Winter Schedule

New Winter Schedule & Hours of hutch!
Our hours will be the same but the days that we will be open will change for the winter season.  It will be as follows beginning the first of January.

Open~ Friday thru Monday, 11am-4pm.
Closed~ Tuesday thru Thursday.


*Calling first is always a good idea, just to make sure. Once a month I close for a workshop.


Thank you and I hope to see you soon!

A box ~ A tree

If you've been in the shop lately you've probably noticed the trees that are the table centerpieces in every room.  They are cut and constructed using one cardboard box.  Since they are paper they can be easily painted or decorated to compliment your personal style.
They are available as a "Do it yourself" kit for $24. and only for in-store pick-up.  The supply is very limited.  I'm going to make one right now!

Friends

Around the holidays one can easily get grinchy with all the added stresses.  The crowds, the long lines, the traffic, and the expenses can turn the most jovial person into a humbug.  Yesterday however I had a very heart warming surprise.  A large envelope was delivered to me at hutch.  It was from someone who had visited the studio recently and knew that I was looking for old  children's books to repurpose.  Sure enough, inside the envelope were the pages from an old children's book.  I mean "old".  I couldn't find an actual print date, but I'm guessing the 1920's.  It was a soft back children's story/activity book with great "hutch colors" and graphics.

There is so much about these pages that inspire ideas. What truly inspires me more than the content in these fragile pages is the gesture.  This person didn't have to do this but she did.  It's these small acts that can make you believe in the goodness of people.  Not to mention the "Greatness" of hutch studio fans.  You are all the best and I meet new one's all the time.  If you haven't had a chance to visit the studio in person, make a point of stopping by over the holidays.  You may want to give a call first to make sure that our door will be open. #360-466-2303
HAPPY HOLIDAY!
Chris

The Latest Spin!

Hey Everybody!  I'm officially announcing the dates for the next two Whirligig Workshops at hutch studio.


Saturday, January 29th, 11am-3:30pm
Saturday, February 26th, 11am-3:30pm


The cost is $85. and the only supplies you need to bring are the fun repurposed items that catch the wind and sit atop your gig. Stop in or give me a call or email me for more info.#360-466-2303. chrisptheiss@gmail.com


Here a few examples of the whirligigs that were made in the November workshop.  I was impressed.

Thanks Debbie, mike, Bill, Kari, Donna, and Sharon.  You were all great fun to work with and you created wonderful whirligigs.  Spin on!
Chris

A Cardboard Christmas

Cardboard has definitely been the repurposed material of choice at hutch studio, and the holidays couldn't happen for us without a cardboard tree.  We have them in every room and I've painted a few with some of our wall colors.  After all paper can be embellished in endless ways.  My plan was to make this tree a DIY project for repurposing an old cardboard box.  The response to the tree has been overwhelming and I will have a very limited supply available in the next couple of days.  The shapes are drawn on a flattened box and your job is to cut out the shapes and assemble the finished tree. It measures 31 inches tall by 20 inches wide by 18 inches deep. $24.00  *They are an in-store only item because let's face it shipping a flat box in a box is a bit silly.
So pop in soon to be one of a few to have this cool creation in your home.

The art deco inspired starburst tree-topper is the most recent addition to the holiday cardboard items.  It is 11"h x 8'w x 8" d and easily slips onto the tip of your tree.  Now here's a topper that makes a visual and an environmental statement. Next year you could even do something different to the surface (gold leaf perhaps).  Now that would be upcycled!  $18.

Are you having trouble finding the perfect gift for that person who loves the environment and gadgets?  Well I had to make this little number.  A cardboard phone stand that allows you to set your phone up at your desk.  And you can plug in the charger and still use it.  I love mine.  $14. Cardboard phone not included.

To inquire about or order any of these items give me a call at the studio.  #360-466-2303

Sweet Art

Some of the latest and sweetest additions to hutch studio are the original watercolors of Krys Kirkpatrick.  Krys has been embracing the idea of recycling and reusing by incorporating old book pages collaged onto her backgrounds and mounting her images onto corrugated cardboard.  Above is "Home is where the heart is." It depicts a pig in a polka dotted dress in her flower garden with her house in the background. It measures 6"h x 6"w. The wood panel that the watercolor is mounted on is a chunky 1 3/4" deep and has  brown wood grain printed over the collaged book pages.  $45.

