little birds handmade

just hatched

Despite all my talk of spring, we've had relentless rain (and occasional snow) around here. So much rain in fact that a major leak forced Miles to evacuate his room and move in with his (none-too-pleased) sister. I'm still feeling spring, though.

This little chick is made from the softest, fluffiest alpaca and wool blend. I've had my eye on this luxurious fabric for a while, and it finally was marked down enough for me to be able to afford my little quarter of a yard. She's stuffed with wool as usual and has fabric-wrapped wire feet. My inspiration was this feather chick my sister gave me last year. A little flock of these chicks will be in my shop next week just in time for Easter baskets or other celebrations of spring. I'll let you know which day ahead of time.

forgot to add: Larissa is selling her very cool meathead hat pattern to benefit a family here in Portland. I'm totally excited to make one - even if I may have forgotten how to knit (it's been over a year now). She's accepting donations from non-knitters as well.

harbingers

 

These crocuses are a sure-fire harbinger of spring in my neighborhood. They are popping up everywhere.

Other harbingers of spring around here:

the rare warm and sunny day that calls you outside to jump rope in your bare feet :: the preparation of taxes for our entirely self-employed household (wherein I start looking at every expense as a potential write-off) ::  the rearranging of furniture :: the last (we hope) round of winter colds :: the resurrection of abandoned renovation projects :: the spreading of compost in the future garden plot :: the empty box of valentine's chocolates :: and you?

eggcellent

I snipped a slash into my favorite black a-line knit skirt while trimming threads a while back, and I finally rescued it from the fix-it pile with a little applique. The tumbling eggs are in vintage, new and Japanese fabrics.

I originally played around with the fabric eggs motif last fall in a journal I completed for a Fiskars scissors ad campaign (maybe you saw the ads in Readymade magazine last year?).  They gave me a list of rather goofy questions about sewing and creativity to answer in the journal. I don't even remember what the question was that prompted this response.

I see that Kristina did this project too (what cute and colorful responses!). Anyway, they received quite a few journals this time around (hundreds, maybe?...I can't remember what they told me), but ended up deciding to not run the sewing ads (concentrating on that scrapbooking market instead). They did, however, decide to pick just one sewing page to use for promotional purposes, and I found out last month that it was from my journal! It's not this one...I'll share it once it's in print. I was super-duper excited as I received a handsome reward, but I didn't have to have my photo in a national magazine! Big thanks to Alicia who asked me to participate!

***For everyone wanting more information about the bowl/mug/plate set in my last post, it has no markings. I gather from comments that it's probably from the early 80s. My plate probably belongs to the boy set although I think she looks pretty cute in her blue sneakers.***

more fridaying

finding the companion mug and plate to my face bowl at an estate sale. i've had the bowl (i have a boy one too) for years.

listening to Peter Bjorn and John (my kids' preferred dance music of the moment)

discovering the rack of wool jersey at the fabric store and...

contemplating making my own wardrobe and...

wondering if i need a serger to sew wool jersey?

smiling that the sartorialist will have his eye on kids in cookie magazine (i love kids and kids' clothing with great style, especially stuff that is not so matchy-matchy or syrupy sweet. i'm sure the sartorialist will deliver).

taking out the sad rose bushes in the backyard and...

making room for berry bushes (summer berries, here we come!)

going on an internet diet (i need a little less screen time in my life). it's all about controlled portions.

loving keri smith's unbranded product skins

wishing everyone another great weekend

squirreling away

The show that I am doing with my sister will be opening at Doe on May 4th. I'm planning on flying down solo for the weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't had more than a day on my own in...hmmm...almost 8 years, I guess!

happy valentines day!

on 3191

I know I promised at some point that I would talk a little bit about 3191. I'm reluctant to talk about it because I love how quiet it is over there. I love that I don't have to say anything. I think mav feels the same way. The entire project came together in an entirely visual way. One day back in December, mav sent me a photo I had taken paired with one she had taken the same day (see them here). She asked if I was interested in creating a blog of morning diptychs. I said yes. We never ever discussed the subject matter or style of photos. It was important to us that the project feel really organic and natural and unforced. I feel as though we've succeeded.

Am I really a morning person? Not in the sense that I awaken chipper and bubbly, no, but in the sense that if I sleep in I feel as though something has been stolen from me, yes. My ideal morning is just me and my coffee and a window. My actual morning involves helping two children to be dressed and fed, lunches made, hair combed, teeth brushed, conflicts resolved,  homework found, and at two different schools on time. When I return after this frenzy it's finally just me and my coffee and my window. This is usually when I take my photos (it's also when the sun is high enough for there to be any natural light). Often, at some point earlier in the morning I've noticed something that I'd like to capture. I try to never spend more than a few minutes taking a photo. I do take advantage of spots in my house that have decent morning light. Today was so very gray that I decided to go outside.

I email my photo to mav who pairs it with the one she took earlier and posts them on 3191. It's thrilling every day to see them appear together. It always feels like magic. I immediately look for the connections between the two as well as the contrasts. I love to come back later in the day and read the comments and see it through all of your eyes.

Thank you to everyone who visits. So many of you have asked if we will be creating a book. We think that's a very cool idea, but we're also really happy with 3191 just as it is. We hope you are too.

fridaying

regretting that i was not able to accomplish more this week

feeling determined to cross some things off my list next week

driving with the windows down

listening to the new six parts seven

eating stale cupcakes on the porch

smiling at something special i made in it's new home

trying many of the recipes that appeared around blogville this week

wishing i was going here this weekend

saying goodbye to the yellow walls in my dining room (they're going to be ::white:: )

cutting my own hair (!)

dreaming of a seascape made of soft sculptures (have to finish the forest first)

hoping everyone has a great weekend

handiwork

I love to sew things by hand. I feel so much more connected to my work than when I am using a machine. I am a little bit afraid of my sewing machine just as I am a little bit afraid of my car and my Cuisanart.

Another craft blogger was telling me that she felt as if her hands were 5 times bigger when she works with small things (which made me think of Gael Garcia Bernal's character doing the cut and paste work in The Science of Sleep). I, in turn, feel like I'm drowning in fabric every time I try to tackle something larger than a tote bag. I'm a big and clumsy person, but I feel capable and in control when I'm stitching up tiny things.

Plus, it fits right in with my slow life movement.

whoops.

granola-types

February has always been one of my favorite months (sorry February-haters, but it's true!). The worst of the darkness is behind me; the days are getting longer, mornings brighter. I always have newly-found energy in February. Granted, I live in a relatively mild climate (I have no idea what below zero Fahrenheit feels like!), but spring seems like it is just around the corner.

For all of you who *do* have the seasonal blues (or are just waiting out frigid temps), would some granola make you feel better? Have some granola. Here's how I've been making it since college:

8 cups rolled oats
2-3 cups seeds, nuts or other add-ins. (this batch had unsweetened coconut, flax seeds and almonds, but we also like sunflower and sesame seeds, pecans, walnuts, any nut, really).
1 cup maple syrup or honey (or a combination of both)
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch o' salt

In a large bowl, mix the oats with your other add-ins (I like to toast my seeds first in the toaster oven if they're not already toasted). In a small saucepan heat the oil with the syrup or honey until blended and then add the vanilla and salt (we've also been known to add a dollop of peanut or almond butter during this step). Stir syrup mixture into the oats until everything is well coated. Spread mixture into roasting or broiling pan (something shallow with sides is good). Cook in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes (or until nicely browned), stirring every 5-10 minutes to ensure even cooking.

After it's all cooled, you might want to add chopped dried fruit or raisins. Enjoy!