When I gathered up these little slippers to take a few photos, an indignant little voice cried out after me, “Mine shoes!! Iain made!!” as if over-come by a fear that I might indeed take them back.

These little darlings were Iain’s birthday present to the Galey-baby this year, and greatly beloved at they. The inspiration came at Thanksgiving when Galen found a new favorite word, pie! From that day, Iain was determined to make him something with pies and pie birds. I don’t really remember how we honed in on slippers. It’s hard to say. The creative process in this house is an odd journey, full of twists and turns (and perhaps the occasional somersault) quite difficult for any outsider to navigate. As if that wasn’t obvious from the fact that I’m currently showcasing a pair of hand-stitched wool slippers with pie-birds. Seriously though, are they not one of the cutest things you’ve ever seen?!? That boy blows me away sometimes…

I helped a little with some practical design advise, but the idea and the execution was all his own.
Oh and the pictures come with Galen’s informed consent. Once he saw my motivation, he was all on-board, and eager to help with the photo styling. He knows the way things work in this house. All things cherished, get their pictures taken sooner or later.

This one was handed to me with a big, proud grin, and a declaration of, “Mine! Sijah made!”…followed by shoving it into my hand, while commanding “camwa! ctures, take ctures Mama!”

“Slijah”‘s inspiration was a little more straight forward. He dreamed this up after making a penny rug at Old Sturbridge Village, not that long ago. I found it rather amusing, actually. The woman running the workshop looked nervously at my little ‘lijah bug and said, “I don’t know, he’s probably a bit young to be using a needle…” I wanted to say, “Lady, the kid’s got his own quilt going at home!” But I just smiled and said, “Oh, I think he’ll be alright.”

And of course she was blown away by both his attention span and his neat, evenly spaced stitches.

His version for Galen, was his first attempt at embroidery. I thought his little “G” turned out fabulous!

Galen likes to carry it around on his finger and hang it on random nails and knobs. I’m going to put a little hook above the bed for him to hang it from, when it needs a rest from it’s journeys.