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