Married to the Forest Cuff

The woods are lovely,

dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

- Robert Frost

Available here.

♥ Carin

On Trusted Wings... a Second Season

A few months ago I finished my first On Trusted Wings piece.

It sat with me in the studio for a long while.

I didn't show her to anyone. 

I was in a magical trance. 

A harmonious dance between spirit and self.

Between art and artist. 

--

After a few days I allowed myself to wonder what other pieces this eagle shape would adorn.

What shape it would take, and what it was capable of creating. 

A few more pieces were born of it, and then it fell quite for awhile.

They stopped speaking to me as loudly or as clearly. 

Maybe I allowed life to get the best of me.

Chaos ensued, and I didn't have the real time these pieces demanded.

So I listed and sold the first batch of the On Trusted Wings series <---- read about the motivation behind the original work here. 

--

As soon as I listed them, I regretted it.

Not because I was sad to see them find homes, not that pieces themselves weren't magnificent, but I knew that I should have dug deeper.

There was more to it.

There was still a spark. They were talking, maybe in a whisper, but they had important things to say.

I felt like the series was half done.

Half visited.

Half explored.

Half assed.

--

So although a little discombobulated (as life seems to be at times).

I finished the series. 

It took a second season, but they are beautiful just the same.

♥ Carin

shop here. 

Handmade Life

Handmade.

Quality.

Uniqueness.

Something you're proud of. 

These are all elements of my career, but they are also just of my being. 

Of my soul. 

I am a maker.

I can't help it. 

So in the evenings, as the family rests, you'll usually find me working on a project. 

About a year ago I took up quilting.  

It's always something I've wanted to try, but hadn't quite got around to it yet. 

Fast forward a year later, and I've just finished my 6th quilt. 

The rest of my quilts all had a pretty specific plan.

A design.

A layout.

This one not so much. 

It took of effort for me to just keep working on it even though I wasn't sure the patterns matched or what the overall design would turn out.

I just had to trust in it, and keep going. 

I'm happy to say that I love it. 

It's so unique, so different. I just had to share it with you! 

It's got a super sweet home too, but I can't show you that yet. 

Soon enough friends, soon enough. 

For now, go out and use your hands. 

Make something.

Bake a cake, build a bench, anything.

Just keep making.

The world needs us. 

♥ Carin 

Shop Small

I'm joining the bandwagon to get the word out about shopping small!

Every gift you buy this holiday season is really 2.  The obvious, the person you are gifting the item to, but there is a less noticeable first one. That is to the person you are buying from. 

Every purchase you make from an artist or small business is like a little present for them. The money and support is directly used to pay their bills and put food on the table. 

The alternative, buying from a big corporation is like giving a present to someone on Santa's extremely naughty list. Even the jolly old man himself would only give them coal.

So make the decision.

Join the movement.

Make the effort. 

Happy Holidays.

♥ Carin

From The Bench

The bench has been keeping me so busy these days. 

My inspiration cup is overflowing and it seems that all the coffee in the world wouldn't be enough right now. I'd love to stay and chat with you, but at times like this, I have to keep moving, keep working in hopes that I get it all out before I lose focus. 

Here's a few things I've posted over the last few days. Stay tuned because there is more to come! 

Shop here. 

♥ Carin