Creating High-Quality Handmade Products for the Home: My Personal Journey

Since the birth of my children, I’ve become more conscious about the items I fill our home with. I wanted to create an intentional living space—one that’s not only functional but filled with meaningful, timeless, and classic pieces. The goal was to avoid clutter, particularly from plastic toys or items that didn’t serve a purpose beyond momentary enjoyment. Instead, I began to focus on crafting things myself—beautiful, lasting pieces that could be cherished for years to come.

One of my favorite handmade creations that embodies this philosophy is a bunting banner I made for our children when they were younger. Crafted from 100% wool felt and Liberty of London fabric, it was the perfect blend of beauty, quality, and durability. We used it to decorate the tree branches outside during their birthday parties or festive holidays, bringing a touch of elegance to our outdoor space. We also used it to decorate their bedrooms, adding a natural elegance with a whimsical and timeless vibe to their playing and sleeping space.

What’s remarkable is that these banners have withstood the test of time. For almost 10 years, they’ve hung proudly in the branches of our trees, season after season. Despite enduring the elements, the colors are as vibrant as ever, a testament to the high-quality materials of Liberty of London and 100% wool felt used as the ingredients and the love put into their creation. It’s a perfect example of how something handmade in small batches and thoughtfully designed and mindfully crafted can stand the test of time—not only in terms of physical durability but also in its timeless appeal.

In today’s world, it's so easy to fill our homes with fast, disposable items, but creating high-quality, handmade products that can last through many years brings a sense of pride and fulfillment. By choosing to make or invest in pieces that matter, we not only enrich our living spaces but also cultivate an environment that reflects what we truly love and cherish. Whether it's a piece of home décor or a toy, the joy comes not just from what we create, but from knowing it will last—a lasting reminder of the memories we’ve built along the way and a gentler legacy footprint for the Earth.

I’m excited to tell you that the shop is stocked with a limited supply of these banners. Crafted with care and attention to detail, these heirloom-quality bunting features a blend of luxurious 100% wool felt and the iconic Liberty of London 100% cotton fabric. Made to last a lifetime, these buntings are timeless pieces that add a touch of elegance and charm to any occasion, making it a perfect addition to your home or for celebrations. Great for treehouses, garden, children's room, baby nursery, Easter, parties, photo prop, wedding, birthdays. They are now in the Etsy shop. I hope you enjoy them.

Scarlet Elfcup Handmade Natural Fiber Art Shop

Scarlet Elfcup 1-year Anniversary of Relaunch and a Belated 10-year Anniversary Celebration

This is a special blog marking the one-year anniversary of Scarlet Elfcup’s relaunch and the 10-year anniversary of the business at the time of relaunch. I’m not sure where to begin. There’s so much emotion arising as I log into the blog and see that the last entry was in July 2017, the summer when life took an unexpected turn. It’s time to reflect on both the past and the present while also looking toward the future.

It’s hard to believe that 11 years ago, on March 20, 2014, I took the first step in launching Scarlet Elfcup. At that time, I could never have predicted the winding path ahead—one filled with joy, unexpected hurdles, and a renewed sense of purpose. Though the journey wasn’t always linear, today, as I mark the one-year anniversary of Scarlet Elfcup’s relaunch, I’m filled with immense gratitude for this community and the support I’ve received along the way.

The early years of Scarlet Elfcup was a whirlwind. I was self-learning everything from scratch - how to knit, how to sew, how to make doll patterns, animal patterns, whatever it took to bring to life the fantasies floating inside my head - and it took a lot of trial and error, sleepless nights and days - to curating unique, sustainable, all natural textiles, yarn and wool. I poured my heart into every project I crafted.

In 2018, life threw a curveball, an unexpected family crisis that led to the abrupt pause to Scarlet Elfcup. That period of uncertainty was an immense challenge in my personal life, but also one that gave me time to heal, reflect and grow, both personally and professionally. The dream of Scarlet Elfcup never faded through those extremely difficult years, and somehow I knew deep in my heart and soul that one day, I’d return.

