Gehring Road

single girl stashing

I've added some really small bits of a few (ahem...) prints to my stash for my "Single Girl" Quilt. The irony is that I'm a little bit of a single girl right now myself, Rob is away for work... but don't feel badly for him, he's discovered Top Pots (hand forged doughnuts, that I'm told again, and again, and again are really amazing) which you can ONLY get in Seattle and has been partaking of their doughy goodness each day. Funny how when Rob's away he consumes more doughnuts and I consume more fabric. Anyway, I'm loving those fabrics and thinking that middle circular print (Lecien, Sweet Broderie) might be really lovely as a backing fabric. I also bought some really gorgeous Lace Elements (in gold and um... pearl... eek this is starting to sound like a fabric bender!). Luckily I only need a FQ of each for my quilt... I'm making a twin. I'll put all fabric information on Flickr. Fabrics were bought at Hawthorne Threads, PurlSoho and Etsy. 

I am taking an advancement course on motivation to read which will constitute the bulk of my weekend.  When I'm not getting fired up over the dangers of an unbalanced curriculum geared towards results on state testing and therefore killing a love of reading and learning (sigh...), I'll be removing the lovely boulder sized chunks of snow bank that the plow-elves have left at the bottom of our formerly clean driveway. Oh, some sewing is absolutely in the plan for tomorrow... I wish you a lovely weekend.  

this moment :: window out... finally

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! 

bright spot

 Craspedia Cluster from Floredelsol Etsy Shop

I'm still here! What's kept me? Well, the snow... sigh... oh, the snow. What was forecasted to be 6-10 inches of new stuff turned into 20 today. In the past days that I've been away from this space, we've had four storms and three snow days.  Turn those into sew-days I said to myself... ha! Today turned into a stress ridden day instead. Rob was needed back in Seattle for work and he headed out yesterday to avoid getting stuck here in the snow... again, we thought maybe 8 inches, no problem.  I woke up this morning to snow on the window sill... always a bad sign.  With the two feet of packed snow and ice on the roof... said roof began grumbling (a weird settling sound) showing seams in places there shouldn't be seams (very different seams than I had planned for the day, I tell you) and some scary nail heads began to peep out and say hello. We were saved for the time being by the ingenuity of Rob's mom and her husband Chip who rigged up the most fantastic roof rake (they're sold out everywhere around here).  I suggested we set up a small business selling these on Etsy, Chip's arms after the whole process was over told him it wasn't worth it. I will be happy to see Spring... and Rob.

In other news... since I completely missed the start of the Blogger's Block-a-palooza, I'm actually thinking of using that yellow-tan-blue stack to join a different quilt along - a support group for a pattern I've been putting off for oh, say, two years.  The Single Girl Quilt Along is starting in a few weeks and I'm thinking it might be perfect for that pretty stack, and an inspiration to start that darn quilt... with all it's hand cutting.  And how wonderful is Katie who developed a paper piecing method that seems well, so much easier. When feeling in my fingers returns and the snow-blower callous disappears I think I'll give it a go.  

For those with a morbid curiosity, more snow photos exist here... and if you know someone (besides me!) in CT send them some love... they need it! The snow people, the snow! Happy Thursday... 

i love this monday...

This Monday finds me padding around the loft, not finishing projects but starting new ones... eek.  It's not my fault.  First, I caught wind of the Blogger's Block-a-palooza quilt along - two different blocks each week hosted by some of my favorite blogs. The group is using a Sweetwater for Moda set of fabrics, but I've decided to use some from my stash. Then, I've found myself running into that cream-mustard yellow-blue - grey combination lately and fell in love. I had to use it.  The Workroom's Karyn posted her stack a few weeks ago... love, and Megan who blogs here is working with the same combination for a swap. How do I get some of that blue pez I ask you... gorgeous. So I grabbed some favorites from my own stash and it does feel like Spring to me, which the Block-a-palooza celebrates... as will I.  I like fabric piles better than the piles we've been dealing with here.  Until the quilt along gets underway, I'll be hunkered down and working on my Hop, Skip and Jump quilt.  I love days just like this. I hope you are finding similar inspirations and as much joy in today. 

the one where I didn't blog about the snow...

The sun actually did come out after Wednesday's storm... and so did I, eventually.  Our school was actually open the next day, though I wasn't there... I was chipping and hauling the three foot bank of slush, ice and mud left at the bottom of our recently cleared driveway.  I have little recollection of where all that snow went... anywhere I could put it. I've discovered that I also have a block when it comes to writing about the events of those days... I took hundreds of pictures... some video... and they're here if you have a curiosity to see overwhelming piles and banks of snow. I have trouble summing it up... Rob away, using a snowblower to get through thirty plus inches of snow, starting the snowblower with the aid of said Rob who was across the country in Seattle, the unrelenting wind, the fear of the power lines coming down, the unbelievable cold, kind of sums it up.  I was outside to shovel/plow/clear at least ten times... that barely kept up with the snow.  We spent a few hours on Saturday cleaning up the lessons learned during my snow blowing.  I have bruises.  Tomorrow sounds like it might be another... accompanied by ice.  I will sew tomorrow, not (as I did on Wednesday read nervously, tend the fire and make a very bad batch of chili) glance out the window worried and incredulous. I will glance outside and wonder at this time of year, but the Rob is home and that truly does make it (and a lot of things) so much better.  I have reached my weather related posts quota my friends, let's hope Connecticut gets a breather!  Here are some images from that day...

etsy finds tuesday... bright

 Sew in Love Print from A Life Through the Lens Etsy Shop 

Just when I think the snow removal is behind me for a bit... Winter Storm "Benedict" threatens with 15-20'' of snow expected... sigh. At least it looks like I'll be home snug as a bug in a loft with my little lady at my side tomorrow.  I'm thinking pajama pants, sewing, a roaring fire, more period films and watching the snow while lingering over some tea at say, 10 am... delicious. All this white has me dreaming of color though... here's what I've been peaking at, not at 10 am and not at work... ahem. 

