red bird crafts

proof!

2012-01-27T17:15:00.001-05:00

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

2012-01-23T12:31:00.002-05:00

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)

2012-01-06T11:08:00.001-05:00

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

2012-01-05T11:08:00.001-05:00

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

2012-01-03T11:39:00.002-05:00

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

2011-12-16T13:25:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-13T12:13:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-09T14:02:00.001-05:00

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

2011-12-08T14:00:00.001-05:00

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 ...

2011-11-29T11:27:00.001-05:00

Red Bird Crafts

Creative Workshops

Winter 2012

                 *****

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

DIY craft fair signs

2011-11-21T08:21:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

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.

2011-11-17T11:46:00.001-05:00

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

2011-10-05T12:22:00.005-04:00

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

2011-09-27T11:13:00.002-04:00

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.

jars + color

2011-09-26T08:06:00.039-04:00

Last Friday, I was in the midst of making soup for my stuffy nosed Mouse, doing pockets of work, and straightening the house when I finally decided to do something with the handful of shells I collected when I was on Martha's Vineyard. Both Chick and I are treasure collectors when we are at the beach, and by the end of the summer I am left with tiny distinct piles of tiny treasures from all of our adventures at the shore. Sometimes, I choose to keep just a few to add to our display on a shelf or I dump a handful into our Anchor Hocking shell jar.

Occasionally, though, I've collected a handful of shells, which need to be kept together in their little shell family. Like, this time, on the Vineyard, when I collected small eroded pieces of quahog shells, and my friend Maddie told me that those were wampum. I had remembered learning about wampum as a kid. Native Americans used the inner, twisty part of the quahog shell to make beautiful purple beads, and when the colonialists found out that Native Americans valued them, they began collecting any and all bits of quahog to use as form of currency with the Native Americans. As I was collecting wampum and also thinking of my family far away in New York cleaning out the last bits of my grandparent's home, I couldn't help but think about the value of things, and how it is so liberating to love what we love because we want to. And, not because we are told to.

On Friday, I decided that I didn't want to toss my precious wampum and other little Martha's Vineyard treasures into the big jar with the rest of my shells. But, I also didn't want the dang pile sitting on my counter any longer. I had been cleaning around it for the past two weeks, and they really needed a home. So, in a quick, crafty moment, I transformed two tiny jars into two colorful, simple display containers for some my beach treasures and also a little lonely collection of marbles.

I cleaned and dried the lids, and then used two coats of acrylic paint. By simply coating the jar's lids with color, my new display feels purposeful and complete, and now both collections have a home.

This is a nice way to give a home to tiny little collections of things that you wish to display. Plus, you get to eat marinated artichokes and diced pimientos! Bonus!

xo e

workshopping !

2011-09-23T07:51:00.002-04:00

These are photographs from Thursday's Creative Journaling workshop. During each workshop, the children will learn a new artistic technique and also work on an experimental writing exercise. During the eight weeks, we will practice lots of different, unique writing styles, and by doing so, the hope is that everyone learns what kind of journal writing feels most personally inspiring. As we move toward the end of the eight weeks, we'll work towards connecting our writing with our art, so that the two naturally exist together.

On the first day, the children used writing prompts to get their creativity flowing, and then did distinct shape collage on the front of their journals. Each person chose a simple shape (could be recognizable or free form), sketched it in pencil, traced it in Sharpie, and then used scissors, glue, and collage materials to fill in the shapes. Some of the kids found it hard to choose a shape, but once they did, there was quiet, light energy as they cut and pieced paper inside the lines.

They are not fully complete, but I love that in just one hour and fifteen minutes, I was able to see that each child's journal connected nicely with bits of their personalities.

This is my speech bubble. It pretty much sums up how I'm feeling about teaching my workshops.
I am bursting.

ox e

color and a list

2011-09-22T21:01:00.003-04:00

Aren't these colors great? I love how colonial homes used such deep, vibrant colors inside their homes. These shots were from our trip to Old Sturbridge Village in early September.

Remember I promised some lists in the coming days?

Things that have been inspiring me:

antique wall paper
sparse line drawings with dabs of color
the colors (specifically the pinks) on the new J.CREW catalog cover
the golden raspberries in our yard
each of my workshop students
individual squares of brown kraft paper (oh! the possibilities)
my new comfortable desk chair, which was bought at the magnificent Sticks and Bricks with my
sleuthy partner (photos to come)
my Nanny's gold brooches (some with pearls, some without)
soup greens
red lentils
my new grayish, purple cords (ankle length! and found thrifting)
bright, morning walks to school (and also wet, rainy walks to school)
popcorn

xo e

ashore

2011-09-14T09:48:00.014-04:00

I visited Martha's Vineyard last weekend with dear friends. The island, with its twisty roads, stone walls, and long stretches of sand, was charming and breathtaking, and it made me feel like I was far, far away.

Little signs of autumn dotted the trails and roads.

The sand was golden yellow and the ocean a deep sediment blue green.

Wild grape foraging and seed spitting.

Big boat sky.

Thank you to my dear friends for such a beautiful trip.

xo e

the other side

2011-09-13T10:24:00.003-04:00

On my mind
1. workshop planning
2. need more pie
3. searching for a new place to store my sweaters. suggestions?
4. book deadlines
5. tres chicas (just unearthed the cd under a pile)
6. yellow sand
7. harvesting our sunflower seeds (must I wait until the backs turn yellow?)
8. a vintage typewriter found in my grandparents' basement
9. tag sale on saturday. kind of strange that I am feeling excited to spend an afternoon this week in the barn tagging things.

The past few weeks and the next month will be filled with lots of book deadlines, which means I won't be able post here as regularly as I'd like to. Just yesterday, I found out that my friend Emily has a lovely blog where she likes to write lists of things. It reminded me how much I love to write in list form, and I suddenly decided that I want to write lots of little lists in the coming days. It will be a nice way to create in this space in the midst of all of my book writing and crafting. I'll post some photos and write some lists and maybe you'll write some lists too? I'd love that. The Wednesday Treasured feature will probably be on hold until the end of the month.

Okay, good. I feel better now.

xo e

chalk

2011-09-02T11:31:00.006-04:00

Just when I thought the end of summer would slip seamlessly into the busier days of September, I noticed one of my daughter's bathing suits hanging on a doorknob, and I felt a pang. This is the summer where Chick learned to swim, where neighborhood walks and bike riding was the rule, where we ate breakfast at 10 and dinner at 7. The days felt warm and slow. And, so, I am preparing myself for a bit of sadness at saying goodbye.

The children start school next week, and we've spent this week -- our last full one of the summer -- doing regular things. The moments I end up remembering and loving most about summer are found in the slow trips around town, the quiet afternoons at the town pool, picking vegetables at our farm, listening to chatter of the girls and their friends playing in the woods next to our house, picnics at the park. The endless togetherness is what makes summertime feel so important. Throw in a bunch of adventures and road trips, and I've been a happy clam.

Yesterday, my two were knee deep (literally) in sidewalk chalk. They used a bucket of water to create sidewalk chalk paint and sidewalk chalk "mud," which made the colors dense, thick, and vibrant. I watched them smile as they lathered it on their hands and packed it down with their feet. Afterwards, their bodies were rainbow tie-dyed, so they went from the outside right into the shower. How summery is that?

Whether you are bound for a late summer adventure or just simply appreciating the quiet harmony of togetherness at home, enjoy your end of summer days.

xo e

treasured

2011-08-31T20:22:00.001-04:00

Each Wednesday I post about some sort of treasure I found during the past week. It might be thrifted or found on a walk or whispered in my ear or discovered on a dark shelf in the basement. Something. Anything that makes me feel lucky and thankful. It doesn't necessarily have to make its way home with me - it just has to be noticed. The idea is for it to cost very little and feel very big. After all, this isn't about acquiring new things; it is about paying better attention to the world around me.

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

the sound

2011-08-30T14:32:00.001-04:00

{Monday}
painting and remembering

a f t e r

2011-08-29T13:38:00.000-04:00

After the gusty winds and steady rains,
after a long day of popcorn and smoothies and fancy dresses and books,
we put our boots on
and went outside.

