C

I've been in love with Ayumi Horie's work for a while and was happy to find an interview with her lately. She seems to be so very calm. And happy with her work. But also very clear about what she's doing and why. These are the thing I feel I lack at the moment and I've been rereading her words again and again over the last few days.

This new year (I always count new years from my birthday) is all about commitments, with capital C even... I almost expect myself to be a bit uncomfortable with it, but instead I am really happy. I'm keeping it secret for now, but I'll share it with you when the moment's right.

GROWING

We started planting some things in our new veggie patch a couple of weeks ago. I love seeing new sprouts. Now when it's warmer, I love going barefoot outside, checking mailbox for new letters and veggie patch for new sprouts. It's our time to enjoy spring.

PROOF THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING

on some new stuff... finally! bits of red thread to brighten up the day. I'll show you more. soon.

and thank you so much for sharing your stories! I really enjoyed reading all the comments during the week.

What makes me smile

I've got this e-mail a few days ago. It's from Mayumi, amazing woman behind LINNET, a small japanese company I buy all my fabrics from. Here is what she wrote:

"We are making most of our original designed fabrics in local mills and weavers which are highly skilled."

"People involving in the linen industry in Japan are the real linen lovers, and also very proud of their works."

"In any way we are working with those local mills to make our products, as we can keep them in high quality under the close relationship."

"I think, if we can produce the good quality linen fabrics, it will last more than 10 years in spite of the heavy-use. If it would be adequately treated, it could last much more. So, we can be free from too much consuming life... Personally it was my first feeling to have known the high quality linen in my yonger age."

Ten years! Can you imagine that? My favourite jeans are falling apart after three years, and I actually thought they lasted pretty well! It all makes me think how we are so used to the things that are not made to last... It's also a huge responsibility and a challenge: to make things that you would actually like to wear for 10 years and even longer...

Do you have clothes that you've been loving and wearing for years? What are they? I'd love to know..

I've been too quiet...

I've been trying to remember all the good things that were happening here, while I didn't have much time to post, making lists in my head. Celebrating birthdays. Receiving absolutely amazing presents. Eating some seriously good food.

A. bought one very-very strange flower for my birthday. And then another one last week. Even stranger. Something he hasn't done before. Something that makes me even happier then I already am. Do you even call it a flower? Probably not. I think it's absolutely amazing. I'm never going to get used to australian natives. Look at those leaves!!