More inspiration came in the mail last week.
I just have to find the time to work on everything I have in mind. A list would be nice. A week to devote to sewing would be nice too. I guess I'll start with the list and see where that gets me. I'm finishing up Stage 1 of the Bookish Baby gift line for the shop. That was a hint, in case you missed it.
You would think that maybe my prolonged blog break meant I had a baby to show for my silence. But no. Not yet. We're finishing up week 36, so it's early yet but the waiting game has definitely started.
Instead of going on and on about how I'm tired and can't show you the cute, tiny things I'm making because they are presents, instead I will show this artist I found by way of Mahar Drygoods. Just take a second and look through all her installations. Some of them take my breath away.
Just to show you Cate and I aren't the only ones growing around here: I also put my potmaker to work and have been encouraging these young tomato and strawberry plants to go ahead and sprout! Does anyone else feel like it's a complete miracle for something like this to actually work? I put a hard, black little seed in a mound of dirt and a week later it's green, leafy, and reaching for the sun!
The tomatoes this year are going to be masterful. Purple, green, yellow, pink, and red. I can't wait to take a bite of rainbow tomato salad.
It's the last day of the Make Something Everyday Challenge, and of course my camera batteries took this opportunity to go kaput.
I loved the challenge and thought it was just the sort of inspiration-- not to mention distraction-- that I needed.
I loved:
a. thinking about what to make and show
b. jumping between genres
c. seeking out quick inspiration and running with it
The only thing I didn't love was feeling like I needed to pick small projects so I could finish them in whatever 15 minute time slot I had open.
So, instead of showing you the tiny little project I finished the month with, I wanted to take this opportunity to announce the February challenge. Why a challenge? Because I need some smokescreen of accountability if I'm ever going to concentrate. Why a theme? Because I happen to think they're fun!For the month of February, I plan to follow a single line of inspiration. It's the way I would go about making an art collection, a story- if you will. The theme will transcend all genres and although I don't have a daily obligation to finish something, I will be working on something each day.
We'll see how it goes. Join in if you are so inclined- the more the merrier! The theme for February is "Rain."
I've been going on and on about new patterns lately- even one post in this rabbit trail brain of mine insinuates a preoccupation bordering on obsession. But, did all you sewers know about this new pattern from Denyse Schmidt? Please tell me I'm not the last to know.
They're carrying the instructions at the incomparable Purl Soho shop in New York. I'm hoping I have the time and energy to put something pretty like this together for our newly organized and redecorated office/study/guest room.
While I was there, I had to notice the new clothing patterns from Amy Butler and the new spring line of Liberty prints are out. They showcased both on the blog. The adult jumpers are just asking to be part of the post-pregnancy wardrobe redux, and the fabric should, in a perfect world, become several tiny baby jumpers.
Speaking of tiny babies, however, those might not actually work for little Cate. She's estimated to be close to four pounds already, measuring big for just 31/32 weeks!
All of a sudden I'm drawing. There's almost no way to tell when a new hobby will present itself. I find that I want to draw primarily animals and trees- when I had was a little girl I had a sketchbook full of fantastic dresses.
I should say I'm not posting this because I think it's particularly expert- it's only my 4th drawing and I plan on getting much better! It is, however, a way to tell you about my idea for January 2008- the Make Something Everyday month. Creativity is a muscle that needs excercise, and artistic tendencies do get better with practice. It's also therapeutic, relaxing, and discipline-building. There are no rules about what the something could be- food, poems, quilts, sketches, baby clothes- but something must be made each day.
Are you in?
Christmas baking has restored some health to my soul. Here is a trio of the brown paper packages that have flown out our door for the last few days. The Almond-Orange Shortbread was a recipe from the Everyday Food holiday baking special. And it is delicious. I think Brian even declared them perfect.
Other than that I've been reading some blogs, and finding some new projects to inspire and delight in the coming new year.
For one, I am thrilled to pieces that Disdressed is starting a line of little girl patterns.
Secondly, Manda pointed out Ottobre, which I am suddenly interested in- expecially now with the little one on the way.
I also learned about Tulle, a place to spend my post-baby wardrobe dollars (I'm saving for a shopping spree extravaganza), Amy Butler's new bag design that I love, and these prints from Little Paper Planes.
Whew! Good thing I have a birthday coming up!
"Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
-G.K. Chesterton
Read the whole article here. I highly recommend it.
For weeks and weeks I haven't been able to get my feet under me. I was running behind, running on empty, constantly needing a nap, and completely uninspired. It's not exactly a good place to be as an artsy type. The first sign of what I like to refer to as "the big slump" is box mix cooking. Not that there's anything at all wrong with rice-a-roni dinners, but since creativity and cooking go hand in hand for me, it was a little bit ominous.
Secondly, I stopped sewing and more importantly, stopped wanting to sew. I would think of little gifts I wanted to make my friends, and set them aside.
Anyway, not to belabor the point, but I've been in a slump. And this is only really worth talking about now because I feel a rush of creativity coming my way. It is starting to take form in my mind, and I actually feel excited about posting, sharing, and making.
A good starting place in the march toward the light (don't worry, I'm just being dramatic), was a new recipe. And it turned out amazing.
Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Apples and Onions
Early step: marinate pork tenderloin in dijon mustard and herbs.
1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice 3 green apples and 1-2 red onions and toss in a roasting pan with olive oil, salt, and fresh thyme. Roast for 15 minutes.
2. Brown pork tenderloin in skillet, about 3-4 minutes per side depending on thickness.
3. Place pork on top of roasted apples and onions (add mushrooms, if you like them) and roast about 15 minutes more.
4. Let meat rest about 5 minutes before serving.
Served with warm corn fritters, it was a crowd pleaser, I promise.
I haven't been blogging much and I haven't been keeping up with reading either. Imagine my delight each time I venture out into internet craft land again to see something gorgeous and inspiring.
Nothing has caught my eye quite like Manda's new pincushion design. Of course they are already sold out. The grey and yellow one would've been hard to resist.
Speaking of new designs... that's right! Stay tuned.
Lately I have really been loving the softness that is a good quilt. I love that quilts get worn, stitches are more pronounced, and the batting shifts into waves and rivers after a few good washings.
I love that the Purl Bee is interested in exploring new quilt artists and their work.
I love that there are mainstream quilt options at Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, and the like (though who wouldn't rather have something from an artisan?)
I love that I have quilts my grandma made next to quilts I have made.
I love that good fabric can act like a signature and gets spread throughout a certain stream of thoughts (a hint of the series to come?).
