A New-ish Design

Recently I was contacted by a customer who wanted to purchase a wallet for her husband, but wasn't sure which fabrics to choose for him.  "I don't want any print, really, but I don't want something only solid, either," she said. 

In my mind, I have been thinking about this very dilemma.  Not everyone wants a big splashy print on their accessories, not even me sometimes.  So I put my hands and my mind together and came up with a racing stripe design that I like quite well.  What do you think?

A Little Blossom

I am in the land of summer and blue sky right now, and it is lovely.  I found this giant dandi-head on a hike yesterday and fell in love with the whispery feathers of its seed pods, just getting ready to fly away.  This shape and color brought to mind a project that I worked on just recently for a customer.  She chose these fabrics specifically, and I thought she did a great job; it's a good combination, don't you think? 

A Confessional

I've "discovered" a new site on the internet that is both handy and fun.  The site is called Pinterest, and it's quickly gaining popularity.  Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can organize and save all of the recipes, tutorials, photos, and other fabulous things that you find on the internets.  So, for example, I am about to embark on my first quilt, and I have only a clue as to how to go about starting.  So if I do a search for "quilting tutorials" on the web at midnight, I get a lot of hits back that look interesting.  But it's midnight and I don't want to read them all right now.  So I can pin them to a board that I've named "Quilting" on Pinterest.  This is my board and I can organize it, name it, and use it however I like.  But here's the other cool thing: other people can see my boards, and I can see theirs.  So I can also do a search on Pinterest for Quilting Tutorials and see what comes up there.  Trust me, there is A LOT of cool stuff on Pinterest, and I've had to limit my time there (because I could easily spend all day looking at other peoples collections).  I personally have 35 different boards, and I love it that I can come back to them, click on the photo, and it brings me right back to the original location where I found it.  Recently, I found a crochet tutorial for making bowls.  I printed out the pattern and promptly made four nesting bowls; aren't they pretty? 

Now I know that the internet is vast, and our time and attention are limited.  Pinterest isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love it so much that I thought I'd better share, just in case it is yours.  You can follow my boards on Pinterest, if you decide to sign up; see you in the ether!

Quilt Progress

Okay, so I was hoping to be finished with my quilt by today.  Alas, the quilting bit has got me a little intimidated.  Here's what I have so far: the back (which I think came out well) and the front.  Plus the batting in between.  It's all pinned together, and I've also basted it, but I think it needs more basting.  I'm planning to bring it with me on my trip to Montana, where there are abundant, experienced quilters there who can help me.  My goal is not to do a lot of dense quilting.  I want the finished product to feel soft and fluffy, but I also don't want it to shift around.  So "Stitch-in-the-Ditch?"  Also, I'm thinking about hand-quilting; will it take too long?  I didn't end up finding the stripey binding that I was hoping for, but I found a lovely little freckle-dot (white dots on an espresso brown background) that I think will look great.  I'll be sure to post pictures of the final product!

 I left a little blank panel to the right of the owl and pussycat print where I can dedicate a blessing to Bria Rose, who is the little sweetie that will be getting this quilt.

New Project

Remember my last post when I said that I was going to make a quilt for my cousin's new baby?  Well I actually did it!  Okay, so I just did the top part, but I think that was my major hurdle. 
I've never made a quilt before, and I felt totally intimidated.  I did a little bit of questing online for different quilts that I thought were attractive and not too complicated (I needed to have it finished by this Wednesday).  I chose a strip quilt because I thought that I couldn't really mess it up too badly. 

Step one was digging out my favorite kid themed fabric prints.  Step two was deciding on a color pallette and then selecting prints within that pallete.  I chose Heather Ross' Swimming mermaids first, and I had a LOT of other prints by her, but I didn't think it made a cohesive theme to pair swimming mermaids with VW vans and bikes, so I nixed the overly terrestrial prints. 

I put in some fish, some sea horses, and some prints that reminded me of seaweed and beach blossoms.  The one print that might be a digression is the linen strip that depicts the main characters from the fairy tale, The Owl and the Pussycat.  But they're in a boat, and I love it, so there.I'm pretty happy with the way it came out.  Now I have to work on the back and put it all together.  I would love to bind it in a bold, high contrast stripe, (espresso brown and white?) but I don't have anything like that.  We'll see what I come up with; wish me luck!  Please excuse my photos for this post; the light is pretty bad right now because of all of the overcast. But you get the idea!

Summer

Well, officially it's summer but it has been unseasonably cool and overcast.  The upside to that type of weather is that it is perfect for growing salad greens.  Every night Brian and I eat a delicious, just picked salad from the garden.  The greens are so tender they practically melt in your mouth.  I love to add fresh dill and arugula for some peppery, herbal flavor.  Once the basil (in the hotbox) is ready, I'll add that, too!

