Gehring Road

etsy finds tuesday... christmas decorating

Love Joy Peace Bitty Holiday Gift Tags from Fresh Lemon Blossoms Etsy Shop

We're full into the decorating and holiday making here.  I'm trying to find the Santa Mugs my mother always put out and frankly scared me a bit when I was a little girl... now I'm loving that vintage (did I just call something from my childhood vintage?!?) long lost little guy, if we can find him.  I think he might be the start of a little slightly creepy "Santamug" collection... We're trying to keep these holidays as low-key and enjoyable as possible so things are making their way into the house bit by bit.  In the meantime, the bit by bit has me forgetting have three boxes of Christmas-y goodness that needs to be put up and thinking there's room for more... hmm... anyway, here's what I'd buy for early trimming... if I was in the buying things to decorate mood... 

Bollywood Ornaments from MereMere Etsy Shop

Small Bird Eco-Friendly Christmas Ornament from Recycled Parts Etsy Shop

2011 Organic Wreath Letterpress Calendar from Bryankring Etsy Shop

Merry Merry Merry Christmas Burlap Pillow from Ramona Owen Designs Etsy Shop

Farmhouse Garland Advent Calendar Kit from Oh Hello Magpie Etsy Shop

Stadium Wool Throw from AM Radio Etsy Shop 

I'm loving plaid for the holiday... I think this little number would be very sweet on a table or as a runner. You know, if you were looking for that kind of thing. Our tree is a Norway Spruce this year, it's really beautiful and I'm looking for some excuses to keep it as is... maybe some lights and few ornaments.  It's just lovely as it is. Loving this low-key holiday season... I think it's the way to go. Back to the decorating...

the here and now...

I so loved our holiday this year, I hope you did as well... it took me a full week to upload these images, I thought it might take me a full week to move after our Thanksgiving dinner, but alas, the pie beckoned and motivated surprisingly soon.  Some scenes from our day...                                                                

... I left out the table with all of the food on it, simply because the very thought of it makes my stomach seize... we had too much food, but such a lovely, lovely day. I also left out the possible Wii injuries - we didn't take pictures of those. What did make the cut...the felt garland made for a really lovely ceiling, the cranberry-orange relish is not something I love... but made and my guy seems to enjoy it in his morning oatmeal so it's a winner, we had lovely flowers, a fantastic chiffon pie and a sweet lady who showed her gratitude in snuggles... everyone got some. That turkey pot pie is, I think, the perfect solution to 12 lbs of left over turkey, and we're enjoying it while putting up the Christmas tree.  I love this time of year.  Happy beginning to the holiday season! 

happy thanksgiving

Wishing you plenty of joy and sweet things around your table today... Happy Thanksgiving! 

etsy finds tuesday

Vintage Kids Table from Solstice Home Etsy Shop 

I'm so ready for the holidays this year... ready to decorate and enjoy every aspect of this season. This year we're most looking forward to the rest, relaxation and calm that come with the holidays (ok, not last holiday but most!), we're just settling in and enjoying the joy that comes with this holiday season.  I love that our festivities are kind of paired down, we're planning on spending it with those we love and my list of to-dos for the handmade portion of what we love has also been paired down.  I found I missed the feeling of the holidays by just trying to do too much... this year is being taken in stride.  It feels wonderful, sort of just like it should.  Some bits have been coming in to help deck the halls and relish the season... I love these little Etsy finds... 

Vintage Wooden Sleigh from bellalulu Etsy Shop 

Vintage Wooden Tool Caddy from BD Vintage Etsy Shop 

Red Stool Seat from Place Michel Etsy Shop

Mid Century Desk Lamp from Old Crow Farm Etsy Shop 

Tiny Scallop Clock from Uncommon Etsy Shop

 Banana Sting Ray Screen Printed Tea Towel from Tiny Peepers Etsy Shop

Retro Mix Felt Balls from HandbehgFELTS Etsy Shop 

Happy Tuesday friends, I hope you are enjoying each moment as we head towards the holiday season and that your preparations are bringing you as much joy as we're finding here. Back tomorrow...

i love mondays... the felt garland edition

I've been threatening to make a felt garland for a holiday for a while now... originally inspired by the multi-talented Molly from Purl Bee (that girl can do some serious things with felt I tell you), I had almost forgotten about my itch to make a garland o'felt until I saw this at Cluck Cluck Sew and there it was... I had to make a felt garland for our little Thanksgiving. So I grabbed a water bottle top, a Lipton Pure Leaf Iced Tea (love) top and a Vitamin water top (more love) and cut around them... with my Gingher dressmaker's sheers.  The pain by the end of that cutting is kind of indescribable... anyone go that route before? It was oh, so very bad.  And Rob refused to massage my thumb and pinky for some reason, which clearly made it worse. 

Anyway, a few stolen moments throughout the tough work week (who would have imagined that group research projects on Shakespeare would encite such drama in a pack of ninth grade girls... hmm... there's irony there, I know) and it has been sewn together.  It's kind of lovely.  

