Gehring Road

etsy finds... more bright and cheery

Vintage Zucchi Towel from Call Me Jasper Etsy Shop

Is it just me or is this year flying by? I honestly can't believe it is mid-February already and have absolutely no recollection of January... at all. I'm anxious for things to move at this pace for a bit however, the return of my free time and creative time is something I will celebrate much more than a degree or lack of tuition payments when this year is over. I have a beautifully short week, ending with a field trip (only two kids this time) to head to a Poetry workshop. These poetry recitation enthusiasts are doing some great work for the arts and I have the privilege of accompanying my student (who won for our school... yay!) and the runner up to a workshop. Friday begins a very, very short (but much needed) winter break, and I actually have a night off from my Tuesday class after this week. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel my friends. Just a few more months. In the spirit of bright and cheery thoughts, here are some etsy finds I've been oogling...

Coral Dresser/Sideboard from Poppyseed Living Etsy Shop

Antique Sticktite Grease Pail from 86 Home Etsy Shop

Original French La Poste Cast Iron Mailbox from Rue Des Louves Etsy Shop

Vintage 1960s Dansk Turquoise Creamer from North Star Vintage Etsy Shop

Welcome to the Lake Sign from Signs of Vintage Etsy Shop 

Vintage Dairy Box from Bella Lulu Etsy Shop

Orange Painted School Desk from Wannanea Etsy Shop

Hand printed golden yellow bird brolly fabric from Sarah Waterhouse Etsy Shop 

Vintage Gooseneck Red Metal Electric Desk Lamp from Fishbone Deco Etsy Shop 

 

Other than copious amounts of work (that I've been squeezing in all times of the day) and much period film watching (I was given the second season of Downton Abbey around Christmas time, have watched and loved Great Expectations and Birdsong) I'm trying to fit a teeny bit of sewing in... at least to balance out the fabric acquisitions... it isn't going well! The amazing work that is being done by others right now is super inspiring... I need a few more hours in the day, don't you think? My Flickr Favorites are here... this girl sure does know how to oogle! 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!

today there was sewing!

Hello there from bronchitis land! I have the full blown version, Rob seems to have bronchitis light. It really isn't fun and consists of coughing, little sleep and congestion that feels a lot like someone standing on my chest cavity. Go away, bronchitis! I carved a bit of sewing time out of the day today anyway. Following Jenni's pattern, I made "The Everything Bag" with the small bit of Ruby Star Shining I picked up and Alexander Henry Heath from my red stash. I used ribbon for the pulls because I wanted this quick project to be even faster in the making. I love the pattern and know it will be a go-to bag for many things. So fun! Then there was napping... and coughing... mostly coughing.

I wasn't going to mention this here for fear of the world thinking I'm insane but since we're speaking of coughing, in the wee hours of this morning (hello 3 am coughing fit) after watching Project Runway and trying not to wake a sleeping Rob, I searched the web in desperation for a fix for persistent coughing and found... Vicks on the feet. Have you heard of this? Literally hundreds of sites and testimonials where people put Vicks on the bottoms of their feet, covered them with socks... and slept, finally. I'm a little embarrassed to say, I tried it... and it worked! I have no idea why it worked, I really didn't even care why it did, I just wanted some relief! I tell you... in five minutes, my incessant (breaks of 30 seconds at most for hours) coughing was almost non-existent and has been much less even today. I know, crazy... but next time you're battling a night-time coughing fit give it a go. I'm off to Vicks my feet and not ashamed... sort of. Happy (and healthy) weekend to you! 

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! 

etsy finds... bright and cheery

Peacock, Flowers and Bunting Plate from Nina in Vorm Etsy Shop

Hi there! It's been a while, I know... my days have looked hectic, chaotic and a little crazy as of late. I'm feeling a little under everything if that helps to explain... under the weather (I feel like the beginnings of the flu have arrived as of yesterday... remind me next year to get a flu shot!), under water (with work and class and class and work), under-rested and under whelmed with all of it. Sewing has grinded to a halt, though the fabric spying and etsy spying have not. Hey, every now and then some brightness and cheer are in order. Here are some Etsy bright spots...

Vintage Apples Crate from Bellalulu Etsy Shop 

Sunshine Yellow Storage Tin from Sweet Love Vintage Etsy Shop (warning, you can't snag this... I did! What a tease!)

Moth Made from Vintage Fabric from Mister Finch Etsy Shop

Refurbished Retro Yellow Electric Fan from Fishbone Deco Etsy Shop 

La Belle et Le Bete Print from Rob Hodgson Etsy Shop 

McKee Range Shakers from Broadley Street Etsy Shop

Vintage Rustic Metal Kitchen Scale from Haven Vintage Etsy Shop

Happy little bits of Etsy goodness no? My bright spots this week have been coffee, a guy that will drive head long into a raging winter storm and then sit in a library while I have class for four hours and a sweet little lady who looks crazy with happiness when I finally get home. Sweet indeed, I tell you. Less than a year is the current ETA on my Master's degree... which I have successfully put off finishing for a looong time. I'm feeling happy to be meeting some interesting and dedicated individuals in my classes, but a little sadness for the absolute lack of free-time for the next few months. There is a bright lining... I foresee a period of intense appreciation and intense creativity when my life returns to normal. Important lessons in the midst of it all, I like that... and coffee, I like that too. I hope your January has been productive, filled with bright spots and... your own! See you soon! J

