sweet memories of our equinox celebration

This year we started what I hope will become a family tradition. We all went out into the woods and collected sticks for kindling and built up a little stash for the winter. Then we had our first fire in the wood stove. Ahh, warm toes!

The red mushroom cap was inspired by Children of the Forest by Elsa Beskow and made of recycled cashmere. His jacket was a great ebay find and I bought it a couple of sizes too big, which has worked out great for a couple of seasons now! And the mittens are his favorites, a gift from a thoughtful friend.

{this moment) dragon tree

One extraordinary moment from the week that I want to savor, enjoy and remember.

inspired by Amanda Blake Soule

and now, the recycled+revamped 2011 purses and bags!

Without further ado, I give you the latest collection of recycled+revamped purses and bags! Inspired by an earlier design for blue star bags, a long adjustable strap was added along with a zippered pocket inside. Some of the bags have recycled jean or pants pockets on the front. All have a vintage button/elastic loop closure.There is a range of sizes, based on the size of the fabrics. At the show, these bags were priced at $40, and I'd love to extend that price to you this week! Just let me know which one you like and I will ship it to you (+shipping).

Thank you to those who already chose their new bags!

sage swirl with jean pocket

pinky patchwork tote

orange sprinkles blue star bag

honeycomb brown and gold with jean pocket

earthy stripes with cord front pocket

indigo blue star bag

herringbone aqua, green and orange

loopy orange and tweed blue star bag

recycled+revamped 2011 harvest collection

Here it is, at long last. A new batch of purses in the work ! Last weekend I was scurrying about packing up for harvest gathering and working out the details of this collection, made from rescued swatches of rich fabrics. What would be the ideal purse for this event? One purse for a memorable experience. Colors that reflect the richness of autumn all around us. Warm late sunshine, local music by friends, full moon in a vast indigo starry sky.

Stacks of fabrics, components are gathered together and cut to size for the sewing spree that will ensue!

More on the 2011 harvest collection coming soon...

{this moment}

One beautiful moment from the week to remember, savor and share, inspired by Amanda at soulemama and all the other sweet mamas who share there.

{this moment}

Imagine a little boy holding a thimble. He smiles as he leans in to pour tea from the thimble for his guest, a little green wood gnome. The gnome sits on a stump of wood by a table that is also made from a stump and a bit larger slab of wood cut from a tree branch. His dish is a seashell, which holds an acorn. Behind him is a small, dark cavern filled with his treasures of crystals and geodes.


Sometimes the moment is hidden a bit. Like when your power goes off, your stove goes on the fritz and your car won't go at all b/c the check engine light is flashing. And it's raining outside. Blogger jumped in on the momentum and has changed the photo upload system it seems, and my outdated technology has missed the boat. If you know how to circumvent the issue, I'd love some pointers.

So, I'll keep looking for things to share and ways to share what I'm doing.

fall farm party and cider press

collecting sticks for kindling

We're getting ready for winter! The leaves are all golden on the trees, and it's hard to get dry sticks because it's so rainy, but Fyn's a great helper. It's cool how the earth provides for us.

It reminds me of a song that I used to sing as a kid. A friend recently reminded me of it, and I find myself singing it more often now.

It only takes a spark
to get a fire going
and soon all those around
can warm up to it's glowing
that's how it is with God's love
once you've experienced it
you want to sing
it's fresh like spring
You want to pass it on.

Pass the love, please!

halloween costumes

Halloween 2008

Tommy wanted to be a tree

for halloween, so we decided

Fyn should be a bat.

My friend, Elara, helped me

revamp a monkey bunting

to make it happen.