everyeskimo

( friday fuzzy )

2012-01-27T08:06:00.000-05:00

sorry mom, i've just decided that instead of babies,

i'm going to have fawns. yes, fawns.

but don't worry...

you can still pick out cute clothes for them.

raging cuteness.

take that friday.

xo. r

( story )

2012-01-26T11:18:00.001-05:00

rather madly in love with these

minimalist children's posters

by square inch design.

subtle, smart & daring

look out future minimalist children,

no baby colors for you.

see more in the series here.

xo. r

( oeuflings )

2012-01-25T11:43:00.001-05:00

new oeuflings added to the shop!

xo. r

( ear you go )

2012-01-24T10:29:00.003-05:00

from mayak via francisca pageo

i couldn't get this one out of my head yesterday.

it's mesmerizing. haunting. hunting for something deep inside.

xo. r

( restock )

2012-01-23T16:37:00.003-05:00

we've just restocked our letterpress keychains

and there are lots of new letters and numbers available.

we've also modified the keychain attachment,

which i like better but sadly doesn't involve the drill press anymore.

that's one whole new skill going to waste.

they're available here.

xo. r

( details )

2012-01-23T15:37:00.003-05:00

winter dressing is in the details

leg warmers layered under tall boots

softly braided hair

a wool sweater pinned together

and a hand knit scarf

never mind the small fact that i still haven't mastered braiding my own hair

i can pretend.

and i do think i'd like to build rows and rows of little wood boxes...

one for each and every scarf in my collection, which i never seem to be able to pare down.

xo. r

( vanilla )

2012-01-20T10:28:00.002-05:00

this is sandra juto's coffee. not mine.

i happen to be a vanilla latte fiend.

wake. shower. vanilla latte.

it's a daily routine.

after a while, shelling out $7 a bottle for vanilla syrup gets old.

so, feeling adventurous, i wandered into the kitchen & attempted to make my own.

// vanilla syrup //

1.5 cups sugar

2 cups water

bring barely to a boil, just until the sugar dissolves

stir in a tablespoon of a good quality vanilla extract

bottle & refrigerate.

cheap & easy.

(simple syrup is usually 1:1 sugar and water

but we've reduced the sugar and haven't missed it a bit.)

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2012-01-20T08:21:00.000-05:00

i am so rarely a horse person.

their teeth are frightening to me.

but this, this i could be a horse person for.

xo. r

( love lost )

2012-01-19T09:08:00.003-05:00

real life never really compared to ballet.

love, lost.

xo. r

( stick figure )

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

love these little driftwood figures

by olive ark.

even more, i think i love that there will be 150 of them made...

dunbar's number, the perfect number of individuals in a community.

( incidentally, an old employer once used dunbar's number as a reason that a mass layoff was actually good for the whole company. really. i suppose i have mixed feelings about dunbar's number now. however, as applied to driftwood figures, i think it's perfectly reasonable. )

via brichopas

xo. r

( exterior )

2012-01-16T18:30:00.001-05:00

m.elle design

gray organschi via dwell

james gorst architects

last week i shared the renderings of our future home.

this week, i thought i'd share some of our inspiration.

when it comes the house, i tend to think in pictures.

not something to copy, but a mood that feels like home to me.

pinterest has been an invaluable resource for gathering, organizing and culling images.

even more so as we begin to make final decisions on things.

patrick and i both landed on the same favorites.

starkly modern with huge windows

softened with older materials and a simple aesthetic

(and well, metal roofs are just so darned practical. i've played the role of shingle courier once,

hauling piles of them up the ladder onto the roof. i don't feel the need to reprise that one.)

we also love the feeling the clusters of buildings bring...
a safe haven to escape the outside world.

i'll be sharing more bits of inspiration room by room.

it will be rather interesting to see where we began, and where we end.

( i still worry that it will be a complete disaster. neither of us are designers. fingers crossed. )

xo. r

( broken butterflies )

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

rather in awe of this delicate and intricate work

by anne ten donkelaar.

broken butterflies

repaired with embroidery thread,

golden root, even gold leaf and paper.

i can't even begin to imagine working with something so fragile.

the results are mesmerizing.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2012-01-13T08:03:00.001-05:00

tumbled

foxy friday.

xo. r

( calm )

2012-01-12T10:42:00.002-05:00

rescued plants on the kitchen windowsill

kindling gathered for the fire in my grandmother's crock

a calendar for a new year

a side table vignette, accidentally arranged during christmas decorating

a small jungle of plants

sometimes, i look around the house

and all i can see is a storm of chaos.

at those times, i like to grab my camera

and find the few moments of calm that exist in quiet corners.

it's a little bit about peace of mind

and a little bit about documenting the space around me.

it changes in subtle ways,

it's nice to take a deep breath and see it with new eyes.

xo. r

( traction control )

2012-01-09T18:06:00.001-05:00

lately i've been noticing that our funny little bump

has been having a harder and harder time with our wood floors.

she falls down all the time...

watching her try to round the corner to get to her water bowl

always makes me think of bambi on ice.

i was going to try some grippy socks, but there was the problem of her going outside

and coming back in with damp feet. then i found pawz dog boots.

basically, they're a thicker balloon with a larger opening.