I have a small craft fair coming up early in July and I've been working on some inventory for the event.  I've had a lot of requests for more zippered pouches, so I've been sewing up some of them.  I love this one with the chicken print!  I lined the inside with a green woodgrain print by Joel Dewberry.  It's very "down home on the farm, I think!"

Happy Summer, everyone.  I hope some of you are seeing some sun!

Resting and Creating

My Dear Friends, I hope you're still out there!  I have been taking a lot of time away from my blog; not because I don't have lots to write about, but because I haven't had much energy to write.  I've spent the past few weeks concentrating on things of core importance to me; mainly my emotional well being after Bronwyn's death.  I'm starting to feel stronger (feeling "better" doesn't really seem correct), and I have spent some nice time in the studio cutting and sewing, and also in the garden.  It is spring here, and it feels good to go outside. 

 






Recently I got a nice order from one of the boutiques that regularly sells my work.  It's Bella Boutique, and they can be found in Anchorage Alaska.  Here is the stack of wallets in progress, and one of them as it looks finished.  I made extra of each print because I find that it's more efficient to make multiples; especially when I'm already working on a production of many.

Thank-You for being patient with my journey; I appreciate everyone's support.  In closing I am showing you a picture of a special project that I've started working on; it's a memorial garden for Bronwyn.  Right now, it's quite spare, but over time it will grow and change, just like my feelings for her.  The wreath was made by our neighbor and friend, who gathered lichens from her yard.  Bronwyn used to spend a lot of time underneath the oak tree in her yard, so it was especially meaningful.

I hope everyone has a happy and Safe Memorial Day Weekend.

The Gift of Friendship

I am increasingly aware of how lucky I am to be surrounded by high quality friendships.  This is something that has kept me upright during the most difficult times.

Something that I'm realizing in this modern day of computing is that I have friendships that are deep and meaningful with people all over the world that I've never met in person.  One such friend is Flavia, a fellow crafty Mama who lives in Brazil.  We have always felt a connection through our love of fiber arts and the mothering of children with special needs.  But since Bronwyn died, she has been a rock for me.  Yesterday, just as I was feeling a little blue, a special package arrived from her.  It was a bright and sunny pair of fabric prints; one with tea cups, the other with a retro red blossom.  I was immediately reminded of my bond with her and felt that everything was going to be allright. Today it was sunny enough to hang the laundry outside and, of course, the first thing I was inspired to wash was my new fabric.  Doesn't it look wonderful soaking up the breeze? 

I can't wait to start sewing with it (but I must; too many projects in the queue at the moment to start another)!

May this day find your uplifted by your own special friendships.

Teacup fabric designed by Suzy Ultman for Robert Kaufman.  The line is called "Metro Cafe"  Blossom fabric is designed by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures and is called, "Poppy"



Budding Out

There's no doubt about it; it's spring at last.  The temperatures are warming and we've even had a few moments of sun breaking through!  The flowers are all starting to bloom, and the Rufous hummingbirds are finally back. 


This is a busy time of balancing creative work and home chores; both of which I love.  I turned over the garden yesterday and discovered billions of earthworms in a rich black loam.  Such promise for future green! 


Pictured here are the first buds from my neighbor's Star Magnolia; one of my favorite flowers. And below is the hummingbird's favorite: Red Flowering Currant.  I hope everyone is enjoying the season's transition.

A Little POW of Color

 

Remember that little birdie bag that I made for my friend a little while ago?  Well, she also wanted some wallets to coordinate with the bag, so I made these up for her.  She is now in the midst of feeling horrible from her chemotherapy, so my hope is that she can remember how much she is loved when she sees her bag and wallets.

And there's more new in my crafty world: come over to my Mercy Me blog to see what I've been cooking up.


 

Finished Bag

I was able to finish the little birdie bag that I've been working on, and I love the way it came out.  It's my smallest messenger, called the "Tomboy Satchel." It measures 8 inches wide by 9 inches tall by 3.25 inches deep (in centimeters that's 20.3 x 22.8 x 8.25  for those of you who use the metric system).  It's the perfect size for those grab and go days.  I can easily fit my 16 oz water bottle, keys, cell phone, wallets, day planner, lip balm and a snack inside.

 I'm so excited to add this little sweet and sporty bag to my line!

Self Care

 Taking care of myself has been my M.O. these days, and it feels pretty good.  I've been running again, and although I'm extremely pokey, it just doesn't seem to matter.  One of my self-preservation techniques involves not passing judgement on what I do; I just make sure that my intention is true, and go from there.  What a freeing concept!  So I "run" two times around Capitol Lake, which is a 1.5 mile loop of easy, flat, and not paved terrain.  Mergansers, Buffleheads, Blue Herons, and other waterfowl frequent these waters, and I find that I can get a nice meditation in while I run.  Pictured here is a male Hooded Merganser, who was fishing.  Below is a shot of Capitol lake looking towards downtown Olympia.

