Gehring Road

spring stack

I don't always love the start of Daylight Savings Time... that hour of sleep lost (or that we never had in the first place depending on how you look at it) always seems to throw me for a few days, I'm a baby sensitive when it comes to sleep! But what I do love is the change in seasons. The daffodils are peaking out (they have been since those crazy 65 degree days in February and January) and it is always this time of year that I begin to think longingly of those warm summer months. If you've been around this space long enough you know I teach and I'm a baby sensitive when it comes to my summer. Those long days of doing everything or nothing without the reminder of a fairly aggressive bell is so lovely. It's around this time that it dawns on me that this really is the homestretch. And though I try to take every day as it comes, this year has been different. I find myself waiting for the last few months (and classes!) to wrap up... with all the promise that that ending really means to my life. That lovely Charley Harper calendar I picked up at Christmas tells me just a few short months and summer it will be. Though this summer is going to be a bit different with classes and coursework, I'm feeling the need to be done. I have a choice ahead of me that involves a schedule that really isn't such great timing with the end of the year with school... I'll be taking (for the last two weeks of school) two classes (which meet Monday and Wednesday, Tuesday and Thursday respectively) an hour away from school and an hour and a half away from my loves and my bed. A little daunting. That does allow me to finish up my degree this summer, and to be done with classes a little earlier than I expected. We're weighing the options and thinking it through... 

In the midst of these decisions that need to be made and soon, a little stack of spring arrived... and I wanted to tear into it and sew a simple square patchwork quilt together the second I pulled it out of the carefully packaged envelope from Fat Quarter Shop. I showed restraint and got other work done instead... maybe with a little bit of pie, but who's keeping track? I'm loving those spring-ish and happy colors. They're reminding me of the beginnings and endings of things... the beginning of spring in earnest, summer and it's bittersweetness this year, and even 2 am on November 4th. Possibly someone is lacking a little sleep! Anyway, a very happy weekend friends, I hope you are enjoying all that is in the moment, but also feeling the excitement of things on the horizon! 

playing catch up

Beautiful Moon/Planet Alignment captured by Rob

The stars aligned this week (they really did, did you see it?) and I had a chance to get some things done besides course work. It was magical. Let's play catch up, shall we?

it snowed... finally! I was almost missing it... almost... but glad it caused very few problems

Rob made the.most.amazing.dessert.ever... and because I didn't successfully double my weight after gorging on it this week, he's making it again before he leaves for Seattle tomorrow... I tell you, I'm lucky... and in need of a good run... Here's the recipe... it's ok, eat it all and then come running with me...

we also ate tons of brussel sprouts... I love them roasted...

I cut my finger (badly) making dinner (ha! I don't often cook, and there's why, but the stars aligned you see). You're shocked that it wasn't with my rotary cutter, I know, I am too... it was remarkably close to an old rotary cutter incident scar...I'm fine and it has healed... already...

Lady Mary came to visit... I found her here... she came beautifully wrapped (of course she did)...

... I also treated myself to this beautiful little printer drawer from Etsy... I'm filling it with vintage silk spools and hanging it in the loft... I'll keep you appraised of it's progress... pretty slow right now, but kind of perfect...

I bought these tiny bits of new fabric in my new favorite colors... that poor lonely granny... oh well, soon... I did notice I had a shocking lack of peach in my stash, so I used it as an excuse to buy fabric... how those golds and that beautiful orange also landed in the cart is beyond me... I have little control... see above notes on dessert...

... I organized (well, kind of) my scrap bins... it was freeing... and a little frightening... must not save every little piece and must find a scrappy project (maybe this one?) for them soon...when sewing is an option...

 ... and this sweet lady has been making us laugh and keeping me grounded... I miss the lack of stress and work, looking forward to time with this little bean when grad classes are not in the back of my mind...