12 in a package, and reasonably priced.

after a minute or two of adjustment (which results in hilarious high stepping)

she seems much more confident walking around.

and is even getting up a bit of a rum as she moves between dog beds.

i am pleased to see our old lady with a kick in her step.

"miss new booty"

just thought i'd share in case anyone else's

aged companions were having traction issues.

xo. r

( in pictures )

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

i thought i'd share the renderings of our future house.

lots of details have changed since these were completed.

but still, when my excitement bubbles over,

i can look at them and step into our space.

large open windows for tons of light and air circulation.

a covered porch with a fireplace for cool evenings.

( the other side of the fireplace opens into the living room. )

we sourced local reclaimed barnwood for our siding

and cementboard panels for the accents.

it makes my head spin a little

to think of all that's going to happen in 2012.

it's going to be a wild, wonderful year.

xo.r

( friday fuzzy )

2012-01-06T09:15:00.000-05:00

kelpie1

a super deluxe friday fuzzy

because piggy smooches are the most awesomey-awesome thing i've ever seen.

( even that hairy dangly thing isn't changing my mind )

happy friday my loves.

xo. r

( kilim )

2012-01-05T09:20:00.003-05:00

all images from the brickhouse

kilim intrigues me.

i like it, yet i can't quite envision it in our home.

i lean more towards very well worn persian rugs.

not that i've found any.

perhaps the right kilim will come along one day

and live happily down the hall from my imaginary persian rug.

additionally, i quite like that chesterfield.

i do.

xo. r

( sneak peek )

2012-01-04T16:07:00.001-05:00

"what i did over christmas vacation"

it's like a book report, only in pictures.

a sneak peek at the handmade creatures that will be

wandering their way into the shop over the next few days.

stitchy little bits.

the end.

xo. r

( flight )

2012-01-04T08:07:00.002-05:00

a little bird in flight.

she was a late night idea and i found myself stitching

well into the night (and a little bit of the morning)

before i could put her down.

sewing is thrilling like that.

ah, such late night excitements!

she's in the shop.

i'll be sharing a few more new pieces later today!

xo. r

( resolved )

2012-01-03T07:21:00.004-05:00

d. velasquez

i'm not a very big believer in new year's resolutions,

but they seem to happen despite my best efforts.

something about the hope & orderliness of a new year, i think.

this year, i'd like to wake up earlier.

i've always wished to be a morning person.

and while truthfully, i'm a night owl, i seem to be falling asleep a lot earlier these days.

so perhaps it's time to explore the other side of daybreak

and get up with the rowdy rooster.

of course, coffee helps.

and a hot shower too.

also, you may have noticed that this blog now lives at everyeskimo.com

a small but frustrating feat, i bumbled through on my own.

i think i succeeded. please let me know if you find otherwise.

xo. r

( anew )

2012-01-01T12:39:00.002-05:00

and we begin the year anew.

i hope you had much to be thankful for in 2011

and even more to look forward to in 2012.

it's going to be a great year.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-12-23T12:15:00.001-05:00

brook farm

well, we have brown paper packages

( tied with string, twine & gold washi )

but we don't have snow - sigh -

and we certainly don't have reindeer.

perhaps we have reindeer antlers to put on the dogs,

but i haven't had enough eggnog to quite admit to that yet.

good tidings to you

and all of your kin.

merry christmas.

xo. r

( 'tis )

2011-12-21T11:50:00.002-05:00

succulents, wool, fir & rosemary.

'tis the season for a lovely christmas.

xo. r

( ear you go )

2011-12-20T15:15:00.001-05:00

a bittersweet christmas carol

from sufjan, my music muse.

(if you'd prefer something more cheerful, i could dig up

a long ago favorite... the carebear christmas album. every time i think of that album,

i swear i taste cinnamon. memory can be a lovely thing. )

xo. r

( au naturel )

2011-12-17T14:15:00.004-05:00

fox au naturel does not want a scarf. or a shawl. or anything silly like that.

fox au naturel wants a den. and maybe a rabbit to snack on.

sorry. some foxes are just like that.

available here

xo.r

( blanket season, year 3 )

2011-12-17T11:29:00.000-05:00

west elm kantha quilt

toast albion woollen blanket

neëst fog linen cotton blanket

macausland's wool blanket

cb2 linus sweater throw

it's blanket season

and all i dream of is an enormous basket

filled with piles of quilts, throws and woollens.

