thankful

I know the day is almost over, but I just wanted to drop in quickly to say Happy Thanksgiving to all of you that read my blog.

My life is so full of beauty and blessing, and I know that yours is too. Today I am most thankful for the One that gives me life.

I'm thankful for my husband and daughters, and my mom, dad, and sister Anne and her family. There is so much that I could write... but I'll be brief. Thank you for reading, for commenting, for following along with our life, reading along with our story.

Hope your day was sweet and full.

xo

hawthorne tote and 30 weeks

Hey hey.

I am 30 weeks along today! I know you can't see the bump too well in these because they are all straight on shots of me, but baby girl looks good and is measuring right on schedule. I wonder if she'll come early, late, right on time...? I am starting think about what kind of birth I hope to have. We took a tour of the hospital that we'll be delivering at and it brought back all those memories of the drama of birth, the peace of holding your new baby and seeing their face for the first time. I remembered the first time I took Piper out of the house... she was born in Portland, and we took her to Bipartisan on Stark. Even with the soreness, the overwhelming nature of caring for a newborn for the first time, even with all of that I remember it was such a joyful, peaceful time. Being in the hospital also reminded me of that moment right after birth when you are waiting on the baby to take their first breath and scream, and how so much hangs in that moment. I can't wait for that moment. So much of birth is trust... trust that your body knows what it is doing, trust that labor is temporary and won't go on forever, trust that no matter what happens God is good and he is with me, trust that even with all the hurt and brokenness in this world, there is so much beauty for this new little life to know and experience. I am so ready to meet Larken and bring her into the embrace of our family.

I have been working on some new bag shapes lately, in preparation for the upcoming holiday markets. This one is called the Hawthorne tote, named after a lovely street in Portland. This is a big bag, so I will also make a smaller size available. The big size will be $50, the smaller size will be $40. If you want to order one, please email me! There are lots of fabric options, so let me know if you're interested in those. I really appreciate people diverting some of their holiday spending into the handmade marketplace, so if you want to give these as gifts, just contact me and we can talk about a discount. My email address is paige.maitland@gmail.com . 

Speaking of holiday markets, I'll be selling at the Sustainable Holiday Celebration in Columbia, SC on November 28th. The event is held at 701 Whaley Street, the same venue where Austin and Amanda Kay had their reception. There will be food, wine, door prizes, and artists/makers. Should be a great time! Come see me and my work!

xoxo

paige

hello nice fall weather

We went on a little family date tonight and had the best time. We haven't been out to Trappeze in forever, seriously it has been way too long. Chalk it up to pregnancy, I guess. I really have been kind of a hermit this go round. No fun. I can't wait to do this as a family of four :)

Larken and I are almost 30 weeks in. Getting closer. I really need to get that nursery together.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement about my plans. There is so much to look forward to in our lives. Trevor sent in his application to the Colorado state public defender's office. So now we wait. In the meantime, we apply to every county in the state of Georgia (basically), and make lists of any other city we would like to live in. This part has been fun. If you have a recommendation or live in a super cool town, please send it on down. 

Hope you all have an awesome weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather.

xo

plans.

On Monday I went to my 28 week midwife appointment, took the glucose test (failed), and had another ultrasound. It was amazing to see Larken's little face and how much it has filled out. She has big lips, even though she only weighs 2 lbs. 12 oz. Precious little girl. It always floods me with relief and peace to hear that heartbeat, see her little body, and be told that everything is okay with her. 

I know I have been absent from blogging and I have missed it. Thanks so much to you loyal readers-- I know I don't post that often, but that's where I'm at right now and I am comfortable with it (I take it you are too if you're still reading here!). 

Piper has been sick, and we traveled with our sick girl to Charleston, SC for a wedding this past weekend. Our neighbors and good friends, John and Ginny, had a beautiful wedding... so perfect for them. The venue was gorgeous, the details were flawless, it truly was an amazing event. (Ginny is an event planner, btw.) Piper really had a hard time though, poor thing. She's so sweet, and loved on everyone at the wedding even though she was so sick. She brings so much joy to everyone she encounters. She shines so brightly. Also, fyi, she really doesn't like having her picture taken lately (thus the lack of recent pics of her). It's kind of a weird combination of being shy but also enjoying telling me 'no'. 

So I have been thinking about the direction our family is headed, and me personally as a woman/wife/mother, and about the fact that things are about to change in the best way when Larken arrives. I have been thinking about what to do with Lightnest, which direction to take it, how or if I could continue to work after we get settled into a routine. I love being a mother, and the joy of our family life. I love growing into this woman/mother person that God dreamed I would be. I love my work; I love living this life of creating and making and beautifying, bringing order, and doing this as a mother. I also sense that this lifestyle gives me purpose, and this purpose is healthy for me. Of course this depends on things being in the correct balance. Balance looks different depending on the season in our family's life, but balance keeps me happy. All this to say, I think I see wisdom in pursuing photography more seriously. I love to sew and will always sew, but the bags that I make are not enough to depend on as a second income, and I am unwilling at this point to simply design the pattern, outsource the sewing, and handle the PR. That is not something I want to do right now. But it would be really hard for me to grow Lightnest, the sewing part, as a mom of two young kids unless I outsourced the actual construction of the bags (I mean I know there are other women who can do it and do it well, but not me). Plus, I love the fact that I am selling something I made with my own two hands; I can't bear the thought of someone else making my bags (except Tyler of course). It just isn't sustainable for me in this phase of our family life. Photography, on the other hand, is something I love, and it pays well. I have a strong desire to improve and grow and change, and a vision for where I am headed. My plan is to work on bags and sewing through this holiday season, and then focus on growing my photography business. At least that is the plan for now :)

The past couple of days I have been dreaming of new equipment, a lovely website, adverts and business cards, and all the things that would catapult me to success. But I know it will be a journey. A slow journey. 

I took these pictures of some things from our house, just wanting to enjoy my camera and learn more about it. It is easy to get caught up in everything I don't have-- a full frame camera, a website, fancy photog gear. A fellow photographer and friend gave me some excellent advice this past summer-- she said to just be as creative as I can be with what I already have, and not feel rushed to buy the next thing. Equipment is a tool in the hands of an artist; it doesn't make you an artist. These are true words. 

Anyway, I want to keep growing into this life that God dreamed for me, as a mother, an artist, a wife. 

xo

PS-- I am having a little sale in my etsy shop, lightnest.etsy.com. Enter the coupon code 'thankful' while checking out in, and receive 30% off your order. Good through Friday. Also, there are more styles and fabric available if you are interested-- please email me.