Be*mused

*I may have moved a bag of Dove chocolates

May's been such a busy month that several times I've caught myself stressing about the blog and putting aside tasks that needed attention so that I could complete something *postworthy*.  One of the several reasons I started Be*mused was to keep me moving forward on projects, so I don't consider a little self-imposed pressure a bad thing.  But I hate it when I realize that, for the sake of a photo, I'm stitching away on something when I'd rather be doing something else.  (You do it sometimes, too. I just know it.)  Today, prompted by two posts that I've been musing about all afternoon...Suzi's and Nancy's...I'm giving you a look at my workspace, nothing fancy, exactly as I left it last week*.  And a few thoughts. 

1. View from the doorway, glancing left

2. Doorway view, glancing right

One unexpected pleasure of blogging for me has been the photography.  More specifically, photostyling.  Capturing items in an interesting setting or light.  Trickery?  Hmm.  It was really, really difficult (killing me, actually) to resist the urge to neaten things up, but there's a point to this.  Bear with me.  And, as always, you may click the photos for larger views.  If you must.

3. View from ironing board corner

Ok. So.  A complete mess. (Truth shots, Nancy?)  Sometimes when I walk in and it looks like this, I forget what I came in for.  Sewing plans fly out the window and before I realize it, I'm folding and reshelving fabric, sorting buttons & trims, organizing books & magazines and dragging the vacuum upstairs.  It feels great.  Clean slate.  But not this week.  This week, it's feeling perfect.  Cozy, even.  With an undercurrent of buzz.  Because ideas are fermenting and next steps are being considered. 

4. Behind the door view from end of cutting table

I spent a day up here last week when we got back from our trip, a day I never considered blogging about.  I cut more strip sets for my yellow/orange Project Spectrum quilt.  Prepared more hexagons, fabric & cardstock, for evening stitching.  A perfect afternoon, sitting at my cutting table, working on these mundane tasks.  And more. I was auditioning yellow border fabrics for the quilt.  Pulling down green fabric in piles on the floor.  Pausing to consider while I cut and sliced.  Darks & brights?  30's prints?  Is there even time to make a green PS project?  (No.)  Do I want to, at this late date? (Sigh.)

Disarray?  I think not.

My point?  Some of the best creative time doesn't result in good photos.  And a week with no photos might not mean a week with no progress.  Just an observation.   

My jury group wasn't needed today but I'm still on standby for the rest of the week.  Bag packed.  No metal sewing implements will be allowed.  Or scissors.  But it seems that knitting on bamboo needles is ok.  I have mixed feelings about jury duty.  I don't mind serving, though my last experience was a rather grim trial.  I'd like to think that if I was ever facing a verdict, there would be fair minded, thoughtful people available and willing to consider my fate.

I have lots of email to answer.  If you're waiting to hear from me...soon!   

Papered out and unplugged

Shortly before our recent trip, M spackled up assorted little nicks and nailholes in our bedroom, upstairs hallway and computer room in preparation for a Memorial Day weekend paintfest.  Upon our return, his workweek was exceedingly busy so I assumed that he'd either be working part of the weekend or wanting to relax a bit.  Wrong.  Saturday morning, we hit the ground running.  I scurried about in full Edith Bunker mode, trying to empty the downstairs rooms while he mapped strategy and figured the paint store list.  Since we moved here, our computer room has functioned more like a big closet...a convenient repository for much of what graced our walls in our last home, as well as my Japanese books, home dec magazines, bins of yarn and lots of the ever popular *etcetera*. While I disassembled the computer (painful) and found temporary spots for everything, he headed upstairs to start on the hallway.  That M.  He sure is thorough.

My sewing room door

M...he paints.  Me?  I'm the on-call support person, at the ready to run to the paint store, move furniture, shake out/reposition dropcloths, scrutinize fresh paint for missed spots, provide a cold drink on a moment's notice.  On a long weekend.  With no computer and no access to my sewing room.  It's quite amazing, however, what you can get done without those distractions!  Among many other accomplishments, I started to attack my accumulated vintage fabric.  Attack, as in *wash*.

