From Audrey: Mother's Day 2012

trainman

I first peeked into Scott MacLaughlin's train room a year or so ago when I was visiting his lovely wife Linda and she brought me back for a little introduction. Scott is a retired food inspector, and he has brought his professional meticulous attention to detail along for a whimsical retirement ride. His current layout has developed over 14 years and delighted every member of our family (even the hard to impress goatman) when we finally visited formally this week.  Marian especially loved the scenery details, 

Audrey loved the wiring (peek here under one of the circuit boards!),

and I loved the evidence of artist-at-work.  Look at this great upcycling storage for "grass" and details!

Reuben loved every every everything.  For the next month, every time we pulled up to an unknown house, he shouted in delight, "choo!"  He was so disappointed that not every house held such good treasure!

fourteen

My girl turned fourteen this week.

Daddy bought her flowers.

I'm trying to be all sentimental about it, but mostly I'm just proud. 

We're going to the This American Life live broadcast at a movie theatre in Harrisburg tonight.  It's awesome to have her old enough to enjoy grown-up (ish!  we're so excited about the ok go handbells app for it!) things together.

Heard of kickstarter.com?
Kind of like Kiva, but more first world. Which is good and bad.
Little capital campaigns that give you hey-I'm-a-helper cute rewards. My friend John used it to fund his self-published book last year. My only other backer effort so far.

It could definitely get addictive just browsing...
I just pledged in at the $15 backer level for Lille Huset: one extra little house and one bicycle (had to!). Brilliant and beautiful across the board.
I love them very much.

I would like to GET THEM ALL.
But should get a job first....

(PS: if you're interested, this particular campaign ends 4/22. If she gets her goal, it's a go--1/2 way there!--and she gets her $ and we get our swag, and if not, well, not.)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1166919790/lille-huset?ref=live

UPDATE: Goal met! But can still purchase kits at kickstarter rate for a limited time. I would, if I were you...

spring restocking

The three-year-old is at the babysitter, so I'm finally starting to fill the little shop for Easter/Spring shopping.

I'm really excited about some new stained, unglazed porcelain handwork

and have a few of my classic surprise bowls

and miniatures, too.Only one new tiny mug.

Peek here: purplepetunia.etsy.com

(more coming through the weekend!)

purple petunia Valentine giveaway with We Bloom Here

Margaret Bloom runs a very pretty little blog at webloomhere.blogspot.com and she's hosting a wee Valentine's giveaway of one of my red-and-white birdbath bowls. Drop by here to enter (and find a coupon code good for the month of February). I have a fair selection of pottery left, as well as some sweet candy-hued Valentine dolls I made while in Singapore, including a handful of 1 1/4" (and just $4) bitty pixies. Plus you'll just want to browse and absorb her aesthetic and ideas (I just like reading all the nice comments ;)!). I was completely charmed when we "met" in December. Enjoy!

Happy February!

the pathway to truth

The wayfarer,

Perceiving the pathway to truth,
Was struck with astonishment.
It was thickly grown with weeds.
"Ha," he said,
"I see that none has passed here
In a long time."
Later he saw that each weed
Was a singular knife.
"Well," he mumbled at last,
"Doubtless there are other roads."

STEVEN CRANE, "The Wayfarer," from War Is Kind and other Lines, 1899
quoted by Valerie Frandsen in her valedictory address, June 1992 ;)


Two excellent bits of news for the New Year:  (1) I'm in Singapore and (2) I got a new camera for Christmas.  These young pineapple plants in our hotel garden instantly brought my favorite Mr. Crane to mind....