ernie and irene

Meaningful pieces for beautiful spaces. Handmade in Ardmore, PA. www.ernieandirene.com or ernieandirene.etsy.com

[ernieandirene]

“The woman’s soul is fashioned as a shelter in which other souls may unfold. Women naturally seek to embrace that which is living, personal, and whole. To cherish, guard, protect, nourish, and advance growth is her natural, maternal yearning.” - Edith Stein Motherhood is the greatest gift I have been given. I’d love to write a thousand words to reflect on it, but I’m choosing to live it today instead. Tag a mother in the comments, whether physically, spiritually, or in the unseen to celebrate their beautiful, beautiful souls. Happy Mother’s Day! Photo by @chiachong in @scadlacoste of my crocheted sheepskin headboard, 2011. . . . . . #inspiration #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #mothersdah #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #walldecor #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #art #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #fiberartist #fiberart #handmade #sheepskin #doitfortheprocess #women #feminism #motherhood #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #igmotherhood #finditstyleit #interiors #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxX5PZRlyGd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=72jzg765flwb

[ernieandirene]

I found myself picking up my phone upwards of 150+ times a day. I didn’t like it. So I took the Facebook app off my phone. (It’s been so freeing! Highly recommend.) And I limited my Instagram time to only 15 minutes a day by using the Screen Time setting on my iPhone. I love interacting with all of you and so many other inspiring artists on here, so I kept the app. I knew I was mindlessly scrolling to fill quiet moments of my day that would be better used to either engage with my children (duh. Should’ve been doing that from day 1), or embrace a quick chance to rest my mind and soul. Let me tell you, it’s worked wonders. I’m still not where I’d like to be in regards to how often I habitually check my phone, but I’m on my way. And that’s all that matters. How do you feel about your attachment (or lack thereof) to your phone? Photo is of a banner I created in 2017. . . . . . #inspiration #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #jungalowstyle #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #walldecor #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #art #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #fiberartist #fiberart #handmade #screentime #doitfortheprocess #inspirationalbanner #niromastudio #wool #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #workinprogress #finditstyleit #interiors #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxSN9-qhWIV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12vkhnclf4hgl

[ernieandirene]

Real talk: most of my work in progress posts are prettier because I take out this giant piece of foam. 🤣 But as un-instagrammable as it is, that foam is essential to my needle felting process. It allows me to freely stab the wool without poking myself or my table, since the vvv sharp needles poke almost entirely through the felt. I also use four different needles as I work. From left to right at the top here, I have a multi-needle holder for bulk areas, a wooden needle holder with my fine needle for detail, another for medium work, then lastly, another for coarse work. At the very end of a piece, I’ll work all over the surface with a super fine needle that isn’t in this photo. Having this variation of needles really helps me work through pieces much more quickly and with much more accuracy than if I were only working with one. This is my progress on my latest alpaca commission. ❤️ . . . . . #alpaca #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #jungalowstyle #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #walldecor #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #art #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #fiberartist #fiberart #handmade #artisttools #doitfortheprocess #llama #niromastudio #wool #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #workinprogress #finditstyleit #interiors #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxQTjI-hvNp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hl8vxrxirpb8

[ernieandirene]

My birthday is this month and our three year old keeps telling Daniel that they should get me a “big box of wool” for my present. I gotta say, he’s right on the money. 😂 But I actually bought myself this box of natural gray Romney wool for the alpaca piece I’m working on now and the many more I’ll be making in the future. I love a good mail day! What’s your favorite thing to get in the mail? . . . . . #artsupplies #artisttools #wool #gray #flashesofdelight #doitfortheprocess #pursuepretty #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #artist #wool #fiberartist #fiberart #handmade #fiber #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxDcC9ABREA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15vwajxjbtdr9

[ernieandirene]