loft evolution

I kept holding off on sharing some of the changes I made to the loft over break (one whole day, several episodes of streaming Great Expectations later... even my fabric was re-folded and organized) because there are several works in progress and it's a little messy. My thinking was I could continue to wait or just snap away... a sewing room is supposed to be a little chaotic, that means it's well loved. There's been a bit of an evolution to this loft of mine. And if you've been here for a while, you know it is the sunniest part of the house... I'm terribly lucky. That sun doesn't always love my books however, and so I moved my books to the opposite wall with my sewing and crafting book. I get to look at it while I'm sewing... a bonus indeed. I created one large working area with my sewing and cutting tables now facing each other. I love this. My inspiration board is a little bare, and I'm contemplating a return of my thread organizer to the wall, but that will probably come after some paint... or wallpaper? I know I'm stalking that wallpaper, it's a problem. So that lovely little spot is where I'm hanging out these days when I have some time... a huge stack of flannel arrived (I fell in love with flannel after Rob's blanket) and I'm currently making a cozy blanket for these coolish winter days (Saturday was 61!). I'm loving changes in weather and changes in the organization of our home equally these days. Change is very, very good. Happy Monday! 

holiday handmades 2 :: felted wool blanket for my guy

I was sewing this secret project for Rob in the weeks leading up to Christmas and actually pieced it and prepared the back while he was busy making his famous triple-chocolate cookies (they're so, so good and really deserve a post all their own but are never around long enough to photograph... seriously, I've happily scalded my tongue on multiple occasions for those little loves) so... the pictures of this blanket are making me hungry! Anywho, I've had my eye on the lovely felted wool bundles from Mary Flanagan I first spotted at Purl Soho, and finally snatched them up when thinking about something warm, cozy and a little manly (if I do say so myself), for my guy. This blanket is so incredibly warm. I trimmed the pieces to 12.5'' x 15'', sewed them together using my walking foot, added a layer of batting and backed it with flannel. I decided to turn it on point and tie the corners and I just love the way it looks. I won't love how it will launder (this one will go to the cleaners each and every time), but this slightly lavish and loved blanket will keep my love warm and cozy through the winter months...and I'm sure I'll find him napping with our four legged one under it soon... and I love that more than I can tell you. Happy weekend friends, have a lovely start to this week! 

snap snap

image at google.com

Did you google today? I love this one... Hope you are finding reasons to smile this weekend! 

holiday handmades 1 :: the snow globes

The very second that I mentioned that I was not interested in making things this holiday, my mind began to turn and inspiration hit... kind of hard... that's just how it goes sometimes. I found myself drooling over Anthropologie's Mason Jar Snow globes after a trip in to see what was new (I should never go in there... ever... I really can't be trusted) but had a little sticker shock when I saw they were $30 (now on sale for $7.00 go figure!). I then began prowling the internet for tutorials and found many... my favorite though is here. So I had to make them for this year's favor... here's what I did...

I used mason jars we had around from our jelly making and canning adventures, found some sweet figurines (one special to each guest) in themed tubes at Joann's, ordered small sisal trees online (big mistake... more on that in a second), used snow-village glitter/snow, and found distilled water and glycerin at CVS (did you know that CVS employs a personal shopper to help you find things during the holiday season? They do. She was a savior!). A few notes, I probably wouldn't use mason jars again... the band made it impossible to see the figurines once they were glued to the bottom of the lid. Martha used baby food jars which made much more sense... that's why she's Martha and I am a High School English teacher. Next time. 

Rob cut out these pieces of wood from left over trim we had to make everything higher and more visible in the snow globe. I used epoxy glue (keep the windows open when using that stuff!) to glue everything down. I would next time use sand paper to get a bit more traction with the lid.

... Rob got a husky (they're big around here you see)

              

...Chip got a big red barn because he and Rob's mom have the most beautiful red barn... 

... Rob's mom got a sweet doe...

... and I got Big Ben (score!)...

The process and some notes:

* use baby food or pasta sauce jars for a better result (you won't need the wood inserts!)

* sand paper will scruff up the bottom allowing a better seal between the lid and anything glued

* notice I've masked the final products in dark light... well, my (very, very inexpensive) trees lost their color making everything a little green... everyone was sweet and said they loved them anyway... I would test the sisal trees first, maybe pretreating them in some water prior to gluing them on... Chip's had one tree and therefore much less green everywhere

* After gluing down things to the lid, I allowed the glue to set for 24 hours. This didn't keep Rob's from coming unglued which was a bummer but I learned a great deal from his green mouthed husky globe. Next, I filled the jars with distilled water and two or three drops of glycerin (this is to keep the snow from falling too quickly). 

* I added just a few teaspoons of snow to the water/glycerin mixture but I really love the way glitter looks in them and will get some next time instead of the snow.

* screwing on the lids was a little messy... I added a little water and experimented with the snow globes after the first one... less water is better and makes for a better seal.

 

I really loved how this little favor was easy to make and personalized for each of our guests. They loved them and were fun to play with during dinner! I would never discourage anyone from making these, they were super easy and hopefully my little surprises (tree discoloring, glue un-gluing) are helpful in someone else's process. I've added the snow globes to the How To section at the banner for easy viewing and referencing... and no, your eyes don't deceive you, they're a little green (or blue...the husky is looking a little blue these days), and I love them, flaws and all.