winter weekend by the sea

a winter weekend

spent by the sea

 with a handful of 

very dear friends

and full 

of favorite things...

beach walks

(and for a few, an icy dip, not for public view...)

stitching
bathed in early morning sun

breakfast. perfection.

not kidding.
challah french toast and "christmas" spiced bacon.
#likeohmuhgawd

(this is what happens when bloggers get together...)


 

reviving

recharging

(yes, we wore pajamas to the coffee shop. it was an emergency. for real.)


knitting

over tea
and
girl talk...

a few days
of just-what-i-needed
company, creating, feasting
and laughter
oh, was there ever laughter....

the perfect ending
to january
and just enough inspiration
to get february off on the right foot
...

M, E, A, S + B- thank. you. 
xoxo 

leap

these simple pleasures

are making my week
...

early spring blooms

(thanks to trader joes)

great harvest's insanely chewy hi-5 fiber bread

(thanks to my hubby for indulging my pregnancy cravings!)
slathered with irish butter

kept fresh in my linen bread bag

stitched up during crafting weekend
...

happy leap day!
xoxo

toddler trousers

my favorite little boy on the block

turns one this week

so over the weekend

i tried out anna maria horner's reversible quick change trouser pattern

in big-boy appropriate

prints from the new ds quilts line

for his birthday gift

i was so impressed with this new line- so many fun little prints and patterns to mix and match
i can't wait to cut into a few more!

...
happy birthday, sidney!
xoxo

summer fun

theresa and i

made the most of an overcast day

last week

to get down on paper

all the plans we've been dreaming and scheming for the summer

we've only got a few short weeks left

before it's back to the bronx...

glitter-fest

theresa is here for spring break

so we spent yesterday

decorating dozens of eggs

for easter

we had a (messy) blast

blowing out shells

dyeing, glueing and glittering

and adding beads and wire to hang

on our "easter tree"

cozy cowl, complete!

i had finished this luxurious little number
a few weeks back
but hadn't taken the time to weave in the ends
because i really did think it was past the season for wearing.

clearly not...
it is coooold here this weekend
but sunny!

so i'm breaking her out.
and think this cowl will be my early spring staple.
loving the idea of wearing with a chambray work shirt...

on my work table...

uncharted territories with a new color palette...

progress to come.

warm and fuzzy

it's brisk but sunny here in providence this week

but knitting this cozy cowl
with a piping cup of tea nearby
keeping me warm
and hopeful
that spring is just around the corner!

little things to sew

when i saw this adorable video
previewing liesl gibson's 1st book
based on her fantastic oliver + s patterns
i was giddy with excitement...

Oliver + S Little Things to Sew, by Liesl Gibson from STC Craft on Vimeo.

first on my list might have to be this sweet vintage-style apron

it would be so fun as an art smock in michael miller's "art class"



have you tried any oliver + s patterns?

baby knits

finally completing my babette blanket

totally re-charged my needlework motivation

i wanted to try knitting this time around

and with babies aplenty to knit for

a simple coming-home hat

seemed to be just right

it was fast

and thus oh-so-satisfying...

and my weekend

with computer closed

television off

fire roaring

warm tea

and

fingers wrapped in merino + bamboo

has never felt so relaxing

weekend in the woods 2.0

last year, amidst mortgage paper work and packing

i took off

to my dear friend amanda's lake house in the woods

relieve some stress

with crafting, girl talk and food.

it was just so wonderful

that we decided to make it an annual event...

last weekend,

loaded down with sewing machines, irons and fabric filled boat 'n totes

eight ladies

made it through the snow

to nourish our souls

with craft

cooking

and talk of a fabulous book

and, yes!

it was a success...

i arrived friday afternoon

and got right to work on a simple, modern, spontaneous

baby quilt for an old friend's new baby girl

backed in a one piece of this favorite giraffe print

and the babe's name appliqued in felt

...

saturday morning i was up early

to tackle the mac-daddy

of quilts

purl's famous color wheel

and i did it!

(well, minus the hand-stitched binding)

not bad for a day's work, huh?!

...

sunday morning we all gathered 'round with our loot

for one last group picture

pretty impressive, i must say!

amanda, i cannot thank you enough for hosting and planning.

ladies, it was wonderful to meet you all!

until next year...

photos courtesy of orchardcove

sewing class: winter jammies and quick gift

our last sewing class in 2010

was just before christmas...

the girls finished up cozy flannel pj sets

(which they reportedly didn't take off for much of vacation)

...

then, we broke into the scrap bag

choosing remnants of past projects

to make gifts for parents and siblings

from the wonderful last minute patchwork + quilted gifts

they personalized kraft moleskine journals

and even improved upon the pattern-

adding a ribbon to the front that extended to serve as a bookmark

they little ladies always amaze me with their creativity!

family members were thrilled, of course

and they even have a few commissions for more...

proving nothing is better than a homemade gift!

labor of love

this post is a long, long time coming.

two years to be exact.

i've finally finished my very first crochet project.

admittedly, i fell in love with and bought the yarn for this throw i'd seen at purl soho before i'd even learned to crochet.

... probably not the best of plans.

yes, i learned to crochet very quickly (thanks to my amazing teacher, Sandy!) and this project is an easy one.

but, it calls for a size 00 hook.

and pretty much the finest yarn you can buy for hand work.

awesome.

again, having not a clue, didn't cross my mind the amount of time it would take to make the 130 granny squares in this baby. and then hand sew them together. and then crochet around and around the outside edge.

yeeeeah.

anyhoo, i'm pretty proud of myself for sticking with it till the end and not tossing it aside for something with more instant gratification.

made for my mother-in-law, i was finally able to gift it to her for Christmas. and although the couch i originally picked the yarn to match, has since been reupholstered (oy!), i think she was quite pleased.

now looking for my next, short and sweet knit or crochet project.

suggestions?

the big 3-0

i know, i know...

a very pathetic blogging-start to november

but, i promise, it was for good reason!

reid turned 30!

last weekend

and i had been busy busy planning

a surprise party...

i was pretty proud of the invite

seeing it had been quite a few years

since i truly tested my illustrator and photoshop skills!

...

i finally made pennant flags

i did each word individually so that over the years (and when we have kids)

we can add new names or holidays ("easter" etc...)

guests big

and small

a peek at the dessert table

and trumpet cake

(excuse the yet-to-be re-done granny wallpaper)

...

and the next night

we spent in boston

seeing AfroCubism

live

my very handsome and happy

THIRTY year old husband.