wise craft

your chance to win a spot in playful learning spaces ecourse

I have read Mariah Bruehl's site, Playful Learning, for a long time now, it is always a great place to find some inspiration for learning and, really, simply being with my kids in a creative way. She has a new book coming out in late summer, available for preorder now. But I also wanted to share that she is now offering an ecourse called Playful Learning Spaces. I am absolutely sure that this course will be full of the creative energy that Mariah puts into all the playful learning projects, and I'm looking forward to taking it myself. She wants to offer an ecourse space to one lucky wise craft reader.

Just leave a comment on this post, with a word or two about what you and your family would like to get from a course like this. I'll draw a random name on Thursday, April 7th.

Best of luck everyone. And thanks for the giveaway Mariah!

Edited to add: Comments are closed and winner has been chosen. Thanks so much to all who entered.

 

 

mid modern quilt

I have so enjoyed the Mid Modern Quilt Bee. Its been amazing... and a little intimidating... to see the original and unique inspiration coming from the other ladies in the bee. Some really amazing mid-century inspired ideas! The most recent block is always my favorite, and I feel like that's the point, really. It's fun.

But now April is upon us, and its my month to feel inspired. There have been more than a few moments in the last few weeks where you would have randomly found me sitting or standing, attempting to concentrate real hard on what I imagine this quilt to be, and to be inspired by. You know what? All that thinking and I got nowhere. Nothing.

I finally starting looking around online, pulling the ideas and images that really resonated with me and pinning them all together on one pinterest board. (I love pinterest!) I did not stop to look at the board and everything on it until I felt I'd pinned several things. It was so interesting to look and spot little similarities. Between that and looking at this book, I really started to get inspired.

I am a people who really prefers symmetry and balance in all areas of my life, both literally and figuatively. That idea certainly goes for quilts, I tend to like designs that are balanced and somewhat even. With that in mind, I kept looking at these two photographs of mid-century modern homes, from Mid Century Modern. The fireplaces, in particular.

I love the "little stripes" effect. I could definitely see this translated into a quilt. Broken stripes, letting the colors and fabrics I choose do the heavy work. I drew up a quick sketch of what I see in my mind's eye-

I sat with my Kona color card and had a ball picking out colors. Each block of randomly-sized and randomly-colored stripes (all that is the quilter's choosing). I chose all Kona Cotton solids ("azure", "earth", "caramel", "flesh", "amber", "mustard", "ash", and "ivory"), and only one print, one of my absolutely pattern-y non-patterns, Alexander Henry's "Heath" in chocolate.

Ladies, I'm sending out the packages tomorrow. I'm so excited!!

lisette patterns

Apparel sewing patterns are so unfriendly to me, for a lot of reasons. It feels like a jumble of symbols and thin paper that I should be more formally trained to understand, and don't have enough patience to teach myself. But I'm trying. I think it takes a lot of imagination to realize what many of the patterns out there today can actually become. But I think Oliver + S's creator Liesl Gibson's newest pattern line, Lisette, might get me thinking about this. This is really cute stuff! (But no paper dolls in these, shoot!) Liesl was inspired by the fictional character of Lisette, which you can read more about here. The pattern envelope cover catches my eye, like whoever created might be talking to me. And then I see something on that envelope I'd actually like to make myself, without having to imagine it in a completely different way. The pieces don't seem overly complicated, and the instructions are well written.

I was offered one from the company and I chose "Market". I can't decide if I'll do the tunic (perfect for over jeans here in Seattle for a while longer) or the dress length (for Spring Break), but I feel like I have to give this a try. In case you're wondering, I haven't forgotten about my dream dress, but its cut pieces got a little discombobulated during my studio move. Gonna need some time and concentration to put them all back together.

So in the meantime, I'll start another dress, right?

 

my little forest

I went downstairs to the new studio space, spun around, arms wide open, delaring to whoever was within hearing distance that "I must make something!". Lucky for me, I said, because all those unfinished projects that I kept from my recent cleanout are all nicely collected in individual clear bags, all in one place. (I actually threw some unfinished projects away, knowing I'd never finish them, e v e r... I did feel slight guilt, for about 10 seconds.) I pulled out this little beauty from a while ago and decided to finish it up while watching an Elizabeth Taylor movie marathon.

It was the kind of day I really needed.

The details- Kona Cotton Snow for the "ground", a collection of scraps (new- there's even a bit of Greenfield Hill in there, and thrifted) for the trees and trunks. I decided not to fuss too much with joining those pointed treetops perfectly perfect and I'm glad I didn't, because I am sure that day would have not been as fun. The gray I used for a couple of the trees and the binding is a dress fabric that I purchased from Pacific Fabrics. It would make a gorgeous piece of clothing (I'm thinking tunic) and is super soft, but it was that perfect shade of gray that did me in, it just glows.

The pattern for this quilt is over at the Purl Bee, and the original is here in Sharilyn's studio.

I gifted this little forest quilt to my studio. I think it deserves it, don't you?

Hope your Monday is lovely!

xo,

Blair

Oh! Ellie and Abbe are hosting a Kid's Artist Trading Card swap, very similar to the one that Erin and I did a while back in 2009. It was a huge hit, with kids and their adults. If you're interested in joining in, sign ups are here.

apc quilts

Peter sent me a link this morning to these beautiful quilts on the apc website (I think this one is my favorite). This led me to this video of the women who make them in India. It almost makes it feel possible to make a quilt in a day (well, almost).

 

bee block bliss

say that fast 3 times.