( blanket season years one and two are in there too.)

i'm going to be very snug this winter

with my imaginary blanket bounty.

xo. r

( followed )

2011-12-17T10:24:00.001-05:00

fox in the pine

could very well be my new favorite blog.

it's a surprising and quirky mix

of art, design, photography, crafts, and cooking.

a charming lifestyle

that i often aspire to

( while i sit on the couch, sipping coffee after sleeping in.

i'm convinced "lifestyles" weren't meant for people who need a lot of sleep. )

but i digress.

go & visit fox in the pine.

i promise you won't be disappointed.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-12-16T09:40:00.000-05:00

here

here's hoping for snow for christmas

and maybe a pet squirrel.

xo. r

( new )

2011-12-14T12:06:00.000-05:00

here

you may be noticing a few bloggy updates.

for some reason, that was a much more important than going to bed last night.

i'm feeling quite chuffed with the changes.

aren't you?

you'll notice a new selection of tabs across the top...

it's just like a new binder. you know how i love to be organized.

i'm working on adding a handmade portfolio of sorts.

it's nice to see all the little foxes and birds and llamas and assorted creatures in one place.

a little everyeskimo menagarie.

hope you like the changes.

i feel nice and refreshed.

also, hungry...

xo. r

( ear you go )

2011-12-13T12:14:00.001-05:00

heidibg

thinking about how the holidays have changed over the years.

it's a strange time... this newlywed period.

we can't go back to our old family traditions. and we haven't quite established new ones.

it makes the holidays a little confusing being in between traditions.

it feels ungrounded and a perhaps a bit lonely.

i know this will change slowly over the coming years.

it's just been on my mind a bit.

and so, ear you go... a song that fits

get down for the holidays by jenny o.

xo.r

( gifty picks )

2011-12-12T13:54:00.001-05:00

vintage toy circus from am radio

1930s czech necklace from jean jean vintage

vintage medical wall chart from haven vintage

lucia lace necklace from white owl

icelandic wool coat from dear golden

i've pulled together some gifty picks from michigan sellers...

this might *coincidentally* also be known as my christmas list.

happy & proud to be among such wonderful shops here in the mitten.

xo. r

( math. magic. mother nature. )

2011-12-12T11:01:00.000-05:00

math. magic. mother nature.

for melissa, who's made me appreciate the science behind snow.

see more vintage photomicrographs

from wilson "snowflake" bentley here.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-12-09T13:41:00.001-05:00

is it me or does this baby seal look like bump?

happy friday!

xo. r

( mitten )

2011-12-08T23:10:00.001-05:00

i think "mitten" is my favorite word in the entire english language.

and these mittens from happylaika are too perfect.

xo. r

( stocking )

2011-12-08T12:32:00.001-05:00

stocking up the shop with winter pocket bears (and one lone wolf).

i think they'd be darling peeking out of a christmas stocking, don't you?

xo. r

( ear you go )

2011-12-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

yes lovies, you get christmas music for december.

and this is one of my favorites.

o come, o come emmanuel by sufjan stevens.

he does brilliant things with ~~christmas~~ music.

time to get in the holiday spirit.

it started snowing as i was writing this.

xo. r

( the one )

2011-12-05T08:54:00.001-05:00

when we finally decided to pull the trigger on building a house,

the next question was, did we need an architect?

we definitely wanted something a bit different, but simple.

sort of a raw modern envelope to beautifully contain our life.

and while we could probably have adapted a set of plans,

we realized there was a lot to be gained from the knowledge and experience of an architect.

it's a huge decision. it would affect our every day lives.

we wanted a local architect. both to sustain our ailing local economy

and because it's so much easier to truly invest yourself in something that's close to home.

we were down to two architects.

but one didn't feel right. his houses, while spectacular, felt like showcases.

meetings were held at his office, and costs were brushed under the rug.

the other wanted to meet at our home. (a fine way i think, to observe what we surround ourselves with. to learn a bit more about us, what we love, who we are.)

his houses, they felt like homes.

and he was very upfront about costs, pointing out that one of our requests was going to add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of the house. (armed with that knowledge, we quickly reevaluated.)

and from the beginning, he felt involved.

tossing out ideas, taking part, and getting that gleam of excitement.

in the end, our choice was easy.

hue projects.

we toured two of his homes.

the first three images, a home originally designed by robert frost.

our architect was hired to restore it, reimagine some of the spaces, and build an addition.

original cabinets were catalogued and recreated.

the home feels like a perfect little idlewild.

a modern structure tucked into a blooming wilderness.

the second three images are a home he designed to nestle unobtrusively in a mid-century neighborhood. a bit more formal, but executed with simple & clean materials,

thoughtful details and a welcoming feel.

while neither is quite representative of our future home,

we saw the details and craftsmanship that would carry us through our project.

and an eye for the overall feel of a space, that we couldn't have achieved on our own.

i promise to share more pictures soon. well, computer renderings anyway!

