house wren studio

pieces of heart :: 13

Snowy day.

The snow is falling heavily, rapidly filling the empty pockets outside the glass, smoothing all the rough edges into a lovelier peace. Indoors too.

We lost a wonderful friend yesterday. Mary Louise inspired each of us with her kindness, creativity, wisdom and elegant grace. Even her determined fight will be remembered as an inspiration.

I am grateful to be tucked inside, at the worktable, my hands busy finishing projects today. That includes completing something to send away to one of you on Monday. If you are inclined, it would be so comforting to read what your sentimental pieced heart would be made from. I would love to know. Especially today.

get to it

Digging deeply into studio and general household layers of things to clear out. I seriously need to go on a new year's diet of things. And when not feeling pinched by all this stuff, I'm trying to get some of the work done to meet deadlines on the calendar. The new year looks to be an exciting one, certainly a busy one.

Another class at Tinsel Trading is coming up Saturday, January 19th- this time we will be making a felt tote decorated with trims and other findings from the store. They are waiting for my sample to put up on the site over there- yes, yes, on my list! Getting the felt out now. Right now. Just as soon as I figure out which crate-basket-box-drawer-bag-cubby it's stashed in. Here somewhere. O, there, there it is, right behind the vintage flowers, under the white trims, next to the button jars, to the left of the.....!! Seriously. I'm working on it. xoC

hey, santa!

Thanks for stopping by! (Click image to enlarge.) Wishing everyone a safe and cozy Christmas. And a very happy birthday to Andy and Nicki!

xoC

treetime

 

Our Noreaster hit late last night with sleet and ice. We could hear it slamming against the side of the house like someone was throwing handfuls of nails at a metal dartboard. I got up to look outside and opened the window to get the cool, wet air indoors for awhile. It was kind of exciting. First thing this morning, up-and-at-em Andy suggested we get out to the tree lot while the rest of the county slept and surveyed the ice storm through their windows. Um, okay, that sounds like a good idea. He watched me tiptoe around with another cup of coffee, looking so un-ready to do much more than gaze out the wintry window, like everyone else. I mean there was no one out, not even the squirrels or birds, nothing except for a few hard-working plow trucks. Finally he announced that heck, he'll go get a tree and bring it back. How hard is it to pick out a tree these days, they are all perfectly grown, right? O, yay, thanks, sweetie! And I'll clear a space for it. And brew another pot of coffee. And find the treestand....

So we have a tree, all set up and indeed, perfectly shaped and standing straight as a pine soldier. I always think we should just leave it that way, bare, unlit, a huge air freshener and tribute to the quiet forest. But we have so many decorations. And of course, we must make lots more. It's what we do- a handmade Christmas tradition since the children were little. Yes, we are a crafty bunch through and through. One of my favorite gifts ever is this stack of handmade ornament boxes they made for me over 15 years ago. Using recycled cartons all painted up with their artsy, homegrown snowflake pattern, they even lined them with plush white lamby fabric scraps. I love them so much- and aren't they just so cool, so contemporary? My crafty, clever, little loves, and the dear man with a fine plan. It's a wonderful life ....snowed in with coffee and crafts. And a slowly warming tree. xoC

recycled napkin rings

Last year I admitted that I don't cook much for Thanksgiving. I made the pies and then kept busy with table-setting. Over the year though I noticed that the image for the place cards- crafted last minute from scraps in the drawer- was very popular with readers. Here I am again, up against the holiday event and wanting to inspire you with something crafty after all those family posts. And it looks like more quick and simple papercrafts to keep me out of the way of those who seriously cook here.

As I often do, I looked first in the recycle bin for materials to start with. Aha! These napkin rings are from paper towel rolls. We only have one today because I try not to use them- I'm a fan of washable dish towels. But if you have one, flatten it and cut 2 inch sections with a pinker. Keeping the pieces flat-ish (they'll look less like what they are and won't roll on the table), then just decorate them with paper scraps....pretty ones like sheet music and handwriting.

Add a phrase or guest's initial letter snipped from a cut-up book. A piece of ribbon makes a colorful place to add a word or two. But kitchen string or baker's twine would be lovely too, especially if it is wrapped around many times.