It's a start 

I love the thrill of the hunt, and for years I lived in prime *estate sale* territory.  How I loved to paw through boxes in hot attics to find choice pieces of others' stashes, often for mere cents!  At the time, I had a smallish sewing room.  So near my washing machine in the basement, I kept a laundry basket (and then, another) where I'd toss new finds for an eventual wash.  And never quite got around to it. 

 
Advice to thrifters...wash it when you bring it home!   

I had forgotten what wonderful fabrics I had until I dug around in these containers this weekend.  All of this fabric is either feedsacks or mid-20th century 36" wide yardage.  I guess this will be my summer project...chipping away, rinsing, washing, ironing.  Using, finally?

Click for closeup

I may not get much more done this week though.

Swap swoon

While I was away, a much anticipated package arrived...from Alex, in Japan.  As I mentioned before, she had agreed to make me a felt needlecase in a swap after I came across her Flickr photos and fell in love with her folky little sewing accessories.  I knew this would be something special when I opened the envelope to find a handcrafted drawstring bag and coordinated notecard. 

Click for closeups

Aren't these wonderful?  I was only expecting a needlecase, but Alex generously included a matching pincushion and tape measure.  Look at the little leaf pull tab! 

Needlethreader for scale   

Alex's work is meticulously crafted and her color selections are gorgeous.  Persimmon orange, hot pink, mustard yellow...with pastel accents.  (Coordinates with the little pouch!!)  Now that spring has burst forward in full bloom, a canopy of trees is wreaking havoc with my natural light here and I'm having a heck of a time getting true color shots.  These are pretty close.  I've never participated in such a swap and truthfully, I found it a little nervewracking.  It seems that Alex and I were a perfect match, though, on that count.  And both happy in the end that we took a chance.  Thank you, Alex!  I love what you sent! 

Back in the Heartland

I forgot the magazine.  No kidding.  Left it right where I snapped its photo...so disappointing as I dug through my tote bag somewhere around Hour #2 of our eventual 26 hours of car time.  Happily, the rest of the trip lived up to expectations.  Lots of family time.  Mother's Day weekend at my parents' place, visits with my sister & brother (et familiae) and several days in NYC with K & friends for a number of lovely graduation events, lots of peripheral fun and many good memories.  But that's not all!

Purl Patchwork window display

No matter how booked up our time in the city would be, I was determined to squeeze out a trip downtown to check out Purl Patchwork.  It didn't disappoint.  I've visited many, many quilt shops through the years but I'd have to say that this shop is the first that I literally could have said, "I'll take a half yard of each fabric, please!"  The shop is quite small, the same size as Purl, a few storefronts down the street.  The selection, however, is exquisite.  Clear brights, neutral graphics, 30's and 19th century reproduction prints, all displayed in the most mouthwatering array. I had a delightful time chatting with Joelle and Isabel while scanning the shelves and trying to limit my must-haves.  If you find yourself in the city and have the time, get thee to Purl Patchwork!  It's shot right to the top of my not-to-miss-while-in-the-city list. 

My Purl Patchwork selection

A quick stop at Kinokuniya yielded a new copy of one of my favorite Japanese magazines, Illustration, and I headed back to the apartment, satisfied with my little haul.  That is, until I came across Loretta's post while dipping into my Bloglines on K's laptop.  I'd wanted to add more Kaffe Fassett/Westminster prints to my stash.  Coincidence that City Quilter was close to our restaurant choice for that evening?   

I think not. 

One of the hoped for but still somewhat surprising aspects of having a blog is the connection with so many interesting, like-minded folk.  When I mentioned in a recent post that I'd be heading to New York City, I received several lovely invitations, most of which I had to pass up due to an already full calendar.  The stars aligned, however, for the non-family-related highlight of my trip, a visit with (the inimitable) Kay.  We dashed across Central Park (Don't trust internet Doppler radar. I'm just sayin'.) and spent a good part of a morning at Via Quadronno, sipping cappuccinos, watching The Beautiful People and enjoying a good chat.  Kay, I forgot to ask you (among other things) about the Circle-of-Fun rug...love it!!  Maybe we can do it again sometime.  And I promise that next time I won't meet you clutching a bl....well, you know.

