Gehring Road

vermont souvenirs

On my trip to Vermont, I didn't buy much in the way of typical touristy souvenirs... though a "Warren Store" mug was calling my name. In Burlington, there are sweet little shops and used book dealers along with a cart that makes fresh crepes on the main street, it is heaven I tell you.  Instead, looking for some shoes with my friend Gina, we happened into Urban Outfitters of all places and I scored that sweet little wallet (organization is the theme of this summer!)... I can't tell you what my purse looked like pre-wallet.  Now all of my credit and frequent fabric shopper (ahem) cards are well organized and ready for use.  Gina also picked up a pair of those little yellow flats, and I loved them so I did too... we're planning on sporting them at work together (ha!). Excuse my non-pedicured toes but I fear the post pedicure massage (I sometimes don't want the massage and last year I got one while tense when it was happening... sore for a week, like immobile, it was awful!) so much so that I often forgo the whole business. Anyway, what I love about the Kimchi Laser Cut Peep-Toe Skimmer in Yellow (a mouthful!) is that they're a feminine little flat. I find that a lot of the ballet flats I buy are a little rounded and young looking which is fine, but these are different and pretty.  So comfortable.  Finally, we made our way to Nido, as I told you, but I didn't tell you that I snagged some amazing Heather Ross, Far, Far, Away III fabric. I love the weight of this fabric, certainly not as heavy as the last batch, it is light and drapey (which spell check tells me isn't a word... hmm) I can't wait to dig in and make a bag or even a belt. I also bought some more loulouthi... how pretty is that grey and orange? Oh, I heart Vermont! Happy weekending to you!

i heart vermont

I've just returned from a few days exploring Vermont's ski valley, Sugarbush in Warren to be exact. How I love Vermont... the absolutely stunning hills and valleys (the drive up is just magical picturesque farms set in rolling valleys), the ice cream, the lovely farms, and the people who are nothing short of warm and welcoming. I wasn't alone, Mrs. Obama had the same idea and made a little voyage up to Vermont also, she was in Burlington the same day I ventured in, though we didn't happen to see her. In Burlington, I just had to visit Nido... and it is probably a good thing I live three hours away! The staff was so friendly and they have an absolutely beautiful space. Some amazing little yellow flats were purchased and loads of reading and relaxing happened also... a lovely few days away.  We're off to celebrate the holiday and snuggle up with one another... so back in a few days... Hope you are enjoying your adventures and this lovely weekend! 

a fabric run for the wounded

I live in a fabric dead zone. It's bad. Luckily if you drive an hour and half in a few different directions, you are promptly out of the dead zone and into fabric nirvana.  And that's exactly where we headed this weekend.  What turned out to be a voyage out to lift my still wounded spirits (my ice fall now requires physical therapy and ice and heat and still hurts a week later... so frustrating) to The Container Store to buy these linen boxes (they smelled like death and so we spent our time in the store strategizing how t make them ourselves) turned in to a really wonderful fabric run.

My patient Rob took us to Fabric Corner in Arlington a little ways outside of Boston first. They had sooo many wonderful fabrics. Echino, Heather Ross, Alexander Henry and every single Kona solid imaginable. I paced myself, circling the store only ten or so times... For Christmas I was given this book, so I bought a few yard cuts in order to make some of the fantastic projects inside.  Rob took some amazing shots of the inside of the store with his cell phone (that Droid amazes me) as again I forgot to bring the camera, and here's what I came home with...

... some Echino (love that grey print) and some Kona Coal for my Single Girl Quilt... I think. 

Next, we headed upstate a bit to Concord and the sweetest little village of shops.  Saturday was blustery (like 50-60 mph winds) so we didn't do much exploring, but we did happen upon Quilter's Way, a few feet from the T. The store was really busy, which was nice to see... a class was in progress and the store also runs a sewing cafe - you can rent time on their machines (some Berninas which was nice). The staff here was really friendly. Here's what I found...

  

...some lovely yellows and greys, and that Midwest Modern print that I've always loved, and never bought.  

So that was our day.  I loved these two little shops and the absolute friendliness of the people who run them, a little different than the women who run my local quilt shop I tell you... Seeing fabric in person is a treat indeed, as was spending the day with the most patient and determined fabric finder of my acquaintance. I'm learning to be productive on our winter vacation, as much as possible that is. I'm stunned by the lingering pain and my absolute impatience with this shoulder thing. I really imagined a day or so of discomfort, it was just a fall after all. Ah well, such is life. In the grand scheme of things, this little inconvenience is really just that.  I hope you are enjoying this week and this Tuesday.  Back later with some Etsy finds...

calm after the storm

  Seattle sunset captured by Rob

I thought this blog is sorely in need of some photos devoid of snow, so they're a little less Gehring Road and more where one of us is and one of us would like to be.  This week has been a disaster... really one thing after another. It started with yet another snow clean-up (we were off two days this week...) our snowblower promptly bit the dust at the end of the driveway when I was about halfway through. As the sleet and freezing rain pelted me and I desperately tried to restart my life-line I had a little break down in the middle of the driveway and decided to go in. The exhaustion of dealing with every single solitary issue involved with snow and this winter solo had frankly done me in. I was angry, exhausted, stressed and lonely.

