Gehring Road

the first thirty

 My Project 365 is here. 

Thirty days in, and still going with this year's Project 365. I'm loving the photo-journaling aspect of this year's photo a day challenge, and it is a lovely little way of taking stock at the end of the day, or a few days later as it turns out most often, ahem, of the intricacies that made up my day. Sometimes things seem a little sunnier with some introspection and distance, and certainly that has been true of my journaling. So far, so good... though I typically lose steam in February and March. This year has been pretty easy, so far. I haven't suddenly remembered to take a picture at midnight or forgotten one entirely yet... yet. This has really just become routine. I'd like to remember to bring my camera with me more often than I do... I think that's just another habit and routine I'll have to develop. In the meantime, watch my project unfold on Flickr, and if you're playing along, I'd love to follow along! Happy Wednesday to you and yours. We're expecting wild weather here tonight, we're hunkered down and ready for what comes. Here's hoping you are also safe and warm. 

preoccupation

Do I have several quilts that need finishing, piecing, binding and quilting, well, yes, yes I do. Did I resolve to be better in this new year about finishing projects once begun, well, yes, yes I did. And yet, I cannot get this photo and those colors out of my head. It's a lovely preoccupation as it turns out. I purchased a few a whole bunch of solids from Pink Chalk Fabrics (I love their selection of solids) after giving my color cards a good workout. I'm so glad I have them. 

I haven't totally committed to one pattern yet for this stack. Sometimes I think, vintage squares:

Image found here and on Pinterest...all over Pinterest.

Sometimes, I think just strips with some neutrals thrown in. Sometimes, I think log cabin (because I don't already have a log cabin in progress, do I?). Sometimes I think crosses, like those on the cover of Modern Log Cabins. Hmm... this appears to be my favorite plan, for today at least. Maybe small crosses, mixed with bigger ones. Hmm... see, preoccupied I tell you.

Image found here 

I had a brief, split second feeling I should be doing something round, like the inspiration photo. That was promptly nixed when I considered sewing in the round. Shudder. Any favorites? Anyway, I'm loving where the fabric pulls and purchases are taking me, which is just fine for now. I've got a few projects that need finishing. Just a few. Happy Monday to you! 

true love.

It's a little early for Valentine's love, but there is so much love coming from this little one lately. A true love story if you will. My goodness did she miss her guy while he was away this week. She spent the ten minutes Rob was outside on Saturday tracking his every move. When he is safely inside, she was content to curl up in her favorite spot... about six inches from the wood stove, snuggled in what formerly was my sweater. She scratched at it, rolled on it, and claimed it as her own. Nothing like a layer of cashmere to keep you warm in front of a blasting wood stove in the sun, no less. This little lady certainly knows what she likes. 

It was exam week for us which means there was absolutely no sewing this week at all. Fabric buying and arriving (just when Rob came home, of course!) happened, but sewing was just not in the cards. Correcting was. Battling a slice of mean at work also crawled into my Friday. I like sewing better. Happy weekend, I hope yours was full of much love, warmth and light. 

today's work

I gave myself a bit of time today to cut and dye cut the fabrics for my ode to Semiology quilt. Thinking that my 4'' by 7/8ths dye cutter would somehow give me blocks measuring 3'' is something I will chalk up to lack of coffee. I'll be retooling the plan for this quilt as I go! Oy. The cutting has been made so much easier by my dye cutter, it truly is a beautiful thing. I've been cutting strips just a half inch bigger than the dye cutter on top and bottom, leaving just a quarter of an inch wiggle room to decrease the amount of waste. So far, so good. I underestimated the fabric needed for the background and have opted for a different green. That should read, I bought more fabric. I'm hoping they get here before the weekend and that our wonderful post woman doesn't wonder why there are packages of fabric arriving here again. Oy again. Here's a bit about my day:

Today I...

:: woke up early to bring Rob to the airport, it is always difficult but this morning's sunrise made me grateful to be awake and appreciative of the moment.

:: listened with wonder and hope at the words of an amazing leader.

:: filled the wood stove three times... before 3 pm.

:: watched the clouds roll in and the flakes begin again.

:: didn't make it into school and certainly didn't correct as many papers as I should.

:: thought a great deal about my family.

:: cut fabric too short... twice.

:: cut fabric too long... once.

:: watched the most amazing sunrise and listened to this poet speak about that very sunrise.

:: watched the ending of Project Runway and was amazed at the talent of those designers.

:: felt proud of this great nation.

:: thought a great deal about Martin Luther King.

:: went and grabbed that cup of coffee, at 3 pm.

:: wondered if that will keep me awake this evening.

:: decided if awake, dye cutting fabric is a safe and easy way to pass the hours. 

:: found joy in the smallest things... especially the four legged ones.