I may be inclined to warsh dishes now!

I'm going, I'm going

In my next life, I'd like to come back as a good packer.  No matter how early I start or how organized the effort, I'm always scrambling around at the last minute, grabbing this and stuffing that, hoping to cover every possible eventuality.  I invariably end up lugging more than I need and yet frequently find I'm missing some essential piece upon my arrival.  I thought I was in pretty good shape this afternoon until I just heard the weather report.  What happened to spring? 

I was excited to find a new issue of Embroidery in my mail this afternoon.  As I walked back to the house from the mailbox, my intention was to slip it, unopened, into my tote for perfect long-car-ride reading material.  But when I caught Madeleine Millington's name on the cover (which I recognized from Lyn's long ago but memorable posts, I was ripping off the plastic wrap before I had even reached the front door.  *Just for a peek*, of course.  While flipping through, searching for the article, this two-page spread stopped me dead in my tracks.

I met my friend, Susanne, in a drawing class at the Art Institute 8 or 9 years ago and subsequently we belonged to several of the same fiber groups.  Over my last few years in Cleveland, we were in evening oil painting classes together, comparing notes on drawing/painting resources in the city.  Her intent was to increase her representational skills.  She'd been developing some loose machine embroidery techniques and wanted a better foundation for her fiber explorations.  Well, I guess she's moving forward!  Her machine stitched portraits are breathtaking.

I've recently noticed many bloggers getting interested in stitchery but I've never seen anyone reference this excellent magazine.  It is a British publication, so the subscription price (U.S.) is a bit steep, but I think it's well worth it for the wonderful profiles they present of very imaginative stitchers and their work.  Check out their website and be sure to investigate the back issues page, which will, I think, introduce you to many inventive fiber artists.

   

I'd better get going.  It might be a surprise to hear that I'm not packing handwork.  I've sorely neglected my reading lately so my totebag is packed with books and magazines.  Thank you for all of the kind comments and good wishes on yesterday's post.  I don't think K has yet stumbled upon it but when he does, I suspect he'll be happy to see that this new post has bumped him below the fold.

Inevitable

Summer, 1989

When K was little, his interest in the world 'out there' knew no bounds.  No family vacation at a coastline was ever complete without a message being inserted in a bottle and cast to the winds.  For years, any event we attended at which helium balloons were distributed was followed by the ritual gathering of our family on the front lawn shortly after our arrival home.  K would first dash inside, quickly jot a note with all pertinent information (*If you find this balloon, please contact....*), insert it in a ziploc bag and attach it to the balloon string.  Then the four of us would watch the release, eyes cast skyward, until the balloon faded from speck to nothing while considering the possibilities of exactly how far it might actually travel.  "What do you think, Mum?  Greenland?  England?"  I can't describe the excitement at our house when a kind gentleman's note arrived from Pennsylvania one fine, fall day.

When K was in second grade, he asked the children's librarian if she had a book on 'how to write Chinese'.  (She didn't.)  He borrowed the children's geography series of 'Take a Trip to ____' books from the library so often, the librarians confided that they were ready to just give the set to him.  Each night before bed, he & M would get the globe down from the top shelf and quiz each other on countries and capitals.  It was from K that I first ever heard of Tuvalu, long before I knew anyone from there.

When K was in 5th grade, he read about a geography competition in his National Geographic Kids magazine.  After wondering, 'how do you get to compete in that?', he brought the issue to his principal and asked if their school could participate.  Two years later, we were driving him to Columbus to compete in the state finals.

This weekend, M & I will be heading to NYC for K's graduation.  He's now 27 and has just earned a graduate degree.  Unlike his blabby mother and sister who choose to trumpet their musings, accomplishments and frustrations worldwide on their blogs, K is a quiet and private person.  Out of respect, I'll refrain from sharing more about his many recent accolades or details about his studies.  But it does seem that he's been moving in this direction his whole life.  And we are all so very proud of him.

I'll be back in 10 days or so!

All the news that's fit to print

(Thanks, Loobylu!)

