~ Happy Memorial Day ~

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Project from 3191 Miles Apart

I bookmarked this project by Stephine from 3191 Miles Apart some time ago. I love this quiet, utilitarian ingenuity- and frankly I can't wait to make a few. I seem to abandon my knitting needles every Spring, but this project makes me what to get back to it... check out all the details here.

Austin Press

While at Rose Mille, I was introduced to the most beautiful paper goods from Austin Press. These letter pressed cards on super thick paper are my new love- ahhh and they do custom work too. The feel of these pieces in the hand are truly something special. Check out all their current collections here.

Rose Mille~Bloom

More from Rose Mille and Bloom-

Along with myself and Michelle Rose Jorgensen (the proprietor of Rose Mille), Karri Meng, Jo Packham and Cathy Mogull were all there. It's clear why I don't photograph events- once I got home I realized I only took a photo of Jo- and where was everyone else??? I need to get better at these things. Ok well... take my word for it: they're lovely, smart, dynamic ladies-
Karri was signing books and teaching, Cathy had a beautiful collection of vintage objects for sale, and Jo was there to talk about the Creative Connection, Where Women Create- and and and (is there anything she doesn't do?!)


ohhh and then there was the Shopping. Rose Mille is the amazing combination of dream thrift shop, vintage craft supply head quarters, and quirky outfitter. Not to mention the beautiful stationary and paper goods- (I'll be posting more about that soon- I found some really good stuff!)

Back from Bloom~ Kits!

I had such a nice weekend- Saturday I spent the day at Bloom and Sunday was a full family day. That's a weekend very well spent. I'm just working on posting some images from the workshop and the gathering at Bloom. It was such a beautiful event- intimate and thoughtful... wish you all could have been there to see it. My workshop went really well and I was so pleased with all the variations created based on my Birdie in the Tinsel Nest- Here are a few:

Ohhh and I have a few kits left! Email me if you'd like one- they're $38 each.
Note- I've sold all the kits- thanks everyone!

on our way!

We're (and a few others) are on our way to Bloom-

Hope you all have a good weekend.

workshop!

I'm gathering my materials, making my kits, and packing everything up for my workshop at Bloom this Saturday. I'll be bringing a few of my bears and animals to the event too- ohhhh so much to do!

making a family-

It doesn't seem like work that could be done quickly- a family is a complex thing (teehee)... but I've been working on this one, on and off for the last week and it's coming together nicely. Hoping the family dynamic is just right- imbued with kindness and joy.

***

Claude helped me hang the laundry on the clothes line.
lots of items, baby socks, linens, clothes, and the occasional toy-
We're all basking in this beautiful spring day.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

look who's going to the post office

These ladies and many others are being mailed out today. I only have a handful left to finish and those will be sent out on Monday... It's been really fun to work on all of them and see the slight variations and subtle differences which make each unique.

they're multiplying!

Want a this image for your desktop? Here you are:
(Click on your screen size below and load the jpg onto your computer.)

• 1680 x 1050
• 1344 x 1008
• 1280 x 960
  
• 1024 x 768
  
• 840 x 524
  

what about all those ladies???

Well, I've been working on them each and every day- and slowly but surely they're coming together. Right now I have about half of them all lined up and ready to get dressed- It's really cool to see them all together... All those sweet faces, so similar but each unique.

happyhappyhappy

learning and teaching- part three

This cozy event hosted in the beautiful Rose Mille in Stillwater is coming up in just a couple weeks- May 22nd. Come for one workshop taught be myself, Karri Meng, or Michelle Rose Jorgensen, or stay for all three and the sweet Soiree held later in the afternoon. I hope to bring a few of my original pieces to the Soiree. They'll be in good company as Kaari will be bringing a handful of special items from her wonderful shop French General, and Michell will have Rose Mille stocked with the gorgeous vintage millinery flowers, ribbons and findings as usual. Check out the Bloom Website for all the details!
as an added bonus- Jo Packham from Where Women Create and the Creative Connection will be stopping by to say hello and shoot a few photos...

learning and teaching- part two

The larger of the two events I'll be teaching at this year is THE CREATIVE CONNECTION held on September 16th, 17th, and 18th. It's a 3-day conference and market created by Nancy Soriano and Jo Packham of Where Woman Create for creative women and women entrepreneurs. There are so many events, workshops, panels, and one on one tutorials packed into these three days. Find out all the details on the Creative Connection website, blog, facebook, and twitter... but below you'll find a short list of just some of the highlights-

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION will bring together women who are passionate
about being creative in their lives as artists, business owners, bloggers, and more.
Come learn, network, market, and create.

