Gehring Road

on making x plus blocks

I've been having so much fun putting together the field study x plus blocks. The process is pretty simple and lends itself to chain piecing which is quite nice, many blocks can be constructed at once, once the fabrics have been chosen. The original tutorial for the x plus block was lovingly put together by Amy and can be found here. It is such a wonderful tutorial and I so appreciate her take on color as well. I love Amy's scrappy blocks as well as these and these... goodness those are lovely! I see more x plus blocks in the future, a scrappy version is a must do. Brenda posted measurements for a bigger version and the 12'' is what I am making. I'll make 36 blocks in total for this one.

I'm finding my Add a Quarter ruler super helpful for trimming the corners of the larger blocks. I'm also steaming my seams open, something I rarely do, but I've found things a bit easier this way. Watching these come together is such a treat and they are a joy to sew. I'm being torn away from the machine today to put a toe back in the proverbial school water... curriculum writing and a stop by my classroom to drop off a calendar and some supplies for the coming year. Yikes. Baby steps I say. Much to enjoy and experience until the new year begins. Until then, I'm rushing home. More blocks to make. Happy Tuesday everyone, I hope it is finding you doing what you love. 

love... again

I'm in love with sewing again, phew... After a stumble, I needed something to remind me of what I love most about this hobby of mine. And I am loving the process, the mess, the trimming, the piecing of x plus blocks today (totally inspired by this lovely quilt). I finished cutting fabrics today and just started playing around with some fabric combinations. Things matched, points pointed, seams look straight... phew. I have thirty six blocks to make, also (big sigh here) thirty six days left of summer vacation. Sounds like a fitting way to enjoy these last few weeks of these lovely days, no? I want to relish the process of the making of these blocks just as much as I'd love to relish these last (weep) summer days. Tomorrow's block sits next to my machine, ready for the making, ready to be put aside to finish some other projects and start other things anew. I love that about the creative process.

I'm also loving that sweet little lady Miss K who has been my constant companion during these days. She's happy to hang out in the sun listening to Pride and Prejudice (again) and the hum of my sewing machine (again!). I love being able to peek in on her during the day... oh summer, please linger! Happy Friday everyone, I hope it finds you staying cool and loving where life takes you these days. 

weekend work

This weekend was lovely... two days given (almost) totally to working on my Anna Karenina Quilt blocks. I love all six (six!) of them and really owe my speediness and excitement to this method of making log cabins. So fast, so enjoyable, just what a weekend spent sewing should be. To the right of my machine, I created a little seam steaming and trimming station, which was just perfect for this project. To the left of my machine, I have my trusty clementine box filled with fabrics. Each block has a bit of fabric uniquely (in my mind at least!) connected with this beautiful novel... scripted french writing, city block Liberty lawn, woodland scenes, bits of "lace", bold colors, beautiful geometric prints, even a moustache (Vronsky!) and some small mushrooms (Kitty!) will be hidden within these blocks. I began a board on Pinterest to gather some inspiration and have been using some of those color combinations in the images to create the blocks as I go. I love how it is coming together and am delighted with this quilt in the making. Very Russia, very Anna...so far. Happy Tuesday to you! 

little bits from the last few days...

My heart is very full... after a very anxious election night, I feel quite proud of this place I call home. Without getting political in this space (I save that for Twitter!) how lucky I feel each time I take part in this process. It truly is a powerful and wonderful thing.

Here, we are surprised with some snow... maybe a bit more than they imagined. I'm taking sanctuary from all that fluffy white in those beautiful and bright flowers picked up just this weekend. Those flowers are also quite happy. 

Another burst of color in the loft... I pulled some fabrics for my Anna Karenina quilt. Something's a bit off about that stack, maybe the lack of green? I'm going to stare at it a bit more and edit just a bit. Either way, log cabins are on the agenda for Monday. I'm loving Susan's method, makes so much sense! 