Since you asked

Inquiring minds seem to want to know the status of my Project Spectrum projects.  An insistent, pesty, interested reader* recently posed several questions which I'll address today.

1)  What's up with your March and April Project Spectrum projects?

Progress as of yesterday

This may not look like good news, but I got a lot done this week.  The March red/pink project had just been sitting in blocks on the design board while I worked on the yellow top but since I promised myself that I wouldn't take it off in pieces and I was running out of room for the April project, I took a few hours this week to trim the blocks and piece the top (sans border). 

 
Untrimmed/trimmed  (Click for closeup)

Because the blocks are never exact after piecing and handling, I always trim them up before assembling the top.  These required a little more attention because all of the block edges are on the bias.  As usual, I sewed them in strips, pressed the seams in one direction (one strip up, next strip down) and then sewed them together, strip to strip.  Those seams had to be pressed open, however, to alleviate the bulk at the block joins.  It's now off the board temporarily so that I can move along on the April quilt, which, by the way, I had intentions of being on the bed by now.  *Ahem*.

Yesterday afternoon I cut all of the strip sets for the remainder of the yellow/orange blocks.  Now I'll be able to just pop in and sew up a few at a time instead of being faced with pressing and cutting first.  My goal is to have the top finished by the end of next week, though I don't have my border fabric yet.  Must hunt some down.

2)  What are your plans for the green?

None yet.  Lots of ideas.  Mulling it over while I'm piecing red & pink and cutting yellow & orange.  Something not as structured.  I'm considering combining May and June (green & blue) since this is a busy month for me and, admittedly, I'm finding 'green' to be a challenge.  I'm inclined to stick with the Project Spectrum guidelines, though.  After all, it is supposed to be a challenge, right?

3)  How many hexagon flowers have you made now?

 
Seven more

Sixteen!  Now that this appears to be materializing into a real quilt project, I need to start thinking about how much black I want to purchase for the connector hexes. 

So there's the update.  I'm feeling great about these projects, unlike so many of the UFOs that have stacked up from years past.  *Life intrudes* sometimes and this spring has had a few distractions, but these quilts are all on track to actually be finished at some point in the near future.  (Not to worry!)  If you're looking for a completed PS quilt, Kristin has a lovely one here. 

Now I'm off to pick up my new glasses.  How convenient that the optician is next door to the quilt shop.

*Kidding, of course.  Keep those cards & letters coming!

An old favorite

While everyone (myself included) is in a tizzy over Ann & Kay's new book and photos of knitted quilts and linen handtowels are starting to pop up around blogland, last month I revisited one of my favorite patterns, Kay's Buttonhole Bag.  If anyone puts together a *greatest knitting hits of the new century* album, this clever little bag must be included!

I made it as my end of a swap.  I had come across Alex's Flickr site of little handmade items that made my heart flutter and I quickly shot off an email, asking if she sold her work.  No, she replied, but I'll do a swap.  She mentioned my earlier bags and we were off! 

Fushia, Lotus Pink & Orange You Glad

The color selection was left to me and after looking at a couple of my previous bags, I decided to change the proportions to make it a little deeper.  I think that using two strands of regular Lamb's Pride, not the Bulky LP that Kay suggests, resulted in my early bags being a bit too shallow.  Always a fun, quick knit...I wove in the ends, tossed it in the washing maching and held my breath.  The thrill of felting!  (Er, anxiety?) 

Voila!  Approximately 7 1/2" x 11"

It emerged from the swirling depths exactly as I had hoped, my best effort so far, and has arrived at its destination to a happy reception.  Phew!  And soon I'll be a happy recipient, too. 

Speaking of Kay, I want to welcome the many, many visitors that have been stopping by since she mentioned my graduation gift idea in the sidebar at Mason-Dixon Knitting.  I seldom check my blog stats but when I noticed a lot of traffic on the weekend, I clicked to 'referrers'.  Whoa!  A veritable stampede.  Thanks, Kay...for the nice mention and the wonderful pattern.  Oh, and all the laughs, too.  Always, the laughs!

Already May?

No way!!  Yikes, where did April go?