Tea and Stitching

When I want to ease into my mornings, I choose a hot cuppa tea, quiet prayer and gentle stitching. Today, the windows are wide open. I did a bit of cleaning. There's a cool breeze coming off the ocean. Since my home is small, tidying up is easy. The only thing I long for is hardwood floors. Maybe someday. I'll probably never give up my love of real wood floors and French chandeliers.

Feeling Stitchy

Hi Everyone! Spring has sprung in New England. On the North Shore of Boston, flowers are budding on the trees. I've done some spring cleaning. I've also been outside everyday, walking on the piers and in the parks. My beagle is a happy sidekick.

Salem is jumping with tourists and trolley tours. The restaurants and coffee shops are bustling. It's fun to see everyone enjoying the city. I'm also excited to start my new spring sampler pattern. I've decided to use antique-white linen and a medley of DMC vintage-y colors. In a nook of my tiny home, a work "studio" is finally set up. Yipee!

I found the pretty vintage needlework on etsy and the vintage pastel painting in Newburyport, MA. The painting was done by a lady named Sarah who lived there. It's of her backyard. Charming in its aged and faded imperfection. I love mixing old and new things together.

 

Assembling packages for my sweet customers is also very special to me!

One of the perks of living a small, creative life is you get to spend more time in nature. On my walk yesterday, I saw the sweetest young couple holding hands. I know they'll get married. They had that certain look. A few kids, covered in strawberry ice cream, asked to pet my dog. They giggled as she licked their faces. A young boy told his parents that he loved the smell of the ocean. A disabled man asked to take a photo of my dog. Life is a string of beautifully ordinary moments. Don't miss it. ❤

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Happy Stitching!xx ~ Jilly  

Our Tiny Home

As usual, Miss Ellie saunters in front of me and strikes a pose. She has beagle-swagger. After her photoshoot, she yawns and falls asleep. A doggie-diva's life. 

People ask how we can live comfortably in 800-square feet. I have no answer. It's not for everyone. We have a large storage unit, which is essential for tidiness. We clean with a robotic vacuum called NEATO (unbelievable!). We spend lots of time on the beach and we spend lots of time with each other. We worry less. We have less. It makes our lives rich in countless ways.

I share this small space with my husband and a rescued beagle. We live on the North Shore of Boston near apple orchards, farms and the ocean. This is our first home. A cherished haven. It's close to a beautiful beach. We enjoy every inch of it. We're grateful for a roof over our heads and food on the table. A large storage unit keeps our Christmas decor, luggage and other things organized and out of sight. 

I've scattered my favorite vintage embroidery and seashells around each room. There's always candles, flowers and cross-stitched pieces. I'd love to hang a French chandelier and put in hardwood flooring someday. We have no formal dining room. But that's okay, we never used it much when we had one. We're just so very happy to make our nest near the beautiful blue sea.