Gehring Road

the state of the wips

All Works.In.Progress... le sigh

I'm in love with the fall. Just in love. We're delighting in all things apple, enjoyed a trip through the corn maze with my tiny neice and have been leaf peeping each time we venture out. The colder days and nights have seen our first fire in the wood stove, extra layers at night and best yet, new fabric and projects begun.

I find as I take stock as I always do in the fall that I am the master of starting projects. It's a great deal of cutting and sorting and planning and drawing and stitching and promptly abandoning. I blame Instagram and Pinterest mostly. I often begin projects in a hail of glory being moved after seeing the amazing work of our talented community. It's a vicious cycle, naturally. I find myself currently in a "too many ideas to get out" phase, while I'm also continuing to unearth and discover old projects that really deserve finishing. I'm sure, like many of you, I'm often torn between life and sewing. Here, I'm sometimes torn between finishing work for work (grading papers and writing emails and reading along with the kids around here) and leading a balanced life that keeps the body and mind nurished. It seems important to do both, this work and craft, yet the sewing side of my life is often put on hold or neglected completly. My goal this school year is to give myself, even on weekdays (says the exhausted teacher on her day off, ahem), a few precious moments of sewing. Setting even smaller goals has been really helpful the past few weeks as I've started this little challenge. A block a day, an unfinished "just needs to be baseted, quilted and binded" project a month, one drawer of scraps organized here and there... and I'm amazed at how fulfilling this type of reconnection with the things I love most really is. So important this balance I'm finding... even if I allow myself to begin things wholly new and unexpected. As cliche as it can be, it truly is the journey that seems to be more important than the destination right now. I hope you too are finding balance, delighting in the new and old as we make our way through fall. I just love this line from The Great Gatsby "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." And it just does, doesn't it? 

back with a finish

E's Far, Far Away Play-mat... Tied and Squishy

Well, to say that life has gotten a bit complicated and this year has gotten away from me would be a bit of an understatement, really. My last post was in December, goodness. But life in all of its joys and struggles really had us on a bit of a roller coaster this year to say the least. Most importantly and happily, I became an auntie to the most wonderful tiny girl and the happiest baby one could wish for in December. Magic I tell you.

The feet...oh the feet

We've spent some really precious moments together over the past few months when I've been able to travel to Nevada to see her and I miss this little lady quite horribly at the moment. It is certainly fun being an Auntie. Tiny ladies come with needs for tiny clothes and quilted things so the making for this sweet girl has been incredibly fun. Just this week I finished a play-mat, as our girl is on the move and beginning to figure out rolls and crawls. Here's how the making of this play-mat went...

There was definitely a bit of summer brain happening with this one... I cut things short, wrong, missed the ties (it has ties on the bottom so it can be rolled and packed), forgot a layer of batting (we needed this nice and lofty for our girl) and even tied it on top at first... not so baby safe! But all is well and I'm really pleased with how it came together. Rainbow ties and all. After we planned this quilt in February I saw Heather has created a similar mat to coincide with the launch of the new Far Far Away line. Great minds think alike.

So, this version is off to Reno (I wish I was packed and going with it!) while I prepare myself emotionally for a school year that is just a few weeks away. To say this last year was difficult professionally is really an understatement. Hug your teacher friends, they need it! In the meantime, while I breathe into paper bags and have first day stress dreams, loads of sewing is actually happening and I'm so excited to be back in this space sharing that with you! Looking forward to a few weeks of making... and breathing, and planning, and blogging! Happy Wednesday! 

quilt obsession

 The Jack Quilt from Flail of the Flair Etsy Shop 

I'm itching to start another project... a bit strange considering something new was begun, oh, the day before yesterday, but there it is. This Union Jack Quilt was something I happened on while innocently pinning other things I have very little time for. I love it, and of course, I'm thinking of using my beloved Liberty. Just what this girl needs. 

Actually, what I need is a plan to finish some projects that have been put off for years a while. I'll show you what I mean in a year-end wrap up post. Until then... enjoy this weekend. Happy Saturday friends, I hope you are feeling as inspired as we are! 

into the new year

I began a new project yesterday. It is certainly one I've been anticipating for a while, one that has been on my to-do list, pinterest page and even my desktop for a while. It seems to be part of a flurry of sewing going on here. The list does get longer and the days home to accomplish those projects a bit longer. Oh, how I do love vacation. Until those days finally do dwindle and it is back to reality, I have the rest of this year to sew, sip tea and contemplate the new year. I hope it is one filled with sewing. Happy Friday! 

slightly belated happy holidays

A very happy holidays to you... we're enjoying a quiet, relaxed and lovely little holiday here. Today there will be hot chocolate and some sewing. Perfection. I hope you are enjoying these days, and all is very merry and bright. 

happy happy thanksgiving!

