I've been in the mood for sweetness, stitching in the studio and printing cards at the kitchen table.
I think handmade valentines are the best. But if you are feeling a little overwhelmed or under the weather this February, let my hands be the ones that make yours this year.
All these goodies and more are available in our studio Friday Night at the Art Walk, 6-10pm.
Come upstairs to the Pickford Dreamspace studios, 1318 Bay Street in downtown Bellingham for a sweet piece of handmade love.
Not many people remember that these hats did in fact start out being for grown ups. I made them as a transition into spring that would keep your ears warm, show off my reverse applique skills and use scrap t-shirts. People still ask me if I will make them for adults and I just laugh...It takes a lot of personal flair and the right haircut to not look like a ridiculous baby in them.
Then I added chin straps and actually made them for babies. Who look stinking adorable in them. At this point I dubbed them ewok keneivels. Like from return of the jedi and motorcycle stunts. I gave birth to the perfect model and they started to make sense.
And now, I introduce the latest improvement on the hat: multiple snaps on the strap to accommodate many chins and inevitable growth. This winter I invested in a professional snap setter and a new style of snaps. They are colorful, more secure, perfect for baby items and made to be washed again and again.
Here's another photo of the awesome snap setter since I haven't been able to get Franklin to model these for me since last summer. Which just goes to show how quickly babies grow up.
You can buy your own ewok keneivel hat Saturdays at the Bellingham farmer's market for $40, tax included.
And if you have photos of your own stinking adorable kids in these classic hats, I'd love to see them over on moth and squirrel's facebook page.
Want to be the first to know about my remarkable recycled products, like these hats? Get free updates, inspiration and shipping(yes! free shipping for subscribers!)
Deep gratitude to James Krause who inspired this short video in so many ways. He commissioned a bunny suit from me years ago. (I am wearing the prototype hood in this clip.)And then he not only shot amazing photographs of gorgeous humans in the suit, but also recorded a whole promo video in it. His videos and photography are so much more professional than mine, because, you know, that's actually his job.
I wanted to brighten up everybody's monday with this custom toucan I made last month. It was super fun to create a stuffie for one of my favorite customers as commissioned by his girlfriend.
Can you believe it is already March? Spring is just around the corner and I have a bouquet of hair flowers to help you get in the mood. This month I have been designing a new cotton hat style, which means the $5 bin has some fresh experiments in it.... Hope to see you tonight.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Steeb bought this little record player at the Lucky Dumpster years ago and we just started letting Franklin play with it at the studio. He has 3 Bible stories and a handful of scratchy Disney records with books. The Bible stories sound like David Sedaris is reading them; which either makes them more awful or fabulous, I'm not sure. Franklin still needs help with the switches and the records are short but it buys me about 5 minutes at a time to work. And once he gets the difference between 45rpm and 33 1/3rpm, we'll be set up for some serious studio sessions.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Sometimes the scraps are more interesting than the product.
I pride myself on being able to turn ugly tshirts & moth eaten sweaters into stylish hats. Sometimes the scraps are precious.
I have pieces of fabric less than an inch square, mostly just a seam, still in my pile because they are the most delicious shade of pink or turquoise or burnt orange. Sometimes the scraps are just scraps.
Bits so small and ragged that they must be thrown away. Things without much soul, mistakes made carelessly, material that was shoddy to begin with. Sometimes the scraps are where the magic can be found.
Looking for magic in my pile this week, so far I found a pocket fox for comfort and a ram of new beginnings.
The Bellingham Farmer's Market is trying a once a month winter market and it is THIS SATURDAY! Please stop by the pavilion to say hello, it makes the winter so much nicer.
Friday, January 11, 2013
A dozen hats in process this week. It feels good to be doing my version of production again.
Being friendly at the bike rack can be more than just neighborly and good for the environment when the one you are chatting with is the local arts and entertainment editor goddess Amy Kepferle. A conversation we had a month ago turned into this lovely write-up today. If you can't pick up a copy of the Cascadia Weekly, read it online here.
I am feeling the inspiration and creativity that can blossom in the face of a deadline. Two weeks until the Urban Craft Uprising and I am having all kinds of design breakthroughs. Like these two chicken vests waiting to have their openings finished by hand.
Without grandparents nearby or daycare in our lives, making consistent time for our art is the major challenge as a family. Steeb and I just hung an art show at the Old Town Cafe and it was a crazy week. F is wearing the same pajamas for the third day in a row, but we did it and so can you.
5 tips to make time for your art, changing out of pajamas optional.
1. Do the dishes while the kids are awake, do your art while they sleep.
If you are at home with your child, it doesn't mean you need to be on the carpet pushing trucks around all afternoon. It is valuable for little ones to see and participate in the tasks that make up our lives. If you get the chores done with the kids around, then when you get your private time you aren't using it to fold laundry. This goes for both household chores and errands related to your business. Often there are little chores related to making art, like buying supplies and preparing materials, that can be done with kids underfoot.
And perhaps it goes without saying, but it's okay to have a messy house around a deadline.
2. Recognize your child's rhythm.
Work with your child's a natural energy flow if you are trying to create while they are around. You may need to play wildly at the park or have an extended snuggle to get the quality of time you need to do your creative work at home. Reading a favorite book one more time before you get to your project can prevent a little whining person tugging at your sleeve for an hour.
Thanks to my sweet models who helped me put together a winning application to the winter Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle. My family also stayed calm and cute while I waited impatiently this morning for the list to be announced. And hopefully they will bear with me as I shift into super production mode to bring you remarkable recycled goods this holiday season. And congratulations to all my Bellingham crafty peers who will be storming the city with our subdued style.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
These little scissors cut out all the tiny layers of t-shirts when I do reverse applique. I find their rounded tips help me only cut through the top layer without poking through to the lower fabric. And the different finger position from traditional handles gives my hand a welcome variation in repetitive stress.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Sometimes I just really love a random color combination from the pile of recycled t-shirts. I joke that the huge mess is an essential part of my creative process, but it's not really a joke. As I was sewing this edge I wished I had my camera at the studio. Then I remembered that I did.
If you also love mint and olive green together, perhaps with some hunter, red or blue, check out the hats at my booth this saturday. And as the first saturday of the month, we will be celebrating 20 seasons of the Bellingham farmers market with 20% off all cotton hats. First of september, final summer fling, time to make room for the wool...
