My Little Orange Kitchen

Ephemera Journal

I'm always on the look-out for ways to help organize the thousands (not kidding) of small pieces of paper and ephemera I have around the studio. I saw this project in my At Home With Handmade Books and decided to give it a whirl.

Of course, I soon abandoned all of Erin Zamrzla's careful instructions, but I managed to get the job done and plan to make 20-30 and sort wallet images by color and subject.

I didn't have chipboard so I used an old puzzle board I'd been saving. 

I covered it with graph paper and cut a small top-spine from cardboard I'd also been saving (My name is Laura and I have a problem!). I left the numbers on the puzzle bare because I liked how they seemed to fit with the graph paper.

Then I decided to bind it, but was very unhappy with my awl and stitching job, so I set about hiding the mess with more graph paper and pretty pink chrysanthemums.

Erin's book is beautiful and hopefully she won't mind that readers like me go off in our own direction! I plan to make many more of these with added tabs and titles. A nice way to reuse cleaned zip-locks. You could do the same with paper bags and that would be fantastic, but I like being able to see what's inside since I need these for my work.

Have a good day all! In one week I'll be in New York! Woo-hoo!

Planting Seeds

Today has been a good work day so far. I have an order overdue, but almost on its way out the door and I've been spending some time doing mini-journal demos. I think it will be helpful to give people some ideas about what they can do with their little journals. Mini scrap-books, photo albums, stamp albums and even write your own message greeting cards:

 

It's been fun and to be honest...these examples aren't even the 10th of it! Wait until you see the cutest volume of ee cummings poetry ever! 

OK. So, without getting into all of the details...I had a big dream the other night. A big important deep sleep dream. I may be learning a little more about what makes me happy and what I'm good at. I love my art journey...don't misunderstand...but I loved my bath and body journey too. Maybe next summer, I will combine both.

I'm thinking, "Tiny Bubbles" a bath and body bus boutique.  A salvaged bus converted to an "open in summer only" shop on an empty city lot.  My various art projects, bath and body and gifts. The Little Orange Kitchen Studio is the parent for so many ideas I have...and I've been hurting folks...really. Not sure of what I want to do or be or where I want to go or grow. You have witnessed my angst if you've been reading this blog...my uncertainty about so many things. I am still not 100% sure, but my dream revolved around what is doable and where I FELT most me.

I've decided to make the decision to move in a new direction...agahahaahaha!

Nothing changes immediately...it's very early and just a seed, but I'm excited to see it grow. You get the idea right---empty it out, paint it, shelves and vintage displays...it feels right. Maybe I'll find a vintage one---I'm going to love looking!

Roots and Water

One week ago I was in the deep woods and I live just blocks from the water. 

Today I needed to be near both. 

After a rather melancholy and unproductive day spent doing a little wallet work and some light gardening, I got into the car with a cup of coffee and started driving. I wasn't sure where I was headed until I found myself on the official Rustic Road that leads to and through Point Beach State Park.

I drove through the woods (envying the many campers setting up for the night) until I reached the empty beach.  I got out and did some walking, some thinking and some inner mind clearing. I felt calm and a little less melancholy.

If you have been reading for awhile you know I grew up on a sailboat, but for awhile we lived in a house in the woods off the coast of Maine. Our house had woods on three sides and the ocean on one.  I know Lake Michigan isn't the sea, but it's water and it heals me. In some circles water represents emotion and the woods would represent grounding. I think this combination is especially soothing to me because I need to be firmly rooted while I handle my emotions or else I tend to float away for days on end.

If you read this blog, you must wonder why I always seem to be "in something"; some sort of mood, reflective period etc. I think it goes back to that fragility that I wrote about several posts ago. I don't think I'm a walking piece of china, but I'm aware of how without proper balance in my environment (lack of clutter and clear space) I get a little crazy.

I love that Mark and I downsized and I love our tiny place, but for someone like me...this smallness takes getting used to...especially since my studio has somehow become a catch-all for things we don't have room for, but don't want to store. We'll adjust and get situated...we must. We have a little extra reason to get our space ready! Nope, not for that kind of baby, but for the kind that barks (hopefully not all night!).

Her name is Selkie. Mark came up with the name.  It's perfect. Plus, she has deep brown eyes and a black coat. So sweet and pics will come soon!

Anyway, I close this with the last few lines of one of my favorite poems about a bunch of little girls who go to the beach...

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone

for whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea

ee cummings 

From Maggie and Millie and Molly and May

 

Mary Mehan Awake

I think this could have been written about me...it's how I feel I navigate my days:

Diana Dorsett was a woman who loved texture, the touch of things, the nap and band of fabrics, the roughness of bark, the silk of feathers and fur. She trailed through the house running her hands over the backs of the chairs, rubbing the velvet drapes at the windows, clicking her fingernails across the wires of the finche's cage, pressing her cheek against the cool windowpanes, stroking her cat.

