Gehring Road

a sunny stack and a promise

 Southwest Sunset Bundle (top) from Pink Castle Fabrics 

It has been just two weeks since the tragic events at the Boston Marathon injured and changed the lives of so many. And while these horrific events threatened to cause us to question so many facets of human nature, they have in actuality, reminded us of the very best of the human spirit. The will to help others is alive and well weeks and days later, as it was in the moments following those blasts. In our own sewing community, there are several efforts getting underway just now. I wanted to bring them to this space as well. 

The Boston Modern Quilt Guild is looking for sewists to make quilt blocks that they will sew together, making quilts for victims and families. Blocks should be yellow, grey, blue and white, the colors of the Boston Marathon. Natalie of Greenleaf Goods put together the most lovely stack as inspiration for those who are interested in making some blocks. I just love this idea and will be making some blocks today. 

Quilt guilds from around the globe, including The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild have also organized a beautiful campaign, "To Boston With Love". Sewists from around the world can create flags to be sent to Boston. The Flickr Group has more details (including mailing instructions). 

I'm in, who's with me? Happy weekend everyone! 

while at Gather Here

On Monday, at Gather Here, I picked up some really lovely new fabric. My excuse to make the trip up to Cambridge (which is really only an hour and twenty minutes from us) was to buy some yardage for a new dress. Have you seen this beauty of a pattern from April Rhodes? It's called The Staple Dress and I can't wait to make a few of these. They look perfect for work (with a bit of a lining possibly), especially during the coming warmer weeks. I bought some of that lovely Liberty Lifestyle Stile in Lowke Spice for my first attempt. I'm goingt to try a mock-up in some muslin before I crack into my new fabric, though the fabric looks pretty easy, I'm waffling between sizes and styles. April has included many modifications for this project which is so lovely. I'll keep you posted! My second stop on my excursion was at Mike's Pastry. My poor father has been struggling with a nasty case of pneumonia and I decided to swing by to pick him (and us) up a few pick me ups. They've come in very handy this week. We're finding comfort in sewing projects, the beautiful weather we've had so far this vacation week and our small lady...

A smile and an... interesting face. Levity and light is good. I hope you are all well and comforted by those around you. Happy Thursday everyone, be kind to one another! 

another day... another snow/sew day!

Today, there will be sewing... and snuggling... and reading... and period film watching. This is tinged with a bit of sadness for me, we're off again for a (surprise!) fourteen inches or so of snow. My last day of school will now be June 24th. Ugh. I'm choosing to hold back the frustration as the snow literally rains down outside... it looks a bit like this...

It really is quite beautiful, but oh, my... my summer! I cherish those days in the summer and they dwindle, they truly do. Today I'm choosing to sew, snuggle and be satisfied with the day we have. And for a true silver lining (Excelsior!), the weekend looks like a Spring preview around here... highs in the low 50s. A treat for sure. Today I sew, and peek outside to wonder at how changeable this little corner of our world can be. A very happy start to this weekend for you, I hope you are finding yourself surprised today! 

welcome march

 February 365 Project (still going!) 

March is here... I'm beside myself with happy! It's just around those long days of February (oh my, remember this?) that I begin to long for and attempt to find some bits of Spring wherever I can. Tulips are purchased, I attempt to leave the house with just two layers instead of four, I convince myself that the days are oh so much longer. Yes, it's time. Happy March everyone, I hope it finds you as ready for it as we are!  

scenes from a weekend...

 (that is Kylie sleeping!)

Our weekend didn't go quite as planned. Friday night was spent with a great friend enjoying some tastey eats and many laughs. It was downhill from there in a big way! A touch of sickness for all of us (including the dog at two hour intervals on Sunday morning, ack!) and it was a lounging on the couch kind of weekend after all was said and done. We ventured out for some macarons (passion fruit was calling me) into the snow/rain mix that seemed to linger. Oh yes, it was lounging weather for sure. Sewing just didn't happen. Breaking in the new quilt did. Luckily, it escaped Kylie's path of destruction, poor sick girl. She's quite well today, as are we, and back to work today! Happy Monday everyone... 

today, I am...

