Patience

 

I have it and I don't have it. 


I don't know how I can sit for 10 hours doing one thing and be mad when somene  is 10 minutes late. I'm usually fine waiting in lines, but I can't stand chatting with the clerk. I can have patience teaching someone for the first time... but not if I've showed them already. 

 

I've decided blankets are a good tool to practice patience.

 

This blanket got me through a long, cold, dark and lonely winter of living alone. I loved it and I love it. 
I used soooooooooo much scrap yarns for this so who knows how many skeins total. I started last winter watching all of the available Downton Abbey episodes, which ran out waaay before my knitting did!
Projects like these are so great for passing time. I looked forward to banging out a few squares each night and paring up fresh colors each time. No two are the same... but I'm sure someday a child will prove me wrong.
I took the time to sew as I went, trying to get rid of all the ends and make strips so the final "sewing up" wouldn't be so daunting. It was still pretty daunting, but it just took a dreary winter day (the following year) to get re-inspired to finish. (Or more likely, bored with all my other endeavors.)
When I started, I had NO bleeeeeping clue I'd have my own yarn store in which to find the perfect border yarn: Manos del Uruguay's Maxima in the color acid. Yeah. It's the best. I also made a sweater out of it. It's probably not the last thing either,  I love the color so hard.
I don't know who will be the recipient of this blanket... a future child maybe? That's what I was thinking when I started. Hopefully it'll be my child, should I be so lucky, but who knows? It's kind of a strange size, bigger than a crib but not quite a twin or lap blanket. Well... it fits my extra long lap perfectly as long as no one wants to share... which is fine, because there's another long, cold, dark and lonely winter of living alone ahead and I need something to cover me for a bit until this winters blanket gets a little bigger.
I'll show you that one next year.

 

 

 

Pile of hats...

I'm still obsessed with sewing, but just a little less since the i-cord border has entered my life. I can't believe I've never done it before! It makes such a nice, clean edge to these hats and a super cute way to add a splash of color. The black and white hat on top is made with bulky yarn and is quite helmety, but I'm into it. I added string ties to one of them and was thinking I'd eventually do it to the rest, but I'm not sure. I like how they look without ties, but it's certainly more practical to have them... for keeping the ear flaps in place and all. Hmmm...

Regardless, I have to decide which one I want, then I'll put the rest in my Etsy shop. I'm hoping to write patterns for them too.

Sewing = My latest obsession.

I didn't do all that much of it in Brooklyn, because it seemed to take up too much space. Also, my sewing machine was a bit too heavy to keep dragging out all the time. In a perfect world, I'd have a room big enough to have the machine set up and ready to go at all times. Of course there would also be a gorgeous collection of threads on the wall to choose from, stacks of beautiful fabrics organized by color and magical 'infinity' bobbins that never need re-winding, but let's get real!  Most of the time, my fabric is a mess or I don't have enough for what I want to do. Plus, I usually give up on the pattern early and do my own thing, only to realize that the pattern contained some important information/steps I should probably have paid attention to. (This coming from the girl who writes patterns for a living, duh.) Needless to say, I have a lot of unfinished sewing projects in my possession. These sewing disasters are far less forgiving than my pile of knitting 'mistakes' which can easily be pulled out and re-knit. It's definitely important that I keep hangDesign it Yourself Clothes by Cal Patching on to them though, despite the fact that I will NEVER actually finish them.  

Lately, the sewing bug has hit me. Perhaps because in Maine, I've been able to spread out. Or perhaps because I have a sewing machine here that can do more than just a straight stitch plus a mom who works at a bookstore and gets me awesome craft books and doesn't seem to mind me taking over the dinning room table for weeks on end... 

 

It started with Design-it Yourself-Clothes by the wonderful designer/maker/teacher (and my friend)  Cal Patch.   As someone who has wanted to make her own clothes for like, forever, I was really excited to get this book. I started with the first project, a skirt, and have already learned so much about darts, seams, translating paper pattern to fabric, thinking three dimensionally and on and on. It's such a cute book. The photos are light, airy and inspirational. Her voice is encouraging, humorous and extremely approachable. With each turn of the page, I couldn't wait to get started.

One day I decided to make the little elephant from Last Minute Patchwork Gifts:

Then I got One Yard Wonders and launched into a holiday making frenzy!

I made the car caddy & the origami tray seen on the cover for my mom.  For my six year old pal, Eleanor, I made an apron that turns into a little bag!

 

But perhaps the BEST thing to happen in my sewing life... stumbling upon an unfinished project left by my Great Aunt Wilma: a very "late seventies" cloth quiet book. She had all the pieces cut out, labeled and organized in envelopes. The pages were ready to go and all I had to do was attach everything, which in my opinion, was the easier and more fun part. Thanks Wilma!! There were enough materials to make two books, so I gave one to Eleanor's sister Clarissa, who is the perfect age for it!! From what I hear, it was a hit!

 

 

How cute are these??

I was just doing a little research on "reindeer stich patterns" and came across the cute DIY cards from a company in the UK. I want them all!! (click on individual photos for more info)

Holiday Themed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowers:

Using beads!A tractor?!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foxy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 oh la la lady

 

 

 

Wise owls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't stop!!!