• Take part in daily hands-on workshop classes in jewelry, knitting, painting, sewing, journaling, and more, all taught by industry leaders like Betz White, Kaari Meng, Wendy Addison, Ruth Rae, Camille Roskelley, Carol Kemery, Dara DiMagno, Debbie Murray and Shea Fragoso , Halligan Norris of Maximal Art, Jenni Bowlin, Joanna Figueroa , Laurie Meseroll, Leslie McCabe, my mom Pat Murphy, Kristin Nicholas, Robyn Charchula, and Myself!
  

• Learn how to use tech and social media to grow your audience and business.
• Sign up daily at the Smart Bar for one-on-one and small group advice.

• Attend Entrepreneurial panels, a vibrant HandMade Market where you can shop for great items (and sell your own), and events where women entrepreneurs in the tech, craft, and artisan communities will talk freely about what they love most.
• Key Note Speakers:
  

learning and teaching- part one

Part of the reason I've been thinking about my long history of making (and wrote about it yesterday) is because I've just begun to tackle the huge process of working and writing for the workshops I'll be teaching this year at Bloom and the Creative Connection. Preparing for a workshop is a tedious process where I dissect each and every step I make while creating my work. This analytical approach is completely at odds with my usual process. Scientists talk about the transfer of activity from the left side of the brain to the right- and everyone knows the magic of flow- but breaking down my practice is a tricky activity which leaves me caught between these two worlds and while in this thoughtful, creative, but analytical state today I could help but think about how we get to be such individual makers.

My practice is truly insular. The only person I really share with is my Mom, and I'm always amazed when we get together to make something how we do things surprisingly different- "ohhh that's, how you do that?!" and "really,?! I would have never thought about it like that"... We've learned from each other over the years and still we're surprised by each others methods. So part of what excites me most about these workshops- is not only getting out of my studio to share how I do things but also to watch each of you- to see the innovative and unique ways your creating too. When I taught at Silver Bella last November that was what I found so inspiring- I was SURROUNDED by creative women. I came there to teach my two workshops- but I left feeling totally exhilarated by the uniqueness and individuality of all those around me.
After that experience I realized how truly valuable these events are for me... I'm so excited to be both learning and sharing- So over the next few days I'll be sharing more information about both Bloom and the Creative Connection.

I've very excited to go from this top image (me working solo) to an environment like that in the images below (from my workshops last winter). I believe the upcoming events will be unique and exciting gatherings- made even better by more creative and dynamic women participating... I do so hope you're able to come- I know Minneapolis may be a trek, but I think will be worth the trip.

way back when-

I started sewing animals when I was 11- and while my mom has a lot of the pieces I made then I don't have many- well, honestly I just have this one: a bright orange kangaroo. He's so bright orange in fact I had to take him down a notch in photoshop- it was just too orange to handle and a little unbelievably bright. He's been in every studio I've ever had for as long as I can remember. I haven't kept him on purpose. I wasn't all that fond of him or attached. He was just a prototype of for a pattern I made but couldn't sell because no one wants an obnoxiously orange felt kangaroo, but over the years he's burrowed his way into my heart. He refuses to be lost - after spending years in this or that odd drawer or shelf- only to pop up unexpectedly while cleaning or moving- he's finally made his way out into a position of prominence in my studio. He now sits proudly on my sewing desk - and greets me each day- brightly. After 20+ years I think I'm happy he's stuck around... He's a mascot of sorts- a sign of my childhood and example of how long I've been sewing.
Writing this post reminded me of the photo my mom sent me a few years ago. This is me at 10 arranging the first group of bears I ever made out in our front yard. Funny to see that little girl- I almost don't recognise myself- but then I look at those hands. Oh yep- that's me. It's odd to see those adult hands on that little girl-