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-12-02T09:39:00.001-05:00

{ contributed by monkeys always look! }

{ contributed by lydia lapwing }

see, i promised you a double friday fuzzy!

and what was the chance of two lovelies sending me swinging bulldogs?

(american bulldogs apparently don't swing.)

have a great friday, and a great weekend!

i've got lots of vintage to catalogue

and foxes to sew! my favorite kind of weekend chore.

xo. r

( have a seat )

2011-12-01T08:29:00.001-05:00

crushing very hard on these chairs.

something about the warm leather, the wood, and the style.

inviting, but not delicate.

i suspect i'm not going to stumble into a pile of these chairs anytime soon,

but if i do... you'll be the first to know.

and we'll have an awesome chair tea party.

xo. r

{ images from the endless inspiration of the brickhouse }

( said )

2011-11-30T20:17:00.001-05:00

( something new )

2011-11-30T13:19:00.001-05:00

something new

for me, for everyeskimo, and for you too!

i've had a little idea brewing for awhile...

something that combines vintage & handmade.

taking me away from my needle and thread

and into my father's old workshop.

oh, it was chilly!

the furnace hasn't been lit in the shop

since my father away passed several years ago.

but it was nice to work in there

among the memories and ghosts.

work in progress, standing at the helm of the drill press.

luckily for my cold hands, a drill press can be run with gloves on!

and the result...

a new line of letterpress keychains!

oops, forgot the drumroll.

an everyeskimo original,

with a love of wood, words, modern history

and subtle style.

the first batch will be hitting the shop this afternoon.

and just for you, i'm offering a free shipping discount!

{ on letterpress keychains only, good until the new year }

simply enter the words "word nerd"

in the notes-to-seller when you check out

and i will send you a shipping refund.

'cause i love you, you know.

xo. r

( afterwards )

2011-11-28T15:09:00.001-05:00

thankful for a long weekend.

time spent with family.

time spent with my beloved.

thankful to be able to give myself a break.

instead of trying to compete with black friday & cyber monday

and all the craziness that can bring on...

instead i gave myself permission to take the long weekend slowly.

i started a project that's been too long put off.

sewed at a leisurely pace.

enjoyed breakfast out. an afternoon drink. a nap.

and switch off the tv in favor of a book and a warm blanket.

now i'm recharged and ready to go.

there are new vintage finds being put onto the shop shelves.

along with three winter pocket bears

and one burberry fox.

and soon, something new to share!

hope you all had a wonderful holiday yourselves.

(and thanks to one lovely reader, i think we'll have a double friday fuzzy this week!)

xo. r

( ear you go )

2011-11-22T12:15:00.001-05:00

one of the most beautiful songs ever.

incredible to watch it come to life.

we are also building a home.

watching it come to life has been incredible, but ever so slow.

we looked at existing houses for nearly a year

before realizing that we wanted something a little different.

we wanted open space in a private setting,

something sustainable that would age gracefully.

and we wanted room for a family.

we scrapped traditional floor plans

and embraced a layout that will work with the way we really live.

getting rid of formal entries, formal dining rooms, and other lost spaces.

and making more room for communal areas.

best of all, there will be a separate studio space for me.

a place where i can work, and photograph, make a mess

and walk away from it all at the end of the day.

we've worked hard all summer to clear the land

and track down reclaimed materials.

we're spending the winter finalizing plans and lining up trades.

and in spring, construction will finally begin.

i've been holding this secret close to my chest.

afraid that my bubble would burst.

but i think the time is right

to build a home.

xo. r

( small & sweet )

2011-11-21T19:42:00.001-05:00

this week's favorite flea market find: a super tiny little french bulldog.

seriously, he's teensy. and i love the little touches of rust.

and now that it's getting colder, the little bears are getting dressed for winter.

miss wilma in pink's been sold, but the other two are still up for grabs in the shop!

hope you had a great weekend.

every day seems to be getting busier around here!

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-11-18T14:26:00.001-05:00

here

i'm speechless.

bunnies are made entirely out of cute.

xo. r

( squirrel )

2011-11-17T10:20:00.001-05:00

a little squirrel just finished up for a custom order.

she's made from a vintage camelhair fabric with a rescued tail.

she has a little apron for wiping acorn crumbs on.

***

a good friend asked me if i ever take custom orders i'm worried about.

and the answer is yes, i do. this squirrel and the otter were two of them.

i'm never quite certain how they're going to turn out.

