cloth.paper.string

beauties

I still make stuff; really, I do.   Last night I finished my second pleated beauty bag from Bend-the-Rules.  The first one was gifted before I had a chance to photograph it, made with charcoal wool and pleated with grey and pink thrifted goodness shared by Ella.

This pleated beauty is for me.  I thought that my first run at the pattern made a bit of a floppy bag, so I beefed up the second one, adding interfacing and canvas lining.  Despite breaking three needles on the machine while topstitching, I'm pleased that the bag can stand on its own. 

I ended up having just enough of the repurposed falling leaves gabardine.  It's the same fabric that recently inspired some freezer paper stenciling.   While the fabric is almost gone, I have a hunch those leaves will continue to fall onto paper and bookcloth.

Another beauty in my life turned two this weekend.  Two years old.  A fever, cough and runny nose kept our festivities quiet and slow, but we managed to bake a cake, share some gifts and talk a lot about the day she was born.  She tells her favorite part of her birth story like this, with elaborate hand gestures and enthusiasm:  "...den daddy scoop you UP out of water!"  She was born at home in a waterbirth tub, with her daddy catching her, welcoming her into the world (and these days she refers to herself in the second person). 

I remember experiencing such euphoria in those first days with her.  It seems like yesterday.  And too it seems that there hasn't ever been a time that I didn't know her.  Happy birthday, my little firecracker!

framed

You might recall that back in December I fell hard.  And was subsequently crushed.  You see, there was a certain letterpressed print offered up at Tiny Showcase that I happened upon after each and every print in the edition had been snatched up.  I lamented.  Little did I know that the bit of woe I posted would send my dad on a secret mission.  A few days later, with the help of my brother, his mission was accomplished.  On Solstice I held in my hands a printer's proof of Alec Thibodeau's Good Libations 2008 Lunar Calendar!  To say I was thrilled would be quite the understatement.

Fast forward three months and you'll find me a bit sheepish to admit that I'm just now hanging it on the wall.  But it's framed.  And I did it myself thanks to The Small Object's tutorial, a handheld mat cutter, and a frame from IKEA. 

To help get up the nerve to cut such a big piece of mat board, I practiced on a few other prints I had been meaning to frame for ages including a set of letterpressed stamps from Nikki McClure.  I still have a big pile to frame, but no longer will I shell out many dollars or wait many moons to put more prettiness on the walls.

inside and out: celebrating spring

Inside, homemade chocolate croissants from the neighbors, delivered while still warm and gooey.  Eggs dyed with red cabbgage, turmeric, beets and coffee - and just about every combination thereof.   


Outside, more new snow.  Melting ice boulders on the shore.  The far-off horn of one of the shipping season's first arrivals into the port.

May the weekend have brought you and yours many signs and much celebrating of this new season.

watching

She watches over me while I work.  Looking into the window of my office, keeping me focused as best she can.  The view from the other window - the one I sit beside - is that of the big lake.  It is always pulling me out, inviting me to play.

holding on, letting go

Little red berries, still hanging on to the branches of the Rowan tree.

Determined child, finally surrendering to the stroller after over a half mile of puddle splashing.

six days

Six days passed between visits to the lake with my camera. 
As to be expected, nothing is the same.

Ice fisher-folk and figure skaters.  March 9th.

A very different place.  March 16th.

And, Jeanne, fear not.  I promise there will be plenty of ice for you to experience next week. 

quiet and still

I haven't been feeling too wordy lately.  Nor too crafty.  To get back into the groove, I'll plan to share more images than words this week. 

For now, a mosaic for Six One Way.

Willa the bear sees more stroller action than the little one; meatballs are a new favorite; and of course, the refrigerator is a place of great wonder.

welcoming

The image that leads a blog is as important for me as a blog's content.  It serves as a welcome to each post, to each page.  It sets the tone for what is ahead.  As the seasons change I'm always itching to share a bit of the inspiration I find in my environment.  An image to come back to, to reflect upon.

But each time I make a new banner for cloth.paper.string, or see another blogger adopt a new one, I can't help but feel a pang of sadness.  For it seems that old banners are only archived in memory once they are replaced. 

Today, as I switched winter moss for the beginnings of spring thaw, I realized that I can hold on to that image which served as the introduction here through the winter.  And also those images which have graced the masthead through the recent seasons.  And so, I've created a banner archive.  You can see it here, or get to it through the link on the sidebar. 

If you don't already, I hope that you, blog friends, will be inspired to share your retired banners as well.  I'd love, especially, to see once again those front door embellishments that greeted me the first time I paid a visit to your 'homes' on internet.

green week five :: fresh

The UPS driver brought a new kitchen gadget today.  And so, our afternoon and bellies were quickly filled with hand cranked green basil fettuccine.  I tried for a photo, but could only capture a grayish tangle of dusted noodles -- a blurry image that completely dulled the dazzling experience.

To wrap up green week then, I'll return to the co-op's produce section:

And I must clarify.  The 100-mile diet I mentioned yesterday isn't something we're able (okay, willing) to do here in northern Minnesota.  Especially in the winter.  We strive to eat as much local food as possible - CSA shares in both the summer and winter; chicken, beef, eggs, milk and butter from local farms; summer's fruits and vegetables picked and preserved; locally grown and processed grains from the co-op.  But I can't go without a daily dose of fresh greens and fruit, and the notion of months of cabbage and apples from the root cellar doesn't quite cut it for me.  Plus, I honestly couldn't imagine life without chocolate; and we know there isn't any cacoa growng anywhere nearby.

green week four :: brainy

Kaffir limes add textural curiosity to the produce section at the co-op. 
Surely not part of the 100-mile diet.