A Closer Look at Ottoman

Bookhou At Home

So nice to see Bookhou At Home as featured seller on Etsy. For my birthday this year, my mom asked what I'd like. I told her I really could use a new purse. So after some searching, I found something that was versitile to wear for work, yet casual enough to wear with jeans. I also wanted something that wasn't very big (since I'd fill it and it would be heavy) and would work with a variety of outfits (read: it has black, navy, and brown). This was my choice. I had Arounna put a zipper in it for me because I like to know I haven't dumped stuff when I set it down someplace. It's been perfect.

Scotch Naturals

                                                           

This may be my new favorite nail polish. It's non-toxic...really! I picked up Seaboard last weekend to give it a try...perfect for fall. (via dearestMouffette)

Fragment

Bits and pieces of the project I've been working on. Process...progress. Slow though. I'm pretty excited about finally using the reclaimed leather that I've been holding onto for about five years. And those are wee squares of plywood.

I've been thinking of gathering together some ladies that are local friends for a weekly afternoon creative time. Basically, just getting together once a week in the afternoon to make things...independent or collaborative...sewing, painting, cooking, whatever. I think sometimes I miss the camaraderie of being in college working in the print studio or the constructive criticism of a sculpture crit. This would be more relaxed and skill level would vary...but there is something to be said about chatting while making. And, maybe it'll get my nose out of the book a bit to make more things. Do you do anything like this? If so, what has been successful or unsuccessful?

We picked some apples today off the apple tree...the ones that the deer couldn't reach in their hind legs. It's an old tree that doesn't get watered, so the apples aren't so juicy...they'll be made into applesauce tomorrow. I can almost smell the cinnamon.

sword + fern

The last time I was in Portland (earlier this summer), I dropped off a small package to a wee shop that has the feel somewhere between a natural history museum and the squirreled-away collection (*treasure*) of a creature of the forest (therefore, either we shrink upon entrance, or the contents grow to our size). The shop is sword + fern, and the forest creature whose collection you will discover upon entrance is Emily Baker. Even though it's a small shop (and to it's benefit), one could spend hours pouring over the incredible contents.

What was inside the small package I dropped off is now on display (and for sale!) here...

(image from sword + fern)

(image from sword + fern)

Anything look familiar? If I've whet your appetite for more, here are the latest arrivals...better yet, if you are in the Portland area, or plan to visit soon...stop by and tell Emily "hi" for me.

 

Peach and Gray

When I was in 6th grade (late 80s), peach and gray was a favorite color combination. We recently had to tear up our approximately 30-year-old redwood deck to be able to work on the house. So, we're re-using the wood for the exterior entry and some steps to the house...and eventually, a rustic dining table. I'm sure we'll find many uses for the wood. The new exterior entry makes a nice spot to photograph as well....More of that to come.

I hope you're staying cool. I feel very fortunate to be in usually rainy Oregon right now, as the temperature has been in the 80s. I've been thinking of you folks in areas with sweltering heat.

I hope you have a lovely weekend. I'm not sure what we're going to do, but I'm hoping to get more done on the house...I've been thinking it will be cold and rainy here soon enough and this house has so many drafts that I want to seal up as much as we can soon.

Just Listed

I just listed a few handmade items in the shop:

2D Paper Wasp Nest

It's a 3 inch version of the one I made for myself...and I might list the large 9 inch one, I think I prefer the small one where I want to hang it. I have enough of the paper nest to make several of these small ones. If I list the big one, there will only be one that size, so keep an eye out.

One BIG Pompom 2

Another festive pompom...really, these have fun written all over them.

Moss Jar 10

Moss Jar 10 is a re-work of this jar because I just haven't kept up with the seasonal curation. So, I decided to pare it down to a simple jar.

So there you have it...some more handmade goodness for the shop!

 

One Big Pompom - 1

Now in the shop: One BIG Pompom - 1

Oh yes, and my Gift Tags were recently mentioned on the Please Note blog...thank you, Elizabeth!

A Couple More...

And, a couple more things have been listed in the shop.

4 Melmac Cups in Cream

Dozen Pompoms - 1

You can also read about the yarn I used in these pompoms here.

Meanwhile, the sun continues to show it's face on a pretty continual basis - so wonderful. I rescued an old organ bench from my church that was kicking around and taking up space....I'm going to use it as a spot for my succulents under a window. I'll start looking out for small sheet pans at thrift stores to put on the bench and then place the succulents on them. My poor succulents have been relegated to a small counter spot in the laundry room. It will be nice to have them part of the living space again. I may even be able to add to them slowly.

I'll try to get a picture of my wee plants as soon as I can. I hope your week is going well!

 

Some New Things

I listed a few things in my shop over the weekend. The first two are vintage.

Millinery Flowers (yellow)

Red and White Potholders

I often find things that I love and then they just don't work for my home or I don't use them, which is the case with these flowers and potholders. I just love the scalloped edge on the latter.

And, in case you were wondering if my shop is going wholly vintage, here's a listing for something handmade (I just haven't had as much time to make things lately)....

Half Dozen Pompoms - 1

These pompoms are upcycled and here's the listing info explaining how I get the yarn:

"I know a little group of ladies that make prayer shawls in the event that someone we know becomes ill, injured, or is in crisis. The shawls are crocheted and knitted with love and prayers. One of these ladies recently mentioned to me that the group was overflowing with remnant yarn and they didn't know what to do with it all. I told her I had the perfect application.

If you aren't interested in the tedium of pompom-making (personally, I find it meditative), here's half a dozen made from the leftover yarn of sweet, caring women. This set ranges from 1 1/2" - 2 1/4" in diameter. The wee pompoms can be used in numerous ways including: made into a garland, piled in a bowl as a centerpiece, or clustered and pinned to the wall...do however take care, pompoms are rather fragile.

As I receive more yarn and run out of the yarn I am using now, the colorway of the pompoms will evolve with each listing."

I hope your week is going well....We've had some sun which is always a nice break with the gray this time of year in the western-half of Oregon.

 

Books on Natural Dyeing

I finally got a couple of books (Christmas gifts) to get going with some natural dyeing.

I cracked open this first one a few nights ago. I've just been reading a little at a time since I certainly don't have the sort of time I did in college to read. So far it's very informative. I'm starting slow with this process because I really need to be careful working with these materials since I have a 5-year-old in the house. Really, I'm only going to be working with the safest of the safe and this book was recommended to me as a good one for such.

This next book is very exciting because, for example, keeping powdered copper and iron around makes me nervous with a young child in the house...so it's nice to know that I can make the dyes in copper pots or cast iron pots instead...much safer! I haven't done anything but flip through this book so far, but I can't wait to sink my teeth into it.

If you have a favorite natural dyeing book, please let me know...I'd love to get some more books on my wish list. Now...back to thinking about cooking dinner...it's going to have to be something quick since it's already past 6:00....