wise craft

the aha moment

You guys are aces, thank you so much for all the card game suggestions! Brilliant! Please go and look at the comments on the last post if you are interested in all in expanding your family's card game repertoire. You've inspired me to start keeping a deck of cards in my bag for the kids and I to play on the go.

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Ok, onto today's subject at hand. A new quilt needs to be made!

I've been stumped for months over what my next quilt will be for our bedroom. At first it was to be Hills n Hollers, but then no, that would be too much solid empty space, plus that one felt like it was meant to be a family room quilt from the day I started it. Then it was going to be Stacking the Odds. I ordered the pattern and slept with it under my pillow for a long time, but it just didn't click for me as the right one. Our bedroom has a lot of its space taken up visually by the bed, so it feels like the quilt has to be one I love more than anything, and that's a lot of pressure. So, I've sat and thought about it during empty moments of the day, because these sort of things are important to me. Not to anyone else in the house. I get that. But that's okay, I'll do the thinking about these things for us, no problem. I knew you'd understand.

But, just say these dilemmas out loud, like "It have to have some color, but I think it'll also have space with little or no color or I'll get tired of it" and suddenly everyone is giving you a big blank stare and backing away v e r y  s l o w l y.

We quilters truly are on a higher plane.

Anyway, I had a moment the other day when I knew all my thinking had paid off. Not so much an "aha!" moment as just a quiet little "that would totally work!" moment. I sketched out a quilt design, figured out my fantasy placement of squares, and think I've come up with a plan. Just the right amount of everything...my favorite color pairings (in this case a trio of colors, yellows, whites, and grays)) sewn into simple shapes that use the fabrics to their fullest effect (something I began to think much more about after reading Jane's book). It feels both bright and relaxing, and I think I will love it during the darkest of Seattle winters (cozy, but dreary).

 

I am mixing a few fabrics in my stash that work, and then adding in some whites, maybe even textured white. It'll be fun to play... I'm going to back this quilt in flannel, for winter. (Truth be told, its almost July and I still use our flannel-backed quilt some evenings in the family room.) I will still use our beloved what a bunch of squares quilt for half the year.

I'm really glad I still love this palette so much after writing this post, because it will require about 9 yards to make this quilt. And, you know, that's a whole lot of fabric to not like.

Row 1 from left to right: Marylebone for Liberty, Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley, the paisley collection by Liberty Arts

Row 2 from left to right: Weekends in Gray by Erin McMorris, from Anna Maria's Good Folks Line, Kaffe Fassett in Gray

I also ordered this one.

little changeover

Happy to report, we're finding our rhythm.

I did a little summer cleaning in the family room over the weekend, replacing our woolly rock collection with some shells we've collected on our trips to Florida. I tend to do things like this when I have other things I should be doing. Peter calls this procrastinating, but I call it organizing (which it is, right? right?). Aren't the colors on the cover of that book just gorgeous? Goes perfectly with a quiet morning house, a lap kitty, and a cup of coffee. Anyway, I put our favorite family games out, front and center, so we don't have to dig through cabinets to get them. Although our favorite games these days are a deck of cards. (Speaking of which, does anybody have any favorite, lesser known card games for 8-11 year olds and a mother who's played 50 rounds of Go-Fish a week for several weeks now? Please?)

Ian won that Four-In-A-Row game from his math teacher during the last week of school, an accomplishment of which he's infinitely proud ("I've never won anything!"). He will happily play a round with anyone who shows interest. Actually, even if you don't show interest. Actually, even if you avoid it entirely, he'll find you. Which is kind of cute.

A few summers ago, the granddad of one of Emma's classmates invited a few kids to a week long summer "cribbage camp". It was held every morning for a couple of hours. The kids would meet, pair up, and learn all the components of cribbage from the granddad. It was extremely cute and quite serious, and we would often come in at pick up time to a completely quiet house, a roomful of kids completely absorbed in their games. It was a huge success for Emma, she ate it up, and even made her own cribbage board (in the photo above) that summer with her Papa. The game pieces are tiny little shells.

And, well, I just like the sound that mancala pieces make. Clink Clink. A game that looks quite simple, but I assure you, I got my buttocks kicked 3 times yesterday.

Be sure and check out Molly's summer games list.

