC

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Random.org selected this comment as the winner of the give-away:

It's perfect. Makes me want to go sew something!

Posted by: Debbie | April 22, 2009 at 01:02 PM

postcard :: 43

 

 

needlebook give-away

 

I opened my eyes this morning and thought, sheesh, girl, get that give-away post up! You're going to have to call it What-the-heck-happened Wednesday.

Although I finished this late yesterday, I was lollygagging around trying to decide how to improve it. Worried that after that big build-up and that enormous stack of wool, this looks kind of little. Not surprisingly, life got a bit in the way of leisurely crafting since that teaser and I needed something I could make and take out of the house to work on. My upcoming class at artFiberfest has a little needlebook project (and pincushion) incorporated into the painted canvas bag. An undesigned element that I was ready to map out, it has been on the list of things to make. Necessity is the mother of invention- or should I say, inspiration, in this case.

Here is the first try. The needlebook that could double as a jewelry keeper.

 

I learned a few things along the way, little lessons that will make the next one less experimental. But I do still love this one. The first sweater felt page and the vented pocket were good ideas. I didn't want the scissors (not included) or other extras like thread or buttons (or a necklace) to fall out so those pieces slip in there and tuck under the top. It comes to you with a pretty stash of materials to play with.

 

What's a needlebook without something to stitch on? To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a random winner on Monday. Feel free to let me know how the project could be improved upon. Thanks again and always for your visits and comments here.

p.s. The boy is from Boston. Not quite next door, but close enough.

mystery monday

 

Looking here for inspiration today. Inviting you to come back and see what turns up. It's time for a give-away!

aretha, mr. song and my darling mo

 

Aretha's inaugural hat was a big hit at our house. It was one of our favorite moments on that day so full of Moments that we couldn't even count them all.

A few weeks later I went off on some errands and left Mo at home. I was in crazy mouse mode for the Valentine's mice orders and had several in different stages waiting to be finished up on the kitchen table. Mo suggested that I make one with a hat like Aretha's. She thought that would be a great seller. Excellent idea, but how would we even do that? and I've just got to get these done and then we'll see.... Burn-out was looming.

I know she was wishing she was back at school, missing her friends, getting excited for her Sydney semester, but kind of stuck in neutral. There was so much tension that day- me wanting help from her in some undefined, inarticulate way, she not wanting me to bother her in the way that I do when I'm stressed - and inarticulate. I was glad to be getting out of the house. She was probably relieved to see me go.

She was still there on the couch texting when I came back. You know, I'm so grateful that I took a deep breath before I said anything. It was just enough time for her to look at me, all smiles and say, go over and see what I did. What? Where? Over on the mouse table.

And there it was. Her adorable mouse, dressed in her fabulous inaugural hat, completely awesome in every imaginable, glittering way. Beautifully engineered, crafted and stitched while I was out. I love her so much! ....and yes, the mouse too.

So why blog this now? That was way back in February. Missed the chance to have her show me how to make a million teensy inaugural hats made famous by Mr. Song. They would certainly have been the hit she imagined. Her dear mouse sits here on my desk, watching me fill the days blogging, tinkering and all else. I'm seriously missing Mo. Of course, she is loving everything about Sydney and school there, currently off touring the country on spring break. (We said no to Thailand, so she made other plans.) This morning's email was a breathless travelogue of her incredible continuing adventures all over Australia .... including  ..... skydiving! (Thankfully, she is smart enough to know that we so did not need to know that was on the trip itinerary.)

Her email ended with a p.s. I met a boy......

That's all she said about him. Just some trailing dots for the imagination to carry on. If he turns out to be the love of her life, I really, really hope he's from the river town next door ..... and also please, please, not be the skydiving instructor.

fast forward to autumn

 

{Wonderland Mobile}

So, are you making plans for November in Omaha? I've had a few emails about the details of Silver Bella and see that the blog answers many of those questions. Even if you have never been before, it's a unique opportunity to take off on your own and meet lots of like-minded women pursuing art, sisterhood, adventure and fun. Every class is designed for the novice but suitable for the expert too. Students and teachers share their materials, know-how and friendship.

One attendee last year sat by me on the hotel shuttle back to the airport. It was her first arts retreat. She didn't know anyone when she arrived, had never really even tried some of the class techniques, but heading off to the airport, she was in a blissful trance. Everyone was chatting away like old friends about the amazing weekend. She broke out of her daydream to chime in. "No kidding! I see my life now in 2 parts- before Silver Bella, after Silver Bella."

 

{Sweet Sweater Hat}

Kind of says it all. Hoping to see you there! xoC

peep, peep

 

• Registration begins tonight for Silver Bella 2009 this November. Feeling quite honored to be invited back to teach again- especially considering the stellar teacher line-up and classes offered this year!  It's going to be very hard to choose and promises to be another memorable weekend in Omaha this fall. I so look forward to seeing you all again and meeting new attendees too!
• Melissa is the April newsletter give-away winner. (Emailing you next.)  I was happily overwhelmed to see how many people responded and thank you all for subscribing, reading, writing. Really- thanks so much!  xoC

sweet mountain spring :: five

 

Thanks so much for all the nice thoughts and kind words. So glad you are stopping by for inspiration and I love to hear what you are up to creatively. It keeps me going too.

Remember when I made this for the Sweet Mountain Holiday series in December? And I decided not to cut anything because I knew I would take that wreath apart some day and reuse the doilies. Just got around to that and while walking around with a stack of beautiful pieces in my hand, I'm wondering, what else? where can I use these now?

Here. Just one doily, dropped onto one shoulder of a sweater, tacked on with matching thread.  And then get out the covered buttons, my favorite collection! But don't sew them on too fast.

 

Move the doily around. Try different buttons.

 

Maybe a bigger doily... a runner.

 

Maybe just white buttons.

 

Too many options now. I think I like the first one best which must be why it's up there first.

Confession: I didn't sew anything on and I will never wear this. Truth is I cut the right sleeve off ages ago to make that.

Church sale season is coming. Sweaters piled in the Clothing tent. Doilies in the Linens room. Buttons- wherever you are lucky enough to find them. Oh, joyous spring! xoC