A Closer Look at Ottoman

This Blog Has Ended

Hello patient readers! I'm planning a big change, not so much aesthetically, but a name change. Therefore, this blog will be no longer. I don't have a place to send you yet, but you will find it either on my Etsy shop announcement or by following me on Twitter when the time comes.

I have plans to change the name of the shop as well, but the address should still take you there!

Again, thank you for your patience; it's been a fun 4 years, but time for something new...even if the incubation time is a long one!

 

Cosmic Combo

First of all, I have to say that I have a difficult time reading blogs that are all about consumerism. However, since these are handmade items, I feel it's justified. I love supporting handmade (duh) and I'm trying to buy less, but buy handmade. So, I just had to tell you patient readers that I have found a fabulous combo and had to share.

(ZIBtextile)

I love these Space diamond leggings from ZIBtextile! And their XL fits gals who are a little bigger than the size states rather well. They are perfect with...

(vozcollective)

...this Cosmic Wood Bangle (choose your pattern) from VOZ Collective!

Anyway, I know I've been working on "new work" forever and I am, but it's been mostly brain work...and it's changed a few times because I keep re-thinking it. In addition, the main reason I haven't gotten much done is that I am (or was) significantly deficient in vitamin D (I do live in rainy Oregon) and borderline anemic. Sigh, I'm also borderline hypothyroid. I'm sure you can image that all I've been wanting to do lately is sleep (not that I have lots of time to). I simply haven't had the energy, and I found out there's a good reason. So, if you've been feeling like you've been run over, there may be a reason...go get checked out! And, when I finally feel better, I hope to be making things...lots of things!

Until then....

Brass

So, I've been trying to get moving on this new work, but it's just not working with me. So, I guess I should have patience (not always easy) and it will come. I've been wanting to post pictures...and it's just not happening.

In the meantime, I have to say that I'm in love with brass (I know, I'm not the only one). I don't buy gold (or diamonds for that matter)...they're just not something I get into for ethical reasons. Besides, I tend to wear silver because it looks better on me than gold. However, brass seems to be a cooler color than gold and it's just working for me. And, frankly, the price is much more affordable. Here's a couple of things I've been wearing lots:

I love Seaworthy's jewelry. These earrings have been on my list for over a year. Check it out, a new line has just been introduced!

I love this cuff from Laurel Hill. She's also a peach of a seller!

Have you fallen for brass? If so, what's your favorite designer?

 

Details in the Forest

On a recent hike (we've been really lucky that our days off together as a family have been dry), Jeff mentioned that I seem to be able to notice all these little fungi, lichens, mosses, and such rather well...which is where that "tune into channel fungi" comment came from; I think it's just a matter of looking down rather than forward whilst walking, slowing down, and trying to find these bits on the edge of the trail. Here are some details I found on yet another hike:

A puffball!

Pixie Cup Lichen

Boo found this lovely, velvety brown moss.

This mushroom was absolutely luminous!

I think these may be remnants of the California Ground Cones I found in the spring.

I'm guessing that that is a slime mold.

And, by the end of the hike, Jeff was tuned into channel fungi as well; Boo's pretty good at noticing things that are small, especially because he's closer to the ground, so he has a lot of fun on our little nature hikes. I think that these fall fungi hikes are going to be a new family tradition.

Earthstars

I excitingly found a small grouping of Earthstars whilst hiking recently. They simply made my day. I know it seems that you've tuned into channel fungi around here lately, but it's what's inspiring me right now and it's simply the time of year for them. I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am.

Sneak peeks of the new work is slow coming, I know. Frankly, this new work is time-consuming and I keep finding more and more ways to make it better and better...it's pretty exciting!

Thanksgiving Hike

The boys and I decided to go on a hike on Thanksgiving (I know, that was over a week ago already...crazy) since the sunny days now are limited, we just happened to luck out that day.

above: White Bird's Nest, according to the book in this post.

A good day for noticing the details.

This Year, It's the Thanksgiving Cactus

My Christmas Cactus gave it's best show yet this year, however on Thanksgiving rather than Christmas.

Bird's Nest Fungus

I first spotted this fungus, I believe, in the spring. I noticed that the fungi looked like yellow lentils on the ground. Then, over the summer, I spotted brown cups on some of the bark chips and Jenny reminded me of those lentil-looking fungi...of course! This fall, on closer inspection, I saw little seeds or spores in the cups. Then, I happened to find a vintage book I had been pining for at Powell's during a quick weekend get-away.

There it is, Common Bird's Nest. If you're observant, you'll notice that the subtitle of the book is dated, but still, the book is a gem. On a wee bit of further research, I learned that there are five species of Bird's Nest Fungus and I'm not totally sure yet if the one I found is still called Common Bird's Nest. Those "eggs" it notes are peridioles that contain the spores.

I'm starting to achieve my goal of "mushroom" hunting for the fall.

Too Late

We didn't make it back to the paper wasp nest until after the first rain storm (and I wanted to wait until it was cold enough for the nest to be vacated, but it just didn't get cold). I was able to retrieve most of the paper however. It was the perfect nest too, not too big and beautifully built. Maybe next year (I think I've said this two years in a row).

I started a bit of a "to do" list for the fall in order to remind myself to enjoy the most of the season. It isn't always easy because workaday life just happens. This list, however, has been helpful indeed:

1. go to a pumpkin patch

2. carve said pumpkin

3. go mushroom hunting (disclaimer: I'm really not an aficionado, I just think the forms are beautiful and I love to photograph them. Maybe I should start learning more....)

4. Hike! (this one is tricky because my family really only has one day a week to do this and it rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest...no, I'm not a rough-and-tumble hiker...I like fair weather)

5. Get hot cocoa mix: regular and spicy

6. hang leaves on the wall with washi tape

7. get or make one great new Halloween decoration

8. get lots of local apples

9. eat lots of types of winter squash

Not too bad! The pumpkin patch was built-in a bit since it was a school field trip and my parents took care of the Halloween decoration by finding something at a vintage store for me. There is a vendor at the local farmers' market that has a variety of apples that change each week depending on what is ready to be picked and they are organic; it's been wonderful. I have been eating delicata squash, but I have a butternut and, I believe, a kikuza in que. I'd like to get a couple more...and it would be fun to do a taste test, but baking and eating them all at once by myself isn't going to happen....It would be a fun fall dinner party idea though!

Where the Fox Lives

Our resident fox, who makes herself known by her ocassional repeated hoarse yelp, lives in a den made of blackberry brambles. I often wonder about the extent of her tunneled network, yet the mysteriousness of it all (I've only seen her once or twice in these four years) is rather enchanting.

I'm still slowly working on the new work. As of yet, it's mostly non-visual work, but I will share when there is something picture-worthy.