Today, I am... 

* Making binding for the quilt... I love the brightness of this print!

* Looking forward to watching last night's The Walking Dead, and hoping Daryl comes back! 

* Fielding work emails on vacation, I know, I know.

* Enjoying a little lip gloss, even while just finishing a quilt... maybe because I'm finishing a quilt! 

* Avoiding two baskets of laundry that desperately need folding. 

* Watching my sweet girl find the sun and sleep soundly. 

* Thinking that this favorite fabric should have been something I stockpiled, I'm down to my last few bits. 

* Loving that my guy is just down the hall when I need a hug or smile. 

* Wishing that I had scooped up one of these bundles while they were available. 

* Dreaming of opening a little store... but happily watching this one turn two and this one for inspiration.

* Contemplating putting the loft back in order... it looks like thread exploded everywhere up there... 

* Preferring to fold said laundry to cleaning the loft! 

* Vacationing... oh, yes! 

Happy Monday everyone, I hope it finds you enjoying whatever this day brings your way! 

look away if you don't like snow

So we had some snow... I'm not sure if you heard or not (wink, wink!)... thirty inches give or take. At one point during the evening, it was snowing so hard that it looked like rain. A downpour of snow if you will. We had some thundersnow and the wind luckily didn't take out our power. It continued to snow into the afternoon yesterday. We've been out clearing our driveway, the mailbox and everything hurts. I swam through snow this afternoon trying to get in front of the snow blower. So. much. snow. Sore has a new meaning around these parts, Rob has done something to his back which makes us a bit nervous. Trying to stave off cabin fever, I prepared bobbins for quilting this morning. Looks like I'll have some time to quilt some Strips and Bricks tomorrow. Oh my, people have been so wonderful and sweet about that near finish. Such good motivation to finish it. I'm thinking I'll make some binding tonight. Decisions, decisions. I hope you are warm and well cared for wherever you are! Happy weekend to you! 

today... so far.

The snow is piling up outside, but inside, it's been a day of sewing and resting. So, so good. I decided to spend a bit of time basting (finally!) my Strips and Bricks quilt. I cut fabric for this quilt in 2010, yes 2010. When I laid it out on the floor in the living Rob walked by and said, "When did you make that?" Ha ha. I really wanted to back this quilt in Kona Ash, but I recently used some of the yardage I bought for it in my Semiology Quilt and was just shy of what I needed. I went with Kona Coal because I had it on hand and didn't want to lose momentum. Probably for the best as Kona Ash is almost the same color as our couch. Change is good. It will be quilted tomorrow if the power stays on. Cross your fingers. I also had some time to work on some Anna Karenina blocks. All in all, I've loved this snow day turned sewing day. Rob would like you to know I didn't bake or get out of my pajamas. Just how snow days should be, don't you think? 

blizzard ready

We're ready. They're calling for a bunch of snow and school is cancelled for me for tomorrow. I'll bake in the morning and sew some. It will be those two new reads (Liberty Love and The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook to be exact) to keep me company as the snow begins to pick up. Crossing fingers that the power stays on! 

Miss Kylie gave us quite the scare last night. Coming in from her before bed trip outside, Kylie ran full tilt into our sliding glass door. It was dark, she was cold and the sound of her hitting the door was beyond words. Awful. She seemed a bit startled but then came in and was ok. Rob took her to the Vets this morning to get checked out and all is well. Our girl: head, spine, nose and sweet tongue as you can surely see are all in good order, thank goodness. Very, very scary. I'm happy to have time to snuggle her tomorrow morning and like most days I'm home, she'll be my tiny shadow throughout the day. Happy Thursday everyone. Hope you are also ready... come what may! 

lately.

Lately, it suddenly became February. The days are getting longer, the light in the evening is lingering and I'm feeling ready for Spring. So are the daffodils. Last week we had an intense wind and rain storm which ripped our screen door off its hinges, the washing machine flooded our basement and some mechanism inside the toilet snapped. They say things happen in threes. I've been spending much time with Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, I bought this sweater, and am looking forward to the arrival of some more Liberty Love. Welcome February.