Hello Friends! We've been busy busy over here... finally finished our work and hung our show over at Flying Object, had a great July 4th cookout with friends, and my mom is about to show up at my house any minute now (a late birthday hang out, just the two of us). I just wanted to stop by here to let you know I added a new Love Bird to my shop - the first in quite some time! Her name is Cece. You can find her HERE.
Hope you've all be enjoying these hot days!
I've been busy lately... making banners (non-stop), visiting with friends, nanny-ing little ones, and dreaming up new projects. Spring always feels like a good fresh start. It makes me want to throw open the windows and give away all my belongings. I have yet to start digging through my stuffed-to-the-very-top closets and start getting rid of stuff, but it's gonna happen, I swear. I will be able to actually use at least one of my closets within the month. It's a must!
Yesterday morning I managed to finish a new pair of Love Birds to add to my shop: Isaac & June. I like them very much, especially June's soft yellow wing feathers.
I also worked on more banners yesterday and then when I just couldn't stitch another letter, I distracted myself by making this quilt top:
I completed the whole top in one sitting (pardon my cluttered studio). One long sitting! I'm really excited about it and expect to have a small collection of new Little Quilts ready for my shop soon! I can't say when exactly... we'll see how the rest of this week pans out... but SOON!
I hope you're enjoying some sunny weather, wherever you are. Take a break and go outside, ok? I need to remind myself of this when I get busy.
I'm just popping in to announce that I have added a few new birdies to my shop.
Eudora is my favorite of the bunch! Check them all out HERE.
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If you are on the US Eastern Coast, please be safe this weekend. I am hoping all the hype is exaggerated and the storm will be minor, but I am prepared just in case. I hope you are too! Please take care.
I finally added shelves to my work space!! It is kind of crazy how much more productive I have been since doing this. Seriously. See ALL that stuff on those shelves? Yeah, that was all piled on, around, and under my desk. The space has already changed a bit since taking this photo a few days ago, but I kind of can't believe how long I worked with all that junk stacked around me. It definitely explains why I would end up doing my machine sewing at my desk, and then take just a basket to the couch and work in front of a movie. I much prefer working right at my desk, listening to music, or This American Life. What a difference!
Speaking of being productive, here's a new bird I added to my shop yesterday. His name is Henning and I LOVE HIM. I pretty much love anything blue/navy and especially floral, so this little birdie has won my heart. I also love him being a boy with flowers on his wings. Do you like that?
I have also recently completed five new Fern Animals. It has been quite a while since I've had an official shop post of any kind, tending to just stick one or two things in there every now and again instead.
I have been thinking of holding onto these for Renegade (yup, I'll be in Brooklyn this June!), but I can't decide if maybe these should go in the shop instead... what do you think? Should I post some Fern Animals since it's been so long? (In case you notices, yes, the blue animal in the middle is made from the same vintage fabric that Henning's wings are made from - love it!)
One more thing that may be of interest to you: I've been listening to Death Vessel quite a bit lately (right now included). I saw him perform a few months ago and he was pretty amazing.
Turns out he just played a benefit show here last Wednesday and I missed it. I'm always missing things like this. That's what happens when you're a homebody, always alone in your little room, sewing the days away...
Custom Handmade Love Birds / No.132 & 133 / Created March 2011
It's been quite a long time since I've popped in over here, huh? Funny how fast time can pass. It always works out that way when there's a lot going on in my life - I never find the time to write about it here. Heres the most exciting thing that happened:
I have a new little nephew! Owen George! And I was lucky enough to get two weeks off from my candy store gig to go visit with my sister and her growing family in New Hampshire.
Both of her other children were (and still are) so excited about having a new little brother. I'm so glad that I live just a two-hour drive from my sister and her family, but I often wish they lived right down the street so I could see them all the time...
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I was in New Hampshire when the tsunami struck and devastated Japan. I haven't known what to say about this. I have been feeling helpless, and then selfish for going on about my days, sometimes forgetting what they are going through right now, while I take my warm home for granted. I have been puttering around thinking of ways that I can help, without any spare monetary means. Then I heard about Hearts + Hands for Japan.
Lynn of Satsuma Press has so lovingly put together a fundraiser where anyone and everyone can go donate, and in return for each $10 donation, you will receive a beautiful letter-pressed card, designed and printed by Lynn, and a ticket to enter a truly amazing giveaway. A total of 90 artists, designers, studios, and shops have donated to this particular fundraiser which has raised over $8000 in just one week (!). 100% of the proceeds raised will be donated to Shelter Box. Please go read more about how it all works and press the button to donate. Even if all you can give is $10, every little bit helps.
This is Edith, made especially for Hearts + Hands for Japan.
Here in Northampton I will be adding home-baked cookies and cupcakes to a bake sale table at a benefit in April. The details of the event are still in the works, but I'm hoping to bring together a little art/craft sale and/or raffle as well...
It is so wonderful to see a community of people, far and wide, both here in this little city I call home, and across many cities, states and countries though the internet, come together for those in need.
These little Love Birds are one of my very favorite pairs! I completed them last week and sent them off to a wedding in Australia.
