Ready!

Maybe that deep sigh I just enjoyed was felt throughout our entire region.  Or maybe it was the cause for today's bright sunshine and warming temperatures.  Or maybe it was just my own deep, contented sigh.  I've been driven to make and package new journals for the holiday season.  My in-stock inventory is now comfortably plump and I'm only two days behind the guesstimate schedule I created for myself.   The reason for the flurry of driven-ness through the fall months has been to be in a place to call December and January mine own.  So ... [insert favorite fanfare here] ... I declare December and January as months for my own projects and endeavors.  Cool.

The most recent creation, completed and photographed just this morning, is a very happy quilter's journal.  The pages remind me of the fabrics in my grandma's scrap basket.  Yes, she really had one. I wish Grandma had kept something like this.  I'd love to know about the fabrics and the thoughts in those tiny, delicate stitches in the quilts that now live with me.

 Thanksgiving was quiet and blissful at our house.  Jerry and I were home and spent the day together, warm and well-fed.  I am so aware of and grateful for God's enormous outpouring upon my life, and His gentle guidance.  As I continue to develop the concept of puddletown fayre, I feel His hand in the directions we are taking.

Last week I invited the neighborhood ladies in for Saturday morning coffee, and set us up in the studio.  It was a nice test of the space and equipment in place so far.  It was comfortable, there was plenty of room, and it was a relaxed get-together.  Because so much of the studio interior is moveable, I have many choices in configuring the space for different needs. And that's still a fun puzzle.  The next step will be to run a couple of guinea pig mini-workshops.  Ideas for those are already simmering away, and best of all, I've had plenty of volunteers for participants!

So, I head into December with a light heart, a grateful spirit, and work I love that is keeping me busy.  I wish the same for you. 

First Snow!

First Snow!

It's the first snow of the season.  We've had passing flakes, but this is sticking and it's cold and bright and floaty and more is on the way.  Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy!  There will be a lot of complaining, griping and moaning, but I can't help it... I get so excited when it snows.  My excitement usually wanes by late February, but right now I love it.  

  I've never been in my studio for a first snow, and I came out as soon as I could to celebrate First Snow here for the first time.  Because it sits high, the studio has the feeling of an aerie.  Right up in the snowflakes and the trees and the air.  It is cozy and warm and bright here.  It's magical.  

I have a Book of Days where I record special celebrations and my/our traditions for those days.  Days like Last Sunday in June (the day Jerry and I first met in person), Yes Day (the day he asked me to marry him), Nicola Tesla's Birthday (because Jerry is fascinated with his work), Boxing Day (a special day with the kids), Claude Monet's Birthday (because, well, he's Claude Monet!), First Day of School (because I'm not there), days like that. 

 And today I'm adding to the First Snow celebration.  It will be imperative that I spend a portion if not all of First Snow in my studio.  I hope we continue to add celebrations and not forget the fun ones that have already grown into our tradition.

Oh - piano lessons in the studio were fun.  The corner we've set up for that purpose works well.  I learned I need coat hooks and another light for the path.  It was such a pleasure to hear the response to this new space and be able to pass those wonderful comments along to Jerry.  He's worked with such patience and skill to create this building.  I can't imagine ever taking it for granted.

I'm hoping to run some guinea pig workshop/retreat groups in late winter or early spring to iron out the details for Phase II of puddletown fayre.  It's all happening, it really is.  We are so completely blessed.

Happy Anniversary Week

Happy Anniversary Week

On a sparkling November morning seven years ago, we stood in the presence of family and chosen family.  We stood in front of the fireplace in the Lakeside Inn, and we stood in the presence of God.  There we made our pledge, we chose to be joined in marriage.  I waited a lifetime for my husband, and he was definitely worth the wait!  We return to the inn each year for a couple of days on the anniversary of our marriage.  It has become a very special place for us. 

 I have developed a few products for the inn, which the management there is graciously willing to make available for guests to purchase:  a few blank greeting cards, small blank journals and a deluxe journal.







  It has been fun to revisit the inn as I create these items.  It's my hope that others are finding their own memorable moments there, and that our products provide a place for them to record those memories.