(hells bells, even patterns i've used ten times can come out with a surprise.)

but when it's a custom order, i have to figure my way through it.

i can't get discouraged and abandon it.

sometimes i have to make several versions to get to an end result i can be proud of.

and of course, this amount of work isn't really reflected in the price.

but i think what i learn from it is worth the extra work.

lessons learned from squirrels.

xo. r

( unmartha )

2011-11-14T19:11:00.001-05:00

keeping a 913 square foot house clean isn't too difficult.

keeping a 913 square foot house clean with

two people, three dogs and a full time vintage business...

that's another matter entirely.

i thought a schedule would help.

i thought perhaps martha stewart's schedule would help.

there's even printable checklists. ( here )

they're organized by day, week, month, and season.

i was off to a good start.

i can make the bed, sort the mail, and sweep the kitchen floor.

but after that, things kind of fell apart.

it was a very long list...

anyone have any super secret tips for staying on top of

dog hair, dirt and general mess?

perhaps i can tie dust cloths to the dog's feet?

xo. r

( afterglow )

2011-11-14T13:22:00.001-05:00

the weekend afterglow

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-11-11T16:09:00.001-05:00

here

i am so very partial to bulldogs.

french, english or american.

i wonder if life will ever work out so i have one of each?

bulldog menagerie!

which do you think will snore the loudest?

{ i do apologize for a late posting, i got distracted by some vintage hunting.

kofod larsen, industrial lighting, and cashmere & camel coats... }

have a great weekend!

xo. r

( fancy )

2011-11-10T09:03:00.000-05:00

an unlikely sugarplum fairy

a fine fox, dressed in antique lace trimmed in fur, with a brocade belly

the fanciest of wild beasts.

xo. r

( tuesday treat )

2011-11-08T14:05:00.001-05:00

since i owe you last week's friday fuzzy,

you get this surprise tuesday treat. ta da!

dunerunner

this sweet little fellow

was my inspiration for this river otter.

frankly, i'm a bit sad she was a custom request

i would have liked to keep her for myself!

she's floating on her back without a care in the world,

clutching flowers she found on the bank very carefully in her tiny paws.

vintage fabric, antique lace and antique bridal flowers.

{ i love these materials so much, i can't hardly stand it }

xo. r

( back again )

2011-11-07T08:41:00.000-05:00

quartercup

we went to connecticut for a long weekend.

it might be the most beautiful state i've ever been in.

rolling hills. old woods with hidden waterfalls.

small doors disappearing into hillsides that took all my self-restraint

to not go knocking upon.

we went to new york for a day.

the beer was expensive.

the boots were all fabulous.

i didn't take a single picture.

which is about the point i realized i will never be a photographer.

i want to see the world through my eyes, not a lens.

it was a lovely weekend.

i suppose you will have to take my word on that

for there aren't any images.

hope you had a wonderful weekend yourself.

it's good to be home again.

xo. r

( hush )

2011-11-02T11:34:00.000-04:00

here

quiet this week

just for a break

i'll be back soon

xo. r

( something new )

2011-10-30T16:43:00.001-04:00

for a long time, i've had a little idea brewing...

an oeufling mobile.

seems simple enough, but this one took ages to pull together.

five oeuflings, in shades of green, have been sitting on my desk

wondering what was taking so long.

i couldn't quite wrap my head around how i wanted to hang them.

what to string them with, what to hang them from.

( do you know there's no such thing as a pre-made mobile base? not that i wanted to use one,

but i wanted to look at them. i see a small market there.... )

and the more complicated i made everything, the less i liked it.

i finally stopped fighting myself

and decided to work with the simple materials i love most.

a sturdy branch, dappled with bits of grey-green lichen.

and waxed thread, so the oeufling seem to float against the background.

easy does it.

but a few good things did come from all my trial and error.

it wouldn't have occurred to me to seal the branch if i hadn't been sealing a failed option.

( i'm so glad i did, it brought out all the colors so nicely.)

and a great packing solution for the long strands.

(if you're like me, and untangling hangers is your worst nightmare,

a tangle of oeuflings might just drive you off the edge!)

trail and error and finally success!

these little guys will be going into the shop soon

and hopefully oeufling mobile no. 2 won't take me another three months.

any color requests?

xo. r

( grey and white )

2011-10-29T11:32:00.002-04:00

two little ones in shades of grey and white

available here.

now back to finishing up custom orders.

it's been a stitching whirlwind around here!

xo. r

( fun for all ages )

2011-10-28T18:06:00.004-04:00

had quite a bit of fun photographing these little wood toys for a shop update.

two jointed wood monkeys and a sweet elephant with satchels for carrying things.

a good toy is a joy at any age.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-10-28T10:04:00.004-04:00

here

come now, don't let's be silly.

(said the mad hatter to alice)

xo. r

( a cup of coffee )

2011-10-26T18:50:00.001-04:00

a really good cup of coffee is such an indescribable joy.

so pleased to have a coffee shop like commonwealth in my neck of the woods.

it's slow, decadent and incredibly personal.

they pay close attention to the beauty in the brew.

the decor is spot on... feeling both professional and a bit like your best friend's house.

and may i recommend the latte brewed with housemade condensed milk?

of course, wonderful company didn't hurt either.