New Project: Quilt Restoration

Thank goodness for friends of your mom who cast off treasures like this:

A finished quilt top in need of a little love... Oh bliss! I love quilts that are mostly white with all these cute little pattern pieces. Now I can get right to my favorite part which is hand quilting the layers together.

First I'm going to iron the top piece so that all the petals are flat and take out the old ties. Then I'll get some cotton batting to make the 'sandwich' with the backing fabric. I haven't quite decided about the backing fabric yet. Should I go simple and get a nice quality, whole cloth back that's just white? Should I get a cute little patterned fabric, like flowers or polka dots? Or should I piece together a back using the old fabrics I have downstairs at my moms house? Part of me thinks that piecing the back together would be the most resourceful, 'quilterly' and congruent with the style already set forth. There aren't too many non-cotton fabrics, so I don't think the maker was cutting up old shirts and dresses or anything! I'm not sure if these are feed-sack fabrics, but they certainly point that way. Perhaps she got a bag of scraps from the fabric store?

I think I'll investigate the fabrics downstairs first, to see if any would match, then go from there. I also want to add borders on all sides of the quilt top, since the motifs are currently quite close to the edges. I don't want anything too distracting though, no patterns. I would go with white, but trying to match the current color would be impossible and would probably look terrible. So I'm thinking a subtle, muted solid color like a light green, gold or coral. Something unusual to satisfy the artist in me. This is so exciting!

I plan to quilt around the outside of each motif and at the same time, tack down any loose tips. This is probably not the 'right' way of doing it, but I thought it would conserve time and thread. If I'm going to be going around anyway... why spend hours tacking down loose tips before hand? Not to mention tying all those knots?

Any suggestions for what I should do in the center of the flowers?

Vintage Card Games

When I was little I played a lot of cards with my Grandmother and Mom. The best one to play, probably my favorite, was Old Maid. The two of them always got me with this trick:

I'd grab whatever card was sticking up highest without fail!! It probably took me longer than you'd expect to catch on, but mostly because there's something really fun about handing the Old Maid back and forth so much and the giggles that erupt when you get it (and get rid of it!) that I just didn't notice they were tricking me.

As you can see by the vintage set I picked up recently at the flea market, this game tends not to be that PC. I think now they use something other than an"Old Maid" so as not to further agitate those disgruntled old ladies or something. I think I might just have to frame these, the images are so lovely!! The colors are perfect... Hey Kids, can you spot who's in there twice??

 

This next game is called "Animal Rummy." I just love the "Gay Dog"

L.L. Bean is in my blood

When you're from Maine, it's pretty much a given that you'll own at least one piece of clothing or tote bag from L.L. Bean in your lifetime. Most people have more than that, myself included. The clothes don't really fit my preferred 'look' but I'm proud to sport their boots, bags and long underwear.  With each year that passes in my life here in Brooklyn, I strangely feel more and more like a Mainer! I keep finding that I need more outdoor gear (especially when dealing with the elements at the Flea market) like rain coats & boots, toe warmers, snow boots and long underwear, so I've been checking in with good ol L.L. more than I ever used to.  

Sure, I could probably find some rainboots here in NY and a rain coat, but you know what? I don't trust them as much. (*disclaimer* I'm am aware that there are other reputable outdoor retailers besides L.L. Bean) Once I bought a cute pair of rainboots from Marc Jacobs, which were super, super cute, but only lasted a few weeks before getting holes! If that happened at Beans, you could march right back and get a brand new pair, or something else, no questions asked. They have great customer service, which I'd like to reward with my patronage and I really like being able to visit the store with my Mom  at all hours of the night! So, from now on I plan look there first and if I can work it into my 'look', I'm going for it!

I was quite surprised at how many things I found today! I just wanted some new rain boots!

 

Yes folks, there is a skort up there, I can't believe it!! And even though I'm not much of a camper, yet, I found all kinds of cute gear, mainly that rad orange stove! I didn't add this picnic tote bag because it looks so much like their well known canvas totes, but instead it's an insulated cooler! So great, since coolers are usually so uggers!

I love MAINE!

Grownup Easter Basket:

Easter was a day I looked forward to all year (even more than Christmas!) and I owe it all to my generous and brilliant "Easter Bunny." Oh the baskets that would appear! Cadbury Cream Eggs, art supplies, sparkle pens with feather tops, hair things, stickers, sour candy, a Barbie, Silly Putty, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, coloring books, regular books...all tucked into a basket with hot pink metallic Easter grass! (How did he know me so well!!!) And then there were the candy eggs hidden all around the house too! I was a very, very lucky child.

My plan is to continue this tradion of course, with my future little ones, If I should be so lucky!! In the meantime though, I think there's no harm in hoping the Easter Bunny might still drop by...

 

Moleskin Cahier Notebooks

 

French Latte Bowls!

 

This might not fit...

 

 

I love Fresh!

Cute Sheets

Of course!!

Rainy Day Obsession: Headboards

So it's a rainy day and I should really be resting because I've got a cold and need to get better fast but all I can think about is where I'd rather be resting and searching for headboards of my dreams... I mean... le *sigh

Grahm and Green

 

 

Little Purl of the Orient

Apartment Therapy

Part of me thinks I could totally rock this...

Ebay!!

 

As seen on decor8