The Accidental Frock

Books: The Melancholic Mermaid

2012-02-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

I was sorting some of my kids' books the other day. Books sure are tough to part with. As we add to our collection, we need to be sure we're letting just as many go.

Titles acquired this week: Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You and The Daring Book for Girls. I couldn't resist. They are beautiful used copies in great shape - and great reference material.

My youngest and I typically check out about 40 books at a time from our local library. She is a massive book lover. We encountered one of our favorites during the most recent visit; a title that made it on the all-time-favorites list for me and my nearly 9-yr.old. A beautiful story.

The Melancholic Mermaid written by Kallie George,

stunningly illustrated by Abigail Halpin.

the last of the pouffes

2012-01-31T13:37:00.000-08:00

I'm clearing out some space as I work on new designs. In an effort to narrow my focus, I've decided to discontinue making pouffes. They are large. Shipping, transporting to shows and simply finding space to store them presents a challenge. I located another today that I didn't know I had, thus, three remain.

Regularly $134. Now $108. When they're gone, they're gone.

shibori fold over pouch/clutch

2012-01-29T15:26:00.000-08:00

I'll be making more of these shibori & leather bottom numbers. The smaller version will be sized to fit an iPad but intended as an all-purpose clutch. Some will come with a detachable wristlet. Closure styles may include zips, ties, magnetic buttons and my beloved Sam Brownes.

I am most of fond of the dark plum and navy colors I am achieving. Eager

to get rolling on shades of grey and black.

some of my leather remnants are more rough & tumble

than others. can't say I would have it any other way.

a pebbled heavier leather

enterprising kids: desperate parents

2012-01-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

image found here

My 5-yr-old is attempting to earn $18 in order to purchase the most special chipmunk puppet in the entire world. I suggested that we might be able to come up with extra chores for her. There's no monetary compensation for the basic chores we all have as members of our household, but I am game to create some add-ons.

The other night my husband agreed to pay her $1 for a 10 minute back-rub. She would have to scratch or massage his back for not 7 or 8 minutes but a full 10 minutes - according to the timer - or there would be no dollar. He offered a 50 cent bonus if she could do it without speaking.

I didn't think she could pull it off. Another $1.50 was added to her running tab.

Schoolhouse (Electric) Rocks!

2012-01-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

I love it when my husband receives a Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. catalog in the mail. I dog-ear and revisit pages time after time with this sort of thing. I've never visited their Portland store, but I fully intend to next time I get to make the trip down south.

Visiting Rejuvenation in Portland is a massive treat for me. I imagine Schoolhouse to be much the same. Although Rejuvenation has a Seattle location, it's smaller in scale so not the grandiose presentation of Portland.

images via Schoolhouse

a tune for Tuesday: Snow Patrol

2012-01-24T00:47:00.001-08:00

This really is a lovely song. Looks to be a particularly mesmerizing performance on Letterman.

new boots for a horse-lovin' girl

2012-01-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

My soon to be 9-yr-old received these cowboy boots for Christmas. She wears them about 5 days out of the week. My friend Rebecca of BananaSaurus Rex shared her new boots the other day.

I relate to the power of a great pair of boots, so I must share these - if only to be sure Rebecca sees them.

this shot does not quite capture the splendor of these babies.

Spring goodies a comin'

2012-01-23T22:23:00.000-08:00

Spring & Summer designs has been my intense focus of the past couple of weeks. Now that I've made some decisions, sewn up samples of this and that and taken copious notes about minor changes here and there, I need to revisit my motto for 2012:

Do Less, Better

Narrowing my focus is a major challenge for me. You know that feeling? There are simply too many garments, bags & pillows waiting to be made.

block-printed & hand-dyed bound resist shibori. Linen and hemp/organic cotton.

My favorite oxidized snaps still make an appearance on this pillow. Not many pieces on this one, but I am enjoying more patchwork style pillows blending block-printed & hand-dyed natural fabrics.

shibori play: take 2

2012-01-22T20:00:00.000-08:00

stitched, hemp/organic cotton

Another batch of shots from playtime with shibori. You can see the last pictures here. Let me just warn you. Removing the super tight, heavy-weight (I've been using upholstery grade thread) stitching after dyeing can be a bear.

stitched concentric circles

knotted and bound resist patterns on linen. I used a

combination of washers, wood & machine stitched lines

A lone dip-dye shot. You can't quite see the teal

undertones It's grey hemp canvas dyed in an ombre-like

progression of greens, then over-dyed in navy.

the pintuck apron: a personal fave

2012-01-22T19:21:00.000-08:00

I've not been making many pintuck aprons these days, but it's not because they have lost a special place in my heart. On the contrary, my pintuck half apron is one of my first loves when it come to versatility and an always flattering fit for myriad shapes and sizes. Feels so much like a garment to me - when paired with the right underpinnings. I have items here and there that I have never photographed. I expect to find a couple of these aprons among my piles of samples & experiments. Perhaps in the coming weeks I'll manage to get them all on film.

This particular combo of the toast linen I try to always have on hand, printed with what I think is a clever juxtaposition of whale and feather, was a special order for a local artist I met at a show back in December. She bought one and quickly asked for another. That always feels good! Finally, I've got it ready to give to her this week. Fingers crossed that she'll love it. I think she will.

snow days and how we're filling them

2012-01-19T16:08:00.000-08:00

We're pretty much snowed in in these parts. I expect another day of school closures tomorrow given the volume of snow, ice, power outages and hazards therein. At about 8:30pm last night the girls and I took a neighborhood walk. At that time, we had about 5-6" of snow covered by 1/8-1/4" of ice. You could easily punch through to the powder beneath the ice. Then, since morning, it has continued to snow very lightly.

I've been working toward a big deadline that has entailed refining new designs, sewing up samples and taking photographs. A lot of time spent making decisions about my line for spring & summer.

With both kids home full-time, I've only been taking smallish chunks of time to satisfy their requests and intervene in mini-battles. The sweetest play can change in a heartbeat, especially when house-bound kiddos get a little stir crazy. If you asked them though, they would definitely vote for another day at home tomorrow.

One of those breaks from my work to attend to the whims of my girls was devoted to making clothes for dolls. I think Brenda Star & Katie -- Katie is named in honor of my niece because they must be twins. Don't think I've ever met a Barbie before who truly looks like a real human -- are cousins of Barbie but they strike the girls and me as plausible. Their cousin Barbie?, not so much.

This is Brenda Star. My 8-yr-old has never really been into dolls,

but every now and then she'll get into a good play session with her Sis.

She love Brenda Star whom she acquired through a trade.

Made a bell-sleeved jacket for Katie first. Then, Brenda Star wanted

a matching version.

In this household, the females are devoted fans of a good tank top

a hybrid a-line/pencil skirt for Katie

As you can see, Brenda Star prefers a classic a-line.

When we saw her in the store Iris said, "Mom, she looks

just like.." I blurted out, "Katie!" Even though her knees

and arms don't bend, we had to have her.

pinch-pleated bag

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

This is probably the largest if its kind that I've made so far. The pleating and hand-knotting takes forever, but I love the effect.

linen & leather with strap made from up-cycled belt

I'm experimenting with some different thimble options to see if I might better preserve my fingers.

pink sky night

2012-01-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

They say we're in for snow around here. Not the best of conditions for the photos I plan to take by the end of next week. I much prefer natural, outdoor lighting. I've been working hard on new designs which I need to photograph for an application deadline. I'm more hopeful about that today than yesterday. I might manage to finish the designs, but I could sure use a professional photo set up with good lighting, a solid white background and a female model.

I feel thankful that it's Friday. Wondering if pink skies are indicative of snow.

sunset in pink. the kind that makes everything of a light-ish hue glow pink.

shibori play

2012-01-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

A little bit of shibori-style dyeing going on around here. I've been hankering incorporate resist dyeing into some pieces, as mentioned here.