Lastly, Moda is graciously organizing blankets, quilts and other comforts for victims of Hurricane Sandy. It is unimaginable to me that not only are our neighbors here in the Northeast facing the loss of their homes, but the lack of power (during another storm) in November just adds insult to injury. Any help would be so incredibly appreciated. Sending good thoughts to those that continue to struggle and to you, I so hope this week finds you moved, proud, and as grateful as we are! Happy Wednesday!

something(s) new

No other sewing this weekend, just some planning... I've been looking for projects that are quick and fun, ones that I can walk away from and work on at (a sometimes maddeningly!) slow pace. The current schedule is dictating how much time is spent in the loft sewing, so projects have to be quick yet fun. My drawstring bag was the first of those quick little projects, and just the thing to remind me that balancing time means also budgeting time to do what I love. So far, so good. Right now, I'm starting some "granny square" blocks. I'm loving Jolene's (Blue Elephant Stitches) blog and work right now and just couldn't resist starting something new. Just the cutting of one block for now, to be joined by others... in time. My inspiration for these "granny squares" was found here, an absolutely beautiful crocheted granny square blanket by Wood and Wool Stool. It was something I pinned a while ago, and think it is just the perfect inspiration for these blocks I'm making. I'm using Kona Ash for the background and played around tonight with the idea of adding another ring of color, making the block a bit bigger. I really love the pace of this kind of creating, a good thing indeed.

Another really lovely thing arrived this weekend, my "bright and cheery" tin scored on Etsy. Love.

I'm having fun filling this sweet little addition to the loft with ribbons and buttons. Wishing you a lovely start to your week, hopefully it is filled with a little bright and cheery and much inspiration!

quilt obsession

I've had my copy of Material Obsession 2 for a long, long time now and placed a number of their gorgeous quilts on my long, long term crafty list of things to do (some of the designs beg for hand piecing and quilting which I would love to brave... um... someday... just not this day you see). That was until I caught of glimpse of the Erica's Honesty quilt from pictures of the Alewives booth at the Maine Quilt Show this past weekend (see Brooke's amazing haul and inspirational photos here). As one of the last quilts in the book, I guess I just missed it. It is simply amazing. Now, I'm quilt obsessed. 

So here's my thinking... I know, realistically, that these entirely unrealistic, unproductive and beautiful summer days are drawing to a close for this English teacher. It's August and in a mere few weeks it will be books and grading and this semester - grad classes complete with a bit of a commute. I'm ok with that... for now. So how to fit this lovely quilt into all that? My goal is one block a month... more next summer when I have this beautiful time to myself and my sewing all over again. So, we'll see how it goes. I know there will be months that fly by, life and work will become beautifully hectic and harried as they tend to do, but I think this little lovely project will be a reminder of these beautifully free days and the ones on the horizon. I think I'm more than ok with that.  Happy Monday! 

lots to update

Sunflowers from Buttonwood Farms... more from our flowery evening here

Despite being a bit quiet around here the past few days, things have been extremely productive in the loft... here's a peek...

... my Strips and Bricks are finally together and my fears of it looking crazy (as a result of some crazy and inaccurate cutting) were without cause. It's lovely and I'm so happy I didn't pull it apart, as planned. Turns out fabric stretches... things cut too small or too big eventually even out and all that worry was really for naught, as usual. Finishing and quilting will be leisurely and hopefully this week. Backing will be a simple Kona Ash (I love that grey) and I have an important decision to make about binding... 

... red or yellow? Thoughts? I'm leaning towards the yellow but I do that... As a result of getting these WIPs (works in progress for those who don't know) off of my ladder in the loft, I have room for some of my books to come out of hiding...

... and some beautiful apothecary jars made their way into the loft to hold, well, the world's most ridiculous collection of thread...

... really, someone should tackle me if I wander in to Joann's and head towards the Guetermann's... somehow now that I can see that I have plenty (as in a lifetime supply) of thread makes me unlikely to buy more, I think. 

 

I've even made some more progress on my bird mobile (I know right, January is calling, she wants you to finish a project). My plan to cut into some doilies was a failure which was just the excuse needed to stock up on some lovely appliques found on Etsy. Until then, I'm happily stuffing and button-ing birds while watching So You Think You Can Dance... love that show. 

So there's a bit of an update as to what we've been up to. I'm trying to relish these days of summer and not become overly focused on accomplishing the impossible. Organization is still the order of the day (ha!) and some simple sewing has been just the thing... how I love summer. Happy weekend to you and yours... I'll be thinking binding, leisurely... let me know what you think!  

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... 

