Gehring Road

a sunny stack and a promise

 Southwest Sunset Bundle (top) from Pink Castle Fabrics 

It has been just two weeks since the tragic events at the Boston Marathon injured and changed the lives of so many. And while these horrific events threatened to cause us to question so many facets of human nature, they have in actuality, reminded us of the very best of the human spirit. The will to help others is alive and well weeks and days later, as it was in the moments following those blasts. In our own sewing community, there are several efforts getting underway just now. I wanted to bring them to this space as well. 

The Boston Modern Quilt Guild is looking for sewists to make quilt blocks that they will sew together, making quilts for victims and families. Blocks should be yellow, grey, blue and white, the colors of the Boston Marathon. Natalie of Greenleaf Goods put together the most lovely stack as inspiration for those who are interested in making some blocks. I just love this idea and will be making some blocks today. 

Quilt guilds from around the globe, including The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild have also organized a beautiful campaign, "To Boston With Love". Sewists from around the world can create flags to be sent to Boston. The Flickr Group has more details (including mailing instructions). 

I'm in, who's with me? Happy weekend everyone! 

it's a great british sewing bee!

 Image found here 

My goodness, I've found myself in TV heaven lately. I'm not talking about the return of Mad Men, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead or Vikings (does that seem like a lot? ;) ) all of which we watch religiously... typically on Mondays because someone (that's me) had trouble staying up past 8:30 pm in (her) old age. No, this is an even better kind of viewing. Quite recently, Rob happened upon the sweetest little reality show and what's best... it's filled with sewing challenges! The BBC starting airing Great British Sewing Bee (episodes and fun projects here in the UK or here to watch on YouTube in the US) this month. The contestants take part in lovely little sewing challenges and have acess to fabrics, notions and other embellishments to complete them. They made simple skirts, children's clothing and just this week some structured jackets. Play spot the Liberty fabric while watching! I've been loving just about everything that contestant Lauren has been making and really the charm comes in watching each of them sip tea while sewing (sometimes even barefoot!). Very British, very funny, very lovely little show. Have you watched it? You should, with tea and snuggled up in some Liberty! Happy Monday, everyone! 

this weekend

Much to do this weekend... the end of vacation means, for me, attending to things that I've put off and meant to take care of during this too short week. It's laundry, grading, putting in comments for the end of term, preparing for the week ahead and adjusting to life in reality. And yet, it's also much peeking outside... to see Rob working away at the wood pile for the coming (oh, too soon) fall and winter seasons, to see the forsythia in all of its glory, to wonder back at that sweet little redish/pink bird the likes we've never seen around our feeder. This weekend has been lovely... curtains have been re-hung, plans have been made for sewing, new sewing tools have been bought and placed in their spots in the loft, Miss Kylie has found the sun, I fell in love with ranunculus... again. And these days have me thinking (with much anticipation!) about the coming summer... the projects that will be started and (hopefully) finished, the spying that will be done through open windows, the adventures that will be had during those beautiful days that are all my own. Soon, soon. Happy weekend everyone! 

a new make up bag for me

I was able to finish my new make up bag this week, I love how this one turned out. These colors have been in my mind for a while now and it was really great to work with a few of them. I should not start projects so late in the evening as my patchwork is a little wonky as a result of some rushed cutting (hello, orange feathers, I'm looking at you) which I tried to compensate for when sewing. I used Noodlehead's Tutorial (I just love this and it's free!) to make up this up in the large size. I added a 2.5'' strip of Kona Ash to the bottom and a 2'' strip of the same at the top of the outer fabric panels. This allowed the bottom (when gusseted/boxed cornered) to be a solid color, which I really love. The zipper was bought at Joann's and was in my stash, I love how it works with the lining fabric. Speaking of lining, I used Pellon fusible fleece (#987f) for each of the pouches I have made so far and I love the weight and feeling it gives to the fabric. Those making this pouch without boxed corners will find that Kindles are covered well in the Small size (like the cover I made for my mom for Christmas... I should really hijack that and take some photos of it!). And the medium is probably a perfect size for most make-up/lunch bags. So many options for this and I love how Anna also included some ideas for contrasting strips as well. Great pattern. Happy Weekend everyone! 

geese progression

Piecing of the flying geese needed for this quilt project is finally, at last, thank heavens complete. More on the geese here and here if you're interested... much complaining in those posts, but truly this has been a labor of love. The cutting was a breeze, thankfully! But the piecing, oh the piecing. Three hundred and ten blocks meaning each needed two wings. Many period films kept me company (as did that sweet lady in the sun!) through the piecing and I suspect they will again when I tackle the ironing... soonish. My ironing board became too much to stand while making my way through the first round of wing ironing (and steaming, and pressing, and steaming) and I finally just went ahead and purchased a new one from Target. It's a Threshold model and is super wide, great so far! Happy Fridgrades and correcting tomorrow. Such is life! Happy Friday everyone, hope your weekend is off to a good one! 

