hopeful sounds...

A new birdy cake topper has landed itself on a branch in my shop. I've gradually been working on a few new things for the shop...and I think this particular bird would be lovely upon a simple white frosted cake for a special lady or birthday girl.

I've had little songbirds on the mind today ever since this morning when I heard the sweet song of one just outside my window. It was only a short song...just a long high note followed by a steady low note. But that first hopeful sound of a bird singing caught my ear and reminded me that Spring will someday arrive...eventually...even though it seems on this dreary January day to be lightyears away. Sometimes I forget how quiet nature is in the wintertime. Until I hear that first birdsong and it awakens my mind to memories of warm Spring mornings, sleeping with the windows cracked, and hearing the birds of the forest begin their sweet songs early in the morning. I can't wait for those Spring mornings!

More birds, more soon! ~L

cravings

While down in the Cities last weekend, Hub and I had dinner at Cafe Latte. For weeks and weeks before this, I'd been craving a BIG slice of their Raspberry Creme Torte...and it didn't disappoint!

I would say that I really haven't had any strange pregnancy cravings...or really any cravings at all, besides maybe ice cream...and hot chocolate too? Since I've cut out coffee and tea, I've become a bit of a hot chocolate connoisseur. Which reminds me, Cafe Latte's hot chocolate is amazing too!

raspberry pink...

...baby booties for a precious new niece!

These were fairly quick to knit and I very loosely followed this cute pattern from The Purl Bee.
Much easier than the pair of socks I'm still trying to finish for myself. It is sooo cold here today, if only I could knit a pair of cozy booties like this for myself! ;)

surrounded by...

...fabric...lots of pretty fabrics!

I just love all the possibilities that a piece of fabric holds.

Although I'm still not entirely sure what I'm doing here, I think I'm making progress towards...something! ;)

quiet, fresh start...

The new year has been getting off to a quiet but good start for me. I actually didn't even make it until midnight on new year's eve, probably for the first time that I can recall. Hub was off work for a few days over new years and we accomplished A TON of cleaning out, getting rid of, organizing...and it felt so wonderful. It's nice to have a partner who is fully on board and sometimes the motivator as well behind getting things organized. I'm usually a bit like this every new year...where I need to totally clean up and organize my studio after the holiday craftiness and whatnot, but this year it extended to our basement, future baby room (the closet was packed with our stuff!), etc as well. I'm sure it's the sense of a new year that spurs me to do this, to start fresh, but perhaps this year with the addition of a baby to our home, we were even more inspired to get things in order. And as we were doing all this over a few days, I pondered how silly/amazing it is that we have to spend so much time dealing with "stuff!" Makes me long for more simplicity, less things... But now that my desk is finally clean and I know where everything is, I'm taking my time to ease back into creating too. I have a desire to sew something but haven't figured out just what yet. I'd like a project that I can work on for awhile...piecing together here and there...taking my time while learning more about sewing...and quietly easing into this wonderful fresh new year!

About my photo: Winter is getting a little long now though...I recently had to corral all my plants away from the chilly windows and put a bunch of them on my favorite white plant stand. I so enjoy seeing this greenery when outside everything is snow-covered!