Gehring Road

bag update and other things

 On the cutting board now...

My "Take Flight Bag" from Amy Butler's Style Stitches is coming along, after some bumps along the way. The interfacing alone on this bag makes it a bit of a weapon... trust me we tried it. The pattern calls for a layer of Pellon's Peltex one sided interfacing with a layer of their Shape Flex over it (I love that stuff, I should buy stock). So some hefty interfacing and I loved the structure it gives to the bag... until... I turned it right side out which was a Herculean effort I'm glad no one was around to see. My knee got in on it, I'm quite sure at one point I was stepping on it, seams were taxed to their limits while I screamed "hold! hold!"... but the absolute assault performed on that poor bag created some massive wrinkling and puckering. Which I'll now spend days fussing over. Sigh.  Anyway, here she is...

 

...don't look too closely... it needs another dozen ironings! Here's the top and inside (no lining yet)...  

 

... that may or may not be the second zipper (Coats and Clarks Dark Silver) that I purchased after I may or may not have accidentally installed the zipper on the handle pieces instead of the top pieces... (sheepish!)...

 

The relative construction of the bag was pretty easy, I can definitely see myself making one again.  Next time, I'll use less interfacing and not such a light fabric (the bag is meant to have petals on it which would definitely hide some of the flaws in the process, but I chose to leave them out).  I'm thinking about using Anna Maria Horner's Volumes for the next time around... of course I am. Books on a bag is not too corny for an English teacher I've decided.  And I think the slate color would look fabulous as the handles and top. Off to finish up the lining and pocket panels for the bag... and give it another ironing... or two... ok, three's my limit. Happy Monday to you and yours.   

weekending

 

Farmer's Market Flowers  

We're finally getting some much needed rain here making our Sunday trip to the Farmer's Market kind of out of the question. Those flowers were brought home last week and one of my favorite things to do at the market is to pick through the latest flowers and make up a little bouquet for our table. Next week...

Rob is off to Denver for work this week, so that leaves me some time to get some things done around the house before work starts again... eek. This bachelorette pad will be all period films, fabric, online shopping and frantically getting work done on my new bag all the time. How we'll miss him. Hope you are enjoying your weekend and keeping those you love close... one way or another.  Back tomorrow! 

crushing

 Innocent Crush preview from Anna Maria Horner

And just like that, the new fabric is unveiled at the very height of my fabric buying hiatus... and I love them... and those seriously cute tights... and those are some pretty cute shoes. Sigh... at least they're not available until October... double sigh. Though I'll tell you, I hear that Innocent Crush will not only be available in voile but also velveteen, interesting and exciting. Anyway, Anna Maria Horner's fabric line will debut at Quilt Market in the fall, she'll have some more peaks on her blog... which I love. 

Another fabric line I just can't stop looking at is Denyse Schmidt's new line... Greenfield Hill (in Fairfield where I went to school, love that). What do you think?

 

 

 

   

Denyse describes the inspiration for the new line on her website. The blogs and groups have been alight with differing opinions on this line... I find that fascinating. I really like the new line, some prints are more in my comfort zone than others, but I always find that with Denyse's fabric. The prints are very Hudson Valley... they remind me of Sleepy Hollow.  Very fall, very New England... love that, and strangely am looking forward to that (sounds like stage 7 of back to work... acceptance, doesn't it?) I hope you are enjoying this week and very much looking forward to the weekend to come.  Happy Friday! 

i'm here... we're canning

We are in the trenches here... tomatoes everywhere! I should say this inundation is actually an absolute joy considering we haven't had tomatoes from the garden to can in years. Remember these?  They've transformed! So far, we've canned twelve quarts of tomatoes, simply peeled and mashed into jars for sauce... I can't tell you how excited I am about that.  And I will be as excited in February when we crack those fresh babies open! We still have dozens of tomatoes on the verge in the garden and a basketful on our table... bountiful harvest, love that. 

I thought I'd share my favorite tomato salad with you, that's it just up there, and it makes my mouth water looking at it. It's just a tomato (juicy is best), a peeled cucumber, fresh mozzarella, basil, some sea salt, pepper and a small bit of vinegar (on the side here, Rob hates vinegar). So tasty. Is 10:30 pm late for a tomato salad? Hmm...

In other news, the floor of my loft still looks like this... and oh, I just caught sight of the date on that post... two weeks ago... really? Anyway, as I began to piece together my Strips and Bricks quilt, I noticed the awfulness of the alignment... like 1/4 of an inch extra on some of my bricks. As I tried in vain to find some explanation (other than the obvious) for that extra-ness I thought, who cuts fabric like that? I guess I do. Who fixes a quilt gone awry? I do this week. After I finish this... carefully. 

sunday stash :: grey and orange

 

New fabrics (Alexander Henry's Farmdale and Amy Butler's Home Dec Solids) from Fabricworm

My very favorite color combination grey and orange is popping up everywhere I look these days... today it was in the form of orange leaves against the very grey and moody sky... I not so secretly love a moody day. 

