Well, now it does.

Though the wool is felted and will not fray, there was something about having a raw edge there at the top that was bothering me.   I’ve finally found a way to resolve that little dilemma with a bit of fancy, stretchy trim.

It provides a finished, clean edge without compromising the function of the coozie.  In fact, it makes it even better because it prevents the top edge from stretching out over time.

Lookin’ pretty sharp for a beer, eh?

And yes, you can buy them.  I give in.  Coming soon!

This year I think the dandelions have won.  Sorry neighbors.

A pleasant moment in front of the screen…a much different scene than mama all hunched up trying to integrate web design into the old brain cells.  Ouch.

Something shiny for Mother’s Day…the fruits of which will be unveiled soon.

My new favorite spot.

Watching things grow.  Cascade hops in this case–we’re hoping to finally harvest enough for a batch of homegrown homebrew this year.

Learning about natural plant dyeing from our local guru, Tina Gilchrist, at Total Immersion Fiber Day.  There will be much more about this in the months to come.  You know it.

Felting, washing, cutting, sewing.  Anyone wanna know some tricks on felting wool sweaters?  I have a little experience in that department…

And waiting for supplies.  Patiently.  Honestly, I’m trying to be patient but this is almost like Christmas.

More soon!

Covering buttons, one by one…

These will be in coordinating sets at the Saturday market, which begins June 17.

So instead of taking more pictures of the new tea blends, I got myself into a tizzy and created four more.  I’ll just show you some gratuitous Montana shots instead while I tell you about the new teas.

This beautiful place we call home is a major component of the inspiration, after all.

I’ll go into further explanation as the details get a little more solid, but for today I thought I would let you know the names of the new crew:

• Move Me Brightly
• The Peacock’s Fancy
• Glorybound
• Sacred Earth
• Green Go Lightly
• Prairie Shine
• Firedancer
• Beloved
• Black Moon
• Mountain Morning

Yep.  That’s ten teas that have erupted out of the flurry of flowers, herbs, spices, and top quality teas over the last few days.  It was really fun but I think I’d better take a break for awhile.  I’m a little crazy from all the caffeine.

Whoops, forgot one.  Woodland Maiden.  That one has hops.  And sticks.

So as soon as I get all the names rounded up, I’ll announce the winner of the Tea for Two set on Tumblr (you can see it in the sidebar over there under “current state of mind” ~ it also automatically posts to Facebook).  Thank you to everyone who entered!  I’m excited to see who gets to be the first to try Move Me Brightly–as for everyone else, it will be available on Etsy pretty quick.

As cute as my little beans are, being a mama is tough work.  Each and every day is peppered with breathtakingly adorable moments like this one, but there are indeed times when the work of mothering becomes an endurance test that could take down any Iron Man competitor.  Easily.

A friend once told me that “raising children is like being pecked to death by chickens”.

Exercises in deep breathing are essential, hiding in the bathroom at times with a stash of chocolate also helps.

In honor of myself and mothers everywhere, I have composed a new tea blend this week that is sure to inspire strength, a sense of calm, and a tiny moment of bliss when you really, really need it.  This is a light blend, made with organically grown white tea, lavender, and rose.

It smells like heaven and almost involuntarily prompts those deep breaths.  Kind of a mama time out.

The tea will be hitting the pages of my etsy shop very soon, but first it needs a name.  Something elegant and representative of the honor and beauty of motherhood.  Something that sounds relaxing.  Something this mother of a teether is too tired to come up with at the moment, so I think it’s time for a good old fashioned giveaway!

Leave a comment here or on Facebook if you have an idea, or leave a comment anyway if you’d like to try it and are too tired to think of a name.  Either way.  The winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Tuesday, May 11 sometime before I drag my weary self into bed.  Prize includes two reusable teabags made from organic unbleached cotton, two ounces of this beautiful handcrafted tea, and a little satchel made from vintage fabric.  Oh, and a set of chopsticks of course.

Thank you and good luck!

*** void where prohibited ***

So yesterday I was monkeying around with a new skein of yarn, trying various backgrounds and techniques in order to capture the spirit of the yarn in its best light.  Grey is  far outside of the scope of my jewel tone comfort zone so I’m finding it a bit difficult.  A basic white background washes it out, the rustic wooden tabletops that I love so much do it no justice…what colors go well with grey?

Another technique I tried was taking photos of the yarn on top of a mirror.  Though it didn’t quite give me the results I was looking for, I was happy with what unfolded nonetheless:

What I really like here is the spontaneous color combinations and the extra detail that the mirror shows on the yarn.   I know it’s not “the money shot” for selling the skein, but with a bit more editing I will most likely choose it for my portfolio.

Like the new widget?  Please feel free to copy and paste the code in the text box (over there on the sidebar) in order to link to my blog.  I’m working on a couple more in different sizes as well–stay tuned for updates.

