Little Robots

Hello everyone! It's Hannah writing to you today. Mom, Emma and I love our small (but consistently adorable) selection of flannels here in the shop. If you're not available to come into the store, you can also find them posted on our Etsy store. I made these little boy's pajamas with New Look Pattern #6090 and two coordinating Starlight Flannel prints by Blank Quilting. Now if only I had a new little nephew to wear them...

The pattern was very simple and featured a very nice facing to finish the neck edge and a simple elastic waistband for the pants. 

So soft and cozy! Could those prints be any cuter together?

Falling for it

It feels like fall around here. Mom and I (Hannah) take a deep sigh of relief when this change of seasons happens. It's safe to say that fall is Mom's favorite season and one where she becomes even more creatively inspired than she normally is (how is that even possible, really?). Some of my fondest memories of childhood take place in the fall, and now that I'm an adult it's no wonder why. When the nights arrived earlier and chilled the air, and the leaves began to drift from their branches, I distinctly remember spending evenings in the garden harvesting the summer's veggies, and the building excitement for one of my favorite holidays: Halloween. Halloween was a big deal when I was a kid. Mom would enlist us to help her wood burn/decoupage/sew/construct/paint decorations and costumes that were almost always based on vintage ideas or patterns. Cheesecloth ghosts crept their way onto the front porch, hay bales appeared with our homegrown pumpkins atop them, and one of our creepier handmade family members, Wanda the witch, stood amidst it all, broomstick and cauldron in hand.   How lucky were we? 

Now her love of the fall and Halloween is translated through the shop. Today she worked on the window display and brought in some of my favorite decorations. She duplicated these cardboard honeys with originals from the 1930's that she borrowed from a friend. 

Mom painted this adorable canvas scene after being inspired by a children's story. I asked her "Why is the witch in a basket?" and she replied in an almost wounded tone "Because she needs it to fly up and clean the cobwebs". Oh, naturally. 

This is Penelope. Isn't she creepy and gross and awesome? Mom constructed her with pantyhose, stuffing, a chicken wire frame, and a 100% wool yarn (as her lovely hair). Stop by and say hello to her and her potions book in front of the shop. 

Paper mache candy bowl that Mom also made. Their expressions make me giggle every time I look at it.

Creativity - it Runs in the Blood. And, The American Dream

My dad tends to scoff at us when we call him an artist.  Which is ridiculous because anyone who can take something that looks like this:

and make it look like this:

is an artist.  And has vision.  And has talent.  But I'm not biased or anything.  ;-)  Not only is he my father but my husband and I were blessed with the opportunity to buy this lovely little house from my parents!  Here are few more before/after photos of our new humble abode:

Like all of us girls in the shop my father, Mark Mansfield of Marksman Builders, has a great love and respect for old things.  This little honey of a house was built in 1918.  That's the original hardwood floor there in the studio and all of the original completely restored, double hung, sash windows (wavy glass and all).  Other than that, the house was stripped down to the framing and built new from the inside out.  New plumbing, new electrical, new roof, beefed up foundation, insulation (yay!), heating and air (double yay!).  We shouldn't have anything to worry about for many years to come.  I'm absolutely thrilled to have all of the wonderful charm that older homes have to offer with all of the worry-free, grounded-outlets, great-water-pressure, cleaner, luxuries that new homes have to offer.  Plus, my dad did it - I never thought I'd have the opportunity to own a home that father built/remodeled.

PLUS!  We put a 1930 Florence in it:

We're cooking with gas now, baby.  I haven't been able to cook on a gas stove since I lived with my parents and I have sorely missed it!

So, there you have it.  Our little slice of the American Dream.  

The Halls are Decked

Lindsay and I decorated the house today!  Tree from the Plumas National Forest - thank you family for cutting it for us!  Hand spun trim w/tinsel.  Made a garland: Juniper, Redwood, Toyon & Magnolia.  Handmade stockings.  Handmade village church from mom.  Banner from Moda Home and a Dala Horse.  It's going to be a good Christmas this year.  Now the four of us are basking in the glow of the Christmas tree drinking hot apple cider.  Joy.