Romance is in the air this week, in the studio and way beyond. Trust is nearing completion, warm toned textiles are stripped and organized by color, and Sweet Pea's favorite holiday has taken over our kitchen. Valentine's prep in full swing, one day before our ‘Heart to Heart Day’.

Romance is in full bloom! I hung a heart garland in the studio this week as a little Valentine's nod, but honestly the romance is always here. I'm deeply in love with this work, with the slow manual process, with every loop that builds something bigger and more expansive. With Sweet Peas holiday magic (so many sparkles!), occasional candles, a good romance audio book, and an endless supply of forehead smoochies from Bubba, the studio feels more romantic than ever.

Last week's drying textiles have been stripped and wound into organized balls of color. This is the continuation of building toward my 100% upcycled piece, a slow, steady progress. Pink on pink on pink felt very Valentine's appropriate. I also wound the pieces at night while watching Bridgerton. A match made in heaven!

Trust continues to fill in. Watching this rectangular composition take shape week by week. It's teaching me patience in a whole new format and inspiring a wave of new ideas to flood in to the studio.

Tufting by hand with a vintage tool from the 1970s. Every loop is intentional, every push of the tool requires strength and rhythm. No electricity, just me and the work. In a world that can feel so unsteady and rushed, this repetitive, mediative practice grounds me in the moment.

Accept is made from cotton yarn + naturally-dyed upcycled textiles. A perfect companion for Valentine's week. 'Accept' is part of my collection Both, At Once. Its companion pieces 'Bold' and 'Elevate' are both showing in Storied Ground at the Kahilu Gallery.

Sweet Pea's favorite holiday is Valentine's Day, or as she calls it, Heart to Heart Day. We've been prepping nonstop. Baking treats, making crafts, planning surprises, I try to go all out, we end up celebrating all month long. This fruit platter was her fruity breakfast request, she wanted something colorful and festive to kick off a full day of celebrations.

Last year I set out to make the cutest Sweet-Pea-style Valentine's garland. I tufted bright pink hearts, a back and front for each heart, and sewed a ruffle around the border. This year I gave it some TLC, adding details, reinforcing seams, making it even better. There's more I want to do before next Valentine's, but I'm loving the progress.

Before - Looking back at where our kitchen started. Bubba and I were setting up for our Valentine's dinner and feeling so grateful for how far this space has come. We started with raw plywood floors, open walls, and so many dreams for what this heart of our home could become.

Check in - We now have a dishwasher, kitchen island, and cabinets installed. So many updates since we started, and so many more to come, I’m excited to have you all caught up. Building this kitchen slowly, one upgrade at a time, has been one of my favorite parts of building our home.

Sweet Pea and I collected flowers together for her mud kitchen. Watching her choose each bloom with intention, already planning what treats she'll make. So many mud kitchen creations to come. She takes her Café Atoms very seriously, we all do!

You are so loved, cherished and I really appreciate you. Happy Valentine's Day! 💗

Love,

Coco