We feel lucky to have a dry home and electricity. My heart is with anyone who suffered from the storm -- especially my northern neighbors in Franklin county, Massachusetts and Vermont.

xo e

friday news

2011-08-26T11:28:00.002-04:00

{ studio news }

For those of you who read my blog from a reader, you may not have noticed that I did some organizing and tidying up around these parts. I've added some nifty new tabs at the top, which includes a page on the workshops I'm offering this fall and a selection of easy to find tutorials.

I've also been organizing (and moving) my home studio space. I'll share pictures in the coming days, but for now I'll give you a glimpse of some drawers in my new craft cupboard. With its endless little pockets of storage, it is making my craft organizing such a breeze. I got it at the thrift store. I watched the price get lower and lower, and after almost a month of visiting it, we became the proud owners. I love it so.

I've also added a few new treasured treats to my Etsy shop. This rare vintage mixing bowl is one my most recent favorites finds.

{ workshop news }

My workshops are filling up nicely, and I'm busy ordering supplies and planning. As I mentioned on my workshop page awhile back, I'm offering a $10.00 discount to those who register before September 1st. And, yikes!, there are only five days left in August.

{ other little bits }

Isn't this the cutest little hair accessory sewing project?

I am deeply in love with this artist's floral collection (via Katy Elliot).

This little burlap pencil bag makes me smile. (via Crafty Crow)

xox e

treasured

2011-08-24T07:45:00.003-04:00

This photo was taken as we walked the gravel road at sunset in Newfield, NY.

When we reached the top of the hill some sort of medium sized animal leaped in front of me and then ran behind the barn. It kind of squealed/shrieked as it went. I wasn't looking in its direction when it first made its move, so I didn't see many features. I feel like it was fox. Others think coyote. It was definitely a moment/noise/blur to remember.

package

2011-08-23T08:02:00.020-04:00

I'm back after an unexpected week long blog break. I hadn't planned on it, but with all of our house organizing, kid play dates, grown-up chatting and whatnot, the week zipped by with minimal amount of computer time. I am so happy writing here in this space, but it did feel quite nice to have a little quiet time away.

I'm thinking that this week, I'll share bits and pieces of what my last week had to offer. First up is this simple little felt square and hemp twine decoration. I was packing up a box full of Story Stones to send to a customer and decided to use a little 100% wool felt square with some hemp twine as a way to add warmth to the box. It was a super easy (in my head I just said "wicked easy" because of my NH college days) way to add a little pop to the package.

Is everyone trying to cram last minute summer fun into these next few weeks? We've already been to the town pool twice and we have plans to drive to the coast mid-week. I'm totally clinging.

oxo
e

p.s. Have you NH folks see this? It is so spring 2010, I know. Tom and I kind of like it as much (if not more) than the Jay Z original. How is that for a geeky confession?

summer stay

2011-08-12T08:00:00.029-04:00

These are some photos from our time visiting our dear friends Kel and Joe in New Hampshire. It was one of the hottest weekends in July, which meant lots of cool dips in the lake down the road, quiet reading in front of the fan, on the spot summery white sangria, and (of course) home brew from the kegerator.

We ate from the garden with a side of the best oatmeal bread in the entire world. There was something so perfectly sweet about this particular summer adventure. The combination of the garden and catching up with people we love in days filled with possibility made it a true vacation. We scrapped plans to find a restaurant and picnicked with Indian food at the ocean. I'm sure these three days will be a big part of what flashes in my mind when I think back to this long, steamy summer.

b e r r y b u c k e t s

h a n d c a r v e d h o m e b r e w t a p s {cozies knit by Kel}

We left our friends feeling filled and nourished with all good things.

xo e

treasured

2011-08-10T17:05:00.010-04:00

*****

Our dear friends gave Chick a sweet little plum tree just after she was born. It sat at their house during our move, and by the end of that autumn, it was barely alive with no leaves on it at all. I remember sitting on their pavement steps, digging my nail into a branch unveiling a bit of green deep in the center. In that green core, I saw a bit of hope, and I was determined to make it healthy again. For the past five or so years, we've given it compost and mulch and love. Last year it flowered, but didn't produce fruit, and we were pretty sure it wasn't going to be a fruit bearing tree. At first, I was, admittedly, a bit disappointed, and I told the girls that what we have is an ornamental plum tree. It is enough, though, - I remember thinking - just to have our almost dead tree have its deep green leaves arrive each season.

And, then kapow! This summer, our little friend decided to grow five plump, purple jewels. They are the juiciest, sweetest snacks imaginable, and we are savoring each one. These plums make me think about expectations and waiting and unexpected gifts. It is kind of ridiculous that I was so surprised that our plum tree gave us plums. Ah hem. But, I was. And, I think it is because I had stopped wanting anything from it -- except for what it was. I had decided that a little green tree was enough for us.

I am reminded to be present in as many moments as possible during our days and to find beauty in what is -- instead of focusing on what could be. This, I think, makes life's surprise treasures so much sweeter.

xo e

Hey, you two.

2011-08-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

Penguin meet Piggy.
Piggy meet Penguin.
Now, go play.

(a special order Story Stone set)

xo e

treasured

2011-08-03T15:27:00.001-04:00

*****

sunfish

Nature Printing :: fern

2011-08-01T08:30:00.005-04:00

When you're printing with kids, it is nice to play around with using bright, punchy colors for natural prints. Here, we used a bright red with the slightest tinge of orange. I think we'll use turquoise and maybe a deep orange next time. This fern might actually turn bright red in the fall, which would make us fortune telling printers. Wouldn't you say?

Coat the fern with a thin layer of paint, lay it on the paper, cover with a clean piece of paper, and gently roll the brayerover the outer, clean paper. You can reuse your fern many times before you move on to a new one and, perhaps, a new color.

Happy fern printing to you!

xo e

Nature Printing :: sea shells

2011-07-29T08:05:00.002-04:00

Having just been to the beach, the sea shells with ridges were on my mind. So was the seaweed, but sadly, I didn't bring any home to play with.

Here, we simply covered the outside of the shell in ink, and rolled it on the paper. I think we could have created a fuller print if we added a softer layer underneath the paper. As it was, we had a layer of cardboard and a dish towel under our paper. I was really happy with the smattering of partial shell prints, though. This is a definite contender for our printed wall art collection.

xo e

Nature Printing :: pine cones & rose buds

2011-07-28T07:30:00.017-04:00

With camp and our first summer adventure behind us, this week marked the first of our slow-to-rise, meandering collection of summer days. Now that life is slow paced and both children are roaming close by, we're having a hand printing camp of sorts. The plan is for us to hand print with a bunch of different found objects (both natural and not), and I am going to do my best to document our printing adventures here.

I love that part of the artistic process is spent gathering, pondering, guessing, and eying our surroundings in new ways. A nice little perk is that the objects we printed with ended up looking beautiful dressed in their new colors. I kind of want them to hang out in a little dish so I can continue to look at them.

I'll admit to also hoping that some of our prints will end up as new art for our living room. I'll keep you posted on that.

Today's materials:

dried rose buds

tiny pine cones

acrylic craft paint

Color Boxink pads

I used a tiny pine cone for the blue print and a dried rose bud for the reddish orange print. In order to get them to print like this, I used a sharp knife to cut off their tips.

More dried rose bud prints. Don't they look like miniature roses?

For this pine cone technique, I covered the outside in ink and rolled it with my finger. Place a piece of cardboard covered with a thin wrinkle free cloth underneath your printing paper. This will help the printing process.

Don't they look like fish scales? Chick and I think so.

A little crafting with kids tip :: Spreading out a big piece of kraft paper for projects is a great way to encourage experimentation. You can lay it on top of whatever kind of printing surface you wish to print on. It gets kids focusing on the process rather than the finished product. I think it kind of emphasizes the beauty of practice prints and smudges.

xo e

treasured

2011-07-27T10:51:00.001-04:00

*****

The tide coming in during our New Hampshire seaside adventure.

giraffe

2011-07-22T11:24:00.000-04:00

The other night, my kid was a giraffe and a lion in a performance.

She took the whole thing very seriously, and when she did the tango with another lion, I was bursting.

