Gehring Road

into the loft... an update and a bit of a story

When I tell you (often!) that I am the luckiest lady that there ever has been, I truly, truly mean it. I am incredibly lucky to have the most beautiful, warm, sunny spot in our home to create and reflect. This evolving space I have come to love used to be Rob's office before I moved in. And what a story that was... my moving here. The apartment I was living in when we met suddenly and horrifically began to leak and flood during any rainy weather... and that summer just happened to be one of the rainiest on record. These frequent floods led to a significant mold issue that my landlords cured with paint and industrial dryers. I was often times unable to be in my apartment. When I became panicked about my books, my belongings and my life, Rob suggested bringing everything I loved to a space he loved and making it a space we both could love together. Though it was early days in our relationship, he offered the very best he could give me, making room where he could (even giving up his huge closet!) to make me happy during one of the most difficult times in my life. I have not stopped feeling lucky for so many reasons since. I think about that foundation our relationship is built on every time I'm in my loft, my creative space. It is, my favorite place to be for those reasons. 

So, I am lucky to have found the sweetest and most generous man, and that really should be enough... however, I won big with this man of mine in that not only is he the sweetest and most generous... he's also an incredibly chef, extremely patient, turns a blind eye to the many fabric packages that he intercepts throughout his days working from home and he's super handy. So this sweet, generous man not only painted that perpetually beige wall in my loft the perfect shade of Chocolat teal (Benjamin Moore's Newburg Green for those playing along at home) while I was shopping the Denyse Schmidt Sample Sale, he didn't bat an eyelash when I also requested a giant (3'x8' ahem) pegboard for my tools and sewing supplies... framed with trim... but not the trim we already have for the windows he's replaced (see, told you he's patient).

I just love the results... not as much as I love the man who made my vision come to fruition, but pretty close... Here's what we did...

...before...

 

....during....

...more during (I'm in love with the color, truly)...

 

...and after!... 

 

 

I love how this little project came out, it has changed the way I work in and use this beautiful (and much loved) space of mine. The pegboard came together quickly and easily and I'm so glad we decided to use a smaller trim. Originally I considered a mahogany stain on 4'' trim, but the darkness scared me a bit as did the extra use-able space I would lose from such big trim. The white just pops in the space (which we can see from our living room) and is one of my favorite elements. 

... a few things moved around, a few things have stayed the same... 

And so like a good wine and an even better relationship, this loft keeps evolving and if I do say so, darn near perfect-ing. I love it so. Thank you, thank you Honey! I love you so. 

 

Here's a list of where to find a few things from this post...

* Yellow and blue hooks purchased from Anthropologie (a while ago) 

* Pegboard and trim from Lowes

* Pegboard accessories (metallic) from Lowes (they came in a kit) 

* Pegboard accessories (teal blue) from Diamond Life 

* White file drawer is from Ikea

* Clock was an Etsy find 

* Bowls are from Anthropolgie 

* Ladder was a Brimfield score

* Glass Jars with lids from Stonewall Kitchen

 

three things i love

I spent a bit of time over the weekend working on some x plus blocks for my quilt and decided to take my new Little House pins for a test drive. I love, love, love these pins. I'm convinced they are responsible for some amazingly accurate piecing on the blocks I finished over the weekend. I'm so happy with these little glass head pins. 

At first, I couldn't really justify spending a bit more for pins... I sew right over mine and though I've never had an issue, on occasion, they've bent as a result my laziness. I kept seeing Little House pins pop up in blogland (and promptly disappear) read some reviews on-line and decided to give them a go with another order I placed for thread. They're so great, and I'm so in love that I ordered another set. 

While I was thinking about coming here to profess my love for these little pins, I also thought about updating the post "to the beginning sewist" written a few years ago. While I don't quite have the time to do that just now, I have to share two other tools that I've grown to love and use while sewing. The first are my small scissors... I so love these. 

I bought mine a while back from Brooklyn General (it appears they are out of stock), a set of small scissors was not something I imagined was useful beyond embroidery. Since buying these little guys (which meet TSA guidelines), I've done everything from trim log cabin strips to snipping chain pieced rows for my x plus blocks. These stay right by my machine (some people like to keep them around their neck for easy use), and I absolutely find them a must have these days. 

Lastly, my Dritz Disappearing Ink Marking Pen is something I'm constantly picking up (when they're on sale) at JoAnns. I love the way this pen works. I'm often able to mark several lines before the disappearing begins making it perfect for quick chain piecing. It's also really fine, making my lines for my x plus blocks really accurate, always a fabulous thing. So, what are you loving in your sewing room lately? 

