Plainly Jane

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2009-06-12T13:19:00.004-04:00

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All the Things

2009-06-03T14:02:00.002-04:00

All these things - I've been busy with a number of projects this month. I have been remiss in writing the blog however, which is something I don't like to do.

Antique Browsing:
I've been shopping the antique malls in North Florida lately looking for cookbooks and other documents from the 1800s depicting womens' daily lives for a project I've been working on. More on that project in a much later post. We have at least eight antique malls within an hour of my home (and those are only the ones I know about). I'm a lucky girl.

The above photo was a quick snap. I take pictures of the things I like so I don't buy everything, although I so sometimes feel like a vouyer peeking into history's windows. A mint green stove, a book of 1930s greeting cards lovingly tucked away, hand-stitched quilts. Who let these go?

Rain, Rain, and Gardening
We endured an entire week of non-stop rain, a very rare occurance in Florida. It felt like a series of fall days in Michigan - cool and damp - only the green has been emerging instead of falling away. The rain started exactly one day after we installed $150 worth of landscaping - everything seems to have survived the deluge and is actually thriving.

During the few sunny patches I managed to build myself a 4' x 10' x 1' deep for raised bed for vegetables (the crop was waiting to be planted next to my cat). Only a little erosion, but I was pretty happy that the soil mixture I came up with wasn't too muddy. Today we are reinforcing the sides as the rain has swollen the board and pushed out the nails. The box looks ready to burst.

The raised bed has really been a treat for me. I didn't think I'd keep up with it as much as I have, but it's such a joy. We already have plans for a second one.

Family Firsts
Liam has graduated from preschool on Friday,, a very proud moment for both of us. I don't think he knows exactly what that means though; he doesn't know he won't see those teachers again or set foot in the school. Sort of bitter sweet.

New Couch
On Saturday JC and Liam went to Orlando to pick up our new couch, while Livy, my Mom, and I visited the farmers market. After 7 years of marraige, 5 years dating, we finally picked out a new one together. No more hand me downs. And, YES, it is orange leather and I love every square inch - especially the corner.

As for todays To-Do's:

My pre-seasoned cast iron skillet needs to be seasoned (eye roll). Might happen today - Might not.

Although far from top priority, the sculpey toad stools for the garden need to be finished. I can't remember the magazine I saw them in, but thought it's be fun for the kids to make. This was the only toadstool produced though - Liam made a volcano and Livy a snowman. At least they had fun.

My New Favorite Cookbooks

2009-04-30T10:37:00.010-04:00

I have two new favorite cookbooks, Apples for Jam and The River Cottage Family Cookbook. After lusting for them for weeks I finally ordered them from Amazon. I've had them since last night and haven't fully gone through them or cooked anything from them, the fact that they are absolutely gorgeous makes them my favorites.

The fist one is Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros. It has her memories from childhood involving food, her hopes for her children, and some great looking recipes. Plus, those are my favorite kind of shoes ever. Oh, its also organized by color.

From Apples for Jam

Illustration from Apples for Jam

The next book is The River Cottage Family Cookbook by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Fizz Carr. Again, gorgeous photos, tantalizing recipes, and best of all, explanations as to why you do certain things during cooking. For example, they explain what flour to use for different purposes. The recipes are longer because they contain explanation as well. Again, not done reading it and haven't cooked anything from it, but by looks alone - its a spectacular cookbook.

From The River Cottage Family Cookbook

The River Cottage Family Cookbook and Apples for Jam back inside cover patterns.

Swinging

2009-04-25T20:26:00.002-04:00

Monday was a perfect weather day, although most people would call it overcast or dreary. The sky is seldom grey for an entire day here. The sun always makes a showing even if it does eventually take a nap. Today it wasn't even supposed to make it out of bed. I say that's the perfect weather to be out and about.

After my son's speech therapy, I felt an impromptu visit to a nearby swingset would start the day in a magnificent way and really surprise the kids. So in a tiny white-washed-fenced park with grey clouds looming above, we swung our hearts out. Up and down, high and low, every two seconds "higher than the sky".

As expected, I finally felt the kind of intermittent, fat, plopping rain indictive of a serious Florida downpour. Thankful for the warning, we escaped to the car, just as the rain poured from buckets in the sky. We sat quietly, happy to be prisoners of our own dry car, and watched the swings twist in the wind.

And 14 Hours Later... (an apple butter tutorial)

2009-04-15T12:20:00.013-04:00

I started at 9 a.m. and, fourteen hours later, ended with sweet and tangy apple butter made the old-fashioned way. Oh, and pride coming out of my ears. After washing, peeling, coring, paring, and cooking approximately 28 apples on the stove top, and then in the oven, I canned and sealed 8 half-pint jars (a half-pint equals one cup) of the best apple butter ever made (if only because I made it with my own two hands).

