2011

I love a new year. There are 365 days full of potential. That is such an inspiring thought but of course, it probably will not all be productive or for that matter good. But a girl can dream.

Dream is what I do best in January. I am forced inside because of the winter weather so I gaze out the windows and dream. Dream about what the gardens will look like in spring and new gardens and flowers to plant. I also dream up ideas of structures that my husband and sons can build for the gardens.

The last few days, I have been gazing out at our barn. I love the look of it in winter. In the summer, there are flowers that draw your attention first. In winter, the old girl (raised in 1817) stands regally on her own, behind the house. She serves as the clubhouse for my sons and their friends. When the college students return for breaks, the barn is the first place they visit.

The barn will be getting some much needed sprucing this spring. She will serve as the back-up location for a friend's wedding. If the sun is shining, they will be married by the gardens but me being me, and always wanting to prepare for something to go wrong (with the idea that if I am prepared, it won't), the barn will be ready to stand in.

As I look at the barn, I can't help but think about what will happen after the kids have all scattered. I have been dreaming that a studio might be nice......

The picture of the barn's windows was taken by a dear friend of ours, Geoff Baker. You can view Geoff's wonderful photographs at http://www.bakerfineartphoto.com/Baker_Fine_Art_Photo/Home.html

Mother Nature Gets Creative

We are constantly surrounded by amazing pieces of art work that we barely notice. Have you ever looked at a spider's web in the morning with dew glistening from it? Or how about icicles? Right now, there are some stunning looking icicles hanging by my window. They look like glass. Nature is filled with wonderful artisans.

Earlier this week, Mother Nature did a reinterpretation of a sand castle. Her material this time - ice. The lighthouse is located in Cleveland at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. I think it is magnificent.

Rounding Third and Headed Home

Cleveland lost a sports icon. His name was Bob Feller. By most accounts, Bob was one of the best right hand pitchers to ever play the game. The only pitcher to ever pitch a no hitter on an opening day. Bob had three no hitters in his career. What astounds the baseball nerd in me - he pitched twelve one hit games. To have the mental where with all to not get rattled after giving up a hit, is quite the feat.

Bob's career was interrupted by World War II, and when he returned to the Cleveland Indians (the only team he ever played for), he was part of the last team to win the World Series for Cleveland in 1948. After he quit playing, he became one of the Tribe's biggest cheerleaders. He was a familiar face at spring training and games. He threw out the first pitch during the 1997 World Series at the age of 79. It was a strike.

A lot has been said about Bob today. The one phrase said over and over - a gentleman. In light of the recent uproar over a certain someone rebuking Cleveland and moving south, it is refreshing to hear of an athlete called a gentleman.

Bob's statue will stand guard at the entrance of Progressive Field and remind people at one time, they had one of the best in the game playing for them and oh yes, he was a gentleman, too.

The Tree

I think it goes back to when I was a kid. My mother got this crazy idea that a little tree would be perfect for Christmas. She wanted to set it on a table in the front window. She thought it would look pretty from the street. I hated that tree. I did not fit my idea of the perfect tree. From that point on, there were rules as to what was the perfect tree.

Rule #1 - The tree has to be taller than me. I'm 5'7" and was the shortest person in my family so I was adamant about that rule. The rule holds true today. What helps with this rule, our old house has high ceilings so the tree has to be really tall to look good.

Rule #2 - It has to be real. Sorry, but hauling an artificial tree out and having it up in seconds isn't putting up the tree. You have to go to a tree farm on a blustery day and spend a great deal of time looking for "the one". There is also much whining from my loved ones while I take my time looking. This adds to the ambiance of the excursion.

Once we get the tree home, it is decorated with ornaments that are filled with memories. There are items my mother made, prisms from my great-grandmother's chandelier, ornaments my sons made in elementary school and the year balls. Every year, I take a ball and write down the year and things that occurred during it. It is a great way to remember memorable family events. It is a big deal each year to read aloud the items on the balls. There are also ornaments that I made and ones we received as gifts. My sons fight over one particular ornament. I'm fond of saying "When pigs fly" so of course, we have a flying pig ornament. It is a fight to see who can find that ornament and hang it from the tree. I love that my tree isn't a theme tree. It is filled with memories and love. The best kind of tree in my book.

