Welcome to my workshop
The idea for Cabin Week Projects began in 2012 with a week-long creative retreat to a cabin in the middle of nowhere. My husband and I brought every creative outlet at our disposal (and our dog) and disconnected from the world to make art. It's been my dream since then to make life a Cabin Week. This shop is that dream realized.
Everything you see is handcrafted by me, Cabrini. Thank you for taking the time to visit.
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Featured products
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Purple Queen Anne's Chain Earrings
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- $30.00
- Sale price
- $30.00
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Queen Anne's Spikes Earrings
- Regular price
- $30.00
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- $30.00
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About Cabin Week Projects
Welcome to New England in the Summer
Many people picture wintry charm when they think of New England, but those living here know the beauty of this region in the summer. I'm often struck by the loveliness of the "weeds" on the roadside (Queen Anne's Lace, Red Columbine, and Swamp Milkweed to name just a few). Even a small patch of ferns and flowers in my backyard attracts a variety of wildlife. Sustainably picking small bits of summer growth and arranging them in a piece of jewelry teaches me that natural beauty can be deepened in the right context. And that the gift of botanicals extends beyond their time in the ground.
The botanicals in each Cabin Week Projects piece are real and most of them are sourced right from my backyard. Anything I don't pick myself comes from other small local businesses in the region. Every leaf and flower is sourced with love by owners who care about the quality of their botanicals and the sustainability of their work.
Reciprocity: A Note on Sustainability
While I have access to 50-60 ferns and other varied plant life in my backyard, eight to ten fern leaves is enough for an entire season of making. In order to continue enjoying these gifts I only take what I need for a season and leave the rest to repopulate. I never take more than I need, and no piece in my shop is mass produced. In the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer in her book Braiding Sweetgrass: "We reciprocate the gift by taking care of the grove, protecting it from harm, planting seeds so that new groves will shade the prairie and feed the squirrels." Thank you for letting me share the gifts of this region with you.
The Symbolism of the Snake
The snake is a powerful archetype that appears in cultures and religions throughout the world and frequently makes its way into Cabin Week Project designs. It can represent many things: the spine's connection to the brain stem or the seat of consciousness; the gift of knowledge to Eve and the Buddha; or, when shown eating its own tail, rebirth and regeneration. Entwined together they remind us of DNA (the caduceus). To me, the snake represents QI and the energy or spirit that moves throughout the body. Because all things contain QI, the snake resides in all beings great and small. The snake is a story of interconnection.
The Skull and Other Symbols of Death
In the moments when we most fear death our perspectives become razor focused, bestowing upon us a sudden clarity to glimpse understandings of the most important things in our lives. We learn to love most deeply in facing death.
I frequently use skulls and other symbols as a meditation on death. Skulls juxtaposed with dried botanicals evokes the beauty of the cycle of life and death. Memento Mori - "Remember that one day you will die" - is an ongoing theme in my work and reminds me to face death at all times with an open heart. Change is the acceptance of death in everyday life and being able to face change with humility and compassion is critical to my understanding of growth.
Crystals, the Tarot, and other Occult Symbols
I use crystals and the Tarot as guides to understanding my inner world. In addition to regular meditation and other rituals, I use these tools as vehicles to access other states of consciousness. My art is guided most strongly by my intuition and visions that come forward in deep meditation so it is no surprise that these tools and symbols find their way into my work.
Thank You for Supporting My Small Business
When you support a small business, you are paying for the love, time, and thoughtfulness of that maker. If you ever have an issue with a piece of Cabin Week Projects jewelry, send it back and I'll fix it for free.