Little Lovelies ~ Linen Pincushions

Hello Everyone, happy Friday!

Today I thought I'd share some little handmade goodies with you. Do you like wildflowers?

These small pin cushions are some of my favorite things I've made, I want to keep them! Because everyone needs a dozen different pincushions, right?

I used 100% wool felt to make the flowers, which I cut freehand, then added embroidered stems and details wherever it seemed pretty.
♥

California Poppies

Echinacea 

Forget Me Nots

Red Poppy

Little Leaves

Dragonfly

Black Eyed Susan

I made each of the cushions with linen on top and either a sagey green microfiber or purple velvet on the back. I really like these two backings, especially when I realized the don't slide of the arm of the sofa! Maybe if I make one for myself I'll stop sticking needles in the arm of  the couch? That's a really bad habit, y'all... The wee cushions are stuffed with crushed walnut hulls which give them a nice weight and help keep your pins & needles sharp. 

These little lovelies are now for sale at The Rowan Tree, in downtown Lodi, CA. If you're local pop in and have a look, it's a terrific little shop, if not local give the gals at the store a buzz, or shoot me an email, we'd be happy to pop one in the mail for you! This still seems such a dream to me, that I could actually be making things to sell. What a trip!

I'm thinking about opening a little Etsy (or similar) store as well as making for The Rowan Tree, but the thought gives me hives, I'm skeered! Do you have an Etsy or web store? Let's talk about it! What do you like, what do you not like? I'm barely, barely dipping a toe here, I don't know much about it and would LOVE your opinion, so please do share ~ I'm listening!

I hope you're having a fantastic spring, I can't believe it's already June!! My little Claire graduated from high school a couple nights ago, I thought I was dreaming... to me, she'll always be that rosy cheeked ballerina I remember from not so many years ago, in fact it seems like just yesterday. She's had so many obstacles over the years, we are so proud of her!

Oxo,

Lisa

This One's For You, Mom's!

Happy Mother's Day to all you lovely, lovely ladies out there!

Whether your babies have two legs, or four, little ones and big ones too, thank you mom's for all you do! Oooh, looky, I made a little rhyme, yay me!

So, I was a busy lady this week, I whipped out several hoopla's for The Rowan Tree just in time for Mother's Day, these were really fun to make!

5" Hoopla ~ You Are My Anchor

(I know you're supposed to love all your children equally {RIGHT MOMS??} but I have to say, I think I love this hoopla the best, it was my "first born" this week, teehee!)

3" hoopla ~ Love You

3" hoopla ~ Mom Flash

3" hoopla ~ Pretty Paisley's 

5" hoopla ~ Flowers for Mom

All of these hoops are for sale at The Rowan Tree, if you're local swing on through, Amy & Rachel are wonderful and they'd love to say hello, tell 'em Lisa sent ya! 

If you're not local, or can't stop in but are interested in any of my little hoopla's, give the girls a call,  I confirmed with the ladies that they'd be happy to ship your purchase to you. The Rowan Tree is located at 11 S. Sacramento Street Lodi, CA 95240, you can reach them at 209-329-7881.

While not specific to Mother's Day, I also made a couple of felt feather hooplas. Simple, graphic, pretty! I want to make a couple of these for myself!

Busy week indeed! 

Today I get to spend time with my own dear mummzie, and I've made something special for her too, but I can't share yet, she might try to peek into my blog early. She's a peeker! I don't know what we'll do just yet, we're a fly by the seat of our pants mother & daughter duo, always up for something fun! I'll report back with our adventures soon. Yay, adventures!

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing day Mom's, I hope you get to spend time with the ones you love and eat a nice meal, go for a drive, or sit a spell and chat a while. What ever it is your heart desires, I hope it comes to you in spades. 

We wouldn't be here without you, mom's. 

We love you!!

oxo,

Lisa

Announcing: The Rowan Tree!

Spring greetings & happy Friday, friends!

I'm very excited to publish this post but nervous too, I've been dawdling forever, in fact this post has been sitting in my drafts for two weeks, clogging up the works. Fear and feelings of  "am I good enough?" are powerful forces, but I won't let my silly fears keep me from pursuing what I love and share it, so here I go!

Recently couple of my girlfriends opened a new store in the downtown area of my home town, Lodi, California called The Rowan Tree, and it's a great little place you guys! The stars aligned the store came together very quickly, quicker than one might imagine! It's getting better every day as it fills with art and handmade goodness by local artists and makers and I am honored to say that they've asked me along in this journey as a contributing maker & artist!

So exciting! A rare and fabulous opportunity for someone like me. I mean real talk - I've never sold a thing, I've never tried. I don't have an Esty shop and although I take what I do seriously and always put my best effort into everything I make, it's been a passion and my need to create, but never a commercial endeavor.

So!
What to make? What's my style? What do I dooooooo?

I've given this a lot of thought, and came back to where I started - the things I've always loved. Flowers, embroidery, felt. This is my starting place and where I am most comfortable, things I never tire of, which have a lot of room for exploration, interpretation and room to make my own. I've got lots and lots of ideas in a rapidly filling notebook stuffed with little bits of this and that, doodles and drawings, lists of suppliers and bigger grander things as one idea tends to lead to another. I am excited!

I had to start somewhere, so I started with pretty things to wear, broaches in soft, springy colors! 100% Merino wool felt, embroidered touches and just a tiny bit of sparkle. Here are my first contributions to The Rowan Tree!

Hello Easter Bunny

Here is the display I made to showcase my pins in the store. I've had this mannequin for some time, but it's not usually this cute.{wink!}Normally it sits in our living room and displays one of my husbands collection of ice hockey jerseys. He's graciously let me borrow it for the time being. I gave the pedestal & top piece a coat of spray paint and covered the body in a yard of this (the only link I can find) gorgeous Pam Kitty Morning fabric I picked up on a recent trip to The Nimble Thimble. 

I also made a few little needle books, these in a wonderfully soft wool blend felt with embroidered touches.

Oh, and a big, cheery pin cushion and some hand made greeting cards embellished with fabric & small touches of embroidery. Fun little extras that I was playing with. Looking forward to expanding on the idea of embellished cards.

Looking forward to A LOT. I wish I had more time to make all the things that I'm dreaming of! I've always wanted more time (who doesn't?), but lately the urge is fierce! Now, if only I could make this into a full time job with bennies! 

Well... whew! That was a long post. I've already made several other things for the store and there's more on the way, and now that I've gotten this ball rolling, perhaps it won't be so long til we can chat again, and I can share a little more about what I've been up to and what I'm planning in the coming months. I'm pretty stoked about it!

Can't wait to chat about this with my blogging peeps, so lay it on me! Advice, pointers, critiques (but please be gentle ♥ ) I'm all ears.

Big love!

Lisa

p.s. Go check out the The Rowan Tree! Give us a "like" if you're pickin' up what we're laying down. Pretty please with sugar on top!

p.p.s. Hey look, The Rowan Tree has a write up in our local paper today! The shop is open all weekend, if you're local, pop in and say hi! Tell 'em Lisa sent you. ♥