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.
Justin made this new drawing in anticipation for the October snow storm we were rumored to get. We had no idea just how much snow it would be! It was so beautiful, maybe the biggest snow flakes I have ever seen. We were loving it, all cozy and warm inside while the thick snow fell quietly outside.
And then the power went out.
It stayed out for about 36 hours which is the longest power outage I've experienced. This is probably becuase I have always lived closed to downtown in whatever small city I lived in (except growing up in a neighborhood in the woods in New Hampshire, but the power lines were underground there...)
These situations make you realize all the things you take for granted every day -- the not-so-necessary things like tv, internet, radio, but also use of a phone, an oven, and heat. Honestly I enjoyed how it slowed everything down. Justin and I spent the first full day working on projects. But the silence was maddening! I finally dug an old walkman out of the closet and listened to some super old mix tapes really loud through big head phones so we could both enjoy it. The sound quality was equivilent to listening to music on a laptop, and such a relief! For the most part, the day felt good. I kind of liked not knowing what time it was and I was really productive. I made two new Fern Animals in their entirety (along with other things). I didn't hand sew the bodies, but unstead used my sewing machine by hand-cranking the needle up and down. Yeah, it was totally ridiculous and not necessary, but I wanted to see if I could do it! It made me pine a tiny bit for one of those old fashioned foot pedal machines.
When the sun went down it was so incredibly dark and creepy outside. We left our cold house to walk two blocks over for soup with some friends (they have a gas stove) and it felt strange and kind of scary with no street lights, no traffic lights, and every house completely dark with only a faint orange flickering in a one or two windows each.
But now the power is back and things (life, work, etc) are right where we left them. But Justin and I have agreed that it was really nice spending two dark nights reading aloud to each other by candle light. We are planning on making it a once-a-week routine. A plan to slow down and really enjoy eachother's company.
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In other news, Justin has been making some really great new pictures! We've decided to join forces and add some special new pieces to my online shop. I'm always wanting to simplify my internet pressence and combining our goods into one place feels like it makes sense. We've talked before about creating a new company name to head our joint efforts, but I've already made the big name change and I don't think doing it again would be ultimately benificial. Instead I have added "& Co." to Secret Holiday to expand it just enough that it feels like I can comfortably add the work of others to my shop.
Things are still in transition, I'm still reorganizing stuff, but we've put some Justin's work up and I'm excited about having there, amongst my things. The October Snow drawing at the top of this post can be found HERE. He's also made four witchy drawings that are being sold framed (I love getting work that is ready to hang up right away!) and three Santa Claus pictures. These new drawings remind me of 70's children book illustrations. I really like them! Check out Justin's work HERE.
We're offering free shipping on everything in the shop this week. Just enter the discount code "FREESHIP" during checkout and save!
Ok, was that long enough? Ha! Too much to talk about. I still have some exciting upcoming events to mention, but I'll save that for my next post... just to leave you hanging.
I finally found a chance to photograph my Little Quilts this weekend. The light was beautiful (wasnt the weather gorgeous?) and the leafy hedge across the street was the perfect backdrop. Well, that and our new bigger and brighter bedroom - - our friend Anna moved out last week, and we moved our bed into the room she had. The light in there is incredible!
Also Justin added these great little shelves above the doors in our room. Although we still need to hang pictures on the walls, these are making our room feel cozy.
I listed three Little Quilts in my shop last night and will be adding one more this morning. I'm hoping to have a couple new ones completed next week (we'll see!) I am still working on a small collection of larger, throw-size quilts... I just need to get some batting so I can finally back them. I'm super excited about all of my new designs. I hope you like them too! Do you have any new little ones in your life in need of a super snugly little quilt? I love handmade quilts. Every blanket on our bed is a handmade quilt - yep, three at once this time of the year. No store-bought comforters in our home!
Please take a minute to check out my new Little Quilts HERE. Hope you're having a nice start to your week. I heard it's supposed to rain here later in the week. But it's beautiful today, and I like the rain anyway :)
I've been busy with lots of visitors and outside-of-the-studio work for the past couple of weeks. It's been really nice at times, but frustrating too! I feel like this time of the year always brings on new ideas and inspiration for projects, so when I can't find the time to work on anything, I start to feel like I'm going crazy. Yesterday was supposed to be my first studio day in weeks, but of course it was co-opted by work and errands. I did find some time in the evening though... I worked on a few banners, and then made this new bird:
I've tried to make a smaller ornament-size bird in the past and always ended up unhappy with the shape. Somehow, this one just worked on the first try! It was meant to be!
I am excited to have this new smaller bird available and also to have something at a cheaper price. Creating these little birds out of felt means they are simpler and I don't have to spend as much time pinning and stitching deligently. These still take time, but compared to my other Love Birds, they seem so quick! It's fun! You can check this little one out HERE.
Also, you'll notice that link sends you to Etsy... but not my fernanimals shop... I will be closing that old shop soon because I think having my username and my shop/banner name different is confusing. I wish Etsy would just let you change your username. But, yes, I am moving everything over to ashleyannabrown.etsy.com. (Please update your links) I'll still be using my Big Cartel shop as well, but it's been kind of fun reinvesting myself in Etsy. I think I like the whole circles thing!
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.
My husband made two new drawings today and they are incredible. I can't even describe how much I love them. I want to be falling asleep amongst flowers, or wandering in a field, picking a wild bouquet.
I'm hoping some larger versions of this new flowery series isn't far behind because I would like a nice landscape to hang over our bed... (are you reading this Justin?) Both drawings are in his Etsy Shop. My heart will ache a little to see them go, but I think they will make someone really happy.
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On another note, I have four Little Quilts completed! I am planning on photographing them tomorrow morning. And maybe adding them to my shop? I'm really excited about them! Please stay tuned...
I have a shop update planned for this afternoon at 3pm. These birds will be there along with a couple others. See you then! HERE.
This house looks a bit spooky here. But I like it very much.
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I finished a new little Fern Animal today. I found this vintage floral fabric a few days ago. I keep thinking I'm going to take a long break from making Fern Animals for a while, and then I come across a pattern that would be just perfect, and I can't help myself!
Her name is Paloma. You can find her HERE.
On another note, we've been cleaning and sorting a lot around my house (very early spring-cleaning) and I came across a few larger Fern Animals, and some stick puppets that I meant to make more of and never did. I'm thinking a couple give-aways are in order. Stay tuned for more details on that!