From our little family to yours... Happiest of Thanksgivings! 

into the loft... an update and a bit of a story

When I tell you (often!) that I am the luckiest lady that there ever has been, I truly, truly mean it. I am incredibly lucky to have the most beautiful, warm, sunny spot in our home to create and reflect. This evolving space I have come to love used to be Rob's office before I moved in. And what a story that was... my moving here. The apartment I was living in when we met suddenly and horrifically began to leak and flood during any rainy weather... and that summer just happened to be one of the rainiest on record. These frequent floods led to a significant mold issue that my landlords cured with paint and industrial dryers. I was often times unable to be in my apartment. When I became panicked about my books, my belongings and my life, Rob suggested bringing everything I loved to a space he loved and making it a space we both could love together. Though it was early days in our relationship, he offered the very best he could give me, making room where he could (even giving up his huge closet!) to make me happy during one of the most difficult times in my life. I have not stopped feeling lucky for so many reasons since. I think about that foundation our relationship is built on every time I'm in my loft, my creative space. It is, my favorite place to be for those reasons. 

So, I am lucky to have found the sweetest and most generous man, and that really should be enough... however, I won big with this man of mine in that not only is he the sweetest and most generous... he's also an incredibly chef, extremely patient, turns a blind eye to the many fabric packages that he intercepts throughout his days working from home and he's super handy. So this sweet, generous man not only painted that perpetually beige wall in my loft the perfect shade of Chocolat teal (Benjamin Moore's Newburg Green for those playing along at home) while I was shopping the Denyse Schmidt Sample Sale, he didn't bat an eyelash when I also requested a giant (3'x8' ahem) pegboard for my tools and sewing supplies... framed with trim... but not the trim we already have for the windows he's replaced (see, told you he's patient).

I just love the results... not as much as I love the man who made my vision come to fruition, but pretty close... Here's what we did...

...before...

 

....during....

...more during (I'm in love with the color, truly)...

 

...and after!... 

 

 

I love how this little project came out, it has changed the way I work in and use this beautiful (and much loved) space of mine. The pegboard came together quickly and easily and I'm so glad we decided to use a smaller trim. Originally I considered a mahogany stain on 4'' trim, but the darkness scared me a bit as did the extra use-able space I would lose from such big trim. The white just pops in the space (which we can see from our living room) and is one of my favorite elements. 

... a few things moved around, a few things have stayed the same... 

And so like a good wine and an even better relationship, this loft keeps evolving and if I do say so, darn near perfect-ing. I love it so. Thank you, thank you Honey! I love you so. 

 

Here's a list of where to find a few things from this post...

* Yellow and blue hooks purchased from Anthropologie (a while ago) 

* Pegboard and trim from Lowes

* Pegboard accessories (metallic) from Lowes (they came in a kit) 

* Pegboard accessories (teal blue) from Diamond Life 

* White file drawer is from Ikea

* Clock was an Etsy find 

* Bowls are from Anthropolgie 

* Ladder was a Brimfield score

* Glass Jars with lids from Stonewall Kitchen

 

improv quilting workshop

 My blocks from Denyse Schmidt's Improve Quilting Class 

Oh goodness, I had the most wonderful Saturday... covered in thread, fully inspired, learning, laughing with a great group of women and taught by Denyse Schmidt. Let's back up just a bit. Last week, I happened to notice that Denyse would be teaching a class at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell. Lowell has a special place in our hearts, Rob used to live there and we both love this sweet and eclectic city. The workshops were sold out but I emailed to have my name placed on the wait list and just this Thursday I received word that a last minute cancellation meant I could attend. I am one lucky lady, I tell you. So just yesterday we packed sewing machine, tools, rulers and mats and headed up for a workshop that I have been dreaming of taking for many, many years.

If you ever have the opportunity to take a class with Denyse, do! There are spots available for her April workshop! The Improv Worshop is all about process, letting go of traditional and expected and delighting in the making. It was about using what is on hand, experimenting and enjoying the moments of creation. It was so incredibly liberating, inspirational and I just didn't want to leave. We spent the day learning Denyse's process. Making blocks as we went... 

We were asked to bring a quarter yard of our favorite fabric and of course, I couldn't choose so I brought five or six different options. The very first pull of fabric from Denyse's stash was gray bouquet, so I saw that as a bit of serendipity and used it in the second half of our day. I love the results. These blocks will be a quilt all by themselves. I'm thinking of scattering them on a really lovely solid and love the idea of having the quilt as a memento of the day. Pretty wonderful. 

So I've left Denyse's class completely inspired and in love with sewing again... my cutting board is filled with prints and ideas... 

... just as it should be. Happy Weekend everyone, I hope it is treating you just as well! 

happy halloween!

We're celebrating the fact that this is first time in three years that this guy isn't just a light source. We have power, candy and trick-o-treaters. Yay! Happy Halloween... hope it's spooky! 

a bit of everything

This particular school year is testing me... my patience, my resolve, my abilities... just everything really. In the midst of it, I'm learning a great deal about my will and about perspective. So far, I've discovered that taking joy in the little things is essential... it's food for the spirit. Also, that apple pie martinis are really lovely. Back to perspective though. I've been treating myself to little bits of fabric, books that I find and love, a really expensive cup of coffee from an out-of-the-way stop in the morning... it just helps. With that in mind, I saw this beautiful bit of fabric at MissMatatabi's Etsy Shop. It's Nesshome's Feedsack Flower Pattern panel and contains eight different prints on each... just a bit of everything as it turns out. It couldn't be more different than the x plus Field Study blocks that I've been working my way through... a really nice change as it is. Some sewing with my growing stash of Japanese fabrics is in order. Sewing might just be the very best food for the soul... Happy Tuesday everyone!