There was a pretend campfire and everything.

I just had to share with you guys.

Happy summer weekending to you.

xo e

treasured

2011-07-20T11:05:00.003-04:00

*****

This was Sophie and Chick's first official love fest. (Sophie is a bit of a scaredy cat)

Last night, after dinner, Chick approached her with a tinkling voice and quiet foot steps, and she began to look outside to see what Sophie was watching. After a bit of murmuring and nuzzles, I encouraged Chick to scratch behind Sophie's ears and at the base of her little head. Slowly, Sophie's cat eyes drooped and her body stretched into a straight narrow line. They spent the next half hour snuggling and noticing each other.

July 19th, 2011 :: Chick learns to speak cat. Hoorah !

2 things.

2011-07-19T15:07:00.000-04:00

1. My dear friend Ariana from Crow Roosters Crow was kind enough to interview me and posted it on her beautiful blog today. If you do check it out, you'll want to peruse her lovely site. I sometimes feel like I'd be happy to look at it all day long.

2. The top secret location of the Creativity Workshops is not a secret anymore. This fall, I'll be teaching four eight-week workshops at the new community space at Second Chances Consignment Shop in Amherst. I am so deeply excited to share these workshops with my local peeps and I feel so good about being part of a space that focuses on bringing our community together. Truthfully, it feels like the most perfect blend of all of the things I love to do, and I'm so excited to witness the creative exploration that will take place. You can check out my workshop information here and sign up by September 1st for a $10 discount on all workshops.

xo e

summer corn

2011-07-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

butter
salt
crunch crunch crunch
gone

(a mini summer poem from us to you)

xo e

s p r o u t

2011-07-14T11:16:00.003-04:00

:: new sprout necklace design with ball chain and clasp.
:: hand painted and printed with one of my hand carved blocks.
:: more in this line coming to the shop at the end of the summer with punchy colors and simple little prints.

xo e

treasured

2011-07-13T11:52:00.000-04:00

*****

evening paint.

the colors matched the dusky trees and sky.

xo e

Summer Activity Board

2011-07-10T23:48:00.003-04:00

Today's guest blogger is my lovely and talented friend, Karen Jarsky. Karen is one of the most generous, creative, thoughtful people on the planet, and I was lucky enough to experience being a new mama at the same time as her.

One quick memory before we move onto the fun stuff: We were walking our two babes to a baby playgroup, both of them wedged into their cozy strollers when an older woman approached us with a misty, nostalgic gaze in her eyes. She forced a dollar into each of our hands, and said it was for them - the two friends. I remember knowing that her gesture would stick with me. Not because it was strange and quirky, but because she seemed to know something about how precious and fleeting that time would be. And, how lucky we were.

Check out this amazing Summer Activity Board (and tutorial) that Karen made for me and my family:

When I think of summer, I think of bright sunshine, a dip in the kiddie pool, and maybe some fresh lemonade. And now that I have a six-year-old, I also think of a seemingly endless string of days where I wake up and ask myself, “What are we going to do today?” Don’t get me wrong; I have ideas. But my ideas come to me at the most random times, and later, when I need an idea for a gorgeous 75-degree day or a gloomy day full of rainclouds and puddles, I can’t for the life of me remember a single one.

I’m a list person. The only thing I like more than making a list is crossing something off of it. So you’d think I’d just write down my ideas and keep a handy list that I could pull out of my back pocket whenever the need presented itself. But that would be too easy! Too obvious! And maybe even a little boring! So instead I decided put together a creative space for my family to keep track of all of our summer plans—a Summer Board—and since the creating was so much fun, Emily thought you all might have some fun with the idea too.

Basically, it’s a board. A board with pockets. And each pocket is a cozy little place to stash your summer ideas. And just to keep things organized, each pocket has a place for the things you’d like to do and another for the things you’ve already done.

I should mention that I am not the first person to do something like this. This time of year, a quick Google search will show you all sorts of ways to keep track of your ice cream eating, miniature golf playing, sea glass hunting plans. My own board was inspired by another that I saw two years ago on the Craft site. Theirs is much more complex--more than I needed for our family--but one look at those pockets with future and past tense and I was instantly in love. I took the idea in the direction that made me the happiest, and now maybe you can use this one to spark your own version.

Here’s what you’ll need:
One large fabric scrap, about 18”x18”
8 fabric squares, about 3.5”x3.5” each
One 4-inch scrap of ribbon or string
Any other embellishments you’d like
One piece of Homasote board, about 12.5”x14.5”
Hardware for hanging (including a 5/8” machine screw, nut, washer, and hanging ring)
A supply of craft sticks

You’ll also want to have handy:
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Pinking Shears
Ruler
Staple Gun and Staples (or Glue Gun)

Step One: Think about your plans
This part of the project isn’t so much crafty as it is thought-provoking. Take a few minutes and think about the kinds of things your family likes to do. For my board, I included the following:
•    Make/Made
•    See/Saw (How can you not smile when you read that?)
•    Play/Played
•    Eat/Ate (Great for picky eaters! So far my family has “new ice cream flavor” in this to-do pocket.)
•    Do/Did
•    Go/Went
•    Read/Read
•    And then one wider pocket in the middle for blank sticks, labeled “possibility.”

Your family might do other things that don’t easily fall into these categories… Do you build? Do you hike? Do you volunteer? It’s important to think through your pockets now, since it will affect how many pockets you create and, as a result, how large your finished product is. To keep things simple, let’s assume that you’re going to include eight pockets, just like me.

Step Two: Choose your materials
This is the perfect time to dig into your fabric stash if you have one. You’ll need one piece of fabric for your background that is about 18x18—conveniently, almost the exact size of a fat quarter.

The only important thing about the size of this piece of fabric is that it be big enough to hold all of the pockets that you want to add. The only thing important about how this piece of fabric looks is that you love it. I chose something from my vintage stash.

Once you’ve decided on your background fabric, you’ll need to choose something for the pockets. I knew I wanted to go a little funky with my pocket fabric because the gray plaid background was so subdued—not at all like summer should be! I had received a charm pack of the new Moda line from Oliver+S. It contained a stack of tiny squares of gorgeous, colorful fabric—the perfect contrast to my nearly-solid background.

Unfortunately, my Oliver+S squares were too small to be pockets on their own, so I dug into my stash a little further and found some scraps from a canvas drop cloth I’d picked up at my local home improvement store. (Quick aside: drop cloths are fantastic if you need a large piece of neutral fabric. And the scraps come in handy too!) I cut eight 3.5”x3.5” squares from the drop cloth fabric—one for each pocket.

Step Three: Label your pockets
There are lots of ways to complete this step. My sewing machine happens to have alphabet stitches, so I sewed the words on to the fabric. You could also use rubber stamps, or even a fabric pen to hand write them. At this step, my drop cloth background comes in handy because the words show up better on ivory than they would on the bold prints. If I had been using just the prints, I might have sewn the words onto a neutral color ribbon, and then attached that to each pocket.

Remember to leave at least a half inch under your words so you have space to stitch the pocket to the background. This is the point where I attached my smaller colorful squares to the drop cloth squares with a quick zigzag stitch. Here is where you (or you and your kids) can embellish your own pockets.

Step Four: Trim your pockets
Now it’s time to pull out your pinking shears and trim the edges of your squares so they won’t fray. Why didn’t you just cut them out with the pinking shears in the first place? Because I like to leave a little room for error, and trimming the square later is an opportunity to make adjustments if the words aren’t as straight as you’d like them, for example.

You can trim off as much as you’d like. You’ll just want to make sure that your pockets stay deep enough to comfortably support the craft sticks and wide enough to accommodate all the summer fun you’re going to be stashing in there. I only trimmed the slightest amount, so my pockets are probably about 3.25x3.25 inches after trimming.

Step Five: Place your pockets
Now you need to place the pockets on the background fabric. There’s no right or wrong way to do any step of this project, and for this step, that’s especially true. My pockets are placed in straight lines, but my plaid background gave me handy gridlines for placement. Don’t spend too much time trying to get your placement “perfect” in any way. The point is to get out and have fun this summer, not make yourself crazy with your ruler! The important thing here is to leave yourself a margin of about 3 inches around the entire background fabric so that you can attach it to the board later.

