weekend getaway (or how i ran into gloria steinem in the bathroom)...

bell hooks and gloria steinem

i had the most amazing weekend recently! it was really refreshing. i took a  quick trip up to kentucky, where i spent at least 2 days laughing. i laughed so much my back hurt! that is what happens when you get all those generations of southern women (i will include myself in that, though i will always think of myself as a transplant) together. five women ages 29-86! oh, boy. my poor uncle who was stuck amongst us. my husband is probably thanking me for not asking him to go, but i'm glad i went! i wanted to take a side trip to berea while there, a lovely old town with the most wonderful college! all tuition is free to students willing to work in exchange. i had only known it to be a school of craft, and a an amazing place to buy the most beautiful handmade (student made) goodies.

i had no idea they also have a women's studies program, which has been lucky enough to have bell hooks on faculty for the past six years.she recently opened the bell hooks institute for critical thinking, contemplation, and dreaming. steinem came to help inaugurate the institute and agreed to have a conversation with hooks for an intimate audience. the talk, was amazing... they covered so many subjects regarding women, race, family, community, empathy, aging,  and laughter! it resonated with me in so many ways. the fact that they are long time friends really added to the intimacy of the occasion. i am so grateful to have gone, and so thankful to my mother for finding out about it. oh, boy it made me miss my own women's studies days. both women looked incredible! i can personally attest to this, as i ran into gloria steinem in the bathroom! 76! we can all hope that we too find a life so fulfilling as to leave us looking so radiant!

the funny thing was my 86 year old grandmother was horrified when we told her we were going, but after having feminism defined for her she realized she had never actually known what it meant... and proclaimed herself a feminist too! amazing... there is hope after all!

berea, kentucky

if you are in the south, or ever that way i highly recommend visiting the town and school.

midlife crisis...

from groundwork

is it possible to have a midlife crisis as you near 35? i think i am perpetually in midlife crisis since birth, so it is hard to tell. i am sitting here looking at the lovely moon, and listening to this...

how much do i love this song? and that beautiful movie! i watched it twice in a row, and i will watch it again. we sat outside tonight to eat dinner, as we have been every night lately. it is so nice... we linger until dark, when the bats come out. my favorite time of day. the air is finally cool, the crickets chirp. we can just be.

tonight the moon was so bright. we have been studying about space, reading this book, and it is so great. what a great thing to stop all the silly things you are doing and suddenly think about the fact that you are spinning through deep, dark space! close your eyes and think about it for a minute. when you are down on yourself for doing nothing very exciting with your life, just remember the sheer exhilaration of that fact! i love learning all the science of space and the universe, it is so technical and romantic at the same time... "we are all children of the stars". i was moved by the moon tonight to listen to neil young's harvest moon. we sat outside, sid in my arms, listening to music.... and i was truly present. the best feeling in the world.

** in case you are wondering, the harvest moon will be on the 23rd!

mushroom update...

new mushroom in the shop today. i am working on some more, have them all cut out. i also will make some small mushroom ornaments for christmas, in wool like last year and also in linen... cuz these are so fun!

new donkey...

new little donkey in the shop today. he is made from a recycled sweater, and has a little gray linen blanket with a bit of vintage embellishment. i love how each one comes out differently! i have almost finished another mushroom, which will also have a bit of vintage added. i'm planning a special project for christmas... and of course the project i already had planned, that got a bit derailed... oh, and a cake topper. need more hours.

my last post was my 400th! wow!

gray mushroom and dreaming of fall...

today i am dreaming of fall... of walks through the woods... wearing a sweater. i am dreaming of hunting for mushrooms, a challenge to see how many different kinds i can find. i am dreaming of crunchy leaves, and just the smell of autumn in the air. it's definitely my favorite season by far. i know it is still a ways off here in the south... but i can dream. i can also sew some mushrooms! i made this one today with autumn in mind... or maybe the gray winter mornings ahead? oh, i love those too...

etsy feature!

i was so excited this week when someone from etsy contacted me and asked if they could feature my house in this week's "get the look" series. um, hello! of course! it's one of my favorite features on etsy!!

so, i thought i also should have some new things in the shop (why my other work got put on hold), so i have been busy sewing! there are some new goodies in the shop for you to check out...

Martin Luther King "I have a dream"

"Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."

a wonderful day in history. i am taking a break today to watch this wonderful speech and pay tribute to those who dedicate their lives to improving the lives of others... to think about what has been accomplished and how far we still have to go!

sneak peek...

sneak peek of my groom. unfortunately the bride is giving me trouble... how cliche of her:) they will sit on a pretty stand when finished. hopefully by the end of the week. oh, yes and of course my other project is delayed too... i know you are starting to expect that from me. i have so much motivation! i try to work, but i can only fit in bits and pieces here and there. my husband has been working on a big project himself lately so it is 12 hour days with the kids... not allowing much time for bitsy animals. i promise wonderful things as soon as i can! i do miss my stitching time!

new adventure...

i'm really excited to share a new little venture my sister katy (winsome hollow) and i are undertaking. we really enjoying working together, and when she was offered the chance to do a custom wedding order, i offered to help her. she made all the beautiful table arrangements seen below! i helped her with the bride and groom's arrangements. we had so much fun! it is a really imaginative and creative process, and it feels really nice to help make someone's day so special. i love the trend now in wedding's toward using handmade and vintage. i love the smaller more intimate feel of weddings, and the way couple's really try to express who they are. so, katy and i have the idea to help people who are interested in these types of weddings. we have a new store, prairie seed, where you can order special handmade arrangements like these (we will also be making ready made pieces). we have beautiful vintage pieces that can be used in the arrangements or as part of a collection of vintage table settings, and gifts to be given by or for a new couple.

(there's my little cutie as our first model!)

this week i am also working on my first cake topper! i hope to have a giraffe couple finished by monday to be able to share with you. this space will still be for little love blue only, but wanted to share this new shop with you. i hope you will visit and tell us what you think! we will be setting up a blog related to the work in that shop, but i will share any animals i make here as well, if you are interested.

monday i will also share my new shop series for little love blue!! i think it will be really fun... now i am off to work.

xo

etsy favorites (rustic beauty)...

loving this cabin in the catskills, that i saw on design*sponge yesterday. i love the rustic simplicity and beauty of it. love the setting. love that it made by hand, with the help of friends and family. that the couple learned the skills they needed to make it themselves. i would love to have all of this some day.

in the meantime here are some etsy lovelies that are inspired by this...

 

antique oil landscape painting, from little byrd vintage

organic cotton ribbon knickers, by conscious clothing

vintage folding camp stool, from gaelianna

white cotton petticoat, from vintage marquise

lila and fern on a holiday, from art by elizabeth bauman

vintage wood bark bowl, from ethanollie

have a lovely day! i'm off to the library and to take my littlest one to her first ballet class... excitement all around:)

i am busy working and hope to share some news... actually two new projects in the next few days!