March 2024 marked the 10-year anniversary of Scarlet Elfcup, and I was thrilled to officially relaunch the business in celebration. However, life had other plans once again, as travel and commitments delayed a full reopening. 2024 became a year of reimagining, reconnecting, and refining what Scarlet Elfcup means to me today. Even though I wasn’t able to fully reopen in 2024, the journey amidst an intense year of travel was needed to truly close one chapter of life so that a new one can begin and hence this time only strengthened my resolve to come back more present than ever.

As we move forward, I’m excited to continue growing Scarlet Elfcup in new ways. 2025 is already shaping up to be an incredible year, with new products, workshops, and collaborations in the works. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported this journey—whether you’ve been with me from the beginning, or joined more recently. Your continued support has been a constant source of inspiration, and I can’t wait to see where the next decade takes us.

Thank you for being part of the Scarlet Elfcup story. Whether you’ve been with me for a year or for all 11 years, your support means the world. Stay tuned for more exciting things to come, and let’s keep this creative journey going together. Here’s to another 10 years of natural fiber arts, slow high quality handmade craftsmanship, and community.

Pae

We have much to be grateful for this year. One of those things is the rains. If you have been following my blog for the past 3 years, you know that I can get a bit obsessed with rain or lack thereof. Scarlet Elfcup's very first creation, Rainbaby...they were called "Rainbabies in Hibernation"...was inspired by the lack of rain in California, the dire state of our drought here.

This year, I'm happy to report that we had a proper winter with lots and lots of rain for our trees and plants and people and plenty of snow in the mountains. We had so much snow that alas the gushing falls of Yosemite National Park still pour from the monoliths as of today. Typically, in a drought-ridden year, the waterfalls cease by July and August. We also had so much snow that the highest road, which passes through the northern section of the park, Tioga Pass, reported a 177% snow pack this year...the highest since 1995...over 20 years ago. Snow pack was so heavy that the Tioga Pass did not reopen until a mere three weeks ago at the end of June. The last time this road reopened so late in the season was 1998...nearly 20 years ago. Enjoy a glimpse of this amazing place in February of this year.

I know for those who live in Scandinavia or other parts of the world where snow and rain come easily this may seem like small game. But, for us, here in Northern California, it is a gift from the heavens that we must be ever so grateful for because we don't know when we shall have another season like this.

With this came a Spring like no other that we've had here. Trees and flowers came to bloom in the most amazing spectacle. The colors, sights and smell in our garden were a sight for us to behold. Our hydrangeas, which in past years struggled to stay alive, bloomed with a great burst of the healthiest, largest blossoms we've ever seen. Our lavender bushes produced the largest, most healthy stalks of purple aroma...a feast for the eyes and most intoxicating smell to inhale through our entire front garden.

As such, I knew this year, I would have to harvest the lavender and make them into something that will stay with us longer. But, I knew I would need help. So, with a bit of bee whispering and the recruitment of three little helpers, we harvested a wagon-load of beautiful purple stalks of lavender for drying.

Amongst my diligent and hardworking garden crew was my 6-year old sweetheart, my 4-year dear little boy, and a wee one-foot tall baby girl by the name of Pae, short for Paeonia. Now, don't get this girl wrong...tiny as she is, she's herculean underneath.

Pae loves nothing more than flowers and a garden to tend to. Of my three helpers, this one did the bulk of the pruning, hauling and giggling all throughout. She loves to get her little hands dirty with soil and lavender juice. After all, who wouldn't get crazy giddy with the sight of a lavender bed to sprawl out on?

One thing about Pae you need to know...as much as it thrills her to tend to all the different sights and smells of the garden, there is only one flower that holds a special place above all in this little girl's heart...the Peony...from whence her name, Paeonia, came. Much like her blossoming counter-part, Paeonia has the beauty, fragrance, hardiness and longevity of the Peony. She was created for a baby girl whose photo I have seen only once. Yet, when I looked at this baby at first sight, I thought she looked much like a scrumptious, round and beautiful Peony.