Once you have your pockets where you want them, pin them in place, and then grab your 4” ribbon scrap. You’re going to fold that in half and tuck the cut ends under one edge of whichever pocket will hold the blank sticks. Insert the raw edges at least one-half inch under the pocket so your stitching will easily catch it. This is your pen holder.

Now that everything is where you want it, stitch the bottom and both sides of each pocket, somewhere between a quarter and an eighth of an inch from the edge. You want to make sure you’re stitching far enough in that you’re solidly catching the full edge of the pocket, but not so far that you cut excessively into the size of the pocket. I like to stitch the bottom first, just to anchor it into place, and then I move to the sides. Remember not to stitch the top shut! (Not that I almost did that. Heh.)

Your last sewing step is to divide each pocket (except for the one that will hold blank sticks) in half. You can just eyeball this, or draw a straight chalk line to follow. Stitch all the way from the top to the bottom, between your two words. If the dividing line isn’t exactly in the center of the pocket, that’s fine! There’s still room for your sticks, right? Right.

Step Six: Prepare your board
Now you need something to turn this from a piece of fabric into a board. I’ve suggested Homasote, which is available at lumber yards and apparently Home Depot (though I’ve never purchased it there). It’s a soundproofing material, but it’s also an excellent bulletin board material. I like it for this project because it will allow you to attach coupons or tickets to the board with a push pin if you want to. It’s also a nice thickness and weight—it feels substantial, but not too heavy.

Here’s the drawback: Homasote is sold in 8’x4’ sheets. I’ve heard rumors of 4’x4’ sheets, but I’ve never seen them. So, if you buy it just for this project you’ll have a LOT left over. But if you do, you also might get addicted to covering it with fabric and hanging it all over your house like I have. But, if you’re not looking to surround yourself with Homasote, you can use foam core, or even the backing of a picture frame (which, with the frame, will give you an even more finished, formal look when you’re done). And I know Emily wouldn’t object if you pulled a cereal box out of the recycling bin and used that instead.

If you do use Homasote and you purchase it at a lumber yard, you can ask them to cut it into a few small pieces so you can fit it in your car. Once you’re home, drag a utility knife over the line you want to cut over and over and over in order to cut it down to size. You may have to come at it from the front and the back.

My board is 12.5” wide and 14.5” high. I actually waited to cut it until the sewing was done so I could size it according to my finished fabric, but if you’re working with a scrap or any board with limited dimensions, you’ll want to do the reverse, and base your fabric measurements (in Step Two) on your board’s dimensions instead.

I’ve tried a few ways of hanging Homasote boards over the years, but I find that the sturdiest involves what my hardware store calls “mirror hardware.” As you can see in the photo, it’s an easy way to attach hanging hardware through the entire board so that it won’t budge.

To prepare the board, locate a spot that’s a few inches from the top and exactly at the horizontal midpoint and drill a small hole. (I was a little too lazy to pull out the drill, and I actually just used a chunky nail to make my pilot hole. Worked just fine.) Insert the screw (which is threaded through the hook and the washer) through the board. Attach the nut on the other side.

The length of the screw is important here, because you want it to be as short as possible, but still long enough to go through and catch the nut. Mine is 5/8” long (measured from the very top to the very bottom) and it’s a perfect fit. There’s just a tiny little nub on the front of the board (and it’s behind a pocket anyway, so you’d never know it).

Next, lay your fabric face down and make a mental note of the where the lowest stitching line falls. You can line up the bottom of your board with this line. Once you have the board in place, grab your staple gun. You’re going to fold the edges of the fabric to the back of the board and staple them in place. Fold the raw edge of the fabric under for a more finished look.

I like to do a few staples across the bottom first and then flip over the board to make sure things are straight and centered. Make any adjustments that you need to, and then continue stapling, pulling the fabric taut as you go. I’ve used a regular stapler for this step before and it seems to do just fine. If you’ve chosen something other than Homasote for your board, you might consider using a glue gun rather than a staple gun. Use your best judgment.

Step Seven: Make your plans
As your final step, grab a handful of craft sticks (pretty readily available at craft and dollar stores) and sit down with your family and brainstorm about what you’d like to do in the next two months. Put each stick in the appropriate pocket and, once you’ve done it/eaten it/read it/seen it/built it/etc., move the stick over to the other side.

I like to keep a supply of sticks handy on my desk, in the kitchen, wherever ideas might come to me. Because remember: if you don’t write them down, they’ll be just like summer: gone before you know it. Have fun!

* All photos by Karen Jarsky

Karen Jarsky doesn't have a blog but is constantly amazed by and grateful for the things she can learn from other sewists and crafters who take the time to share ideas and advice on theirs. Karen will try sewing anything once, and sells some of her creations in her Etsy shop, Peanut and Beans.

treasured

2011-07-06T14:26:00.000-04:00

*****

Fruit salad is my treasure on this steamy day.

(and this thrifted Arcopal France bowl, which came with a nice, flat, white lid)

xo e

4th of July in Brewster, NY

2011-07-06T07:25:00.004-04:00

frog pond

stone wall with petunias (I think)

my foot on Auntie Lynn's newly painted purple garden seat

Uncle Michael's grapes (1 bunch out of hundreds)

a secret garden spot. the buzz around town is that wine is sipped and cheese and olives are nibbled
here.

blue berries on the bush (we had blueberry bush envy)

hello! story stones! (i had stone envy)

last, but not least, the salt water, heated pool

Chick who has historically been uncomfortable in deep water, took to the pool like a little fish. Tom and I felt so at ease watching our, often anxious, little girl feel so relaxed and free. Plus, we were wined and dined in the grandest of ways. Two words: dessert buffet.

It was a perfect kick-off to a summer full of adventures.

xo e

n e w s

2011-07-05T12:51:00.004-04:00

I'm so excited to announce that my line of block printed kids t-shirts and prints are now being sold in the beautiful on-line shop Hazel Wood Children.

Jennifer's shop is filled to the brim with lovely, unique, super high quality items for parents and children - all designed by artists and designers who are socially and environmentally conscious. I'm so truly honored to join a list of amazing (makes me kind of gasp) designers and products such as Ida Pearle, Dr. Hauschka, and Old School Stationers (just to name a few).

::::

In other news, there will be a surprise summer treat on my blog on Thursday. Stay tuned!

xo e

treasured

2011-06-29T12:28:00.003-04:00

*****

photograph by Ariana Inglese

Yesterday morning, Mouse and I visited our friends Ariana and James at Good Egg Farm. We brought a brioche to share, and they set the table with sweetest strawberries and glasses of cold spiced iced tea. After snack, we visited with their new lambs, which may be the most adorable creatures in the entire universe. Truly. Look at that wooly face! Mouse and James fed them grain, stroked their wooly bodies, and had a nice hearty conversation about their digestive systems.

After a short woodsy walk, some sand play, and coloring, it was time to go home. And, as we drove down the hill back to town, we chatted about how nice it is to spend slow, warm, summer mornings with dear friends (and lambs).

xo e

an evening on the porch

2011-06-28T13:22:00.000-04:00

White Sangria (adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe)

1/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup Cointreau (I used Triple Sec because that is what we had)
1/4 cup super fine sugar
2 firm white peaches thinly sliced
1 green apple thinly sliced
1 bottle of well chilled Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc (I used Pinot)
12 oz (or more) seltzer
ice cubes for serving

Pour brandy and 1/4 C sugar at the bottom of pitcher. Stir, and let stand for 5 minutes; stir again to dissolve sugar. Pour in cointreau, the bottle of wine, and stir. Mix in the fruit and stir some more. When you are ready to serve, mix the seltzer in, and pour each cup over ice. Be sure to keep a spoon in the pitcher, for easy fruit transfer.

a slew of new

2011-06-27T07:30:00.009-04:00

The daisies popped up over the weekend. Just above our daisy patch is a bird house with a nest of baby sparrows. This weekend, the mama bird was teaching her babes to fly by nudging them out of the house. We watched some of them on their first flight. I couldn't get over the tiny, baby bird feathers that were scattered about underneath the house. They were shedding their fluff as they took to the air.