The other night while watching a show the girls and I rubber banded tumbled stones into a variety of my fabric staples - light to heavy weight linen, mid-weight hemp/organic cotton canvas & soy/organic cotton jersey knit. I was most eager to do some pole-wrapping with my swatches. All I had on hand was one small jar of fiber reactive dye in blue, and not enough of it for more than about 1-2 lbs. of fabric.

We ended up with some nice pieces and some I intend to over-dye. Samples and even a couple finished items below:

kumo style bound-resist with beads & stones made a for great scarf for my 5-yr-old.

arashi pole-wrapping. love the sense of movement

kumo again. headlights & shadows.

Et voila...

sized to fit my iPad with it's rubber-like cover. hemp/organic cotton, linen & leather

I heart Sam Browne buttons

favorite frocks on Etsy: Shades of black & grey

2012-01-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

If only I had a need for a new dress. There is no shortage of frocks to suit my taste here on Etsy. If I didn't limit myself to a color scheme, the majority of my day could be easily swallowed up just listing favorites here.

Today it's about black & grey. Here's a handful, including a few I would wear plenty. Truly though I could provide a happy home for each and every one.

a dancing dragon project for CNY

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

My 5-yr-old attends a cooperative preschool which means, among other duties, I work there one day each week. Parent-created projects are a staple of co-op life.

In honor of the rapidly approaching lunar new year, I've pulled out my trusty dragon head & tail and prepared to make paper accordion-bodied dragons with the kids. I did this project a couple years back with my older daughter's class. It's easy prep for the parent, always seems well-received by the kids and a great way to introduce a cultural celebration that might just be new to many of the kids. So draw up a dragon head and tail and give it a go.

I printed heads & tails on card stock.

strips of paper, craft sticks & bells to help the dragons scare off any bad juju

folding the accordion body is great for those fine motor skills. Iris

made this one to show her classmates when we introduce the project.

the accordion body allows for great movement

Music Monday

2012-01-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

Until yesterday, while listening to a radio show featuring albums of the 1990's that decade felt like such a short reach back. Now that 2012 is here, I realize that the 90's have replaced what the 80's were to me back when I was a teacher and 80's theme day rolled around. I would let out a little snort as my way of indicating that far too little time had passed for the decade in question to qualify as a theme day. I considered myself just barely older than my students.

Now, I suppose I'll reserve that snort for 90's day. Do they even have that in high schools or middle schools today?

I have missed posting Friday songs recently. So here's to a musical Monday.

new reads

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's about time. I'm back into a good book.

And several new books at the ready.

a little pouch

2012-01-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

Working with leather remnants and those smallish fabric pieces while the family is off snowshoeing. Much as I would love to be doing the same, time alone to work is greatly appreciated.

I love this little leather, linen & ticking tie-it-how-you-like guy.

A resolution for 2012: Do Less, Better

2012-01-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

To date, I cannot recall a single resolution I've made for myself to kick off a new year in a new direction. Perhaps it's just that I've not committed my plans to paper each year. This year will be a little different in that I'm sharing my single resolution here. So for 2012, here it is....

Do Less, Better.

Just before Thanksgiving I came across a piece on Scoutie Girl written by Eleanor Mayrhofer of E.M. Papers in which she shared this: "do less, better" as her motto for 2012. I've co-opted it to use as my own. The sentiment, which I interpret in a couple of ways, so succinctly captures what I most need to do in my life. We all perform so many roles for ourselves and our loved ones these days that it's no surprise we're over-extended. Most days there's a moment when I shake my head silently while chastising myself for not fulfilling one - or more likely several - of these jobs as well as I might like. Well enough to feel proud of approximating my best work. I'm quite good at creating measurable goals for myself, but I like this do less, better just as it is. No need to flesh it out because, really, that flies in the face of the mantra itself.

So go ahead... join me in this resolution. I'm expecting to fall off the wagon more than once, but I wholeheartedly believe in the value of this one.

image via Vintage Vivant

Happy New Year!

night-light boxes wrapped and ready

2011-12-23T22:10:00.000-08:00

like the soft glow of candle light

We finished up our gift preparations - including prizes for the winning Pictionary team - and will soon be ready for family tomorrow afternoon. All of our light-boxes are under the tree. Iris gave away the first light box the other weekend for her friend's birthday. He loves giraffes, his color is pink and apparently he does strongly prefer a night light to the alternative darkness.

I think I missed photographing a couple. The best part was deciding a theme for each box to best suit its recipient.

bye bye booties

2011-12-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

Alas, I have accepted that my gorgeous Gidigio's are too large. Farewell my lovelies.

image found here

I'm a cat person

2011-12-21T22:53:00.000-08:00

Photograph by Corey Arnold via Huckberry

Now that the kids are home from school for winter holiday, our kitties are more entertained than usual. Iris trails Ernestine, a.k.a Ernie (our curmudgeonly big 'ole queen) with an old phone that she uses to play games and film all manner of subjects. Typically, Iris films Ernie walking through the house with a classic expression of cattitude on her furry little mug. The accompanying audio is generally something like, "Seriously Ernie?! Seriously?" regardless of Ernie's behavior.

Ernestine (Ernie) our curmudgeonly lover.

Lulu on my work table. Super skittish, twitchy Siamese eyes and deathly afraid of

children but always tilts her head for a forehead kiss and loves her Mama (that's me).

We are a household of cat lovers. They are such good listeners. I've always loved cats. Most animals really. Although I can appreciate dogs and did have one as a child, our lifestyle doesn't allow us to add one to our brood. Even if it did, the truth is... I am a cat person.

Gidigio boots: classic footwear

2011-12-20T00:45:00.000-08:00

photo via here

Let it be known that I love shoes and boots. They are no longer anywhere near as high priority as they were in my younger days. Still, I have mentioned my affinity for Fluevogs more than once here. Fluevogs have remained my favorite for more than 20 years. I bought my most recent pair as a happy-birthday-to-me when I reached 41 just two years back.... wore that pair today and still love them just as much.

Birthday week has come around again. I bought myself a print of a Whistler etching courtesy of my in-laws and last night my parents treated me to a fabulous short, tweedy 40's style jacket while attending the spectacular Bonsoir Liliane! at Teatro ZinZanni (a 50th Anniversary surprise for Mom & Dad with some unexpected special garments in the gift shop). Then, today, I found the glorious boots.

I had been seeking Gidigio Athos boots but never expected I would end up with a pair. Aside from being fairly scarce, they are beyond my price range - upper 200's for this style. Recently, I attempted to try them on at a local shoe shop. Pretty much just to taste the fantasy. Turns out they only had one pair in a half size larger than I wear, and they were not able to locate them in the store room.

Today, I stopped back while picking up a stocking stuffer around the corner. This time, they were able to find the sole remaining pair. As expected they are about 1/2 size too large. I loved them immediately but was glad they were a tad large as there was no way I would purchase them. It would be easier to part with them this way. Here's were the birthday good fortune comes in. Every year at this time, the shoe shop has a 50% off sale on close-out items. As this was the last pair, my beautiful Athos were 50% off. I hesitated only about a minute and went for it. They feel great even if I little large. Somehow the style works just fine a bit big given the 1.5" heel (as high as I go). They remind me of a pair of well-loved oxfords I completely wore out in my 20's. The Athos is definitely a class style that I'll be able to wear forever.

the only photos I could find quickly. they certainly don't do this pair justice.

Now I'm sending out some good juju in hopes of finding a pair of John Fluevog Radio BBC or RCI boots at half off.

Fluevog pictures via Footloose Shoes.

A song for Friday: Devotchka

2011-12-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

Happy weekend all. I love this song.

the best part of craft shows...

2011-12-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

Certainly, selling my wares is a thrilling part of craft shows. And repeat customers with generous compliments and stories about their previous purchases feels wonderful. Just two pre-holiday shows this month - about all I can manage with other current life demands - but I am happy to be taking a little time now to step away for a short while. Much as I enjoy sharing here, 'stepping away' has included blogging time. Co-op preschool, preparing for my Brownies troop and all that comes with parenting has taken the stage until the new year.