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.  

a crafty resolution

 Credits for these amazing and inspirational images are here

Happy New Year to you and yours! I'm so looking forward to all that the new year has in store for us here on Gehring Road.  There promises to be some travel, plenty of joy and I'm determined that there should be more craftiness. My resolution (I rarely make them) is to find more balance and make more time for creative endeavors in life. I've decided to start this year off with a crafty-list of things to do, that will a reminder of things I'd like to accomplish and a way to keep track of what is being crossed off this list.  So here goes (from left to right)...

* (Added 6/11) I'm so inspired by this quilt... it's use of neutrals, it's carefree expression allowing the fabrics to be showcased. 

* Hop Skip and a Jump Quilt like this one... but I'm thinking Liberty Prints and blue. They are on their way. Here!

* I've seen so many fantastic Half-Square Triangle Quilts from really talented crafters on Flickr.  See here and here. I'm thinking this would be lovely in some Hope Valley (which I really need to snatch up more of before it disappears) and some Kona Coal or Charcoal. Hope Valley here! 

* Single Girl Quilt... a surprise, but loving the support group so I'm in! 

* I love these plus blocks from Amy and the absolutely stunning quilt she made with them.  They are high on my to-do list in 2011. 

* Must have courage and paint the back wall of the loft that insanely beautiful Clinton Brown.  It looks like suede... in a photo.  Oh Benjamin Moore, how you scare me.

* Must start finish a bird mobile with lace accents and amazing buttons for the loft.

* I adore a kalediscope quilt and the double wedding ring quilt that I've obsessed about for well over a year... I love the bold colors and so need to embrace some more pattern-mixing this year. 

* Need to find something to do with those selvedges. 

* Don't laugh... I'd like to learn to crochet.  Mostly because I want desperately to make a Granny afgan  with insanely lovely colors like this one. Luckily, I'm blessed with a talented 89 year old aunt who might take that daunting challenge of teaching these fingers to crochet properly on... ha! 

* I need to figure out a solution to the table dilemma. I love Dottie's sewing area... really her whole home. I'm coveting this ever since Brooke mentioned it. Don't tell Rob, we have spare tables and chairs all over this home of ours, and we try to pawn them off on anyone who enters. He also hates Ikea. Maybe just the re-assembly required when I purchase Ikea while he is away and assemble it incorrectly. Hmm...

* I love these appliqued houses and that hand-sewn mermaid.  I have to do more hand sewing and applique in the next year. 

* That pinwheel pillow... yum.  Really pillows in general are on my list for 2011.  I have to make some pillow cases and some accent pillows as well... hopefully for the new chair. 

* An orange quilt... you know it's going to include some grey.  But I'd love to take my amassed orange prints and sew up something as a lap quilt for me.

* On my crafty list of things to do is also the dreaded cathedral window.  I obsess over these on a shockingly frequent basis. They're perfect.  And the pink and grey... lovely.  I think some practice with these is really in order.

* I need to find some more vintage tins. I saw this one on Etsy, hesitated for a split second and you know my luck... Anyway, I need to take some of these home when Brimfield comes around again. 

* I love this pillow embroidered with titles made by Amy. Again, the hand sewing... I need to take that on this year.

* I'm looking forward to disassembling my Strips and Bricks quilt and finally quilting that beauty that currently sits on my ladder looking lovely... but would look even lovelier as a quilt and as it was designed to be.  Finishing projects I begin... a resolution for sure.

* I'd love to make a quilt just with Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks voile... something scrappy I think like this, but something that would make a squishy-soft quilt.  We're going to be overrun with quilts here I think.

* I'm loving this quilt, the bold but muted colors... and that hand stitching is amazing. 

***     ***     ***

So there is the start to my crafty list of things to do... I'm looking forward to adding to it as much as I'm looking forward to updating its progress.  A lovely little list that changes and reflects the current state of craftiness here in the loft.

Before I put this year and post to rest, I have a great deal to say thank you for.  The continued encouragement and inspiration I have found through the blogging and Flickr communities I've been lucky enough to be so warmly welcomed and accepted into has truly touched and nourished my soul.  I am amazed by the creativity I see on the blogs and in the crafty forums that are so part of my day and really my continued growth as a maker of things.  And to those that pop in on this space that I so love, I thank you for your supportive words and for simply checking in. Thank you, thank you.  From our little family to yours, we wish you much joy, much peace, and many happy days in this new year.  We'll see you on Monday!

- Jen, Rob and Kylie too!