At the very top there is a piece for the winter season.  It's titled "Winter Friend", and it's a snowman and bunny painted on a fabric square that is then quilted and mounted on a wood panel.  8"h x 8"w. $55.

At the very very top is a painting of a Mommy Cat and her 3 kittens in their living room entitled "Is it not a lovely day?"  It measures 8"h x 8"w x 1 3/4"d.

$55.

If any of these pieces appeal to your sweet tooth give me a call at the studio.  #360-466-2303

Under The Tree

A few weeks ago I was musing about holiday trees.  I wanted to make a sweet little table top decoration that utilized all these little paper coins that I cut out of an old book.  I usually just scan the tables and shelves in the studio to come up with the other ingredients for the recipe.  Cardboard, wire, moss, dowels, and glitter were the materials of choice that day. 

After the tree was complete it still needed something else.  A teeny tiny field mouse to nestle in the moss was the ticket.  I made three and they were purchased within the week.  I made 3 more and that will probably be it but that's what I always say.  They are approximately 7" in height.  $26.00
Give me a ring at the studio for info. #360-466-2303

holiday ornaments

What's hanging around your tree this holiday season?  If you are looking for a fun "handmade" ornament to admire by the fire check out these special items.  A polka-dotted bird in green made of a soft cotton with brown felt beak and brown embroidery.  It is 4 1/2" long from beak to tail feather and 2 1/2" tall. $14. each

The "Plushroom" ornament is stuffed and hand painted muslin.  It measures 3 1/2" tall by 2 1/2" wide at the cap.  This fun little guy "fungi" could swing on your tree till spring.  $15.

The "Little Cabin" ornaments are dangling everywhere at the studio.  This one was made from the pages of a 1958 "House and Garden" cookbook.  So for all you foodies out there, you can get an ornament and a recipe all in one.  Do you prefer fish, poultry, or deserts?  It measures 4 1/2"h x 2 1/2"w.  $6. each

My personal favorites are the cabins made from a 1942 Mother Goose and Peter Rabbit book.  I still have a select few left.  They are the same dimensions as the cabin pictured above and sell for $6. as well.  Take a trip to hutch studio in the charming little town of La Conner over the holidays or ring us at #360-466-2303.

One of the very latest fun projects at the studio has been repurposing a few very old children's books.  I had a "Mother Goose" and a couple "Peter Rabbit" books printed in 1942.  As beautiful as these books were I had to be so careful handling them.  The paper was crumbling at the edges but the majority of the images were still in good shape. They were no longer functional as books.  What else could they become?  I've been making many little paper cabins at hutch over the past couple of months and I thought these sweet illustrations with their rich colors could transform into fun cabins.  I've made single cabins that are illuminated by a tea light $8., ornaments $6., string garlands of 5 cabins $24., and my favorite is a hanging strand mobile of 5 cabins for $24..

The individual cabins measure 4 1/2" tall x 2 1/2" wide, and because the book pages have graphics and text on both sides, the interiors are just as fun as the exteriors.  They are the #1 hot item right now the stock is fairly limited, so stop on by or give me a jingle at the studio #360-466-2303. I'm excited about putting one on our tree.

Closed for workshop!

Please don't cry.  I know it doesn't seem like a whole month has past since the last whirligig workshop, but it has.  It will be o.k.  The studio is closed this Saturday (November 20th), but will be open again the very next day.  24 hours is a lot of time to be without your hutch fix but I will be there to help on Sunday.
Thank you so much for your understanding.
Chris

Closed for Workshop

I would like to let all know that the hutch studio shop will be closed for a whirligig workshop on Saturday October 16th.  The shop will be open on Sunday from 11am- 4pm.
Thank You!
Chris

Latest Whirlygig Workshop

The whirligig workshops are just getting better all the time.  The latest group of gig-makers created some of the best to date (shown above). Truly a display worthy of topping our own hutch studio fence.  I recently received an e-mail from one of the latest workshop participants saying how much she had enjoyed the day and to report that her whirligig was "spinning like crazy".  Nice!  I just wanted to say how great everyone was and that I was thoroughly impressed.