On entering the house, I noticed that a bottle of Ibuproferin (which is never anywhere besides the bathroom) lay open and knocked over on the dining room table, cap on the floor, and not a pill to be found anywhere.  Kylie, who is a bit of a maniac while I snowblow (picture screaming, getting up on the table because she can no longer see me from the windows over the snow drifts) had clearly been up on the table... my heart sank.  Getting to the vets in an ice storm... down the driveway at full tilt through snow ice, into the snow bank, shoveling out... up the nearby "mile hill road"... around plows and people driving slowly of course, but painfully slow for my frame of mind... breaking down the equally slippery road that the vet is on was enough to shatter my nerves completely... it was absolutely the worst day of my life. Kylie spent two days there. I've spent very few days of her life away from her and these were hideous days I tell you.  The vet tech picked her up and dropped her as she squirmed before I left... that haunted me... "She may or may not have a slipped disk" I said to the vet, about the dog who may or may not have ingested advil "that cannot happen again." The emergency vet on call scared the daylights out of me.  She repeatedly talked about the grim situation, the fact that pills really shouldn't be out, and dropped words like "kidney failure" "ulcers" and "extremely toxic" I sat in the vets office when she took Kylie away and wept.

Heading back home from the vets without the little lady for the first time ever, I didn't notice that the plow had been by and the bottom of the driveway was impassible. Stuck at the bottom of the driveway, my cell phone died... leaving me out of touch with the vet, Rob, everyone. I frantically dug myself out and into bigger trouble at the bottom of the driveway.  A really wonderful neighbor helped and helped me gun it up backwards (how I now have to get up our driveway as that ice I left out there is beyond treacherous). 

So little lady's kidney values were perfect for two days. She finally came home to me on Friday I was delighted she seemed to be really fine... the vet's parting words were "well, we won't know, but we've done all we can do..." I paid and left.  An exhausted Kylie has spent this weekend sleeping, coming back into her own and even playing.  

That huge sigh of relief you heard at your home (wherever you are) is me... who luckily did not poison her dog, crash her car and break the snowblower aka lifeline in one day. Big sigh... I think I need vacation. Anyway, I hope your week and weekend were full of good things and big sighs of happiness. We're off to rest and recoup and recenter. Here's more serene Seattle... 

denyse schmidt studio sale... and a souvenir (giveaway!)

Quilts on display and for sale... I hugged my checkbook close when I saw that pinwheel one on the end...

So I traveled to Bridgeport today for Denyse Schmidt's studio sale... fun.  I was far too shy to take a picture of Denyse and Heather Ross who were chit chatting about the new fabric with a customer in the back when I saw them.  I sheepishly tried to snap pictures of everything... it was very busy, very filled with absolutely beautiful quilts for a steal ($500 quilts for $100) and tons of inspiration.  I came away with some scraps, and a few Denyse and Heather sightings.  All in all an excellent day. Here's what I saw...

...outside the studio, minutes before a man with an Aussie accent yelled 'go get 'em girls' when they invited us in, guess he thought it was one of those running of the brides moments...

...sweet stationary and a sweet little girl who kept eyeing me suspiciously... I was the only one snapping pictures of everything...

... quilts...

... and that light blue circle one was calling me...

... some Greenfield Hill in an old pattern, I think it's pretty...

...I bought some scrap bags... 

...which had some Hope Valley, Greenfield Hill and a wee bit of Flea Market Fancy in them... exciting!

... love these Greenfield Hill scraps... especially those flowered prints...

So I bought three bags of scraps (vintage fabric, Katie Jump Rope, Linen, Greenfield Hill, wee bit o' Flea Market Fancy) while I was in Denyse's absolutely beautiful studio.  Two I'm keeping but one is for you... well, one of you at least.  Leave a comment in the post (make sure to tell me how I can get in touch with you) and I'll choose a winner on Friday.  I love a souvenir! 

it's a date

Beautiful Quilts from Denyse Schmidt's website

I've decided to make a jaunt down to Bridgeport on November 13th for a little glimpse into all things Denyse Schmidt... I'm going to the Sample Sale. Ashley went last year and came away with some glimpses of Denyse, a Heather Ross sighting and some studio fabric... I'd be happy to do the same. Anyone else planning to go? 

So a treat for me planned during a god-awful week for us.  Our little lady might have a slipped disk (her symptoms are unclear and she isn't acting much different than her normal self) and so we've had to old-lady-dog-proof our home.  Pillows are everywhere to cushion her jumps and movements... (the 3:30 am pee break has become, let's say interesting) and we're just plain anxious about how this will all turn out. I'm realizing my anxieties about this little love run deep, and her well being is one of the most important responsibilities I've ever had.  A lot to take in.  Anyway, I leave you with our little lady, who didn't feel so well yesterday but now seems just fine... keep your fingers crossed!