curiosity

looking into other people's spaces - a pleasure.  James Merrell's photograph as well as a must see blog post on Design is Mine.  It feels like day dreaming.

Loving the garden

It is amazing to see how something grows.  I have always been in amazement of growth, people, animals, plants.  I have moved around just enough as a small person to never get to see how something changes.  I have been gifted being a mom, a wife, having a house and now a garden which shows me just how much things change and in there own time.  My husband is mostly the overseer of this great garden, but yesterday I snapped up a snow pea.  Yumm, a bit early but still good tasting.  Here are some pictures of how are garden is changing.  Actually, it has already grown a bit since these pictures.  They were taken last week.

I hope everyone is having yummy food.

I love to wrap wrap wrap -- gifts, gifts, gifts

I am so excited to see this zine, Hello Sandwich Gift Wrapping Zine!  Oh wow, it is great.  A myriad of ideas, tools to make those sweet gifts that build anticipation.  I love getting something that looks to good to open.  I am thinking about a confetti bow right now.

A great new book -- right up our alley

This book is wonderful.  I ordered with some some gift cards and coupons the other day -- and I am super happy with it.  So many great projects -- many of which I have not thought of or seen in other crafty home books.  This is a super topic these days - which I think is great, but sometimes I wonder if books aren't repeating the same crafts over and over.  Well no fear here, very fresh and lovely.  I can't wait to make make make.  ......go check it out -----Crafting a Meaningful Home.

Something beautiful

This is a one of a kind quilt now on sale at Anthropologie by Frank Shand.  The mystery of storms feel at home here.  I would love to sleep under the heaviness of one of these.

a dream of mine --- a tricycle, a front basket of flowers, and some yummy food in the back cart

So... I have long had this dream of having a tricycle.  I think it would make my shaky bike riding not such a problem and and I would have lots of space to pick up stuff along the way.  I am not a die hard bicyclist, my husband rides a lot - but I am more an admirer.  However, I will find a way to one day ride my own way.  And with these crochet adornments I would be oh so happy. To see more crochet goodness and to buy - visit Simeli.  To happy days.

the crochet - at one time it was just for toilet paper holders -- but why is that bad?

I love the handmade, pretty much all shapes.  Even stuff that lacks great color combos or skill, sometimes that even more.  I am amazed that people slow down and make stuff.  I think it is a great thoughtful act that means someone is paying attention to something small and significant.  I love this Dottie Angel door knob, perhaps something that is often over looked and under valued.  As well as this Knitta bus.  Knit graffiti is amazing to me especially something on this scale.  So I hope we all find time today to make something. Happy New Year.

who would of thought...

What a great idea - oil cloth for wallpaper.  I am loving this space - but of course patterns and shelves of books not unlike the space where I live.  It is always nice to see a full colorful space, rather than the perfect white spaces home decor lovers seem to photograph.  I hope you enjoy this too.  It is from Readymade, and you can find out how to make your space just as fun.

birds - oh how I love birds - and oh my paper birds too

Such a lovely sight.  I'd love to walk the aisles of anthropologie at Rockefeller center.  Looks like there are lots of goodies.  I am such a fan of paper, I love the curiosities on the shelves.

The great Linda Hall

Linda Hall is marvelous in the studio, turning animals into adventurers of human drama. I have adored her and her work for over a decade. For a treat take a long visit to her blog, Linda Hall.

gosh it's been awhile

Hello Friends,

Sorry to have been missing in action for a bit. Life has brought my family some interesting changes which have been for the most part good, but it is a matter of getting use to them. I think I am finally back into the swing of life and finding a balance between all that is important. While searching around the big wide web I found this amazing illustrator. If you haven't already visited her sites check out Leah Duncan, such a pleasure to see. Leah Duncan's website is delicious her shop is fantastic and her blog is fun too. So much good to wrap yourself around.

Patterns Galore

Oh Liberty of London, how I love your line and colors.  

I was looking at Oh Joy, was pleased to see these great patterns.  Always looking and loving patterns.  Visit Purl for fabric in the states and Liberty for a plethora of loveliness.  

