found while cleaning...

While working on my studio I found some of the clay pieces I worked on years ago. Some of them ultimately became the Frozen Charlottes (the blog linked to here is Alyssa... she and I went to school together). Nice to find these bits and pieces, more fragile, rough, and unfinished than those that were ultimately sold, but good to see these old friends again.

feeling thankful...

This Thanksgiving I saved my money and cut the skeletons from our garden for the table. Before dinner, we all wrote things that we're thankful for on pieces of colored paper and stuck them onto the branches. Claude and his cousin Hazel wrote out their own. Hazel asked for the spelling of each word and Claude wrote his out in a series of O's, L's, C's and T's- the only letters he's currently writing. He'd tell me what each said: "Mama", "Home", "butterflies","Vita's chupi" (her pacifier)...

I'm thankful for so very many things these days. There has been a lot of life around me lately... Life, Death, Birth- it makes one so keenly aware of how very brief but profoundly our time is. So, I've been deeply taking-in my time with my young children, family, and loved ones- trying to enjoy even the trying times. And when I'm away in the studio like today, I'm so very grateful for this work. Thank you, for keeping me in the studio, for enjoying what I make, and for all the kind notes, thoughts, and even far off goodness sent my way. I'll take all of it, and send it right back to you.... did you feel that?

PATTERN SALE!

I'd hoped to get a whole bunch of pieces up in the shop for this holiday season, but it seems my hands are more than full with my new little baby and moving my studio into it's new space. Very full indeed. So, if I can't make you something special for the Holidays, I thought at least I could help you to make something special for someone on your list... or for yourself!

25% off all patterns now through Wednesday in my webshop:

coupon code HAPPYSEWING 

and I've resumed shipping on all supplies!

HAPPY SEWING INDEED.

piles.

One space is clean and slowly filling up with ordered supplies. The other space, the one I'm moving out of, is a terrifying all out mess. Piles of completely unordered items are scattered floor to ceiling. I'm trying to breath through it - not get too overwhelmed. Time is short, no use in dwelling on the project ahead. One momentary idea: a dumpster, a big one. On second thought, I'll just dive back in- too many diamonds left in all that rough.

now! tables and shelves

things are happening.

clean (ish)- no matter which way you turn

working... on getting back to working

Today- after long weeks of news, an election, worry and concern for all those in the path of Sandy, I've lifted my head and picked up my camera. The studio is coming along. I've been slowing working  on mudding, painting, and now CLEANING UP. I hope to build some shelves and put up tables within the next week- and then- finally- I'll move in. All this seems so small and unimportant. Like everyone else, I've been hearing the stories from loved ones and the news, who were flooded or left without power for so very long. So my little "clean up" seems so... well, clean. Nothing ruined, nothing lost, just a whole lot of space gained and a new happy place carved out in my little world. I'm looking forward to this move, but clearly it's got me thinking as so many things do these days, about how very lucky I am.

Thinking of all of you out there- hoping you and your families are save, dry and warm! And as for the election! I had to wait in line for 2 hours in 40F weather with my babe in arms... but as always I loved it. I'm a bit of a political nut- so I hope all those who could vote did!

tummy time - studio time - nap time

Fall arrived today with gusting winds and that wet-leaf smell that marks the season. I guess its been here for a while, but I've been admittedly distracted. Vita's been keeping me very busy these days (and nights), and so has her brother. Claude is so very 3 right now. He's all of those things that three implies- funny, energetic, defiant, difficult, imaginative, and all together a handful, but we're all happily getting through this overly full time. I've been working a few hours here and there. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make any Halloween pieces this year but I hope to make a few bears and animals in the coming weeks for the holidays. We'll see how each day plays out. The studio is coming along slowly- I can't wait to post more progress- and even more I can't wait to be working in that space...
For now, I'm still here, in the limbo that is life. Vita and I just got home after a long walk. We both returned with pink cheeks and heavy eyes. Now, it's time for a nap.

out of the purple and into the light! (but still wrapped in plastic)

the image above is what I see when I turn around... HELLO! it's me typing away from my new office- yes, it's now out of the purple studio (we moved my desk and put in a door {first image}) and into this bright little space off my studio to be... which is still dusty and muddy but now well lit thanks to the big windows and the electricians who put in new lights and outlets last week. Now- we still have to nail down what we'll be doing to these floors but we have time. There is still a lot of sanding and painting still to be done.

hello from here**

Here**: in my house, with my baby and family, with my studio covered in plastic and plaster dust covering the floors and walls of my new studio...

Three weeks ago I thought I was back to work, and the next day our contractor stopped by, having found a little opening in his schedule, so he had a moment to work on my new studio. YEAH! but that halted all work I was doing. Seeing the progress of this new space has got me all together antsy to be moved in and again- back to work.
So, feeling antsy and needing to DO something, I bought a plane ticket and flew to Michigan with Vita. Visiting my family and a dear friend was just what I needed- a little vacation, a little family time, all the while being among people who love my (often crying) baby as much as I do- it is a beautiful thing...
Now, I'm back home. As I write this there are electricians cutting holes in the studio ceiling for new lights and soon enough we'll be sanding the floors... soon enough I'll be moving my studio again and then... soon enough I'll really be back to work.
Funny to think back to work means a whole 8 hours a week, but still, that sounds fantastic. I love being a mom, but I'm at my best when I have a little time craved out for myself- and most often, the thing I most want to do is get in the studio and get to work. For now, that will have to wait as the dust clears and construction continues...

Anyway, I'll have photos of the new space under construction soon!, until then- here's a photo of my Mom, Vita and I from last week. Miss you already mama.