Happy Tuesday everyone! 

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 plans

I had big plans for the loft this weekend. Spring cleaning, some organizing, some folding... and not much happened. Instead, Rob and I spent a full weekend with friends and family, picking up new sheets and relaxing together. It was lovely. I did manage to organize some of my precut ("my precious") bundles into the bookcase that keeps on giving. There is just so much space in that bookcase and I love it. The space to the left of that beautifully organized case is about as disastrous as one could imagine. I'm messy when sewing and cutting. Really, really messy. All of the material from various projects (if you squint you can see this stack squashed in there) is wrangled in that mass of fabric. It needs folding. Badly. And yet, I don't feel so guilty that it was neglected this weekend. We had a lovely few days and it was just what we needed.There's always next weekend... or possibly tomorrow if this snow keeps up. Happy Monday everyone. 

into the loft

It's into the loft today here on the blog. Organizing and rearranging things in my creative space was one of the most important items ticked off my list during my vacation. Things needed to find cover (like my ironing board, ack! But, that will be for another day...), fabric needed to be folded and put away, and I desperately needed a bookcase. So, here's what was done...

A trip to Ikea, much hemming and hawing (of course) and I settled on the Hemnes bookcase with glass doors. We have a wood burning stove and often dust and soot from the fire settle on things I love, making them a little dusty. This cabinet was the perfect answer. I love it and it has so much space. Those beautiful brightly colored books are Mr. Boddington's Penguin Classics found at Anthropologie. A Christmas gift to me from me, I'm like that. That basket now holding my fabric hoard was found at Target, also something that I love, it's the perfect size for bolts and bigger cuts. 

On the other side of the wall, closest to the stairs and our bedroom, my fabric stash is still contained (mostly) in that linen cabinet purchased from Ikea a few years ago. They now have it in red and it's also lovely. But the new in the corner is the removal of the totes full of backing fabric and Heather Ross fabrics I'm not ready to use on the right side of the cabinet. It was wasted space with those big plastic container and I've moved the fabric into a closet to make better use of this area. 

In the middle of the loft, around my sewing area, I've moved the bookcases that used to be on the back wall. They're holding just a few notions and things I often grab when sewing. I purchased the longer file cabinet from Ikea last year and just adore how well it keeps patterns, templates and now AccuQuilt supplies in order.

An old vintage time card holder now keeps my rulers in order, perfect for next to my cutting table. I really need to get the heights of my cutting and sewing table right this year. My back reminds me after I've been cutting for a while that I am either cutting on a table too low or I am getting old. Unclear which. Scraps are hidden under my cutting table for easy (ha!) storage of scraps after I've been cutting. But truth be told, they usually end up in a pile that makes me cringe each time I see them. Hooks are now on the wall to hold works in progress. 

I'm still undecided about the back wall, we will probably just paint it the same color as the rest of the main house and call it a day. I'd love to find a wall paper or a color that might add some interest to the back wall, but the sun and my supplies kind of do that already. My long suffering ironing board (apologies if you have glimpsed it in these photos, I tried to keep it out of shots!) really needs some love, and I think I'll have to get on that sooner rather than later. It's holy... and not in a good way.

I'm thrilled with everything having its own spot in the loft. Though it's difficult to see into the loft from our living room, I knew the state of disorder up there and am so happy with its organization. The evolution of my favorite space in the house has certainly been a process, but one I've grown into and one I continue to love. I am so lucky to have this space for my own. Happy weekending to you... I hope you find yourself in the places you love to be most! 

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!

loft evolution

I kept holding off on sharing some of the changes I made to the loft over break (one whole day, several episodes of streaming Great Expectations later... even my fabric was re-folded and organized) because there are several works in progress and it's a little messy. My thinking was I could continue to wait or just snap away... a sewing room is supposed to be a little chaotic, that means it's well loved. There's been a bit of an evolution to this loft of mine. And if you've been here for a while, you know it is the sunniest part of the house... I'm terribly lucky. That sun doesn't always love my books however, and so I moved my books to the opposite wall with my sewing and crafting book. I get to look at it while I'm sewing... a bonus indeed. I created one large working area with my sewing and cutting tables now facing each other. I love this. My inspiration board is a little bare, and I'm contemplating a return of my thread organizer to the wall, but that will probably come after some paint... or wallpaper? I know I'm stalking that wallpaper, it's a problem. So that lovely little spot is where I'm hanging out these days when I have some time... a huge stack of flannel arrived (I fell in love with flannel after Rob's blanket) and I'm currently making a cozy blanket for these coolish winter days (Saturday was 61!). I'm loving changes in weather and changes in the organization of our home equally these days. Change is very, very good. Happy Monday! 

around the loft

How I miss this space when I'm away from it... there is much daydreaming going on these days, mostly about the projects that I'd love to be finishing in the loft, and there are many! Some newness has been making it's way into the loft (non-fabric related, imagine that!) also making it difficult for me to pry myself away from this creative space and into the car to make it to the office space. Here's a peek...