Trapped In A Snow Globe

Help! I'm trapped in a snow globe.

We are experiencing our first big storm of the season. I live in an area fondly called "The Snow Belt". Thanks to Lake Erie (and sometimes Lake Huron), the open water of the lakes and the higher terrain on the east side makes for ideal conditions for lots of snow.

Right now, we have over a foot of snow and a lot more expected. An hour and half south of here, where my son goes to college - they have a dusting of snow. It is crazy the difference.

We have already shoveled the drive four times today and the roof once. I am figuring my poor husband, after a white knuckle drive home from work, will attempt the roof once more.

I must say, it is quite pretty. It has also put me in the mood for Christmas. So I guess the storm is not that bad. Give me a month or so and then I will be complaining.

Inspiration Series - Part 18

I have always been in awe of fiber artists. I come from generations of women who knitted, crocheted or embroidered. Somehow, the genetic ability to do that skipped me. I have no trouble with the embroidery, but knitting and crocheting have caused me fits.

When I go to shows, I like to visit the fiber artists. The colors of yarn and the feel of the items draw me in. I love the idea that while you are wearing something functional, it is also art.

One of my favorite fiber artists is Tricia Hodson. Tricia is a fellow member of Cleveland Handmade and has her shop on Etsy. I am lucky to be the proud owner of some of her work. I asked Tricia the question:

What inspires you?

I've come to realize how much of an influence people have had on what I create. At first I thought it was family that inspired me most since I'm always making things for them. Lately, as I've been "out and about" more often, meeting people at local events and shows, I see more and more people wearing handmade things.

A woman approached me last year in need of a small wool hat. She was cold all the time and said that only wool would keep her warm. I was so happy to be able to make just what she wanted and needed.

Years of cross-country skiing helped me to understand the need for warmth. I still prefer mittens to gloves when skiing. With all the modern fabrics and textiles available for Winter sports, it's wonderful to see people wearing natural and handmade. Felted wool mittens are perfectly warm, and unless you fall through the ice or something, they're waterproof. My husband has had a pair of Dachstein mittens for decades. He always had a flair for old-world styles of Alpine hats, Scandinavian mittens, and chunky handspun wool socks.

So, I've discovered that I have people, their culture, and their fundamental needs in mind when creating my own hats, mittens, shawls, etc. Whether it's modern, has a vintage style, or is a reproduction of old-world designs, it's nice to know that it will be a functional favorite.

You can find Tricia's work at http://www.etsy.com/shop/LazyTcrochet. Her beautiful handmade items would make wonderful gifts this holiday season.

Thanks so much Tricia for sharing.

Quailcrest Herb Fair

Simple Elements Design was at the Quailcrest Herb Fair yesterday. This is the third year we have participated. This show is special to me for several reasons. First of all, the show is held at a beautiful site, filled with incredible gardens. The owners of the farm are dear family friends. My husband and I spent our youth there at family gatherings for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. It was so special to us, we were married in the herb garden there and had our reception there, too.

The other reason it is special to me, the owner Libby Bruch, was one of my first supporters for my business. She helped to push me off that cliff. I will forever be grateful for her support. Libby passed away in February so it was nice that her family continued the fair which was so dear to her.

The show was successful and very enjoyable. The weather was perfect - not too hot. It was wonderful to have customers from years past say "There she is!" It is also fun to hear what people had to say about my work. When you sell online, you do not often get that feedback. I chatted with people from Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. Many remarked that they have been making the trip to the fair for years. One customer, a bride-to-be from Texas, was in search of jewelry for her wedding. She and her fiance were such a delight. She found the perfect necklace and said "Now I can find the dress to go with it." That made my day.

It takes so much work to prepare for a show and one hopes the weather cooperates. So far, Mother Nature has been kind to me.

I look forward to returning to the fair next year. But today, I am happy but tired.