Gehring Road

summer voiles... an update

That stack of voiles was cut into simple 6'' squares over the weekend and laid out on the floor in the loft just so. I love how this crazy patchwork is coming together. We're calling it the "gypsy quilt" for now but since we're big Hemlock Grove fans around here it is also the Rumancek quilt. I've stalled a bit in the making of this, I was anxious for it to come together quickly, but as the school year comes to a close, there are inevitably things that take my attention away from sewing over those precious weekend days... like this little one...

... and that's probably just as it should be. There's always next weekend, and here it comes! Happy Thursday everyone! 

back to Boston... with love

Rob and I were back to Boston this weekend. We spent a rainy and cold (49 degrees, yikes!) day having the just the best time walking around the city, supporting the runners finishing the race, celebrating our birthdays and trying (more on that in a bit) to see some of the "To Boston With Love" flags installed at the Museum of Fine Arts. We started with lunch at Jasper White's Summer Shack for lunch... I had crab legs and they were amazing. Rob had a creole dish that I didn't pay much attention to because I was elbow deep in delicious crab. He did say that he loved his as well. We also shared some strawberry shortcake and lots of laughs over lunch.

We then walked to Boylston Street to see the amazingly moving tributes to the victims of the marathon bombings. That day, runners had finished the race for those who couldn't despite the rain and chill. The memorial as well as the runners are such a testament to the spirit of the city and the strength of community. It was so powerful to see not only the sneakers left behind, but also the small messages and poems left from people around the world. It's so difficult to be at that spot and imagine what occurred there just a few short weeks ago. But the words of comfort, the tokens and momentos that fill that space (even small pieces of chimes which fill the air with the sweetest notes) make those spots a fitting tribute to the resilience of the spirit of all who were touched by that day. It is so moving and truly indescribable. If you have a chance to be near the city, do go.

We walked next up to the Museum of Fine Arts hoping to experience the flag installation. The line was around the block as it was free admission into the museum and many had come to see what I've heard is an absolutely powerful and beautiful show of support and love. There are some lovely photos of the flags here, if you haven't seen them. After waiting in line for a while, it was clear to us that we really wouldn't be able to make it into the museum, really take in the exhibit and make it home to attend to our sweet girl, so we reluctantly left with plans to return in the coming days. I can't wait.

On our way back to the T Station, we walked through The Public Garden. Tens of thousands of flags representing every fallen service person from Massachusetts from the Civil War to today were placed (by volunteers and members of the military) in the park. The flags and the sacrifice that each represents are completely overwhelming and so very beautiful.

This truly was such an emotional trip into our favorite city. It was so truly special and lovely taking time to head back to Boston a city we have oh so much love for. I hope your Memorial Day was special and spent with those you love! 

summer reading

All eyes to the summer... it's almost here! Our last day of school is June 21st this year. With all of the snowdays we had, it was pushed back from its original June 12th. Ouch. It certainly was one of those winters, but now, now we're in the homestretch and I begin to think about the time that is all my own, the projects that will be completed, the ones that will be started and left until next summer to be completed, ahem. I'm also in the process of getting my summer reads together, each is just a little unexpected and unusual. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope is high on my list and will probably be the first I venture into this summer. It has been getting some really fantastic reviews and has been much loved by people who have read it on Goodreads. Adam Hope is aparently not what he seems, I'm excited to see what the buzz is about this book. I try to read at least one classic over the summer and Henry Fielding's The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling might just be what I pick up this year. From what I know, the book is funny, a little bawdy and filled with social commentary. Certainly a little different from most classics I read, unusual in its subject matter, I'm hoping this lives up to my expectations. The River of No Return has also been getting some really fantastic reviews. Again, just a little bit unusual and unexpected, involving time travel, a bit of romance and some science fiction elements, the book looks to be interesting and a page turner. Shadow and Bone is one that was recommended by a student along with The Fault in Our Stars ("oh my god, you have to read it! It was like the best thing I've ever read" was how that coversation went) I'll decide between those two for my student read recommended reads. I try to read at least one YA book over the summer... last year it was the Divergent series which I liked, so do the kids. And lastly, I've had The Pigeon Pie Mystery on my to read shelf for a long, long time. The Washington Post says, "Cracking a Julia Stuart novel is like opening the door of an old-fashioned English tearoom. A bell tinkles merrily, and you enter a cozy world all the more inviting for being slightly claustrophobic." I'm looking forward to this sweet read... and Rob is least surprised of all that I would select a book with "pie" in the title. I do love pie.