Paeonia is created from Scarlet Elfcup's newest pattern. She stands 13" (33 cm) tall. She is made with all natural materials. Her construction is made simple and without much frill for the very young and imaginative. Her doll skin and her striped body suit are both made with 100% cotton jersey imported from the Netherlands.  She is stuffed with bio-wool made in the USA.  Her seams are sewn twice for reinforcement. She has embroidered facial features. Her nose and cheeks are blushed with red beeswax. Paeonia's dark bob is inspired by her mama's dark hair and Asian descent, made of 100% merino wool cut from an old pre-washed, clean, repurposed sweater and meticulously styled with many carefully placed stitches all around her head. She is a sitting doll.

Paeonia comes wearing a simple 100% cotton romper lined with a delicate pink fabric and tied with a lace ribbon at the shoulders. Her hat is hand knit with a scrumptiously soft yarn made of baby alpaca and merino wool. Pae's shoes are hand knit with a wool, alpaca and viscose blended yarn by Rowan.

Paeonia...an element of splendid beauty, fragrance, hardiness and longevity inspired by and custom created for one small baby girl made of the same elements.

Paeonia is recommended for ages 3+ and is not meant for those who still mouth their toys.

Yummy Tummy Baby Elfcups

A few Yummy Tummy Baby Elfcups will be available at Dollectable on July 1, 2017 at 7:00 PM (EST). Link is here: http://hyenacart.com/stores/dollectable/

The Miracle of Life

Before you were conceived,
I wanted you.
Before you were born,
I loved you.
Before you were here an hour,
I would give my life for you.
This is the miracle of life.

- Maureen Hawkins

For my first baby shower, my sister gave me a beautiful frame with these words engraved on it. I had never heard of this poem or the person who wrote it. But, when I read these words, how powerfully it struck my heart, how true and accurate these words resonated. In the hour after the birth of my first baby, during a time when I was still reeling from a first childbirth, I apparently said something that stood out in our doula's mind because she would use this phrase to remind us of how magical that first hour of life was for us. I said to her with my baby in my arms that, "I never knew this kind of love existed." And it is so utterly true...I never knew this kind of love existed until I met my babies...the kind of love that matches no other love, the kind of love that only a parent has for their children and Maureen Hawkins summed it up in four simple sentences.

The arrival of a new baby into a family is always a time to rejoice and celebrate. But, the arrival of a first baby is monumental in so many ways. It is monumental because we move from being an individual or two individuals bonded in love to being responsible for another human soul. What an honor and at the same time how terrifying the notion that another human being will rely on us 100% and more to survive, thrive, and grow. But, at the root of it all is this love...a love that cannot be matched anywhere in the entire universe. And to know of this love is truly a privilege, an honor and a sacred gift.

This Mama Peapod is created for a new mama...an old friend who is a best friend to my sister and who is also a friend to the person who requested this custom...you see, the world really does go round and everyone is so connected whether we know it or not.

Congratulations, D and M! You are parents! And to B who reached out to me to have something special made by Scarlet Elfcup....well, you must be someone very special to D for knowing the things that she loves and for arranging this gift for her and for reaching out to me. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to make something for our D that will mean so much to her. It meant a lot to me to have this chance to make her something special. So, thank you, B!

Yummy Tummy Baby Elfcups

A few Yummy Tummy Baby Elfcups will be available at Dollectable, tonight, June 1, 2017 at 7:00 PM (EST). Link is here: http://hyenacart.com/stores/dollectable/

Yummy Tummy Baby Elfcup

Some will go and some will come.

Yummy Tummy Baby Elfcup

A few Yummy Tummies will be available in the shop later today, Friday, May 5, 2017 at 9:00 PM (PDT).