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Very excited to receive my copy and first look at Mollie Makes! (Looks perfectly at home here, doesn't it?)
My nana, Josie would be so very proud!
I know I am. It's beautifully done in every way imaginable. Such an honor to be invited in!
Page after page of delicious inspirations.
Mmmmmmm! I think I'm all set to join the Cute Club!
At some point I started asking the kids what was their favorite part of whatever we just did. On the way home from our Solid Sound weekend, Mo surprised me, asking me first. Hmmm. I would have a hard time picking. It was a weekend so full of so many different things. Music, weather, family, adventure, art, people. Had to admit the truth though - probably anything that involved being with or near my family. Even huddling together in the downpour at Friday night's concert was fun. In its way. And of course, the music was amazing.
So here is my list as prompted by the camera:
taking over the whole counter at Cafe Reva (Pittsfield) for breakfast
caravanning to the event, listening to the girls talk about music
the mercurial Berkshires weather, steadily toying with us, sun to shade to rain to downpour, again and again
the venue, so welcoming, fascinating, accommodating, peaceful, generous
following the kids to see what they saw
the ability to enjoy the museum exhibits throughout the events
seeing Mo be photographed for and included in the polaroid exhibit
walking around with Nels Cline
being on time for the silkscreen demo
wandering the impressive gallery of Wilco poster art
discovering this accidental window reflection in my snapshot
stopping to see this as the crowd whisked by
but still arriving in time for Syl
loving the spectacular Big Show, finally without rain, but with everything they could give us
Both days, there was a lot of rain and there were a lot of people - all looking for shelter and comfort between shows. It was a challenge to figure out how to be together as a family without being in the way of someone else.
You'll understand then that one favorite part was the against-the-odds victory when I snagged an empty wet chair out of the rain and found half a table to share under cover. While the hubbub swirled around us, we gradually forged a dry oasis there for a few precious hours of relaxed eating, resting, visiting and meeting other folks. My mama moment within a weekend beautifully imagined by the youngers, so capable, thoughtful, enthusiastic and sweet. Thank you - especially to Erin and John Paul!
Lyons Family Woodstock 2011 = A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
Grateful Dead, Fox Theatre, Saint Louis, Oct 1972 (Andy and his friend produced this legendary show. We were backstage for 3 days/nights!)
Keep the memories tuned up, the music playing and one day, they'll take you to their idea of Family Woodstock. Rain or shine, we're rockin' and rollin' this weekend! All 7 of us!
I was going crazy trying to identify a birdsong that is everywhere in the air around the house for weeks. The only word I could come up with to describe it was a "twittering" sound, but you know that got me nowhere searching the internet.
I started to think maybe it was a tree frog. But today I saw it, way up high on its tree perch and I glimpsed the silhouette with the binoculars. I do believe it's a chipping sparrow though at first I thought it was a worm-eating warbler. They sound a bit the same. (Use the listen button on the links.) Can you see why it was hard to describe? Much more the second track of the chipping sparrow though not sewing-machine-like at all, in my opinion. It's a twitter!
Also- this little baby bird image is from the bib I made for my guestblog at Amanda's. The how-to is over there and here is the link for the free PDF pattern. I should mention that the bib is really hard to turn right side out as suggested in my instructions. Next time, I would leave a larger opening at the bottom perhaps and do it there, finishing with a careful blind stitch to close. Today, I like this quote I used in Mothers and Daughters at Home:
There's always room for improvement - it's the biggest room in the house.
~ Louise Heath Leber
I finished up a new design last night. After spending the day purging the studio of clutter, I rewarded myself with an hour of stitch play.
A bundle of cotton swatches (too pretty to give up) made a colorful patchwork border.
I'm a little in love.
This morning, as if I stepped into a real garden, the light was just right and it looks even prettier. From every angle. Every detail. (Even the ones I wasn't so sure about in the making.)
The sun's out. It's a spectacular summer day! I'm going to take a walk to town.
I finished the wedding pillow for Alison and Joe!
Remember the table runners and ring pillow I made for Erin and John Paul's wedding? The coral and white fabric is from Sis Boom and Jennifer Paganelli. I still love it so - especially with that jumbo rickrack trim. (There are more of this motto sampler design in the shop now.)
A few notes about stitching these samplers up.
