proof!

My book proofs landed on my doorstep a few days ago.  I chanted "be cool" to myself over and over (out loud) as I tore through the envelope.  There they were: pages and pages of my words and projects in book format with incredibly beautiful photographs and amazing design and layout (thanks to incredible Storey peeps).

My heart is still fluttering.

I'm going take a few deep breaths and I'll be back next week to share the title and cover of the book.

For now, orange and vanilla infused rooibos tea, Friday pizza, wood stove warming, and maybe a movie.

And, some promised sunshine.

I wish you all a restful weekend.

xo e

Note:  You'll notice that I did open the envelope, pause, put the contents back in, put the envelope back on the step,  and then snap a photo.  Couldn't wait!

a bag give-away

I'm popping in from my unexpected blog break to let you lovely people know about a super give-away on my friend's blog.

Go on over to Roselee's blog for a chance to win her hip, handmade bag.  It has orange and brown polka dots, people! 

I'll be back soon with some exciting news! Promise.

xo e

DIY Soap Pump (from a vintage jar)

We made soap pumps for holiday gifties!  I was inspired by this project from Country Living, which I saw pinned on the wall at the local The Clawfoot Tub.   I filled our jar with natural dish soap, and it really, really does make me a bit more  happy about washing dishes. 

We slid a little note in the jar, which suggested that our family should fill the jar with some sort of soap.  Just in case it was all a wee bit confusing.

The pumps themselves were under $4 here.   The one tricky part was that the underside of the metal lids had glass seals which had to be broken.  Tom was happy to shatter some glass, and he said it all came out cleanly and easily.  Then, he just drilled the holes and we trimmed the plastic tube part to fit into the jar.

Rest and be well this weekend.
The next few days will be slipper filled for sure!

xo e

holiday treats

Frothy chai made with our fancy new milk frother.  I still like using my hand pump one that was handed down to us last year by my Aunt.  This does make the milk hot, though, as Tom likes to remind me.  And, it is really fun to watch it happen as my friend Lea likes to remind me.

Our new kitchen table art caddy given to the children by my parents.  This was a perfect holiday gift because it gave us a new way to use our old and new art supplies.  Rather than storing all of the art supplies in one area, our new art station makes creating art a bit more portable.  The kids have been toting the caddy into the living room to draw by the fire and then back to the kitchen table to make cards and posters. A nerdy confession:  I actually really like re-organizing it at the end of the day. It reminds me of my little plastic desk organizers from when I was ten.  The one that was shaped like the letters of my name with a little drawer under the "m" for my rainbow paperclips made my heart skip a beat. 

 New paper for making collages.

A new notebook for keeping track of important things.  check!

 Pick-up sticks. 

A new succulent for me.  I also bought myself a new fern, and I promised her I would mist her each day.  She is a beauty and she'll make her debut soon.

For now, a hot shower awaits.  

xo e

 

happy

My new slippers make me forget how to walk the regular way.
I shuffle and glide and puff by like I'm on a cloud.
It is a good way to enter 2012, I think. 
A little light, a little heavy, and shuffling around my kitchen.  Glue and markers strewn about, the children in regal costumes, frothy chai drips on the counter, the thump of a guitar on the radio.
And, here we go.

Sending love and light to you all in this bright new year.

xo e

hanging fruit

Bird seed cookie stars and dehydrated fruit ornaments for our trees both inside and out! Our friends Kelly and Joe visited last weekend and brought with them tree decorations that made our hearts sing.  It is by far one of my favorite holiday gifts we've ever been given and we've been ooo-ing and ahh-ing ever since they drove away. 

When I unwrapped and opened the box of oranges and pinks, I truly felt as if I was holding a box of natural jewels.  The kiwi feels and looks almost like thin glass, the orange slices are leathery, and the white of the dried pear flesh against the thin layer of its skin is perfection -- as if it was outlined with a steady hand.  Our friends made sure that each ornament hangs on a loop of wool yarn, ready for hanging.  That morning, the children placed some on our (then undecorated) Christmas tree and bundled up to hang the rest on our bare birch and maple.