(thanks for a wonderful afternoon, melissa & colleen!)

xo. r

( art and love )

2011-10-23T22:52:00.000-04:00

to me, love has always been a pas de deux.

a beautiful idea. chloé suits better than a tutu.

i do recommend watching this in fullscreen. it's breathtaking.

{ via frolic. via nowness. via janie taylor's feet. }

xo. r

( shop update )

2011-10-23T20:37:00.001-04:00

industrial mechanics cabinet

huge mid century teak lamp

huge antique drawer

egg cup trio

hamilton letterpress printers tray

gorgeous coral branches

just finished a sunday night shop update!

some great vintage finds coming this week...

including some of the larger pieces i've been dragging my heels about.

( i even linked the images for you! nice, eh?)

hope you had a great weekend.

xo. r

( nesting )

2011-10-22T16:43:00.001-04:00

it began with just one innocent quilt. {here}

and under the guise of prepping for winter in the everyeskimo shop,

quilts began to follow me home.

i started to sort & photograph them for the shop

and i find i'm having an unbearably hard time parting with any of them.

they come from such a different time.

worn out clothes were carefully saved, the smallest pieces salvaged.

sewn into something beautiful, backed with whatever could be found.

(two of these are backed with old feedsacks, soft and pliant with age.)

and then, they were used until the cotton blistered,

the small stitches began to let go and they wore through.

so much history in one blanket.

how do you put a price on that?

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-10-21T06:10:00.000-04:00

if this squirrel comes by my house, i'm going to ask it to move in.

i hope it does.

xo. r

( within )

2011-10-20T21:20:00.002-04:00

converted into houses

by far, my favorite blog technology

is linkwithin, which lets me hop & bop between posts in a blog.

a few curious clicks and i found myself here

on lauren's lovely blog, dear golden

i do love houseplants.

ever so much more than outdoor plants.

such interesting shapes, and the occasional delight of a bloom or two.

patrick is very patient with me when i come waltzing into the room

to share a wee bud or new growth.

i could definitely be at home in this space.

right. at. home.

and you could come visit any time...

xo. r

( little dog lost )

2011-10-20T18:22:00.002-04:00

little dog lost

grey, worn & footsore

( if you're in michigan, the huron valley humane society is well over capacity

and in desperate need of homes for pets. free barn cats! )

xo. r

( ear you go )

2011-10-18T10:18:00.002-04:00

i haven't shared any music in awhile

{ sorry for that }

all children's music should be this good.

by elizabeth mitchell.

enjoy.

xo. r

( nap )

2011-10-17T22:12:00.002-04:00

napping on the big couch is a pretty popular weekend activity around here.

bump likes to tuck in by the feet.

otis wants to be in your face.

either way, it's pretty much the best nap ever.

{jeez-o-peet, if i yammer this much about four-legged-loves,

just think what a nightmare i'll be when we have children! }

xo. r

( fall )

2011-10-15T20:40:00.000-04:00

a fall ritual.

a long hike through the woods

to the cider mill on the other side.

a doughnut for each of us ( one for the dog too )

and a gallon of cider to take home.

today, i caved in & bought some homemade fudge.

now, we're huddled up by the fire.

faces aglow in the light of the laptops.

happily sipping cider with a splash of captain morgan.

a fall ritual i will never tire of.

xo. r

{ ps. i am on instagram, and i think you can follow me there. but i can't tell you how, since i've never been able to figure it out myself. we laughed today, thinking we'll be sharing old photos with our future children by telling them about instagram and facebook.

which will both, of course, be obsolete by then. }

( friday fuzzy )

2011-10-14T14:06:00.001-04:00

here

i had the opportunity to spend some time with a donkey last weekend.

they are incredible up close. their proportions are so much different in person

than they seem in pictures. large liquid eyes. and that enchanting tufting down their neck.

they are such sweet creatures, if perhaps a bit stubborn.

it's hard to understand how the word "donkey" has such negative connotations.

hope you have a wonderful weekend.

xo. r

( 2012 )

2011-10-13T22:39:00.000-04:00

yes. yes i am already stalking 2012 calendars.

these are two of my favorites.

( 1 ) printed on linen by bookhou at home

( 2 ) flashcard inspired by whisker graphics

i have yet to hunt down a version that includes space

for notes, schedules & plans. never fear, my love of organizing

shall certainly lead to many more calendar crushes.

xo. r

( checked out )

2011-10-13T16:08:00.004-04:00

i can't seem to get the hang of this week.

i feel a bit foggy and rather blank.

i do hope next week is better, more in focus.

do you have weeks like that?

like your head is just a sieve and everything is flowing through

and pouring right back out the tiny holes?

i don't know what this image is.

it's odd. and frail. it might just melt away in your hands.

from an ambitious project collapsing

those words make sense to me today.

xo. r

( fall in the forest )

2011-10-10T17:25:00.001-04:00

i can't tell you how much i like the work

of jonathan levitt. { grassdoe }

something about his photos,

i am aware of both camera & photographer...

