Love All Around You

Whether love is far away...

A flash of pink against the grey...

Familiar and worn...

Or bright and new...

Love is there, all around you.

Wordless Wednesday

Quite A Day

I did a bit of a shop update today. In addition to some staples like felted wool acorns and stones, I also added a new project that I have been working on, coasters. I have a few designs in mind but started with a leaf shape, in a variety of fall colors. I've been using one for the past week and like it well enough that I decided to add them to my shop.

I had to photograph all of my new pieces this morning. This meant I had to crop them, save them, list the items on Etsy, and chase children all at the same time. Needless to say, the process took me h.o.u.r.s...... By the time it was over, I was exhausted. I hadn't eaten lunch and the beautiful fall-ish weather was taunting me through the window of my office.

When I finished the last listing, I bid my computer adieu and trucked the kiddies outside for a walk. I believe at that very same moment, my bark brown acorns hit the front page of Etsy (drats! missed it!) and I came back from my walk to find a handful of sales. Woo hoo!! I'm so grateful...and tired. But mostly grateful.

Felted wool stones in rustic turquoise

Acorn cap birds nests made by my 11 year old

Vintage tea cup birds nest

Autumn leaves felted wool coasters

Have a happy weekend, all!

Wordless Wednesday

On The Hunt

In need of a diversion, I decided to hit the woods with my boys to hunt for mushrooms to photograph. They are expert hunters for their ripe ages of 4 and 3 and can spot the teeniest and wariest of fungus. Momma's rule is that they don't touch the mushrooms with their hands so at the start of our hunts, each picks out a walking stick with which to poke at mushrooms (and inevitably, whack each other with).

I don't know what it is exactly, but I've always been fascinated with mushrooms and find much inspiration in them. The boys and I thought we'd share what we found, and hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Quiet

It's been one of those weeks. Everything seems so busy it's hard to stop and catch my breath. The kids are busy busy busy, life is busy busy busy, and all I want to do is steal away and find my quiet. I did a quick dash towards the woods tonight with that aim in mind. Unfortunately the mosquitos, deer flies, and my 4 year old followed me....with his new "best friend" you see in the photo. Since I didn't find my quiet outside tonight, I'm hoping for some sewing and a margarita after the kids go to bed. It will do.

To all of you out there who feel like you're stretched too thin, have too many demands, not enough time to yourself, here's a little tiny bit of quiet for you and a toast to you as well. Cheers!

Wordless Wednesday

Inspiration

It's no secret that I'm an easily distracted crafter. I have a case of "the shinies" something fierce. "Oh look! Wool! Shiny..... Oh look! Buttons! Shiny..." I can't help it, there are so many amazing things in the world with which to work that I can't help but try them out. My latest indulgence is one that I'm super excited about. I purchased a set of small egg gourds from midnightcoiler on Etsy and they're so beautiful! They're about the size of a small hen's egg and the natural markings are delicious. I've been tinkering a bit already but I'll wait to let you in on what I have in mind.

Have any of you worked with gourds before? This is my first time and I'd love to hear what you've done.

I've also just finished felting a batch of earthy colored wool garments and I can't wait to cut into them. (I'll add that to the list of shiny...)

Happy Monday!

Conservation Minnesota Photo of the Week!

How exciting! This pic of my boy out flower picking is the photo of the week on the Conservation Minnesota website. They're a good cause, (and clearly know a cute kid when they see one) :D

Check them out:

Conservation Minnesota

mama, look what I picked
Originally uploaded by lilfishstudios

Wordless Wednesday

No Ifs, Ands, or Butts

Today was a wandery sort of day and we ended up on a beach on local Pelican Lake. It's a lovely beach; sandy and shallow, and today it was nearly empty except for a few swimmers and an Osprey out fishing. (he caught one too, a big one, good on ya Osprey!)

As I took off my shoes and settled down in the sand to watch the boys enjoy the water, my eyes fell on a cigarette butt that had been discarded in the sand. I turned my head and there was another, and another... they were everywhere. It angers me. It angers me to look around at this lovely beach knowing full well that there are both garbage cans and a designated "smokers' station" a few short feet up the boardwalk and that these people couldn't be bothered to pick up after themselves. It angers me that on a perfectly lovely afternoon, while my kids were playing in the waves, I was picking up someone else's mess, but that's what I did. I made a box out of a piece of paper that we had in the stroller and carried loads of butts up to the garbage cans. I couldn't help but wonder how many more had found their way into the water and how many more were under the sand, and how many more will be there when I return.

So a plea...if you smoke, pick up your butts. If you drink, pick up your bottle caps. If you eat, pick up your wrappers. If you come to place that's beautiful, keep it beautiful. Leave it better than you found it. Encourage others to do the same. Don't think it's someone else's job. It's yours. It's ours. No ifs, ands, or buts.