No end to the ideas once you start.

Wallpaper bits, yarn, fabric, buttons, letter tiles, faces from old photos, laces, charms, things found in nature.

A sailing pin for him or a just-found-in-Omaha favorite brooch for her.

Wishing you all a happy, happy holiday with your loved ones. Hoping you get to enjoy the little things like the crowded kitchen, table or couch. I do think that's the best part, especially when they help me with the dishes. xoC 

josephine

That's my maternal grandmother, Nana, in the snapshot. My cousins called her Gramma "Jo" which is the name she went by. Jo O'Keefe. Funny how we didn't all call her the same thing. She was a nurse, a kind, gentle woman with quiet, graceful ways. My mother says she was a talented flower arranger, something I think about every time I stick a stem in a vase now. This snapshot ended up on my dress form so it wouldn't get lost one day. It's from my 5th birthday party at Holiday Hill.

Nana was a country girl, a little uncomfortable in the fancy society of a doctor's wife living in the suburbs. I remember a patient, caring grandmother who loved the outdoors, the simple pleasures of a day with family, out in a field or in a cabin. She passed away when I was a little girl and my memories are faded like the print dresses she wore, but I have her knitting bag and the paperback knitting guide she used. Her penciled handwriting is ghosted out on some pages, but those were the patterns I learned by heart, using her notes to set them in my fingers. The patterns are for unfussy pieces, sturdy ribbed sweaters, socks, mufflers and sailor's watch caps. The Brooks Jacket was my favorite to knit for my girls.

Thinking of my Nana and my mom today, of the gifts and talents they passed along to me, casually, just in the day-to-day of things. Thinking how so much of a person can be present in so much of what we do, who we are- and we hardly know it. It's tough to pick that out sometimes, to see those threads among the rest of the weave. That sturdy, sensible part is a strong maternal thread and I'm so grateful it's woven in to keep the other parts of me in place.

Nana would be proud of my crafty ways, my affection for the past. She and my mother too would have loved the luxury of an event like Silver Bella, a getaway celebration of women and the traditions of art and craft that we share. We are such a fortunate generation of daughters and granddaughters- cut from the same cloth, but embroidered with lots of splendor and sparkle. And love, lots and lots of good old-fashioned love.  xoC

virtual pumpkins

My neighbor put out some really nice pumpkins. I don't have any yet, but I do have the nerve to march right up onto her porch with my camera.

   

I think this might actually do it for me this year. For more Halloween fun, be sure to stop off at Jenny's and meet Zoe.

pugsly and friends

Thought you would enjoy seeing the continuing ed., extra credit, independent study on that scrappy dollhouse project. Soon after the celebrated success of the big house, Mo and her friend, Annie, made this one, actually two, one for each. Those were the days when Beanie Babies were everywhere, all looking for happy homes. I was so pleased that she could- indeed, would - work creatively without me. Now, of course, I'm the one asking for her help and input when she floats by the worktable. Inspired? If not, and you haven't stopped in to read this blog recently, treat yourself to this. Our very own vicariously adored pup. I think that should do it! xoC

home remedies

Fighting that terrible national cold....airborne + zicam + tea + Yankees win + visiting kids is the best remedy so far. Still kit-building and looking at a countdown of days until Silver Bella. I must say I am really looking forward to this event where I'll get to meet many of you as well as the other artist/instructors. Not forgetting the Tinsel Trading workshop on Saturday. Yay! xoC

just two

Here we are home again after our perfect and super busy weekend visit with Erin and John Paul. Lots of photos to review, edit and share later, but I'm dashing around with a laundry list of too many things to catch up on today!

I had a very nice note from Mary Beth who adopted Licorice over at Amy's Inspire Co. She loves her little tea mouse which was wonderful to hear. Also had a petite postcard from Blueberry and Rose staying in touch with news that fall is coming. It's a bit chilly and quieter there without their attic friends. Blueberry is staying busy pulling threads from an old stadium blanket to craft a nose-warmer and Rose is filling her scrapbook with newspaper clippings of their debut when they were the talk of the town.

Stay warm, girls....good things come to those who wait!  xoxoC