So yesterday
I threaded a needle. Sat for a free moment and stitched a loose warming patch. Inspired by a day of warmer temperatures, a meltdown, at least for now.
I begin again.
Slowly filling the gaps, but it has been too cold to finish.
Just look at that.
As I noted before, a round house is like a hug and so is a marble, and I like to think that your finding them is the house welcoming you with a hug. It will take time to seal the drafts, it will time to circle around the land but what a wonderful way to begin this unknown year of 2025.
One more thing about marbles: when my twin daughters were six, they finally understood that their Dad was orphaned at the age of 3 and that he did not have many toys growing up. They asked their Grandmother, my Mom, to help them stitch some hand puppets out of cloth scraps and old buttons for eyes that she had and they also made a pouch and filled it with marbles, especially blue ones because they knew their Dad loved the color blue…love in a marble…most of the marbles have gone but Rich still has one blue one in his night stand.
I love your stories Marti…❤️
Oh so lovely!
Thanks for taking us along.
Wishing you a happy New Year with many many many wonderful moments in your round house with the sheep near by and the little red work room.
You just never know whats around the corner <3
You never know unless you just go. Hey ho!
Hey Jude! I’m a relative newbie follower and I don’t post often.
I believe the marble you shot a picture of is an original cats eye, extremely hard to find these day. I’ve been looking for one for several years now. So cool one is in your wall!
❤️🏡😊
👋
Yes, it looks a lot like the older marbles in my dad’s collection. So cool really.
As I know you from your blog and spirit cloths, I cannot but see your new home as an extension of your cloth work: the puzzle pieces, Magic, the eyes etc. Just looking at your wall pictures, I can imagine them as a cloth you made yourself. As if things are falling together. I hope you’ll feel comfortable and find all you need to keep going. Wishing you a fine New Year, Jude. xxx
stories. from before you came
from Now
House of Stories
this house seems to be letting u know that u were meant to live there. no doubt you’ll discover more clues about the original builder as time passes.
it’s a bit like a nancy drew mystery!…
(((Jude))) love seeing the beautiful details in your handmade house!
Okay, just have to ask…are you worried about the pipes freezing? I love love love the marbles! 🙂
I’ve been in my house for 2 years… it takes awhile to get things the way you want them. I know you will take your time and enjoy the process. We are still figuring things out.
We found an old newspaper in a wall in our old house, they did a remodel and left the paper in there. I love the marbles. Just a love note saying I was here.
Crazy about your round house! 💛
My brother is fixing up an old house that he bought for his son in Montana. You would not believe the stuff he found in the walls. Books, cans of food, even an old pair of shoes.
This is all just the best Jude! 💕
😁❤️👋
Love to you, Jude in your new home❤️
Backatcha. Happy New Year!
Love hearing about your unique house. Thank you for sharing yourself with us! ❤️
Thanks for keeping me company
Ha. Just noticed a few little cat faces in the wall where there are two triangles above a round log. Do you know anything of the history of who built it? In one of your previous pics I spotted a private sign on one door. Was it open to the public at some point?
I know that someone built it (1980s) and raised a family here. Then the woman I bought it from lived here for awhile and the rented it out as an airb&b. She is a poet, will find out more. The private sign is the utility room. Closed to the renters.
Love hearing about your new home and happy that you are settling in day by day. The new year will have all kinds of new things to talk about and hopefully you will share your most interesting home with us as you find your way. Should be toasty warm in the winter and cool in the summer when all the gaps are filled in wishing you a wonderful new year.
Yes, it should be ok. Thanks and sending the same wishes back to you.
Happy home
And this place is falling in love with you Jude. xoxo
Can’t wait til spring!
Love the marble “eyes” and hearing your voice…and I’ve loved reading everyone’s comments too…we visit your world through your eyes and voice.
It’s a special place.
Grateful that you share.
Been so busy, gotta make more time .
I like the marbles!
Aren’t they great?
Jude, Today I took the time to listen to your offering; your voice sharing your thoughts settles me into listening and considering your words. I really appreciate the experience I can have here with you, and subsequently with myself.
“Again”…..over the past few years the word again, one thought about again….about each day one can begin again…..has come to feel like a gem, an idea to consciously live with intentionally. And then finding marbles embedded in your walls……surely magical! What could that mean? Why did the builder put marbles along, as he or she created your home? I like the idea of the marbles especially in YOUR house. Something that might surround you interestingly, as you create.
Funny thing is, my dad had a marble collection from childhood and it just made me feel like he knew I was here.
He does know…
I like to think so.