* I generally use perle cotton size 8 and randomly pull colors from my stash as I work. (As you can see, this one was simply white thread.) I experiment with stitches old and new depending on my sense of adventure. Love the short back stitch!
* The printed designs do not wash away. The lines may show a little after stitching, but that thread weight covers them pretty well.
* Also - I really recommend that before stitching you cut a slightly larger piece of muslin or cotton and use that as a second layer to stitch through. It hides the backwork and also makes for a sturdier finished piece. And if the margins around the design are a little tight for your hoop needs, it helps to stabilize the design and make it a little bigger all around.
Although I haven't seen it yet, the new issue of Mollie Makes has a feature about my Josie's Garden sampler design. I'm so excited and flattered to be included! On their site just now to grab a link- oh, my goodness- they made the cutest ever promo video!!
Shadowboxes. I'm so glad I chose this project for the second day's class. Titled "Snippets of Home", it was intensely creative, but relaxed and well-suited for a second day of crafting.
We began with a stack of randomly shaped cigar boxes. Each was engineered and altered to create "rooms" for small objects and decorations. We added pockets and handmade felt embellishments. And beautiful details.
Some talented students with mad skills! Apparently, it's too much for me to teach and snap photos at the same time- always disappointed that there isn't more in the camera when I get home. Some stunners got away without a photo.
In the second classroom, Kathy Curotto taught a happy, busy class in papercrafting (following the first day's fantastic canvas bag class) with an array of materials and projects to take on. Amy made this one-of-a-kind carousel from bits she rummaged from the stash pile.
And then she gave it to Mary ....
because it was her birthday that very day- for real! More cake, goodie bags, book signings, laughs. And lingering good-byes.
Such a memorable weekend! I enjoyed everything about it and felt so lucky to have been there with so many kind and inspired students, with Mary and Barbara and Kathy.
They hope to repeat this event for November and the holidays. Another Breit Idea!
First off, thank you for all the sampler orders. There will be more in the shop soon. I had a little thrill when I saw the sales counter roll forward to 1000 sales! Yay!
Back to the workshop at Mary's - seriously amazing! Being there in the studio inspired each of us with color, design, pattern galore. We savored the hours spent inside her Cute Wonderland and it shows in the work we did. Actually it was play. Lots of it.
My first day's class was two sessions of the painted and decoupaged plate. Favorite part was watching the painted papers appear as foundations for the designs. We carpeted the hall with gorgeous colorful creations! Kind of wanted to frame some of those.
First they painted.
(Never underestimate the power of black and white, saturated color and polka dots!)
Then they carved, stamped, decorated and doodled.
Cut, tore and collaged.
And assembled their designs into fantastic finished plates.
Hmmm. What else? How about party hats and cake!
Lovely, unique creations made at home especially for this day, the hats were over-the-top (pun intended). Cherie cut up some window screen and made this!
Pam and Amy!
When it seemed impossible to squeeze an ounce more cute-ness into the day, we scooted back to the studio kitchen to sing happy birthday to Mary and gobble up party cake like little kids. Phew, that was a daylong sensory work-out.
And then .... we rushed back the next day for more!
Taking a breath. Okay, did the stitching (2 nights!) and now I've gotta finish that pillow up for the wedding tomorrow. It's going to be so sweet!
Before I post about the workshops, I couldn't wait to show and share this new stitchable motto design I'm listing in my Etsy shop.
I think it will be especially darling for wedding, graduation and baby gifts. Love the message and the colors.
I'm just stitching over the white lines with white thread and back stitch.
And then I'll make it into a pillow. Think I can finish in time for the wedding we're attending this weekend? 4 nights. Bet I can!
Made it back home from the Home Companion Workshops in Saint Louis. Once again, it was a fantastic event with all the party bells and whistles to celebrate Mary's birthday and our jubilant craftorama.
This was the very last shot I took as we finished tidying up the studio and then said goodbye to our weekend home. I was pleasantly surprised to find this little pillow, made from a tee-shirt I designed for Mary's company years ago - it made me happy to see it there still, beautifully repurposed, so inviting in the late afternoon light from the office window.
I'm falling into a comfy chair here at home somewhere right now, but I'll be back soon with more about the weekend. (Etsy orders to bundle and ship first thing in the morning!)
