In with the New...

So, I have been kicking around the Pea Soup blog for awhile (the quiet, dusty blog as it were.)  And while I actually hadn't started out intending to create an entirely new blog, the more tinkering I did and the more thought that I put in to it, I decided that starting fresh with a new blog sounds kind of nice.

With that, here is the NEW Pea Soup blog address:  www.peasoupgoods.blogspot.com.

Won't you come join me there?

xoxo,
Nicole

Love, Love, Love, Love, Crazy Love

Can you guess what one of my New Year's resolutions was? Yes, do better keeping the Etsy and blog sites updated. Can one resolution be to keep my resolutions for the year? That does sound a little crazy...

Speaking of crazy! I just popped in to show you one of my new designs. I created it late last year for a special order. The original was done with traditional crazy (krazy?) quilt colors like dark reds, black, that pretty gold thread weaving throughout. Of course I didn't get a picture of the originals but here is the Valentine's Day version for this year:

New Year - New Studio!

Happy 2012 Everyone!

(This is the first page of *one* of my Christmas gifts to myself :) It is a Paper Source calendar! I had been admiring them since about August and since one of my New Year's resolutions was to be a little more on schedule and on the ball with birthdays and anniversaries etc. I thought it was a very fitting gift - to myself ...)





Brand new year, brand new Pea Soup Studio!



Shall I give you the grand tour?


Here is the main working area, the window overlooks the woods - I always prefer to work in front of a window. The studio is actually two rooms (very tree-house feeling!) This is the second room.

The first room (not pictured) houses the computer and corresponding machines. The other side has a little round table for tea and snacks and visitors and a big comfy chair in the corner for reading.


This is to the left of my desk, it has some storage for often used supplies and of course books and more books! I have placed my favorite books here: my collection of Japanese craft books, books from my favorite artists and craft how-to books.

Here is to the right of my desk, felt and all of the tiny supplies - buttons, beads etc. And more books! These are my favorite vintage craft and embroidery books. The framed crewel work at the top was my Grandma Golden's. I love it!
It is back to work at that big desk for me - I truly hope that the New Year brings everyone much joy, good health and peace!

-Nicole

For Being in Love . . .

Whew! It's been a long while! It is now officially my favorite time of the year - hot hot hot - 95 degrees and sort of murky and the nights are warm and misty and the air feels so alive that you can almost hear it! I know that I am a small percentage of people that love this type of weather but I do love it and am happy as a little pig in mud.

My absence from any regular blog posts was due to the Buyers Market of American Craft show - this year it was held at the Baltimore Convention Center and was a bit earlier than in years past - July rather than August. This show has been truly life changing as far as my little Pea Soup company is concerned and I am forever grateful to all of those that organize it and all of the buyers that come out and place orders and support American handmade art and craft and of course to the friends new and old that are like family to me!

So you can see where the title of the post comes from. I love what I do, I love what I make and I love all the support and encouragement from everyone! Many thanks.

This little frame is also part of the series of small frames that I made as new items this year - I have shown the little nursery frames here a few posts back and this is the same size as those. I just love the way the little girl fairy is looking at the little boy fairy. They are indeed in love.

The Internet Gnomes

I am beginning to think that there are little gremlins inside my computer that are taking things - Etsy listings, blog postings, photos . . . okay, maybe I just have too many things going on in my brain at once and am not keeping very good track of my Internet work . . . OR it could be these fine gentlemen?

Who doesn't love gnomes??? I honestly don't know why it took me so long to include them in the Pea Soup cast of characters - fairies, elves, gnomes seem like the obvious next step and here they are - they are available in the Etsy shop as a pin or as a larger size ornament. I LOVE their little beards and booties - I had so much fun trying to figure out how to get them just right. We can't have a gnome scurrying about without proper footwear! Which reminds me of this book that I poured over while I was designing these guys. I bought it for $2 at my local library's used book sale - what a steal!! If you get a chance - get yourself a copy of this adorable and so well done and imaginative book!

Jolly Juggling Jesters

I always go back to the jester - there is just something about him that I love. I have been making this little jester pin for quite sometime -

And I have made a larger version as an ornament now and then. When I first started making the wall hangings - which are a totally new concept for me just this year - I of course made the juggling jolly jester wall hanging first! (And kept one for myself which sits on my work table!) Here it is:

I was fortunate enough to make a batch of these in different colors for this amazing place! And here they are - done in different color combos - talk about a very fun time in the studio making these!

How can you not smile when you see them all lined up like that!?

Oh, and the jester pin was just added for sale here!

Baby Boys and Baby Girls

There seems to be many little bundles arriving as of late - lots of little cute beans sprouting up everywhere! Many best wishes to all of those that I know and love that have just had a baby or are about to have a baby and to all of you out there that are new parents!!!

These little wall hangings were made for the big February show and I am just getting around to getting them in to the shops - there is a little girl baby bean here.

The super great thing about these is I will personalize them for you - yep, I will stamp the little name right on the frame - and the date of birth too! Fun! And a very thoughtful gift I might add! :)