Scary

Working on my new book, I've been up to my eyes in mittens. I've made 14 pairs in 16 days. And there are still 6 more pairs to go. The deadline is Monday. I'll probably make it, right?

In a fit of denial, I announced to Lindsay that today I was going to take a break from mittens and make a Halloween wreath for the front door.

"Let me get this straight," she said. "You're going to give yourself a break from making things, and use that time to make other things?"

Well when you put it like that it sounds scary.

I challenged myself to make the cheapest and fastest Halloween wreath possible. 

First, I spent exactly $11 at the Dollar Store, which netted me a truly sad little wreath, six sparkly frondlike thingys, some ribbon, pipe cleaners (naturally), a crow, and some swell suction-cup hooks to hang it up with. I also used scissors, wire cutters and a hot glue gun, which I already had.

I timed it, and the wreath took exactly ten minutes to assemble.

But then I went down the rabbit hole.

Because it looked a kind of incomplete to me. I decided that my Halloween crow needed a book to read while posing prettily on the front door. Which I then made from some cardboard that was in the recycle basket, and a little craft paint.

I glued a pipe cleaner to the back of the spellbook so I could wire it into position. I also sprinkled some of the glitter from the frondy-things onto the book's paint while it was still wet. I have glitter everywhere now, including up my nose, and it will never go away. Glitter is the Herpes of crafting. 

I'm pleased with myself. Even if I did use my time off from making things to make yet other things.

Happy Halloween!

Word.

Favorite Little Things

Today I'm focusing on being grateful. There is nothing so luxurious as the opportunity to pursue work that I love, and I have YOU, Gentle Readers, to thank for it. If you've come to my class, or bought one of my books, or even just opened this e-mail, you're sustaining an independent artist. Thank You. I promise to do my best to make it worth your while.

The best things in life are not things, it's true. But sometimes a certain everyday tangible can help you do your hardest work, think your freshest thoughts, or just bring you back down to earth. Here are my favorite things today:

1.  My Work Apron

I didn't get to attend Montessori school, but my kids did. The very first thing they learned was to put on an apron before doing anything potentially dirty or messy. The message is both overt (protect your clothes from dirt) and subtle (suiting up for the job commits you to it). Just like learning to wear a thimble perfects your hand-sewing by protecting your finger, donning an apron shows your brain that your body means business. Cooking, cleaning, gardening, sometimes even just doing hard brainstorming; all are improved when you are dressed for the occasion. Something about knowing you'll easily be cleaned up makes it easier to do the dirty work.

Putting on your apron is also a signal to the rest of the world: "I'm busy working here". My family always know I'm in the middle of something if the apron is on.  I made this one from delicious heavy linen, using this pattern. It fits perfectly, and doesn't pull/rub on the back of my neck like other styles can.

2.  The Perfect Pen

You have at least 712 sets of knitting needles. That's because you require the right tool for the job. And the right tool is different every time. Now look around your desk: are you relying on some crappy ballpoint, broken eraser-less pencil or dried-up rollerball? Do me this favor and give yourself a really great pen. Or better yet, a whole collection of them. And don't be afraid you'll lose it; your favorite pen will soon get similar treatment to your reading glasses/deluxe knitting needles/right arm - you'll lose the ability to go without it. And if you're wondering where to find such a thing, may I recommend the Goulet Pen Co. I've spent many an entertaining hour learning all about pens, paper and ink there. Pictured here: Monteverde Intima in Neon Green with a fine nib, J. Herbin ink in Vert Pre, Rhodia dot-grid Webnotebook. You're only as good as your word, and your words are only as good as your pen.

3.  Grow-y Things

I have very little space around the outside of my very little house, which means there's hardly any yard work to do. When we first moved here, it seemed like a huge bonus, but these days we all feel a little glum that there's no place to have a garden. So even though it's kind of a splurge, I try to keep a few pots full of bright and/or delicious plants. We especially like growing a big fat pot of sweet basil every summer, from which we make fresh pesto. Three big plants, carefully tended by Lindsay, usually yield 2-3 batches each year. Here also are geraniums, marigolds, verbena, alyssum and lobelia.

What favorite things are you thankful for today?