It's time for an update...

So I have been keeping busy... and I apologize for not keeping up with my blog... it will come soon!!!!!

XOXOXOXOXO



Foot Powered

I finally finished putting together my treadle sewing set up!!!  I'm excited to get started creating things and learning how to utilize natural dyes.  There are lots of native plants I can use just outside our tipi door: Oregon Grape Root, Elderberry, Sagebrush, and Usnea are just a few...  I will start documenting my learning/dying process as I go.  Below is a slightly blurred shot of my outdoor studio.  I will be creating a covered and walled tent with a wood-burning stove for the winter.

Since we have no electricity, I used hand carving tools and a hand saw to fit the Singer into the table top.  I'm pretty proud of my first attempt at woodworking.

We had a visitor to Tipi Village who asked Michael make her 10 year old son a friction fire bow drill set from Yucca and I made the carrying bag for it.  This was my first creation on the treadle machine and it turned out great.  It's tricky at first, but I'm getting used to using the foot pedal.

I also added a donate button at the top of my page for anyone who would like to help us get to town once a week, for internet and supplies. Tipi Living doesn't cost a lot, but gas does...  and we are working on raising enough money to buy canvas for our own tipi lodge.  We spent two days this week cutting 20 lodge poles and will be spending the next few weeks skinning and working them into smooth beauties.

It's all worth it!!!  We have had a lot of visitors in the last few weeks and there is nothing like hanging out in a warm fire-lit tipi playing music and eating amazing food!

Tipi Living week one

The Big Lodge

The view from our tipi door

Momma and Whitman

Gary waking up.

Michael at the Hearth

Warm weather dish station

Where's the lizard?!?

Fair found a friendly butterfly

Fair and Isla

Whitman taking a break from the Legos

Whitman's moment of triumph!

Fair outside of the tipi

Ophelia of the Woods

Tipi Village  Ashland, Oregon

We just stepped into a new chapter of our lives, moving the family into Tipi Village and begining our transition in a new way of existing.  We are all excited about slowing everything down and being more connected to the routines of day-to-day living.  We make a fire for every meal, collect water from a Mountain Spring and share our moments with the other inhabitants of Tipi Village. 

Fair Ophelia Designs will be morphing into an off the grid set-up, using a treadle sewing machine.  I am excited to see how our tipi living with influence my creations.  Rogue Dwellings is based out of Tipi Village as well, a tipi-making venture of the founding family.  Ande has quite the sewing studio set-up and will be helping me fine tune mine as well. He has offered to let me have to scraps of canvas for my own projects.  I plan to focus on using natural dyes wildcrafted from native, local plants for my bags and clothing.  There is so much to learn and some many things I want to experiment in!!!!

My hope is to use this blog to share our families experience of tipi living and also continue to showcase Fair Ophelia Designs.

If you have any questions please email me and I will respond as soon as I can... we check emails at least once a week.

If you would like to learn more about Tipi Village here is Kayla and Ande's blog:

http://ourtipilife.wordpress.com/

Burlap Creations -- The Last 6 Years...

Coffee Coasters

Wrist Cuffs

Large Pleated Market Bags

Messenger Bags

Shoulder Bags

Small Messenger Bags

Tree Skirts

Over the past 6 years I have found a lot of things to make out of burlap coffee sacks.  It all began with a gift request from a friend who owned a coffee shop in St. Charles, MO and from there my desire to make things out of re-purposed materials grew.  I had to take a break from burlap for the last couple of years, to pursue other sewing creations, but I am ready to take on the coffee sacks once again!

If you want me to make you a custom burlap creation email me!!!!

fairopheliadesigns@gmail.com

I'm up for a challenge, so send me ideas for other things I can make using coffee sacks.

TODAY ONLY!!!!!!

SHHHHH!!!!!!
30% OFF EVERYTHING IN MY ETSY SHOP!!!!!
coupon code: 30PERCENTOFF

fairophelia.etsy.com

new bags!!

medium messenger bags

raw canvas market bag

teal market bag with hemp/yak twill interior fabric...fancy.

moving on and getting one step closer...

Let me introduce you our new neighbors!! We moved the family out to an amazing converted historic milk house just fifteen minutes from our old house. We were offered this wonderful opportunity by Gwen, owner of The Green Grocer , in Oregon City. The whole family loves it! Michael has decided to make all of the furniture for our new home and has been working really hard for the past week building a bed, a table, three bookshelves and many other wonderful shelves and additions. I'll be posting pictures as soon as everything is put away and in order!

I also have been making bags again! I want to wait on making more slip dresses and skirts until the festivals start up. The bags are looking really nice. Moving has forced me to go through my fabrics and I found some really great bag-making remnants I had tucked away and forgotten about!!

So even though I'm putting adult clothes on hold... I have been designing some new little kid dresses from pillowcases and linens. This one has a sash and a bustle!!!

Our new home does not have internet, but I will be working at the Green Grocer a few days a week and will try to post on a regular basis. Farewell till then!!!