My favorites: the papayas and oranges
Kelly's favorites: the star fruits and kiwis
Chick's favorite: "If we choose a favorite then Kelly and Joe might feel badly about the ones we didn't choose"
The holiday season can feel like a burst of color and love that comes and goes quickly.  When I watch these little guys swaying and dancing on the branches outside it reminds me of how far that burst of kindness and love can travel.  From Kelly and Joe's home to my eyes to Tom's eyes to our children's eyes to the tree's branches to the wind to the birds' bellies and nests wherever they might be.  It is a gift that spreads joy and love in the truest of ways.  And, I know that after the snow melts and mud season begins, we'll find little bits of Kelly's yarn in our grass, which will make me a tiny bit sad, but mostly happy. 

 

Kelly tells me she got the idea from her copy of Organic Gardening magazine. She also told me that she sliced her fruit thinly with a mandoline, dried them in her dehydrator, poked little holes in the top, and tied little loops of yarn through.  It would also work to dry them slowly in an oven (on low heat) or next to a wood stove or heater for a day or so.  Don't you feel like dehydrating fruit must be so simple since you always seem to find bits of dehydrated apple and pear under your kitchen table?  Or, is that just me?  Maybe I should sweep a bit more frequently.

I wish you all a happy (almost) winter weekend.

xo e

Sparkly Star Garland

 Sparkly

 Stars

 Shine

This is a super simple garland tutorial that will make your home quietly sparkle.  The glittery package paper seems to be the just-right amount of sparkle for me.  

Materials:
brown paper bag
gold or silver glitter paint (I used FolkArt Extreme Glitter)
star template (hand drawn is fine)
pencil
scissors
mini pompoms
needle
thread
glue

1.  Cut open the paper bag and paint the plain side with the glitter.  I used paint that just added gold glitter rather than paint that was an actual color.  This makes the glitter and color a bit more subtle, but if you are looking for something a bit more punchy, then I think gold paint would be great.  As I mentioned the other day, I was inspired by my friend Catherine's garland and she used gold paint.

It isn't everyday that Mouse gets to paint with glitter.  Fancy pants.

2.  Once it is dry, draw stars on the non-painted side, and then cut them out.

3. Gather pompoms, stars, thread and needle in preparation for stringing.

 

4. Thread the needle with thread (no need for a knot).  First thread a pompom, then a star, then another pompom.......in that order until all are threaded and you've ended with a pompom.
*Notes on threading the stars:  So they won't flip forward, thread a little bit above the center of the star.  Place the needle into the front of the star and then out through the back in order to hide the thread behind the star.

5.  Spread the garland on the floor, glitter side down, and space the stars and pompoms as you'd like them to hang.  Place tape or little dots of glue on the backsides of the stars to keep the thread in place.

We hung ours high over our fireplace and the gold stars shimmers with the light of the fire.  

Our tree is in.
Our stars are in.
Our hearts are still a little bit outside. (the bright sunshine calls to us)

xo e

merry making

Mouse and I made some sparkly, winter decorations today.  

I'll post a tutorial and more photographs on Monday.

A hint:  It involves painting with glitter. 

Happy (almost) winter weekend to you and yours!

xo e

on the wall

Tom and I managed to hang four of my buildings in a row prints the other night.

Hooray, for progress!  (even if there is a big nail hole that needs to be patched and painted)

That, and I've been running and eating more greens and drinking more water.  My work/life balance is officially feeling more comfortable again.  I'm still behind on emails and projects and blog posts, but the behind the scenes stuff feels a bit more settled.

Things that will pop up in this space in the coming days:

1. a holiday garland
2. buildings in a row prints for sale in my shop (I'll make the official announcement here and on Twitter)
3. a glimpse into our homemade gifties
4. photographs of some new pyrex
5. and, a few more little goodies

In the meantime, look at my friend Catherine's holiday garland.  Shiny and sweet, yes? Her use of gold paint has inspired me.

And, check out the nifty new DIY blog Improv Diary, which is the project of my friend Nicole and her book partner Debra.  Their new book is coming this spring and it is filled with the most beautiful, satisfying, uninhibited sewing projects.  More on that later.

Aren't these scarves beautiful?  They are made by my dear friend Ariana's sister.  Love!

There are only 4 weeks left to sign up for the winter session of the  Red Bird Crafts Creativity Workshops. Visit the workshop tab at the top of my site for descriptions and details.

xo e

announcing ...

Red Bird Crafts

Creative Workshops

Winter 2012

                   *****

        Please visit my Workshop page for all 
        descriptions, details, and times.  

DIY craft fair signs

As I'm busy making new signs for tomorrow's craft fair, I figured I post some photos along with my original DIY sign post.

