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I have a confession. We are half way through the month of January and I have not crafted a single thing in 2019. I have been momming it (we are temporarily nanny-less), working on #bts biz development, AND finally putting the finishing touches on my @ikeausa studio reno. Sometimes when I have a lull in crafting I get nervous to start up again, even though it’s second nature to me. . Do you ever get that feeling? That taking a much needed break from something you love might result in a draught of creativity or motivation? (📷 taken on a perfect day this summer in Sweden 🇸🇪)
#Valentine talks have begun around here and I am psyched to make all their dreams come true! Oliver is talking about a 2-piece #shrinkydinks situation, and Sommer is undecided. Last year she/we made heart-shaped soaps using a silicone mold...and it inspired me to use that mold to make a bunch of other #valentinegifts. . Seen here: crayons, soaps, #bathbombs, and #perlerbead hearts. Link in profile! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Bedtime consists of about seven 5-minute lights-out countdowns. Job well done? Or no? 🤷🏻‍♀️ 📖
What am I? A CRAFTER or ARTIST? . In the last few months, this question has come up more times than I can count. And I can't seem to push out an answer to this simple question. I hem and haw and say a lot of um's and well's and then I just sink down and say, "I'm just a crafter," like it's a lesser thing. . Maybe it stems from when I was in art school majoring in photography... I only called myself a photographer. Not an artist, even though the work I was making was conceptual and not commercial. . And then a few months ago I made a piece of "art" for an exhibition at @IndustryCity's @wanteddesign and someone asked me if this was a new direction for me, if I was going to start making art now. She went on to really emphasize how this sculpture was so different from my other work. I understand what she intended, but it was one more spotlight on this internal debate of mine. . Yesterday I was listening to @andyjpizza's Creative Pep Talk podcast with @sethgodin. They were discussing the definition of art, and I loved Seth's take: Art is a human act, a generous contribution, something that might not work, and it is intended to change the recipient for the better, often causing a connection to happen. So let me see what happens when I apply this to what I do... ✔️A human act ✔️Something that might not work ✔️Intended to change the recipient for the better ✔️Causes a connection to happen. (The only thing I waver on is "a generous contribution") He goes on to discuss how nursing home workers and customer service providers can also be seen as art-makers (fascinating, right?). . I'll just let it sit, but for now, calling myself a crafter feels like I'm wrapped in a warm blanket with a cuppa tea. So that's where I'm going to stay. . (I'm tagging some of my favorite makers, hoping they'll share their thoughts on the subject!)
A few months ago, we were asked to come up with a fresh take on the #holidaycard for a client. My assistant Clare and I came up with some wacky ideas, and when she made this with hand-cut craft-foam stamps, I declared it would be my family card. But here I sit, on January 7th, sharing it on Instagram and not in snail-mailboxes of my friends and family. Sigh. Cute, though, right?!? 🥰
I finally wrote my blog post about the super-fun event I did with @jcrew for #crewcuts back in September (it’s been a busy fall!). When we designed these patches, we based them off of 4 shapes (starting from top row): rounded rectangle, triangle, square, half-circle. . We set up a mini-buffet of felt pieces so that the kids could assemble their patches and choose their colors and shapes. . I’m pretty in love with those #frenchfries...which is your fave? 🍔 🍟 🦉 ⛺️ 👻 #meetmycrew
I guess you can say that #bestnine’s tell us something about what resonates with our audiences (or did i just post st the right time?)...and if that’s the the case, then you guys dig on Halloween (yes transforming #optimusprime!), a woman and her craft supplies (who coulda shoulda woulda become a judge on @nbcmakingit), the excitement of #summertravel (that photo of #Norway still makes me swoon), and most importantly, you believed CBF. The fact that that was my most liked square of the year speaks volumes. Here’s to a super #2019 with more travel, more trust in the truth, and of course, always Halloween! ❤️
#tbt to my munchkins exploring #sollewitt at @massmoca, circa 2015.
What’s behind door no. blue? With the rush of Christmas in the rear view mirror, I’m looking forward to opening some new doors. Maybe pink, maybe chartreuse? Who knows? Photo found via @agusleohalim

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