I know, I know, I said non-fabric related, but I did make some new room for some um, new fabrics so that counts right? So in other newness... that new wire basket that sits on my work table is really a fantastic space saver.  I first saw it in Country Living Magazine, then everywhere and finally bought one last week. It was a beast to put together, nothing lined up and nothing was straight so my muscles got a nice workout too... and when that failed (ha!) Rob strong-armed it into almost perfection.  I'm loving it though. 

The state of my single girl quilt is quite sad... notice the scissors poised to do some cutting... when I get a few spare moments that's what I'll be up to.  I've also decided on a new method of organization for projects.  Because I seem to be perpetually in a nineteen works in progress (I kid, it's only like sixteen) mode, I need a better way of keeping track of what I'm doing... enabling myself to start more projects and leave more unfinished, I realize this, but it seems to be at least a wee bit more organized.  I'm keeping a quilt notebook (my students would loooove this as I strong arm them into organization via notebooks on a daily basis).  Basically just a running reminder of what I'm doing, what the plan is and what fabrics I'm using... this might be a sign that I am getting, ahem, more mature in years. I celebrate. 

I also bought one of those save your fingers from your rotary cutter "genies" as they were on sale at my local box store craft center.  Really it's a gift for Rob as my last tangle with my rotary cutter didn't require stitches per se (I may or may not have taped it and gone back to sewing), but was very nearly enough to give the poor man a heart attack. So... safety first and I'm even newly remembering to put the blade cover on when I'm through cutting... improvements all around.

Some Stabilo markers fell into my Amazon cart... I have no idea how it happened (I'm equally surprised when the Reeses Easter eggs do at the grocery store) but they are much less expensive than these (eek, those are pricey) they're great and I'm loving them...while I plan more projects... old habits die hard. 

And you, any newness going on around you these days? Happy Wednesday to you, isn't March so welcome?

loft rethought

Liberty prints displayed above the desk in my Loft

I spent the most wonderful day on Monday rethinking and rearranging my Loft... the creative space that I find myself day-dreaming about in the midst of my teacher-day.  The loft has gone through many phases... from reading nook to actual studio space, right now it feels just about right.  We still need some paint, a chair (which I grabbed from the side of the road and needs some reupholstered love) and the return of the window trim and window treatments, but the space feels open, airy and full of light... perfect for inspiration and creation. Please come on in and have a look, excuse our works in progress!

... my linen cabinet (from Ikea) has moved all the way across the loft... I love that you can see it as you walk up the stairs... all that fabric... it makes me giddy - that's possibly the sign of a problem!

... I've reclaimed my desk, that poor little desk was no match for the Bernina and shook wildly while sewing... I won't miss that... the Liberty prints above the desk is an inspiration nod to Purl SoHo and if my collection grows to their lengths remind me that I have a problem... 

... these hooks are from Anthropologie and I love them...

... I love these crates we picked up at our local Orchard, they were $2 a piece and we use them for everything... right now they're holding the small collection of books I'm hanging on to in the loft... the rest of my books have made their way down to the guest bedroom and desperately need a bookshelf, which we're looking into...

... right now, my old cutting table is the main sewing space... this is also temporary.  The table will eventually go in the middle of the back space and just be for cutting.  We have Rob's mom's sewing table we're looking into refurbishing for sewing...

... this Melon crate is perfect for all my sewing needs, and I love having everything close by...

... my bookshelves have become supply organization and the ladder I picked up at Brimfield for a steal is perfect for housing works in progress... Oy, those projects need to be finished! 

... ignore the glare (that sun is everywhere up here!) I decided to use some frames I bought at Ikea to show off some of that loved fabric...

I so love this space.  It feels amazingly open and spacious right now after we moved a love seat into our bedroom.  The change is just what I needed.  Right now, I'm working on a bird mobile made from the Spool Sewing pattern, another sweet edition for this space.  The walls will be painted soon and I'm thinking about Benjamin Moore's Clinton Brown (seen here) for the back accent wall. Until then... I'm loving the continued phases of this loved space and embracing the wonderful changes as they go.  Happy Thursday!