the simple things

The Simple Things is a beautiful UK based magazine, and I'm so happy to have one of my projects featured in its latest issue. Soon it will be time to hang the clothes on the line, and nothing is handier than one of these burlap peg bags.  And for those of you non-sewers, I'm putting them on my list for my next shop update... along with stamped pouches, since it seems like those are clear necessities for many of you!

Here's how The Simple Things describes itself:

It’s about slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and making simple food for friendly gatherings. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage in thrift shops, and decorate our home with the plunder.

And we like to think that the small things we do will make a difference in the long run – whether that’s making, upcycling, growing, cooking, entertaining, escaping or relaxing.

Perfect, right!? You can view some of this issue right here.

Have a fabulous start to your week, my friends!

cashmere cowl

 Any sweater thrifter knows that finding cashmere is a kin to striking gold. Discovering one in an extra large is the jackpot! And that's just how I felt when I took home this one in deep red. After several good washings and lavender sachet drying cycles, I was ready to work with it, but decided to save it for holiday gifts. 

I've been caressing its luxuriousness every time I enter my studio... longing to wrap it around me somehow. So I did... As the first snow flurry began to fall this morning, I grabbed my scissors and cut off the bottom and top of the body of the sweater. This left me with a center ring that was 16" in height and plenty of leftovers for crafting arm/legwarmers, earbands, flowers, etc. 

That red cashmere ring is THE softest infinity scarf and the coziest cowl. EVER!

And just what I needed to keep me warm and get me into the holiday spirit. Do you think it's too early? Nahhh!

p.s. my pics have been "noisier" as I've been relying all month on my iPhone. I do love that little phone camera, but can't wait for my canon to be working again.

windows

So many good things are keeping me busy these days, but when I have a window, you can bet you'll find me playing with my leather scraps. The small pieces inform the direction of each unique project. The stitching I'm doing is essentially patchwork, but I prefer to think of it as creating "windows" for the leather to shine through. The contrast of textures really appeals to me. Here's one more completed pouch. This leather has the same rich color as the horse chestnuts falling from our tree. And can you believe I had a vintage metal zipper that matched?!

 I broke two universal needles in a row, so success really does depend on the weight of leather you're working with. Switching out to a leather needle was the solution.

This pouch and several more will be available next week when I do my first shop update in a good long while.

to market, to market

I'm in sewing production mode these days. Last week was all about cutting, and this week is stitch focused. I'm adding reinvented coffee sack market bags to to my product line. There have been far too many requests to ignore, and the farmer's market season is upon us out here in the northeast.

 I am currently only making items for the Squam Art Fair, but am hoping to do a shop update upon returning. There is only one to show you because making in multiples/mass requires a certain formula for maximizing efficiency. I completed this in one fell swoop, but my usual method involves doing each step over and over again for all like items before moving on to the next step. This means my studio has piles of different things at various stages of readiness. Not so easy to blog about... unless you'd like some tips on production sewing. You would? Great!

Production Sewing Tips:

1. Check your supplies ahead of time, and make sure you're stocked up. Who wants to run out of thread and needles when you're in your sewing groove?
2. Thread lots of bobbins before you begin. 
3. Cut everything first. Even if there are multiple projects, do it all at once.
4. Keep your iron set up and ready.
5. Sew in stages, as said above. Make all handles at the same time, sew zippers all at once, etc.
6. Snip obvious threads as you go, but leave the last threads on everything to do together as you watch a movie and drink a glass of wine (or whatever your preferred beverage is).

I'm sure I'm forgetting some tips... want to help me out? When you're sewing lots of things at once, either to sell or during gift giving season, do you have some good shortcuts to share? 

brought to you by the letter "L"

 

For the past 5 years, the arrival of the lilacs has coincided with my happy anticipation for heading to Squam Art Workshops. One of the highlights each year is the Art Fair, and I have begun the process of making my wares. If we're lucky the luna moths and loons will join us at the lake, so I thought I'd make some little zipper pouches inspired by them. They turned out so sweetly that I'm now prepping lots more and asking all of my friends for their extra Tyvek mailers!