Back in reality, I had just realized that 28 apples and some damn-hard work only yielded 8 cups of butter. Really? Eight cups? My domestic experiment was a challenge to see if I could do something that my ancestors had to do to survive. Canned and preserved food were staples at the dinner table during harsh winters when crop wasn't available.

My most significant "apple butter realization" came later the next day when I'd given my Mom a jar of my apple butter. She tasted it and said, "You've done your Grandma proud. She really loved apple butter." I looked away for a moment, realizing that I had no idea what recipes my grandmother held dear. Our family recipes, not to mention essential skills, that blew away with the years could never be brought back. The secrets of my grandmother's traditional domestic life that she kept to so silently to herself. So I thought I'd share the one just like grandma's.

Traditional Apple Butter Recipe

wash

I chose three different kind of apples because I heard it tastes better. I grabbed a bag of sweet Gala, crisp Machintosh, and several tart, green apples, name unknown. In total I used about 28 apples. The original recipe called for 8 apples so I really had to make this one my own.

The washing of the apples made my kids go nuts. I did it as quietly as possible until one walked in and told the other. All of the sudden both sides of the sink were filled and apples were being accosted.

peel

Then came the peeling of the apples; I wasn't very careful leaving all sorts of peel. After coring and paring, I felt compelled to visit my step-dad's compost pile with the significant offering. I did just that because how could you really just throw it away. I made new dirt and apple butter all in one day.

cook: stove-top

I haven't much to say about stove-top cooking of the apples, except to make sure you use a pot that can go from the stove top directly to the oven. Sliced chunky, they filled an entire stock pot. I added about a cup of water to keep the bottom of the pan from becoming too dry and let them bubble and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples looked like apple sauce. I used my immersion blender to smooth out the consistency a little more quickly.

season and cook: oven

Heat the oven to 300 degrees before you add the spices and the oven will be ready to go when you are.

Add to the sauce:

1 cup brown sugar

a shake of salt

4 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

a hair shy of 1/2 a teaspoon ground ginger.

Stir well.

Check on the mixture at least once an hour to stir and check consistency. Perfect apple butter is dark brown and spreadable. Its able to form mounds and not pour off the spoon. Up to 10 hours of cooking seems to be what I spent waiting for the butter's maturation. A 14 hour process from start to finish.

Sometime between now and then, sterilize 8 half-pint jars on the washers hot cycle.

jarring

Place the 8 sterilized jars on the counter near the butter and add one cup of butter to each jar, leaving 1/4 inch at the top for the seal. Arrange the lid and then the threaded top on each jar. I waited to see if the heat from the apple butter sealed the jars so I wouldn't have to boil them, but no such luck.

I started a rolling boil in a stock pot and boiled each one for 5 minutes (you can fit about 4 jars into the bath at one time). After removal, I waited an hour and checked the seals again. Each had sealed, meaning there was no give at the middle of the top, as all the air had left the jar.

I'm not sure what to do with my 8 little pots of love. One for the family which was devoured in 45 minutes, one for my parents, and now 6 more. They do make good gifts, but I don't want to part with them either - that was hard work.

Potty Training

2009-04-07T13:35:00.004-04:00

I am finally going to do it. After the agony of potty training my 4 year old boy (with only weeks until the beginning of pre-school), I am ready to work on Livy, my 3 year old. She was ready when Liam was but I couldn't bear to go through one more day of a toddler peeing in my trash can. So she waited.

Now she's 3 and most of her 2 year old friends are successfully trained. I feel lazy and almost like I've missed a sure fire chance to get it done fast - when she was interested because Liam was doing it. Oh well, what's in the past ...

Liam was very stubborn and in the end the only thing that worked to completely potty train him was the star chart.

For every pee in the potty - 1 star

For every poo in the potty - 2 stars

Every blatant accident removed a star

10 stars = a Transformer

We bought 4 Transformers and we were done by the 3rd. I couldn't believe it was that easy.

With Livy, I'm heading straight for the chart. This time I got a little creative with it - oddly creative in fact. She doesn't care what it looks like - nobody does in fact - except me because I wanted a fast project while the kids colored. If I had thought about it, I would have laminated it and used it for other things, like encouraging Liam to sleep in his bed all night instead of the couch. That has been an epic battle.

I whipped this up using bits of old maps for the days, thick white paper for the white banding, 2 thick craft colored papers taped together for the base sheet, a sharpie, and several stamps I carved but never used for anything. Everything was purposely done by hand, eyeballed, and without a straight edge - I just didn't feel like making this a masterpiece. After all, its to record pee and poo, but hopefully exciting enough to get her running to the pot.

