early autumn findings

Good morning,

Yesterday really felt like autumn. It was overcast, a little damp, and quite cool. So cool that I wore a little fleece when I went walking last evening! I collected these things [in the photo] along the way.

Did you see Rachel's lovely home on design*sponge yesterday? I about flipped with excitement! Thank you to Christy, who emailed me to tell me! Also, Christy & Thereza tagged me last week; I haven't forgotten ladies. Thank you!

It's Tuesday, so that means we will be posting a new set of collections at echoes. This project is so much fun! I am really enjoying working with these ladies, partly because they're good friends, and also because now it involves sending & receiving fun mail.

I just took some granola out of the oven, it smells delicious. Care for some?

have a beautiful day today, ok?
H

squares & birds & worms

[squares series | reflections series]

Good morning!

How are you? Did you have a pleasant weekend or perhaps it was rainy where you are? It stormed here last night and it's still grey out. And I will say the coffee smells really good to me. I was up late updating the shop to coincide with the launch of the new Poppytalk Handmade Market, "Mixed Tape". It really does look like a fun mix. It's exciting to be part of it, thanks Jan!

We saw a pair of yellow warblers yesterday out our kitchen window while eating brunch. [At least I think that's what they were. I got out my little birds of Kansas book to check.] I thought of Shari. We've also been seeing some American Goldfinches, perching atop our echinacea, eating the seeds. Seeing that yellow always makes me gasp!

I like these worms, don't you?

I hope you have a nice day. I'm going to pour another cup of coffee and head up to the studio.

H

ps. I should add,,, birds & worms & a big orange cat. Because right now as I've been typing this, Jack is sprawled across my lap, vying for my attention.

pps. You don't want to miss this giveaway at Linn's in celebration of her birthday. A handsewn picnic blanket, with ties! Yes, go...

Inspired : 7

[Heather | Jen]

Hello to you,

I'm taking a break from working to share one of the August duos of Inspired, the collaboration with Jen. I like looking at these two together and finding the subtle similarities. I hope you'll go see [if you haven't already] the other pair too.

It's a drizzly and overcast afternoon here, which is just fine with me. I'm working in the studio and preparing for my shop update Monday. Here's a sneak peek of the watercolor paintings I'm adding. I'll also have a couple new pinhole pieces, inspired by my own papercut patterns.

Here's two great interviews :
Shanna Murray at Stephanie's
Melissa de la Fuente at Creature Comforts

And I owe you a huge thank you for your insight the past couple days here. You brought to light aspects I hadn't considered and as I have been reading and re-reading your comments [and hope to respond soon] I've been nodding and exclaiming in agreement. So thank you so much for sharing your personal reflections.

Back to work for me and I hope a good weekend for you,
H

stop

[Noticing Project alternate from yesterday]

Good morning,

Do you ever have days where you go, go, go, and by the end, you're like a three year old who becomes a whirling dervish when tired? I suspect maybe you do? That was me yesterday. It was just a busy day and it kept going. Finally I stopped. When I got home the house was quiet.
Q u i e t .
I warmed a cookie, made some yogi breathe deep tea, sat down, and read some interesting and thought provoking blogs.

After reading Lisa's post and one she linked to, I thought more about my online persona and how it relates to me in the real, three dimensional world. I don't know if I really want to completely get into this now [because I just put a plum crisp in the oven and I need to take a bath as I'm still in my pajamas] but I will say I'm a pretty quiet, somewhat shy person. And perhaps I'm not quite as outwardly exuberant as are my typed comments. I don't like to overuse the exclamation mark, but I type it alot. I don't speak very loudly or with much emphasis in conversation, so why do I type that way?

If/when I type out "love" or "perfect", in regards to something I cringe at myself. Because honestly I do not love any fantastic outfit, or a photgraph, as beautifully composed as it may be. It seems easy to type 'love' about something when in reality it is a loaded word and full of enormous meaning and can be hard to actually say to someONE. It has been watered down to describe feelings about so many things.

And about perfect, well nothing truly is faultless or unerring, is it? In our world?

Those are my little thoughts anyway, thank you for taking time to read them. Do you have thoughts on the matter?

Soon Jen and I will show you our next Inspired pieces and I hope to share a sneak peek at my work on the art card subscription pieces.

till then,
H

ps. I made a new banner. I wanted something playful,,, for a while.

today

[cuttings | pinholes]

Good morning,

How was your long weekend? Ours was a good combo of work, play and rest. I got to see these gals again, and that's always a hoot!
Yesterday I relaxed. I cut some flowers from our patch of zinnias, cosmos, cockscomb, & daisies, took a cat nap, and I also finished the above pinhole piece. It will go into the shop by Monday, Sept. 8, my next shop update. Oh, I'm going to be pulling out alot of work by then as well. Some pieces have free shipping.

I'm excited about what we are doing at echoes. You're going to see a change, starting today!

+ This is such a great project.
+ Pretty calm is pretty lovely, go see.

Today's a studio day for me, so I'll be poking some holes. Tomorrow I teach.

see ya soon,
H