From: Mary Mehan Awake 

Jennifer Armstrong goes on to describe Diana as a woman who cares little for shining silver and sharp ironed creases on the napkins, but who writes letters and takes long walks and who had the curious habit of picking things up and setting them down in the wrong room or losing herself in contemplation while holding a shell.

Oh, I love this writer!

I would add that I also lose time "feeling" water. I love the feeling of running water on my hands or even just dipping my hands into cool water on a hot day. Everything has texture and as I learned when I was a child...not everyone sees the texture in the air, but if you do...you know what I mean. Water, energy, fabric even uncooked rice feels so good on my hands.

I read blogs for the feelings they inspire as well...and of course, you know I've shared this one recently, but I must share it again because of her perfect summer morning.

Love. Her. Blog.

 

Madeline Weinrib Textiles

I'm a pattern lover and always on the lookout for textile designers and new work. Madeline Weinrib's handmade textiles knock me out, send me over the moon and blow my mind. I love her colors and patterns.  I hope you have some time because once you visit Madeline's website, you could get lost for hours.  Please accept my apologies in advance.

Little Luxuries

I had a nice day yesterday and some time spent wandering Door County was part of it. Reading outside by a "grove" of lilacs also added to my bliss. 

This morning I'm thinking about little luxuries. The things that I could choose to focus on, but often get overlooked because I'm having a meltdown or tired or stressed or...you name it.  Life isn't about material things...I know this, but sometimes appreciation of them can give us a boost.

Today, the things making me happy are:

• my new abalone shell for smudging with herbs and white sage
• organic coffee
• my Miracle Manifestation journal
• Vance Kitara candles in hot pink
• high quality organic cocoa and organic berries for a cake I'm bringing to a potluck tonight
• Hem incense
• lilacs (see above)
• and...my onions are coming up already!

 

The Truth of My Day

Today is starting out like a day I've been dreaming of for awhile.

Balanced.

How is this a dream day?  It's a dream day because it feels normal. It feels so normal I can't believe it. I want normal. I prefer it to my crazy work crammed whirlwind days or even to exciting days where everything is high energy and perfect.

I've been tired these past few months and have read blogs where the writer offers details of an active, but no pressure day and I've been brought to tears because that's what I want and it so often eludes me.

It's happening. Slowly I'm finding a groove. I think if I read the following on another blog a few months ago I'd have been envious of what seems so simple and normal, but instead it is my own life and my own day:

The house is a little cluttered, but clean and I'm appreciating the creaky hardwood floors more than ever. Mark and I are finally over our disappointment over an issue with insurance that prevented us from adopting a shelter puppy and we're looking again. My coffee is so good and my morning journaling went well. I love insights.  I'm going to head outside to water the garden soon. I found a heap of nice veggie and herb plants at farmer's market and The Flying Pig. Chocolate mint....my favorite herb!  The temperature feels like mid-fall rather than late Spring and I'm loving it.

I'm nursing a painful wrist from yesterday's CrossFit success, but the pride of showing up and completing the month long On Ramp and my first official WOD is my own personal pain relieving balm. I like being active and feeling "sporty and strong". My weight loss is excruciatingly slow, but I can feel the new muscle and this offsets my impatience.

Mark is headed to Door County for a business meeting later and I'm tagging along.  I may read by the water when he's busy and I need to remember to pick up some peanut butter fudge for my grandmother. I've also got a work project to finish, but it's almost done. Thanks Tina...for your patience.

I'm still sleepy, but it's a nice kind of sleepy...not the shaking exhaustion I've grown used to.

Tomorrow is the Foodie potluck and I'm torn between bringing a vegan chocolate cake, brownie pudding or Thai peanut noodles. I know Grant (the coach at CrossFit) would have a conniption fit if he thought I had any of the ingredients for these things in my house. Grant, I don't!!!!  I will have to pick them up today. I got so lucky with Grant and Heather. They are my absolute exercise and body confidence soul-mates and an answer to my prayers for non-judgmental helpers.

My issue of Anthology arrived the other day and I feel inspired by all of the gorgeous pictures and art.

Ok, another cup of organic coffee and then it's out to the garden.

This is bliss. The truth of my day is bliss because more days like this are doable and they can include music and movies and naps and work with joy.

I know I posted the picture above on the studio facebook page, but I still want to share my red shelf with anyone who doesn't check in over there. This red shelf was free and salvaged from the cast-offs of previous renters in our building. Who would leave behind such a cute thing?