Last week I had the great joy of meeting my first-ever niece, Ellis. She’s beautiful and perfect and I’m so excited to have a girl in our family! After three boys in our clan, I barely knew what to do with a girl. I kept calling her buddy. 😂 But we sure love her a lot. My sister @taylor_lily really knocked it out of the park when she decorated the nursery, handpainted the angle wall, and resurfaced two pieces of our family’s heirloom wooden furniture. Everything came together perfectly when she found the @anthropologie crib quilt during a visit up here. And nothing warms my heart more than knowing that little Ellis is sleeping near one of my very own felt pieces. Check out the link in profile for a similar cactus piece that’s available now. Photo: @capturedbysm . . . . . #nursery #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #jungalowstyle #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #walldecor #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #art #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #fiberartist #fiberart #handmade #bohohome #anthropologienursery #cactus #interiordesign #SMPloves #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #nurseryinspiration #finditstyleit #interiors #textilelove #contemporarycraft https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw-DPPFhbJX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lfzj5j55jty1

[ernieandirene]

Creating the alpaca’s face and ears takes thought, care, planning, blending, and precision. It occupies my mind so well and teaches me diligence and patience, which I so desperately need. The ears are still a little fuzzy here, but they’re close to being complete. Once finished, I can begin the more meditative and contemplative part of the process, the hand-twisted and individually placed locks of fur over the neck, face, and forehead. It’s a phase of rest for my mind and exercise for my hands. Who’s excited? 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️ . . . . . #alpaca #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #jungalowstyle #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #walldecor #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #art #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #fiberartist #fiberart #handmade #bohohome #doitfortheprocess #llama #niromastudio #wool #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #workinprogress #finditstyleit #interiors #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw7k8MABfGQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1s36kx53zy3m1

[ernieandirene]

We’re back from our trip to North Carolina to visit family and celebrate Easter. It was a perfect trip and I feel so rejuvenated! Favorite moments: meeting my little niece for the first time, being with my sister as we get to watch our new babies together, strawberry picking at @patterson_farm, an Easter egg hunt for our boys at the house I grew up in, and so. much. space. for the boys to run around and play with all our family. The yards sure are bigger in Salisbury, NC than up here in Ardmore. 😂 And just as we were loading up the van to head home, my mom (@catiques) pulls out this bag full of vintage bead embellishment samples and asks if I want to take some home. Um, yes. I’m incredibly inspired by these samples and I can’t wait to get started on some bead embroidery myself in the next few months. Head over to the link in my profile to sign up for my email newsletter and you’ll get first looks as I begin to incorporate more beading into my work. See you in your inbox! . . . . . #beadembroidery #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #beading #flashesofdelight #gold #pursuepretty #embellishment #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #vintage #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #artpiece #fiberart #bead #fiberartist #inspiration #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #slowdesign #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw4-c2yBx8_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fnpkatwvoa17

[ernieandirene]

🙌🏻 🙌🏻 🙌🏻 H A P P Y E A S T E R ! . . . . . #easter #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #sheep #flashesofdelight #sheep #pursuepretty #minimalisthome #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #agnusdei #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #artpiece #fiberart #paschallamb #residentialdesign #artoftheday #doitfortheprocess #lamb #interiorinspiration #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #slowdesign #lambofgod #fibersculpture #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwhMp8Whix6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1401qwteyvjzp

[ernieandirene]

Throwback to this itty bitty Merino sheep I did back in 2017. ❤️ . . . . . #felt #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #alpaca #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #minimalisthome #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #woolfelt #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #artpiece #fiberart #handmade #residentialdesign #artoftheday #doitfortheprocess #niromastudio #interiorinspiration #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #slowdesign #finditstyleit #fibersculpture #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXb03cBwcs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ahg3xpg0wd69

[ernieandirene]

I have little words to express my millions of emotions about Notre Dame yesterday. The beauty. The sacred. The transcendent event that occurs when those two are combined. Notre Dame embodies so much of my experience of art. I’m still processing much of what happened yesterday. I’m also remembering how I was a total idiot when I went to Paris when I was 16, and chose to shop in the little market around the corner from the cathedral instead of taking a tour inside. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I didn’t know any better (read: teenager), but I sure regret it now. Help me cope with that by sharing your experiences at Notre Dame in the comments. Image: @scottthepainter . . . . . #notredame #art #notredamefire #sacredart #transcendentals #paris https://www.instagram.com/p/BwU4HvJBF7T/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8dc2uf0qxer1

[ernieandirene]

