house wren studio

studio giveaway :: 2

So, felted wool is pretty cool stuff I guess. The winners for the first giveaway are Julie Loeschke and the bonus bundle to Brin.  Thanks to everyone for stopping by- some for the first time. I hope to put some more woolly bundles in my sadly neglected etsy shop. Soon. Please forgive me if I don't respond to all the comments, but honestly, I have read each and every one. I'm sure you'd rather I keep snooping my studio stash for more collections to pass on. And finish this mysterious project which is just a titch harder than we thought.

This new giveaway has white and ivory home-felted wools, fabrics, laces from France, vintage trims, buttons and a vintage photo. There is a little extra bit coming with it, too. Drawing to take place Sunday. Comments welcome on this post or those to follow until then. Thanks everyone!  xoC

getting closer

Our little collaborative project (with Rebecca, Pam, Carolyn, Teresa, Amy) is shaping up.  Sheesh, it's pretty amazing. Almost there.

I think I said that before, but we are having way too much fun tinkering and adding on. You'll be happy about that. Really. You will.  xoC 

transformed

April 15th. Arghhh.

April 16th. Much better.

keeping

While straightening and cleaning out, I ran across this old book from 1850. It's missing the cover and is so worn and tattered. I opened it to see what was in there, thinking it might have to go in the church bag. O, my. Where did this even come from?

I let it sit on the table, steeping in the changing disarray of the afternoon, in the midst of all the work in progress and jumble of stuff collecting around the edges. By 4:00 the light was just right in here. I fussed with the prettiest elements nearby until I had what I wanted, carefully composed. Looking at it now, I see those 3 buttons are a bit too styled, but it was still fun, the kind of time waster that actually puts me back on track.

Of course, the table is once again an unsightly wild mess- yarn, paper, mail, felt, best intentions. Nothing pretty or inspiring about that, but the book is properly restored to a shelf where it won't go anywhere. Respectfully tucked away. Until I find it again.

the creative family

I was excited to receive an advance copy of Amanda Soule's new book. The Creative Family is her sweetly inspiring collection of projects, ideas and thoughts on family life at home. Home with little ones- precious, curious children just beginning their own creative adventures. Like her blog, the book is a clever handbook of the ways that a family can simply play and learn together, enriching each other's creativity with imagination and invention.

I am loving this little book- small enough that it sits perfectly on top of the stack here. It is beautifully designed and easy to dip into, though harder to put down. Most of all, I love the way that Amanda's parenting style fills their lives with creative discovery. Children are natural teachers too, their gentle ways instilling respect and affection for siblings, a calmer pace for the household. I like the accessible crafts that the family has created- sewn, built, mixed from simple materials and resources. Handmade knitting needles (how cool!), art-on-the-go bags, a banging wall from kitchen pots and pans. Rituals, traditions, parlor games, all within budget, without commercially marketed products. Fabulous, thrifty, home-made fun.

I confess that it happily reminds me of this, my own record of those extraordinary days. I do believe that parenting is the best gift life has to offer, even though it's a supreme challenge, start to finish. You know how you hear people jokingly say over the heads of their children, Where's the owner's manual? I think it's here, in the pages of thoughtful books like Amanda's. This wonderful book reminds us that there is no better, or more natural way to nurture our children- and ourselves- than with our own enthusiasm, patience, care and creativity.

Now I'm going to make myself a banging wall. Everyone should have one of those!

related

Isn't it amazing what is inside a camera after a week away, 973 images suddenly fullblown on the screen like a drive-in movie? It feels as if I'm off on a whole new visit there. I had no idea that so many images were related in ways I would just discover now. Does everyone think that kegs on the street and marble carvings are connected somehow....or is that only me?

It was a sweetly relaxed and sunny Easter here. Maggie, Andy, our friend Jane and I stayed on at the table laughing and telling travel tales. Maggie and James recently returned from a vacation to Austin, San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country. Maggie's stories were perfect counterpoints to ours- hilarious encounters with cowboys and critters. And it even looks like we are unwittingly drawn to similar sights, mine in Ireland (above) and hers in Texas (below). Although it is pretty amusing that the kegs would appear in my collage because I have never liked the taste of beer. Maggie, on the other hand,  ......

well, I must say, she has a well-trained eye for detail.

That's my girl! xoC

pieces of heart :: 19

So this is the last day of February, the extra super bonus last day. Sadie Hawkins Day. And I suppose it's time to wrap up the heart series- even though I have all these other ones I wanted to post. Maybe I'll sneak them in later.....it has been so much fun.

I made and sent this mug cozy away to a friend who will find it in her mail in a few days, a thank you for so much kindness. But you can make your own- just felt a second-hand wool sweater and cut off the sleeve cuff plus some extra room if you need it at the top. Open the factory side seam with careful snipping to make way for the cup handle. Check for fit and trim the top to the right height. Use a sturdy thread like pearl cotton to fortify the handle opening at top and bottom, then blanket stitch all around the sides of the opening. Do the same around the top of the cozy- loosely there to allow for stretching. A felt heart can be blanket stitched to the front of the cozy. That's it really.

So Dede and I are off to the city- in search of inspiration, exercise, good food- and lots to report back here. Watch this if you have a minute....such a fantastic event. Picture us there. It's our first stop of the day.  xoC   

pieces of heart :: 18

February has an extra day this year- must be to make room for all these hearts. I've been saving this little felt heart for today because I'm headed to the airport to pick Dede up for a weekend visit! She introduced me to these vintage baby face buttons more than twenty years ago...and we still love 'em as much as ever. I mean, really, who wouldn't?
So, I have the spare room all fluffed up, the craft baskets full and flea markets mapped! This freezing February day already feels so much warmer than yesterday's. Hoping yours is too. xoC

pieces of heart :: 17

Speaking of lovely packages in the mail, this arrived for Valentine's Day from my friend. What a sweet and unexpected surprise! I love everything about it, but most of all, simply that she made it for me!

pieces of heart :: 16

One of my neighborhood friends brought me a packet full of stamps- torn from envelopes, collected over generations, squirreled away for their imagined value or memories perhaps. Funny how most of us would now rather have the letters inside the envelopes, the handwritten thoughts more and more precious as we move farther away from the pen and ink tradition of letter writing.

Today I am planning my trip to the post office with the tea mouse packed up and ready to send off to .... Jill ....whose comment was selected at random. She named her Fiona. I cannot tell you how touched I was to read your thoughtful comments, heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking. I loved your fantastic names for the red-eared mouse with a pearl nose- and will look at this list many times in the future, so much inspiration and imagination in the suggestions. Thank you all, especially those readers who have not commented before. It is wonderful to know you are there, every one of you. xoC