Spring Rain

We're in the middle of a long, slow rain, and every time I step outside the frogs choruses are singing. The pansies are triumphant, the flowering trees are in full bloom, and indoors Clara and I are chipping away at upholstering a couch.

Another Kid for Daisy

Daisy had been wanting another kid to bottle-feed, for her 4H Record Book. Fortunately, her friend Lanie's goat gave birth to four at once--three big boys and one little girl. Lanie sent one of the boys over here to give mama goat a break, so Daisy's got Roger here at the house. 

The responsibility was overwhelming at first but he's been quick to catch on to the bottle. And even better, content to stay in the pasture with Daisy's three goats. Because he's so little, if he wanted to slip out and wander, he could.

Sister and the Forsythia

Romaine, Waiting

Daisy and I were at the feed store and I picked up a couple of boxes of romaine lettuce babies. I had planned to plant them today but my next-door neighbor happened to be in line beside me. He counseled me to let them sit outside on the porch for a week. And since I respect his garden, I take his advice.

Clara Tackles the Floss

Clara dumped out the plastic bin filled with wads of half-used embroidery floss skeins. That was yesterday. Today she's got almost everything on little cards. Who knew this was possible?

A Little Stack of Fabric

I often go for months without buying any fabric at all, but lately I've been puttng the hit back in hit or miss at Hancock's, and even at Hobby Lobby. Sheer oval-medallion white lawn, sage green dotted Swiss, tiny leaf print on gray, and two beautiful cotton-linen blends in sapphire and emerald. Spring sewing, for sure.

A Hooded Jersey Coat: McCalls M6442

The pattern makes a hooded coat with a full circle skirt: too much skirt. I cut it down to about a half-circle, and that's plenty. It has pockets in the side seams, a hood, and a self-belt. I added crocheted belt loops and also a snap at the top of the coat, for coziness.

I was out of fabric so I lined the hood with a little bit of lightweight jersey in the "same" color--but you know dye lots. It's not quite a match, and I like it that way.

All the edges are finished using jersey strips sewn down with a rosebud stitch. Yes, it took forever.

There are some good tips for converting a standard pattern to use with jersey in Natalie Chanin's fourth book Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns.

Pansies and Colored Pencils and Odds and Ends

Daisy's keeping us supplied with pansies from the pots in the bistro. Every day the spirea is greener.

All our friends' goats are having babies--Daisy's friend Lani just got quadruplets! Three boys, unfortunately. Daisy hopes to foster one and bottle-feed it.

All three girls have been asked to be bridesmaids in Giles' wedding--and all have accepted with pleasure. We're starting to think about clothes . . . .

Clara is quilting our Ravens quilt every night. Pictures to come as it's finished. I've been doing a bunch of free-form spiral embroidery on wool panels, soon to be a tote. 

Bella's been memorizing All the Bones for her anatomy class. 

The Composer continues to train for the Boston Marathon, and eat a lot.

Daffodils + Dark Barkground

Pruning Class

I got to spend the whole afternoon learning about pruning. I attended the blackberry and peach workshops, and now I know a lot more than I used to. As soon as it warms up a bit I'll be out doing some short-term damage, long-term improvement to my brambles and baby peach trees.

A Little White on White

Clara and I are about to put together our next quilt top, which involves quite a few words (from the Bible, and having to do with ravens). She is an embroidering machine! But I don't mean that literally, since she does it all by hand.

Winter Salads: Grilled Chicken and Smoked Cheese

Grilled chicken, smoked cheese, and avocado over Romaine hearts.

Cabin + Blue Sky

I tagged along with the Composer on a photo shoot. 

This cabin was moved into the mountains from the bottomlands. Wouldn't this be the best yard ornament ever?

The One-Minute Jacket

Yes, this is a one-minute jacket. It's a thrift-store tee shirt (with some spandex in it) cut up the middle and pinned back together. 

Pin it at the waist if you like, or under the bust to emphasize the ribcage, or leave it open.

Coat in the Alabama Chanin Style: Winter-Blooming Rose

Inspired by a project Natalie Chanin posted several years ago, I'd intended for a while to embellish this plain black coat. 