I spent the whole day Tuesday down in the salt craft mines. I had such a nice day of much-needed solitude and relaxed brain activity... cut, press, sew, repeat... I had to stop a few times to remember where I'd put this or that, but to not knock something else over while doing it is pretty amazing. I am so grateful to my little family for giving this space to me.

And just as good... I am now completely caught up on my Mid Mod bee blocks. It was kind of fun to devote most of a day, and go from planning and sewing one to the next, focusing on each one. I had Herb and Dorothy playing on Netflix and couldn't get over how cute the two of them are together.

I am ready to post about my own Mid Mod Quilt bee inspiration. For I am (drum roll please) Miss April! (For the non-bee'ers, that means that April is my month to send fabric, inspiration, and instructions out to all the other participants.) I am so excited about this quilt! I'll save details for tomorrow.

For now, I thank you all so much for your kind and enthusiastic comments about the new studio yesterday. You are all so nice, you know that? (And mom, you wouldn't want to move in down there, actually I wouldn't put you down there, it's a little chilly at night.)

the new basement studio

Let me give you the lay of the land. Keep in mind there are more things that need to find their place in this space...and probably more that can go away. But here you go.

Here is the room before, and before, and before.

The table, for sewing and computer work. Everything is meant to be moved off this table. Much of the consulting work that I do with Peter has moved to our new offices, which clears away a lot of the papers that used to clutter my desk. The crocheted jars are on a tray that can literally be picked up and moved when I'm ready to sew something big. The tabletop is IKEA's Vika, 79" long, and it's bolted to the wall in back, so the table won't shake when I sew. There's plenty of ugly cords underneath... computer, sewing machine, music speakers... (there are only 3 outlets in the entire room), but I am managing to creatively hide them. The lamps clip on and provide task lighting (there's also can lights all across the ceiling, which helps).

There are 3 small windows and they have a lovely view of our side yard fence and our trashcans (and the occasional cat fight or racoon family). I really can't depend on them for much natural light (with the exception of late afternoon. For about 30 minutes).

Moving down here gave me the much-needed opportunity to go through all my craft supplies. I have too many craft mediums! Too many! But I do love that Martha Stewart glitter.

Here's a view from the other side of the room. I have 2 tables in the center of the room (IKEA Vika in Black Brown finish, 59 3/8' length) with legs adjusted to countertop height so I can stand at them (which, for me, is around 36 1/2"-37" high). I had one of these tables in my old studio, and used it all the time- most of my projects started at that table- so I decided to double the size by adding another table. Eventually I'd like to get a large enough self-healing mat to cover across each table. Someday...

I will never use the fireplace for a fire (much to Emma's disappointment) so I filled it with logs, inspired by Yvonne. I really like the way it looks, and it was so easy. On the brick wall above, I will put "I Like It, What Is It" when it arrives.

I am not showing you the countertop area (in the back of this photo) because I have gifted that area to Emma. To decorate it and craft supply it as she wishes. She is so excited! We are dusting off Peter's old painting easel, and she got to pick out a few things at Daniel Smith. I am looking forward to spending time with her in this room.

There are still things to hang, place, and sort. But for now, I am so happy to see the white walls. Today will be the first day of sewing in here, and I can't wait!

a tiny sneak peek

Hello! As I sit down to type this, I gotta say, I'm knackered. My focus for the past week has been on the basement and getting it ready to move my studio things into. I feel so unsettled when I don't have a desk, or at least a place, to gather myself and important papers. Peter painted the basement floor for me (love that man!) and I came in right afterward and began painting the walls. Caught up on a ton of This American Life episodes... I stopped being picky "which" white shade I would use... started saying "it's good enough" more often towards the end of last week ...got rid of a ton of things that I realized I no longer need, which felt really good.

It has been transformed and I am quite tickled with my new space (and my crocheted jars).

Tomorrow, I'll give the full wise craft basement studio tour.

till then,

Blair

silence for japan

 

 

I had planned to pop back in tomorrow to update you on the progress of the studio (there is progress!). Instead, I will be observing the Blogger's Day of Silence for Japan. It is a place of so much inspiration for both Peter and I, and it's people have and continue to show so much courage and dignity in the face of all that has happened. We have been talking as a family on how best to help, donate, educate ourselves, and really talk about just how precious life really is.

A few links I came across that have lovely things you can purchase and benefit Japan at the same time-

Tota Press Thousand Cranes Letterpress Cards

Alicia Bock's "For Japan" photograph series

Shinjuki, 6:43

Handmade for Japan auction going on March 24-27

Donate to the Red Cross and be eligible to win Oh Frannson's Tokyo Subway Map Quilt.

 

the big studio push

Today, paint hits the walls. I am so excited, but there is a ton of work to be done. The walls are covered lots of wainscotting, which must be brushed painted, not rolled, in order to get in all those little grooves.

Time. Send me any extra you may have.

All of my favorite studio things....cuts of pretty fabric, inspiration torn from magazines and pinned to boards, spools of thread... all tucked into boxes and bags, piled in the middle of the floor.

It's making me crazy.

I'm anxious to get it all sorted and put back in order. I'm really anxious to sew something. To start a new quilt! To make some pillows for Spring. I'm going to jump into getting it all painted and hide out for a few days so that this lovely future studio project of mine doesn't drag on and on.

Let's meet back here on Friday, shall we? Hopefully I will have some true progress to share with you then.

Till then, thank you for being out there, for reading, commenting, and supporting this space.

xo,

Blair