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Thanks for those who let me know about our Komforte Chockolate's press in the newest Food Network Magazine! We need to find a minute to grab a copy, its very exciting for us!

bake and crumble

I apologize in advance to the vegetarians out there. But I have to post about my new found love. Salads are high on our list in the summer months (probably yours too) and these days, no salad is complete for me without prosciutto.

Thin slices of high quality prosciutto (it takes me several tries to spell that word correctly every time I type it, but its worth it), laid out side by side on a baking sheet, baked for about 10 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Allow it to cool.

What you get are these paper thin sheets of flavor goodness, which can be easily crumbled into tiny little bits and sprinkled into soups, salads, on sandwiches (grilled cheese!), all kinds of things.

Right now, these crumbled onto a salad made from whatever is fresh and available is just perfect.

Sometimes I even steal some of Emma's croutons.

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I hope to find some time to make Joseph's block this weekend.

oh...well...

Please pardon our dishevelment (is that a word?) around here, as we figure out how to get the most out of summer. We are trying to find our rhythm. Actually, who am I kidding? It's wacky around here, people. We haven't even realized our rhythm was ever lost, much less make any attempts to find it. There is a steady stream of little people coming and going, which I just love, it's great! But with that comes the learning curve of me explaining to the little people where and how to find and create their own snacks, art supplies, and so on...

 

And then there's the whole formalized lunch thing I kind of forgot about. When school is in session, lunch for me is an apple with peanut butter on it (or, ok, I'll admit there have been days that cookies and coffee counted as lunch). So, we're all adjusting our routines so that we can all hang out and enjoy summer. We'll get there, we always do. I think the first two weeks and the last two weeks of summer are the shakiest, I need to remind myself of that.

The only one who hasn't changed their routine is Gracie.

 

 Yep, little miss cool as a cucumber. Birdwatching, chow-eating, cat-napping. Check.

(I hid in my studio for a few minutes this afternoon and did some Summer clearing on the blog, what do you think?)

Update- I changed the font back to the way it was, hopefully its easier to read now. Thanks for letting me know!

i almost saw the sun

for a few minutes today, but now I'm wondering if it was an illusion. Messed up, our Spring-no wait!-Summer. Just messed up.

However, I did get the final proofs of the Value Village/Savers DIY weddings project I styled last week. And we did have sun then. Here's just a peek. Remember those mismatched chairs? Look at them now-

Sexy new white coats yes? I know you guys were really torn about that animal print seat cover, but in the end it just had to go : D. I just had to do it, I'm sorry. It couldn't be helped. Oh, and that's Sara up there, from the Savers marketing team. Isn't she the cutest? We convinced her sitting in on one of the chair shots was most definitely part of her job.

I'll be back with more tomorrow.

officially summer

Summer vacation is finally here.

This was quite week for us. Feelings of simultaneous happiness and sadness are exhausting and confusing sometimes. Emma moved up from 5th grade and is officially a middle schooler now. (Did you read that? I have a middle school aged child). Both Emma and Ian are moving on next Fall, from the small little tightly knit school they have known for years as their home away from home, so we are talking a lot about new beginnings and how to keep connected with our old friends (that would be the whole happiness and sadness stew I mentioned). We met many school families in the park for dinner last night, and yes, I surprised myself and cried, I just love those people. I think elementary school is sort of the last frontier of connecting with families of your child's friends on a regular basis. I have entrusted these people with carpooling my kids, feeding them, watching over them, at times dropping everything and picking them up for me. Truly good people.

Meanwhile, the kids are relaxing, having fun, and making the most of their first full day of summer vacation. (Although some soft summer rules are starting on Monday. I mean we can't let it completely out of hand now can we?)

As usual, Peter and I will continue to work through the family chaos that ramps up during the summer months. It can be very hectic, and we can't stop just because the kids are home. But on days like today I am so very thankful for "my people" here at home. The people that know me and love me best.

The kids each got a new book and ice cream (and pizza too, I guess) to celebrate the end of the school year. We are all making a list of things we'd like to do this summer. So far we have-

>Learn to play progressive rummy (a favorite game I used to play with my brother)

>Redecorate Emma's room (Emma)

and consequently, because of that last list item- Redecorate Ian's room (Ian)

>Have a big craft party and invite Emma's friends over (and moms too)

>Go to the Point Defiance Zoo (I want to see the Polar Bear)

>Take a fencing class (Ian)

>Take a track cycling class (Emma)

>Archery (Emma)

>Cook more (Emma)

>Teach the kids to make coffee (Mom and Dad)

>Teach the kids to bring us coffee (um, Mom and Dad)

>Make a robot that really works (Ian)

That's the basic idea. The list isn't done and I'm already tired.