Loving lilacs, loons and lunas... 

grey trapezoid tote

It seems that I'm on a charcoal bag kick. There was the linen one in the last post, there's some industrial grey wool on my cutting table, and than there's this quickie I whipped up yesterday. I just needed something bigger than my current tote- an easy "toss everything in" bag. Funny how everything is the same color this week. Soft, neutral, put-together, works with everything... charcoal grey.

Yesterday's new project was reinvented from a pair of men's wool trousers. They had been abandoned by my ex-husband, but you can find them at thrift stores by the dozens. I decided to turn it into something useful, rather than toss them or be bitter. But I will admit that I enjoyed the deconstruction immensely. 

First- I cut off one leg and ripped open a seam from ankle to thigh. Next, I sheared off the bottom cuff and opened the leg to get as much usable fabric as possible. That felt good... satisfying, to say the least. Now, I could move on to creating something new. 

Spread out on the table, the seam left in tact was now in the center with the wrong side facing up. When I folded up the bottom, a trapezoid appeared, and the bag's shape took form.  I cut a lining fabric to match. It was some yardage discovered at SewGreen years ago and ties in the contrasting white thread perfectly. Using a feather stitch directly over leg seam reinforces it while adding a sweet detail to an otherwise very minimalistic tote. A thin strip of grey leather makes a delicate, but tough strap. I completed it in less than an hour, and packed it up with afternoon snacks for hungry kids. Now, that's a happy (and useful) reinvention!

And for the underbelly of my week, there's always a little Honoring Hope, if you are so inclined. Have a lovely weekend!

Swift sew!

There's always the quick and happy making of Tyvek pouches- instructions are in my book.  I made several yesterday!

Metallic paint was used for this one, and it has a slight bronzy shimmer that doesn't translate in this photo, but is subtly sophisticated. I love how I can match colors and prints with personalities/tastes of the recipients. Super personal. And yes, my triangles are ever so slightly slanted, but she'll still love me... maybe more!

Sharpies also work wonderfully on Tyvek, so these pouches can become a great canvas for child-made illustrations. Still working on those!
Back to making I go...

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winter workshop at ithacamade!

WINTER WORKSHOP 

where: ithacamade, state st. next door to Mimi's Attic 

when: Sunday, December 2

time: 1-3pm

The wool trivet and coasters from Reinvention are the perfect handmade gift for the holidays. They're simple, satisfying and can be made in multiples for teachers, grandparents, and friends. I'll be giving a demo on just how fast they whip up on a sewing machine and share some great variations for hand-sewers and children. There will be plenty of rescued wool and supplies for you to get started on your own. At my side will be friend and fellow maker, Jan Norman from Silk Oak and Ithacamade (and multiple other amazing projects!).

If you're in the neighborhood (downtown Ithaca, NY) on Sunday afternoon, I do hope you'll come by for some holiday crafting! I'd love to see you and children are always very welcome!

Jan will have a stack of my books on hand and is generously offering $5 off the regular price just for this gathering. And of course, I'll be excited to sign any copies that are put in my hands!

See you Sunday!

reinvented cuff

 

 I'm having so much fun with those bike inner tubes. Plenty of folks before me have found inspiration in this rescued material, but I'm having a blast putting my own twist on it. I'm listening to what it wants to be... I'm experimenting with what it can do. I'll be showing you what I've come up with soon, but here's my very first attempt at introducing it to my sewing machine. They fell in love instantly! This is a stitch sampler cuff that has just the right amount of stretch to slip over my wrist but feel secure. It's lightweight and soft, but totally rugged and ready for anything. I wash a ton of dishes (no dishwasher here) and work with my hands constantly... from country chores to diy projects. Jewelry doesn't usually fit in, with the exception of that moonstone ring I've had since college. But this cuff? It hasn't come off the entire weekend. And it feels like me: urban country. Yup, that's my new name for my style... which I never thought of as a style until recently. I'm planning on making some more for my shop come the holidays... what a great little gift, right? Perfect for bike lovers or any other urban country folk out there!

