woven

two new weavings headed into the shop today. i'm having some heartache over the all white one as a lot of it is woven from my mom's hand spun wool. the sheep's name was max.

xo. r

new and news

oh, yes. there are some new pieces due in the shop (very) soon. i am always excited when there is a fox on the work table. unfortunately, it seems i have been too busy to get to my favorite pieces lately. this is sort of an uncomfortable topic to talk about, but as this "busyness" is to be happening more and more often, it seems the idea that's been dwelling in the back of my mind and growing day by day must be put upon the table.prices. i haven't changed them much in the last five years, but my work has changed quite a bit. (i've never even charged extra for custom work, which is obviously just a bit silly.) deep inside, i am so honored and grateful that so many of you have chosen to buy an oh, albatross handmade piece for your home or for a loved one, that i tend to forget about the value of my own time and process. after many late nights of bloodshot eyes and aching fingers, as well as a nagging unrest in the back of my mind... yes dears, prices will be going up a bit.but there's a shiny little glimmer of good news... the new prices will include free domestic shipping (and a much-reduced international rate). and, as a wee gifty to my return customers (because i think you're amazing, and i am so, so thankful for you), send me a convo for 15% off your next handmade piece.

in semi-related news... a pierrot bear!! i've been thinking about him for ages and i couldn't be happier about how he turned out with his antique baubles and matelasse cap. in semi-unrelated news... i spotted a fox in our front yard yesterday! i had no hope of ever seeing one, because i didn't think they lived in this area at all. and yet, there he was... red and black and clever as can be. FOX!

okay, enough rambling from me. i'm off to pop these wee brethren in the shop. remember... hit me up for your discount!

xo. r

spring sale!

i'm ringing in the glorious month of april with a three day sale! 20% off all vintage finds until midnight on april 3rd.

maybe it's just me, but i always think the house needs a little refresh in spring... something to shake off those heavy winter months and breathe new life into my surroundings.

shop the sale, here. (hope i get to send a pretty package your way!)

xo. r

bunnies

it doesn't look like spring outside yet... at least not here. (mostly snow with mud patches, bah.) but in the shop, it's all bunnies. hooray, bunnies.

xo. r

playing catch up

it's been two straight weeks of catch up after the featured shop shenanigans. (and i am so grateful to everyone who made a purchase or left a kind note. it makes all the hard work utterly worth it.) but the past few days i've been back to my needle and thread, finishing up projects that were began well before the hubbub.

there is a pretty spring sparrow, a few attack sheep, and a dear little grey bunny with paisley ears now available in the shop. (this year, i may even be prepared for easter with bunnies and sheep and sweet little creatures to tuck in easter baskets!)

hopefully things will slow down a bit and i can get back to a slightly more regular appearance here. i have one introspective sort of post that's been brewing in my head for a while… soon, soon!

xo. r

a dream come true

pretty darned excited to be etsy's featured shop this week. it's a huge honor, and when i let myself stop and drink it all in for a moment, it's something i'm immensely proud of. this wee little shoplet of mine, i'm proud enough to take it out for ice cream. (fortunately there's a pint of haagen-dazs squirreled away in the freezer and i don't have to wrap the shop and i up in scarves and mittens to have a celebratory treat.)

you can read the interview here and take a few new peeks around the studio, too! it's almost like having you all over for an open house!

xo. r

(and, umm… if you're in the mood to shop, there was the biggest shop update in the history of shop updates this morning. there are some fabulous pieces just waiting to be scooped up!)

sometimes the sea

perhaps it's just a reflection of this long winter, but the shop has taken on such a rich flavor of the sea recently. i find myself gravitating towards the muted tones, the rich mariner histories, and the natural texture granted to anything that has spent over long in the water. 

fishing floats in glass and wood, large coral specimens, achingly beautiful shells repurposed as lamps and chimes, carved wood shorebirds, and an unusual wicker and leather fishing creel chair. all arriving in the shop today!

to the sea, my love.

xo. r

an update of sorts

it's been one of the craziest holiday seasons yet with lots of sewing, lots of shipping, lots of finishing up projects at the new house and lots of packing (while at the same time trying to keep a functional home and shop). truthfully, i am starting to fray a little.

but this is the exhilarating, chaotic and joyful kind of stress. where good things are happening and there's a lovely big change on the horizon. the kind where you fall down exhausted and laughing with it. i'm not sure how many more shop updates there will be before christmas, but i snuck in a lovely little one today. you know, for fun.

there is a luck rabbit & a winter fox to claim. a whole collection of big antique keys and a few dear ones. an antique hanging scale that is just all kinds of perfect. and an attack sheep to guard your holiday hearth. get'cher holiday shopping on, my loves!

psst… what do you think of the blog's new look?

xo. r

dear beasties

new in the shop! wee pink pig | poky pup | the dear ones

my fingertips are near worn through, but there's still lots to do! i'm doing my best to restock foxes and the dear ones before the holidays. i'm so grateful for the support of my customers and readers. i just can't thank you enough for letting me do what i love!

xo. r

bird brain

finally finished up this little heron - i think she's my favorite yet. sometimes i just plain dawdle over the birds, finishing them up a little at a time and then all at once, feverishly in the middle of the night. i'll be adding her to the shop shortly, where she can join her other bird friends. (i just had to gather them all for a rare group picture. obviously i have a complete disregard for scale.)

i shall leave you with the obvious… bird is the word!

xo. r

(psst... don't forget to stop by the small wonders sale with one kings lane! it starts tonight.)

peace and spirit

a fox at peace with the coming winter and three new house spirits… just added to the shop! (and oh, how i love that little fox in her layers of white.) also, a few dear ones will be making their way to the shop as well.

and, of course, it's time to start stocking up for the holiday. pretty little tinsel puffs and feather birds. i'll do a holiday post shortly. but as i do sort of cringe at the early holiday prep (for goodness sake, christmas bits and bobs have been showing up in the shops since well before halloween. and the halloween candy was available before school started up in the fall … where does it end?) i won't make too much of a shenanigan about it here.

xo. r

unplanned update

so there may have been a huge unplanned handmade shop update. i didn't see it coming but there i was with an armful of the dear ones and some foxes and a few birds and one lonesome giraffe, all clamoring to be put in the shop. seriously, it's a huge shop update. so maybe go have a meet & greet with the wee friendly beasties. they're all quite eager. 

(and on a side note… last week was grey and quiet and rainy and so was i. apparently i placated my moods with some out of control sewing. i remember taking a break to go buy thread and the boy needed some socks. the rest is sort of a haze and a vague memory of sore fingers.)

xo. r

trick or treat

a surprise sale for halloween. two days only… 25% everything in the vintage finds section! 

bunting update!

umm… huge bunting update in the shop. just saying. (get 'em here)

xo. r

we've got spirit, yes we do

new house spirits just added to the shop! this time in bright new colors. it's some of the most beautiful felt i've had the pleasure to work with from a favorite local shop, felt on the fly. there's nothing like a big colorful stack of gorgeous felt to make me feel like sewing up house spirits all day long.

xo. r

the dear ones

the dear ones. now available in the shop. they are so much fun to make, and they feel just perfect in your hand. named after two very dear songs (hey jim james & my brightest diamond, i hope you're feeling it) and just in time for the holidays. now, off to make more because... yep, it's fun!

xo. r