  Off to See the World Wall Art from Three Red Apples Etsy Shop 

 Salmon Sweets Silver Earrings from Lilyja Etsy Shop 

Refurbished Vintage GE Fan from Fishbone Deco Etsy Shop

 Complete Set of 1962 Seattle World's Fair Frosted Tumblers from The Fancy Lamb Etsy Shop

 Berry Bowl Colander (perfect for cherries!) from Cheryl Wolff Etsy Shop

 High Tide Enamel Post Earrings from Verre Encore Etsy Shop

Scandinavian Style Screen Printed Cushion Cover from Jane Foster Etsy Shop

 Vintage Souvenir Tammis Keefe Central Park Handkerchief from EG Vintage Etsy Shop 

Some brights in the midst of what promises to be a bit of grey, a lot of white, and plenty of sore back! Is it snowing where you are? Don't tell me if it's sunny and anything over 50 degrees... I prefer to deny such weather exists! Then again, if it was sunny and 50, my Wednesday would be oh so different and oh so less filled with glorious sewing... there's always silver lining... and a silver snow-blower gassed and ready! Let it snow!

new

Little bits of fabric have been making their way into the stash the past few days, luckily there is a project in mind for each.  I'm feeling like my machine might need to be tuned up (I've never taken it in as it has never been a problem) I've heard recommendations of doing that once a year... eek. Now might be the time, almost two years later to give the Bernina a little day of going over, though I suspect it might be longer than a few days to get it serviced. Anyway... onto the fabric...

My fabric for our bedroom quilt arrived (I'm still loving Hope Valley), after much hullaballoo. Needless to say, I had the most disappointing experience with one of the Fabric sellers I until very lately recommended here on my very own blog. The fabric arrived regardless and I've decided the half-square triangle quilt will be lovely. Kona Charcoal will be used on the other halves of the triangles...

... the fabric for the Hop, Skip and Jump quilt that was part of my crafty resolution arrived also with some really beautiful Kona solids to match (I think they are Navy and Windsor). Yes, they are Liberty Prints, and yes, they are only fat quarters, and yes, I'm in love with them... but determined to use them. My excuse for this purchase was when I decided to make a Navy version of Denyse's pattern I found I had one Navy colored piece of fabric in my Linen cabinet.  I know, hard to believe considering my fabric habit but true! I never buy dark blue fabric... orange and grey fabric is another story! So I bought a very, very small bit of those Navy prints and they will be used in their entirety in the quilt. Imagine that! The quilt will be something we will love in the living room and something we will also use. That pretty floral print is one I found on Etsy and is a digital print so I'll wash it before using it... cross your fingers.  

Today I've worked a bit on my bird mobile, watched more episodes of Downton Abbey than I care admit to and got my pattern pieces cut (at a 400% enlarging) for the navy blue quilt. Ready to cut into those Liberty Prints...almost... why is that so hard?!? Happy weekend to you... see you Monday.

comfort

New Year's Day Cherry Pie... it was as good as it looks...

Rob is away for work.  It is January in New England.  Yesterday we had the last of two different storms in twenty-four hours roll through.  This morning's (second solo) snow removal was accompanied by an angry North wind.  I couldn't help thinking, as I cleared the driveway and dodged that mean wind, that it would be impossibly wonderful to curl up in the house in front of the fire and forget the snow, forget the need to leave the house at all... with a piece of Rob's cherry pie.  Comfort. The cherry pie Rob made for New Year's day at my parents' is long gone, but apparently not forgotten... feast your eyes...

... that filling goodness was piping hot when the picture was snapped.  If I didn't need my fingers for work, I would have gladly suffered the third degree burns to taste it when it surfaced from the oven. So good.  What's not good... the weather. This is the punishing time of year when the wind blown snow that one is currently shoveling takes aim at the few inches of exposed skin and just pummels... that brings out the complainer in me.  I look to creature comforts... oh pie, how we miss you... to get through. Rob's Cherry Pie was a recipe from our favorite Cook's Illustrated. In the meantime, we wait patiently for our pie maker to make his way home, watch episodes of Pushing Daisies on Netflix (watching shows in part about pies might be torture, but so is shoveling so it's in season) while taking pictures of the most beautiful snow... from inside the house... 

... Kylie (who has been glued to my side since she saw Rob leave the house - suitcase in hand) and I wish you a very comfort filled weekend, and a lovely start to the week! I'm off to sew some, and rest my aching back... I'm lift-from-the-knees challenged. 

for the birds

Progress continues on the new bird mobile I have in mind for the loft... I loved this version made by Anthropologie designers for a baby shower, mostly the amazing trims and lace that was added.  Though the slightly cranky ladies at my local Joann's had no idea what I was talking about when I asked if they had "lace applique that looks like wings" I did find some lovely doilies there that might work.  My birds have been made and are just waiting for some adornments, and stuffing.  Right now they look a little creepy hanging out unstuffed and immobile on my sewing table.  You see, I don't love birds... we don't always get along.  My students will tell you.  Two seconds after stepping off the bus on a field-trip to New York City a swarm of pigeons decided to buzz the group of teachers (mostly me) I was standing with. I also had a flock of birds fly into my classroom early in the morning during my second year of teaching.  I silently screamed and crawled out of the room.  Now we have screens.  Something about the flapping I think.  Which is why lovely bird shaped softies made out of Liberty and Flea Market Fancy are just up my alley.  Back to the birds.  Happy Monday to you.