This is the new and preferred method of swinging these days. You know I love this.

And, here is our new raspberry and blackberry patch (all 15 plants!). We can't wait to start picking! It was a joy to put our compost to good use by mixing it into this bed. I love thinking that a year's worth of vegetables and fruit leftovers and scraps from our kitchen will nourish these plants.

What new things are popping up around your home?

Art Camp!

2011-06-24T15:29:00.015-04:00

I am so, so happy and honored to be leading a summer art workshop for parents and preschoolers at Spring Street Preschool in downtown Amherst, MA. The school is offering a month of Wednesday summer workshops where parents and children will have the chance to explore, create, and learn together.

As described by Sam Wilde, the workshop coordinator: "Each morning includes an hour devoted to parent and child playing and learning together, either dancing, making art, singing or learning new yoga poses under the skilled instruction of our teachers. After the joint play/learning time, the preschoolers will move across the hall with Spring Street teacher Sue Burkey for preschool camp. The children’s camp includes a snack time, theme-related books and games, outside time, free play and learning on the day’s topic. During this time the parents will stay with our teacher/artists and enjoy a sustained period of personal, meditative, playful exploration "

I love how the program balances togetherness and creative unity with independent exploration.

The workshop I will be teaching is Art Camp for Parents and Children

Art Camp, July 13, with Emily Neuburger (there is a $5 materials charge for this class)

This creative crafting workshop is perfect for those who wish to explore color, shape, and easy-to-learn techniques in a relaxing, encouraging setting.

In the first portion of the workshop, adults will learn how to use freezer paper and ink to make simple, bold, bright prints on fabric. Using everyday items or nature as our muse, each person will choose one thing to stencil and print onto a 12 inch square of muslin fabric. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own light colored fabric and fabric blanks from home (t-shirts, smooth tea towels, napkins, or bags) for more printing if time allows. This is a simple way to design your own home textiles. No prior printing or drawing experience needed!

In the second portion of the class, adults and children will make color collage garlands. This engaging project will have children sorting by color, collaging by whim, and learning to trim to preserve shape forms. It is a lovely way for parents and children to enjoy color and creativity together. Parents and children should bring a few magazines, old books, or catalogs in to use as collage material.

Camp runs every Wednesday in July from 9 a.m.-noon, and it is for children 2.9- 5 and their parent or caregiver.

July 6 Yoga Camp with Corrine Andrews
July 13 Art Camp with Emily Neuburger (that's me!)
July 20 Music and Movement Camp with Heleen Cardinaux
July 27 Dance Camp with Iris Berkman.

$45/camp for parent and child with registration by July 1. Space is limited to 10, so register early as classes are expected to fill quickly. Enrollment after July 1 is $52 for parent and child.

An additional child is $20. Enroll for 3 or 4 camp days, and tuition is $38 a day or $114 or $152 respectively!

If interested, please email me directly (my address is in the side bar) or leave a comment on this post with a way to contact you.

Or, go to Spring Street Preschool for registration information.

Happy Friday

teacher gifties

2011-06-23T12:23:00.004-04:00

Chick's Kindergarten year in a nutshell:

:: dandelion chains
:: after school playground romping
:: secret meetings under the slide
:: snowy tromps to school
:: shirts snipped by a flurry of scissor cutting
:: quiet book reading all by herself on the couch
:: our last kisses goodbye
:: a big backpack on a little body
:: playing the telephone game
:: cylinder, cones, cubes, and spheres
:: her sign "Der turtl. Pls do not mke yor tnk ovr flo agan" taped to Turtle's tank
:: chocolate milk on Wednesdays
:: pig tails
:: climbing high
:: book making
:: "you're on fire!" (when things are going well)
:: knock knock jokes and riddles
:: pure joy when I visited the classroom (will this always be?)
:: the art closet (her favorite)
:: her favorite number - "whatever age I am, so it is 5 right now" (in October)
:: bug bites and band aids
:: bike rides

and my sweet wide eyed child
one school year older

I made special, personalized appliqued bags for each of the teachers in Chick's classroom.

An apple for her teacher. It is made with one of Chick's shirts that was snipped while she was busily cutting. Chick likes to cut paper. A lot.

A magic wand for Ms. Fox who cut school one day to see a Harry Potter movie in the theater, and was totally busted. Ha! She'll like this.

For Mrs. Fay who loves shoes. Chick tells me that she calls herself the "shoe shoe lady."

Off I go, in the pouring rain, to pick-up my girls, and to welcome the long, promising, stretch of summer that lies ahead.

I like how endings are oftentimes also beginnings.

xo e

treasured

2011-06-22T13:49:00.000-04:00

*****

This was one of my Nanny's necklaces.

My wise Aunt recently said that it just dawned on her that Nanny is somewhere in love with how close she is holding me. I have so many confusing, conflicting thoughts and ideas about death, but thinking about her in this way brings me comfort.

xo e

the town square

2011-06-17T08:42:00.001-04:00

Last night, we visited The Taste of Amherst where there was local ice cream, lots of restaurants selling tasty bites, live music, and hula hoops.

The air was thick with the smells of all different foods blending together into a cloud of vague deliciousness. I could tease out gyoza, pad thai, and barbeque from the food cloud. We ate dinner before going because, historically, eating there with the kids doesn't work out very well. It was so relaxing this way. We just needed to worry about water, ice cream, and dancing.

The hula hoop lady was there.

Striped tents

Tom read that the David Wax Museum would be playing, and after listening to some songs and reading about them, he felt like I would love them. And, I did! (and, I loved Tom for knowing that I would love them). Their music is a blend of traditional Mexican music and Americana folk music with a little bit of pop in there too. It was lively and moody and soulful and lilting - like a well balanced meal.

Mouse dancing to one of our favorite songs: "Yes, Maria, Yes"

Happy almost weekend to you all.

hankies

2011-06-16T11:49:00.000-04:00

vintage crocheted linen hankies in the shop

treasured

2011-06-15T11:09:00.006-04:00

*****

I found half of a robin's egg! And let me just tell you - it is the most beautiful, deep shade of blue.

I tried my best to capture the color with different lighting and backgrounds. It is such a complex and moody shade of blue, though. I did my best.

Oh, the luck! Mouse keeps telling people about "our robin's egg" when they come to visit. It's like we won a contest and she wants to show off our fancy new thing - as if people are coming to the house just to see our half of a robin's egg. Maybe they are?

Fly on by baby robin (when you're good and strong, of course)

xo e

stripey candle jar

2011-06-14T10:32:00.000-04:00

This yarn wrapped candle jar was inspired by my friend Katie. I wish she had a blog or flickr account that I could point you towards because her design sense is just so lovely and charming. She is one of those people who is gifted with an eye for color, shape, and balance. She is a talented weaver, and a few years ago she experimented with decoupaging weft threads around a ball jar. Such a clever idea.

Now that it is screened porch season again, I was inspired to use this candle holder for our table. I made it with regular wool yarn and Mod Podge, and there is a candle nestled in the bottom of the jar.

The yarn creates twinkling shadows when the candle is lit.

xo e

treasured

2011-06-08T15:29:00.000-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

Yup. It was definitely time to make a big jar of lemonade syrup. I added just a few spoonfuls to a big glass of ice water, and it instantly felt like summer. The girls downed theirs in like four gulps.

Today has been one of those days that has felt long in a good way. The hours have stretched on, making me feel like I still have time to get things done.

Here is to a productive, lemony, hot and humid Wednesday.

xo e

b i t s

2011-06-07T16:18:00.003-04:00

We began the heart aching process of sorting through and cleaning out my Nanny's house this past weekend.

There were many meatballs made on this stove.

This is the slate my Papa laid. I always loved the tiny red piece of slate nestled among the other larger gray toned ones. I used to play a game where I was only allowed to walk on the red stones, and this little one forced me to balance on the toes of one foot.

Some of my Nanny's beautiful purses.

Then the winds shifted and we returned home for Chick's ballet performance. She was a graceful baby bird in a little segment of Peter and The Wolf (appropriately re-titled Penelope in The Meadow due to the lack of Peter and a wolf).