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instant wristies

This is certainly not rocket science... I would hesitate to even call it a tutorial. Let's just call it a reminder to not throw out any ripped or abandoned tights... especially those thick or cotton wool ones. Whether they be your daughter's or yours, I encourage you to find your fabric shears (or any ol' pair of scissors) and transform them into something wearable. As the temperature drops, I love having a little something cozy around my hands and wrists. These are also helpful for extending the season on 3 quarter length shirts. 5 minutes to cozy!

inspiration board on design*sponge

I'm so pleased to share this link to Design*Sponge today! You'll find the full instructions to make my burlap inspiration boards from Reinvention. There are endless varieties for adding organization with various pockets. These boards can help sort and stash tools as well as be a spot for gathering inspiration.

The board they featured is one that I created based on flight, soaring ... finding our wings. It was photographed almost exactly one year ago and has since morphed into something new. How fascinating to look at it a full turning of the seasons later. Don't forget to photograph your inspiration boards before you dismantle of freshen them. They are snapshots of our past and can carry messages to the present.

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soulful stitching

 

 Last Thursday I gathered with some amazing women to create wearable collages... Story Scarves. It's the opening project in my book, Reinvention, and was a fantastic way to begin Squam 2012!

We worked in The Playhouse, a huge old barn structure filled with Squam history and a giant stone hearth that blazed during the cool hours of the morning. Sewing machines whirred, linen and silk flew, tears flowed, and laughter poured out as we worked all day.

Everyone brought deeply meaningful scraps of fabric... from family members recently lost, to mother's birthing gowns, to clothing worn at important moments in their lives. They wove them together to create a tactile picture that words can't always express.   .  The architecture and atmosphere of each classroom at Squam is totally unique. I love making it an inspiring and creative space filled with banners and flowers... and then watching how the content of what we are doing interacts with the environment. The stitchers discovered that the railings/planks along our deck were the perfect width and length for laying out their scarf designs. Brilliant!  These same planks also worked beautifully as table tops, drenched in natural light, for carving stamps. Just pull up a chair...

At the beginning of the class I emphasized how much this kind of sewing is a process... the actual scarf cannot be planned ahead of time... it evolves as it is pieced together. I asked them to trust. The elation and wonder of seeing how their individual scarves truly came together was one of the highlights of all of my teaching experiences combined. Look at these beautiful expressions as their stories emerged!

I am so grateful to every one of these passionate and inspiring women that chose to spend the day sewing with me. I fell in love with each of them... and feel honored to know their stories.
 I will be teaching Story Scarves again in the fall, and I can't wait! There are still a few spots, so if Squam has been calling you, perhaps I will see you in September. To read about all of the wonderful experiences from last week's lakeside retreat, Elizabeth has rounded up the many shining blog posts right here. Good weekend reading with a tall glass of ice tea...

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an heirloom table runner on etsy!

   Many months ago, Elizabeth contacted me with an exciting sewing project... a collaboration of sorts on a custom gift for her good friend (and fellow Squamee) who had recently gotten married. The invitation to create also included the opportunity to make a tutorial for the project to share on Etsy. Obviously, the answer was a big fat whopping YES! What a gift to both the bride and me- thank you dear, Elizabeth! She had the ingenious idea of transforming one of my Story Scarves into a table runner. Brilliant, I tell you! She sent me two special napkins to include, and then let me figure out the rest. Once the last stitch was done and final thread snipped, Thea drove (3 hours!) over to my place for a sleepover and  a photo shoot at the barn. Today it goes live... on none other than Etsy's brand new wedding blog!!!!!
Go on over and get the full story from Elizabeth and the complete instructions from me, accompanied by gorgeous Thea photography.  Click here.

 Kinda feeling like a glass of bubbly right now! Cheers Elizabeth and Thea! Big congratulations to J & J!

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reinvention tour: made

We're in the homestretch of the reinvention blog tour, and it's been a wonderful journey! I'm so grateful to everyone that has given their time, energy and love to my new book. From tour guides, to lovely commentors... you all have made this a very sweet and memorable beginning.

