Work, work, work

This is pretty much what I have been doing with my spare time when I am not in my sewing room. Lot's of books about marketing, video production, SEO optimization, social media for my 'day job'...I find it endlessly fascinating and interesting, thank goodness.

I feel like I walk a fine line between wanting to give up all technology, grow my own food and the like to getting immersed in screen time. It pulls me sometimes in ways that are unsettling or uncomfortable. I am trying to make my peace with it all and find ways to use it for constructive purposes rather than manipulation.



I took this photo while in the car waiting for Kevin to get his coffee. I like how all of the buildings intersect - kind of quiltlike don't you think?

And an exhale with a beach photo.

Walking

Kevin and I were lucky enough to attend the New England Craft Trade show this past weekend. It was really interesting to see how differently people display and market their goods to larger scale buyers than the usual craft fair folk.

There were a few new items and people I had never seen before, which was nice. It was pretty overwhelming and very hard to compare to what I am doing at home. I came home with a lot of thoughts about the craft industry.


More beach inspiration.

Into the Blue

I am on the home stretch with the Rock Rug. I have moved into the blue. My mind has been wondering through some possible finishing ideas as far as binding or backing goes. It will be nice to wind this one up and get started on the next one! I have so many ideas, my journal is busting at the seams.

We took a family trip to the blue ocean on Sunday, too. It was so nice to hear the waves. I am itching for spring, like everyone. All along our walk I kept seeing little bits of string and cloth. I am always amazed at what I can find when I am paying attention.

A Little Sewing

I did a little sewing last week. I hadn't unearthed my sewing machine in a while so when Eliot decided he needed a bag for his rock collecting on the town I was glad to oblige. He picked out the colors, I managed design. I knew I wanted it to go over the shoulder, like a courier bag, and he knew he wanted a zipper. Unfortunately, I put on a zipper and it broke within 30 seconds of use. I ended up adding a flap with a button closure. He seems happy with it so far.

We had a brief reprieve with warmish weather, enough to make some beloved mud. It has since gone back to ice, although I think today may turn it back.

On a side note - I am working on a new website/blog specifically for my rug work. I have talked about the ebook a bit in the past and I would like to start teaching some classes. I didn't really want to use this blog as a place to send people because of the personal nature. So - I am trying to come up with a name. I have a couple that ring pretty well for me so I am putting a little poll on the side bar to get some feedback. Or, comments are always welcome. Thank you!

Snowing and Windfalls

It is snowing like crazy and the wind is whipping around outside. I am happily and cozily inside thinking about making things.

I have had two windfalls this week. My friend is helping his parents clean out their old farm house and I gave him a few requests if he happened to come across them. And he did. The first is below. It is a perfectly serviceable typewriter. I have been looking for one for years. Eliot thinks it is fantastic.

The other request I had was for any fabric or craft supplies (obviously). He came up with this right off the bat. It is a box full of cut up quilt squares. I think some must have come from old shirts but there is a huge variety. I will probably sort through them and have a give away if anyone is interested.

Inside play has been peaking lately with the cold weather. Trains have come back to the forefront of creativity. The repetition gets to me sometimes but I am getting better at judging my train saturation point and his willingness to accept my sometimes hasty retreat.

Little bits of rug progress is happening here and there. I have lots of strips cut out to finish the blue ocean part of it. I am not sure if I am crazy about the dark blue. I think I will live with it for a little while and see if it grows on me.

I have been playing around with smaller bits of wool scraps trying to work out some new project ideas. Lot's of ideas kicking around right now.

Goodbye Grammie

My Grandmother passed away last night. A sad day. She lived to a feisty old 91. We were lucky to have her staying close by with my Mother for the last few months and the end was swift if not entirely expected. I am happy that she and Eliot had a chance to spend a lot of quality time together recently.

I made her some Christmas mittens this year. This picture has been sitting in my 'to post' cue for a while. She used to tell me stories about making all of her clothes and she helped me quite a bit whenever I would dig out my sewing machine and schlep it over to my mothers house. She and my Grandfather were quite a dynamic duo - I am glad they are back together.

Getting Inspired

I am fighting cabin fever by trying to get outside here and there. I didn't take back much of the garden this fall in the flurry of moving in (which according to some gardening books I have been reading is actually a good thing) so I have been admiring the leftover skeletons. I think this could make an interesting quilt design, or wood cut. This is my current basket of strips for the rug. I found two more blue sweaters this past weekend which are disassembled and ready to be cut up too. I have a nice sharp blade ready and waiting.

I put up some of my bits of ephemera that have been cluttering up my desk onto a cork board in my sewing room. I want to make a rug that is a large compass rose. I think they have some great design possibilities.

This is Eliot's basket, which looks a lot like mine. This is a small bit of my scraps that he cuts into small squares and strings for his rug project. It is nice to give him something to work on while I am working. I hope that this looks well enough to make a fairly large rug. I have TON's of scraps!

Bird watching is our usual pastime. It's like yard TV.

