Costume art
December 14, 2012 § 2 Comments
My pictures here stink. I bought 54 discs from Pakistan. I was told they came off of belly dancing costumes. They winged their way to me sifting bits of exotic dirt and smelling of tea and herbs. I completely love these things. I bought a multiple of 9 so I could frame them nine at a time, but ended up pinning them in a line across my whole bedroom wall. I think a giant poster shape would be a better display when we move. They are made of glass and stone beads and heavy wool. They have cracked little mirrors and strings sticking out. Each is intricate and so bright. My favorite is the middle picture, middle disc; yellow ring and orange diamonds.
At my house
November 27, 2012 § Leave a Comment
This week we put away the hunting garb, freshly washed. No elk this year. But the boys are all still practicing their elk calls. Even the baby.
Christmas is coming. It all fits in one box for us. Mostly beloved books. I own 6 ornaments.
This is my favorite Christmas bit. I got this nativity in Kenya, Dec ’05. All the pieces fit in the beautiful banana leaf box.
The stack of scarves for gift wrap is growing. The presents are going to be so pretty! I’m going to sew ribbon on some of them. I’ll be thrilled to not have a bag of paper waste on Christmas!
I finished this crown and dress for a little birthday girl today. I do so hope they fit. It is my most favorite thing in the whole world to give good gifts. The postman is my constant conspirator.
Going on
November 22, 2012 § 1 Comment
Hello welcome holiday. Here are some things in the works. Our hostess gift for Thanksgiving dinner.
Last week we stopped by the Denver art museum to squash pennies and there happened to be a holiday sale going on. I bought this guy. Two layers of vellum and paper stitched together for this amazing rhino print.
I’m fixing up this frame for the rhino. He will hang near this rhino!
Some new kitchen herbs.
These lovely red rosettes are growing in the back garden, even in winter.
I’m working on reusable gift wraps. It is my plan that fabric ties and festive ribbons will be sewn on these hemmed squares and that they will be used for years to come. Less waste and prettier too.
What I see today
October 31, 2012 § Leave a Comment
So much to do. So little time. Though with the homeschooling I am strangely more productive then when the kids were in school.
Birds for mobiles. I have a craft show in Nov.
Four baby chairs and 7 adult size to refinish.
This amazing pile of Afghani beaded discs. I can’t decide how to use them. The best wall garland ever? They smell like tea.
A cuckoo clock to gift, here is the primer stage.
How to shop for souvenirs
October 5, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Somehow I’m only just getting to a place in life where I want to get something from the spots to which we travel and bring it home. Which is a shame because I feel like I went to all the most thrilling places years ago. I guess I have associated souvenirs with kitsch and shot glasses. But now! What fun to bring home a little of the experience and a piece of memory in a tangible form. Squashed pennies are souvenirs we like. Penny machines in interesting locations flatten the pennies you provide and imprint them with a place and picture. The kids are gathering quite a pile. They used to be a luxury when I was a child, but now you can’t even get a candy bar for the 51 cents each costs.
On a recent trip to Tucson, AZ, we loved the landscape and the blooming dessert and the whole experience. I did look in some artisan shops. This basket is the only thing I purchased while in Tucson, and I just adore it. But after looking at what was for sale I thought I might have a better selection on-line and when I got home, I went shopping. Ebay and etsy have an abundance of items from all areas and I was soon immersed in prickly pear glasses and desert themes.
This water color print was $4 via etsy, and is an adorable snip of all the quail we saw skittering through the cactus while in Tucson.
The saguaro is a defining characteristic of the Tucson landscape and this tile is from etsy, and from an AZ artist. The Indian lady I found at the thrift store. There are all kinds of geometric and Native American themed things being donated that I never noticed before looking for them!
I loved the textiles I saw but they were steeply price in Arizona. I found this woven blanket for $8 thrifted. It is new and I love how the edge frays so delicately.
Hankie hoardings
September 17, 2012 § 1 Comment
I keep finding them; colorful, bordered, never-used old timer cotton squares. I have quite a pile now and will be stringing them up for bunting soon. But I can’t decide whether to hang them diagonally, or a squares. what do you think? Here are two examples: Square-hung and diagonal hung.
The workspace- and ladder chandelier
August 15, 2012 § 3 Comments
So the ladder I got this weekend, I cut it in half. Cringe! It was hard to do, so beautiful it was. But the two halves are perfectly at home in new places. I sanded them and wiped them down and put on a sealer. I hung one above my worktable, and I thought I’d show you this space. Because it is my favorite. 27 square feet of lovely color and inspired order that makes creating easy. The room is on the main floor right by the living room and 15 feet from the kitchen. So convenient. I always work to place the making space and the kids play and school room right in the main living area. Neither of them works well in the basement or a bedroom. Soon the ladder will be hung with half done projects and inspiration ideas.
That is a cape in progress.
And lest you think all is perfect, here is the other two-thirds of the room. Theology library, music room, electronic and computer workstation, waiting to be craigslisted repository, and ironing spot. I’m working on that blank wall. Do you see that soup crock on a plaque? My husband is a really good cook and won that chili award. His interests are so varied. He needs a wall of memories and appreciations.
Balance bike- product recommend
August 14, 2012 § Leave a Comment
My oldest children are 6 and 5. They are working on using a 2 wheeler, but mostly just fall over. We got this balance bike through kids Woot. (Our brand is Treehaus, but any balance bike is probably good.) And every minute for the last week the kids are riding it. The oldest has gotten the hang of the balance and can now ride the two wheeler! The thing they like best about it is they are allowed to ride it inside. It has rubber handles and no pedals to gouge things. It is adjustable and so fun to zoom around.
New pillow
August 14, 2012 § Leave a Comment
I bought a new pillow. Full price! It was at Home Goods and of course I love the color, but it was that corner trim that I wanted. How unique! No mere piping here.
It is on the sewing table because I fray-blocked the edge of the butterfly and glued it down. The butterfly applique was sewn only in the middle and floppy and frayed. How may things do you buy and alter as soon as you get home? I do that a lot.
Picking
August 13, 2012 § 1 Comment
I snapped this up yesterday. A 12 foot orchard ladder. Just wait til you see what it becomes! Lovely smudgy thing.
