Home

On Friday night, we arrived home from a week at the ocean. Considering how frightening and worrisome the past month and a half has been for my family,  I was sure we were ready for a happy adventure. A visit to the sea seemed like just the thing to recharge our spirits.  Looking back, I should have known that driving away from my town, the place where my father fell ill and is now recovering, was going to be nearly impossible. Nearly, but I did it!  I was shaky and teary when it was time to leave, but after a few good conversations, I found my place in our stuffed car.  And, I'm so glad I did.

This kind of beauty was so good for my mind.  The thing about the ocean is that it reminds me to just be in the moment because of how quickly everything changes with the tides.  Just when I think we've found the perfect wading spot, it becomes an island, and then dry land.  And, when we want to find the same swimming spot the next day, we'll have to come at a different time of day.  The ever-changing ocean is a lesson in letting go of what is coming next, and being at peace with what is here now.

But, hey, some things are always the same:  the wet skirts, the drippy hats, the splashing in the waves.

The chocolate.  (This was dark chocolate dipped at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orelans, MA. I HIGHLY recommend a trip if you are anywhere nearby)

Here is my oldest, scanning for turtles.

And, my youngest, asleep after a long day.

Sister yoga at the Wellfleet Bird Sanctuary.

There was also fried fish, clams, margaritas, miniature golfing, bicycling, playing in waves, etc. etc.

And, now, onto the next summer adventure: camp for the two oldest and projects in the house for me and the baby.  Onward.

Most photographs are from my Instagram: @redbirdcrafts.

A letter to the world (from my daughter)

Dear world.  Hope the vote will not change your world, and you! Your life will be o.k. Much love leah

She plans to toss the letter into the backyard tomorrow morning.
I am letting her optimism and hope be my guide.

xox emily

t-shirt necklaces

These simple necklaces came together with just some jersey and a jar of assorted beads.  Instead of the usual wire or twine, we cut strips of t-shirt jersey, and yanked on them so they resembled cord.  It was an especially satisfying summer afternoon project -- the children loved transforming fabric into cord and it involved yanking.  Enough said. 

Here are two piles of t-shirt jersey fabric strips.  The strips in the pile on the right have been pulled tight.  I love how they look like piles of seaweed.

How to:

1. Cut thin strips (about 1/2" wide and 24" long) of cotton jersey fabric.  Jersey fabric has rows of v-shaped knit stitches (wales) on the front and loops on the back.  Be sure to cut the  jersey fabric against the grain (or across the v-shaped stitches).  This way, when you yank on the strip, it will unravel and condense, and form a nice tight cord.  When cutting your strips, do remember that it will almost double in length after it is pulled tight.

If you cut the jersey with the grain, it won't do much when you yank it.  Experiment with both techniques.

2. String beads onto necklace.  If you find that the holes in the beads are tiny, use an oversize needle (needlepoint, etc.) for threading the cord through.

3. Tie the ends or, if you are feeling serious about your creation, use some jewelry findings to create a clasp.

Necklace design and bead selection is always a fun activity around these parts , but the colorful handmade cord seemed to make it extra fun.

I loved watching them gift necklaces to each other.

With the ocean on my mind, I used wooden beads with briny green jersey.

So much of this project is about the colorful cord, so please dive into your pile of old t-shirts for inspiration.   And, have fun!

xo e

a pocket memory

We kicked off our summer with a camping adventure with dear friends.  Sleeping in the woods is such a clear reminder to slow down.  We felt the breeze on our faces as we fell asleep. We swam in a sandy bottom lake. We skipped and biked and roasted food over the fire.  There was just enough thunder and plump rain drops to make it exciting, but not enough to ruin our fun.

I had a moment this weekend where I closed my eyes and wished that it could all feel like this forever.  It was one of those yearning to pause time moments.  You have those, right?  I must have watched the children zoom their bikes down the small hill next to our tents at least one hundred times over the course of the weekend.  Most times, they skidded to a stop, immediately searching for skid marks to prove their speediness.  They fell, they got back up, they high-fived, they zoomed.  They played hand games with songs that remind me of being little, but not too little.  They made bracelets with beads and embroidery floss and swung each other in the hammock so high it seemed as if they could sail off into the sky. For me,  summer is all about slowing down and pausing to notice the ways in which my children are growing.  Sigh.  These children of mine are growing up.  I'm really happy with all of the zooming and high flying as long as there is a nice long skid at the end.  Camping provides just that because at the end of the day, after all of their independent games and separate paths, the four of us were close and cozy sleeping together under the stars.

I call it a "pocket memory" because I'll turn to this photograph and the memories of the moment again and again throughout the year. I like to think of it wrinkled and worn in my pocket, the way I used to keep important ticket stubs or love notes -- transferring them from one pair of jeans to another just to have them close.

How are you kicking off summer? Any pocket memories? Do share!

xo e

 

s u m m e r

* local strawberries and cream
* lemonade stand preparation
* my Aunt Lynn's blooms
* Saturday at Aunt Lynn's pool (w/ Prosecco and lime)
* ten minutes ago in our backyard.
[Edited because I forgot to make note of each photograph]
 
Happy summer solstice! We are celebrating the entrance into summer with some backyard hose action and homemade strawberry yogurt pops.  