So while I’m doing some behind the scenes geekery, you can catch my posts over at The Yarn Shop and Fiber Place.  The Yarn Shop is my fiber mecca here in Bozeman and I’m pretty sure it’s the best yarn shop ever.  I’m in the process of helping them move gracefully into the 21st Century with a new format and look, a Facebook Fan Page, and Barb has taken quite a shine to Twitter.  We would love to have you join us in whatever way works for you, including stopping by for some face-to-face time.

Keep checking in to see the tinkerings!  Almost done with all the layout work!

It’s challenging.  And good.  And I’m having fun with it so far.

One of the elements that I like about participating in something like this is that it becomes surprisingly personal.  I’m looking inside and out to discover exactly what it is that makes me tick in regards to personal style.  I’ve been browsing fashion sites, flickr groups, and inspirational blogs to open up new perspectives, and I’ve been caught up in the feelings of lack and out-of-placeness that come from checking in with fashion sites, flickr groups, and inspirational blogs.

And I’ve come home to the foundations.  The core.  Elements that create the essence of me.

When I was about 20 years old, I remember stumbling onto a bumper sticker that simply said, “I Am”.  I knew this was valuable information, something to be tucked away and stored and pondered over, but I didn’t really get it at the time.  I think I’m starting to get it.  The lesson is one that only comes from watching the days flow in and out, stealthily taking time by the hand and passing it under my feet.

That’s a deep and fancy way of telling you how wise I’ve become in my thirties.

What I do know is that everything changes.  But I am always me.  I am always here.  I am always doing what I do.  Here changes, what I do sways with the breeze, the pieces of the puzzle fit in different patterns from days to weeks to years, but I still value the same foundations that I have held close to my heart my whole life.  It’s good to know that now that I’m passing those little parts and pieces of myself on to other human beings, and I’ve done my best to polish up the tarnished spots and to repair the bits that came home damaged.

No matter what, I always Am.

In the moment.  On my way to something.  In love.  Enjoying myself.  Wondering.  Thinking about something else.  Happy.  Content.  Fulfilled.  Challenged.  Hopeful.  Baking.  Sewing.  Learning.  Nurturing.

Kind.  Graceful.  Blessed.

Even when I’m irritated and frustrated and impatient and tired and crabby and in the crappiest of moods.  I Am.

And I must admit, it’s kind of fun to find ways that express that in something as impermanent and fleeting as clothing.  It’s a challenge–and not my usual kind of challenge.  A challenge of the utmost kind, indeed.

So I begin with something easy and familiar.

Skirts.

And an old skill that I haven’t visited since those days of 20.  With this first piece, I honor all that I Am.  I also honor all that I Was.  Because while 20 was a pretty good year, it’s a part of me that still hurts sometimes even though I wish it didn’t.

In gratitude, I make this skirt for a young lady I knew a long time ago.  She was a whiz at embroidery.  And she was rather fond of faeries.

Before Annabelle was born, I laid out a plan of what I thought I could actually achieve with an infant and a toddler underfoot.

I knew that physically creating would be a challenge (to say the least…) so while she was very, very tiny and liked to sleep all the time, I learned to make my own handspun yarn.  Once the wheel became too exciting for tiny hands to resist, I moved into the next phase of the plan, switched gears and focused on laying out the website of my dreams.  I have been deeply immersed in learning the skills to make this happen–not an easy feat.  It’s just about there though and I’m pretty satisfied with the overall appearance and set-up (like the bare bones of my gallery!  take a look!)

And so comes another shift.

The time has come for me to drag my mothering hormones away from the children (sometimes kicking and screaming–me, not them) and into the studio for a few hours a week to hit the machines.  We have a summer market coming up you know…but don’t say that out loud because I start getting a little frayed around the edges.  The plan was to begin creating inventory in January and I honestly can’t stop myself.  I just walk into my studio, sit down, and automatically start stitching things together.

Slow and steady.  That’s me.

And that’s a tall order for a woman whose mind follows the pace of the speedy little rabbit.

This year I plan to offer a wide selection of handspun yarns, a variety of knitting and crochet accessories (like the hook and needle cases), and a limited collection of handmade clothing of my own design.

Which just might utilize my skills in hand dyeing and/or applique, like this custom skirt in the works:

And due to the unexpected arrival of the girls last fall, you just might see an appearance of some handwoven goods.  Like belts.  Maybe.

So click your heels three times, whisper a spell and it might come true.….….

This will be the year when old is good again.

And by that, I mean like this:

I wish I could say that I made this little beauty, but it’s a gem that I found on Etsy in my latest round of research.

My research for ~ a challenge of the utmost kind ~ that is.

Beginning today, January 1, 2010, I will be abstaining from buying any new item for my personal wardrobe.  I will be making my own clothes or buying them from secondhand shops, scoring bits from free piles, and concentrating on creating a look that works for a stay-at-home-mama/ fiber artist/writer with ease.  (Edit:  except for tights.  And sunglasses.  So there.)

First stop:  house dresses.  Just like my gram used to wear.  The patterns are queued up and ready for their mish mash of alterations, the practice fabrics are washed and pressed.  And there will be a dress just like the one you see up there.  Yessiree.

Are you ready to join me on a journey into the good old days?