There you are….a warm thought and possible connection with your dad( about the marbles ). That possible connection makes me so happy for you.
figuring out how the cold air is coming in is the hardest part. in the 117 years old house I rent in, the cold air comes in through a gap in the wood siding and the limestone foundation. it turns out that houses of old were built differently than today and this gap allows cold air to come up through basically where the wall meets the floor. and one can feel it coming in!!
I’ve put down wool blankets which help but. I often think of trying to stop cold air like trying to stop water– one plugged area means it goes somewhere else.
the stories of living in a round house inspire me to find something similar.
It becomes a bit entertaining after awhile. I’m just getting a feel for the balance of all of it.
Round is so different!
You’ll never get lost. In a round house. Stay warm. I have been reading about an Arctic blast coming next week.
Yeah, eek!
Well, that was short lived over on Jetpack. Have to come to the blog site again. So weird.
Anyhoo…
Wood being wood, I imagine it can absorb water too so maybe it expands and shrinks with weather over time.
Filling the gaps…maybe a metaphor.
Oh ha, yeah, gaps are a way of life, right?
Your fascinating house has more stories to tell. And then you will film it with your own stories. Congrats on threading the needle.
I’ve been about to thread that needle for days
It sounds like you are enjoying you new home. Happy nesting and happy new year!!
Thanks, there have been ups and downs but it is leveling off.
What a stunning new home! I can feel the warmth and magic from thousands of miles away. Thanks so much for sharing with us, and so glad you are settling in. Looking forward to continuing to follow your journey. Sending lots of positive energy!
It’s keeping me busy but that’s good…
Starting to settle and explore … a deliciously slow process in a new world. A tiny castle for the queen of cloth whispering. Sun. Good.
Been so cloudy and snowy. These walls really heat up with sun.
You have a sculpture masquerading as a house. I love the unique combination of materials. Thick walls – 12 inches! should modulate the temperature variation between inside and outside if there are no gaps. Once you seal the gaps you should be much cozier. It sounds like you are living in a frigid part of the country so that is a
real challenge. Can you
squirt foam insulation into
the gaps? In the “olden days” people hung tapestries on walls to block the transfer of cold into the house. The gap between the tapestry and the wall gives a bit of insulating value due to “dead” air. Or you could build a box bed for a room within a room. Body heat and a pile of covers warms the smaller volume. Are you off grid? It would be easy to get a space heater or electric blanket. But those two options don’t seem to be in line with your unique handcrafted life. I admire your designs and skilled stitching. It is easy to know a Jude Hill piece at a glance. Your house will have the same sort of artistry that only you can create. I have collected some of your work and only know you through your stitching and writing so I am in the random fan category far from a real friend but I want to be supportive and helpful. You are so generous through your writing and sketches and being a role model. Thanks for sharing ideas and examples of fiber art like your iconic feathers and creatures and buildings and moons. Excuse my meandering writing. I could simply say you are special and I hope life is treating you well and I am looking forward to your posts whenever they appear. Stay warm, hug Soul-o and take care of yourself.
The house will hold the heat once it is sealed properly. There are many options. Considering all of them. Not off grid, but considering solar.
Actually, I sleep upstairs, right above the stove, big chimney runs right through. It’s the kitchen that is coldest. It’s ok. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!
It all looks divine to me. And friendly deer looking in your windows. Probably thinking you look cozy and warm in there.
Definitely…
Oh, and I was also thinking… just as the castles in Europe all had tapestries on their cold, stone walls to help insulate, maybe it’s time to hang a bunch of cloths. I know they’re not really thick, but I wonder if that would help?
Yes, planning to do that. Just the drafty walls.
👍
Good morning! I’ve always loved the bottles and marbles that cordwood houses can have. And, I know from folks who have built one, how immensely important it is to dry the wood totally. Hope you can seal the gaps… what will you use for that? Nice to have a bit of a reprieve from the cold this week. I didn’t even need to make a fire this morning. 🧡
Just certain areas need to be filled, mostly the kitchen side, botton floor. My son is researching the best solution.
I let the fire go out last night. Didn’t build one this morning. Nice for a change.
Glad to hear it’s only in one area. Good luck with chinking.
All this is imaginable. It cannot be touched.🍀
I feel like a character in a story.
Good Morning!
I am curious if all the living space is on one floor.
It is amazing that so much of the snow has melted away!
I didn’t comment on the deer at the window on the previous post.
That is a very special shot! Never have really seen a deer gazing into a house before.
Wonder how many eyes the walls have…how many sights they have seen!
So glad for you to drop in!
Enjoy!
It is 2 floors. All mostly open below, bedroom and other small rooms upstairs.
Now I am going around to see how many marbles there are. I see one in the floor of the porch as well.
The deer here are quite friendly.
This house of yours just gets interestinger and interestinger!
😂