... my fingers ache just looking at that last one.  Felt was picked up at JoAnn's and I love that oatmeal colored one best.  Big unveiling will be at Thanksgiving.  Hope you are enjoying all of your preparations. Happy Monday friends! 

the state of gehring road and a winner... or two!

That one photo kind of sums up where I've been... and my reasons for the absolute abandonment of this blog.  The giveaway bag(s) are there as are a few swaps, fabric for this year's Thanksgiving place mats and napkins waiting to be cut, fabric squares cut for last quarter's bee (lateness...) and oh those scissors... did they get a work-out... more on that later.

So as a way to make up for my (I'd say forgetting, but it's more like falling asleep at 7:30 each night this week) lateness in picking a winner, I figured the only possible way to make it up to you is by choosing two! The Random Number Generator tells me they are...

#12 Brooke... what a fun thing!!! just lovely.. i would have been in heaven with all of those gorgeous quilts! and even seeing the one with her new line in it (that i've been questionable about), looks gorgeous! i'd love to win a scrap bag, since i am on a fabric buying freeze for the rest of the year ;) xoxo

and...

#15 Kaye... Gosh, I just would have loved to have been there too! I don't know how you possibly could have withstood buying one of the quilts!

I'll be in touch ladies!  As you're reading this post, I'm mulling around my loft tidying and getting ready to be crafty, how I love that.  Can't wait to share more of what I've been up to... In the meantime, here is more of the state of things around here...

... the state of Rob this Sunday, painting the trim now that he is the undisputed painting master here, behind him lies the state of the laundry... don't look...

...the state of the walls... Coventry Grey... how I love it... 

... well worth the drama... here, in case you missed it... the most lovely color grey...

    ...the state of the curtains... chosen, fabric purchased, arrived and waiting to be finished... I'm following this tutorial...

So that's where we are this weekend... looking forward to a lovely little Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday, a half day for me on Wednesday (pep rally in the morning though, send good thoughts) and plenty of things made for one of our favorite days of the year. I'm feeling thankful for your patience and for the day to fold fabric, gather surprises and see the new bedroom color in each change of the light.  Happy Weekend to you and yours. 

denyse schmidt studio sale... and a souvenir (giveaway!)

Quilts on display and for sale... I hugged my checkbook close when I saw that pinwheel one on the end...

So I traveled to Bridgeport today for Denyse Schmidt's studio sale... fun.  I was far too shy to take a picture of Denyse and Heather Ross who were chit chatting about the new fabric with a customer in the back when I saw them.  I sheepishly tried to snap pictures of everything... it was very busy, very filled with absolutely beautiful quilts for a steal ($500 quilts for $100) and tons of inspiration.  I came away with some scraps, and a few Denyse and Heather sightings.  All in all an excellent day. Here's what I saw...

...outside the studio, minutes before a man with an Aussie accent yelled 'go get 'em girls' when they invited us in, guess he thought it was one of those running of the brides moments...

...sweet stationary and a sweet little girl who kept eyeing me suspiciously... I was the only one snapping pictures of everything...

... quilts...

... and that light blue circle one was calling me...

... some Greenfield Hill in an old pattern, I think it's pretty...

...I bought some scrap bags... 

...which had some Hope Valley, Greenfield Hill and a wee bit of Flea Market Fancy in them... exciting!

... love these Greenfield Hill scraps... especially those flowered prints...

So I bought three bags of scraps (vintage fabric, Katie Jump Rope, Linen, Greenfield Hill, wee bit o' Flea Market Fancy) while I was in Denyse's absolutely beautiful studio.  Two I'm keeping but one is for you... well, one of you at least.  Leave a comment in the post (make sure to tell me how I can get in touch with you) and I'll choose a winner on Friday.  I love a souvenir! 

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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etsy finds tuesday :: lovely handmade things

Eco Friendly Christmas Calendar from Tuuni Etsy Shop

A little update... I'm nervously watching election results today... my break from this space has been as a result of nervously watching our little one as we navigate her "injury" and crazy-eyed boredom... Rob's away, only to come home for a few days and take off again.  Things, such as they are at the moment, are a bit in flux, but we're navigating (mostly this little lady and I) and doing our best to take things as they come. Trying to see the silver lining is really what we're up to. Silver lining: we have a new pet-sitter who has been wonderful (and may or may not have suggested the dog and I take an herbal relaxation supplement when she came to meet us... ha!) and truly helpful. One thing that hasn't abated is my relentless Etsy watching... I'm so ready for the holiday season.  Here are some lovely hand-made things I've been spying, and threatening to buy... silver lining: the UPS man is greeted by the dog and not Rob these days... 

8 This is for you to keep forever art from Pennyleavergreen Etsy Shop

Hand Printed Linen Cotton Accent Pillow from WildRosesGrow Etsy Shop

Vintage White and Oatmeal Fairisle Scarf from KnitFrekkles Etsy Shop

City Living Stiched Cityscape Canvas from LauraAmiss Etsy Shop

... back to the nervousness... hoping for some good news and a little silver lining on the election/Rob/bored JRT fronts... hoping this Tuesday finds you finding peace and joy where you can.