We’ve been painting fish for days.

Nighttime animation sessions around the kitchen table. Søren has devised a robust project for his class with not enough time to finish. A familiar story. Hand-drawn, hand-painted characters in piles and spread about. Falling asleep at the brush.

Is this living analog? Is this just living? Gathered around the table, papers and characters and colours floating about, waiting for their final details and place in the story, the lot of us bleary eyed and drifting.

There is a skill to documenting – especially as entrepreneurs. But this week we mostly forgot – the fish needed painting.

Søren’s Desk a few years ago

Walter Renovating The Rat Room and Nearing Completion

What isn’t content in a life of making?

Walter has spent the past year touching every corner of the Rat Room, as he says, as if with a toothpick. We ordered custom windows that changed the coziness of the room in a not nice way, so he decided to strip back the layers instead to restore what was already there. The 1818 windows. We snapped a few photographs along the way. But here he is now, repainting them with linseed oil paint outside.

Read Our Blog: Barn Restoration Project at the Five Acre Wood

Makeshift Studio Betwixt Barn and Creek

Making Journals and Mistakes

And in my world – Me, mother whose family makes, who observes her family making, and who makes – I’ve finally finished my journal, without a camera watching.

I’ve been putting off the making for the right light or the right camera or the right something. The journal didn’t turn out great, but it looks good in photographs. I didn’t want to share it, but I will after I make better books to compare.

We are building our YouTube channel and trust we will get better at all of this. We hope you’ll come along with us on this newish journey.

Watch on YouTube

My friend Deb’s Sendaks + pouches on her desk in New Mexico from my February visit!

Watch on YouTube

A Few Of A Kinds Left!

Silas Runs!

Silas has been running.

Since returning to public school nearly two years ago, he has stepped away from making art and stepped fully into sport — soccer, and this year, track. He has transformed.

5:02 mile

Substack + YouTube

Everywhere Astonishments

There is not enough time to live out all of ones dreams. But we did go to see it. This unchanged cottage by the sea...

I love this comment on Substack

I have a running list of old houses that I’m sure I was truly meant for too. I never can stop looking for them and dreaming. They’ve wormed their way into who I am so that I could never forget them. When I can’t sleep I arrange our furniture into them in my head and garden their gardens. Surely the universe will deliver me to one of them someday?
-Chrisi

And all morning, as I’ve been working, this bird has been trying to come in. She’s been knocking on every window. Some people told me she was a he, but she sure seems like a she. I left and returned and found her in the studio.

I always feel so lucky to hold the birds.

Storefront

The Peg and Awl Storefront is open for visitors! Come see our treasures in person along with other maker’s treasures and vintage finds.

Monday–Friday 10–5

We’ve got a new sign — come visit and see where everything is made.
The Studio Tour is coming up May 16th and 17th. More on this soon!