This morning I'm writing to you from a cute little cafe style table outside our room at the Navy Lodge on Ford Island. Do you see the cattle egret flying off?? It landed on the sign right as I was about to take the picture! It didn't appreciate me being there, though, lol. All of our things have been packed into boxes and crates and suitcases now and we are quickly approaching our final 24 hours here in Hawaii. It is most bittersweet. Hawaii has given me so many wonderful gifts in our three...
12 days ago • 1 min read
There's a big old blue jacaranda tree just outside our backyard that shades us almost year round. I adore her. And if you've been with me for a while, you've probably heard me talk about this tree and share pictures before. Isn't she gorgeous!? Photographs don't do her justice, of course. Here's a picture from a previous year, when the blooms were exceptionally lush: The flowers some years fall so thick from her branches that the grass is carpeted with them. It's pretty amazing. Some...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hey, y'all! Just dropping in for a quick reminder that tomorrow (Sunday, April 26th) is the last day to use your exclusive discount code Ironwood to save 20% on my new crochet pattern, the Echoes of Ironwood Shawl. You can read more about it on my website and the coupon code will work on Ravelry as well as in my Etsy shop. I've also added a few more project bags to my Etsy shop featuring the painting I did on the same mountainside in Molokai that inspired the name of this shawl. It's also the...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Inspired by the shifting light through the ironwood groves on Molokai, this shawl is all about rhythm with simple stitches (mostly), soft drape, and color that moves quietly from one shade to the next. It's the kind of project you can settle into one row, one breath, and one color at a time. (I said mostly because I couldn't resist adding a little extra detail with some post stitches along the edge!) I used Rivendell Fingering from Refracted Light Fiber Arts in three shades of green that play...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
It's raining again here in Hawaii. Another kona low. This one seems a bit tamer, though. Fingers crossed it stays that way. Though the kid did get a rain day; he was happy for an extra day off school. Even though he's going to get out of the last two weeks off school altogether for our move! Speaking of which, I decided to give y'all one last chance to grab some of my handspun yarn before we pack everything up next month. Here's what I have available! All seven skeins are in my Etsy shop—and...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
I've been feeling a bit down recently. Melancholy, I think, is the best word for it. Our visit to the beach house over the weekend was lovely despite the rain, but there was SO much trash that washed up on Sunday on the tail end of the kona storms. (You can read more about our stay here and here—with pictures, too, of course!) We picked up a lot of the debris, but... it left me feeling heavier than I expected. Proud of the kid for helping, though. I think part of it, too, is knowing that our...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Last Thursday I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all-the-things, compounded by a strained muscle in my back underneath my shoulder blade. (It's feeling better now, thanks!) And then on Friday I got the best excuse for taking a break: a 26 hour power outage. Oh, we were all fine. Yes, it was rainy and windy, but we live on a hill so there was no flooding and we had enough food in the pantry to make do until we decided to venture out for pizza from a place that still had power outside the...
2 months ago • 2 min read
What a week it's been! On Monday, my project for Spin Off magazine was due. I think I emailed the text for the article after the editor was already asleep, lol, but I got it done! Tuesday was our live Open Studio for the Ocean Virtual Art Residency and the publication of the virtual exhibition. If you missed us live, you can watch the recording here! I was actually still working on the last piece during the live event... But on Wednesday I got her finished and onto the blocking boards! And...
2 months ago • 2 min read
It seems like I've only just barely gotten started on this latest Ocean inspired project, but it's almost time for the Open Studio event already! (I gotta get some more spinning and crocheting done ASAP!!) Please consider joining us live via Google Meet on Tuesday, March 10th, at 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern time. Registration is free! Register for Ocean V Open Studio Here's my current state of progress: Who thinks I can spin that big pile of fiber on the left, ply it, wash it, let it dry, and...
3 months ago • 2 min read