A tour of our cottage

I've been wanting to share with you my artistic space.  I love things, and like to see them everywhere.  Which doesn't lend itself to an easily understood living space, but I love how it grows and grows, like the southern Kudzu.  We live in a 930 square foot two bedroom home.  My husband and I, our sweet son and three cats.  I do not have a separate studio space, although I would love to add onto the porch, the house acts as all things at all times for us.
The dinning room is also my sewing and drawing area.  Which has good lighting and I am able to see what all is happening in the rest of the house.  When I was in graduate school, I disliked my studio greatly - how disconnected it was from my life.  I need to integrate the two together, so I can watch my boy play and make lots of goodies.  I love stuff - and my house is fodder for my art.
We love books, books on all things.  We have been cleaning out our house as one of our New Year resolutions, however, no books have left.  In fact I am sure we have collected at least 50 since the New Year.  I think we are over 2,500 books now.  It is a bit daunting at times, since we are still so young and do not plan on moving.  We'll figure it out.
I am a huge fan of 1970's craft books and home decorating books.  This is a stack I have been looking through lately.  I am about to begin some smallish bird pillows.  My fabric is stacking up like a beautiful cloth mountain.

to cozy days

As you can see we love stacks, stacks of books, stacks of cloth, stacks of pretty much anything.  I think more the merrier.  Except in those moments where I am looking for something terribly specific and it is buried under a stack.

mmmountain

When I saw this the other day on papernstitch, I said-oh boy oh boy.  I love this mountain, and how it seems to be sinking and stacking all at the same time.  The colors and textures are delicious and ickky in that oh so pretty way.  Goodness.  If you want to visit his shop go HERE.  There are also having a giveaway on the papernstitch blog so hurry and leave a comment to win a beauty of a print.

now for - studiomama

For a Danish delight visit studiomama, Nina Tolstrup's fantastic design sight.  The studio images were of her artistic space, so you can imagine how wonderful her crafted items will be.  I love her resolutions, and am still making and remaking lists of my own.  

Pretty Clutter - bring it on!

I was saying to myself, "I would like to see some pretty clutter".  I love all the beautiful spaces by beautiful people, but so often I think what about their stuff.  I love stuff, I like to see my stuff, I don't mind the dust, I love things, who else does?  So in manic state of bliss and frustration I found this lovely post.  Thank goodness, still organized and tidy but this shows a love of stuff.  Thank you to the things that make life lovely and thank you to seasawdesigns for revealing this space.

Beautiful lines

I am a big fan of line and pattern and both of these beautiful works by Selflesh have that.  These are map pieces that have sewn red lines on top.  I really enjoy the subtle texture the applied line gives these pieces.  Right now on Papernstich's blog, Selflesh is doing an amazing give away.  Such talent.

another room clean, at least almost

We keep our house pretty dim, I think this hides potential grime that might otherwise freak me out.  My son and I worked on this Valentines banner, he painted it with his paint squeeze pens which are fun and a total mess.  It is done on paper and the ribbon is laced through.  A fun craft for the both of us.  This nighttime photo makes my sleepy - good night.

a mini landscape

Dusty yes, pretty too.  I am still rearranging and organizing so the actual cleaning and dusting has taken a back seat.  I love this landscape, I bought it at an estate sale, made in Germany.  All the pieces are made in wood, even the flowers.  We are having Spring like weather today, it is confusing the mind and body - but I like it.

Another yeah for crochet

This is an amazing use of crochet.  I have seen many fantastic portraits done in thread, embroidery, and machine stitching.  But I haven't seen portraits done using crochet.  I am loving the color combinations and honest expressions.  For more check out Jo Hamilton's site. A real pleasure to visit.  

Oh how I can spend hours looking at really good patterns

Here is a beautiful pattern that is in a happy family of other beautiful patterns.  Check out ten14Textiles.  I first saw them on Lovely Pieces.  Both fun and inspiring places to visit.

Here is a bit of yummy for you.

cloth kits - how much fun!

Besides the fact that I absolutely love Mr. Rob Ryan, here is a fantastic way to bring Rob Ryan's art into your everyday life.  This is a skirt made from a cloth kit.  And excitedly it is on sale, I hope the sale can last to my birthday and then I too will wear such a delight.  Also here is a pillow or bag - you choose.  I love cloth kits, and think I would have gone crazy in the 70's when they were in there hay day. Check out this website, lots of good hunting.

Our mantel collections

I have a deep love for so many things, which is part of the reason why it is hard to organize so many things.  Even if they are small.  Here are some old old marbles, from GA and VA, and maybe even an Italian marble.  A teacup from my son's great great grandma from Alabama and an old German wooden figurine.  We have lots of wooden figurines.  Perhaps you can see the dust.  Again, I will get this place clean.  I think the problem is keeping it clean.  Like losing weight, after you lose the weight you have to try and keep it off.  Both of those things are hard for me.  

The only clean spot in the house

I love my home, even though it is small 930 square feet.  But it is a cottage, cozy and sweet.  A major highlight that it has a working fire place that I use often, even before it is too cold.  However,  finding a place for everything is super tricky.  I see all those amazing articles in the right magazines and online, but the reality is difficult.  It is just not me, also my son, husband and three adventurous cats who are indoor cats except for the occasional afternoon on our screened in porch.  So, I have a list or perhaps pages long of resolutions and one of them is that I will organize.  Not just move things from corner to corner but find a place.  But for now this is the only spot that seems settled.  I will post my progress, and I hope it is godspeed.