But, back to the best part of craft shows. Meeting and becoming friends with other local artisans is a huge perk. When you spend a couple of days side-by-side, it's inevitable that you make new friends. And sometimes a little trading among artisans happens. Although I generally need to keep trades to a minimum, it is great fun.

These are just a few of the talented artisans I've been fortunate to meet - and do a few trades with this holiday season:

I met Andrea Wickham of Plumbop for the first time this summer. We showed again together this month. I love her work. Two sets of her highly functional, gorgeous felted nesting bowls now reside in our home. Andrea's vases, nesting bowl sets and bags are bea-u-ti-ful!

I had been wanting to meet Dinah Coops and see her eponymous collection of work for some time now. Earlier this month, I finally got the chance - albeit briefly. Her work is lovely, her commitment to sustainable design draws me right in and the artist herself is a pleasure.

Then there's Andrea Kohler of Nico Paper Goods and Kohler Book Binding. Her tiny hand-bound leather book necklaces are my favorite. A perfect gift for so many who come to mind, but I am not about to part with mine. Andrea was a great neighbor for two days a couple of weeks back. It was almost too bad that our booths stayed busy as talk-time had to be kept to a minimum.

Erin Miles of Erin Miles Design makes the most stunning hair accessories and her millinery work is impeccable!

this hat was particularly stunning.

Emily's herbal apothecary, Wild Season Botanicals, and her slow goods philosophy offer a much needed invitation to us all to slow down a bit. Her products are organically grown or wild-gathered (responsibly). Her wool felted soaps were immediately coveted by my daughters and are totally reusable as you can easily add a new bar of soap once the original has been used up.

It was my great pleasure to have met all of these talented, big-hearted, industrious women. Can't wait to see them again!

Etsy shop sale 25-30% off most inventory

2011-12-05T00:40:00.001-08:00

On the heels of a great show this weekend, I'm scrambling to update the shop for a new direction sale. I'm shifting my direction a bit to focus on women's apparel and bags. I may continue with some knits for kids, but that part is still undecided. I'm also going to be making far fewer pillows, but I'll continue to offer tea towels and one apron design. My pouffes will be at least on hold for a while as they are large to store and ship, but I did recently make up a small batch.

Soooo... over the next couple of days I'll do my best to take more photos of girls' dresses and such that I've never photographed. Crazy busy week ahead. My current inventory of apparel for women & children, discontinued pillow designs and aprons (with the exception of the cafe apron) is now discounted 25-30%. Change is good!

craft show alert: Seattle's 31st Annual Winter Festival this weekend

2011-11-28T23:57:00.001-08:00

This is to be a busy week coming off of a busy weekend. Posts will be sparse this week. I do want to mention that I'll be an exhibitor again at this year's Winter Festival. It's a big craft show weekend in Seattle so I recommend you take a day and make the rounds. And if you come by WinterFest, do say hello.

Black Friday-Cyber Monday Sale

2011-11-23T23:20:00.001-08:00

This holiday weekend in the shop...

Save 25% on all purchases Black Friday (11/25).

Save 20% on purchases Saturday thru Cyber Monday (11/26-11/28).

Enter coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY25 or CYBERMONDAY20

wall art: better to be a lion

2011-11-23T14:36:00.000-08:00

I bought this:

Bought it here. It's going in the girls' room.

holiday gift crafting: night-light boxes

2011-11-21T23:26:00.000-08:00

The kids are home for the week and a bit sickly. Low energy and colds made for moderate crankiness - for the three of us - followed by bursts of house-bound craziness. After dragging them to a teacher conference this morning, watching a movie, a bit of de-cluttering, and some general mess-making and puttering around the house, I got us rolling on the gifts we plan to give to our company this Christmas.

We like to make sure everyone who joins us for Christmas dinner or brunch receives at least one handmade gift from "us". It's a collaborative effort between the kids and me - and my husband when the project requires carpentry skills. Once we've decided upon a project or two I let them make as many of the design decisions as possible while I bite my tongue and mostly go with their choices.

This year we've opted for night-light boxes featuring a variety of papercut silhouettes, plus plenty of ribbon and miscellaneous adornment.

Our supply list looks something like this:

Cradled wood panels - each with hole cut out of back for tea light placement (my husband made ours using plywood and other wood scraps).

Tea lights

Light colored paper, light weight paper on which to adhere silhouette designs. We're using a delicate white hand-made, highly textured paper

Card stock in dark color for silhouettes

Paper cutting blade to cut out silhouettes

Translucent vellum paper to layer on top of other paper w/silhouette (a protective layer)

Print-outs of clip art silhouette images, or make your own

Tape (to hold down paper as you cut out silhouettes)

Double-sided tape (an easy, fast way to adhere ribbon and paper is you don't have the proper glue on hand.

Glue

Ribbon

Tissue paper, or other decorative paper (old maps work well), to cover wooden box

Modge Podge & paintbrush

Our boxes (wooden panels) are 6" square with 3/4" sides, thus 4.5" of open space to serve as the lighted viewing window.

I prefer velvets, velour, gross grain, lace and other textured ribbon options.

I've never done paper cuts before, but this basic blade seemed to work fairly well.

Picked up an 8-pack of tea lights and brought out my photo/scrap-booking blue and double-sided tape .

We were pleased with the result of our tester box so the girls each designed their own. They Modge Podge'd tissue paper over their boxes first. I tried to dissuade my youngest from the hot pink ribbon she fell in love with, as I had really wanted to experience a hot pink free project. My plea was ignored. So here's what we've got so far...

This is the test box. I covered this box with some old aqua and metallic bird cage paper I had on hand.

No problem changing out the tea light if needed. Packaging indicates we

should get 100 hours out of each light.

Illuminated on the dresser. This is the effect we were hoping for.

A centaur-ess for my 8-yr-old. Powerful and magical suits her well.

She used a couple shades of blue tissue paper to mostly cover her

box. And the vellum paper is pale blue.

I anticipated either a cat or horse theme for my youngest. It

really does look just like one of our kitties. While the extras on

this one may be a little much for me, when it comes to my girl

there ain't no such thing.

Magenta, pink & lavender velvety ribbon on top of her beloved

hot pink/magenta ribbon. Pale blue vellum paper on this one

as well.

Haven't yet tried theirs out in the dark, as I did some final glueing

after they went to bed. Construction of the remaining 7 or 8 boxes

may be a couple of weeks out. Expect an update.

Songs for Friday: Andrew Bird

2011-11-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

First, for your viewing and listening pleasure.

And next - as if being the talented Andrew Bird weren't enough - a la francaise.

Show this weekend: Queen Anne Artist's Trunk Show

2011-11-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

I'm excited for this Saturday's Queen Anne Artist's Trunk Show. If you live in Seattle, or thereabouts, do stop by this family friendly show. Perhaps you'll find the perfect hand-crafted gift for a special person in your life. Face-painting and crafts for the kids offered among the creations of roughly 35 local area artisans.

The basics...

Saturday, Nov.19, 11:00am - 4:00pm at The Queen Anne Community Center

For more info: Queen Anne Artist's Trunk Show

Please come say 'hello' if you can make it!

Marcel the Shell with shoes on, 2

2011-11-15T20:49:00.000-08:00

In case you too love Marcel, I just saw this latest installment on Door Sixteen:

pouches

2011-11-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

Have been making some pouches of variable size. The kind to house pencils, make-up, Polly Pockets, really just about anything smallish. A gift well-suited for my sisters I think. My assistant was eager to help with a few photos the other afternoon, but daylight savings time had other plans. At only 4:00pm - where's the light?! So we took a few quick shots and called it quits.

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

Wishing my Father-in-Law and others who have served - or are currently serving to protect the lives of people around the globe - a safe and peaceful Veteran's Day.