How will you celebrate?

xo e

mail and other super things.

Hazel, my youngest at four years old, is becoming a writer.  Her stationary is small little pieces of lined paper with white envelopes and she is mostly writing love letters and requests.  Dear Iris.  I really miss you. I hope I come back. [Iris is her dance teacher]  and Dear Mama, Please take me to the track tomorrow. left on my pillow [I've been taking her with me to the track so I can squeeze in a morning run] and Dear Papa,  You are a worker.  I love you.  Love, Hazel.  and Dear Mr. Black, We are having a lemonade party.  You should come.  Love, Hazel [letting our wonderful 85 year old neighbor across the street know about her lemonade stand].   She stuffs her little bits of writing into envelopes and hand delivers them or insists that we mail them that day.  

This makes me think about mailboxes and mail and how I miss giving and receiving in the slow, papery, tear-it-open way. Paper and ink connection is so different than the ding of a text --  more cozy and important feeling, I think. I was remembering the notes and letters I wrote when I was fifteen-ish, and how they were filled with jokes and little drawings and quizzes.  They took so long to create -- a five pager was a sure sign of devotion.   And, how my grandmother sent handwritten notes with stacks of weekly comics to my college dorm room and apartments for years and years -- because she wanted to be sure that I had something that would make me laugh.  And, how my uncle, the veterinarian who gave me our precious Sophie cat (a rescue that was left on his doorstep), has been sending me the Cornell Veterinary Cat Watch biweekly for the past thirteen years.  Go ahead -- ask me about ear mites! I'm well read on the subject.  Actually, I don't read the newsletter anymore; I just scan the top left corner where he always writes a short, hand-written message.  And, I feel close to him.  He doesn't have email and the Cat Watch is his stationary. 

I am going to follow Hazel's lead this summer. (And, my uncle's.  And, my grandmother's.  And, my fifteen year old self's.) I'm going to write more letters and draw more pictures and send them to people I love.


****

Unrelated, here are some really, really super things that made me smile this week:

* My friend Shoham has a tumbler dedicated to the lessons she is learning from her Aunt Gerry.  This is one of the best reads I've read this year. Seriously. There is some major awesomeness going on.

* My super talented cousin, Nick of Port St. Willow, has a wonderful new album that he just released  titled "Holiday."  It has a  ambient, heartbreakingly beautiful vibe and it is really, truly lovely.

* Cindy at Skip To My Lou has a 30 day Craft Camp going on, and these Leaf Print Tees caught my eye.  I love printing with leaves, and the idea of using fabric paint and printing onto tees is so clever. 

****

Happy weekend, friends.

xox e

rainy day watercoloring

My friend Catherine once sent my family a sympathy card with this type of tape resist watercolor square on it, and I remember that when I held it in my hands it made me pause and feel so thankful for such kindness.  Not only was the card sweet and lovely, but it was also so beautiful.  And, I really needed beauty at that moment in time. 

We were in need of a little punch of color and cheer the other day, so I cut up some watercolor paper squares for the kids (I used a pack of 5" x 7" squares that I save for myself), I found a roll of old masking tape, and we used some liquid gauche and set of really nice caked watercolors.  

Just tape.  And, paint. Let dry.  And, peel.  

Be sure to smooth out any air bubbles in the tape or else paint will seep in.

We've used this technique before, and the children are always surprised to see what the end result looks like.  There are usually gasps and sighs.  And, actually, this activity is so, so nice to do with a group of children because of how they connect with each other as they watch the unmasking of the tape. It is an opportunity for children to be inspired by each other's ideas.   

I love that it is a satisfying way to play with color and pattern.  Sometimes, when I am working out some confusion surrounding color choices in my art, I'll make one of these to help think it through.  And, then I get fancy wall art as a little bonus.

Do send photographs if you end up making some.  I'd love to see!

xo e

l u c k y

Now that my little one's pre-school has ended for the year, we've been spending lots of sunny mornings playing at the park.  This little friend hopped onto a brown paper bag last week, and once she was noticed, we found ourselves amazed at our luck to have met such a beautiful creature.   My daughter pointed out to me that its wings look like maple seeds and its legs like small twigs -- "for protection from hungry birds!" she exclaimed (because we had just seen and learned about the walking stick insect days prior).  This kind of eyes-to-the-ground, organic learning is so satisfying and it is a reminder to be mindful and present.   And, plus, I was so proud of our new little friend for choosing a nice coordinating background to strike such a distinguished pose.

Speaking of lucky, I randomly chose the four winners of Volume 6 of Alphabet Glue -- your names are listed below the original post. A big, giant thanks to Annie for her generosity! Winners should please contact me by email for further details.

This 4th day of June is cold and wet in Massachusetts, so we're off to jump in some puddles, go to the market,  and then maybe do a little bit of thrifting/treasure finding.  What plans await you?



xo e

L A K E S I D E

We spent the long weekend swimming and boating at the family lake house in New York.  As soon as the children land there, shoes are off, bathing suits are stretched on, sunscreen is caked on, and I really only spend time with them at meals and bed time.  It is a true child's extravaganza!