We are expecting hot and steamy days tomorrow and the next. I think it is time for a batch of my favorite lemonade and the backyard sprinkler.

xo e

s t o r m

2011-06-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

As my friend Naomi's husband so brilliantly said: the weather is downright Hipstamatic. And, it was. I didn't alter or filter any of these photographs. After the tornadoes and thunderstorms passed, the sky became an eerie shade of sepia, and orange light flooded our house.

My heartfelt thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in yesterday's storm. How horribly tragic and sad. And, so very close to home.

xox e

treasured

2011-06-01T10:04:00.003-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

I found these pillow covers at a tag sale recently. I love the old timey floral pattern with the washed out aqua and punchy lime green.

The fact that they zip shut is satisfying. And, maybe the pillows will be less dusty?

Less dust and more flowers. I'll take that.

xo e

s u n n y

2011-05-31T10:50:00.000-04:00

Most of the long, summery weekend was spent writing and crafting. Some of it was spent eating at one of my most favorite restaurants and sipping sangria on my porch with dear friends. Almost none of it was spent with my kiddos and husband. Tom took the children on a lakeside adventure, so I could work, work, work towards my deadline.

When they arrived home yesterday afternoon, we squished a weekend's worth of lazy backyard frolic into five hours. It was Tom's birthday, and I had plenty of quiet, alone time to plan for a slow summery backyard celebration.

new flowers ready to be planted in our planter

strawberry rhubarb pie

basil plants in a backyard planter

chives growing healthy and strong

Tom's birthday gift: 10 raspberry & 5 blackberry bushes. We spent almost the whole evening making plans for our new berry patch.

The wee baby bunny, who lives under our porch, was nibbling on some sort of tender green.

Don't you just want to squeeze her cheeks?

xo e

p.s. The milk glass bowl, which is holding the strawberries above, was just listed in my shop this morning.

Happy day to you.

beach glass blue

2011-05-27T15:23:00.000-04:00

I made these glassy blue mouse cards as gifts for my Mouse and Chick's teachers, and I just listed them in the shop as well.

Happy long, holiday weekend to those in the states. May you drink too many lemonades and fall asleep in the grass.

xo e

swoop

2011-05-26T11:29:00.001-04:00

This has been a super duper busy week in the studio. I've been working on a few mini-deadlines, some shop orders, and making craft prototypes for my book.

And, so I wasn't able to write a Treasured post yesterday. Ah well. More on that next week.

For now, this swooping bird is leftover from some of my week's work.

Cereal box. My favorite.

xo e

a sweater (and other things)

2011-05-24T14:33:00.014-04:00

Today, during an impromptu thrift shop stop, I found this beautiful sweater. It is the Anthropologie brand Sleeping On Snow and it is called the "Sketchbook Pullover." I almost keeled over. It is new with tags and I bought it for $5.99. Little Mouse was with me, and she didn't really get what the fuss was all about. $5.99? Madness! Actually, the shop was packed with lots of beautiful stuff today. Given that I live in a college town, I'm guessing a whole mess of students emptied out their drawers and closets before they left town. I also found a crazy nice bathing suit top and a bunch of other summer shirts. It isn't often that I score big for myself on my thrift runs (usually lots for the kids), and it felt really nice.

Last night, I bumped into this bag on etsy. I have a little birthday money tucked away (from February!) and I think I might spend it on this. The shop used to sell the same bag in a kelly green color, which I think I would have loved. I think I'll like this watery blue just as much, though.

And, this is a vintage potato masher, which I just listed in the t r e a s u r e s section of my shop. I have the same one in my kitchen and I use it every time I make mashed potatoes or banana bread (it mashes partially frozen bananas perfectly). I saw it and figured that someone might want one too.

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting many craft projects lately. I actually have been spending lots and lots of time crafting and creating in the studio, but most of the projects are for magazine and book deadlines, so I can't share just yet. In the meantime, I'm having lots of fun finding treasures and posting about our outdoor adventures.

Alrighty. Despite the warm and humid air, I'm going to go cuddle with my new sweater.

xo e

treasured

2011-05-18T12:42:00.003-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

These Italian canisters with wooden lids came from The Clawfoot Tub, a beautiful design and home wares shop in our downtown. A good friend of mine gave me a gift certificate a few months ago, and I've been itching to visit. After taking it all in, these nicely rounded jars with painted wooden lids called to me.

Really, the true treasure was my slow pre-shop breakfast with lovely Ariana. We ate eggs and crepes and talked about colors and broken cars and beautiful children.

xo e

mouse times

2011-05-17T08:02:00.003-04:00

I spent Sunday night and part of Monday carving mice and printing.

big
mousey
eyes

xo e

crab apple

2011-05-16T17:22:00.001-04:00

This is one of my most favorite trees. The weight of the fruit causes it to hang low, making it the perfect hide-a-way for little ones.

There are some downfalls to being this beautiful. It drops apples in October, and they tend to quickly rot and ferment with the scent filling our whole kitchen. And, it does attract every single bee in the neighborhood. It is practically a humming tree for most of the summer. But, who cares. It is just so fairy tale pretty.

These pictures were from before the deluge - when we had some beautiful bright sunny days.

And, now I must go scramble some eggs for dinner. It's been one of those days.
xo e

s o u p

2011-05-12T08:30:00.024-04:00

When I have a stuffy cold, I like to eat soup even if the weather is warm and sunny. It does help a little if the early evening sun shines directly on my soup.

This is a simple chicken base vegetable barley soup with carrots, barley, parsley, celery (and celery greens), onions, and green beans floating around in it. Oh, and a big sprinkle of cumin too.

May the irritating spring cold stay away from you and yours.

Also, I've added some new Story Stones into the shop: a prince and a spring birdy.

xo e

printing

2011-05-11T19:22:00.000-04:00

I've been busy carving more blocks and printing with lots of new colors.

Joining colors together is truly one of my favorite things. Since I treated myself to a set of new inks over the weekend, I've been like a kid in a candy shop. I can't stay away.

When my workshops get rolling in the Fall, I plan to teach an adult workshop on block carving and printing with color. I am so excited. I've been thrilled to hear that there is already interest from local peeps. Send an email (address in the sidebar) or leave a comment if you are local and interested in being on my workshops mailing list. I'd love to keep you in the loop.

xo e

treasured: scarf 03

2011-05-11T07:45:00.042-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

Today's beauty is a bright, spring gold and green original Vera Neumann. As I was pressing it, with slow and steady iron sweeps, I gradually fell more and more in love. (I really did press it! I think it just likes to be creased.) There is something about the punchy pattern combined with its silky softness that makes me feel at ease. Nanny totally busted this one out in the springtime.

It was made in Japan with hand rolled edging.

A real gem.

xo e

h o u s e s

2011-05-10T08:12:00.016-04:00

I once had a dream about a little neighborhood of houses just like this. The houses were on a river, though, and I was stuck on the opposite side. This was like 14 years ago, but I was keeping a dream journal at the time, so it is forever preserved on paper (at least a 6:00 AM rough sketch of it is). I'm sure I analyzed the heck out of it back then, but for now I'm going to leave all the separation and worry issues behind and concentrate on the shapes and colors.

I love repetition, routine, and imperfection, which is why I love rows of crooked things, I think.

I spent my Monday resting because of a cold, so I decided that I would spend time making these houses and a pot of soup. Playing with color and a bowl of warm soup: two quiet things that make me happy.

I plan on making houses with the kids and, afterwards, I'll give them pens so they can add details to their buildings and houses. I'll keep you posted.

xo e

m o t h e r

2011-05-09T14:20:00.003-04:00

MotherWoman teamed up with T he Nields and Sarah Prall Photography to create this beautiful tribute to mothers everywhere.

I listened to it yesterday many times. Sometimes, I just closed my eyes and listened to the wise lyrics and Nerissa and Katryna's sweet-sounding voices. And, other times, I payed attention to the messages and beautiful mothers and children. It made my heart ache a little bit, but mostly I was filled with gratitude for my strong, beautiful mother who still stuffs bags of greens in my vegetable drawer.

I love the part about how the imperfections in our families and homes are the places and moments where "the light shines through."