Pumpkin x 2

2009-03-30T15:28:00.005-04:00

If there is one thing I have a weakness for (chocolate is a given), its anything sweet with pumpkin in it. I know, I should have made this during the fall, but I craved it.

I've been trying to make as much of our food from scratch as I can - its part of a new thing of mine. I feel like the world slows down when I'm making things for the family so I'm trying to "embrace" my position as homemaker. I generally mumble it out of the corner of my mouth when someone asks me what I do, but now I'm saying it loud and proud. I'm starting with pumpkin and french bread.

In the same spirit, I'm also trying to make all of our gifts. Remember, I said try. This is a Tasseled Pixie Baby Bonnett (pattern from She's Crafty) knit in 80% cotton/ 20% wool and - you guessed it - in pumpkin. I also parted with 2 of my favorite vintage buttons. I love the green against the orange.d

Loyalty

2009-03-17T15:36:00.002-04:00

Last week I went to the ER for stabbing chest pain. Diagnosis: pneumonia. I spent all week in bed which sounds nice, but really
only is if you are well enough to enjoy it.

To stretch my lungs and legs I went for a walk Thursday night. It was such perfect weather and without bugs to annoy.

As I was walking, and even through headphones, I heard the tinkling of little bells. I looked back to see my two cats walking with me. They braved cars, other cats, and the unknown to keep me company.

Klee (black) got scared and only made it partially around the block. Miles (grey) and I walked her back home where she darted for the front porch and chose not to join us for a second lap.

Miles and I strolled the entire block. I made sure not to get to far ahead. Upon return, I thanked them both with a dinner of wet food. Their favorite.

Now that's loyalty.

-- Post From My iPhone

Remaking

2009-03-05T13:30:00.004-05:00

My trip to Portland did wonders for my mental health. I was not responsible for anyone but myself. I went were I wanted to go, when I pleased, and for any length of time I deemed necessary to get my fill. It was heaven, but I missed the kids and my husband.

One of the reasons I took this vacation was to have uninterrupted time to make the things I want to make, when I want to make them. Spinning, knitting, felting, etc: all on the agenda. I just wanted to get it out of my system.

I have a voracious appetite for making things. Its satisfied only by the release of my idea into sketch or prototype form. Any time I have at home to craft is interrupted again and again by requests for juice or play, and I am left completely unfulfilled creatively and feeling guilty that I have yet to play with the kids or fold the laundry. You can tell that it feels like a whirlwind to me, that nothing slows down for me to catch up.

This state of being is not good for any of us. My attitude had to change without giving up the feeling I get when I make something with my two hands because that feeling, I could not do without. It is a warmth that stirs below the surface an eventually puffs my chest with pride that I finished something conceived in my own mind. After all, my greatest projects, Livy and Liam, are never-ending.

I am determined that everything I do, from laundry to making dinner, should be a "making" experience. I promised myself that from now on I would slow down, have more patience, cook and bake more, make more of the things we need instead of buy them.

So far, I am quieter and I am more content. I feel less of that crazy nagging to make something with fabric and fiber. Instead I hand make the bread for dinner or continue work on the needle felted dinosaur Liam's been wanting. I no longer put off the kids until "this row is done".

I am "craftizing" my life. Finding a way I can in every facet of life to craft something special, to make something special for someone else, whether its banana muffins for breakfast or a special place on the closet door for cling wrap.

And in that, I feel the "making" forces me to slow down from the dizzying pace at which I normally spin and accept that I cannot do everything. The things I can do however will be hand-crafted.

Homemade Banana Muffins for Breakfast.

Images from a Morning Walk in Portland

2009-02-18T13:26:00.005-05:00

I was desperate for coffee this morning. I am a squatter at my sister and brothr-in-law's this week as I take a much needed mommy vacation for some alone time.

Anyway, I was left alone with a French press and no clue how to use it. I decided to take a three block walk to Madrona Hill, a locally owned coffee joint with French pastries. Yum.

My walk was solitary, soulful, and awakening. I had time and the presence of mind to take note (and photos) of the colors and patterns made by rocks, branches, and fence slats. Grey sky intensifying the color so much more here than at home.

I noticed how the textures of pillow-like green moss and the spindly leaveless branches of a lavender plant played against each other.

I am sad that I don't take the time for "noticing" walks at home. I am so busy tending to/refereeing kids that I easily forget to enjoy the things around me. But oh how grateful I am when I DO stop to notice.

I attached a few photos from my walk. Hope you enjoy.

More on the most enjoyable experience later.

The maker's mark filled with moss meant to record the company's creation but ends up also recording Portland's history.

