Gehring Road

anna karenina and log cabins

Well, hello. When not spending time acclimating to the new school year, I've been feverishly re-reading Anna Karenina in anticipation of this film (can't wait!). I love this beautiful novel and it is being read in small little stolen moments throughout my day, at night or in the mornings. It is taking me quite some time to pour through all 800 pages, though this novel moves so incredibly quickly. The time I've spent reading and staring at that beautiful purple/cream cover of my edition has inspired me to pull some Anna-esque fabrics for a quilt. Solids have been a bit difficult to get for the purple I have in mind. Nothing is quite right... yet. I'd love something with a bit of blue in it, and I will certainly enjoy the process of contining to look. I'm loving field study prints for this quilt planning as well. That print in the last shot (Dan Bennett's Ruby, Tattoo Amethyst purchased here) will be the centers of log cabins. I've been itching to make a log cabin quilt since seeing Alicia's over a year ago. So beautiful. This making of this quilt will likely be much like my reading of the book, done in stolen moments throughout this coming season, which is just fine. The journey is sometimes just as lovely as the destination. I'm looking forward to this one (more Anna Karenina inspiration here). Happy Wednesday! 

sewing... outside!

My car thermometer read 80 degrees at 10 am this morning... there was just something so lovely about today. After dropping Rob off for a short work trip (boo), I was able to stop at a quilt store for some fabric (yay). Kylie has a really, really difficult time when Rob is away she gets exceptionally clingy and just isn't herself... except when lounging on a wool blanket outside. I'm not sure what to say about wool blankets in 90 degree weather other than this dog likes to be warm... it makes me hot just looking at that photo of her... sigh.

Anyway, her pleading face at the door told me something sort of had to be done... I wanted to sew, she wanted Rob back and to take her depression outside where at least her optimal temperature could sooth her little soul. I dragged ironing board, cutting board, fabric and music outside and went to town. We're so lucky Rob's dad thought to put outlets outside on the patio.  I'm not sure why I haven't thought of cutting fabric outside before... the breeze was really lovely, the dog... mildly satiated (she's stops going to Rob's office to look for him after the first day or so) and I got in some crafty time. This will be a quilt for the couch (can you believe this is the first quilt I've made for our couch?) and entirely made from Lotta Jansdotter's Echo line. This outdoor cutting and crafting is going to be my thing, I can feel it. For someone who hates cutting fabric as I do, it was a pleasant little surprise.

Though the deck and table that my fabric was on is in desperate need of a power washing, I thought better... wasting precious cutting time washing furniture... no thank you! My ironing board is also in desperate need of a new cover and my toes are in desperate need of a pedicure... desperate. Maybe time for that later in the week... happy Monday friends. 

these days

I've been enjoying the most lovely few days... off from work, surrounded by love and things I love, this has been a much needed and perfect little break. I'm feeling a bit ahead of the game in terms of class work, which is such a rare feeling, and I allowed myself some time to rest, and some time to sew! Those granny squares I had been anxious to begin are finally underway. They are super quick and just the thing I need right now. I'm loving the process of making them. Just one mustard, peach, orange and grey square done so far, but my mind is spinning with color possibilities. My granny progress can be found here. Another day off tomorrow and then it's back to work on Wednesday, but a refreshed and rested return this time. I hope you are enjoying this week and finding ways to enjoy all that is around you! 

quilt feast at denyse schmidt studio sale

We headed a bit south on Saturday and found ourselves stopping by Denyse Schmidt's studio sale. Like last year, I took a ton of pictures (it is impossible to take a bad shot in that space... oh to enjoy that light everyday!) and intend on sharing them all. And like last year, I also snagged some goodies, which of course, I intend to share. More on that a bit later this week... now for the images I snapped... this first batch was just in the hallway outside of the studio, amazing...

... and inside Denyse's Studio (I tried not to snap pictures of people grabbing amazing deals on beautiful quilts, last year I got a look from a little girl that told me that was creepy)...

...and those last two are of a quilt I thought about either snatching and running off with (the eighteen flights of stairs and a criminal record prevented me from doing so) or buying it with the tuition money for the classes I am taking in the spring (that was harder to convince myself out of than it should have been!) I ended up just staring at it... for a long time, it's gorgeous, no? So what did I end up buying? This...

... a stack of digital sample yardage from the upcoming release of Flea Market Fancy... a line I love, and just missed when I first started to sew. I'm more than excited about its release. So here's how this little stack became mine. At 10:00 when the doors opened a local photographer got a little pushy and wanted to take some photos of Denyse... so the doors were opened and I took that moment to scan... I saw dots on a little cart near the kitchen (which also had amazing little cupcakes for us... the shoppers) and decided to go there first... no elbows, no sprinting, I just walked over and picked this little bundle up. I then gave it to Rob to hold, who delighted in putting it down everywhere to fake yawn, sneeze... clearly someone was there to tease. Denyse, who checked me out (so cool!) said that she had to use the digital printing to create some of the sample items as she too is down to scraps of the line. I know all about that. Anyway, though it is a digital printing, I'm excited to be using the pieces in little projects here and there. And I hope you are too... today I'm going to cut little bundles of the sample pack (some of the pieces are quite large) and give them away on the blog later this week as a little Thanksgiving for a reprint, the end of stormy weather (for the time being), the start of the holiday season and most importantly for the readers who frequent this little space here. I'm always amazed at how patient and caring you all are... so have some Flea Market Fancy before it's released... just don't wash it! Happy weekend and I'm off to cut. 

a fallish quilt

I'm feeling that end of the summer pull... to eek out every bit of productivity, to pick and eat some peaches, to complete things begun, to clean the refrigerator (no idea where that particular pull came from, but it happened!), to acknowledge that I actually do work and will need to return to it (not so pleasant!), and today to gather some fallish prints and begin a new little quilt project. That pull to start a new little project came from the inspiration and beautiful orange hues I'm seeing everywhere lately. Not from those famous New England leaves... yet... but from our very first peaches from trees planted two years ago...