Slowly but surely, I’m making progress on my latest alpaca. Most of this won’t even be seen in the end, but it’s these hidden layers that really make a difference. . . . . . #felt #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #alpaca #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #minimalisthome #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #woolfelt #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #artpiece #fiberart #handmade #residentialdesign #artoftheday #doitfortheprocess #niromastudio #interiorinspiration #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #slowdesign #finditstyleit #fibersculpture #textilelove #contemporarycraft #workinprogress (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwST14SBMQb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pznzl0z3a5br

[ernieandirene]

Aside from peonies, sugar magnolia blooms are some of my absolute favorites. Our whole block smells lovely thanks to these beauties. Growing up in NC, I’d never seen sugar magnolias. It wasn’t until I moved up here to Pennsylvania that I discovered them. What’s your favorite flower where you are? . . . . . #flowers #sugarmagnolia #designsponge #findyourhappy #flashesofdelight #dsfloral #pursuepretty #spring #bloom #dspink #floral #ihavethisthingwithflowers #abmlifeisbeautiful #inspiration #lookup (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwFFEEpn-FQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jho1dit6h2ep

[ernieandirene]

Even the canvas is created by hand. New alpaca commission, on its way. . . . . . #felt #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #tinyart #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #minimalisthome #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #woolfelt #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #artpiece #fiberart #handmade #residentialdesign #artoftheday #doitfortheprocess #niromastudio #interiorinspiration #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #slowdesign #finditstyleit #fibersculpture #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwC0yYVnXwr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=p11x4lnn565o

[ernieandirene]

The first fibers class I took at @scadfibers was Bead Embroidery, where I created this piece way back when. All the Intro to Fibers classes were full, so my first foray into Fibers was thankfully this wonderful, meditative craft. I love to see how even in my earliest work, I’ve always added dimension into my pieces, even when working in traditionally flat media. I’ve been itching to incorporate bead embroidery into my work and now that I have only one commission left on my order list, I’m excited to venture into some more experimental pieces very soon, which are sure to include my love for bead embroidery. I’ve been so inspired lately by some of my favorite fiber artists and how they’ve courageously explored new aesthetics, techniques, and processes that have made their work all the better. Some of them have been @reformfibers, @hellohydrangea, @mandismoothhills, and @theeddylineco, to name a few. Who are some other fiber artists you’ve been inspired by? . . . . . #beading #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #tinyart #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #embroidery #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #dspattern #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #woodlandnursery #fiberart #handmade #bohohome #embroideryartist #doitfortheprocess #niromastudio #repeatpattern #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #fiberemballage #finditstyleit #fibersculpture #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwAM2VaHbWf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=i69mabxktwnp

[ernieandirene]

Another commission ready to go to its new home! I can bearly contain my excitement. 😂🐻 . . . . . #bear #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #petportrait #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #walldecor #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #art #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #woodlandnursery #fiberart #handmade #bohohome #woolsculpture #doitfortheprocess #niromastudio #grizzlybear #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #commission #finditstyleit #sculpture #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4cURTHjzo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1m6czrt50fs0x

[ernieandirene]

☝🏻😱 Psst! Small Alpaca available now 😱☝🏻 . . . . . #alpaca #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #jungalowstyle #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #walldecor #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #art #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #fiberartist #fiberart #handmade #bohohome #commission #llama #niromastudio #wool #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #workinprogress #finditstyleit #interiors #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzVueHHxHN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=alk2vw266vcf

[ernieandirene]

Grizzly Bear, in progress. This is a remake of a Bear I made in 2017. I love revisiting past works like this. ❤️ . . . . . #bear #apartmenttherapy #designsponge #jungalowstyle #flashesofdelight #rueathome #pursuepretty #walldecor #makersgonnamake #thehappynow #dstexture #dsart #art #ihavethisthingwithtextiles #fiberartist #fiberart #handmade #bohohome #commission #doitfortheprocess #niromastudio #wool #makersmovement #fiberartfinerart #workinprogress #finditstyleit #grizzlybear #textilelove #contemporarycraft (at Ardmore, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvuLt9pnp3b/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tt5och1s8cfw