Thank you!

the case for organic cotton

2011-11-11T10:46:00.001-08:00

I've spoken of how much I admire Natalie Chanin and her work. She shared her plea for organic cotton last week. I completely agree that consumers, as a group, are simply not informed about the harmful chemicals involved in the production of traditionally-grown cotton. Have a look at her list of 10 things she wants us all to know. It's worth your time.

And please, ask for and buy organic cotton. Reuse, recycle, repurpose garments and fabric. Learn about how the clothing you wear is brought to life. You'll be glad you did.

all images via alabamachanin.com

wearable fiber art at five

2011-11-09T18:20:00.000-08:00

My youngest - she's five - is a prolific artist. She has created numerous wearable pieces for me. Today, she stayed home with a cold and created this sa-weet piece for me.

She cut up and sewed - sharp needles this time - what I thought was intended to become a garland of sorts. Turns out it's meant to become a decorative color for a basic white T shirt for me. I was impressed.

The brooch I wore today is also one of her creations. All I did was tie off her knots and sew on the pin back. Love to see what's to come because you know... she has artistic license.

recently overheard...

2011-11-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

My 5-yr-old and a 6-yr-old neighbor were recently playing. He was watching her draw for a moment. I don't know that I remember the exchange verbatim, but it went much like this:

Him: That doesn't look like a horse.

Her: Hasn't your Mom ever told you that people can draw things differently?

Him: No.

Her: Well, do you have an artistic license?

Him: No.

Her: I do. You know what that is? It means that I am the artist so I can make my drawings and things however I want. Because I am the artist.

Kuddos to you my little artist! We're going to turn this into a class project at preschool. I plan to photograph the kids and make them their own artistic or creative license. Each child will sign his/hers after taking an oath which I have yet to write, then we'll laminate them. I think it's the laminating part that makes it official.

upcoming show

2011-11-07T15:11:00.001-08:00

Nov. 19, 11-4:00 here in Seattle. More info to come...

On my nightstand...

2011-11-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

And slowly digesting this one in small bites:

oh shibori... someday our time will come

2011-11-02T02:02:00.000-07:00

I've been interested in shibori for a couple of years now. I had admired it in the past, but I hadn't necessarily envisioned myself incorporating shibori into my creations for Spool + Sparrow until just last year. I wanted to read up on it as another way to embellish cloth - sort of a way to make the cloth more my own. And I like the idea of using dyes post-construction of a garment, sometimes in addition to block-printing and/or a bit of limited stitching.

This summer, I spent some time reading up on shibori in its myriad forms. I'm definitely interested in arashi (pole-wrapping), some folding & clamping and bound-resist using a variety of objects - marbles, pebbles, misc. hardware - really captured my interest. By mid-summer, I was stoked.

Then I made the decision to keep my youngest home another year which called for a serious re-evaluation of what I am able to accomplish over the course of a given week. Alas, I have mostly accepted my decision to back-burner shibori a while longer. Perhaps come Spring or Summer, but I'm giving myself no timeline on this one.

Over at Honestly...WTF, Erica shared some of their experience with shibori in this DIY from the summer of 2010. It's a succinct mini-primer with excellent photos of their process. I only stumbled upon it just last week. Glad I did!

A song for Friday

2011-10-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

How anyone could not love R.E.M. is beyond me. I've been listening to several of their albums lately. Even the kids approve.

So a selection at random...

bunny love

2011-10-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

The other weekend, my daughter and I went to a birthday party for her friend. It was a bunny party. About 10 kids and 21 bunnies. We sat around and held bunnies. I watched a couple of girls rocking and singing to their fuzzy bundles.

Here's my girl with her favorite bunny swaddled in her arms. It had just woken from about a 15 minutes nap. She sat like this for more than an hour. I think I loved the experience nearly as much as she did.

Halloween pumpkins 2011

2011-10-23T22:06:00.001-07:00

This afternoon the girls and I carved our Halloween pumpkins. We decided to go with moon-lit animal silhouettes for each one. My 8-yr-old carved her's on her own this year. I cut the lid and drew her wolf, but she did all the rest on her own. That's worthy of big kid status. My husband was working late, so we lit them up to welcome him home.

mama wolf

ninja kitty

moon song

songs for Friday: Star Anna

2011-10-21T13:13:00.001-07:00

Fine, new Americana.

Two songs. A fancy video and a live song from a local performance this summer.

Jack or Jane-of-all-trades apron

2011-10-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

For a show last summer, I focused on a unisex apron that is a bit shorter than my full apron. Simple, functional, classic with a 3 section pouch-pocket (the center pouch being larger than the pockets on either side). I've made up more, but creating an opportunity to photograph them in a challenge. What I really need is to track down a model who is available during the limited hours that I am available. Stella, my favorite dress form, is willing - and she doesn't fidget at all - but I much prefer to see clothing and similar items on real people. Luckily, I caught my husband to snap some quick shots recently. Next, I'll photograph him. As may be glaringly obvious, being photographed is NOT an activity I enjoy.

arrows in mineral on sand linen

honeycomb in amber & jet black on grey recycle hemp/organic cotton

arrows on raspberry linen

graphite whale on ginger linen

bicycle for two in graphite on toast linen

bicycle for two in jet black on raspberry linen

swoon-worthy dresses

2011-10-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Sarah Seilbach's creations for her label, Edelweiss by Sarah, are new to me yet they feel familiar. Familiar in that way that a particular style or look sometimes speaks to you in a personal way. Not something you've seen before, but something that perfectly jibes with some part of you.

I love dresses of the 1940's and definitely see influence of the time in Sarah's Fall 2011 collection. Silk charmeuse doesn't suit my lifestyle so much, but I covet these. And they certainly are versatile and look quite comfy.

see some of these dresses in action here:

fossil hounds & paddlers

2011-10-17T15:05:00.000-07:00

The weekend was work-filled for me. I accomplished a little less than planned, but I'll take it. My husband took the girls adventuring. They visited Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site in the town of Republic for some successful fossil hunting. The fossils they excavated came from an area that formed part of an ancient lake bed. According to the brochure, "The organisms found at Stonerose lived 48 million years ago, in a time known as the Eocene Epoch. They returned home with fossils from the following families: Dawn Redwood, Plum-yew & Alder as well as a mystery branch and some mystery leaves. Very cool I think!

They also got to try out our new paddle board for the first time. I hope to cover a lot of distance on that board next summer.

a couple new prints

2011-10-12T21:46:00.001-07:00

From a small batch of lunch-size totes I made for a Fall show.

ready... set... Made with recycle hemp/organic cotton & linen.

When it comes to fashion inspiration, I am often drawn to styles (dresses in particular) from the 40's. This swimmer is comparatively old school - 1920's/30's. Haven't yet finished my swan dive partner piece to this carving.

two for the road. Linen & linen lunch tote.

So many bikes I would love to carve. Next in line is a Schwinn banana-seat bike reminiscent of the orange beauty of my childhood.

It's here!: Made to Play! by Joel Henriques

2011-10-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

A while back I pre-ordered Made to Play! by Joel Henriques. Today it arrived! Joel is the kind of inventor/artist/maker we need more of - a seriously talented human. I'm going to do my best to stay focused on my work - with the exception of this quick post - and look forward to perusing it tonight.

The costuming has begun

2011-10-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

Not only has the costuming begun, but outfits for the four of us are nearly complete! These photos are not of the best quality. Still, you'll get the picture.

Hermione in her Gryffindor robe. Had to make the robe, as those in the store simply don't make the cut. I lucked out in my thrift store browsing and found a grey v-neck sweater & maternity skirt that I chopped way down to re-size. Hermione is very pleased.

This is Astrid, the viking girl (costume not quite complete). She's a dragon trainer, not a slayer. You may recognize her from the movie How to Train Your Dragon.

