Going, Going, Done!

With graduation over and done with Child #1 ended the weekend with a huge accomplishment under his belt. A happy hearty congratulations to him as he heads out into the big wide world!!!

 

Although on a much smaller scale, I too have a few bits of accomplishment that emerged in spite of the hoopla. One stitch after another in stolen moments here and there created not only two new little pillows for Hitty but also a quiet oasis of familiar activity within this week of chaos. 

 

 Some crochet edging of one sort brought peaceful contentment....

 

 ...while another sort another made my heart smile.

 

Best of all, Hitty is now fully outfitted  to travel the world. Perhaps, should their adventures cross paths, she'll even run into Child #1 along the way. I imagine he'll inquire from her as to the well being of his little old mum. To which  Hitty might well respond "Why she's fine of course! Hands to work and happy as a clam at home where she prefers to be. Why not ring her up now and then? Or better yet, pop in for a cuppa!"

 

 

Sewing on the Go

With end of the year school craziness upon us I've taken to dragging along a mini project or two as we scurry hither and thither attending art shows, presentations, and ceremonies. The grand finale comes this weekend, however, when Child #1 graduates from high school...

YIPEE!!!!



Bless This Book

 

Prayer for a Child.

 

I love everything about this book.

The illustrations are beyond delightful and the words are wonderful.

And why wouldn't they be when the author is none other than...

 

 

 ...the previously gushed over author of Hitty: Her First Hundred Years....

 

Rachel Field!!!

 

 

 The book itself is a charming poem of blessings for all the comforts in a small child's world.

 

 

Each two page spread combines a sweet line form the poem with an even sweeter picture.

This one for example features some much loved stuffed lovies along with the words,

"Bless the toys whose shapes I know."

 

(Any sweeter and I do believe I'll develop yet another cavity for my dentist to attend!)

 

 

An added bonus are the wee angels scattered all throughout the pages. I can't help but imagine that Elizabeth Orton Jones (the illustrator extraordinaire) had a collection of her own Wendt & Kuhn dolls to draw inspiration from. These two little friends of mine were a happy find on Etsy awhile back.

 

 

It was my mom, however, that gifted me with my most treasured...an angel that

actually matches one in the book.

 

 

All together they make for a very joyful bunch of companions!

 

 

  I'm  going to so enjoy looking up at their little faces throughout the days ahead!

 



Sneek Peek

Yup, it's just about time for a new book of the month.

This one just screamed for a pom pom garland!




Rainy Day in the Nook

 A run of chilly, damp days has keep us cozied up inside. Not a problem as I had some cape work on the agenda and the sewing nook was the perfect place get it done. In the process of putting linings in however, I couldn't help but cut a few scraps for future hexies of both the 1 and 2 inch variety. Yes I'm officially addicted to the creation of these things!!!

  

 Soon after ties were threaded, braided, and tied off.

 

 Hitty lent a hand (and the rest of her body) for the final fittings!

 

And then...."Tadah!"

I was all done!

Now....where did I put those hexies?

 

 



Three More....

 

3+3=6

 

I'm really on my way now!!!



Housekeeping

 Still working on paring down my fabric stash.

My goal is to have no more than 1 yard of each print.

 

 That way I can still buy new goodies and not feel guilty about the fact that trying to squeeze them in somewhere back at home is near impossible!

 

 I'm also working on being a bit more prompt in putting my new goodies to use.

That little charm pack by Moda  for instance...

I just HAD TO HAVE it!

I thought it would make up the sweetest batch of pincushions someday.

 

Normal me would have stashed it for that someday but the me I'm trying to be ruled the day and actually put hand to task by prepping fabric pair ups and matching pom pom trim. True for almost every pack of charms I have purchased, I was then left with a pile of leftover prints not entirely to my liking.

 

Now once again normal me would have stashed these for maybe, someday, never. But the me I'm trying to be was quick on her toes this afternoon....

  

 Enter a pack of 2 inch Hexie paper pieces, a needle, thread, and Voilà...step #1 in a housekeeping matter of a different sort had been taken!

