though i love my little sewing machine, it had a rough time dealing with such a stiff fabric...resulting in some impromtu stitching by hand

i wanted to make a cute tote bag like this one.

i very quickly learned that my little amateur machine

wasn't ready for stiff upholstery fabric.

it hiccuped, stalled, got cranky, and refused to sew.

but first, i'll back up a bit.

i have been loving gray lately.

but i didn't want to be too depressing so

i thought i'd add a solitary solid yellow stripe...

maybe adding yellow handles,

and definitely a yellow inner pocket.

i was trying to be oh so exact with my measuring...something i usually speed through.

i even used straight-pins...another rare event. i usally like to eye things a little too much.

but i'm getting better...i even pressed the seams open, nice and flat!

the yellow pocket!

and my attempt to sew it all together by hand with pretty aqua thread.

but that wasn't going so well either.

so this project is on hold until i return from school at the end of july.

when i finish it, i will have a wonderfully sturdy beach tote

that will probably spend more time carrying books rather

than carrying towels, beach balls, or buckets.

on simple joys, fragility, and time

aren't these so very pretty?
they are jewels to me.
candy.
would buy all the thread in the world
just to let it sit on my table so i could gaze at it.
but i must make something with these lovely colors.
i'll think of something and then show you what becomes
of these beautiful threads.
sewing helps my time alone fly by.
it truly is a therapy:
being busy with my hands,
creating something
to use or to give away.
something i made.
so satisfying.

i continue to have mini awakenings...
they alert me that i have wonderful things to do,
and better ways to spend my time.
creating.
moving.
reading.
recording.
telling.
laughing.

i'm in this intense fragile time in my life i feel.
it's a fragility that is on the brink of deliberate vision,
on the heel of courage and fairy tales.

i'm in love more and more with small things,
with elegant things and people,
with honest people who are so solid to the core.

i'm about to simplify,
yet open up my world to so many possibilities.
i can just feel it.

so what shall i make with these pretty little things?
any suggestions?

so grateful for breakings and openings...
aren't you?

so grateful for all the little things that are so fragile.

sneak peak: the "jane austen" dress

i have just a few more things to add to my
"jane austen" dress before it is finished:
some straps and some other embellishments.

i've used this embroidered fabric before, remember?
i had some left over and wanted to use it
before i went out to buy more fabric.

i'm hoping to have it finished before the weekend.
wish me luck.

........................................

and, on another note,
i read one of my most favorite poems this morning,
and it dripped from my tongue
and my soul sang.
it's a poem by wordsworth called "farewell."
an excerpt:

farewell, thou little nook of mountain ground,
thou rocky corner in the lowest stair
of that magnificent temple which doth bound
one side of our whole vale with grandeur rare;
sweet garden-orchard, eminently fair,
the loveliest spot that man hath ever found,
farewell! -we leave thee to heav'n's peaceful care,
thee, and the cottage which thou dost surround.

ta-da!

finally.
i made a skirt.
and it's not the usual a-line that i used
to make over and over.

i'm smitten by both the embroidery and the lace.
who thinks to make such pretty fabric?

been thinking a lot lately about how my grandma
and my mom used to sew so much.
they could make anything.
my goal: to be able to sew anything...
even my future daughter's wedding dress
{when it comes time for kids, i'm hoping for at least one girl!}

so there it is.
what do you think?

photos by cj.

i like to make pretty things: the skirt

i've had some very pretty embroidered fabric for a while now,
and i finally decided what i wanted it for:
a skirt.
a very pretty, womanly skirt.

i worked on it all weekend.
no pattern.
so there were a few mistakes and re-do's.

but in the end it turned out quite lovely.
i'll post some more pictures of it later this week.

ceej took these photos with our new toy.
old film.
thus, the yellow spots and faded look.
what do you think?

it's been a while...and i'm oh so happy to be sewing again

i've had this pretty fabric for two years now...
wondering what to make with it.

i finally decided what to make.
can you guess?