A rut in a dirt drive way. The colors stand out so vividly that I almost forget its mud.

I love landscape structures like stairs, fences, and grates. This was an atypical style for the neighborhood.

The intersection of four textures or colors. So interesting how this configuration wasn't planned but just happened by chance.

Presidential Portrait

2009-02-04T09:44:00.006-05:00

Can you believe this? One continuous line. It took 80 hours! All of my Etch-a-sketch creations turned out blocky and choppy. Here's the text from the Make Blog.

"This portrait of President Barack Obama was created by artist George Vlosich using an Etch-A-Sketch toy. The picture took 80 hours to draw using the two dials in one, unbroken line. In addition to this piece, the artist has created several more portraits that are equally impressive, although trying to duplicate them might take some work. Check out the link below for some more examples of his work."

Tiny Happy's Lucky Winner

2009-01-27T15:07:00.007-05:00

I made a comment sometime ago on Melissa Wastney's site, Tiny Happy, to tell her how much I liked what she does on her blog and in her store. Her talent is something very special. A few days later, she informed me I was the winner of an several Christmas decorations - a lovely bunch of tied straw ornaments.

The package arrived from Norway shortly after Christmas. I ripped into it like it was still the holidays and found much more than straw ornaments. The top photo is of two lovely little people with wooden heads, knit caps, felt jumpers, and straw hair. They are very intricately dressed and oh so sweet. They are now guarding my "making" desk and actually must be guarded themselves from 4 tiny hands that are not allowed to touch unless supervised.

The photo immediately above includes a fantastic embroidered pouch that has been put to good use as a traveling case for my circular needles.

This is the packaging it all came in along with the very cute calling card stamped on graphing paper and the pouch. Yes, I saved long enough to save the sea creature stamps on the outer wrapping. I am very found of stamps and have quite a large collection - I know, a geeky topic that I'm sure to discuss some other day - but my son had called first dibs on these and I could hardly deny him.

The ornaments are straw, as I previously mentioned, and quite intricately tied to form stars, snowflakes, hearts, and angels. They are truly beautiful and will have a treasured place on our tree next year. Actually, they are still on my desk too as I can't bear to put them away yet.

Melissa also sent along some original artwork postcards made from watercolor and pen drawings. They are a treasure and will be used - I love the warmth of sending handmade correspondences as thank you and hello cards.

Melissa, thank you so much for your thoughtful and sweet package. Each item is a gem and will be treasured. It is an honor to own something from someone whose work I've admired so much over the past few years. I've saved your address and am working on a return thank you package.

Popsicles are no consolation

2009-01-16T17:11:00.006-05:00

Today, my 4 year old little boy had his tonsils and adenoids removed in an amazingly short out-patient procedure. We talked it up so he wouldn't be afraid, emphasizing the ice cream and pudding he would eat after his "throat was fixed". I'd have to say he thinks ice cream is no consolation 6 hours after the fixing. I think he's rather have the tonsils.

I hate to see him on the verge of tears, pointing at his throat as if asking me to fix it. If I could, he'd already be out of bed, wrestling with his sister. As hard as it is, I remind myself that we are rarely, if ever, the sickest in the room, never the one with the most obstacles to overcome. I take comfort in that, and in the fact he is happy and healthy on a normal day.

Sometimes we hit a bump in an otherwise calm and lifeless road, we take a breath, hold on, and look back giving thanks that the bump wasn't bigger. Our bump has really only been an ant hill so far. And I am grateful.

-- Post From My iPhone

Ball of yarn #3

2009-01-14T16:49:00.006-05:00

I've taught myself how to spin yarn. I thought about how satisfying it would be to actually make the yarn I'm knitting with - especially for a gift. Now that's a gift that says "I love you". Next I'll probably buy the sheep and start from the absolute beginning. I would if I had the space.

Anyway, the spindle and fleece came in the mail on Saturday . I've spent a good deal of time practicing already and its not easy to get the right tension and to join pieces. I am an absolute klutz with the spindle.

This is the third ball of yarn I've made. They've all come out a little different. The soft alpaca fibers were so luxurious to spin. It came out super thick, extra soft, but a little loose. I really like the feel of it. I'm still working at it and sort of addicted to it.

(Saturday was a very good mail day as a package from Melisa of Tiny Happy also came. I will show off the contents of that package in a separate post)

Clean Plate Club

2009-01-14T09:53:00.003-05:00

My kids asked if they could have Chinese noodles for breakfast this morning. I told them the Chinese diner is closed until this afternoon.

Luckily the only wanted to use "Chinese sticks" aka chopsticks to eat whatever they happened to have for breakfast. Waffles.

