cloth.paper.string

heading out

The bobbins have been whirling, but for some reason the camera hasn't captured a thing in weeks.  Pot holders, satchels, lounge pants, and other gifts seem to have been chased out of the house as soon as they're beyond the feed dogs. 

I managed to capture one piece tonight - in bad light - before it got tucked away.  A simple shirt from this book.  It's for the little lady, to be worn with some navy blue linen pants that I sewed up, after learning to modify a pattern to accommodate the bulk of cloth diapers.

And while it seems like I've been taking a little vacation from this spot, the actual vacation begins tomorrow.  We're heading to a warmer clime to see family and celebrate a babe-on-the-way. 

Be well friends.  I'll see you mid-May.

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!

folds and freezer paper

It's been a long time since I've made a book.  Too long.  But tonight that changed when I started on a  small book for a collaborative project.  I couldn't have been more pleased with the cutting and folding of paper, the assembly of flat into three dimensional form. 

I'll share more about this project in due time, but for now here's a little of the folds and the freshly freezer-paper-stenciled (yes, that's now a verb) book cloth.  The colors are all funky since I haven't gotten around to making that light box just yet; but rest assured, they're good.  Chartreuse and inky black-blue good.

And the leaves?  They're traced from the vintage fabric that is still in the midst of metamorphosis from skirt to bag.

new love

I've broken up with the hourglass.  I had searched for ages for the perfect sweater to knit with the wool from my parent's neighbor's sheep.  The wool that I dyed this time last year when the days were gray and dreary.  The yarn that is destined to become the first adult sized garment I've ever knitted.  I honestly thought the hourglass was THE ONE.

After a torrid affair that included knitting about a third of the sweater twice, I realized that there was too much of the same-old same-old.  Too much round and round to keep my attention.  Knit, knit, knit was all that sweater ever wanted.  It refused to challenge me and I clearly wasn't going to grow in the relationship.  So I left it.  Months ago.  And while I knew I wouldn't go back, I didn't have the nerve to tell it that it was over.

But now that I've found a new sweater to invest tens of thousands of stitches in, I have to make it official.  I've been spending all my spare time with this one, sneaking stitches every chance I get.  My new love is the tangled yoke cardigan, and I found it through Ravelry.  I know nothing about online dating, but I can't help but think of Ravelry as the internet matchmaker for knitters and knitting projects.

As might be expected, my new infatuation has prompted me to spiff up my notions bag.   The fabric is linen from a thrifted skirt, the pattern is the travel pouch from Last Minute Fabric Gifts.  A good little bag for all of those knitting tools.  But enough about that, I'm must get back to my knitting affair...

cornucopia

Ages ago I happened upon a pair of screenprinted napkins at a thrift shop and knew immediately that they would make excellent bean bags.  Yesterday, when the allure of the scrap bag had worn off, I dropped my sewing project and engaged the little one in the selecting of fruit and the stuffing of little bags. 

In addition playing food and shapes and colors, we've been tossing around the some new word combinations today:  'buckwheat hulls' and 'hands tucked in' (you know, what you do when you're sitting on your mama's lap and she's about to start sewing).  I'm so glad to have saved -- okay, procrastinated -- this little project until I had a bit of help.  Making with adds a whole other dimension to making for.

blown away

As I've been carefully deconstructing a vintage wool bias-cut skirt that will never fit me, I've had Nikki McClure and her x-acto knife on my mind.  I'm continually blown away by her images, as I am by this fantastic printed gabardine which resembles her work so.

After holding on to this skirt for ages and ages, I've finally found a project that is calling its name.  But, more on this later.  I'm afraid if I share too much about my plans I'll jinx myself and won't be able to squeeze enough yardage from the pretty pie-shaped panels.

And, so many thanks for all of the suggestions and kind words about the learning sweater.  I'm going to give fixing it a go.  Will keep you posted.

chocolate

A recent favorite, chocolate milk.  Whole milk with equal parts cocoa and honey, whirled in the blender until frothy.  Yum yum.

There's another chocolate that I really wish would be embraced as a favorite by the little miss.  It's the  Mei Tai Baby Carrier from Montessori by Hand made up with a fine wale chocolate corduroy and Urban Chiks' Bouquet Bark.  I finished it weeks ago, but have yet to wrestle the babe into it for a proper photo.  Each time she sees me tying the carrier around my waist she starts shaking her head and running the other way.  So instead, you have a shot of the detail, and I have a ready-made gift for a mama-to-be.

scandinavian thrift

There's no escaping the Scandinavian influence in this part of the world.  If you listen to Garrison Keillor, you know exactly what I mean.
Yesterday, on my three minute run into the thrift store, I found this huge canvas bag.  When I saw the gnome I knew that the bag would be coming home with me.  The curl-up toe shoes, the coy hands behind the back stance, the red hat with zig-zagged-all-over detail.  It was love.
There was also an embroidered message on the bag: "to gnome is to love me".  I thought it was odd and nonsensical, but didn't let it keep me from shelling out three whole dollars for the bag.  When I got into the car I realized the play on words that was going on across my newly beloved bag.  There's something about plays on words that make me cringe.  Deep down shuddering cringe.  I've been picking away with my seam ripper at the machine embroidered message.  I'm down to "gnome love" and I'll keep going until the little guy is on his own.  He's just too sweet to be muddled with words.
And if the satchel wasn't enough, the fabric bin held two yards of this tulip-ed wonder.  Once I find that perfect pair of wooden clogs, I'll make myself a skirt... to wear to the Prairie Home Companion's annual meatloaf feast and street dance, of course.

So many thanks for all of the comments on the cards!  An etsy shop may well be in my near future...

a hint?

Coming home to this scene, it was clear that the time had come to get busy with this pattern.

Much better.

friday sampler

A mini quilt in progress.  Repurposed soft floral linen cotton blend matched up with flannels of solid and striped greens.  With an added message inspired by the baby quilt lovingly embroidered by Marnie.

A sampling of the fantastic swap scraps that arrived in today's mail.  It's amazing how little bits of new fabric can spark one's imagination.  I already am dreaming up little patchwork projects from these pieces.  So many thanks, Jude!

A bit of a snack while out walking this morning.  And yet another reminder that there's no need to hurry along; no need to really be anywhere but here in the now.