And most of the makings for my Jane Sparrow custome. I love the hat. The jacket, shirt & belt are all thrift store finds. I came across the jacket - just need to fix a few buttons - and I knew this was to be a pirate year for me. I think I'll wear my bond girl boots.

As for Dan... We simply will not permit his preferred grumpy old man costume. He's going to be Stoick the Vast - also a viking from How to Train You Dragon - who is incredibly strong but rather unintelligent (according to Wikipedia). I found a perfect thrifted horned helmet so that settles it.

all-season tank tops

2011-10-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge tank top fan. Some great old jeans, a 3-quarter length cardigan, Jack Purcells and a tank top comprise my standard attire.

I have a few new tank top designs - 2 knits and 2 for woven fabrics - only sized to fit me at this point. What I usually end up with is several pieces that are not quite to my liking but I keep them, wear them and often continue to tweak them slightly over time. I'm trying to avoid darts, as the placement is so key that it's difficult to fit most women well - unless custom placed.

I prefer to make my "muslins" all in wearable fabrics. It's part impatience and part practicality.

simple tank. love this tweedy-looking light-weight linen.

gathered back tank made with a denim-looking linen.

clearly not a tank. turned the flutter cap-sleeve I had had in mind

to a slightly pouffed sleeve. Love this fall/winter weight soy/organic cotton french

terry with a bit of spandex (olive). heavy-weight linen (olive) bias neckline with

asymmetrical, contrasting (navy) stitching. Sooo comfy!

new art: portraiture

2011-10-02T15:57:00.000-07:00

Much to my chagrin, blogging time is scarce. Sometimes I have a chance to post, but I haven't yet snapped the requisite photos to accompany my posts. No excuses today. I just quickly snapped a couple pix of my latest art acquisition.

I've shared here before about my love of portraiture and collecting paintings. Ruth Shively, who lives just down the way in Portland, Oregon, is definitely one of my most favorite favorites. Several weeks back I added her glorious "Russe" to my collection. This painting, on wood panel, is 14" x 20" and will soon find her home on my bedroom wall. For now she is propped in a chair where I still get to see her daily. I love art in general, but much of it feelings fleeting to me. Not so with Ruth's compositions. Russe will endure.

motorcycle tire swing make-over

2011-09-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

BEFORE:

No longer usable tires from the motorcycle shop

DURING:

Indoor/outdoor paint in wildflower blue. No prep other than scrubbing down the tire a bit with an old toothbrush. No finish coat either. We want to keep this project simple and fast.

AFTER:

A bolt through the top, a large carabiner to connect it to the chain around the tree limb (another carabiner securing the chain in the tree) and holes drilled through the bottom for water drainage. Saddle up kids!

Movie time: Waste Land

2011-09-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

Movie time. How I've missed you. Recently, I snuck in a late night viewing while my household slept. It was worth the missed zzz's.

The film was Waste Land, a documentary by Lucy Walker set (mostly) at Jardim Gramacho, the world's largest garbage landfill just outside of Rio de Janeiro. Visual artist, Vic Muniz, travels back to his birth country to work collaboratively with a handful of trash pickers at the landfill to create art - art from trash. I was struck by the truly collaborative process behind the art as well as by the absence of exploitation of his "outsider" subjects.

Clearly, the experience of working with Muniz was transformative for his subjects. I would venture to say that watching the film was transformative for me. Universal themes, beautiful people, time well-spent.

music to work by

2011-09-17T18:40:00.001-07:00

I am lucky to get some time in my workspace this fine Saturday tweaking carvings, sketching out a couple more and deciding my focus for 2 upcoming shows. I've been without much time for Spool + Sparrow for a while and that feels bad. Listening to music and working with no background noise - children & such - has felt great.

Today it's been mostly Neko Case - love her!, The Decemberists, and The XX - great music to work by and not lose my focus. They've really grown on me. I'm generally not into videos, but here's a taste:

just a peek... the sea

2011-09-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

I've been mostly absent from the blogging world for longer than I would like. I miss so many of the places I like to visit.

In order to feel a part of it all until I manage to designate some time for it, here's a little peek at a couple new carvings - not necessarily in final form.

a definite nod to Ernst Haeckel

rites of passage

2011-09-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

My baby got pierced. I had given the ok earlier this summer but recommended we wait until after the heavy chlorine season. Then, the other day, I was able to offer a seemingly spontaneous "how about now?" to her plea of "can I soon, pleeease?!"

She didn't flinch, has been conscientious about after-care and appears to be sporting a pony-tail just a bit more often than usual.

new beginnings

2011-09-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of school - a day filled with excitement, confusion and copious tears shed by my little one. All in all, however, a victory. It will get easier. I spent time assisting kindergarteners with the transition and will again for the rest of the week and beyond. Fortunately, I did manage to swallow my own tears until I was clear of the campus.

I knew this would be a much tougher transition for my younger daughter than is was for my oldest. Still, it's tough. Even at 42, I can recall my own feelings around elementary school. So, for now, we're just going to continue discussing how the scared feelings slowly get smaller as the good feelings edge them out. The tears..., the anxiety..., it's all normal - woefully normal.

Spool + Sparrow (a short break in shipping)

2011-08-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

Greetings all. In order to take full advantage of the opportunity for a late summer hurrah, no order processing or shipping for the shop will take place for the remainder of the week. Certainly, orders are welcome, just know that I won't resume shipping until next week on Tuesday, (9/6) - Monday is Labor Day so no postal services open that day. Enjoy yourselves!

image found here

summer blueberry pie

2011-08-29T11:01:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, in honor of a dear friend's 25th birthday, we made a scrumptious blueberry pie. The kids deciding what to make her for the dessert portion was a multi-day process. They decided that a pie might be just a bit more "special" for our friend. The warm version was a tad bit too lemony to be sure. This morning however, the chilled left over for breakfast was perfection! Next pie (later this week) will be of the mixed berry variety.

One more big berry picking outing for blues this weekend - here - then we'll shift to blacks.

our stars are just a bit more star-like here

the artist at work adding egg-wash & cinnamon

to her little extras.

pre-K rumination

2011-08-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Life has been plenty busy this summer. Mostly the good kind of busy. Also plenty of the "kids-can't-let-Mom-have-a-moment-to-herself" kind of busy. I'm trying to maintain focus on enjoying some of our favorite summer adventures, sprinkling in some new ones, indulging a good bit of silliness and remembering to savor this stage of my girls' young lives.

As we prepare to go back to school, my youngest - who prefers to be addressed as 'Astrid these days - is gripped with anxiety about entering kindergarten. I think she understands that nearly all kids feel at least a bit of trepidation about kindergarten. Still, witnessing her struggle is pretty much heart-breaking for me. She has always communicated so much to me with just her eyes. I immediately recognize the look that says "I'm trying so hard to keep it together, Mom, but I really need you to tell me it's ok to cry and hug me tightly so I can feel reassured and safe because you do understand my feelings". My oldest, who is now entering 3rd grade, was certainly nervous at this stage - and is again a bit nervous to begin a new year - but it was a vastly different strain of nervous.

The fear strikes 'Astrid" with greatest intensity at night, at bedtime. Some nights our discussions seem to bring her some relief. Last night, she brought the conversation to a new, sort of metaphysical level. Just a small piece of our conversation went something like this:

her:Mom?

me: Yes?

her:Sometimes it seems like I don't know what is real. It's sort of like a dream. Like I'm in a dream. It doesn't all make sense. And I wonder things.

me: What kind of things do you wonder?

her:Things like.... who am I?..... why am I even here at all? Do you ever wonder things like that Mom?

me: Yes, Sweety. I sure do.

It was one of those nights that did seem to bring her some comfort, which means it brought me comfort as well. No quick remedy for this one, nor should there be. So, for now, we'll enjoy what remains of summer and continue our discussions. Next summer, I expect she'll have many new things to teach me. I just hope to remember who she was in the summer of 2011.

