Sewing - Fabric! Books! Bliss!

My dear, kind husband surprised me with some early Christmas presents... It's funny because this is probably the BEST present I've ever received from him, and he's given me a lot of thoughtful things over the years (not to mention the never ending love and emotional support!).

I know these books are 'older' in the world of seamstresses and crafters, but they're newer to me, and I couldn't be happier to own them now. I was checking the first two out of the library often, but now they're sitting next to me on my own shelf. And now I won't feel compelled to trace all of the patterns either!

Simple Sewing with a French Twist by Celine Dupuy

Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones

Bend-the-Rules Sewing by Amy Karol

Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross

I was so surprised when I opened the package and found not just one book, but all four books that were on my wish list! I've been reading them constantly and making little (big) lists of all the things I want to make and what fabric I'll use.

I was also very excited to pick up a freecycle drop this week - a woman gave me a box of fabrics (some stretchy knits that I might use for a baby sling...) and a huge bag of yarn. Many project possibilities... If you haven't freecycled yet, I highly recommend it!

Happy Christmas Eve for now - we're away from school and work for another week, so I'll be back to share more soon!

Inspiration - Grandma Reese

I love this photo that Michael took in 2005. We were visiting my Grandmother Reese in Seattle, the winter before Sam was born.

She was and is an inspiration to me - an incredibly creative person, in everything that she did. She raised five children, managed a busy household, and still found time to create gorgeous clothing, quilts, needlework, and stained glass. Not to mention the gardening, the canning, the cooking, the baking... I'm probably missing something else creative that she did, that I didn't even know about! She taught sewing classes for years at their church parochial school, and when I was old enough she taught me some sewing basics.

To top it all off, she spent many years volunteering her time translating children's textbooks into braille versions. This made a huge difference in the lives of many students, in the Seattle area and beyond. I remember her carefully thought out braille projects sitting on the side counter of her dining room. She specialized in translating social studies and science textbooks, because she would use her creative skills and knowledge of textural materials to create perfect diagrams, maps, and illustrations - all to make the information accessible to students.

Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by the layers of life that I've taken on, I'm reminded of her, and what she was able to do with her life, despite many challenges.

It's time to choose some of her Christmas cookie recipes to try this year, so she's on my mind this week...

Sewing - I'm a little biased..

about some of my finished projects! Pardon the pun, but I finally got it together and made my own 'French' bias tape, for the little kimono project I was working on. It's not perfect, but I got past my mental block about it, and just did it. I know you can buy a little gadget to make tape, but I was glad to learn how to do it from scratch too. The pattern for the kimono is from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones.

I used a thrifted table cloth for the main fabric, and some of the vintage Indonesian fabric from my Aunt Dorothy for the bias tape and borders.

I used that same Indonesian fabric for a special project for Sam - his own apron - for art projects and cooking projects. There's no bias tape on the apron, but it is reversible! The other side is made from one of Michael's old dress shirts - I used the collar to create the neck strap on the apron, and I used both sides of the button placket to create the tie around his waist.

Blocks - Synchronicity, painting, drawing, stamping, and... Italy?

Hmmm. Interesting 'things' are in the works. I haven't been much for photography lately, so this is an old shot of the name blocks project that has been percolating.

In addition to the name blocks, I've been sketching in my little leather sketchbook. And then, out of the blue, I get a package in the mail from one of my dearest aunts - she sent fabric, and the Vogue pattern that she used to make my wedding dress, AND a bag full of stamps! Like for print-making, not for sending letters! Sam and I were both beyond excited.

That was one example of synchronicity... It's everywhere, I tell ya! Not just coincidences, but something that seems much deeper. Something that says, it seems as though God and the Universe are conspiring on a plan that's infinitely more complex than I ever could have imagined. I really can't put into words, what that plan might be, but I just have a feeling that it includes a trip or two to Italy...

Toys - The Marble Chute

This is the marble chute, which lives at Grandpa's farm. An older version existed, that we played with when we were kids, but it has disappeared. Thankfully, my older brother constructed a new marble chute a few years ago, so that generations of Roth kids could continue to roll marbles for hours at a time.

I know there are probably snazzy plastic chutes that are similar on the market, but I've got it in my mind to make my own wooden one, down the line.