With large pieces they almost have a good pinch. The have to use a second hand to load the sticks, but then hold the waffles in between sticks to their mouths.

Not one complaint, request for a fork, or waffle stab was recorded during the 5 minutes it took to clean their plates of 2 waffles each (plus seconds).

Beauty and Inspiration in a Parking Lot

2009-01-07T11:14:00.002-05:00

During my employment as a landscape architect and planner, I designed my fair share of parking lots. Small, large, paved, gravel. I'm here to tell you, as if you didn't already know, that there is nothing glamourous about designing a parking lot - or being in one for that matter.

The grey and black asphalt grows so hot during the summer that you can actually see the heat rising. The bays, sectioned by fading white lines, are stained by oil slicks and residual AC fluid. Traffic jams. Competition for spaces. Paying for a space.

I write this blog to remind me that even when the whole of something is mundane or ugly, elements of it can be beautiful and inspiring. A parking lot is hardly inspiring, but smaller vingettes within a parking lot, really set my mind in motion - the way the lines make patterns on the ground, the arc of the trees grown to provide shade, the subtle changes in shades of grey.

This is true in reverse when we create. Sometimes we find ordinary items - ribbons, buttons, paper. We examine, rearrange, and choose a composition for the pieces and, whatever it is, it really satisfies our need to make something beautiful to us. The pieces ordinary pieces inspire us to create a more beautiful whole.

My point is - whether you deconstruct something unappealing or make something new from ordinary parts, there is can be beauty and inspiration. It all depends on how you decide to look at it.

2009: Reclaimed

2009-01-01T22:21:00.001-05:00

Just reminded me of what most do on New Year's Day: Reclaim their lives and try to make them better.

A Gift for No Reason

2008-12-30T15:02:00.007-05:00

I haven't knitted in quite some time. For some reason, lately I've felt driven to pick up the sticks and some nice yarn and complete something. (It must have been sparked by my recent work with wool roving for needle felting).

I found some variegated Kettle-Dyed Malabrigo 100% merino wool in a shade of red and pink that was like butter to handle. It is my new favorite yarn - not that I've knitted with a wide variety or anything. Buying yarn without a purpose is my usual M.O. and it often ends up tucked away in a box along with my guilt for not finding a project for it.

This time I found a very do-able pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, a pattern which I will not divulge until the recipient has been gifted. A hint about my methods: I used double strands through out with a large diameter needle which made it a quick knit and so, so soft. This is now my favorite way to knit.

This project was one of the most satisfying to knit as it was not intended as a birthday or Christmas gift - a gift for no other reason but to say I love you.

Sewing Japanese

2008-12-25T16:25:00.004-05:00

As some of you know, I love Japanese pattern books, especially those with modern patterns aimed at little girls. The excitement in purchasing almost any Japanese craft book is the anticipation of its arrival, the fact that you don't know (despite a small preview of several patterns) exactly what you might get and the subsequent day-dreaming after it arrives. They are very inspiring, but they can be quite pricey and often have to be shipped from Japan.

As a result, I've been frequenting Japanese Craft Journal, a blog that reveals snippets of the Japanese Crafting world. I was intrigued by these patterns blogged about on Japanese Craft Journal. They can be bought one at a time, not in a book, which doesn't lighten the wallet quite so much. Even though the surprise factor is gone, these patterns are so sweet.

Nanny #1 - The Original

2008-12-18T19:36:00.005-05:00

In an earlier post, I revealed one of many versions of "English Nanny" on which I've been working. The Nanny in this post is the one that started it all - the original.

She's constructed of a mustard-colored wool felt overcoat, a cream wool felt for the face, brown wool for the hair, a recycled and felted red sweater for gloves, and recycled and felted random piece of houndstooth wool for the boots. The Nanny was machine sewn in black thread for accents. The face was hand-embroidered.

Despite the fact that my 3 year old adopted her before she received her hat and scarf, Nanny 1 turned out just fine in my eyes. I love her character with the oversized coat, the boots, the bun in the back of her hair. I think I'd rather have seen her with a rounded butt so that she could sit down and to take away the pucker that happens around the legs.

Overall, with a few changes, I'd happily work on nanny again when I have time. Until then, I'll just have to live with Nanny 2, the more sophisticated version in needle-felted wool.

Stormy Fall

2008-12-17T14:38:00.010-05:00

The colors on a wet fall day stand just pop and sing and inspire me. We rarely see weather with all-day overcast skies and bouts of rain that just wet the pavement. Florida's rainy season is in the spring and summer, when the thunderheads build within an hour and the rain beats down in a torrent for less than that. Very few days are windy and overcast like the fall I remember as a child in Michigan.

