friends and inventions

Do you know what penicillin, Popsicles and Post-It Notes all have in common? No one got the idea and then stayed up nights to invent them. They were accidentally invented - and our Lavender Wrist Cushion was, too. The other day my friend Kathi and I were chatting in my studio when she glanced over at my desk and asked me what the cute little pouch near my computer was. I explained to her that it had been a prototype for a lingerie sachet, filled with lavender, but I wasn’t happy with the design. It sat and sat on my desktop until one day I needed something to support my wrist while I was endlessly on the computer.

Our conversation turned to the subject of my pretty vintage handkerchief collection. I asked Kathi’s advice, “What should I make with these pretty hankies?” She looked at me, looked at that sachet-turned-wrist rest, and in that moment the Lavender Wrist Cushion was born. Sometimes our best ideas are right under our noses – we just don’t know them yet! Thanks, Kathi!

This is a broom.

I’m starting to think I am the only person on the planet who still owns one of these. For those of you not familiar, it’s a broom, and it is used for something we don’t see much anymore: sweeping. My idea for today’s blog came from over my neighbor’s fence - their gardener has been blasting his leaf blower for the last two hours. This takes the inspiration out of cottage inspired living.

Did you know that leaf blowers can blow as much as 200 miles per hour, depending on the model you select?? Throughout my neighborhood on any given day there are a plethora of gardeners propelling leaves and debris this way and that. Last week through the back window we saw a voluminous cloud of leaves being propelled through our fence into our flower garden! With utter disbelief we were witnessing the entire leaf inventory of my neighbor’s yard being distributed to our side. After a quick conversation with the gardener, I pulled out my hand rake and broom and went to work.

The blowers aren’t for me. I love to sweep. It is a meditative practice for me, and I come up with some of my best ideas while sweeping. You can hear birdsong while whisking the garden clippings away. It’s quiet. It’s peaceful. It’s lovely. I see my neighbors and visit.

I don’t remember leaf blowers when I was growing up in the Midwest. What about the tradition of raking the yard into one big pile and jumping in? Remember It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown? It started with Charlie Brown raking a pile of leaves while Snoopy chased lone leaves to get them back into the pile. Along came Linus licking a lollipop and tripping into the pile that left his face and hands sticky from the leaves and lollipop. After this happened we saw Charlie Brown shake his fists at Linus for wrecking his pile of leaves. I really wouldn't want to see that scene scripted with a leaf blower, would you?

I know I’m not among the majority when I tell you I enjoy taking more time to do things the old fashioned way.

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Lovely start. Lovely day.

Starting a business can truly be terrifying and stressful. So many “what ifs” hovering in a cloud overhead. The emotional rollercoaster ride is exhilarating, the expense staggering and the self-doubt just about inevitable. I’ve never been so happy in my life.

Today I am ‘lovingly’ hand-tearing paper for my seeded paper journals in my little work studio. While there is a light rain falling outside, Song of the Sea/Finlandia by Dino is softly playing on Pandora. I'm product testing a lovely fig candle and the heady fragrance is intoxicating. This is idyllic.

I’m nearly paralyzed by fear. I’m elated. I’m doing what I love.