Stories

When I talk about my aunts and uncles on my mother's side it gets confusing in about a second. My grandfather was married four times and had six children. And my grandmother also remarried and had a second family. So my mother, who is the eldest child, has four sisters, three brothers and a step-brother, and her youngest sister is nearly forty years younger. Like I said, confusing. Family reunion with Grandpapa Garth and all his daughters. From left: my aunt Jessica, my mother Fiona, my brother Garth, Grandpapa Garth, his wife Leticia, me, my aunt Bettina and her son Darren....

I had plumbing troubles last week. Big ones that involved bringing in excavators and replacing big pipes. And smaller ones that stopped the shower from draining.  I had to hire help for the first kind but for the shower, I went to the hardware store and bought a new tool — a plumbing snake — and fixed the problem myself. I love tools. I have strong feelings about many of the tools I use. As a maker, these tools are almost as meaningful to me as the things I make. I created #toolsontuesday to keep up the practice of sharing stories about the...

I hope for opportunities to use this screwdriver. I bought it years ago from an old man selling off his tool collection in his yard.  It's small and light and feels perfect. I have strong feelings about many of the tools I use. As a maker, these tools are almost as meaningful to me as the things I make. I created #toolsontuesday to keep up the practice of sharing stories about the tools we use and live with.Every Tuesday, I share one of my favorite tools. I hope you'll share yours in the comments — it feels good to honor...

There's something quintessentially American about the Rolodex card index. I coveted it and was delighted when I scored one for $1.50 at the weekly Kiwanis sale when I lived in Ann Arbor.  I still use it. I've probably had it for 20 years and it might have been around for another 20 before that. That's what I call good design.  I have strong feelings about many of the tools I use. As a maker, these tools are almost as meaningful to me as the things I make. I created #toolsontuesday to keep up the practice of sharing stories about the tools we use and...

First things first — I've been spring cleaning the studio and I'm having a sample sale later this week. It'll be short and sweet, just 48 hours starting on Friday, and I'll be giving my mailing list a head start. That's you! If you have any friends you think would be interested, please forward them this email. They can subscribe here. _______________________________________________________________________________ My artist grandfather I've written some more about my grandfather, Garth Williams. Did you know he was a sculptor before he started illustrating children's books? Or that he was a Red Cross volunteer in London during the war? Read...