backyard beauty

I'm thinking about making a book on: backyard beauty. There is so much to capture back there that inspires me. It's truly incredible.






Plus, all the fun stuff going on indoors:




this jam was made by toddie's Uncle Ben from the blueberries in our backyard

speckles and freckles

that's what i like to call this arrangement...note: spotted zinnia are so cute.
it's rainy this morning and it Really feels like fall is a-comin'.

good morning

hello....some good morning photos...

surfing

I'm at work today...and wandering through the wonderful web of blogs...and look! Someone very far away has the same printed linen cloth that I do (a recent Andover score). And just this morning I was showing it off to Toddie while telling him that it was my favorite treasure from the trip. So funny...I had to share.
smosch

thoughts after a long day

just needed to think beauty and see beauty after a hard day's work...looking through the photo archive usually does the trick. these were all taken at our new home. anyway, we're cooking food right now and drinking some Sailor Jerry Navy Rum....kick'n back and enjoying our space. it feels good to be home.

Renovations.....

A couple weekends ago, two lovely friends of mine helped me do some messy work in the future home of Fort Nest. Let's just say I owe them - queen ants with wings (and their eggs), mice bones, horse poo, and more ants....
I came upon these photos and couldn't help but post them in fond memory of that day.


And inside, Toddie get's serious in our living room. We're trying to get things going, although it feels like it's not happening fast enough (we have no insulation in the older front portion of the house - eek!).




Pam came over to see the house last night. She makes me feel so excited about yarn and knitting. I feel blessed to have met her. Anyway, she took some pictures of me wearing some legwarmers for their webletter.

Andover, NH

Last weekend I took a trip to say goodbye to my cousins' house that has been in thier family for 5 decades and they have recently sold. 50 years of books, furniture, boxes, artwork....fabric! Lots and lots of fabulous finds. I went to say my goodbyes, but also to rumage and salvage. Let's get real, it's not everyday you come across such treasures. I came home with a van full of stuff and it warms my heart, truly, to have small pieces from a home I will fondly remember. This post is dedicated to the sweet feelings my thoughts of this home bring me...

us at home

Toddie and I are enjoying the first blush of homeownership. It's overwhelming and daunting, yet satisfying and exciting.
The studio is getting a little attention, but soon it will be getting lots! My cousin will be helping with installing a new roof. It will be so dreamy when it's done.
I'm facing yet another knitting deadline and will be excited to get something on the needles for myself (which means Madder!).

design*sponge

A recent post by design*sponge previews karen's home. She is kind enough to give me credit for my birdie cyanotype. so nice.

a connection is made

We're hooked up to cable internet now! It feels like another step towards normalcy and getting our lives in order since the move. And speaking of moves...I'm finally posting pictures of the house for my far away friends.

This is the house covered by Rhodies that we've already cut back a bit since taking this picture.

This is is where many of my future creative endeavors will occur. It is the new location of Fort Nest. The old barn was once a home for horses, but after "Studio Sunday" occured last week it is now the bones for my studio. No more horse turd and mice bones. No more ant infested insulation. No more yuckiness. Hello happiness (well hopefully soon, anyway).

More pictures TK, but I have to run into town to get my hair cut. My last cut was in March while in Japan. I can't wait!

Mina Perhonen thanks to Muffin!

A while back, my friend Karen introduced me to some Mina Perhonen books she had just recieved in the mail. What beauties! And thanks to my friend Muffin, who is living in Kyoto, I was able to request she stop by the shop for a visit. She took pictures! What a pal.

check me out

Pam Allen photographed me wearing this market bag a little while back for Classic Elite's premiere web letter. We caught the last few minutes of sunset up on the West End of Portland, ME. How lovely....
Also, my pattern is in print! This is the last pattern I have in IWK's for a while. I'm trying to focus my efforts on Madder right now. The website is in progress and I hope to have it up sometime this fall.

boring yet exciting

This is a boring, pictureless post but it bears exciting news. Toddie and I are settling into our new home! Well, it's old, but new to us. I can't wait to post pictures - I'm just waiting for internet access at home. Apparently we are out in the sticks and were told we can't get DSL through our phone...so maybe we'll try cable. Can't wait to have visitors here. Hint hint.

green is good

Meet the newest addition to the Hoge/Hutch residence: my Carbon Neutral car.



Also, I wanted to share my lovely stoop decor. pretty pretty.
And in knitting news: another deadline approaches...why, oh why, do I always procrastinate?

new-ness

I bought some luscious Koigu yarn and a couple yards of Amy Butler fabric. Can't wait to have time for projects. Also, here are some picts from my new job. I love being among all the beautiful flowers!!! It's uplifting.
Yeah, for uplifting!

better late than never

These photos are from a few weeks (months?) ago. The talented Kate Cox presented this installation at The Soundpost. It was an excellent display of her talents:
1. with the sewing machine,
2. with fabric
3. with construction, color & of course creativity.

fun fun

Last weekend I went to see Karen Gelardi's new work at the Front Room Gallery in So Po. Great work in response to the Saco Bog...fabric constructed sticks that have different colors and prints and also triangular works on paper that really blew me away. I'm not usually one for the triangle shape, but there is so much depth and color play that I was totally druling and wanting to buy them all. To walk into the room was a really fun and amazing experience.




So....otherwise....summer is officially here. The house hunt continues...