These bright spots really make my table feel complete.  I use double stick tape to swap out the actual sign part each year.  For instance, this year instead of bottle boards I have tote bags, and so tonight I made a new tote bag sign and taped it over the bottle board sign.  The fabric frames it so nicely and makes it feel finished, and you'd never know that other sign is underneath.  Tricky.

Off to market.  (with green tea in hand)

xo e
 

Winter Fair

There will be hand printed houses
and black inked birds
and acorns sewn onto shirts and black organic bags.

There will also be popcorn and the pocket lady and hay rides and candle dipping. The best part about the winter fair is saying hello to the super people in my community.   If you are local and you plan to be there, please stop by and chat.  I'd really like that.

xo e

Saturday 11.19
10 am - 3pm
The Hartsbrook School
193 Bay Rd. Hadley
www.hartsbrook.org

a new chair. a new month.

Since I last wrote:
Another new/old chair found its way into my home. (Total thrifting score!)
I finished all of my finished projects for the photoshoot for my book.
Over a foot of snow fell.  We lost an apple tree and maybe my beloved magnolia.
The snow melted.
Our electricity returned after 3 days (some were out for over a week)
3/4 of my book edits are now complete.  (The end is so, so, so close.)
I sewed.
I printed.
We've been planning an alphabet birthday party for Mouse. (details to come)
I kicked a 2 week long coughy thing.
Chick discovered the Carolyn Hayward "Besty" books, which I loved, loved, loved when I was 6.
   (She is now finishing "Betsy's Winterhouse")
We ate a lot of Chinese dumplings and burritos
Tom parent's gave us an early Christmas gift :: a 5 year old, red, wood stove.  (it still sits in our little barn)
I've  been readying for this Saturday's Holiday Fair at the Hartsbrook School where I'll be selling lots of handmade goodies.
I drank lots and lots and lots of PG Tips Black Tea

The truth?  This past month and a half stretched me.   I've never had  my work-life balance so askew, and it made things feel a bit unfamiliar.  This is the hardest I've ever worked on a project,  and I am left feeling so proud and really excited about my book.  I can't wait to share more with you in the coming months.  I'm sitting here grinning just thinking about it. Seriously.

But, I'm also so ready to snuggle on the couch with my people.  There are books to read, popcorn to eat, movies to watch, oatmeal muffins to bake, and walks to take.  Oh, and tea drinking/wine sipping with my lovely friends whom I miss, miss, miss.  I'm ready!

Most of the poor, leafy, encumbered trees sprang back to life.  And, now things are back to a newish normal.  Leaves are falling and rakes are propped, ready for use. It all feels like a fuzzy dream.

Thank you to everyone who sent little notes asking where I was.  Totally sweet!  And, thanks for being here today.

You guys are all awesome possums.
Truly.

xo e

colors + mousey necklace

I'm here with a list and some photographs of the necklaces my almost four-year-old Mouse made "for everyone in my family except for Sophia because cats don't wear necklaces."

 

She made these at her lovely, sweet pre-school on rainbow day.  I'm earnestly so in love with her color choices.  And, actually, one of them is helping me choose colors for a project.

 

My days have been filled with book edits and projects, and I'm smiling because my new little studio space is getting more crafty traffic than ever before.

On my mind:

1. winter workshops because the fall ones have been SO fun
2. new fall shoes (I'd love suggestions for comfortable, well-made shoes, in punchy colors!)
3. the warm cat on my lap  (she wasn't always a lap cat)
4. the mice that my lap cat is catching (sigh)
5. the frost that is rolling in tonight (basil needs to be picked and made into one last batch of pesto)
6. the endless coughs that both girls have
7. a little surprise handmade mailbox that was left on my doorstep ( with recipes and love notes inside)
8. book finals, book finals, book finals
9. sunny skies! finally! (after a week of rain)
10. listening to old r.e.m.  (You Are the Everything.)



xo e

c h a i r

This is my new desk chair, bought on a whim while window shopping at Sticks and Bricks -- one of my most favorite shops.

Reasons why I love it:

1. It is the most perfect blend of beauty and function
2. It was clearly built for someone with a 9-5 desk job.  Oh, the back support!
3. It rolls
4. The orange and turquoise floral fabric makes my heart flutter. 
5. Sometimes, when I shift my weight it tips back and surprises me. I get a little adrenaline spike.