 

Wishing you joy this week, happy Monday everyone! 

color

 Fabric images from Hawthorne Threads, SewFreshFabrics on Etsy and Pink Chalk Fabrics 

Yes, this color combination continues to occupy more space than they should in my thoughts. I have some beautfiul solids on the way to compliment some of the fabrics I pulled. I think it should be really beautiful...eventually. I'm thinking of hexagons for this color combination. I have no idea why. Someone posted this really fantastic tutorial from Tallgrass Prarie Studio on pinterest, which of course is a sign that I should go with it. Speaking of reading the signs, have you seen Silver Linings Playbook yet? We saw it last night and loved it. So great. See it if you haven't, really lovely story beautifully acted. I'm off to see some of our students in a production of The Crucible today at the town's children's theater with some friends today. I'm so excited for them! Lovely way to start this long weekend... I hope you are enjoying yours! 

snow day

Yesterday was lovely. Not very much snow at all, especially for seasoned New Englanders, but the timing of the storm (just before the morning commute) allowed for a snow day. I have mixed feelings about snow days, in general I'd rather have days off in June than January, but this one seemed much more necessary than most. I had so many things that I wanted to do... grade papers, sew, do some laundry... but instead, I watched Anna Karenina, took many shots of the snow, rested with Kylie and just relished the day. It was just what I needed. I headed back into work today ready to take on the end of the week. So perfect. Just tomorrow and then another long weekend for me. Perfect for catching up on some of those things that didn't happen yesterday. Today I'm still enjoying the snow, looking forward to butternut squash soup for dinner and most certainly looking forward to this weekend ahead. Happy Thursday everyone!

inspired

 Images from Apartment Therapy 

I can't stop looking at this photo from Apartment Therapy that just found its way onto my Pinterest board. The colors are amazing and just begging to be a quilt, no? I had some time today, (thank you snow day gods!) and pulled some fabrics for something that I hope will be in the works quite soon. I have a few changes to make and some tweaking of the prints, but I think I might be on to something. Lovely to be inspired. 

Happy Wednesday everyone, I hope you are similarly inspired, rested and enjoying this lovely day!

anna progress

I've made some progress on my Anna Karenina log cabin quilt, here and there. I have fourteen of twenty blocks made, my sashing fabric chosen and my backing fabric (bought on sale!) ready to go. Though I'm anxious for this top to come together, I think I'll miss the making of this quilt. I know I've said it many times, but the method I'm using to make those log cabins makes the process of pulling these blocks together so much easier, and truly enjoyable. How about that new bookcase as a design wall? Some washi tape and I'm set! It is very nice to peer over and see which combinations I've used and which prints I've over used (Anna Maria Horner feathers in orange, ahem). I need to find a space for a design wall in the future. We're expecting a bit of snow tomorrow. Not much, but the timing (just before dawn) of its arrival makes things interesting for school tomorrow. You know where to find me if the snow gods smile on us, though you might just know where to find me if they don't. Keep your fingers crossed! Happy Tuesday! 

to Boston

We spent the most wonderful Saturday in Boston. We're always so surprised at how close the city really is, just about an hour from home. It was so, so much fun. Rob's mom and her husband Chip gifted us with Blue Man Group tickets for Christmas. We sat front row center and if you've seen the Blue Man Group, you know what that means! We were peppered with banana, paint and Cap'n'Crunch, and we loved it! I was given a flower from a Blue Man during the performance. Rob ducked during the worst of the onslaught and the man behind him was hit full in the face with banana. It was very funny and both rows laughed and laughed. Before we went to the show, we had time to stop by one of my very favorite fabric and yarn stores, Gather Here in Cambridge. I bought plenty of Lizzy House's Constellations to make some new pajamas for myself (they are badly needed) and Rob who will wear them because I made them... I think ;) The store was extremely busy with Saturday knitter's brunch. It was a little difficult to move around in the store, but fun all the same! The fog never lifted and it was a little cold, but we loved walking around Boston, grabbing lunch at Quincy Market and Boston Common.

Sunday was relaxing though I had a lot of work to do. I took a break to buy and play with Adobe Lightroom. Indulge me with these crazy photo edits friends, I'm just beginning to learn how to edit my photos! Any feedback and tips about your photo taking adventures are incredibly welcome! For now, it is really trial and error with mostly error as it turns out! This Spring I have plans to take a few photography classes at our local community college. I know that will help. All of this is really in anticipation of buying a new camera before the summer. I have my eye on a beauty. Very exciting. This weekend was so lovely and full, just what we needed it seems. 

new stack love and love

I still have this absolutely beautiful quilt on the brain and my solids for it have finally arrived. I love how the fabrics are coming together. I have some narrowing down of plaids (I love that red plaid but might use the orange), and should probably figure out which background fabric will work best, but for now, I'm just happy to see it coming together in the planning stages. Even though I really should be finishing up the many other projects I have in the queue, so to speak, I'm really anxious to give my new AccuQuilt a whirl. Perfect excuse to start some flying geese. 

No sewing today though because we are off adventuring. Boston this time. We're so excited, especially considering Rob's been away for work and just got home this morning. There's loads of this happening as we ease into this exciting day...

Very good to be off on adventures with this guy. Happy weekend everyone!