Happy Mother's Day (one day late).

xo e

vintage scarves

2011-05-05T10:38:00.000-04:00

Perfect for hair, necks, and shoulders. Listed in the treasures section of my shop.

xo e

treasured

2011-05-04T11:32:00.007-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

I'm taking a tiny little break from my grandmother's scarves to show you this tin of buttons that was given to me by my friend, Karen, this past week. We met at our usual pub (half-way between our towns) for dinner and a nice long catch-up session. One of Karen's superpowers is that she is the best treasure giver ever: she also gave me a huge bag of smooth river rocks, an old quilt top, and some tins.

This button tin and the buttons inside were from the collection of a dear friend of Karen's mother. I've been feeling inspired just by the looking at the gold and sky blue and worn away spots on the tin.

Thank you, Karen, for knowing that these would make me happy.

xo e

new treasures in my shop

2011-05-02T08:15:00.011-04:00

Lately, I've been finding lots of colorful, sturdy, useful treasures during my trips to the local thrift shops and garage sales, and so I decided to make a little Treasures section in my shop. I like seeing them all scrubbed and shiny in a little curated collection.

Just this past weekend, I stumbled upon an endless collection of the most beautiful vintage scarves - just like my Nanny Ruth's - perfect for wearing in your hair. I collected a bunch, and I'm going to list those later in the week. They are truly, truly lovely. I can't wait to show you.

Happy Monday.

xo e

right now

2011-04-29T10:04:00.000-04:00

I'm about to get my groove on at Mouse's movement class.

Loving the warm sunshine on my cheeks as we walked Chick to school.

Thinking about some new art I've been slowly working on.

Taking photographs of a few vintage goodies I plan to list in my shop.

Sifting through a tin of new old buttons. (more on those later)

Staring at our garden a little too long.

Happy weekend.

xo e

treasured: scarf 02

2011-04-27T12:19:00.000-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

This is the second in the Nanny Ruth scarf series. This smashing little number is definitely one of my favorites from the collection. I imagine that one of her friends bought it for her at Bloomingdale's in the early 70's. I especially love the geometric medallion in the center.

It doesn't feel like pure silk, but it definitely is a silk blend of sorts. The part that isn't silk actually makes it perfect for wearing in my hair because it makes it a bit rough and grippy, so it doesn't slip around.

The designer is georgio di Sant Angelo, who was a New York textile artist in the late 1960s and 1970s. The internet tells me that he studied with Picasso for six months and had an apprenticeship with Disney before landing in New York where he made plastic jewelry and began his work in textile design.

Happy Wednesday, you guys.

xo e

spring printing

2011-04-26T10:04:00.000-04:00

These are little hand carved prints on cereal box squares.

Printing with bright colors onto small cereal box squares is a nice little activity to do with children. The color pops against the natural, muted color of the box board, and they can use the little squares for game playing and storytelling.

These little squares have me thinking.

xo e

treasured: scarf 01

2011-04-21T13:35:00.001-04:00

Each Wednesday (ahem) I post about some sort of treasure I found during the past week. It might be thrifted or found on a walk or whispered in my ear or discovered on a dark shelf in the basement. Something. Anything that makes me feel lucky and thankful. It doesn't necessarily have to make its way home with me - it just has to be noticed. The idea is for it to cost very little and feel very big. After all, this isn't about acquiring new things; it is about paying better attention to the world around me.

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

Anyone who sees me on a regular basis knows that I wear a scarf in my hair quite often. It's one of my things. I have three favorites, which I tend to rotate through during the year until this past Sunday when my mom gave me a bag full of my Nanny's scarves. I inherited every single one of her beautiful scarves, and she had so, so many. My mom told me that people often gave them to her as gifts since she wore them so often. When she did wear one, she'd tie it around her neck in that classic, but also kind of old timey, way - sometimes with a pin or brooch.

And, so I am going to show you some of my new old scarves in my treasured feature over the next few weeks. Because I treasure these. I really, really do.

I can tell this one is 100% silk just by touching it, but it doesn't have a tag or designer listed anywhere. It is mostly teal green and red and pink. I remember her wearing this in the springtime. It is skinny and long, which makes it the perfect shape for a hair scarf.

I'm a day late with Treasured because it is vacation week. Enough said, right?

xo
e

Big news

2011-04-19T07:45:00.008-04:00

Over the past few weeks, I've been hinting about a super exciting project that I've been working on, and it is finally time for me to share. It is a project that resonates with every bit of my creative self, and it is so dreamy that, sometimes, it just comes out as a whisper. A thrilled whisper: I signed a contract with Storey Publishing, and my educational craft book will be published next spring (2012)! Eeeep! (that part wasn't a whisper.) Not only am I to the moon excited about the book, I couldn't be more happy to be working with the ever inspiring peeps at Storey. They publish incredibly useful, thoughtful, creative books of all kinds. I've admired their books and publishing style for so long, and it is truly a dream come true for me to work with them.

And, so, I am busy, busy making it a reality. This has meant long hours in the studio and at my desk. When I put a full day of work into this project, I am left feeling that it is just what I want to be thinking about and it is exactly what I want my hands and head wrapped around. Simply put, I feel incredibly lucky. As I've been writing and designing, I've been sharing portions of the book with my children. This has become a meaningful, new way to connect with them as they give me their opinions, feedback, and suggestions. Chick has been writing "how-to" books and slips them on my desk to surprise me.

Thank you, dear readers and friends, for reading, for your continued support, and for your kind words. They mean the world to me (for real). Your lovely messages and encouragement truly fuel me, and for that, I am deeply thankful.

xo e

p.s. This red balloon is from Cradle's Grand opening celebration two (!!) years ago. I did a craft demonstration there, and snapped this photograph on my way home. It made me happy then, and it still does.

more spring

2011-04-18T07:45:00.039-04:00

It rained for most of the weekend, but the sun came out at the end of Sunday, and I found even more spring busting out around our home. Sorry if you guys super sick of me documenting spring in my backyard. I can't help it. But, first spring inside the house.

We had an early Passover dinner at my parents' home. There was much talk about rebirth and renewal. And some toasting and tears for my Nanny who wasn't there. She was kind of there, though, in a really profound way. With every single morsel of tradition, I was reminded of her smile and warm voice. I envisioned her rocking with pride as Chick read the four questions (it is first year she could do it on her own). She would have said, "Oh! My bubbala! That was wonderful!" And, she'd tell me how proud she was of my matzo ball soup. It was the perfect first holiday to celebrate without her because it is the one that reminds us about the continuation of life and the strength of the human spirit. We dipped the sweet, tender greens into salty water to remind us of our tears, but not five minutes later we were toasting our sweet wine and grape juice to celebrate how far we have come. And, how much further there is to go.

And, so there is renewal. And, rebuilding. There are lands to create and stories to tell.

And, buds to gaze at

And, chives to nibble. (The chives weren't up last weekend)

And some Magnolia tree bloom wagering. Those buds are heavy with life. My money is on Thursday.

There is so much beauty surrounding us.

xo e

treasured

2011-04-13T21:00:00.003-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

a little list of treasures from the week

an egg sandwich for dinner
6 1/2 mini pine cones in one load of laundry
some t-shirt orders made and delivered (see above)
a note left on my desk: "i love u, i love u, i love u, i love u"
watching Chick and our next door neighbor climb the trees outside of my office window
quesadilla picnic in the backyard
red stripey pajama pants from the Salvy
and, a bit of good health related news for a loved one

happy wednesday.

with love.
e

outside

2011-04-12T20:31:00.001-04:00

Tom and the kids spent almost every hour of this past weekend outdoors. I was inside working on my big secret project, which I'm super excited to share with you early next week. Promise.

Tom raked and plucked and raked some more. He removed some vines that were choking some of our front bushes, and used them to make this sweet little wreath. Isn't it pretty?

We grow hearty, ginormous dandelion root in these parts. This one in particular made me wonder if anyone anywhere eats dandelion root stew.

Chick made fairy lands with trees and caves and fire pits

while Mouse rode the fence.