but it feels so personal,

like i am laying flat on the forest floor

{ the moss is quite cool, nearly damp }

i can reach out my hand

and cup the fragile edges of the trumpet.

it feels real.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-10-07T10:01:00.003-04:00

here

this shell comes with a turtle.

how quaint.

hope you have a wonderful weekend!

xo. r

( insides )

2011-10-06T16:33:00.002-04:00

i didn't find my favorite pair of slippers

until i cut away their outsides.

the canvas underneath, striped and stained from the glue

was far more perfect than the preppy stripe sweater-knit

previously covering it.

it's what's inside that counts, you know?

xo. r

( natural history )

2011-10-06T16:24:00.002-04:00

brittle bones, lost teeth, shed skins,

stag horns, woven nests, delicate shells,

science labs, diagrams

coral branches and tender curls of moss.

natural history has always fascinated me.

( these great finds are in the shop. so hard to share sometimes! )

xo. r

2011-10-05T11:39:00.001-04:00

( skunk )

2011-10-03T21:42:00.002-04:00

a wee little skunk.

i conveniently omitted the stink glands.

( he is of course, too well-behaved to go around stinking people. )

he was designed after these little skunks who make me all melty.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-09-30T11:08:00.000-04:00

dreamy whites

yes, bunnies do deserve their own personal vintage grain sack cushions.

looks like a beautiful life.

based on what happened behind the garage earlier this week,

i do not think a bunny would have a beautiful life in this house.

the dogs do however, now each have their own lucky rabbit's foot.

well, on that note... happy friday.

xo. r

( twelve )

2011-09-30T10:50:00.000-04:00

a sweet pair commissioned for twelve years of marriage.

they each have twelve tiny stripes to mark twelve wonderful years.

xo. r

( bed )

2011-09-28T13:38:00.003-04:00

i am embarrassingly, overwhelmingly stupid with the sewing machine.

needle and thread, i'm fine. sewing machine, near disaster.

so why, this morning, when i was non-functioning exhausted tired,

did i decide to tackle recovering the little dog's beds?

because it seemed easier than moving the sewing machine.

i've been saving up this old italian army blanket for just this purpose.

and i'm glad to say it's working out nicely. i even got the stripes lined up all the way 'round.

it's so hard to find non-ugly dog beds... hence the antique slat beds and adventures in sewing.

otis had a hard time understanding why he had to stay off the cushion

while i'm took pictures. he eventually gave up and lay down next to it.

xo. r

( doe )

2011-09-28T08:59:00.002-04:00

a delicate little doe with twiggy pin legs.

i wandered a bit with her, doing a few stitches here and there between other projects.

and i finally realized how very much i like her and her odd ways.

some of them just grow on you like that.

i overyoga-ed last night.

and the espresso machine broke.

i can barely see straight this morning,

sleepyface.

xo. r

( tiny fawn )

2011-09-26T09:37:00.000-04:00

absolutely in love with this work by tiny fawn

the layered paper and suggestions of shapes,

the dimensional elements and the shadow lines...

it all reminds me so much of some of the books i grew up with as a kid.

perfect for a little one's room.

sweet but not saccharine.

so charmed.

xo. r

( kittenhood )

2011-09-25T22:08:00.000-04:00

if children have childhoods

then fox kittens must have kittenhoods.

this little grey fox is just out of kittenhood

full of questions and interesting ideas.

{ he's in the shop }

he's the last of the foxes for a little while

as i'll be busy with some custom orders.

stitch. stitch. stitch.

hope you have a wonderful week ahead of you.

xo. r

( humble hankie )

2011-09-23T10:17:00.002-04:00

once again, it seems to be allergy season for me.

and that means lots and lots of delicate dabbing at my eyes and nose.

the thrifty side of me balks at constantly running to the kleenex box.

and all of me balks at my mom's solution of shop grade paper towel.

i do not look nice with cherry red, raw nose. not at all.

then i spotted the basket of lovely hankies on my dresser,

and i thought, "why not?"

softer than tissue, a little bit of lovely

and so easy to throw in the wash with the delicates.

it makes allergy season just a little less awful.

( of course, patrick will insist on calling them snot rags,

but he's a boy and not to be minded too much. )

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-09-23T09:52:00.003-04:00

jovis thean

first mouse deer.

now hog deer.

what will mother nature roll out next?

xo. r

( snapshot: an isolated observation )

2011-09-21T16:16:00.000-04:00

had a great vintage hunting trip yesterday

and as always, managed to find a little something for myself.

i dragged home this antique bed, of course for a dog bed.

it has a slatted bottom held by woven roping. i'm going to need to rerope it,

but the little ones don't mind for now. and i have plans to make a larger cushion for it.

of course, there's the small problem that i've plunked an entire bed frame down

in the middle of our dining room. but the dogs aren't complaining.

they're rather used to me walking around them,

stepping over them and moving aside for them.