I am not a professional, obviously. These photos were taken with my i-phone, but I think these conditions make the yellows, reds, oranges, and even browns dance in photographs. So on this day, I was inspired to take a walk around my son's school and catch the colors, save the day.

Pre-packaged Crafts for Kids

2008-12-12T19:12:00.002-05:00

The kids love glitter and were not disappointed by Martha Stewart's pre-packaged, pre-stickies (no glue) mobiles.

I am usually a purist and like to search the dregs of the junk drawer, the recycle bin, and my art bin from school so the kids can really use their imaginations. I love to see what escapes from their heads, chocked full of ideas.

There is something to be said, however, about a pre-planned project where one can follow the directions or make them up. If the direction option chosen, valuable lessons can be learned by selecting the correct pieces and carefully placing them in the designated spots.

Either way, at the end is something worked on together and the satisfaction, for both parties, of having finished something you started out to do.

Needle-Felted Nanny

2008-12-11T19:52:00.023-05:00

This is my experiment in needle felting. It is an exercise in quiet contemplation. Making the same small stabbing motions over and over until the wool sits in just the right place is so satisfying. As I create the "body" of a piece, basically a football shape, I am afforded thinking time to get it just right. There are no split-decisions in this art. The work is purely meditative.

Small Magazine

2008-12-03T12:31:00.005-05:00

The excitement of seeing something on which you labored for hours in an actual magazine, photographed professionally, cannot be described.

As some of you may already know, one of my Big Girl Bags made it into Small Magazine! I'm very proud (its the one on the left with the buildings). Thanks to Small for making my day/month/year. And such interesting and beautiful layouts.

The bag is still on sale at Etsy

Snow Women

2008-12-02T22:55:00.002-05:00

I've noticed recently that during particularly difficult rough patches, I am ferociously creative. Doodles and drawings pile up next to patterns and books on my desk. If I can get to the computer, I run through the blogs, listed at right, just to see what they've made. It's as though I MUST make something.

The kids are allowed to use almost anything inside the art drawer (except playdough) in the hopes that I can steal a little more time with the pen and paper and, more importantly, that I can teach them to love creating too.

Part of the "great make" this time includes The "snow women". I've been drawing them, sewing by hand and machine from handmade and dyed wool felt. Making the felt is almost as satisfying as creating something from it.

Each is different from the last - evolving into something more my style each time. The first and third prototypes were bundled and bound in layers of overcoats and sweaters.

The second, the "English Nanny", got away with overcoat only as Livy stole her from my desk before I could finish the hat and scarf. She did return it briefly only so I could add the missing face, but she is still being snuggled as I type.

For now, I'm hoping the need to create will subside. I love making and get great satisfaction from it. But, I don't like feeling of being bound by a need that I can never satiate - like a thin coat on a cold day that doesn't quite keep you warm.

Dinosaur Eggs

2008-12-02T15:31:00.003-05:00

On Thanksgiving, my in-laws brought a gift for my kids. They opened the bags feverishly, flipping the tissue paper behind them. Dinosaur eggs.

These mammoths could have passed for those of an ostrich. We put them in a mason jar and covered them with water. And then my children watched and waited for a good half an hour until my son said "this is taking a long time mom". I explained the dinosaurs "hatched" over a number of days. Patience was the key here.

When the first crack appeared in my son's egg it was midnight. Because he had checked a number of times before bed, my husband brought the mason jar into my son's room to show him the tiny baby head of a yellow-green dinosaur poking through the top of the egg. He didn't open his eyes, move his head, or show any signs of waking from his deep turkey and pumpkin pie slumber.

The next morning they discovered on their own that their dinosaur babies had made their appearance. And that they'd have to wait a few more days for their full maturation. The above photo is less than a half an hour after they officially "hatched".

Car Talk

2008-11-30T11:15:00.002-05:00

At 70 degrees, the sun warms my skin just enough to leave my jacket at home. The breeze keeps the sweat off my brow while I take a walk alone for the first time in months.

NPR generally keeps me company if I'm walking with the kids. Morning Edition supplies one half of the adult conversation I so crave in the mornings.

But this morning, alone on a Saturday morning walk, I choose Car Talk. If you've never listened, you MUST. Two genuis mechanics with MIT degrees and strong Boston accents answer bizarre and curious questions about automobiles and the noises they aren't supposed to be making.

The moment I hear the thick accents and the laughs that could only come straight from their bellies, I laugh hard enough to shake the belly that I, myself, am trying to walk off.

Cute Rabbit Needs Home...

2008-04-23T13:55:00.005-04:00

I had to share this...

A saucer, a cup, and a bowl.

