TAMDSE

It’s not too late to blog about 2008′s Third Annual Mother-Daughter Sewing Extravanganza, is it? Good! I hope you enjoy it.

A brief history of the MDSE, because if you know my mother and me, it’s not like either of us has an ounce of sentiment in us (to necessitate a cheesy excuse to spend time together) or an unwillingness to dally in fine crafting (to necessitate an excuse to make something). Well, here it is. The never-before-revealed, true confession as to why the MDSE exists: I invented this occasion so my super-sewer mom would help me make a Weekender Bag. There, my crime is exposed for all the world to see. I convinced my mother that she wanted to make one so she would help me make one (I let the fact that it really took extremely little effort to accomplish that task assuage my guilt-ridden soul a small bit, thank you). The 2007 project was the Kimono wrap and pajama pants set from Amy Bulter’s book In Stitches.

This year we went more for my mom’s flavor: quilts. We went to her favorite fabric shop, Miller’s Dry Goods in Charm, Ohio, with one of my best friends (Charm is totally worth the effort if you have ever wanted to a) see some real Amish country, and b) buy some good fabric or good boots. A strange combination? Perhaps! But Miller’s is a great fabric store–last weekend at the annual clearance sale I bought $50 worth of heavy cotton fabric for $7, and they always have a good and modern selection–and there is a boot shop there that has really high quality merchandise. One of the (Amish) employees was wearing ostrich skin boots the last time I was there! And I think there is a little restaurant or something in Charm, but I’ve never eaten there. I’d recommend heading back to 39 to find Walnut Creek Cheese for lunch and ice cream. Diversion complete.)

Mom already had her fabric, so she was looking for fabric to make a bag and I was shopping for my quilt fabric. My friend Jess said she was just coming along for fun, but she ended up buying fabric for her first quilt and for a bag. Note to this point she had been a fine sewer but never really had an interest in quilting. We are such a disease! We ended up not working on piecing the quilts together, but I did get to use my mom’s quilting machine set-up for the quilting part. Very cool. Note that Jess and my mom both had their quilts pieced before me, and mine was the simplest of them all. I need to hound Jess for some pictures of her quilt to make this story complete! I’ll get on that.

Here’s Mom’s, although as always the colors are a bit off:

And here’s mine:

Obviously she is much more talented, dedicated, driven, and did I say talented than me.  I was not so much into the whole piecing thing. Mine is just 9 7-inch strips of c.45 inch fabric, bound with a patterned brown. This quilt was intended for my office (i.e., “the orange room”), and we had so much fun picking out the fabrics together. Orange is always a challenge!

close-up of the stitching. I call this particular stitch pattern “the only thing I could figure out how to make the thing do without cursing.” Elegant, yes?

…and speaking of elegant…

Mom’s purses (i.e., creative insanity is heredity part II)

Those of you who have been around for awhile (and I mean awhile!) may recall that my mom makes purses. Lots of purses. Amazing purses! She brought the newest batch for me to see, and I knew I had to show you all too. I thought it would be a great eye candy Friday! Mmm, I know which three I want…

I saw, I sought, I sewed.

Friday I had a moment of weakness at Joann’s and ALMOST bought fabric to make Amy Butler’s Frenchy Bag (the pattern for which I’ve had since the moment I laid eyes on these–careful folks, she’s dangerous!). Then in an unexpected moment of maturity I walked away without that fabric, but not without feeling just a bit sorry for myself. Once home, however, I got to digging in the fabric stash, such as it is, and realized that if I raided some unused cotton duck and the leftovers from the SAMDSE*, with a little creativity I could have my Frenchy bag for the mere cost of the magnetic snap!

I can’t believe how much fun I had cutting and sewing this bag. My stitching is not straight, especially on the multiple passes, but I am so inordinately proud of myself for making this work that I don’t care. (I also made curtains that aren’t much to look at but do sufficiently darken the bedroom, a project I’d been stalled on for a few months. Can I just say that clip-on curtain rings have revolutionized my world?)

what a great “work” station for a Sunday afternoon

pattern: Amy Butler Frenchy shoulder bag

exterior fabric: Amy Butler’s Lotus “Faded China” collection

lining: cotton duck

inside- two pockets, improvised trim with scraps on cotton duck.