Summer Sale at Spool + Sparrow

2011-08-20T21:28:00.001-07:00

Have a look here.

hanging on to the dog days

2011-08-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

Our week-long annual vacation with friends was glorious. Ended all too soon, but that's to be expected. I plan to hang onto that vacation feeling a bit longer, although I will be in R&D mode for Spool + Sparrow this month. Summer adventures are still on the agenda - the closer to home kind.

Thinking I need to track down a large version of this photograph. It speaks to me...big time!

photo via garden rooms, as seen here

crafty kids...and another dragon

2011-08-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

The products of a morning sewing session with my 8-yr-old and her friend...

a mini ticky-tacky doll for a doll.

an ever functional cross-torso bag.

because dragons are magical.

break time

2011-08-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Pool sign via Summer Road

I'm be making a last run to the post office tomorrow morning, if necessary, before taking a break from packaging or shipping any shop orders until 8/16. It's time for our annual family adventure with close friends - swimming, s'mores and sleeping in (if we parents get lucky.)

get your dragon on

2011-08-03T21:02:00.001-07:00

easing back in... post-show update

2011-08-02T23:37:00.001-07:00

So the big show went off last weekend. It was fun, exhausting and a great opportunity to make new friends. Can you believe I didn't even bring my camera?! I did at least snap a couple booth shots with my phone and a couple of shots of kids in my dresses. Wish I had made photos (with a good camera) a priority, but I've been pretty darned busy of late and photos were not of highest priority. Next show, I'll do better about that.

Now I'm trying to prepare for an upcoming Poppytalk market, keep the kids reasonably engaged and get ready for our annual vacation with close friends. I'm ready for some serious relaxation... well, as close as one can get to that with spirited kids in the mix.

urban kayaking

2011-07-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived in Seattle. But once we hit the upper 70's, our delicate sensibilities require a cooling off. Dad to the rescue! My husband took the kids over to the Arboretum, last weekend, to meet up with friends for kayaking and a refreshing swim. We like navigating through the swampy areas on the south side of Union Bay, Sadly, I missed out on this adventure due to a need for sleep and a ridiculous amount of time spend in my basement workshop. With or without me, I'm glad they got out on the water. August will be my month for water play!

beer garden tables

2011-07-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

At the fabulous Oddfellows in Asheville, N.C. recently, I was smitten with these German beer garden tables & benches. They are also available here at Napastyle, although the sale price at Oddfellows was about $100 less. I don't think these pictures, found on Napastyle.com, quite do this set justice. Serious charm here. I nearly salivate at the thought of a large studio with a few of these tables - each with a single bench - lining the wall beneath a bank of sizable picture windows. Craft city for the kids!

Wishing you a happy weekend. Mine will be work-filled but possibly some family-friendly evening theater in the park as well. Enjoy!

this is Jack...these are pebbles..

2011-07-20T10:50:00.001-07:00

Jack is a jackrabbit. He is making an appearance on a couple of dresses and pillows for the big show.

These are magic beach pebbles. I especially love them on towels and bags in midnight, root and graphite. These pictures include my newish grey duck fabric made from recycled hemp & organic cotton.

Princess Leia

2011-07-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, my youngest went to a Star Wars theme birthday party. Fortunately, on Friday afternoon, she willingly gave up her first choice character, Padme Amidala, and agreed to be Princess Leia. This is far from the ideal time for me to fit in costume making, but a Leia gown can be whipped up quickly. A trip to the costume store confirmed that their offers were hideous, ill-fitting and relatively expensive. Another stop at the fabric store... et voila!

Leia wore her gown 3 days in a row and tells me she plans to wear it for Halloween as long as I go as Han (Hana) Solo. Deal!

party's over, back-to-work

2011-07-13T19:54:00.001-07:00

We returned from the mountains of North Carolina last night after a week visiting with family. I'll post some spectacular waterfall shots if they appear spectacular in any of our shots. Now it's time to get back to work.

The big show, mentioned here, is just around in corner at the end of the month. And my new cotton canvas labels have arrived! I am very excited about them. Printed on the spool, with bound edges on 2 sides, by Preethu of Priya Creations. It's been my experience to date that all labels made from natural fibers without some sort of finished edge will fray eventually - certainly after repeated washings - regardless of the use a fray check product. These are a bit wider than I've used in the past so I can fold over and stitch at the sides.

I've got many items in various states of construction but tomorrow will focus on making hang tags, sewing on lots of labels, signage and possibly a little bit of printing if I meet tonight's goal. Then, with a little luck, I'll shift to bags.

Edinburgh Film Fest - shorts jury prize winner

2011-07-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

Back in the 90's, in my pre-parenting days, the Seattle International Film Festival was a pretty significant annual occurrence in my life. I would pack myself a 'care package' (most commonly freshly made soft-pretzels), carefully strategize my viewing schedule in order to maximize the number of films I could attend, and delight in sharing the experience with others, like me, who stood in line alone and came to develop a sort of kinship with each other; like-minded loners who took the festival experience as far as we could. I'm talking total escape, thus, best to attend alone. We were not, however, of the same ilk as those who abandoned work and all other commitments for the duration of the festival... just the all other commitments part. Since then, I've only attended a few films during the festival with a friend. Certainly, equally enjoyable but not the greater level of immersion of years prior.

Attending the Edinburgh International Film Festival would have been a dream. That dream has been replaced by others. And now, it's pretty much Netflix or nada. This 2 min 25 sec short film - winner of the Nokia Short Jury Prize at Edinburgh - fits perfectly into my schedule. Do take a look. It's one of 8 films, each shot exclusively on a phone, that made it into the festival. Deservedly, it took the prize.

Splitscreen: A Love Story from JW Griffiths on Vimeo.

for the chocolate-lovin' music aficionado

2011-07-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Scottish band Found has released 50 of these chocolate 7" singles. Playable and edible (even the paper label). Have a look at this to see how it was done.

via Handmade Charlotte right here.

bring on the smoothies

2011-07-04T15:27:00.001-07:00

Freshly picked berries are one of those short-lived treats of the season not to be taken for granted. Some of these babies were quickly transformed into smoothies and milkshakes. 'Tis the time to keep frozen bananas on hand as they make for an essential smoothie ingredient.

a little red skirt

2011-06-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

I've added a deep red to my stash of knits (soy/organic cotton/spandex blend). Turns out it's my new favorite color for my women's ruffled skirt. I may try a black stripe on this one, but I kind of love it as is. Feels like your coziest jammies.

end-of-school whirlwind

2011-06-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

The past weeks have been plenty full. It's always busy, but the end of the school year seems to heap on extra. Production for my late July show continues.

Some new carvings are in the works. I tend to know immediately if a carving is a keeper. Any hesitation means it's just not quite there. Love my jackrabbit but want to create it in more of a silhouette so will show you at a later date. My feather(s) block, courtesy of kids who are crafty with feathers and rightfully fascinated by them is slated for use down the line. A keeper I've just started using is my arrows carving. It's inspired by those show here and the summer camp archery of youth. I like it on pillows, towels and aprons. Cups too. Mostly inspired by Fire King mugs and my favorite Fransciscan Starburst dinnerware which is what we use daily in our home. And I have a gorgeous new deep red knit that I love for garments. Another that is a french terry knit in a super versatile moss color which I'm not going to touch until late summer.

It might be in my better interests to reign in my range of products, but I have no desire to abandon any category of goods at this time. New ideas for summer garments 2012, as well as those I simply couldn't get to for this year, taunt me. So far I'm managing to keep myself from working up prototypes. Work smart! I tell myself.

Hope you've pulled your favorite pair of cut-offs from the drawer and welcomed the more relaxed days of summers however you see fit.

a pouffe in the shop...

