Whimsical Windows

~ Whimsical Windows ~

Not too long ago I stopped into Hutch and found our creative leader Krys Kirkpatrick busy as a bee in the bay windows of the aqua room.  She was magically transforming the windows into delightful floral frames with bunnies, ducks, and mushrooms.  

She painted them on the inside and went back into the painted images by scratching lines. I think it is so important to experiment when it comes to art. Krys definitely gets it and it's the only way to discover new things.  And it's fun!

 A snail peeks from in between two magical mushrooms. Would't you want to go in and see what else is in store? 

I love when the sunshine beams through the window panes casting fun shadows on the sill.  Also seeing through to the bushes and flowers moving in the breeze brings it all to life.

So Sweet!

Old Book Shelf

~ Old Book Shelf ~

A future workshop perhaps? Would you sign up?

A creative group of Whirligiggers!

~ A Fun & Creative Bunch of Whirligig Makers ~

Well, I have to say that I won'y forget this whirligig workshop.  I little while ago I received an email from one of these women, let's call her Jenny F., who had driven by our studio and was so excited to see that we held workshops in how to make our whimsical whirligigs by repurposing old stuff.  She is an artist who uses old tin objects in her art so her head is already in that "recycled" space.  It didn't take her long to get a few friends on board to fill a workshop.  This was a fun crew.  They all are artists that deal with recycling and repurposing in their work and I would suggest checking out what they do by visiting their sites and blogs.  Here is what they created that day.

                  Jenny Fillius                                Deborah Paul

           Ross Palmer Beecher                        Diane Kurzyna

Meeting new people and getting to know them a bit is something I really enjoy about the workshops at hutch.  Thanks to Jenny and the fact that she is so nice and has many friends future whirligig workshops are filling up fast.  So give me a call or email and maybe you can get in on one.

Hanging Jars

~ Hanging Jars & Spoon Hangers ~

A fun DIY project this summer at Hutch was to put our glass source jars to good reuse and hang them from old spoons that were formed into hooks and screwed into the interior wall of our front porch.  They really stand out as you enter our shop.  I've been asked on many occasion about the species of flower.  They are an annual called Callie Orange or (Calibrachoa).  The color really looks great against the grey green of our exterior house color.  

These jars can be used inside or outside.  If outside, a covered area like our porch is ideal, because rain will accumulate in the jars (no drainage) and your plants will drown and rot.  I like to store my paint brushes in them inside the studio.  I can see them being cool candle holders as well.  The possibilities are endless.

We sell the whole set up (jar + spoon hanger) for $15. in our shop.  I think it is one of those ideas that customers see and think that they will go home and do themselves, but I think you have to think about the time, effort, and tools required to make these.  $15. is a sweet deal.

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.