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And now for some general announcements:

I have asked the kids to start a new feature for the summer here on wise craft and they are game. They will each be posting about something weekly (hopefully) here. They are super excited and already have some ideas.

Please welcome my newest sponsor, Cooper Sewing Machines, a UK based company for our international readers! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please send me an email at wisecraftblog@gmail.com for details, its easy!

The winners of the 2 copies of Homemade Fun are:

Jenny B-

This book looks great!

I wish we'd had home ec class in school! Lucky for me my taught me what I needed to know. I'm still shocked that some people don't know how to sew on a button (such as my husband!)

and

Michaele Sommerville-

What a wonderful book!

I learned how to make a PARKA in Home Ec. class- because I took Home Ec. in Barrow, Alaska, around 1984, at which time Barrow was still very much simply an Eskimo village.

We had to make our own pattern, cut our fabric, lining, trim, sew in a zipper, make cuffs, a hood... everything! It was wonderful, and I was only an eighth or ninth grader. Bliss.

Don't get many opportunities to wear a parka now that Iive in Kansas.

:)

Michaele

Have a great weekend! I hope you are full, relaxed summer mode where you are.

would you look at that

7:00 pm and I'm still able to get plenty of light to take a photo. I love summer!

I have enjoyed reading your home ec class comments so much, brings back a lot of memories.

Sorry for my absence here in this space this week. Today is the last day of school for my kids, the last day of elementary school for Emma. I have a feeling I am going to be a hot mess at the graduation ceremony.

new book and a giveaway!

You may have recently seen this fabulous new book making the blog rounds these days, and its with good reason. Homemade: 101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids by Rae Grant is something we all should have in our stash for summer home with the kids. It's filled with simple, inspiring projects to do with kids of all ages, and I breathed a happy sigh when I got it in the mail, cause I will be loving books like this at the end of the week when the kids are out of school (only TWO more days of making school lunches, but who's counting?)

 

Rae has divided the book into sections of hand sewing and embroidery, paper crafts, jewelry making, baking, building things, and toys, games and pastimes. I love the old school feel of so many of these projects and many require a minimum amount of materials, much of which we have on hand. For starters, I've already decided we should keep a moon journal (we can actually see the moon in Seattle in the summer) and make something wooden, that requires a hammer and nails. I would have had Emma review this book, but quite frankly I hid it from her when it came. This little gem is staying tucked away until we all have time to savor it.

So many of the simple projects in this book are the type of things that many of us adults may have learned in school, or in summer bible school, camp, etc. I'm sad to say that I see no Home Ec classes on Emma's middle school list, it seems to be dying out, replaced by other things deemed more important in a kid's school curriculum. I think I owe it to my kids to them a few of these basic (fun) things.

The publisher is offering 2 copies to give away to a commenter on this post. International shipping is ok! I think it would be lovely if in your post you could tell me something you learned in Home Ec class (or wish you'd learned), something you remember to this day. Let's see, for me, that would be learning how to sew on a button. I also learned how to burn things during the cooking portion of the class, but we all start somewhere. (I can, at times, still burn just as well as I did then.)

I'll draw names at the end of the week and notify the winners. In the meantime, you can find out more about Rae and her other wonderful books over at her blog, My Little Hen.

Thanks so much Rae, you've made me look even more forward to summer!

Winners have been chosen and notified, thank you to all who commented!

raspberry pink

 

One more project peek for I'm for the Value Village DIY weddings shoot. I can't wait for you to see this one, its my absolute favorite. One of those "oh, let's just try it and scrap it if it doesn't work" projects that actually worked!

This raspberry pink may be my new favorite color this season.

Hoping you all are having a raspberry pink weekend. I have one word here from Seattle- S U N!!

buzzing

We are absolutely buzzing around here this week. Kinda nutty, but I am beginning to think I work well this way. This current Value Village project is my favorite one yet (but I think say that every time.) Lots of glassware to wash though. So much.

But like a kid anxiously awaiting summer vacation to start, I am daydreaming with my new fabric from Pink Chalk and pondering what my next quilt will be.