house wren studio

a few strands

Working still on the new banner for my mom and Mother's Day. I decided to stitch it using regular embroidery floss since I rediscovered a whole tin full of it. It looks so pretty in pinks.

The basket design is my solution to a big space that I didn't want to fill or leave blank. I love the way it turned out, each part a little experiment with favorite stitches that I haven't used lately. The top is a version of the threaded running stitch, a second color woven through the backstitch as an afterthought. And the basketweave is just a simple couching. Sweet, right?

One of my frequent sampler stitchers is Heather. Last week she instagrammed a shot of her finished Mr. America. So beautiful, in such a fresh color palette! 

photo courtesy Heather Simpson Bluhm

This flurry of spring stitching made me want something new to work on. Lots of hoops in the air here.

I know it's hard to see her, but that little girl in the doorway reminds me of my Maggie. It's her birthday today! Happy birthday, sweetie!

Wishing everyone a happy, happy day! With lots of love. xo

an idea or two for mother's day

Right now every street, parkway, garden and yard has at least one tree exploding with beautiful color and blossom.

And I've been inside the branches of several. Looking up.

Looking closely.

There is even one very pretty tree in my own yard.

Which gives me a chance to remind you of this sweet post from years ago when the girls gave me this beautiful dogwood for Mother's Day. Covered with blossoms and memories, it's one of the loveliest gifts ever. Don't you think? 

My mother doesn't have a place to plant, but all of this has inspired me to sit down and stitch the birdie banner in pink colors for her breakfast table window. 

Much needed rain is expected over the weekend so I'll be under a pink tree this afternoon getting started. Hoping something is blooming and beautiful where you are. The magic of spring! 

june workshop at mary's

Getting ready for the June workshop at Mary Engelbreit's studio in Saint Louis.

Always so much fun!

Mother's Day gift/wishlist?

** Here is a new video of Mary drawing. Watch a sweet little sketch come to life step by step. Amazing!

a skirt

Well, it took me the best part of the week. I made a new skirt.

I drafted a pattern based on the favorite skirt I wear all the time as soon as the weather warms up enough. The skirt that makes me feel thin and young and goes with every tee shirt I have. The skirt that makes me stand a different way, walk a different way. I remember the day I bought it 5 years ago. I don't think I even tried it on. The fabric is getting a bit weary in spots. I'm not going to show you that skirt, an impossibly high standard for a copy.

This skirt. Was a struggle. Making a pattern for something so simple was so hard. I wanted all the features of the other skirt. Fitted waistband and flat, ungathered top, side zipper, darts in the back, partial lining on the top. Gosh, that was harder than I thought. At least I'm glad I recently got reacquainted with zippers.

The skirt project took 5 full days. One to get the courage and commitment, start drawing the pattern on newsprint. Another day to adjust and make it from muslin. Another to fret over adjustments, dig in again and cut it out from my fabric and start sewing it together. *An evening to consider cutting it up for a quilt because it was huge and frumpy and looked like I was auditioning for a chorus part in Oklahoma.

But there was finally a last day when I took it all apart, cut it down to fit and rebuilt it. It fit. I washed it so all the parts would relax a little and learn to belong to each other. I tried it on once more and decided it could stay. 

You know I love the fabric. I hope that makes me want to wear it. We'll see. 

Audition date TBA.

easter weekend

 

This morning the house is quiet. Nearly everything is put away and you almost wouldn't know.

It was crazy and colorful in here this weekend. And sweet. Man, it was so sweet.

Hoping yours was too! xo 

easter crafts

I'm a wee bit late on this and meant to direct you to last spring's bunny lumps post earlier. Maybe there is still some time at the kitchen table to try these. Wouldn't they be cute as little placecards for the table? Make a dent in the soft form before drying/baking to hold a card or tack the bunny onto a cardstock base with a name on it.

Also wanted to let you know I made a pattern PDF for the bunny toy in the last post and it's in my Etsy shop. If there's not time for Easter, it would be cute for a baby gift or as a handmade friend any old time. 

I looked through my archives for other simple Easter crafts. An egg diorama is here and if you have some felted sweaters, look here. And I still love this little quick frame from a few years ago. 

Wishing you all a lovely Easter weekend! Such a beautiful spring!

sister bunnies

When my own girls were little I made bunnies of some kind for them every year for Easter. I miss that. So I spent my weekend making new bunnies for the adorable grandbabies of my dear friend, Jill. Maybe you remember that I made Maggie's Farm for them too. Darling, darling girls. 

Of course, I used my fabric collection, inventing a pattern with long legs, ears and arms. By the time I was finished with the first, I learned a lot about my pattern (flaws and strengths) and the best way to put each together. Inevitably, each has its own personality when the last stitch is finished up.

Thrills me to see my fabric come to life in yet another way.

And then I had the greatest pleasure in giving them to little Charlotte and Caroline yesterday. Newly three, Charlotte quickly named hers Annabel and agreed that Bluebell would be a good name for her baby sister's.

I can't tell you how much I loved seeing each of them in the arms of a happy child. 

Bliss.

********

Today is the first day of registration for the June workshop at Mary Engelbreit's studio. We always have such fun there! And the winner of the Teeny Tray is Susan in Texas. Thanks, everyone!