Yesterday, it was this little guy kept me company while hanging clothes on the line on a beautifully un-moody day, though that face is a bit well, curious?

 

 

... he shares my philosophy on things, love his little peace sign. 

Yesterday also brought me some fabulous fabric... fabric with a purpose, I promise.  I made a bag last year (the same bag that nudged me toward my Bernina and for that I will be forever grateful), and though the bag has served me well, I'm not entirely happy with a few things about it. I'm not crazy about how it holds my papers, I hate the sheer quantity of papers it holds (tons I tell you) tempting me to bring home too much, and I don't like that the papers are exposed to the elements when I walk into school.  So a new bag it is...   

... this bag in fact from this book...   

... with this fabric... 

And right on time too, just a few days left to complete this sort of mammoth task... interfacing, zipper, stitching in the ditch (never tried that). What would summer be without a last-minute project? At least I get to admire these beauties while I'm trying out some new skills... and peak out the window as my bag takes shape and matches the new season.  Happy weekend! 

fabric lust

 

New Liberty 2010 Prints seen at True Up 

There is no "this moment" this week... I posted all of our weekly pictures yesterday and I'm out! So this post will just have to be about fabric, I guess! I should preface this by saying I'm not buying fabric right now... ok, well I did just purchase a wee bit of fabric for a new bag (that's a utilitarian purchase and therefore doesn't really count, yes?), a bit on that later... but in general I'm trying to knock down and give away some of the fabric that I have in my cabinet... mostly because there isn't another inch of room... ahem.  

But a girl can look can't she, yes indeed... and it just so happens that my fabric buying hiatus also comes on the heels of the debut of some really beautiful fabric, like that liberty print up top there, and oh do I love those orange flowers and could use just a small... almost off the wagon there. My fabric collection stash that needs to be used is really devoid of purple strangely enough and some of the prints I'm gravitating to are very purple. Here's what I'm loving right now...

 

La Mod Queen Anne in Purple, by Laura Ashley from Alewives Fabrics  

 

Esther Cameo by Michael Miller again from Alewives

 

Birdhouse by Troismiettes from Spoonflower

 

Joy Basket in Grape again from Alewives

... so those are my picks.  And you know, there is always the lining for my new more-on-that-later bag! We have a grim task to do today... Rob is in need of some new clothes (think he would mind some Liberty shirts in that lovely orange? Yes, I think so too)... so we're off to do shopping in "one location" and then hustle home to enjoy this lovely weather. If you have time, pop on over to Alewives (and a very good thing indeed that I do not live in Maine or I would be popping over Alewives a bit too much) I love their "Favorite Fabrics" sections... these ladies have an eye for some seriously beautiful fabrics.  A very happy Friday to you! 

the colors of summer

We've been taking a very brief wall color break to enjoy some of the colors of summer...  

 

... even more tomatoes from the garden, few of these actually make it into the house ...

 

... roses potted and loving the back deck...

 

... the most fragrant thing in the garden... our fennel...

   

... our most unexpected triumph, melon from the garden...

   

... pesto and fresh pasta, our latest obsession...

 

... an absolute bounty of cucumbers...

 

... corn from Connie and Chip's garden...

 

 

... light and the rosebud...

   

... eggplant that turned into the most amazing dinner...

 

... blueberries in pancakes, sometimes we have this for dinner... delicious...

As you know, I adore summer... as I adore color, even though the search for the perfect grey for the bedroom alludes me. Right now I'm in a mood to hang on to these last days of summer, I so wish the end of summer and transition into what is my very favorite time of year (fall in New England, it really is an experience) didn't have such negative connotations, but alas, it does for now.  I think this year needs to be an exploration into why that is and if it should be.  In the meantime, my preparations for the coming season have begun.  I just got my copy of Amy Butler's Style Stitches and of course, found a new bag that so needs to be made for the coming year. More on that soon.  In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying all that is around you and embracing all that is to come.  Happy Thursday to you! 

i love mondays

 "Vive La Tarte" Sewing Illustrations from Miyuki Sakai

I recently came across the work of Miyuki Sakai in the June issue of Martha Stewart Living (a bonus love, I love Martha) and I could simply not stop looking at these illustrated plates, they are simply breathtaking and it is impossible to imagine someone sewing the detail that exists on these works of art. Take a peek (a close peek!) at Miyuki's work, her portfolio is just as stunning as you suspect... 

 

 

   

 

...are you noticing a baked-good theme here? I thought you might. Yes I love a baked good. Anyway, Miyuki's work reminds me of Penny Leaver Green's amazing illustrations... and her recent absolutely beautiful heirloom quilt just completed. If someone bought that quilt for me I would love them forever. Really.  I would stare at it. Heaven.    

So we're back to I Love Mondays here on this blog... mostly because in a few short weeks Monday is going to be a very difficult reality... again. Sigh... In the meantime, I'm relishing the things I love, enjoying long hours in the loft, and watching things change all around me. I wish you a very lovely start to the week!

this moment

this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama. Happy Weekend!