2011-06-14T00:42:00.001-07:00

I can't resist listing just one pouffe in the shop. It's simply been too long. But, alas, production mode for the show means very few new listings until August.

production sewing

2011-06-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

The rapid approach of summer has meant extra activities related to the end of the school year - such as the field trip I returned from an hour ago - thus, virtually no time for blogging. I've been in production sewing mode in preparation for the Bellevue Festival of the Arts in July. For one who is most fond of one-of-a-kind and small batch sewing, it's a bit of a stretch. If I've made a half dozen of a given item, it's a challenge for me to resist changing it up. With the exception of a couple of tea towel designs, I'm not making more than 8 of any one item. I've got several piles of in progress garments. Trying my darnedest to work smart and resist the urge to finish up single items.

Items of focus for the show include:

bags - shoulder, tote, mobius, pinch pleated & hip-bags

dresses & skirts for girls (knit & woven)

skirts for women (woven only)

pillows & pouffes

tea towels

aprons - demi, pintuck, full & Jane-of-all-trades

My list may not be comprehensive. I've attempted one photo session with my girls. Two more to come by the end of the June. Here are a few of the most recent shots.

size medium

size small

Nadinoo

2011-05-31T22:45:00.000-07:00

In my present life, dressing for the day is largely a question of what is within reach that I might put on in under a minute. Usually, this includes the jeans lying across my catch-all basket, a t-shirt grabbed from the top of the drawer, or maybe a reasonably tailored button up shirt on days I managed to eek out an extra 20 seconds. A little more range comes in with the shoes. And there is always a super easy to wear a-line ruffle skirt in my go to basket that pairs well with pretty much anything. A bit boyish? Yep. Functional and comfortable? For sure. I love boyish paired with subtle, decidedly feminine touches. Admittedly, I've been lacking those extra touches. Accessories, make up, variety ... these are the parts I've pushed aside in order to maintain those things of greatest value in my life at this stage.

It's been a while since I've shared from my endless list of favorite Etsians. I've followed Nadia Izruna's shop, Nadinoo, since it appeared on Etsy a couple of years ago. There is much that is decidedly feminine here. Nadia offers those gorgeous silhouettes that draw me to garments from the 1920's-1960's. I'm loving her latest collection, but I continue to count pieces from her spring/summer 2010 collection among my favorite favorites.

hooked on pinch pleats

2011-05-24T23:30:00.000-07:00

Today I mangled a finger with a straight-peen hammer. It's an inconvenience for sure, but man does it hurt! So this post will be short. Don't think it's broken, but I expect to lose the nail and might need to do the hot-needle-throught-the-nail trick my husband suggested to let some blood out.

I was messing with hardware and leather belts - my preference for straps - while working on a couple of pinch pleated bags. I shared one such bag here. The hand-tying of so many pleats takes a while but I am smitten with the billowy results. No longer so smitten with the hammer.

this one work over the shoulder...

... or across the body

dark olive linen lined with a favorite checked linen in grey & plum

what's better than toast?! (a favorite label)

2011-05-23T00:25:00.000-07:00

Lately (that's code for 'several years now'), it's rare that I make time to check in on the collections of my favorite designers or labels. I feel pretty out of touch with the world of clothing design beyond Spool + Sparrow. I'm going to begin sharing some of my favorites here on a regular basis as a way to get me outside of my own little bubble. It will be almost like putting it on my calendar. If it makes it to my calendar, it gets done.

Ahhh Toast. Never a shortage of cozy, inviting classic design here.

check dress. looks so versatile, easy to wear, great pattern & colors.

swing jacket. 3/4 length sleeves on jackets are my favorite.

polka dot bather. I think polka dots make for the best suits.

salt water sandals. I'm not sure I can wear them any longer (need more cushion)

but they'll be in my heart forever.

ombre sarong. Although I'm not a sarong kind of girl, I could do something with this.

trousers. a wide-leg sailor pant always appeals to me. come to think of it, a narrow-leg sailor works too.

and then there were two..

2011-05-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

Back in September I introduced Vera. Last night, Betty Blue joined our ranks. She's a '59 Shasta and as you can see, she is a sight. You see, we're trying our best to make the neighbors proud. Because cramming your driveway with rusty ole heaps is neighborly, right?

Eventually Vera and Betty will unite into a single unstoppable adventure mobile. Our originally scheduled goal of a Memorial Day weekend unveiling has been reconsidered.

mini moos & a sneaky peek

2011-05-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

The arrival of a new batch of mini moo cards is always fun. For me, they double as hang tags and business card. For the kids, they represent much more. Plus, they're great for playing the matching game.

And a little peek at my newest item. This is only a quick prototype to work from. I generally start with a mock up and adjust from there. Meant to be worn hip slung or at the waist.

a perfect pouch

2011-05-13T11:07:00.001-07:00

Just caught this sweet little number on Poppytalk. It's from Scout & Catalogue's Scavenger series.

Or, how about this one...

Smitten kitten!

Ira Glass on creativity

2011-05-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

photo via gothamist.com

Recently, while visiting Ellie Snow's design blog, Mint, I was drawn in by the big photo of Ira Glass that Ellie featured. Who doesn't love Ira glass and the ever fascinating projects he voices and brings to life?

I like what he has to say about being disappointed with our creative work, in the early years. I suppose there are myriad reasons for disappointment with our own creativity, but this works for me...

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through."

— Ira Glass via Fresh Air, as seen on Mint.

as seen at Barn Own Primitives

The Makers: a photo project by Jennifer Causey

2011-05-10T12:47:00.001-07:00

I love The Makers Project by Jennifer Causey. And not just because she has included a couple of my favorites, Lena Corwin & Clam Lab, although that doesn't hurt. A peek into the processes and craftsmanship of creative people is always fascinating. Through the lens of Jennifer Causey, it leaves me inspired and craving more.

The Printer at work, photos by Jennifer Causey

The Ceramicist at work, photos by Jennifer Causey

don't shoot your eye out

2011-05-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

My girls have grown to appreciate the potential for great finds at our local thrift stores. I don't think they quite grasp the reality that I return home empty-handed far more frequently than with any kind of long sought after gem in my mitts. When we encounter a desirable 'something' that just happens to be a blue tagged $1.29 Manager's Special or 50% off that day, my oldest jumps up and down with a smile of victory and promptly begins her effort to talk me into it. In these instances, I give in quickly - mostly because it's wizardry and sleuthing books she's been seeking of late. And great cowboy boots are always on the radar!

After recently finding a super deluxe set of boxing gloves, I've made a habit of looking for the next super deluxe set which I will not make the mistake of passing up second time around. My 4-yr-old loved punching me 20 or 30 times in the store. At our annual egg hunt, this year, another Mom thought equipping the kids with boxing gloves at next year's event would make perfect sense. It would add an exciting new dimension to the hunt. Over spring break, we added a mini (40") trampoline to our household. If that doesn't sufficiently increase our injury rate, the gloves surely will.

photo via oldcrowfarm

I little while back I could not resist a very cool old quiver and arrow set that simply reeks of the nostalgia of my summer camp youth on Orcas Island in the late 70's/early 80's. I've managed to keep myself from adding the bow for now, as even I would feel compelled to immediately head out back to draw a chalk target on the fence.

a sprucing up

2011-05-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

I received some fabulous goodies this week from the most hi-larious Rebecca of BananaSaurus Rex. Stella and I concur... this corsage, made by Rebecca, is the perfect touch to spruce up an old favorite.

simple signs of summer

2011-05-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

One warm beautiful day this past weekend. But we need more. Maybe two gorgeous days in a row please.

A simple daisy chain and well-loved jeans ready for the conversion to cut-offs... those are sure signs that summer is out there. It really is, right?

geta, gong, and other goodness

2011-04-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

Japanese hari bako (sewing box) from the 1940's

The other day, my youngest and I managed a detour in our routine of the day to stop in at Kyoto's annual 11-day sale. They open only once a year for this short period of time in a fantastic warehouse space in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle.

We lucked into a well-worn pair of geta sandals for only $10. For more than a couple of years, we have been half-heartedly in pursuit of a pair of 2 teeth (2 cleat) getas. This pair did not disappoint!