Who thought they could be this cute? Obviously too cute for me to pass by at the an antique shop last weekend (although I doubt its an antique). I have the original box, but it doesn't say who makes it - the box only says "3 piece children's set" and the stickers on the bottom note that they are made in Japan. Of course something this cute comes from Japan.

I bought it because I saw a similar set, a cute little girl set, on a blog recently. I can't for the life of me remember which blog (If anyone knows, please leave a comment). I remembered the style and how long it took the writer to find the separate pieces so I picked it up.

I really have no idea what I'm going to do with it. My daughter is still to young to enjoy it and I'm not especially attached to it. If anyone knows of a good home, I'd entertain selling it. Just comment and let me know.

Feedsack and Linen Cuff Pants

2008-04-15T10:32:00.005-04:00

My latest idea. I'm tired of doing just linen, just neutral colors, long pants. I haven't really jump off the edge and do something new and unique in fear that I am wasting the precious little time I spend with my sewing machine. I almost always stick to something reliable that I know will turn out.

Sunday night I threw it all out the window in hopes of finding a unique and original pair of pants. I remembered my collection of feedsacks just sitting in the closet collecting dust and decided to combine them with linen to make an irresistibly cute and versatile pair of pants that can be worn almost year round. The cuff is double-sided so it can flip up to make a pair of capri pants or worn down for a pair of longer pants - each way showcasing the strip of feedsack.

I took a pattern for pants that I liked and tried to cut them to capri length. Ripping and sewing at least twice at every seam. I don't know if I cut them wrong of if my attempt to make them crop pants threw the whole pattern off. I don't really know. But when I attempted to sew the inner leg seams one side of the seam was much longer that the other, didn't meet at the crotch and was totally twisted.

Out of frustration, I ripped the seams and recut the edges so the crotch and legs could actually be sewn together without the twisting. I couldn't believe they turned out the way they did - and I'm happy almost with them. They are completely different from the pattern I started with so I guess I can say they're originals. Just a few tweaks here and there. Now to reproduce them since I didn't retrace the pattern after the last cuts. The photo below is with the cuff folded up to capri length.

If all goes well, I plan to start offering these pants in the shop soon made with a variety of feedsacks that are shown in the first photograph - my collection of lucky thrift store feedsack finds. I'm glad I finally get to use them.

Online Suppliers of Natural Fabrics

2008-03-28T12:18:00.011-04:00

I wrote a post like this for my old blog, String and Scissor, and thought I'd do an updated list for natural fabrics (cotton, wool, linen, bamboo, etc.) along with a list of stores where you can buy organic fabrics. I've also noted if the shop is PayPal friendly for all of you with Etsy shops who have a balance burning holes in your pockets.

I will continuously update this list. If you have any suggestions or additions, please let me know by commenting.

LINEN:

Linnet (PayPal) $29 per half-yard for most linen. This is a Japanese business; I've linked to the English website. I LOVE to look, but its a bit too pricey for me. They have a beautiful selection of every kind of linen fabric, trim, and notions I can think of. Fabrics in a variety of weights. I love the simplicity of this site and its fabrics.

fabrics-store.com (PayPal) $5-$9 per yard. Solids and yarn-dyed. Pure linen, linen/cotton blends in a number of thicknesses.

trimfabric.com (PayPal) $5-$20 per yard. The ~$5 per yard linen is a blend of Linen/Rayon/Polyester; $10 per yard for pure linen; Above

$10 for Italian or Import Linen. They even have cotton/linen jersey.

SIMPLY DESIGNED COTTONS (you have to check these out):

Nani Iro from Kokko Fabrics:

Photo: Nani Iro 2008 Collection

Japanese double gauze cottons, Linen canvas, cotton double-knits, among others in the most interesting prints. Also look under the "sewing" header to find the best free patterns I've ever seen. You may have to get Google to translate the page.

(too) Easily found at: PurlSoho SuperBuzzy Reprodepot.com

Tana Lawn Collection from Liberty of London

Photo: Purl Soho Liberty of London Tana Lawn Collection

From England, some of the finest cotton available in beautifully stunning prints. I don't know of many places in the states that carry it, but you can get it both in the brick and mortor store and online at Purl Soho.

Shinzi Katoh

Photo: Shinzi Katoh

A Japanese zakka designer, he has the cutest line of cotton fabrics (and almost everything else from table wear to aluminum bottles) bearing his illustrations. His designs come in cotton cloth, laminated, knit, canvas, and quilted yardage. He also has a line of fabric tape. Some fabrics and a good selection of linen tape available SuperBuzzy. You can also check various sellers on Etsy by typing in Shinzi Katoh as a key word.

ORGANICS:

Near Sea Naturals (PayPal) $11-$114 per yard. This is another store I wish I could afford. They've got a wide selection of cotton, wool, and natural blends in knits and wovens and in several weights. They also have organic elastic banding, trims, lace, and yarn.