Yours Twirly,
Chris

down to the wire

Well it is down to the wire.

I don't know about other creative people,

but I...work to the bitter end.  It seems like

my best ideas are my last.

But, a little bright spot in the

blur of paper, cardboard and glue....

my lil pumpkin came by for a visit.

He is changing so much.  The head is 

a little more stable.  And he giggles.

My daughter in law is helping with

the show...so mama and granny are

going to miss this little booboo.

Daddy-Nanny will be holding down

the fort.

Minnesota...here we come.

~CLOSED~

Hi everyone in the creative world of hutch studio!

I wanted to let you know that the shop will be closed for the next few days- Friday thru Tuesday the 14th.  It will be back to business as usual on Wednesday September 15th.  Have a great long weekend!  I know I will.  I plan on seeking some inspiration on the other side of the mountains.
Chris

Words of the Week :: August

Our goal is to inspire you to create and to help you along the way.

This week I started each day with a cup of coffee, an old book, an x-acto knife, and a word. ~Chris

The spinnings at hutch studio

If by chance any of you have been on Morris Street in La Conner, WA over the past 20 years and it just so happened to be a windy day, you undoubtedly noticed the whimsical "whirlygigs" that top the fence posts in the front of a very old Victorian house. The fence itself is a whole other story and future blog post. That house is currently the home of hutch studio (formerly the BBTB museum). Recently the art of making these fun wind catchers has been rejuvenated. Old gigs are being repaired, post caps are getting leveled and fancied, and new whirlygigs are being created. Some say that they are drawn in by the color and movement on the fence. I love that they truly reflect the hutch studio philosophy of using old or unwanted items as raw material for realizing new and fun ideas. The current buzz words for this idea are "repurposing" or "up-cycling". I just think it's smart.

Whirlygig workshops are being held at the studio and they have been fun, fun, fun! Participants bring boxes of special stuff and use it to make their own personal gigs. We have had some pretty great creations in the last 2 workshops. One student took apart an old laptop computer for his whirlygig. Pretty cool! Feel free to give us a call if you are interested in future workshops or stop in to sign up.

A little while ago our very best and special customer suggested to me that I make some whirlygigs that were small and for interior decor. As a ceramicist that leans toward miniature in my own work, I couldn't resist. The result is the "Mini Spinny". They are porcelain polychromed reproductions of the larger found object whirlygigs that live out on our fence...and did I mention, they move?


Chris, director

Something new in the shop.

This is Joe.

He is a giraffe that counts.

He about 12 inches tall.  His mane is made from 

the linen left over from my sisters window seat

cushions.  I washed-dried-fringed-dyed it.

He is cute.

25.00

Here is a picture from farm chicks.

You can go to my blog for more

.http://kryskirkpatrickdesign.blogspot.com/

Gosh it is hard to post on two 

blogs.  Let alone one.

I end up looking at other blogs

and run out of time to post anything.

Here is how I feel after 

farm chicks

http://moonlighthollow.blogspot.com/

This picture courtesy of moonlighthollow.

I have brought in a lot

of new art.

I have been working in the

shop a couple of days a week, 

while Chris took a little time off.

It was a blast.  I met some

very cool people.

I did a little decorating and 

cleaning.  New flowers,

new art...

And I learned from 

patrons...

for example,

people like to read the little

sayings I have on my 

pictures.  I am amazed.

Well, I have set up

our Etsy site.

It is far from perfect.

Only a few items so far.

But it is a start. 

I have that thought going through my

head,  "one small step for man,

one giant leap for mankind."

Or a leap, a stumble, a make do... till I can get help,

 for me, with many more

to come.

If you have any questions,

just call Chris at Hutch

he has all the answers.

Chris is at it again.

He created these little 

bunnies with umbrellas.

Ceramic and wire.

I have seen many busy bunnies

hopping around when I walk.

I have yet to see any with umbrellas.

Chris has packaged his 

winter windows pattern.

Available at Hutch studio.

Chris has been busy at his kiln...

Rainy day bunny.

available soon...