The Bunny Room

~ The Bunny Room ~

A magical playland for little bunnies and kitties is what we created in the front room at Hutch.  It is the first thing you see as you enter our shop and I have to say that it lets you know what kind of experience lies ahead. A fun, childlike, and whimsical adventure.

Sometimes the bunnies are working on craft projects, sewing, cutting out paper carrots, and sometimes they are having cookies and carrot tea.  

The little bunny chairs are made of cardboard, but are sturdy enough to support bunny weight.

This cardboard dollhouse is something that I made a while ago and has been in different places in and out of the shop.  It along with a couple of vintage dollhouses add to the feeling of "play" in the room.  

Pictured below is the grand chandelier mobile which was the center and focal point of the room floating above the bunny table. 

Every time it rains, it rains, carrots from heaven.

Paper House Lights at Hutch

~ Paper House Lights at Hutch ~

1963 Good Housekeeping Cookbook House Light,  21"x 15"x 15",   $185.

The paper house light has been something that has always received a great deal of attention both here in the shop and on line. I remember when I first posted the image below on the internet. It was everywhere in no time. The exact light pictured below was featured on an episode of "Dear Genevieve" on HGTV a year ago and I sadly have not seen it yet.  They are for sale in the shop and I still plan on making it a DIY kit at some point but for now the workshops that teach others how to make the light are what's popular.  To see the current schedule of hutch workshops just click on "workshops" on our blog's main page.

~Sold~

Oh the shadows.....  If you have a dark space to hang the light, like a corner close to 2 walls, you take full advantage of it's shadow casting abilities and magic.

World Atlas House Light,  15"x 13"x 13",   $160.

This light is made out of a old World Atlas. You may be able to locate your place in the world on one of the houses.  The paper is a little thicker and not as translucent compared to the cookbook lights, but it has soft color pallet of blues, greens, and yellows.

Gail, one of my favorite workshoppers has taken this class twice and created two beautiful lights.  Both creations were very thoughtful.  The first repurposed maps that were specifically places that her daughter had been.  It was a graduation gift.  The second, a detail shown below.  Was machine stitched pages from "Pride and Prejudice" a favorite of her daughter.  Another gift.  It's obvious that she loves her daughters a great deal and  I'm sure they love their special gifts from mom.

So don't you want to check out the upcoming workshop schedule and sign up to make your own paper house light now?  Just go for it!

Colander Light

 ~ Colander Light ~

Sometimes you can have an idea, create it, and later on see a similar idea made by someone else.  I've learned over the years that it is always better to then take your idea further.  It's a way of creatively pushing yourself.  Recently I picked up a magazine and discovered an article on lights made using kitchen colanders.  I had made a couple for the shop a year or so ago that seemed very similar.  HTe very next day I took down the one I had in our kitchen and began turning up the creative dial.  I added fork fringe which I had been thinking about doing but this article sealed the deal.  I also suspended it with a cool old twisted metal plant hanger from a bent spoon bracket on the ceiling.  The change was much needed.  Before it was hardly noticed and now it can't be ignored.

One of the things I like about the forks is that the light takes on almost organic jellyfish quality.  If jellyfish were made out of kitchen wares that is.  I also staggered the fork lengths to create a wavelike edge at the bottom.

In terms of function things were much improved as well.  Before it was so high up on our tall ceiling that it offered little light to a dark space.  Now it is centered right above the table and illuminates the center piece beautifully.  This light is priced at $300. Give me a call to order 360-466-2303.

Illustrated Drum Shades

~ Illustrated Light Shades ~

One day I was organizing one of the rooms at the studio used to store just about everything and sitting on top of a precarious pile of old lamps were a few newer looking drum shades.  I'm assuming someone had bought them with a plan, but had abandoned the project.  Inspired by a children's book that my wife and son had recently given to me as a gift I decided to use the simple white surface of the shade as if it were a wrapped piece of paper to draw on. I first did a very light pencil sketch followed by line drawing with a fine point black sharpie marker.  Subtle color was added with watercolors.

Because some of the themes at the studio incorporate children, nature, and animals, that's what I used as subject matter.  The first lampshade pictured a little boy and a bird, a little girl and a squirrel, and trees with an acorn.

It really made a sweet light for a nursery or small child's room.

Well, someone else thought the same thing and bought it.  The room got dark after that so I had to come up with another one quick.  It was early spring and the mole hills were treacherous in the back yard so I thought Moles and Daffodils would be a great combo. Oh yeah, and a little girl and boy too.

I love a challenge, and to make a mole cute is exactly that.  Can you picture this little dude doing a little "Caddyshack" dance?  This lamp is still the center piece in our "sweet room" at the studio.  It retails for $150. call 360-466-2303 or stop into the studio to see it in person.

I'm thinking the next one is going to have "pink tulips", bunnies, a little girl, and a little boy.  What do you think? Should the little girl have curly red hair?

I also want to share a secret with you.  The magical ingredient that I add to so many things that I make in the studio is............

COFFEE!!!

I put it in myself as well.

It adds the right warmth to white and tones down colors that are a little too bright.  Give it a swirl!  No cream or sugar.

More Paper Houses.

Design Prototype!

I wanted to share the very latest in the development of the tiny paper cabins at hutch.  I wanted to combine a number of visual elements that we seem to continually gravitate towards.  Children and animals, old children's story books, nature, paper cutting, silhouettes, light, and our hutch colors are merged here into a tiny  magical package.

Design Prototype!

Pictured are 2 different versions.  The first has a boy and kitty silhouetted against the cabin and the second has a little girl and bunny.  Both are not yet available for purchase.  I was hoping to get a reaction and some comments on this current direction.  What do you think?