I just added a couple new birds to my shop. I've been working nearly non-stop for months on custom orders. It was nice to take some time to work on a few birds of my own choosing :)
This one is Imogen. She is my favorite of the group. Her wing feathers are made from an old tattered cotton dress I found buried inside a vintage quilt I have been repairing. The fabric is very worn and faded and so beautiful because of it.
I feel like this is my year! I know... lots of people probably say that, and maybe a few of them mean it, but I'm feeling really good about this fresh start.
I'm not usually one to make New Year's resolutions, or get into the idea that a new year means anything will change, really. I often feel the most inspired for new beginnings once September rolls around (left over from school and college, probably). But this year I made some basic resolutions for myself that I am excited to keep. I'm not just saying "this year I'm going to join the gym!", because, yes, maybe I did just talk to a friend tonight about maybe looking into joining the gym down the street, but I know myself, and joining a gym and actually going are two separate things. And I'm not going to make an official resolution of it. I can't put that much pressure on myself to work out. I don't work (out) that way. Har har.
Okay, I'm rambling. Basically, my number one resolution this year is to be more positive. I know this seems like a really simple concept, but I have had a particularly tough few months, and things that I can usually brush off have been weighing on me greatly (causing too many melt downs and outbursts of anger and frustration).
But, it's a New Year. (I literally just took a deep breath and let it out slow right there.)
I am taking this as an opportunity to stop and think about my reactions to things that happen to myself and those around me. To think about what is happening in the moment, what is making me upset. To think about what actually affects me in my day to day life. What I actually have control over. I need to think about these things and find a way to process my emotions and focus on something positive in my own life. I know a lot of this doesn't make much sense to any of you because I am leaving out a lot of details. But it makes sense to me. And so far... I think it's working.
Of course it's not this easy over-night thing. But at least I'm trying to put myself first. That sounds selfish, but if you know me at all, you know that I am constantly taking on more than I can handle (lately this has been mostly emotional). I am focusing my energy now on continuing to be a good listener, and be supportive, while also staying focused on my own life, things that I have control over. I am focusing on all the love and support I have in my life, instead of the lack-there-of in the lives of others. That's what ends up getting to me the most - people being taken advantage of and used. People I care about not getting the support and unconditional love they deserve.
It's funny, I didn't even come here to talk about this! I just wanted to share a couple new things I've been working on that I'm excited about, and found myself taking and talking. I guess my new positive outlook and having the energy to get back in the studio and work on new projects goes hand in hand though....
I finished my first wedding bird order of the new year yesterday and it felt really great. I put lots of good energy into these birds :) I also got caught up on way over-due email inquiries. (Nothing feels better than clearing out that inbox!) Tonight I got an email from an old college friend about possibly trading some home-canned goods for a pair of wedding birds and I really like this idea!
I feel like I'm kind of jumping all over the place tonight in this post, but I can't seem to help it. It's late and I'm tired, and there's so much I want to say and talk about. But I can't seem to fully focus. Sorry! But it's snowing outside! I didn't mention that yet - it's snowing and it's so beautiful I kind of hope it never stops!
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Before I end this rambling post, I want to share a new project I started last week with four good friends. Inspired by 3191 miles apart (probably one of my favorite places ever) and the Habit blog, I invited four friends who all live in Massachusetts (two here in Western Ma with me, and two on the North Shore) to share one photo every week for a full year.
I've been wanting to do a year long project for a very long time now, but I've never gotten my act together at the beginning of the year before. This project is super simple. Just one photo from each of us, each week. It's just for us, really. Just to get a little glimpse into each others lives every week. Even though we're all close and talk often, it's too easy for a week, two weeks, three weeks to go by, sometimes with out speaking at all. I absolutely understand that every one gets busy, so here we can share something with each other consistently without needing words at all.
We have one post up so far (the above photo is my submission for last week - the only time I'll post one of those photos here), and I am so anxious and excited to see all the images that will follow. I can't wait for this Tuesday (new posts go up every Tuesday before noon). Go see for yourself if you'd like: By Mountain and Sea.
This project is the first of many I plan to do this year that is purely for the sake of being creative and sharing. It's too easy when you make a living off of your creations to get caught up in the idea that everything you make must be for sale, that you must only make things to sell them. I want to move away from that this year. Yes, we all need money, and I absolutely cannot afford to just start giving stuff away. But, you know what... I'm just accepting the fact that I may always be some form of broke. Nothing has changed that in the past few years, so why not take a little time out every week to create something nice just for the sake of creating something nice. 2011: this is my year.
I just listed a new pair of Love Birds in my Etsy shop tonight: Benjamin and Ruth. I am completely in love with them! Is it okay for me to say that about something I made? I ought to be in love with my creation, right? Well, either way, I am going to have a hard time parting with these two, but I am also super excited for someone to snatch them up and love them as much as I do (and hopefully let them perch atop a wedding cake too!)
These have easily become my favorite birds out of all the birds I have made. AND little Ruth here is Love Bird No.100!! I kind of can't believe I have already made one hundred of these! But I am ready to make a hundred more! In celebration of the hundredth bird, there will be a little secret surprise stuck in the box for the lucky customer :)
But for tonight, Benjamin and Ruth are sitting on the mantel in my living room, ready to ship out to a wedding or anniversary or birthday or a just-because party. I will savor every last moment I have to gaze at them. Have I gushed too much about these? Yes, this is a bit ridiculous, isn't it? Ah well...