I also just made myself a new bag.  This is my Medium Sized messenger bag.  It's smaller than the bigger Diaper bag that I make, but it can still fit a standard file folder and all of my essentials (water bottle, cell phone, lip balm, day planner, book, and an extra pair of socks (you never know when you might need those!)).  I found this awesome fabric and knew I had to have it.  It is distributed by Alexander Henry and it is a home decor weight; feels a bit like a lightweight canvas.  And Mom, if you're reading this, your two bags are all cut out (finally) and ready to be sewn.  I haven't forgotten!

The Flow of Things

I know it has been a while since my last post.  I have been spending a lot of time in deep thought, and just going through my day in slow motion; doing what feels right in the moment.  Although the loss of Bronwyn is terribly painful and I miss her deeply, I am beginning to heal in small ways.  I am starting to sleep better, and I'm starting to feel creative again. 

One of the things that helped me was to move my sewing studio into Bronwyn's room.  I had been spending a lot of time in her room, wanting to feel close to her, and Brian suggested that I move my workspace there so that I could let myself have a natural flow from grief to creativity. 

The first project that I worked on was a hand sewn wool felt cover for the box that Bronwyn's ashes are in.  It felt good to make something important for her as a way to initiate our shared space.  I used hand dyed felted merino wool as the fabric, and linen thread for stitching.  The buttons came from my collection that Bronwyn used to play with. 

 I am beginning to  feel ready to embark on other projects and have several in the works. I plan on coming back to my blog and to the rest of the world on a more consistent basis now.  Healing has multiple parts, it seems, and for me the first part was stillness.  This next part will be activity and stillness together.  Thank-You for your patience and support through my process.  I love you.

Seams for Comfort

I find myself in a mystical place of joy and sorrow.  It is difficult to explain and I'm not sure that the explaining will be clarifying anyhow.  So I will tell you what comforts me,  what I've been doing. 

My community has been amazing for the support that I've received.  Flowers, food, cards, hugs, cups of tea, company, and space (when requested) have all been generously and lovingly given. 

Walking and exercise have been invaluable for clearing my head.

The ritual of lighting a candle for Bronwyn reminds me that her flame is alive and with me always.  Someday, that reminder will be present without the physical presence of the candle, but for now the presence of the light helps me.

Also, I have been sewing again.  Not designing, that takes too much creative energy.  But sewing what I know provides a meditative experience, and something for my always figity hands to do.  When we left for the hospital over a month ago, I had been right in the middle of production for the holiday.  So I've finished what I started and my inventory is quite impressive (it looks like I've been busier than I actually have been).  Now I need to photograph everything and get it listed.  I also participated in two local craft fairs with my business partner.  I wasn't sure how it would feel, but it was lovely to get out and be distracted.

The clutch pictured is designed by the talented Keykalou, who has a shop on Etsy.  I purchased the pattern (and the rights to sell my handmade work from her pattern) so that I could just sew without having to think.  I love the shape and feel of this clutch and the way it features the fabric so nicely.

I raise my mug of tea to the day, and let the tears come when they will.  Smiles and hugs follow.

Zippity-Doo-Dah

I do love making little zippered things, they make me smile. 

 A couple of days ago I got a special request for a pencil case made from Amy Butler's Imperial Fans print (from her Nigella collection).  I love the way it turned out, and it's now in transit, on it's way to her new owner.  Hope she loves it!

Hold Gently

Yesterday Bronwyn had a terrible day with seizures and we spent the majority of the day cuddling on the couch.  It was very windy and rainy outside and our couch is situated in such a way that we have a nice view of our front yard.  We've positioned bird feeders strategically so that we can see lots of little birdie activity while we snuggle. 

As we sat there, I thought about how challenging it is to be a Mom.  We want to hold our little ones tightly, so that we keep them safe, but our job is to help our babies become independent and not need us so much.  

I pulled out my sketchbook as Bronwyn snoozed and I doodled this little bird in the hand.  This is what I hope: I am always there for my girl to love and support her, but my hand is open for her to fly free when she can.  That way, we both feel loved and needed! 

Today is blustery still, but we are well rested and ready for what the day brings.  I hope the same for you.

For The Love of Indigo

I recently got an order for a custom Tomboy wallet, and I loved the way it came out.  The fabric is distributed by Marcus Brothers and it's been in my stash forever.  Now only scraps remain, and I'm sorry to see it go!

I'm really enjoying the process of dyeing my fabric!  It's like a little mystery.  Most recently I dyed a batch in a color called, "Gunmetal" and I was expecting a grey/blue color.  As I put the wool into the pot, it turned a lilac purple and then gradually became more blue.  When all was said and done, it was a rich and lovely denim/indigo blue; not at all what I was expecting, but gorgeous nonetheless.  Next up: Cayenne Red.  And my other business, "Mercy Me! Designs" now has massage table face cradle covers for sale in the Artfire Shop.  These are great for massage practitioners, chiropractors, or acupuncturists.  Check them out and tell your therapists!