Dana of MADE is today's stop on the tour, and she gives a wonderful review. Her sewing skills, resourcefulness, and gorgeous photography always inspire! I marvel at her ceaseless energy in the midst of three young children, and am so happy she took some time out to join in the reinvention celebration. Head on over for her sneak peek, review, and giveaway. While you're there, get comfy and poke around... she has lots of fantastic projects and tips I know you're going to love. Thanks Dana!

summer reinvention challenge!

Reinvention was written with the high hopes of inspiring others to seek out materials that needed rescuing. I've teamed up with one of my favorite sewing sites: Sew, Mama, Sew! to create a challenge that jump starts your summer crafting with the motivation to use what's already have on hand. May I introduce you to the:

 summer reinvention challenge!

 Use one or more of the seven materials in the book for your own sewing project (linen, burlap, jersey, wool, denim, mailers + “vintage”). Share a photo and link to your post about the project right here at Sew, Mama, Sew! from now through May 31 for your chance to win a copy of the book, a Tyvek pouch made by me, and a kit for a burlap bin! A winner will be selected by the Sew,Mama,Sew! staff and me.  Go on over and read all about it. You can pull the button above to include in your post and/or to help us spread the word about the challenge! I know just how inspiring and totally resourceful you are, so let's get going!

eggs&chives :: sew&tell

Morning friends! My kitchen is seeing a lot of eggs these days. Custard is flowing and scrambles are a constant. Chives are at their peak right now and are perfect for throwing into everything, especially scrambles and frittatas. But what I discovered over the weekend was how well they can be used as needle and thread. What? Yes- I stitched up an overflowing wrap and felt mighty proud of my handywork. How to? poke holes into a tortilla with the sturdy end of  a chive. Weave through the holes and tie two ends together. Makes for a lovely presentation, too. So if you're looking for clever ways to wrap and adorn food, look no further than chives. They're super easy to grow and return each year without any help. Come May, their gorgeous purple blossoms add beauty and kick to everything. 

So as I eat my morning chive wrap, I've been trying to figure out some magic to pull out of my hat. Since I discovered that today's stop on the tour (the one I've been super excited about) has been delayed by a few days, I've been working on some snazzy way to mask my disappointment, so ruffled feathers would show. That's not working for me, though. I am bummed, but I'll take this as an opportunity to breathe and put into practice my new attitude of "rolling with it". The last few months have given me more than one opportunity to meditate on letting go. This is truly no biggie.  Besides, Etsy has such fresh, exciting things in the works, and the post/project that I worked on for them will be amidst all that new good stuff. It's quite thrilling really and will be worth the wait!

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In the meantime, I have two invitations for all of you who have been writing in and telling me how much you're enjoying your copy of reinvention. I couldn't be happier! Thank you! I'd be ever so grateful if a few of you would funnel those lovely words of praise over to Amazon's review page. Or even click their little thumbs up button. Oh yes, please!  And those of you that have begun sewing, I can barely wait to see what you come up with. Because of the differing materials we all use, the variations will be fascinating to share and celebrate. I've created a flickr group for everyone:  reinvention: sew and tell. I welcome you to upload your project photos. Last night, I discovered that long time reader, April, has been BUSY reinventing! You can read her post here, and she's already added her pics to flickr. Go April!

Join here: flickr group- reinvention:sew and tell

to be with them... and tour week #3

"What do you want for your Mama day?" asked my little girl.

"What would you really like to do on Mother's day, Mom?" asked that sweet and sensitive boy of mine.

And this is what I said:

To eat yummy food that we cook together. To be with you.

To stay outside all day. To be with you.

To swing and sing. To be with you.

To plant vegetables and fruits and flowers. To be with you.

To play and draw. To be with you.

 

And so we did just that. We ate crazy good food from our yard and neighboring farms. Our tiny orchard grew to include 3 new apple trees and one peach... each hole dug by a very strong 13 year old! A future rainbow of seeds and seedlings went into the ground, while my daughter drew her own version in the shade. And play never stops when there are silly chicken antics to follow along with. Our little flock continues to be the source of much entertainment these days. With the help of the sun and those children I love, I got my wish. I hope you had a lovely Mother's Day, too!