I made the enlarged stencil last year, but it was only Sunday that I got around to gathering the coat + stencil + felt + chalk.

The project went shockingly fast! And it was a pleasure to work with the wool materials, especially the felt. 

I don't really wear black anymore though, and I no longer wear a size 14. So I don't think I'll be wearing this. If anyone is interested, it would be $80 including shipping. And please note, the coat itself is in great shape but the pockets (invisible, in the seams) are tattered and would need mending or ignoring.

Boreal Forest Quilt, Finished

This is Boreal Forest, the quilt. The forest is populated with creatures seen and unseen. No one knows who made these tracks:

It wasn't the bear--he's headed into the trees.

It wasn't the pine grosbeak--he flew in.

So did the Great Horned Owl.

And the hare hopped in from the west.

The boreal forest is full of animals,

and their secrets.

Design by Clara and me, embroidery by Clara.

A Little Twinkle on the Hem

Clara's very-useful velveteen skirt was a little heavy, visually.

I used a drinking glass to draw the scallops, and used bugle beads, sequins, and chop beads to wake things up.

A Simple China-Blue Wrap Dress

I'll keep searching for the perfect housework garment while there's life in my bones, hence the try at McCall's 8245 last week. Although the pattern is from the 90's, there's nothing about it that couldn't have been from the 1940s. 

And there's just a devil-may-care insouciance about throwing a wrap dress on, don't you think?

Although out of print, this pattern looks like it's readily available at the usual spots (ebay, etc.). My copy is from the thrift store and is awesome because it was made for Memorial Day in 1996. Picnic time!

*** 

Also, just in case you didn't see, Giles is engaged!! and we are so happy about it!!

Something New

Yesterday morning, Tia and I drove to a beautiful overlook on the Palisades, cliffs overlooking New York City.

 . . . and then she said "Yes!"

Sweet Olive

I had never seen sweet olive in real life--or smelled it, that's the main thing--until today. Clara and I stopped off at the biggest nursery in town to wander in the greenhouse. There were two bushes in bloom, and the fragrance was indescribable. We brought one home to enjoy indoors, and then plant outside in April.

Winter Salad: Broccoli with Sesame

A super-quick salad made from cold steamed broccoli left over from dinner, drizzled with tamari sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar, and sprinkled with some sesame seeds.

Norfolk Pine

This weekend my dad brought over a Norfolk pine--a houseplant--that he wanted to pass on. I believe I remember this very specimen from my childhood, when it was two feet tall and lived in a whiskey crock. Now it's eight feet tall and a little overwhelming. But it's history! I'm going to find a spot for it, maybe in the new library we are making out of the toy room under the eaves. It might--just barely--fit.

Pink Roses in the Kitchen

A day of mercy for me as my five-day back spasm subsided and now I can get up from a chair by myself. 

Also, at one point this afternoon I realized we were maxing out on Millennial employment--Nick from across the road was building bookshelves upstairs, Clara was working for the law firm in the living room, Daisy's clarinet teacher was giving her weekly lesson, and up in the studio the Composer was getting graphic design input from Giles' friend Alejandro. An economic hotspot, that's what.

Beautiful Little Lives

Sometimes it amazes me that we can have beautiful animals living their perfect little lives right under our feet, in our houses. Sister is tops.

Plenty of Jersey in the Shop

I have a new selection of jersey things in my shop. A couple of cardigans I made to sell, and several items that I realized really aren't my color--including this mesmerizing gold. Happy shopping--and don't forget that all these proceeds go straight to charity.

Painting Class: Bird's Nest

I painted this in one pass, from a real-life nest in the studio. The nest is actually lined in mud.

Valentine's Garland

These wool garlands are so fun and easy--I had several wool blazers from the thrift store I had felted by washing and drying multiple times.

I cut the circles out free-handed, then strung them on perle cotton. It's a fast, satisfying project that uses inexpensive supplies. Try it!

Or buy one from me--the proceeds go to orphan care.

Big Sister, Little Sister

Clara pretty much has Sister's number. Sister is powerless in her arms.

Also, Clara has a special secret hold where she gathers Sister's back paws and tail all in one bouquet of kitteny softness.