Semester is nearly done... I'm tasting the end as near more and more. April 4th is done-day for one class, May 5th for another... so, so close! Though we've had some snow lately I'm feeling the pull of those Spring days... they're getting closer and it feels very good... for so many reasons. Rob is off to Seattle for a few weeks, which is always difficult, but he has some non-work related adventures planned which makes me happy. His return is yet another thing I'm looking forward to... in the meantime, head down, balance, and breathe. Happy weekend to you! 

one heck of a mail day

I had the best mail day... getting out of the car I went on a bit of a frustrated tirade to poor Rob about the chaotic mess that was Joann's (I just need a yard of Kona Ash, "maybe that brand is discontinued" the manager said). He stopped me by saying, "That's ok. Fed Ex brought a box that says Flea Market Fancy on it." Sweet man, he knows, oh, he knows. A few weeks ago, I received an email from Westminster Fabrics saying they would like to send me some of the re-released Flea Market Fancy fabrics as a thank you for being part of the group that begged, petitioned and cajoled them into reprinting this beautiful line. It came today and I'm in love. The hand and softness of this fabric is just amazing, you're going to love it too, I promise. Thank you Westminster Fabrics, you know how to make a girl smile!

something(s) new

No other sewing this weekend, just some planning... I've been looking for projects that are quick and fun, ones that I can walk away from and work on at (a sometimes maddeningly!) slow pace. The current schedule is dictating how much time is spent in the loft sewing, so projects have to be quick yet fun. My drawstring bag was the first of those quick little projects, and just the thing to remind me that balancing time means also budgeting time to do what I love. So far, so good. Right now, I'm starting some "granny square" blocks. I'm loving Jolene's (Blue Elephant Stitches) blog and work right now and just couldn't resist starting something new. Just the cutting of one block for now, to be joined by others... in time. My inspiration for these "granny squares" was found here, an absolutely beautiful crocheted granny square blanket by Wood and Wool Stool. It was something I pinned a while ago, and think it is just the perfect inspiration for these blocks I'm making. I'm using Kona Ash for the background and played around tonight with the idea of adding another ring of color, making the block a bit bigger. I really love the pace of this kind of creating, a good thing indeed.

Another really lovely thing arrived this weekend, my "bright and cheery" tin scored on Etsy. Love.

I'm having fun filling this sweet little addition to the loft with ribbons and buttons. Wishing you a lovely start to your week, hopefully it is filled with a little bright and cheery and much inspiration!

new fabric

Washi by Rashida Coleman Hale from here

As I might have mentioned, my current class schedule and work is making sewing next to impossible... there just really isn't time. Don't feel too badly though, it is extra incentive to finish up these classes and begin normal life again... complete with lots of weekend sewing time. I have however, been doing my best to fill my cabinet. There really are some beautiful lines coming out... say nothing of the flea market fancy haul I plan to take in very soon! I do have plans for bits of fabric that have been arriving, really quick projects and things that can be done before my 8 pm (it's really sad!) bed-time.

Those love-letters are destined for a bag for my new GPS, it really is a life-savor and points me in the direction of Panera for a quick bite for dinner each and every time. I heart my GPS, and I'm in love with Ruby Star Shining. Have you seen Jenni's drawstring bag pattern? I picked it up and now can only think about how everything needs a drawstring bag... including the GPS. Funny how that happens!

I've had my eye (no pun intended) on that beautiful Heather Ross for Spoonflower fabric for a while, just didn't buy any when it was at Spoonflower, so I picked some up on Etsy. I'd love to use it as an accent for a knitting bag. I've had my eye on this pattern for a while and can't wait to dig in. 

I caved and bought some DS Quilts Aunt Edna when I felt it... the quality is so much better than the last line, and I love those plaids. 

I so love these prints... I have a small bit of each of these and will be using them in some quilt blocks... in three or four years ;)

I've been hunting and gathering red prints for a while, in the hopes of making a red and white quilt someday. Nova just finished her 'redwork' quilt and it's just amazing... truly beautiful work.