... these little lovelies survived the squirrels and not so perfect light up on the hill in our backyard... we're thrilled...

... and these lovely heirloom carrots picked up at the farmer's market last weekend are beautiful...

So here's the plan... I'm still loving half square triangles and am going to make a zig-zag quilt. Something a little smaller than what I'm finishing right now... funny how that happens, isn't it! The grays, golds, oranges and neutrals are a little reminder that these summer days... though wonderful yet fleeting... are to be enjoyed and savored. The new season is on its way... the pull can't be avoided (much like the refrigerator for that matter) and better to celebrate the newness savoring this moment. Happy Monday! 

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! 

i love this monday...

This Monday finds me padding around the loft, not finishing projects but starting new ones... eek.  It's not my fault.  First, I caught wind of the Blogger's Block-a-palooza quilt along - two different blocks each week hosted by some of my favorite blogs. The group is using a Sweetwater for Moda set of fabrics, but I've decided to use some from my stash. Then, I've found myself running into that cream-mustard yellow-blue - grey combination lately and fell in love. I had to use it.  The Workroom's Karyn posted her stack a few weeks ago... love, and Megan who blogs here is working with the same combination for a swap. How do I get some of that blue pez I ask you... gorgeous. So I grabbed some favorites from my own stash and it does feel like Spring to me, which the Block-a-palooza celebrates... as will I.  I like fabric piles better than the piles we've been dealing with here.  Until the quilt along gets underway, I'll be hunkered down and working on my Hop, Skip and Jump quilt.  I love days just like this. I hope you are finding similar inspirations and as much joy in today. 

new

Little bits of fabric have been making their way into the stash the past few days, luckily there is a project in mind for each.  I'm feeling like my machine might need to be tuned up (I've never taken it in as it has never been a problem) I've heard recommendations of doing that once a year... eek. Now might be the time, almost two years later to give the Bernina a little day of going over, though I suspect it might be longer than a few days to get it serviced. Anyway... onto the fabric...

My fabric for our bedroom quilt arrived (I'm still loving Hope Valley), after much hullaballoo. Needless to say, I had the most disappointing experience with one of the Fabric sellers I until very lately recommended here on my very own blog. The fabric arrived regardless and I've decided the half-square triangle quilt will be lovely. Kona Charcoal will be used on the other halves of the triangles...

... the fabric for the Hop, Skip and Jump quilt that was part of my crafty resolution arrived also with some really beautiful Kona solids to match (I think they are Navy and Windsor). Yes, they are Liberty Prints, and yes, they are only fat quarters, and yes, I'm in love with them... but determined to use them. My excuse for this purchase was when I decided to make a Navy version of Denyse's pattern I found I had one Navy colored piece of fabric in my Linen cabinet.  I know, hard to believe considering my fabric habit but true! I never buy dark blue fabric... orange and grey fabric is another story! So I bought a very, very small bit of those Navy prints and they will be used in their entirety in the quilt. Imagine that! The quilt will be something we will love in the living room and something we will also use. That pretty floral print is one I found on Etsy and is a digital print so I'll wash it before using it... cross your fingers.  

Today I've worked a bit on my bird mobile, watched more episodes of Downton Abbey than I care admit to and got my pattern pieces cut (at a 400% enlarging) for the navy blue quilt. Ready to cut into those Liberty Prints...almost... why is that so hard?!? Happy weekend to you... see you Monday.

i'm one

Today is the anniversary of my 'turning over a new leaf' and the start of this little blog! I almost missed it, thinking about a million other things (I went to work today, eeck!) and I have so much to share about this week... oh we've been busy. New windows, cantaloupe in the garden, and strips and bricks almost done (I'm not happy with the width so am adding to it this week).  I'm also looking forward to celebrating this month with a little celebratory giveaway... more on that when we can breathe! This week (Rob's vacation week) has been hectic and messy, but incredibly rewarding. So I leave with you just a little taste of things to come, things being made and things in the works. I love this space and am so looking forward to seeing where life and this little blog evolves in years to come.  Happy Tuesday friends!

 

 

bee

My blocks for the 3X6 Bee on Flickr have finally been finished... luckily my fellow sewists were as late as I am, except for one who posted hers in early June... truly a testament to will and time management! Overall, I loved working on these blocks. The paper piecing method was completely new... and many of the women in my group asked to be surprised, which was a blessing and a curse.  The final blocks look like this...

...red, white, aqua or teal for isaac'smama...

... surprise block for scrappy stash...

... red, white and a tiny, tiny bit of green for badlandsquilts...

... orange, pink and grey for debsworksinprogress...

... rainbow for mrssorrells...

... and another surprise block for creations by rachel...    

and on to bee #3.  Off to the post office and attempting to stay out of the heat we're experiencing toady.  Have a lovely tuesday!