I hung the spring wreath. And worked some more.

xo e

stitch-a-bird

2011-04-07T11:48:00.010-04:00

This spring I've been spending time drawing with my non-dominant hand. This technique has produced lots of wobbly leaves, spindly stems, and skinny crooked houses. As it turns out, this sort of thing is perfect material for storytelling. The kids and I have been using our drawings to tell imaginative outside tales. The other day, as I was settling down for a tiny afternoon nap, my eyes were closed and a yellow, stitched bird came to me. And, so, the next day, I made it. I think it would be a nice start to a set of story telling cards.

Using my sewing machine as a drawing utensil gives my illustrations a airy, curious quality, which I quite like.

With pencil, lightly draw a shape (I drew the bird) onto watercolor paper.

Use your sewing machine to follow your pencil lines. Don't worry about being too careful and perfect. Erase your pencil lines, and then tie off the ends of the thread on the back and use a very thin layer of glue to secure. Once dry, fill in your drawing with watercolors.

Oh, and it is kind of like my sew-a-sprout tutorial from last spring.

taaa weeeeeeeeet. tweet. tweet. tweet. (says the blue jay living in the bush outside my study)

xo e

treasured

2011-04-06T10:25:00.004-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

A new (to me) vintage springy treasure.

And, look at the shadow is it casting on my desk as I type.

Green and white vintage graphic glass, I think I love you.

xo e

twilight

2011-04-05T20:10:00.003-04:00

These were taken earlier this evening when the rain had ended.

Grays layered with grays.

And, little pops of color.

I kind of like damp, low lit, steady rain days even though my thick, curly hair never seems to be fully dry. I also kind of like when the clouds blow away right before the sun sets. It's like ending a lazy, long, up and down game of cards with a winning hand.

xo e

nest building :: a tutorial

2011-03-31T08:15:00.043-04:00

Here we are, heading into the season of nesting, of new beginnings and rejuvenation. And, while I feel so hopeful and invested in the ground that will soon be bursting with newness and life, I continue to grieve the loss of my grandmother. In the past ten years or so, when spring came around and her Azalea bushes would burst pink and new, she would feel so truly lucky and free to live fully. All of the fragile round eggs, tender greens, and bright colors of new life brought her so much joy and lightness of spirit.

When I was nineteen or so, and witnessing my first cold, slow New England spring, my mother shipped a snow globe to my dorm room. It is a glass globe with white flakes floating in water, and from beneath the sparkly snow grows three hearty crocuses. In the package was a note reminding me that spring will soon come.

It is just the very beginning. We have cold, wet, frozen weather passing by today and tomorrow. I know the colors will soon arrive, though. And, I know I'm left here to witness this beauty. Thankfully. I'll bear witness in the grandest of company and with my usual innocent disbelief. Can trees really be that beautiful? But, still, there is heaviness in my heart. I miss her.

And, so I decided that maybe I'd prepare a bit, like the mama birds do. I made a nest and filled it with bright blue clay eggs. It is my reminder that I must continue to build and to believe in the beauty that surrounds me.

Materials: air dry clay or Fimo, craft paint, brush, wax paper, dried grass and stalks

Begin by shaping ten or more small (1 1/2" or so) clay eggs. Chick and her friend helped roll and shape the little eggs. Don't worry about making them perfectly smooth since the paint ends up hiding a lot of the little dents and dings.

Either air dry over night or bake on low heat depending on whether you are using Fimo or air dry clay.

This is Mouse clickety clicking the dry clay eggs in her hands. Paint the eggs blue (or any color, really). Cover all of the eggs with paint, and set them to dry on wax paper. Once dry, touch up the bottoms with more paint and let dry again.

The kids and I gathered dry grass and old stalks from last year's plants. And, then the nest building began.

I have so much respect for mama birds. Nest building is slow, careful work. I twisted, wound, shaped, fluffed, pressed, and wove the dried plants into a plump nest. I used the long, tough stalks for the main shape of the nest, and then the soft fluffy dried grass for the inside. It was just the kind of quiet, methodical spring work my heart needed.

Here it sits on a bookcase. A quiet reminder - a love message - to myself that I was not left behind.

xo emily

treasured

2011-03-30T14:38:00.002-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

Vintage tea towel with roosters.

A thrifted find

Drying in the March sun

xo e

Beginnings

2011-03-29T07:45:00.005-04:00

The beginning of a little egg project I will feature later in the week.

I have some super exciting Red Bird Crafts news to share. In the late summer and early fall, I'll be offering creative writing and crafting workshops for adults and kids in my home studio. I am so incredibly excited about this project; I get all smiley when I think about it. There will be workshops for creative journaling, simple print making, story stone making, gifting your creativity, and more. My home studio is moving to a new room in the house - a brighter, sunnier room - and it makes me feel so happy (and lucky). I'll post lots of more about the Red Bird Craft Workshops in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

xo e

left hand leaves

2011-03-25T09:34:00.008-04:00

So, anyway, about left handed drawing (or drawing with your non-dominant hand). I find the process magical and super satisfying because it allows me to draw with intention, and it frees my mind enough so that I am drawing what I see rather than what I think I should be seeing. It ends up feeling like a form of meditation: a time to just see, to just be, and to let my hands and mind create from a peaceful, uncluttered place. It always feels like a bonus because I end feeling calm and clear, and I get to keep little souvenirs from my meditative journey. Zen Seeing, Zen Drawing by Frederick Franck is my most favorite resource for this artistic process. He offers examples of his own inspiring work, and suggests ways to allow your mind to empty a bit.

The practice always ends with imperfection and wobbly lines, which I really love.

This seemed like a nice way to capture the natural world right now because isn't the beginning of spring perfectly imperfect?

I typically draw with a thin Sharpie marker and then paint with watercolors because I like my imperfect lines to remain visible. I tested out acrylics with some of the paintings above (like with the daffodil shoots), and I definitely liked using watercolors more. And, p.s., I paint with my dominant hand.

If you do some non-dominant handed drawing, will you share?

xo e

treasured

2011-03-24T12:20:00.009-04:00

If you discovered a treasure this week (a new friend, a snow fairy, a fancy dish at the thrift store, a bird's nest) please do share it, as well as any links, in the comments section below.

*****

Tom was away on business during the past five days, which meant I had little time for writing and personal crafting. There was lots of time for playing games, reading books, drawing, wiggling loose teeth (Chick) and outside rambling. After a long cold Sunday at the park, the kids snuggled on the couch to watch The Muppets Take Manhattan with buttery popcorn and blankets. At one point Chick, who had earlier been mildly offended when friends and family called it a "girl weekend" because it felt like that implied that we were excluding papa, turned to me with a worried look because she thought she was having too much fun without him. My wee worrier was even worried about not worrying enough. She eventually settled, and we all fell into a comfortable/awkward, necessary rhythm until last night when Tom arrived home.

And, so my Treasured feature is a day late.

Baby Elephant's Trunk, written by Sesyle Joslin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard in 1961, is just about the sweetest, most adorable little book around. While nibbling on his before dinner snack of a loaf of bread, Baby Elephant discovers he is going to France and his Mama asks him to pack his trunk with all of his special, necessary personal items and teaches him the French words for most. Baby Elephant is a bit silly, though, and there is some snorty elephant laughter. Oh, you have to read this book! There is even a tiny glossary in the back. And, the illustrations couldn't be more perfect and lovely.

xo e

not indoors

2011-03-18T16:30:00.007-04:00

The left handed painting is going to have to wait until next week.

We spent almost the entire day outside - at the park, in our yard, in the outdoor produce section at our local market (where they are selling local pussy willow branches and mangoes from Peru).

The kids collected birch bark and rediscovered all of the nooks and crannies on our back porch.

And, when we were inside, Chick wrapped herself in a blanket and stood in front of the window letting the gusts of wind blow over her.

Happy weekend to all.

xo e

lefty.

2011-03-17T12:49:00.009-04:00

I sat on the front steps of our house for 30 minutes, and with a Sharpie and kraft cardstock on a clipboard in hand, I drew left handed pictures of three spring things. I plan on adding color tonight, and then, hopefully, posting results tomorrow.

These are the three real life spring things. I'll also post some tips about left handed drawing (or drawing with your non-dominant hand) and how, for me, it often feels like the most paired down, authentic way to create.

Eeeeep! Bright green shoots!

xo e