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for the beginning sewist

Those of you who visit our photostream on Flickr might have noticed that recently, I've been taking many pictures of my loft, my creative space. I originally thought I might do a bit of a creative space tour here on the blog, mostly because the space has really transformed... really as my sewing has transformed right along with it.  The celebration of my blog's first year (and what a meagre celebration it was... more to come on that in a bit) has me thinking of evolution, transformation and the long road that has been my entry into this wonderful world of sewing. Blogs and the amazing creativity I've seen on the web have been such a part of that journey, I thought I'd leave a little something out there for the beginning sewist... things I wish I had known as I began very helter-skelter, very trial by fire (literally) which I think is almost the best way... dive right in, figure out what works for you, how you work and what feels right. I hope this post will be helpful in its own way... a simple guide to what I've found works for me and what I've picked up along the way. So, here we go...

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Books:

I thought I'd start with some of the books that I really couldn't do without.  Granted I have many, many sewing references... and I love them for their inspiration and imagination (I even did a little, ok big, book review last summer) some have been really exceptional in their teaching... which is always near and dear to me.

 

Ruth Singer's The Sewing Bible is a recent find, and I just love this book. Filled with techniques and how-tos, it really is the perfect starter book... or the perfect book for those that jumped right in and are now figuring out the easier way to do things... ahem.

 

 

And my old standby Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing... has sentimental meaning for me, Rob purchased this along with my first sewing machine (smart guy!) and the projects were accessible to my newbie skills... I keep coming back to this book. A good sign indeed...

 

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Tools and Organization (or lack thereof in my case)  

When I first started sewing I bought tons of brightly colored thread, to match each project. Now, I buy mostly thread in natural colors (whites, tans, greys) when they are on sale, and mostly Gutermann because my machine likes it. I use Polyester thread for piecing and 100% cotton thread for quilting.  I do buy colored thread but for top stitching projects only. 

 

... Fabric, oh fabric. Again, I used to buy several yards of fabric I liked, now I buy a small bit (or swap for small bits) that I love. Backing fabric still gets me... using yards of it gets spendy, so I try to use a solid or a fabric I have a lot of.  

 

My machine... what can I say... I love it. It has, even a year later, yet to cause me a problem. I love that it sews through just about anything, and that I can spend hours using it and enjoy every moment. When it comes to a machine, I think it has to be the right fit.  Having said that, I did learn an enormous amount about tension and simple sewing from my first machine... invaluable lessons really.

 

My machine came with a Patchwork foot (#57) that acts as a guide for the perfect 1/4 inch seam... as I was leaning about control and sewing, this was truly a life saver. I would recommend guides (though some people hate them) they were so helpful in my learning to sew...

 

I use a very big mat, very bit rotary cutter and very big ruler (5'') when cutting fabric.  I like that the mat allows me the ability to cut without moving the fabric.  The big ruler prevents me from having another rotary cutter vs finger experience. For that I am grateful. Be careful with those cutters! One more thing... my hot little MacBook which burns my legs on occasion, also does horrible things to cutting mats... just FYI, I keep a hot plate near the mat so that I can have my computer nearby to read patterns (or truth be told watch period films) while I'm working... this one is from Anthropologie.  

 

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Have I told you that I'm messy? Especially mid-project, cooking, correcting... things fly I tell you.  When living with another person who is more concerned about stepping on pins (I'm getting better at this Honey!) I've found that unconventional things work for my unconventional style... That bowl above hangs out on my sewing table.  A pin cushion works for some, I made one as a first project... but not for me. I know that looks deadly, but I'm really careful and I love that I can just throw pins and things in there as I'm sewing without really being distracted from the task at hand...sigh, there's probably a personality profile in this post somewhere...ahem. My philosophy, if everything has a place, it's tidy, therefore less messy. Things can be a bit untidy in their place... if that makes sense. 

 

I keep a crate of fabric that I'm using for projects I'm working on.  This again, allows me to be messy without being a wreck.  And that is unusually folded and orderly I tell you... underneath those folded bits is a mishmash of fabric scraps and bits that need to be put into scrap bins or re-folded... just not right now... I'm mid-project you see. 

 

... more organization (from Ikea)...

 

...even more...

 

... mid project (sometimes months later, ahem), I also love a hook to keep finished pieces nicely pressed and organized... again, the hook is from Anthropologie.

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Inspiration

I keep an inspiration board near my sewing table, right now it's a little empty but a lot of my inspiration is unpostable... on the board at least.  I have found fellow bloggers to be incredibly inspiring. Some of my favorites are always listed on my blog, but I should mention RedPepperQuilts, Soulemama, SewMamaSew, and OhFransson! (who has the most amazing free tutorials) as really special inspirations, each in their own way. I also used to throw away selvedges... until I saw this from Tallgrass Prarie Studio... now I keep them... someone once sent me an email asking if I would mail them to her when I posted that picture to Flickr... hmm... 

 

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 I know there will be other little bits of inspiration and new ways of doing things as my evolution as a sewist continues... and I love that. Until then, thank you for stopping in to share in this little journey and these little corners of our world, I'm so glad you're along for the ride!