Considering a return to something left behind...

Thinking about some past work that I have left behind and picking it up again with fresh eyes. 

I started as a milliner accidentally and followed the path for a bit. After the second child, and a move, I let this drop off. At RISD, a teacher once said, if you feel uninspired to create something new, then do something you've already done. Keep working, if you can't invent, reinvent. Right now, I don't know what my next step should be. Time to turn around, repeat, and see where I go. I'm kind of excited.

A Day at SOWA

Our second time at SOWA open market this summer-a great place to go for food and shopping Sundays in Boston. This time, it was not only was it a family affair-with Adrian, Mira & Max offering an extraordinary amount of help- it was a friendly affair as well! Thanks to everyone who came to visit us-it made the day! I especially appreciate all the little babies that came to visit on what turned out to be a pretty hot day. (I thought it was going to be pleasantly mild, and dressed Max in a layered look, only to strip him down to a T-shirt and diaper by 11am.)

I brought out some new Sun Hats, Children Aviator Hats, and a couple of old classics. The cotton helmet style hats are still a favorite of mine. I changed up my tent set up to give Amira a little more room to play-may not seem like a great business decision, but worked very well. Saw a few familiar vendors: Pier43, Nancy's Gone Green, Edie & Fin. Ate at Clover food truck. Cut our breakdown time in half. All and all, a good day out.

And now I am going to shift gears to fall items. I have so many ideas-its just a matter of getting them done! Just have to do it!

Getting Ready for a Sale

Making sun hats in and with a variety of bold prints.

 Pulling together a few of my favorite baby hats.  

And taking advantage of the nice weather to do a tent set up practice run.

This last activity was a family affair, as I required my husbands help. (Which means he did almost all of the set up.) Upon waking from her nap Amira joined us, and Max is always near by.

Thank you family for spending your nice day doing the same!

Let's have fun at SOWA next weekend!

Where Have I Been?

I have been a little absent from this blog lately, but not for lack of things to document.

I finished this blanket for a friend who just had her first baby...

And that is not the only new baby around!

Little Max joined our family at the end of February.

Though, as far as babies go, he is not that little.

And our little girl is keeping us busy as usual.

Though she hardly seems small anymore!
I have had a number of wonderful distractions, and what could be better than that? As we settle into new routines, I hope to get back to some old habits. But soon it will be summer, and I will have even more to distract me!

Getting Ready for #2

Put together a new baby blanket.

Black, white, dust, yellow, green, & blue.

This is for our second baby.

A little boy.

Who is expected to be arriving very soon.

Something New

I have been working to come up with a new product, one that is not quite so seasonal-but still works with what I have been doing. So I am expanding the hat pattern into a purse or clutch pattern. A few proto types have come through, but the above pairing feels the most successful so far. I have always liked the idea of a hat and bag match-though I have never actually had one.

I am also playing with the idea of some granny pattern change purses. Still working on construction and hardware-but I have to say I am having fun with these new patterns. I have a bunch of ideas in my head-and wish I just had all the time to see them through! Hopefully more to come soon!

A Few Samples

Felting

So, I am back in hat season. Once I start, I just keep going!

I have started experimenting more with pattern and felting.

At the beginning of the season, I was designing very graphic looks. But in the course of just a few weeks, I feel like I have done a 180.

Meanwhile, we are also busy making Amira's Halloween costume. At least we didn't wait until the night before. We plan to trick or treat for the first time. Adrian and I will just have to try to leave work a little early so we have time to go around the neighborhood.

And now off to bed for me!

RISD Sale 2011

Today was the RISD 2011 Alumni & Student Sale.

I got off to a rough start, forgetting a few key items, but my neighbor was helpful-and I was able to make do.

This year I really focused on the Crochet hats.

The old fashioned helmet/1920's flapper style was clear to everyone who came by.

I did a couple felted hats. They turned out well, and I think I will expand in this area.

Headbands also made a comeback this year. I sold nearly all of mine, which was fantastic considering there was some steep competition with that product!

My hats did well also!

I plan on updating my etsy site this weekend with the remainder product.

I had a few helpers today too.

Grandma and Amira spent the day with me. Amira took Grandma all around! Grandma and I both were exhausted! Amira has boundless energy. But for being at a fair all day, she was really in good spirits and even helpful. I showed her my old studio, the printing presses, and an old teacher of mine did a silk screen demonstration, which engaged Amira.

And now to bed!

Ta-Da Moment!

Our friends are having a baby,

And inspired by a beautiful baby blanket given to me at my shower, I made this blanket.

It took me a while to figure out what to make a baby boy-I live in a land with pink sparkle sneakers.

I came up with this.

And I must say I feel quite accomplished having finished it!

Planning and doing-on to the next project!

Weekend Memories

Playing around in the kitchen.

Hooking in the living room.

Napping in Amira's room.

Back to my faster paced week.