while at Gather Here

On Monday, at Gather Here, I picked up some really lovely new fabric. My excuse to make the trip up to Cambridge (which is really only an hour and twenty minutes from us) was to buy some yardage for a new dress. Have you seen this beauty of a pattern from April Rhodes? It's called The Staple Dress and I can't wait to make a few of these. They look perfect for work (with a bit of a lining possibly), especially during the coming warmer weeks. I bought some of that lovely Liberty Lifestyle Stile in Lowke Spice for my first attempt. I'm goingt to try a mock-up in some muslin before I crack into my new fabric, though the fabric looks pretty easy, I'm waffling between sizes and styles. April has included many modifications for this project which is so lovely. I'll keep you posted! My second stop on my excursion was at Mike's Pastry. My poor father has been struggling with a nasty case of pneumonia and I decided to swing by to pick him (and us) up a few pick me ups. They've come in very handy this week. We're finding comfort in sewing projects, the beautiful weather we've had so far this vacation week and our small lady...

A smile and an... interesting face. Levity and light is good. I hope you are all well and comforted by those around you. Happy Thursday everyone, be kind to one another! 

with love, for Boston

I spent the most beautiful day in Boston... picking out fabrics at Gather Here, laughing with those sweet ladies at the shop before heading into the city to pick up some cannolis from Mike's for my under the weather dad. Heading back to my car, it was emergency vehicles and first responders streaming to help those in need, far from where I was in the North End. I'm humbled by their bravery and so sad for this great city. Our thoughts are with you Boston. 

sunday stashing

I can't say I've had the best weekend... it has been a bit confusing, sad and all around wrong. My silver lining are those two loves in that last shot. That sweet photo was quick and just perfect that other day, I love it so much I created a black and white version in Lightroom. It makes my heart melt, that does. Besides my two loves, there has been some amazing visits from our mail carrier this week. She brought a delightful package of Liberty (eep!) fat eighths and Bloomsbury "Charlston Farmhouse" yardage from Dry Goods Designs. I love their unique fabrics, they are quickly becomming one of my favorite go to fabric stores online. And then... my fat quarter bundle of Anna Maria Horner's Field Study Linen arrived from Westwood Acres in record time (I love quick shipping, but like when my packages arrive spaced more apart so it looks like I have less of a habit than I clearly do!). All in all, a very, very good week for fabric. Now if things would look up in all areas, I'd be a very happy lady. Happy weekend everyone, back tomorrow. 

just a few changes

Just a few technical changes here on the blog mostly having to do with organization. New buttons are on the right side of the blog, see them hanging out over there? I really love the color, which will match a new banner soon-ish! I found them here, if you're interested. Some of you might use BlogLovin or Google Reader (not for long, unfortunately but there are some alternatives) to keep track of blogs, so far, I've just used bookmarks which is... much less efficient than some of the Blog-keeping programs out there. I very, very recently started using BlogLovin and you can find me here, if you'd like to follow this little blog of mine... I love how streamlined the look is:  

...much, much better than Safari bookmarks... that I sent me into a panic during the great computer "erase the hard drive" debacle of last summer. So much easier. 

And further jumping into the 21st century... finally... I am also on Instagram. Taking very, very bad photos of (mostly Kylie) but also dinners and of course, the fabric that comes to our door in the mail. I don't yet have an iPhone, which might account for my less than stellar photos. I just recently bought an iPod touch, mostly to hold my music while I complete a Run to 10K program this Spring and Summer. I'm surprised at how much I love it (both the iPod and the running!). It is really perfect for the time being, and is just what I need. 

Hope you enjoy these little tiny changes around these parts... I have some fabric to show you a bit later (it was a perfectly wonderful mail week I tell you!) and my vacation has begun... I love vacation. Happy Sunday everyone. 

steamy

 Jen Kingwell's Steam Punk Quilt Pattern from Shop in the Making Etsy Shop

Goodness, I've fallen very hard for this quilt pattern. Innocently prowling Flickr this morning, I happened upon Jeannette's beautiful stack and pattern (she blogged about it here). Amy mentioned a quilt along and I contemplated bribing someone to send me the pattern from Australia... until I found it available in an Etsy Shop owned by a fellow American! Phew. I love, love, love this pattern. It's absolutely the perfect answer to my what to do with that stack dilemma. I really wanted something round, and I really wanted rings around the roundess to mimic the inital inspiration. This pattern is really perfect for what I had in mind, it's serendipity I tell you. It is very unlikely that I will begin this beauty until the summer, which is just fine for the time being. Another reason to look forward to my beloved vacation... I just can't wait. Happy Wednesday everyone!