Here is a sneak peek of what I've been working on (more on this soon):
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Coming Along Nicely
The garden and my latest project are coming along nicely.
Here is a sneak peek of what I've been working on (more on this soon):
and...the garlic has been harvested! We usually do this in the beginning of July, but things in the garden are going a little slower this year.
Here is a sneak peek of what I've been working on (more on this soon):
Labels:
craft projects,
creative process,
crochet,
gardening
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Accidental Gifts
Back—after a quick trip to visit family in New Jersey and a much appreciated change of scenery. It was a whirlwind road trip that blended the relaxing and the non-stop in perfect proportions.
We spent a day in NYC and, despite the touristy things we did, it was getting caught in a downpour at the Central Park water playground that was the highlight. Oh, you can plan to wow the kids with this and that, but when it comes down to it, it's so often the spontaneous events that are the memory makers.
I find this to be true with fabricating jewelry and, really, any art I create. The unintentional becomes the focal point. A series of fortuitous events is frequently the way a new design is born.
We spent a day in NYC and, despite the touristy things we did, it was getting caught in a downpour at the Central Park water playground that was the highlight. Oh, you can plan to wow the kids with this and that, but when it comes down to it, it's so often the spontaneous events that are the memory makers.

It can be so frustrating, though, can't it? The accidental can be a gift, but keeping that in mind is much easier said than done. In fact, it's something I seem to have to re-learn everytime it happens.
Labels:
art,
craft,
creative process,
inspiration,
jewelry design
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Water, Water
Labels:
flood,
gardening,
keeping chickens,
organic living,
rain,
raising chickens,
vegatables
Friday, July 24, 2009
As for the Jewelry...

As for the jewelry...
I am excited for the recent inquiry by a very interesting online store, for the gold I just purchased, and for the new line I have designed. Now, to actually fabricate those pieces...that's another story.
Labels:
contemporary jewelry,
gold,
handmade jewelry,
metal,
metalsmith,
sterling silver
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Making Plans
My family goes with the flow—we just like to let the day unfold and see where it takes us. But lately, especially this summer vacation, we have had to be a little more disciplined with our time. Seems there is so much we have and want to do, and the days are ticking by so fast.
Here's a sneak peek of some things that will be helping to fill our time over the next few months:
A new piece of furniture designed by The Husband...
A gorgeous stack of fabric....
Our Family Summer Center that organizes all our goals and accomplishments for the vacation...
Here's a sneak peek of some things that will be helping to fill our time over the next few months:
Labels:
carpentry,
custom furniture,
fabricate,
knitting,
summer vacation,
wool,
yarn
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Late July
This brings us to now, late July, a time when were are usually enjoying our garden's bounty. It would be salads every night, sliced cucumbers for snacks, and zucchini up to our ears. But not this year. We have harvested most of our surviving lettuce, snacked on some string beans and seasoned all our meals with fresh herbs, but that's about it.
So, in a effort to grow more of our own food this year, we have stepped up our sprout production, including them in more recipes than I probably should. We have The Sprout Garden, a sprout grower that makes it super easy to wash and drain the seeds as they grow. I order our seeds from Wood Prairie Farm in Maine, where we get our seed potatoes, too.
We have our sprouts , herbs, and lettuce for the time being, as we patiently wait for the broccoli (any day now), potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, carrots, and onions. Coming, hopefully, soon.
Labels:
gardening,
growing food,
organic,
organic living,
sprouts
Monday, July 20, 2009
Buckets o' Fun
They were originally designed to be made with repurposed burlap coffee sacks, but lacking those, I used what I had. I do have a few planned for myself soon, and hope to get my hands on some old burlap sacks first.
I'll most likely share pictures of the grown-up versions of the buckets once they are finished. But something tells me they will be reinvented into thingamajigs and whoseywhatseys by a certain five- and seven-year-old before I can claim them as my own.
Labels:
handmade gifts,
handmade toys,
patterns,
sewing
Friday, July 17, 2009
Freedom and Time
I came upon these birds in our dogwood tree yesterday quite by surprise. Funny, what the kids will come up with when given freedom and time a-plenty. They learned how to finger knit—and have made scarves for many, many stuffed friends. We have had time to craft for the sake of those who do not have. We have been living in our yard, in its summer-blooming glory.
*Sigh*, Summer!
Labels:
charity,
crafting,
gardening,
knitting,
summer vacation
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Mmmmmm...
Labels:
cooking,
kitchen,
organic,
snacks,
whole foods
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
She Made You a Beard

Erin is the genius behind I Made You a Beard, her little Portland, Oregon-based beard crafting company. She says she was born without the ability to grow a beard, so she now makes them to help people like her blend in with their bearded compatriots. (Finally!) Adaptable to different head sizes and backed with cotton lining for stability, there is surely a beard to fit and please everyone.
This whole concept makes me giggle but Erin takes it a step further with her humorous descriptions. Read them and be entertained. Here's a good one: "To me, this is the perfect everyday beard. Stylish, but not too flashy; the classic piece you have been dying to add to your wardrobe."
Hysterical. Browse her shop and read some descriptions—for fun or for serious beard shopping. I have a feeling you, like many before, will want her to make you a beard.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Fastest Blankies in the East
Those precious baby girls have lived the first six months of their lives just fine without these blankies, but I hope they get lots of comfort and warmth from them in the years to come.
Labels:
baby blanket,
crochet,
knit,
yarn
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Love Pickles

Their online shop features organic hand printed cotton items for baby and knitting patterns like the one for this adorable "Oh, Handsome" sweater (pictured above).
The blog, a "knitting, crochet, cupcake and craft blog" is chock-full of free patterns and craft project tutorials. Check out the instructions for the the Puff Daddy Knitted Stool and the Whirl-It Lampshade—my favorites.
Pickles has a new venture as well—they'll be selling their favorite yarns in a new online shop opening soon. It promises yarn that's "soft and pretty, but not pricey." That sounds good to me. I'll let you know as soon as it opens.
Labels:
craft tutorials,
crochet,
free patterns,
knit,
organic cotton,
yars
Monday, July 6, 2009
"Craftsman/Piano Playing Coffee Barista?"
He is a carpenter by trade and an artist in all aspects of his life. Having him as part of our family is good in so many ways. We get live piano performances daily, custom made furniture to fit the wonky spaces in our old house, home made candy (his sweet tooth benefits us all in that way), and lattes or cappuccinos whenever we (ok, I) need one.
His current wood shop projects include chess pieces, a bench to go with the table he recently completed, and a banjo. Yup, he's making a banjo.
So that's him in a nutshell. Now that you've heard a bit about this endlessly talented man I get to call my husband, you'll feel like you know him when I include him in future posts. His projects and experiences leave me no shortage of expertly crafted items and interesting stories to blog about. Tune in soon to see more of his work...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Solution
The solution? Sticks. We had a pile of sticks in the back corner of our yard so we poked them into the ground around the perimeter of the garden. Even though the chickens could fly over the fence if they really wanted, the sharp, twisted branches seemed to be enough of a visual barrier to keep them at bay—until they figured out they could squeeze between them. Imagine our surprise when we found all the chickens on the wrong side of the fence eating the lettuce. Foiled. So we added more sticks, filling in the spaces, and the chickens have not had lettuce for lunch since. Or perhaps I should say, yet.
Labels:
gardening,
keeping chickens,
raising chickens,
vegatables
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)