I'm so sorry I stepped on your cat...

I'm awkward right now. I'm so sorry. I just had a baby you see... I'll be back to normal soon. it will happen.

This seems to be my mantra these days, as January comes to a close.

There's been cool work for me this year already. Helping a local artist in her fantastic downtown Lancaster studio. A dream come true. Mimi is able to come along with me. and that's wonderful. WONDERFUL. but kind of awkward. (That's when I stepped on my new bosses cat.) (Within my first half hour there!)
with my awkwardness in tow, i've been enjoying baby moments.



and of course, I've been working in my studio...

So. After lots of felting and sewing this month I am pleased to announce that twenty shimmering Wensleydale brooches were delivered to the My Aunt Debbie Shop at 310 North Queen Street today. They are not only for sale for Valentine's Day, they'll be part of the February window display- being installed right now! on robins egg blue trees!

Then there's the box of flowers headed to York by post today, for the grand opening of Hollie Chantiles' new Lotus Moon Yoga Studio at 237 North George Street downtown. (with finishing touches being done right now in York!) Here's Mimi sporting some from their stash...they reminded me of the moon:-)

And there's also a brand new stash of Wensleydale flowers in the Mandarin Rose Spa at the Marriott Convention Center in Lancaster- sitting in their newly upgraded facilities.

Meanwhile this month, Mimi has gotten even gentler, more wide eyed, and more dear. And Max is growing up and up. and talking like a big boy. (full sentences and interesting conversations are coming at me from the back seat)



Tonight we await another winter storm. But all the flowers have been delivered or mailed, and I can take a moment (or a couple of days) and breathe a little sigh. Clean my house. Vacuum up angelina fibers and bits of wool on my carpets. Play with the kids. Be calm. and enjoy a bit of winter. and maybe play in the snow.
in my big coat.

and to Mrs. Bossman, I'm so sorry I stepped on Mr. Muff.

First Friday January 2011

We're seven days into January...

and already it feels like real winter, but so much is going on anyway. I'm felting and sewing away while minding my sweet baby and son.
I think the combination of new motherhood and lots of handiwork has given me a little pea size bump in my hand, that's made my hand go numb. I have an appointment with a hand surgeon, but since I want to avoid any drama, I am using acupuncture.
I am very lucky that my good friend Jo Ellen- often pictured in my blog (mom of Opal and Kai), is an acupuncturist and runs Blossoms and Roots Wellness.
Here's my hand today during a session. She came to my house. Nice, eh? Jo Ellen is very skilled and caring- having trained at the University of Westminster in London, and I highly recommend her. Find her at the Mandarin Rose Spa at the Lancaster Marriott and Convention Center (and my flowers are there too!)

We had a busy day this Friday (after a busy and exciting week- more on that later), but could not miss Lancaster's January First Friday. With Mimi having had shots today, and it being rather cold, we decided to head downtown, but indoors to the new
Lancaster Creative ReUse shop in the basement of the Armory on Queen Street.
Here, you can find lots of inexpensive things for your crafty pleasure...all donated by local individuals and businesses. It makes me realize that Lancaster city is becoming quite the labyrinth of artistic destinations.

As you can guess...I bought one of these gorgeous little boxes of vintage threads...

and we all enjoyed checking out the bins and piles of goodies that you can use in your art. from fabric, to wood, to old computer keys. I also picked up random beads, and embroidery floss, stretchy banded elastic, and a few other bits and pieces.

then, when I was nearly done I spotted a bag of sweater felt. I was bent over like a little maniac pulling out all the reds/peaches/oranges/blues. (which can be hard to find if you are ever on a mission for lovely old sweaters at the Goodwill).

It's nights like this in the winter that I long for summer a bit- I miss Max being able to roam around enjoying street music, running into dozens of friends, and eating ice cream in the heat...but I'm SO glad that Max and Mimi have the chance to be in an artistic environment, whatever the weather, anytime of year!

Happy New Year 2011!

I am so excited for this new year! I've made my Resolutions List (#1 is to be happy!)

I also can't wait to bring my new ideas for flowers into fruition, and into the hands of my customers, through my retailers. My super soft Wensleydale flowers are better than ever now, and I've come up with some hand sewn centers that really make them shimmer even more!

I absolutely LOVE all my retailers. Each place is dear to me and I often create special things just for a particular shop. (for example, find my french barrettes only at felt in London.)

Each flower I make is wet felted and sewn by hand by me in my little studio, in my little house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Look for my sparkling British Wensleydale flowers at the following:


The My Aunt Debbie Boutique. 310 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA

Hello Bluebird. 609 Penn Avenue West, Reading, PA

felt, 13, Cale Street, London SW3 3QS

The Mandarin Rose Spa at the Lancaster Marriott and Convention Center, 25 South Queen Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

and at Flying Fibers, 329C Main Street Landisville, PA

and as always, on Etsy:

Have a beautiful new year! I wish you all the very best!

A New Retailer and Mimi goes to her first hotel...

On this blustery, frigid day, Mimi and I ventured downtown with a batch of felty flower destined for: The gorgeous Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square.

We brought with us a lovely little batch of British Wensleydale accessories that will be sold at the Mandarin Rose Spa on the fifth floor.

It was exciting to bring my things up to the spa. As we got off the elevator this stone goddess greeted us..

So...after our appointment at the spa upstairs, we took the elevator down to the grand lobby and checked out the hotel's splendid Christmas decorations with Mimi cozy and snuggled up in the stroller...


A December morning in the city with Momma...


Mimi's first hotel adventure and a neat place to be.