 

 You see, I'm obsessed with this book and the work of Nicki Trench. What a colorful world she creates and I imagine lives in. I think my home could stand to kick it up a notch in such a direction and am determined to take action....even if it's only one hexie piece at a time.

 

And look...today I made three!!!

 



Sew Many Decisions

  Way back when, a sweet friend sent along a package of luscious fabrics with the idea being I could put my hand to some Hitty cape work for us. And I did!

 

 But typical me cannot leave well enough alone and so a matter of "details" has come into play. And that's where I get lost...in the details!

 

 Some fur perhaps?

 

 Or a bit of handworked embellishment?

 

 I was thinking a simple crochet trim would be fun but really just can't commit because what if a different crochet trim would be better?

 

 Eeny meeny miny mo?
 

 

Thinking...

So....with the arrival of spring  I find myself working more and more in the sun room. For one thing it's warm enough now to spend time in this unheated space and for another I've been adapting  my creative set up a bit. Cosmetically it appears nothing more than a swap out of knick knack accoutrements...a different painting, an alternate table runner, and some new fillers for the jars. At least that's what I intended to show. But then, last Monday I read a new post by Austin Kleon called Show Your Work and it made me stop and think. I've been thinking ever since.

 



I've been thinking about Kleon's reference to "authenticity."

I've been thinking about the past.

I've been thinking about the future.

 

I've been thinking about the way I create,

the way I blog,

and the way I keep house. 

 

I've been thinking about doing less,

doing more,

and doing what's fun.

 

And weirdest of all I've been thinking about this space.

Everyday when I step out here to "work" it looks like this.

Several hours into the process it's a shambles...thread tails and scrap clippings, tea cups and crumbs, piles and puddles galore.

BUT...

everyday before I step out of this space I tuck it all away and it looks like this once again.

 

Why?

 

 



Well it's certainly NOT because I want the room to be company ready 24/7!

Nope, with dear hubby's cubby on the opposite wall such a feat would be near impossible as his creative station is a continual "work in progress."

 



Inspirational reference lies within easy reach...

 



and pastels are always at hand...

 



which allows him to dabble at this...

and that in a moment's notice.

 



By comparison my space seems nothing more than a collection of supplies neatly stored,

 



displayed,

 



or stacked.

A place for everything and everything in its place is all well and good, but I'm thinking it might not be enough.  It's stifling to creativity and limiting to blog postings. The showing of supplies is nothing more than a projection into the future while the reveal of finished pieces is a retelling of the past (at least for me it is.) I'm missing the immediacy of last year's "Made" project. Looking back it was fun and it helped to keep my focus on the moments at hand....something that very well might be worth revisiting in some way. Not in terms of "Made" and definitely not with the daily obligation but perhaps along the lines of Kleon's "show your work."

  

Hitty Hands

 Hitty hands are often busy.

 

 You can find them reading a book,

 

 playing dress up,

 

 and even taking a fine stitch or two!

 

 Lucky me was the beneficiary of one such sewing session.

Just look at what a fine new garland I now have for my FUNctional space!

 

 I can't imagine a better accompaniment for this month's book which,

if you haven't already guessed, is......

 

HITTY of course!!!

If you decide to pick up Rachel Field's delightful telling of one wee wooden doll's amazing adventures I promise you will not be disappointed. Loved by an assortment of little girls, lost and found several times over, and often placed in the midst of historical figures and events Hitty is one heroine that is sure to find her way into your heart!

 



Junk Drawer

 Remember last year when I posted here nearly everyday? How in the world did I do that? I wonder and wish at the same time it could be so again. But alas, life seems to have dumped the junk drawer out on my lap. So what's to do but dig in and sort the minutiae piece by piece.

 

 The good news is, bit by bit tasks are being accomplished, meetings attended, appointments met, papers signed, funds dished out, and teenage drama subdued (fingers crossed on this one!)

Getting your ducks in a row can certainly be time consuming but also.....

 

 .....very rewarding. Once the big picture starts to reveal itself the light at the end of the tunnel begins to flicker.

 

 Currently I'm pinning down the final details...

 

 ...sending things off to appropriate recipients...

 

....and all the while keeping my fingers crossed that the "junk drawer" stays tidy long enough to get my hands really dirty with some serious crafting again!!!