Keeping Warm

Today it is blustery; rain is bouncing off of the pavement and bending the daffodils.  It's hard to believe that it was sunny and 70 degrees just a few days ago.  Ahh, spring. 

Last week I made sun tea on my porch in this lovely glass pitcher that I've had forever.  To keep the bits of undesireables out of my tea, I used a vintage hankie, weighted with binder clips, draped over the mouth.  Just seeing it made me happy. 

And look at this fun little tomboy billfold that I made! It just makes me smile; I love the little owls!

Domestic Bliss

One of the things about the change of the season is that I get very domestic.  I just want to do things like bake bread, wash windows, and make things tidy.  Today, when Bronwyn gets home from school, we're going to go for a bike ride and then it's to the garden to plant our peas and lettuces.  I soak the peas overnight in water to help the sprout break through the outer shell more easily.  Aren't they so pretty in the jar?  The green peas are the sugar snap variety, and the brown peas are a fragrant, climbing flowering variety. 

I can't wait to get my clothesline fixed!  I plan to place it next to the blooming peas so that I can start bringing the blossom-filled sunshin-ey air into my home.  Maybe this weekend my sweet husband will help me out in this regard.

I've Been Waiting For You

Welcome, Spring!  We had such a lovely weekend, and much of it was spent outside to celebrate the Spring Equinox.  Today's post is short (and all this week will be sketchy, too) because Bronwyn has short days at school.  Lots to get done while she's away!

I leave you with this sweet Pinnie that I made for Bronwyn recently.  I made it from a heavier, home decor weight fabric that was designed by the talented Anna Maria Horner.  These two prints are from her Drawing Room line.

Baby Time

Here at home, the Rufous hummingbirds (shown left) arrived yesterday, back from their winter vacation. It was so fun to see them at the feeder. They are so pretty! Of course we still have the Anna's hummer, too (below). We're so lucky!

 

And lots of new projects are swirling! I just finished a sweet messenger for my friend and fellow Etsian, Angela of Rhymes With Luck. She's going to be having a baby later this year and so this will be her diaper bag when the time comes to use it this way. Nothing like new babies to bring out my desire to create new accessories!

This bag was made from a lovely linen/cotton blend fabric that is imported from Japan. It is designed by Etsuko Furuya for Kokka. The line is called echino ni-co. Isn't it so fun? It makes me want to go out and get a Vespa scooter! Even though this fabric is super expensive, I still think that the joy of working with it makes it worthwhile.

 

 The Inside of the bag and the front panel are made from fabric designed by Joel Dewberry (his Ginseng line). 

Happy Friday, Friends!

Hello Sunshine

It's Wednesday already, how did that happen??  Lately I've been waking up and feeling behind before I even get out of bed.  I think this means I'm over-committed, over-ambitious, or disorganized (and most probably a combination of all three).  Actually, come to think of it, I feel like this every Spring and every Autumn, the two busiest times for the gardener. I realized this morning that I haven't spoken to my Mom in a long time (two months?), which is simply not acceptable (I know you're reading this, Mom.  I really do love you!). 

So.  I think it might be time to make lists again (but not here, that would be so boring for you!).

I was visiting my dear neighbor yesterday and noticed that her clematis was in full, fragrant bloom.  This is a small blossomed Clematis. It is quite delicate, and ever so gorgeous.  I stole a little stem from the winding vine and brought it home for this teeny vase that another friend, Kathy O'Shea of KoJo Pottery made.  It's perfect and really looks sweet in my small bathroom.

And in BCharmer news, I've had a recent run on production of Tomboy wallets.  These are so fun for me to make!  I leave you with this very spring-inspired wallet.  I like it that although it is warm and sunny, it is also soft and "cool,"  just like spring. 

It is available in both my Artfire and Etsy shops.

The fabric that I used is  from Heather Bailey's "Nicey Janey" line, which I'm finding is one of my new favorites (I'm so fickle).






Happy Wednesday, Friends!

Getting it Ready

In February we had such nice weather that it was all I could do to restrain myself from planting my whole garden.  Now, of course, the climate is back that of  a more typical spring; chilly and rainy.  Still, Bronwyn and I found a few sunbreaks today to celebrate in.  We sorted our vegetable seeds and started some indoors for our warmer weather garden.  Bronwyn really enjoyed pressing the seeds into the soil.  I helped her at first, but she soon got the hang of it herself!

It's amazing to me how such a simple act of planting seeds brings so much hope and promise in my life. 

As we were finishing, dark storm clouds loomed and we packed everything up quickly in order to avoid the heavy downpour that was about to follow.  Minutes later we were inside, making tea and feeling so satisfied for having "accomplished" this simple task.  Suddenly even the rain didn't seem so bad.

The Art of Connecting

Nowadays, it seems like everyone is part of a virtual social network.  I both love this and hate it.  Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, MySpace and on and on and on.... these sites are amazing.  They allow me to connect with friends past, present and future.  Some of my most treasured relationships are with people that I have never actually seen or whose voices I have never heard.  I love it that the world now feels like my neighborhood.  My friend in Budapest Hungary makes the most amazing jewelry, and takes stunning photographs.  I have several friends in Australia who are painters and creators extraordinaire!  And then there are all of the people right here in my home country that I can keep up with whenever I log on. 

The house that I live in was purchased from a dear 99 year old woman, Esther, who would have a glass of wine every afternoon with her behind the fence neighbor, Edna.  The two of them, no doubt, would talk about this and that, would complain about their husbands, and would just sit in the silence that is understood by friends, and enjoy the moment.  When we moved into the house, Edna came over and gave us her key to the house, and I was struck by the relationship that she and Esther had shared.  In some ways, social networking online expands on this idea and has the potential to open it up to a richer experience, but I also find that it allows for less intimacy that one would find with a "face to face" friendship. There is something about the banality of a day to day friendship that makes the whole thing more vulnerable, less scripted, and therefore more meaningful somehow.  Don't get me wrong: I'm not trying to diminish my true online friendships: NO!  But sometimes, when I've posted my blog update, checked my facebook page, and tweeted my latest piece of business, I think, "There, I'm all caught up with my friends."  But am I?  How long has it been since I picked up the phone to get together with someone that I love right here in my neighborhood?  I am feeling the need to nurture my "touchable" friendships, and I encourage everyone to hug a friend today!

Nevertheless, in honor of one of my online connections, I want to share with you this fancy Tomboy wallet that I made.  I belong to a fun group of women on Flickr (an online network for sharing photographs) who swap fabrics.  I saw this fun Japanese print depicting Alice in Wonderland with the Queen and Rabbit and wanted it with a white hot want!  Luckily I had some fabric that was desireable, and the trade was made.  It took me some time to find just the right stripe: I didn't want to use a stark white in the stripe since the rest of the fabric is unbleached linen, so when I saw this more natural off white and deeper red, I was overjoyed.

Happy Monday, everyone!