Today the reinvention tour visits with my good friend Betz. She's another "beyond virtual buddy"... a real life friend who I was fortunate enough to meet at my very first Squam. She's one of the most clever crafters I know, and we share a love for "making somethin' outa nothin' " . I have been especially excited to see what project would grab her attention first. Go see what she made... it's my favorite quick sew! Smart folding means there's a possibility for no fabric cutting whatsoever! I love what she made it for and where it's accompanying her. If you haven't won a copy of reinvention yet... Betz has one extra, so hop on over! Thank you Betz!

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reinvention: behind the scenes #2

 Sometimes we have to look at the big picture to fully understand the details. Surroundings play a huge role even when we can't see them. Learning to feel the whole picture when we can't fully see it comes quite naturally to women. We're wired to sense energy, space and spirit. I believe we fine tune it through motherhood. Embracing the  rhythms and needs of our children within their universe, while still recognizing the big picture that  they aren't able to grasp yet.
 I've been thinking about this so much these days... the big picture, motherhood and keeping our eyes open. While looking for some interesting shots to share of the making of reinvention, I stumbled across this series that I took last June during our second photo shoot. It illustrates just how much we cannot imagine that the world has to offer if we remain fixated on the details. Not that we shouldn't examine things carefully, and children definitely need our navigation skills as guides, but context! Context can be so illuminating. Breathe in Deborah's gorgeous surroundings... you'd never know when looking at the printing chapter's opening photo (above) that their was a meadow of rainbow inspiration surrounding every pixel captured. But maybe you sense it...

This weekend I wish you your own meadow of inspiration surrounding the sweet, little moments of your days.

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Today you'lll find me over at Pixie's nest: Pink Coyote for the last leg of week two on our tour. Pixie and I met at Squam last year, but we instantly knew that we'd known each other far longer. There is absolutely no one I have ever met who holds such wisdom and offers it with such compassion. Having journeyed through her amazing Soulodges throughout this year gave me the strength and awareness to literally move mountains. In fact, 1/3 of the book was written while I was simultaneously working with Pixie. If you've found clarity and gentleness within the pages... that's definitely a bit of Pixie dust that was sprinkled in. Want to see what I mean? Head on over and bring a cup of tea... pull up your chair right here!

launch weekend and a stop at elsie marley

   

On the first weekend in May, I celebrated the launch of Reinvention. There were flowers and friends, books and good local food. Both Friday night's gallery night and the Saturday's party were hosted and overseen by the ever lovely Jan Rhodes Norman, who has taken me under her loving wing with wisdom and humor. She is an Ithaca icon if there ever was one- an entrepreneur extraordinaire for decades, a mother to many (not just her own 6 grown kids), a friend to everyone. When she's not busy heading down to NYC for Etsy symposiums and the like, she's running Ithacamade, promoting local businesses, and selling Silk Oak every weekend at the Farmer's Market. She's a dynamo and inspiration-  just the kind of woman you'd want to celebrate a career milestone with... just the kind of friend that's great to have at your side during such a sweet moment.  All weekend I felt showered and blessed by the love of my dear friends... and even surprised by some new ones- like Alyssa, from Aurora Shoe Company. We've known one another for years online, and I was so thrilled that she and her mom and son drove down for our first real life meeting.
The next day Kathrin came early, and we started prepping blossom bands.Thank goodness we were prepared, because we were soon swamped with little hands ready for some making. I couldn't have done it with out her!! So many of my daughter's friends came out to get crafty and celebrate with us. Below you'll find her in all of her Silk Oak glory making some t-shirt yarn. Purple all the way!  

It couldn't have been sweeter, and I'm so grateful for my wonderful community filled with sweet children... including the small handful of teenage boys that mingled about, thanks to my son! 

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And let's not forget that we're still on tour! Head on over to discover how Elsie Marley rocked her new Tyvek zipper pouch. I've always loved her sewing explorations, and was super excited to see what she would come up with. Her interpretation is sure to inspire... stop on over, and if you haven't won a copy of reinvention- you've now got another shot at it!

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