I'll share my final selections and maybe some reviews in the coming days and weeks. I'm thinking of also creating a page for some of my very favorite reads. Do you have plans for some summer reading? I'd love to know what you are reading! If you happen to use Goodreads, stop in and say hello there also! 

summer voile

Some new fabrics and some sweet new scissors arrived today. I have a date with that stack and some geese this weekend. Summer is so close I can taste it and I'm so looking forward to having my days back to sew and create. Delicious. I've been hoarding collecting voiles for a bit now. I picked some up at Alewives during our Maine trip in April, and I picked up a few more at Franklin Mill Store on my birthday with a sweet gift card from my favorite guy. I wanted to add one or two more prints so I bought a very, very small bit of a few from Hawthorne Threads this week and am so glad I did. They really brighten up that stack. This will be a simple but eclectic patchwork quilt, that hopefully will be a quick little project. I'm going to back this one with voile as well and tie it at the corners. I'm needing something quick and (hopefully) easy. Perfect for a long weekend and a taste of summer... so, so close! Happy Wednesday everyone, I hope you are similarly finding the light at the end of the tunnel. 

brimfield and birthdays

I'm back in this space after far too long (the days have been getting away from me) a year older and just back from Brimfield! Yesterday was the fourth day of Spring Brimfield and just happened to be this lady's birthday. Rob patiently spent the day watching me comb my favorite vendors for some really lovely finds. This was the first time we had been to Brimfield on a Saturday, and I have to say, it wasn't nearly as crowded as we anticipated, even with the absolultely beautiful weather. We made it up very early and found that many of the vendors were looking to make some really amazing deals before the end of the show. I would certainly go back on the weekend again... but I would get there as early as possible.

We visited the shoe rack lady at May's, again, with the hopes of finding another shoerack. They seemed to be packed away for the end of the show and the vendors had just a few left. Needless to say, we didn't buy one. Our visit had us back at the buttons and ribbon spots I love to visit. The buttons, I'm told are only there in the Spring and Fall, they won't be back in July. But I had such a lovely time looking through the vintage fabrics and buttons in the area. The vintage textiles ladies have gathered (and mapped) their locations in the fields and have given themselves a name "vintage textile mafia"... ha ha! They really are the nicest group of ladies and they have everything from feedsacks, children's clothing and ribbon to vintage tablecloths and dishtowels. I'll upload their map for Brimfield in July. They are definitely worth a look.

So the haul! I did purchase a few yards of really lovely fabric and ribbons. We also scored that really lovely mirror from one of my favorite vendors (I bought this from them a few years ago). While there, I also bought a stool for the loft. I've long been thinking about a new set up for sewing and that sweet little teal stool is just perfect. We scoured for a new table to take the place of the one I've been using for a few years (it is headed back to Rob's Mom for use in her new shop!) and Rob spotted the perfect (but very blue!) table. He's in the process of stripping it already. I think it is just perfect and we got it for a steal. 

We've had four birthdays, two mother's days and an anniversary so far in May... busy, busy but blessed and really lovely. I'll be back with some more birthday love tomorrow. Happy Sunday everyone, if you're in the area, Brimfield comes again in July! 

blocks for boston

I had a few minutes this morning to pull together some blocks for Quilts for Boston. I used my new book to make these sweet tiny 6'' blocks. They were so much fun to make. They still need some sashing to make them 12.5'' and that will happen a bit later on in the weekend. I'm torn between sashing them in white or yellow. I'm also thinking of making a few more of these this weekend, trying some of the other blocks as well. I love, love, love the patterns in Tula's City Sampler and being able to help the efforts of this beautiful cause in the process makes the making that much sweeter. If you are in the area, Gather Here is hosting a sew-in on Mother's Day from 4-6:30 and Quilter's Way will be hosting a sewing session and quilt top assembly on May 22nd and 29th (those are Wednesdays) from 6-9. Happy Friday everyone, I hope it finds you loving many things today. 

the start of something new

Two things I'm loving this week. First, I can't stop snapping shots of those beautiful rannoculous flowers (more here!). See, told you. I've taken some on every window sill, in every corner of the house. Which usually leads me to believe every room should have its own little rannoculous in it. I've also lost a little steam when it comes to ironing my flying geese quilt. When I head up into the loft to iron it, I end up folding fabric and cleaning so you know it's pretty dire. I found that my make up bag project provided just the perfect distratction from those never ending geese, and I think those quick little projects are so important moving forward with a mammoth bigger one. So I bought Tula Pink's City Sampler book. I love a sampler project and can't wait to get stuck in. Six inch blocks, no templates or scary curves. Quick and simple seems like just the thing right now. I'm thinking mine will be in Anna Maria Horner... a little Field Study, some Good Folks mixed in. I'm going to follow the rainbow effect on this one. Really lovely. Speaking of rainbows... look what greeted us last week on my way to work (very unusual for that hour!) 

Happy Thursday everyone! 

so this was april

This was April, welcome May! Project 365 still going well... so far!