A Bookish Life

Rain Quilt

One of my favorite things about rainy days is the way other colors really burst into life. Greens are more green, red is absolutely electric, and blue seems a bit otherworldly.
Embarking on the rain theme this February has gotten off to a slow start- largely because the actual weather has been 86 degrees, sunny, and gorgeous. This morning I woke to the sound of rain on pavement and knew it was the day to get started.

These kona cottons are going into my next big quilt, a new design for the top of our living room's pine chest. The blanket box ordinarily showcases a vintage quilt, but spring seems to bring not only its gray days, but its crisp, fresh newness too.

Quilts are intrinsically rain-related in my opinion, because there's not much resistance in me to cuddling on the couch with a blanket, a book, and a mug of steaming liquid when there's water falling from the dark sky. This vision of the perfect day is even how we came up with the business name, Bookish- coffee, quilts, and rainy days all tied together.

You have to love when your ideas are in step with the marketing team for Anthropologie, too. It seems I'm not the only one seeing umbrellas, galoshes, and streaked windows.

In shop-related news, you may have noticed my online shop disappeared with the new year. I made the decision to downsize with the baby coming to a couple mortar and brick stores, supplemented with an online etsy shop. I think it may just be a little bit more manageable, but still provide that creative outlet that I crave. I went ahead and put the finished wallets in the etsy shop, since I had a couple email requests for the return of Bookish to the internet.

Have a lovely Tuesday, rain or shine!

And this multitude of paths shall merge into one.

I'm working on dresses for a wedding-- mine and two bridesmaids. The orange/lavender linen is just a shade too small, and it's times like these when it must be nice to be my slightly smaller friend.

As always when I'm gathering ideas for art quilts, AND working on clothes, I find that what I really, really want to do are quilts. Yet another reason to be grateful for this fun commission that came my way.

I'm working my way through another Philippa Gregory book, even though it's definately a guilty pleasure at this point. I have about reached my modern literature limit for the month, and will soon turn back to rich, old language in great, gulping chunks.

And, there are advances on the coffee front, because we're getting in the last of our green coffee this week! In his generous kindness, the coffee master has allowed some orders to scamper in ahead of time. Take advantage of this, if curiosity is winning out over patience!

Let them eat cake

This was a cake I saw in a window in San Francisco. I have no idea what goes into baking and creating something so lovely. Isn't the designer sad to see his/her work eaten up? Who could cut into this?

This weekend I finished The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory. If I liked it a little less than The Other Boleyn Girl, it wasn't by a large margin. My love for sequels in general overrules any small negatives.

While I muse about cake and royalty, I'm also preparing for a shop update tomorrow. The Urban Bazaar is this weekend, and I've resolved to hit the Dallas Farmer's Market this year with a bang.

Time Yields to No Woman

This Redwork tote is now available in the shop! I've ordered new fabrics, assembled new to-do lists, and cut out an assembly line of new products. I expect there will be new items pretty regularly featured here through May 5th.

It doesn't mean I have no time for reading though. Last night I finished Cannery Row, next in the line of my Steinbeck madness. It was heartbreaking. The sad ending of The Winter of Our Discontent seemed fitting to me with what Steinbeck was saying about moral decay. The sadness of Cannery Row was completely different. It took traditionally unlovely people and made them golden in the reader's eyes. Next up in the Steinbeck queue is
The Pastures of Heaven.

For now it's time to drink down this amazing coffee and begin the day!

Spring Cleaning

This weekend Brian and I tackled the house with all our free energy. We cleaned, moved stuff around, made new curtains and pillows (me), and generally wreaked havoc in the name of progress. But it sure felt good.

I can't help but feel the same way about the Bookish shop. All the art quilts from 2006 are on sale as of this morning.

This week I really need to clamber on the Bookish bandwagon. That Spring Urban Bazaar show is really coming quickly now and my list of "Things to Make Before the Show" is starting to look regrettably laughable. Combine that with some wholesale orders, and I feel like it's time to get started!

Looking for Scarlett

The skirt line for Bookish becomes more and more clear to me. I'm looking for a scarlett handspun yarn to complete the collection. So far I've found Glamscience, Pluckfluff, and Pippi Knee Socks. I love how the lovely world of yarn can open up so quickly.

Have a great weekend, all! I hope to have something to show for mine!

Housekeeping

I have a couple things to mention about the Bookish site. First off, you may notice that there's not a lot of totes, wallets, or headbands available at the moment! They are now hanging in the Alter Ego shop on Locust in Denton. There will be a lot happening next week with updates-- so stay tuned! And thanks, as always, for your patience.

Secondly, you may notice that one of the quilts (The Bostonians quilt, shown here) is not marked sold, or not for sale, but "stolen". A few weeks ago Make, in Dallas, was broken into and several things were taken. While most of my art/craft was safe, we gradually noticed that the Bostonians quilt was missing. Please let me know if you see this being sold anywhere on the internet or in person.

Also, please make a note that if you are in area, Make will be holding a yard sale to benefit the designers who were affected by this crime.

Have a great weekend, all!

One thing at a time.

Here are some mostly pictures to show you what I'm up to.

Admiring my new labels.

Working on my next quilt.

Resting.

Progress

I haven't sewn much in the last few weeks, partly because I've been out of town and partly because sometimes an extended moment of silence becomes a single defined thought. What I mean is that I work through some of my deepest artistic struggles silently, sifting through images and colors and other stimuli to arrive at the exact thing I need to say-- at just the right time.

I think that single thought will be finished soon. And then I can start working again.

The End and the Beginning

Today marks the end of commission sewing.  It was a long and sweet process during which I was honored to provide so many Christmas treats for people I love to give away or keep.

This is the third permutation on the theme "Laundry Day"- a happy red, blue, yellow and brown promise that warmer days will come again.

Today also marked the beginning of something new and fun. It's a sneak preview of the new line of Bookish totes debuting on the website and in a store on the Denton square called Rhinestones.

Introducing the Tea Party Collection!

It is vintage fabric and canvas with a matching pocket on the inside and a cute little button loop closure. I nearly have a stroke when I see all these vintage fabrics next to one another, so I am busily spinning out the first installment of Tea Party totes for January.

This one went to my friend, Larissa, as a birthday gift. But more are coming soon!

I will be taking a blog break for Christmas and my birthday, but will come back rested and bursting with ideas in the new year!