Stitch Rabbit

Moving On

Finally, finally, after a few weeks of travel and the busy that keeps us from what we want to do....
I am pinning the quilt for Frankie's bed. I always look forward to bringing the quilt out of my studio and onto my lap in a chair for the final hand stitching. It's such a nice way to end the work, binding the blanket together, underneath it all.

Away.

In March.

On a stormy, blustery day in March, when I don't want to brave the cold and the wet, when the walls around me are physically my shelter and also walls in other ways...

 

I will be wrapped in blankets, lingering well past morning coffee.

 

 I will read with my kids or read on my own. You will often find me leaning on the kitchen counter or sitting at the kitchen table with my nose in a book. I incessantly need to know.

 

In March I will contemplate the next project, the next idea. Today it was what to do with the huge bag of beautiful roving I received. I still have no idea.

 

In March I will peer out the windows and wonder if the daffodils are going to be okay, and suddenly realize I haven't even begun planning seeds yet and slightly panic at the thought of late tomatoes.

 

 I will sit in this chair, reading again and again to the kids. I could lose my voice and they would still want more.

 

In March I will wander off to the far corner of my bedroom, the quietest place in the house, where I can sit in the window and knit a few rows. This is probably as close to meditating as I will get.

 

In March I will turn the house the way I do every day, making breakfast and lunch and keeping up on the dishes and the laundry. But in my mind I am already in the spring, with dirt under my fingernails and sun in my eyes. I am warm and bright and on the road and out with friends and growing again and being alive.

 

At the end of it all, on a stormy blustery day in March, I will turn on the lamps and keep on going into the night, knowing and trusting it will soon change.

 

Holy Smokes, We Have A Dog!

 

Introducing Lucy, our newest family member. We've known about her for a while...I've been barely able to contain myself. Something about getting a puppy brings out the ten year old girl in everyone!

She's a week in at our house and fitting in beautifully. We've spent the week getting to know her, building up her trust and confidence, and of course, introducing her to the big world out there. It's been extremely busy, I haven't had a minute to myself, but so worth the effort and time. I say this now as she sleeps peacefully at my feet.

The kids are in love, and she is the first one greeted and hugged and snuggled in the morning... forget about me now. I too am quite smitten with her. I sigh tiredly as I pry her baby teeth from another beloved stuffed animal or armchair leg and worry and fret when we leave her at home, but this puppy stage only lasts so long and it's so easy to enjoy it even with the extra work.

She's a beauty, and a sweet, sweet soul. We're so glad she's here.

 

Sewing For Spring: Pretty Little Camisole

I love this new shirt of hers. Super light and soft, with a very fine line detail in the fabric. To give it a little bit more I took a vintage piece of hand-crocheted lace and used it as the trim for her neckline. I used the camisole pattern from a Japanese pattern book I use a lot called "Carefree Clothes For Little Girls". It has been a little girl pattern staple since she was two. I highly recommend if you are sewing for young girls!!

 

Sewing For Spring: A Great Apron

I've made a lot of these. They're easy, they layer well and are great for playing in. Frankie loves the big pocket in the front. I usually use an unbleached cotton or linen for the main body, but this time I chose a green linen and a vintage sheet material for lining.

The pocket is made with the much-adored Heather Ross Far, Far Away III. Clothes on a line, doesn't get nicer than that. Now let's go play Little House On The Prairie.

Sewing For Spring: Fancy Pocket Skirt

 

She's such a good girl to help me shoot photos of her clothes, hey?

I made this skirt out of a quick 1/2 metre cut of this really nice linen from Spool Of Thread. I did a flat front with elastic in the back and sewed a big front pocket with some oxford. The detailing is simply a vintage doily sewn to the pocket. Instant fancy for the fancy lady.

That's some serious posing.

Sewing For Spring: A New Dress

Spring is pushing through the ground, and it's almost time to trade the heaviest sweaters and the warmest boots for lighter jackets and skirts and dresses. I had a flurry of activity in my studio last week and this is one of the pieces that came out.

Using a simple light blue oxford, I borrowed the bodice pattern from a great old dress book I love and filled in the gaps with a nice full skirt and big pockets trimmed with lace, perfect for filling with rocks and buttercups. With a long-sleeve underneath she can wear it now and then throughout the summer on it's own.