simpletruths

fall harvest

Today was a beautiful, fall day here in the bay area - made even more fantastic by the discoveries in our own back yard.

we picked oranges

look - daddy has the camera

We planted a few new things in our test garden, and in the process, discovered worms and several squirrel hiding places.

The spiky things in the middle are green onions.  It is very possible that I was supposed to separate the individual bulbs ...hmmm;  one of the many reasons why I call this the test garden :)

There's mint, oregano, and a tomato plant that I planted about a month ago on a wish and a prayer (and a sale at Trade Joe's).  It's a sad looking little guy but I can't complain too much. See?

fall tomatoes

 

oregano

cilantro

Since we don't have room for an indoor herb garden (I know - what kitchen window doesn't have a ledge? Ours - booo!), we decided on a hardy variety of herbs that can survive the outdoors.

Also, the walnuts we gathered a couple of weeks ago should be ready to crack open and I'm having visions of fresh banana bread.

I know a few weeks ago I said that I wasn't going to worry about the yard until next spring.  I don't really consider these few little plants as "doing something" with the back yard.  Aside from the little 6 x 3 foot plot of dirt - the rest of the yard is pretty much left on it's own.  

happy ears

I know I promised a picture of various, cosy neck accessories.  But this past Saturday afternoon something amazing happened.  We came back from quick trip to the beach  

and the little guy immediately went down for a nap...and then the big guy took a nap too!

So I got comfy in a little spot by the window with a cup of tea, a magazine, and some thread.

Over the course of the hour I had done a once-through in the magazine - one that had been sitting, untouched,  for a couple of weeks.

I also made these: 

oh - and do you see my awesome chalkboard door in the background? LOVE!

weekend artist inspiration

Morgan Ersery

 

For those of you interested in the visual arts, i invite you to take a gander at this amazing artist's website. 

 

can you spot Miles?

Of the pieces she's done most recently, my favorites are her paintings on wood, but she also has some great mixed media pieces. If you're not able to see them in person - she's currently working on her MFA at Parsons in New York, just multiple their online fabulousness by 100.  

 

You won't find the above piece on the site; it is a piece that she painted just for her nephew. 

In the spirit of full disclosure - I should also say that she is my little sister :) 

It's wonderful to have an artist in the family.

There's also a great write up of her by Lauren Smith on 12ftdwende.

Earrings

As promised, here are some pictures of some of my most recent earrings. 

Fans:

 

Corkscrews:

 

 

Next photo-shoot - pretty and cozy ways to keep you neck warm this winter.

Visual Proof

I just realized that It's been months since I posted a picture of any of the projects I've been working on or the things I've finished.

I hope to remedy that this weekend.  I've figured out a few things about my new camera and I've found a few nice spots in the house to set up a little photo shoot of sorts.

In the meantime, this will have to tide you over...

Rainy day thoughts

Having a bit of a panic attack of sorts.  The kind I know is silly and will pass shortly but, in the moment, quite urgent. 

I hope I’m a good mom.  I mean really, that’s a lot of pressure – much of it self afflicted. 

I also want to garden, and sew, and knit and crochet and cook and dance and play and teach and love and be loved and I, of course, feel like it ALL needs to be done right now. 

Oh, there’s just so much doing to be done. 

Almost every night, after the little one has been put to bed, and dinner has been eaten– you'll find me standing in the dining room, staring at the dishes in the kitchen, or the stuff I still haven't organized on the table, or the unfinished scarf/pair of earrings/hat….just staring. 

I know that I can only pick one before my mind becomes completely useless, but I'm steadily working through scenarios in my head where all three can be completed, if not simultaneously, then at least in rapid succession.
At some point, when my mind starts racing faster than I can realistically keep up, I hear this calm voice of reason “Julia, come sit down.”  And that’s really all I need most nights, to cuddle on the couch with my husband, a skein of yarn, a glass of wine and Top Chef from the previous night (what did I do before DVR?).
 
I know, I know I try to do too much. And then the thought of everything I want to do paralyzes me - until nothing gets done. 

This fall my mantra is ‘pick one thing’ 

 For now, the yard will have to wait.  I'm content just enjoying the walnuts and oranges - but come springtime it's on!

That one thing is etsy/artfire.  I hope to have a few pieces (earrings, button scarves, and knitted cowls) up on etsy and possibly artfire by the end of this month. Yea I know,  3 weeks isn’t a lot of time, but I've thought it out.

• I’ve been sitting on several pairs of half finished earrings for about a month
• I’d planned on doing a small local sales event of sorts on that day, but it fell through
• If I work on a little each day then it's plenty of time
• I’m not trying to stock my shop like I’m Macy’s; a few, well made items is all I’d like to start with.

But assuming someone actually wants to buy something – I’m looking for nice, inexpensive, packaging ideas…anyone?

Defining Space

My little crafty corner is starting to come together; complete with a desk just big enough to hold my sewing machine, with a few drawers for needles, hooks and the like.  Then, on my last trip to the Alameda Antiques Fair I found this little gem  

So far, the only thing I have on the shelves are a few little jars of buttons.  (I've got a little bit of handitack holding each one down -  earthquakes aren't gentle on small glass jars).  

 In one of the drawers I've hidden some of my almost finished earrings

 

The space is still a work in progress, but it feels great just to have a place other than the dining room table and living room floor, and some semblance of organization that doesn't revolve around large plastic bins.   I'll probably never have a swanky room with cubbies just for yarn, and fabric organized by color and material.  But luckily, none of those things are that important to me.  As long as I'm not relegated to sewing on the dining room table I'm a happy camper.

Play

 

no time to stop for pictures

Birds on a wire

Isaiah didn't have a mobile when he was a baby but he loves to fall asleep after being put in a trance-like state by a dimly glowing light, or the silhouette of trees swaying in the wind.  

As I've been completely put off by the price and dismayed at our every increasing plastic consumption, I toyed with several DIY mobile ideas over the last year: sewing little owls, birds or assorted woodland creatures; using colorful scrap yarn to crochet all kinds of random shapes; using wooden dowels, sticks from the tree in the front yard...then I happened upon a box of origami paper I bought a million years ago. 

Then I found this post on Jordan Ferney's  blog, that I happen to adore, and tada!

Isaiah loves his new birds (burrr in Isaiah-ese).  I currently have them hanging (much to the hubby's chagrin I'm sure) in the middle of the room from a little clip on the light fixture.  Isaiah and I think it's a wonderful location but Mr. Man's head sits about a foot higher in the air than mine so he tends to get up close and personal with the origami cranes every time he changes a diaper...oh well. All's fair in love, war and crafts.