I treated myself to a run around the lake, and found treasure after treasure the whole way around.

 Something to celebrate.

A free table! With vintage pillow cases and fabric!  Of course, this meant that I looked like a slightly crazy minded person -- running while gripping a large pile of old pillow cases. 

 The old country store. 

These look prehistoric to me.  Dinosaurs, yes?

 I paused here to think about the people that I love who are gone.

 And, then the meadow trail on the dam trail home.  This is my favorite part.

This was on our drive home to some very muggy, summery Massachusetts weather.

Happy almost summer to you, lovely friends!

xox e

Garden Party Bunting

This past weekend, we had a garden party birthday celebration for my mother. She turned an important number with a five in it, and we decided we needed to infuse some celebration into a year and a half that has been, at times, bumpy.

And, so there we were with the bright sun, family and friends that we adore, plentiful food and drink, and chatter that drifted into the breeze.  The day reminded me of one of my favorite books, All in a Day.  All you have is this day, this moment, and we can find our way home whenever we wish.

In order to bring color and cheer into the day, I sewed a few paper buntings to string about the yard and porch.  It is quite simple and quick to do, and they really did make the day feel extra special.

Materials:  

brown paper bags

cardstock

paint & brushes

scissors

sewing machine (or hole punch and yarn)

Step 1 : Cut the bags open and paint the inside, blank part of the bags.  Use a few different colors.

Step 2 : Make a triangle template for tracing using the cardstock.

Step 3 : Use the template to trace triangles onto the printed part of the bag, and cut out.

Step 4 : Using your sewing machine on a straight stitch, gently sew nothing for about 6 inches.  This will give you a nice, thin cord for hanging your bunting.  

Step 5 : Feed the first triangle under the foot, and sew.  Sew nothing again for 2 or so inches (adjust spacing according to your design) and then feed the next triangle under the foot. Continue until you have the completed bunting. 

Step 6 : When you are finished sewing triangles, sew nothing again for another 6 inches.  This will be the other end of the bunting.

Note : Those of you without sewing machines can use yarn and a hole punch to string your bunting!  Don't let the sewing part stop you.

Step 7 : Make loops at both ends for hanging.

This bunting will turn any old day into a fancier day.   Sometime we need that kind of transformation, yes? 


xo e

Hand Printing Workshop Announcement

Was your spring weekend sun filled and glorious?  We hosted a backyard party for my mother's 65th (almost wrote 6th.  Hmmm. That would have been curious) and the sun poured all over our celebration.  I was bursting with gratitude all weekend long (the sunshine was just the tip of the gratitude iceberg).  Oh, and look for a party decoration post later in the week.

Speaking of sun and spring celebrations, there are still a few spots left in my Springtime Beginners Hand Printing Workshop for Adults (see below)!  Please send me an email if you are interested in joining.  And, for those already enrolled, look for an email with details about materials & supplies soon!  

I am so looking forward to making art together!

xo e

Simple and Satisfying Beginners Hand Printing Workshop for Adults 

June 16::  Relief Printing (with found objects and foam) 
1:00-4:00
$55/ workshop (There is a materials list for this workshop)

Held at my home studio 

Learn to make your own relief prints! The first part of this workshop will focus on learning to see your surroundings as a means for collecting printing inspiration.  We'll collect nature, and examine found materials, thumb through vintage books, and do some quick hand sketches as part of this important gathering process. After this, I'll teach three distinct and simple relief printing skills: craft foam blocks printing, nature printing, and found object printing. You’ll leave with your own relief blocks, hand printed muslin squares, and/or hand printed note cards. Additionally, you're welcome to bring your own t-shirts, fabric, and stationary to class, and you’ll learn the best ways to print and apply your hand printed images.  No previous printing experience needed!  

a birthday hike

 A spring breeze swooped in for my birthday, and Tom took the day off of work (best gift of all) so we could have a family frolic and mountain climb in the nearby woods.  This particular wee range is practically in our backyard and for my birthday I wanted to climb to the top of one of the peaks after we ate breakfast (with greens and a potato cake) at one of my favorite restaurants.

Here is my little flock starting off.

Chick was determined to cozy up all of the hollow tree stumps with leaves and moss just in case fairies were to visit that night. 

Doesn't this uprooted tree look like a dinosaur or prehistoric bird or something.  (note the long, pointed beak)

We paid attention to all of the trees that had most likely fallen during the October snowstorm and we noticed that they made neat geometric patterns (diagonals and triangles were everywhere).

As  Tom was collecting random trash to bring out of the woods, he noticed a vintage PEPSI bottle, which looked like it was from the 80's.  On the climb down, I was imagining who brought this bottle up the mountain and what happened to it from that time until now.  I almost wanted to prop it up on a beam in our barn, but our barn needs less stuff, not more. 

We saw some bright green patches and the air smelled of wet earth, but I wasn't convinced that the cold is ready to slip away.  The woods still whispered winter to me.

xo e