I miss creative time so very much. It's difficult to pass the loft and these stacks of new fabrics and not dive right in... which I think is an important lesson. I'm trying, in the midst of much work and more classwork to find a balance that allows me to see and really connect with the ones I love, while also finding time to myself... while lacking time. It's the age old problem of balance and I so admire those of you who are able to do it with grace and cheer... maybe I'll get there too! For now, I'm taking things as they come and looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. So close! I hope you are finding yourself in a creative spirit. What are your creative plans of late? Happy Wednesday all! 

art student for the grad student

Today was an interesting day... registration happened, though the payment system for all of us who registered today "catastrophically malfunctioned" (said the email) causing some poor grad students to be charged twice for their classes (not me... thank goodness) or not at all (me...). Some sort of cosmic sign? I'd love to think so... more Anthropologie and fabric, less grad classes... sounds perfect. The Bursar tells me not to go crazy though as he will be walking all of us through registration (mostly payment) tomorrow personally. I was on the phone with him when that package of Loulouthi Needleworks arrived from QuiltHome. Cosmic sign number two... possibly. I looove that fabric. It's so darn beautiful. Scratch what I said... I have some little gifts planned with some of that loveliness. And a bag. Those reds, gorgeous. I don't know what I was expecting, they're from Anna Maria Horner, and of course they are. So I have a decision to make. That grey is voile and a splurge for the inside of my bag. I have to decide between option A in the middle (tomato red, we'll call it) or option B on the end (cranberry red with pretty navy) for the outside of the bag. What do you think? A or B? I think I'll stare at these a bit more and maybe it will come to me. A lovely bag for the start of classes is just the thing to get me into the spirit. I've taken way too long to finish my Master's degree... like years too long. Actual teaching and love got in the way, and really, I wouldn't have it any other way. But, I'm back in the saddle. I'll be done in the Fall of 2012. Until then, I'm breathing deeply, getting back into the student mode and hopefully as a student passing on some fellow-student empathy and knowledge to my current students. So here's hoping for balance... and time... and a little Anthropologie on the side. Happy Thursday! 

giving thanks... giving (away) FMF

I spent time this weekend making two bundles out of the FMF digital prints that I scored at Denyse Schmidt's Sample Sale. I decided at the last minute that the bundles looked a little sad without that beautiful grey bouquet (my favorite, you see) and added in some grey, pink and green bouquet from the original release. As a big thank you for readers old and new, I'd like to share with one of you! Leave a comment for me (make sure I can get in touch with you also!) by Wednesday 8 pm. I'll choose a winner on Wednesday night and get these lovelies to you. Remember that the digital samples are not always color-fast so careful washing them. A few of the prints are crazy colors, that didn't make it to the final printing of the re-released fabric (shipping in March!) which is kind of special. There are pictures of the interesting colorways here if you're curious. 

It felt amazing just to be back up in the loft for a few minutes playing with fabric this weekend, I wish I had more time to do so. I also proctored the SATs... that was decidedly less fun. Rob and I took a quick trip to an outdoor shopping center today to bask in the 65 degrees that has settled on our little neck of the woods. Someone spent too much time in Anthropologie...guilty. A very Anthropologie Thanksgiving for us! Happy weekend... don't forget to enter the giveaway! 

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Comments closed! Congratulations Natalie! 

feeling japanese... prints that is

I've been collecting prints from Japanese designers Suzuko Koseki, Kumiko Fujita (if anyone happens apon her book Patchwork Patterns 318 for a reasonable price, let me know, it's impossible to find!) and others for a while now, all in the hopes of making (of course) a quilt. I thought I might go with another version of this quilt, but I've started it in Hope Valley... oh... a year or two ago (ahem) and am thinking that probably signifies I should do more finishing and less starting. Which of course meant I've been on the prowl for a new quilt to start... so it goes. I have been completely blown away with the beautiful work done in this quilt along... especially this beauty. Amazing, no? So in all of my fabric hoarding, I think I've done well with this little stack, it is small, most of those cuts are fat quarters. In an effort to completely enable your own fabric buying/hoarding, here's my list of go-to shops for beautiful japanese prints...

* Superbuzzy (love and prepare for some japanese candies to come with your order)

* Sew Fresh Fabrics on Etsy (if you buy that Daiwabo alphabet fabric before I'm able to get my mitts on some, we might not be able to talk)

* Lucky Kaeru Fabrics on Etsy (fast shipping)

* Blije Olifantje (let's all say that together!) on Etsy. (I think she is brave and orders from La Clochette, often)

* La Clochette. (Something there is in me that hates buying from sites that require Google Translator, and this one does so beware my friends. Someone in a flickr group braved that experience and we ordered together to save on shipping... that's how I scored that yellow scissiors fabric, love them!)