*Second Annual Mother/Daughter Sewing Extravaganza: My mom is great at sewing, very creative and efficient, so a few years ago we had the First Annual Mother/Daughter Sewing Extravaganza (why, no, I don’t have a flair for the dramatic, why do you ask?) and made Amy Butler’s Weekender Bag. We both had so much fun that last year–SAMDSE–we made Amy Butler robes & matching pajama pants. Mine were from this fabric.

Now it’s my turn to pick out a pattern again this year, and I don’t know what to suggest. Please leave me a pattern idea, if you have one. I was thinking a Denyse Schmidt quilt, maybe this one (Drunk love–if you like quilts and assymetry, I suggest you check it out)? Looks like straight sewing isn’t hip anymore anyway. I knew it!

PS Your regularly scheduled knitting content will resume shortly. Can you believe I’m four FO’s and many, many cute cat pics behind??

How to care for your DH in the off-season*

 

It’s simple, really:

1) Make him socks (but then don’t undo all the good you’ve done by waking him up to model said socks “for the blog.” Learn from my mistakes).

2) Make him pie.

I love apple pie, and this is quite possibly the most amazing pie I’ve ever had.

(Homemade crust, of course, and drizzled with a sugary concoction instead of the usual cinnamon fare. It is good enough to take one’s breath away. Dangerous, I suppose, when one’s mouth is full of delicious steaming hot pie).

3) Squeal with glee when he’s already one-upped you with tickets to see The Cleveland Orchestra for your birthday (and gave ‘em to you a week early)!!!!! Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde!!!! We may not do Valentine’s, but we shur-as-shootin’ do live good.

*designated hitter, or, of course, dear husband.

a good day

 

Wednesday was a good day.

DH took his reallygreatbigimportant test, got done two hours early (!?!), and felt great about life. It has been a long time coming. We talked about going out to eat somewhere fancy, but in the end decided to celebrate the best way two poor college kids can: order a pizza! And then we thought if we were going to eat pizza, we’d have to watch an episode of the eating queens themselves, the Gilmore girls.

 

 

And wouldn’t you know, that very same afternoon the postman (who is now my dear, dear friend) paid us a visit and brought with him…

A care package from Stars Hollow!

Sweet anticipation, and the prettiest stationery that ever was.

Tell me, girls, did you read my mind, or do we just have the same good taste??

 

(I don’t know if this is good netiquette, but oh well. I hope you’ll forgive my enthusiasm.)

In honor of the end of the show, some Gilmore junkies (like myself) had a contest about the show’s best moment, and I won! I can’t even explain how much fun we had with this! Each item came with its own little tag with a quote from the show (so cute!), and DH snatched up the Dorothy Parker book as soon as the shutter snapped! (I love excalmation points!)

And look at that yarn, will you? Maybe you don’t know this about me, but that is ME yarn- reds and deep reds and sage-y minty greens…I was speechless! Right now I’m daydreaming about winter gloves (because I wear gloves all winter, and will get to see the yarn all the time!)

So, GG fans, do you know the significance of everything up there? (from front left): The Portable Dorothy Parker, Rory’s dance book; biscotti, for Lorelai biscotti moment; Poptarts, for a GG appetizer (and breakfast, and lunch…); Luke’s hat; a coffee mug (“how many cups have you had today?” “None.” “Plus?” “Five, but yours is better!”); chocolate–good call; and this beautiful yarn that I will link to as soon as I get home!

Girl who Knits and Knitting Lemonade… THANK YOU! You couldn’t possibly have known how perfect your timing would be, but I hope you know how much your thoughtfulness and creativity are obviously unparalleled! World, these ladies rock!

 

 

And for a sneak peak at the newest KO (knitted object, but I hope to knock it out today & tomorrow, ha ha)…

PS Shouldn’t there be some rule against testing the fire alarm system in a library? Just askin’.

Insanity is hereditary

 

My dear mother MADE all of these purses (plus one more that I swiped pre-picture; that’s 30 total) in the past few months on a whim. Makes me feel downright normal, in spite of the awe of her talent in choosing the fabrics, making up the pattern, and of course sewing them all. I am working hard to inherit the fabric genius, but that will be a post for another day.

 

Spring today, snow tomorrow

Two days ago, I was thrilled to see a tiny hint of green peeking through the soil of my little greenhouse. Today the beans are literally pushing the lid off. I feel like I’m in the “Little Shop of Horrors!” What am I going to do with them until, well, May?? (And how am I going to keep Vince from eating the tomato plants this year?)