Hello to you and my new mushroom hat!
hello lovely ones!
our family celebrating spring equinox
Oof, it has been a while. 4, maybe even 5 years?! A lot has happened in that space of time - from Covid to our current flavour of political turmoil - it’s difficult to process it all. I spent some time last night (who am i kidding?! every night!) thinking about it, trying to strategize how i, as a person who does not relish attention and who’s energy seems to fall right through her fingers, could possibly affect change for the better? I’ve decided the answer lies in my community. Connecting with my neighbour - making sure they’re ok and helping where i can, spending my money locally, supporting community businesses, attending local events… keeping the heartbeat of community centres and main street alive where we actually see and connect with each other, nourishing a sense of belonging and safety. When we feel safe and connected, care can ripple out past our communities and into the world. These thoughts led me to think about you, my chosen community of fibre enthusiasts, creative alchemists and fairy folk. i feel so grateful to be surrounded by such supportive and good-hearted people as you and i wanted to check in and hear how you are doing. Life is so complex, we can be holding joy, sorrow and everything in between all at the same time and my hope for you is that your joy shines bright and that the weight of grief and challenges are supported by many loving hands.
pippin getting love from his bestie
It has been quite a few years since i decided to set Lalabug aside. My girls needed me in a way that required my love and attention and complete flexibility of my schedule. Together, we filled much of our free time with little homesteading adventures. We transformed an old rotting greenhouse into a chicken coop fit for a hobbit and raised a whole flock of delightful busy-bodies who keep us well stocked in a colourful assortment of eggs. I manifested my life-long dream of raising sheep! i am rather preoccupied with learning how to create everything from it’s basic elements …so, if i’m going to be a felter i better know what it is like to raise happy sheep, sheer, wash and prepare wool! Sadly, after two years we had to re-home Brigid and Sal as the wear and tear on our property proved that a 1/2acre is not enough forage space even for miniature babydolls :( I miss them. My garden got some attention, it expanded and grew to make space for some larger crops, including my favourite: broom corn! And though i have yet to achieve my dream of making my own full-sized broom i did manage to make a few cute, wonky hand brooms :D And most happily of all, we adopted a wobbly little house rooster named Pippin McWiggles. He was our most kindred and beloved little guy who sat happily in our hands, wobbled to our beds every morning for snuggles and went on daily outings where he lifted the spirits of everyone who met him. We had him for one joy-filled year until his neurological condition swept him away from us, but never has a tiny rooster made such an impact.
sal, the happiest little hay muncher there ever was
pippin visiting me just after he called the morning in with his funny little helium-like crow
our chicken house on a wet, but spectacular day
a felted shaggy inky cap mushroom hat, complete with gills, shaggy little scales, black goo oozing off the brim, and a cottonwood branch nestled in the leather band
I have to say, I very much enjoy playing farmer and spending my days with my girls, but I also can’t deny the siren call of my studio beckoning me back to the world. I am downright craving routine time to escape my current chaotic schedule (it probably doesn’t sound chaotic, but trust me it is… for me and my wiring at least :D). I feel desperate to dive into wool, to weave fibres from dreams to reality, and relieve my brain of 4 years of creative clutter. While I am not quite there yet, i have managed to carve out two decently reliable 4hr studio days… and i’ll take it! Over the past few months, those hours have allowed me to create two hats, one of which i am ready and excited show you! And because I’m silly and despite my beloved husband’s gentle attempts to instil me with time-management skills, i spent the past number of studio days bringing my new hat to life with a wee stop motion. I can’t help it. I don’t think i was ever made for living in the real world :D
Well my dears, thank you for reading this far. It feels so good to finally connect! and if you feel inclined and have the energy to spare, I would love to hear how you are doing as well <3
sending all my love your way,
Rena
why the cottonwood you ask? Inky caps are often found growing in the soggy wet ground around cottonwood trees and i figured this hat deserved a friendly companion
while i was researching cottonwood i discovered that not only do these beautiful waterside trees provide resinous buds with pain relieving properties and fill the air with magical snow in august, they also have the most perfect little star tucked inside their stems. Mother nature deserves our awe and adoration doesn’t she?!