Shop away! I love how unique the colors are in that little pile and really can't wait to see them come together. I feel a little at a loss for time lately and this will only get worse in the new year. I think carving out some sewing time is certainly in the cards this weekend, though grades are due for us on Monday... ah well, at the very least, my plan is to have those little FMF piles ready to go for next week here on the blog. Fabric cutting, listening to some tunes and sleeping in (at least until 6:30 ;)) sounds like just the thing this weekend. Hope you are enjoying this week, and looking forward to the days ahead. 

quilt feast at denyse schmidt studio sale

We headed a bit south on Saturday and found ourselves stopping by Denyse Schmidt's studio sale. Like last year, I took a ton of pictures (it is impossible to take a bad shot in that space... oh to enjoy that light everyday!) and intend on sharing them all. And like last year, I also snagged some goodies, which of course, I intend to share. More on that a bit later this week... now for the images I snapped... this first batch was just in the hallway outside of the studio, amazing...

... and inside Denyse's Studio (I tried not to snap pictures of people grabbing amazing deals on beautiful quilts, last year I got a look from a little girl that told me that was creepy)...

...and those last two are of a quilt I thought about either snatching and running off with (the eighteen flights of stairs and a criminal record prevented me from doing so) or buying it with the tuition money for the classes I am taking in the spring (that was harder to convince myself out of than it should have been!) I ended up just staring at it... for a long time, it's gorgeous, no? So what did I end up buying? This...

... a stack of digital sample yardage from the upcoming release of Flea Market Fancy... a line I love, and just missed when I first started to sew. I'm more than excited about its release. So here's how this little stack became mine. At 10:00 when the doors opened a local photographer got a little pushy and wanted to take some photos of Denyse... so the doors were opened and I took that moment to scan... I saw dots on a little cart near the kitchen (which also had amazing little cupcakes for us... the shoppers) and decided to go there first... no elbows, no sprinting, I just walked over and picked this little bundle up. I then gave it to Rob to hold, who delighted in putting it down everywhere to fake yawn, sneeze... clearly someone was there to tease. Denyse, who checked me out (so cool!) said that she had to use the digital printing to create some of the sample items as she too is down to scraps of the line. I know all about that. Anyway, though it is a digital printing, I'm excited to be using the pieces in little projects here and there. And I hope you are too... today I'm going to cut little bundles of the sample pack (some of the pieces are quite large) and give them away on the blog later this week as a little Thanksgiving for a reprint, the end of stormy weather (for the time being), the start of the holiday season and most importantly for the readers who frequent this little space here. I'm always amazed at how patient and caring you all are... so have some Flea Market Fancy before it's released... just don't wash it! Happy weekend and I'm off to cut. 

scenes from around here

I've been away from this space for far too long, but to be honest, grad work and an inert sewing machine are not so interesting! It occurred to me today that I haven't sewn a single stitch in weeks... though the itch to pick up some new fabric (hello lovelies!) and dream of projects is providing some needed distractions. I'm loving Suzuko Koseki's new (and old prints) and that sweet little red and white print was purchased in bulk... I love it. I've also fallen for Lecien's line of stripes, I should have fallen for them before competing the quilt top of my strips and bricks quilt... which has yet to be backed. Ahem. Maybe I'm just waiting for some Flea Market Fancy to back it... ha! 

In other news, we've had our first fire, I've had my first sinus infection (which I ignored long enough for it to become an inner ear infection and seriously unpleasant) loaded hundreds of cut pieces of wood into a truck and brought it down to the wood shed. The front stoop is bedecked and very autumnal looking indeed. Kylie is spending much time in the sun and around her favorite loves. I'm loving fall, just hopeful that things will slow down and return to a pace more suitable for crafting and creating. 

So it's back to the book for me today, with little glimpses of fall color in between... with kleenex and a sweet little one curled up beside me, what more could a girl need? Happy Fall!