Despite the cold we have been trying to get outside as much as possible. Kevin's broken foot is on the mend. The snow is so dry and hardened on top Eliot can run around on top without sinking. Here he is with the snow shoes he got for Christmas.

I am trying out some new rug warp. It is a heavier linen that I have been using. I will report once I start using.

And, as I have been updating the sidebar with birds visiting our feeder, I am not sure if you noticed a more unusual visitor. A Red Tailed Hawk has been hanging out in the tall trees around our house. I was adding birdseed about two weeks ago when I noticed red spots on the snow. I though maybe a squirrel had injured itself on the wire that we have the bird feeder hanging from. I didn't think much about it until I was up in my sewing room that overlooks the backyard when all of a sudden the hawk comes diving out of the sky and nearly catches a squirrel dashing for the bushes. We have noticed a major decline in our squirrel population.

Today we saw it in the giant pine in our neighbors yard and I managed to get a few shots as it flew off and was chased by a crow.

Ease In

I am trying to ease back into my blogging habit. I have been easing back into my crafting habit. I picked back up where I left off on the rock rug (I think it will be the Crescent Beach Rug once it is done). I have my big table facing towards the back yard so I can watch the snow and birds. I am motivated to get this one done. I'm aiming for the end of February to have it completed.
I went to a fabric sale at a church a few days ago. I picked up some fantastic fabric for a steal. I think they will be used in the next quilt I have in mind.

Another project in the works. I love the boats of Ann Wood so I thought I would make one for Eliot with my own creative touches. Here is the start. I have a feeling this project will keep being pushed to the side but it is fun to think about none the less.

So - I will try not to disappear for so long again. I have lots of pictures of the past few months to catch up on.

Little Stitches and Little Surprises

Here is an updated progress on the little gift I am working on. Lot's of little stitches I have done. Lot's of little stitches to go. Along the way with this one I have another idea that should be in the works soon for another little one. So many little ones right now. I have more than one past due present that I haven't started yet!

A newish member to the tank. Actually there are two but this one is the feisty one. Two Gold Gouramis. They beg like dogs for food whenever you walk by. Kind of charming for a fish.

The last of the flowers are gone from the garden. Especially after the wild wind we had last night! I was so happy to see these blooming in our garden this fall. It was a nice little surprise, and they make such long lasting cut flowers! Having flowers in the house has been wonderful. I hadn't really thought about having a cut flower bed but I have been rehashing garden plans to include one.

Another Catch Up

It has been a while! We are still settling and enjoying our new space. I have been working on some projects again as I get my studio in order. I plan on taking a few snaps this weekend to show you what I have been up to. There are a lot of garden plans and chicken research that has been rattling around in my head for spring. For now a few catch up pictures:

Under the bridge at Cousins Island.
My Halloween lion and Kevin's fabulous pumpkin carving.

A little fall foraging. Eliot and I found some tea berry in the woods and made some tea. It doesn't taste like much, even after steeping for 10 minutes. It has a very mild minty flavor. I will try to find some this spring now that I know where to look to see if new shoots taste any better.

The birthday boy at 4 years old!

He was so excited about his balloons. He has a big fixation with them right now. He won't let me get rid of the deflated ones even after a month. This is a peek into his new room, too. I plan to take down the wall paper and spruce it up a bit at some point. He likes it right now so I figure it gives me time to plan.

October Update

It has been one BUSY month around here. We are still settling in with lots of visitors and Eliot's 4th birthday done and mine coming up. My father was in town for two weeks so we did a lot of site seeing and enjoying the countryside.

We took a lovely drive through the White Mountains.

Saw the geese flying south for the winter.

And have been celebrating the fall by tossing leaves into the sky. I am not sure when I will be updating again but I hope to get Internet at home in the next few weeks. I am nearly done with the feather quilt

Take Two

Last weekend we took a trip up to Boothbay to visit the Maine State Aquarium for the 2nd time. We made sure it was actually open this time! Eliot loved it. He was enamored with the shark touch tank. There was a Cat Shark and Spiny Dogfish. He touched and pet the sharks then took a spin around, then came back on and off for 2 hours. He wanted to jump in and swim with the sharks. He was certainly more brave than most of the adults there.

They have a very active volunteer program that involves kids starting at about 5-6 along with a parent. If Eliot keeps interested in under sea creatures I think it would be a place to learn.

Getting Settled

We are slowly settling into the new house. Day by day we are unpacking more boxes and finding spots for all of our things. I am sure it will be rearranged 100 times but that is fine by me. We aren't going anywhere for a while!

I feel lucky we were able to find a balance between my need for outdoor space and Kevin's need to be on a bus line or bikable route (he doesn't drive). We have about a quarter of an acre of South facing yard with access to tons of trails and yet only a few miles from downtown Portland.

It is an old house that was clearly loved and taken care of. The former owner was a cabinet maker so it has lots of tasteful updates and creative uses of space. We are quickly filling it up. Thankfully, we don't have much work to do to it either. I am looking forward to turning the yard into a productive little urban homestead. I am sure this blog will end up being a diary of the transformation.