four legged terrors.

yours are much better behaved i assume?

xo. r

( rain )

2011-09-19T17:19:00.000-04:00

finger stuck felts

it's been a long, drizzly, grey day

and i don't mind a bit.

dark rainy days are the perfect excuse to hide in my attic studio

and stitch and stitch and stitch.

funny, even though it's technically my job

i still feel a little bit guilty when i sew.

it's too much fun to be real work.

rainy days remind me how lucky i am.

hope you're enjoying your day, and your weather, as much as i am.

xo. r

( maybe )

2011-09-17T13:17:00.000-04:00

the internet is a place to explore.

it's full of surprising little spaces.

things to accidentally find.

and sometimes they can be just as sweet & unexpected

as a tiny bird's nest with eggs waiting to hatch.

maybe.com

maybe when the moth comes back it won't be so angry.

go! find!

xo. r

( little birds )

2011-09-16T15:34:00.002-04:00

two new little birds going into the shop today

( the swallow in the middle has been spoken for already,

but she would insist on being in the picture. )

it always amazes me how each on comes out with its own distinct personality.

they have their own mind about exactly what kind of bird they'd like to be.

i just await instructions with needle & thread at the ready.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-09-16T08:06:00.000-04:00

here

i can picture this tiny chinchilla

happily cuddled up with bump. she needs a pet.

happy friday!

xo. r

( soil and water )

2011-09-14T15:51:00.004-04:00

connecticut kitchen garden

some people make gardening look like a dreamy piece of heaven.

they're liars.

some of them even have the audacity to look like they're enjoying themselves.

i survived the swarms of bees on the sedum.

luckily, they were too busy feasting to notice me staking up their supper.

or whatever they do with all that pollen.

i wasn't sure if the bushes were overgrown or just lush & abundant.

i did some pruning.

now they're lopsided and probably still overgrown.

the japanese maple looks like it's giving me the middle finger.

someday i hope to get the hang of gardening.

maybe even learn to enjoy it.

but right now, i have to go get the dirt out of my unmentionables.

xo. r

( sneak peek )

2011-09-12T14:47:00.000-04:00

industrial watchmakers cabinet

turn of the century hand carved coal scuttle

delicate hand stitched linens

industrial rolling shop stool

huge seed display case

there are some fantastic pieces coming to the shop this week!

xo. r

( hunters & explorers )

2011-09-12T14:22:00.000-04:00

two little ones being added to the shop today...

a young country wolf,

dressed for hunting in a burberry wool cape.

and a polar explorer

with a saddle bag and medal of valor.

{ awarded for great works of penguin protection }

they're peeking over my shoulder as i write

and politely pointing out typos. they're helpful chaps.

xo. r

( thrift karma )

2011-09-09T16:03:00.000-04:00

four years ago while thrifting, i found a pair of knee high wellingtons.

but i was feeling cheap and $8 seemed like an awful lot at the moment.

i left without them.

i've been kicking myself for the last four years.

today in the very same place,

i found this amazing pair of moccasin boots. (lined with thick sheepskin!)

i did not make the same mistake twice.

and karma was very, very good to me.

they were only $5.

happy toasty feet for the winter!

cheap thrill.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-09-09T09:42:00.000-04:00

here

wonder what owls eat when they're the same size as mice?

hope you enjoyed your short week (mine just flew by)

and have a great weekend!

xo. r

( you are what you love no. 7 )

2011-09-07T08:37:00.000-04:00

[ no. 7 ]

i don't wear too much jewelry,

often opting for just wedding rings and a simple vintage locket.

so, it's a bit odd to realize that a piece of jewelry

ranks rather high on my "things to save in a fire" list.

delicate and extravagant all at once. i get weak in the knees for filagree.

the stone shows wear along the facets, and i love that it was worn that much.

{ read more about this project here }

note: it's a slow project... i'm quite slow to realize which pieces mean the most to me.

xo. r

( unburdened )

2011-09-05T22:08:00.000-04:00

a sweet little beast of burden, for the moment unburdened.

she's stopped for a snack of sweet clover, soaking up the afternoon sun, and drifting away in daydream. (perhaps she dreams of sugar cubes and honeycombs?)

stitched from vintage fabric and rescued leather.

she's available here.

hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend!

xo. r

( orphan )

2011-09-02T17:04:00.000-04:00

how could i possibly leave this little fellow looking so forlorn at the thrift store?

he's beautifully handmade. and look at those little wooden hooves!

i think he must have escaped from the circus.

unexpected love.

xo. r

( friday fuzzy )

2011-09-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

here

oh, yes. yes, please.

happy friday! hope you have a lovely long weekend.

xo. r

( snapshot: an isolated observation )

2011-09-01T15:48:00.001-04:00

a wee little dog, just finished.

he fits right in the palm of your hand.

more dogs to come. four-legged babies.

xo. r