At last year's sale, I passed on a suzu bowl - aka a singing bowl - in favor of my beloved hari bako. So this year I left with a small suzu bowl. We'll need a more suitable mallet to use it than what we have, but it shouldn't be a problem to make one. These bowls remind me so much of the blessings both of my girls received as babies by buddhist monks in China. My husband and I were part of the same ceremony but it's my babies that this bowl and its singing brings to mind.

And finally, I purchase 2 Japanese wedding boxes for the girls to use to house their myriad treasures. For now, the boxes are in my closet. I think I'll await the right occasion to officially present them to the girls. My littlest says she'll keep the secret.

I'm just as jealous....

2011-04-27T16:15:00.000-07:00

as The Jealous Curator is of Thomas Campbell. A self-taught painter, sculptor, photographer, film-maker. A do-er who makes things happen. That inspires me. He's pretty much an empire. One of my favorite pictures from his site is this:

a space I can relate to...although his has windows

Love this!

I keep used needles (those beyond a usable life with textiles) in

my cork board to use for stitching paper.

above photos via v1gallery.com

Check out this interview, from last year, with Slap Magazine.

And I should share this video from Thomas's blog, for my husband. You must watch to the end.

Must mention too - the previous post from the fabulous Jealous Curator was on Julie Morstad whose work I always adore!

If you don't already follow The Jealous Curator, you are seriously missing out. It's a place I often encounter something new. Sometimes the massive world of design blogs seems far too small - just a recycling of more of the same. Thus, in my mind, something new is no small feat.

How cool is this?! Tempest Freerunning Academy

2011-04-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Tempest Freerunning Academy from The Cool Hunter on Vimeo.

pinch pleat love

2011-04-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

I've been away for my little home on the web for a week now. Spring break for the kiddos is drawing to a close. Today was our annual egg hunt - a great finale to the week! Pictures possibly if hubby took many. I was too engaged to think about grabbing the camera.

In any case, I feel the need to check in as I begin transitioning back to our routine. I've been playing around with pinch pleats. One outcome is this little bag. Just put it up in the shop. A blend of refined (hand-tied grid of pleats) and rustic (up-cycled leather belt strap & closure and high-texture, heavy-weight linen - the kind of linen likely to reveal a bit of raw flax peeking out. I love the contrasting elements of what I describe as a slouchy, quirky little number. I hope the Easter Bunny was good to you!

It's about darned time... new full apron

2011-04-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

I've had some requests for full aprons. As much as I have wanted to, I've been unable to make time for it. Then, last week, a great customer of mine in Australia asked if I would make her one. I said yes without hesitation, and I'm so glad I did.

It's full, works for men and women, and I expect I'll soon be wearing one up to the schoolyard as the nice big pocket will hold an assortment of found treasures - lucky rocks, rusty bolts, old pens that have seen better days. One of my girls is the queen of junkin' and thinking up ways to incorporate her finds into machines and art of her own design.

This one is blue (dark cerulean to be precise) with jet black stripes no.2. Another will arrive in the shop very quickly.

Mumford and Sons: White Blank Page

2011-04-15T01:34:00.000-07:00

Haven't been able to find time for blogging this week, but it's always fun and fairly quick to post a song - as is pretty much my routine here.

It seems the past year+ was a time of well-deserved praise for Mumford & Sons. I found it tough to pick a song to share. I really like the Bookshop Sessions videos. When you love what you do, it's hard to miss.

Urban Nature and a new love for mason bees

2011-04-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

my oldest hard at work on her mason bee nesting box

The weekend is, sadly, drawing to a close. The rain stayed away until today, but the wet afternoon was well-suited for some Harry Potter reading and movie viewing. Yesterday, I took the girls to a truly awesome urban nature festival here in Seattle. We spent about 2 1/2 hours at the event and might have liked another hour were it not coming to an end. We'll hope they do it again next spring. My oldest was eager to get home with her pet mason bee, which was in the process of "hatching" from its cocoon. Too my daughter's joy, she did fully exit her cocoon about 7 hours later and was set free this morning.

Back to the show. We were riveted by the docile, sweet little mason bees from Knox Cellars Native Bees. Lisa, who came down from Bellingham, to share them was fabulous. Mason bees are docile and great for kids, and adults alike, who are just getting to know bees. Lisa was assisting the bees out of their cocoon homes - where they had spent the past 9 months, in refrigeration - by cutting little slits and partially opening them. Fascinating to see the horns of the females and watch them as their wings dried, they crawled around on our hands and prepared to attempt flight. I think they need a full 30 minutes, minimum, before they're ready for full-on sustained flight. The females can sting but usually won't. Over 20 years of working with bees, Lisa has only be stung three times. The girls and I were hooked! We don't mind that masons don't make honey or that they have such a short lifespan. Their temperament, solitary nature and great pollinating ability is perfect for our yard.

orchard mason bee, via British Columbia's Ministry of Agriculture

Aside from the bees, we loved getting to meet one of the great horned owls, Bob, from our local zoo. Bob can't fly due to a severed nerve. He was found on a trail by some hikers with cuts covering his body. After rehab he has proven to be an excellent ambassador for owls and other raptors. He is bea-u-ti-ful!! I had drawn up a little horned owl, recently, to eventually carve into a printing block. Bob is the perfect inspiration to finish it up.

horned owl from our zoo website. I don't think this is Bob

Don, from Insect Safari, has the most amazing collection of specimens. I've encountered him before but hadn't ever seen this much of his collection. He's another one with a fantastic style of responding to questions, furthering interest, and helping to shift our typically anthropomorphic mind set a bit. Perfect to capture the attention of a budding entomologist!

via Don's website, theinsectsafari.com

The Reptile Guy from Roving Reptiles - he'd be great for a party - did not disappoint. Snakes, monitors, turtles, even an alligator. While much of his subtle humor was lost on my 4-yr-old, it was just that much more fun for the adults. And there was more, but you get the gist. Great stories from people so passionate about their area of expertise and highly capable of passing on the enthusiasm. Who wouldn't be gripped and grossed out by the story from the guy from NOAA who was performing a necropsy on a whale when he noticed the massive whale lice jumping from the dead whale to his own leg?! When he was able to pull these critters off, their legs stayed imbedded in his own leg. Ugh!

whale lice via marinebio.net

We shared our enthusiasm back at home with my husband who then worked with the girls to create a bee block for each of them. They worked with Dad to drill all of the holes, then lined each hole with parchment paper and used our wood-burning tool to add their names. Photos coming of the final nesting blocks hanging on our shed outside once the sun returns. Photos taken at the show were made with my phone and are of poor quality - darn - so I'll not post them. In any case, we are now committed to a more intimate relationship with our native bees. Orchard mason bees (osmia lignaria) now, maybe Californicas (osmia californica) come summer.

Lastly, I mustn't forget to share our new clothes pin people made this weekend. These two were made by my youngest with only a tad bit of assistance from me. Love that floral dress with flower belt.

Mom & Daughter

Clementine. I've already forgotten her daughter's name.

new skirts on a real, live human

2011-04-09T01:35:00.000-07:00

Typically, now, I take my own product photos. I despise being photographed, but when it comes to apparel, you gotta see it on a person. I can take some shots on Stella, but she is kind of perfect - and lest you forget... perfect is not where it's at.

So it's a challenge to find a time when it's dry outside, away from the backdrop of our pre-Spring planting-beds-of-death, when the light is about right and my husband is available to take some shots. This evening, we managed some skirt shots in anticipation of rain tomorrow. It was agonizing, but I have deleted the most painful shots. These are simply painful, but you do get to see some color combos and the final design. Next time I mention women's skirts, it should be to announce that I am finally listing them in my shop. Enjoy the weekend!

slate ruffled - kind of matches my hair these days

brown ruffled w/black racing stripe

black ruffled w/blue fog racing stripe

blue fog ruffled w/brown racing stripe