Harmony Arts Wholesalers of organic woven and knit cotton. Great patterns and matching solids.

Wholesale and Discount Buying:

Trimfabric.com

Near Sea Naturals

Pants

2008-03-27T14:59:00.006-04:00

My three-and-a-half year old decided to dress himself today. He's never shown any interest in self-dressing before, so I haven't made him do it. He had no problem with the shirt, but the pants...

This afternoon, in his room by himself, he took every pair of pants he had out of the closet, made a pile in the living room and tried on each on very methodically. Most were backwards at first, then the waist band scrunched up around his belly. And then all at once, he got it. He has hit a milestone: learning to put on one's own pants.

I've been wanting to come up with a few designs for the store that I can reproduce in several sizes. So far I've had no luck finding a template for pants. By template I mean that I like to find a pattern I can use just for sizing, but alter it until its sufficiently different.

So far, I've failed miserably. The monologue in my head is decidedly negative. Etsy sales are miserably slow and I don't have any "signature" items I offer consistently in the shop. Everything is a unique item that I don't feel like making again. I see other shops selling the cutest kids clothes - at least a few items a day - everyday and it really gets me that I haven't been able to do it myself.

But today, like my son, I hit a milestone. Finally, a pair of pants I like that I don't mind reproducing. I am finally confident that I can reliably and consistently reproduce a design that actually appeals to me. Although I used a pattern for a template, it was altered to make a new size and slightly new style.

Even better, I have corrected my sizing problem. The first time I make something, I always shoot for a 2T because I can try it out on Liv. Lately though everything I make has been turning out too big. OK, I don't really measure my seam allowances and err on the side of too big so she can grow into things. This time I "eye-balled" it and then decreased it to what I thought was too small *POOF* it fits.

Also on the pants front, Liv learned to take off her own pants. Something I really don't want her to do, but a milestone for her none the less.

Craft and Landscape Architecture in Portland

2008-03-04T10:31:00.012-05:00

On my recent trip to Portland, I felt just like this rock sitting in a Japanese garden. Alone and the center of my own universe, but still longing for those in the distance. I felt this way even on the plane ride, having just left my children and husband for a little adventure with my Mom and Sister in Portland, OR. I love my kids more than anything in the world, but I've only had one other "vacation" in almost 4 years.

I'd never been to Portland, but couldn't have been more ready for a long weekend with very little responsibility in what has to be one of the craftiest and naturally beautiful cities in the States. I had a long list of places to visit the first day.

When we left "heaven" (thats what I've dubbed my sisters place since she lives only a few blocks away from many of these places) we hit The Knittin Kitten - a big craft thrift store. Purchase One: 5 sweater knits at $2 a yard. Can't beat it.

Next, Scrap. I've heard so much about this place. How people have found oodles of gorgeous vintage fabric for next to nothing. No such luck this time. I bought a bag of scrap leather for a dollar and a bag of scrap paper (Purchase Two and Three). How fitting for a place called "Scrap".

In the afternoon, we took the elevator to the second floor of Heaven and got off at Kinokuniya, a japanese bookstore inside of Uwajimaya, the largest Japanese grocery I've ever seen. I really had to restrain myself here. Kinokuniya had at least 3 head to toe bookshelves full of Japanese craft books. I found at least 10 that I really wanted, but picked just one to take home (Purchase Three). They also sold the super cute folders, stickers, and notebooks I've seen some sellers offer on Etsy.

Finally, Powell's Bookstore. The absolute biggest bookstore I've been to - ever. The size of a city block and several stories tall, I didn't manage to make it out of section A by the front door (the sewing and craft section). Final purchase: used books on creating your own patterns.

In all, I'd rate my shopping day "not too shabby with a whole lot of restraint". I just wish I could have gotten to more thrift stores. Next time.

Below are a few photos of places we visited that satisfied the landscape architect in me. First, the Multnohma Falls and then the Japanese Gardens. Both fabulous. I must have taken 100 photos of walkway details (drains, pavement, walls, benches) and trees.

If you don't know a landscape architect, thats what we do. We take pictures of the ground, benches, drains, statues, and light poles just in case we might use them in a future project but can't remember where we saw them. If you're out walking with a landscape architect, don't be surprised if they ask to take a photo of you next to that lovely fence you just passed. Rest assured, you will almost definitely end up in the lower left hand corner of the photo as you are just being used for scale.

Gadgets on Strike (or why everything at my house is broken)

2008-02-23T12:42:00.005-05:00

We have a new family routine at our house thanks to the strike currently staged by my gadgets. Let me elaborate...

Every morning my kids wake up at 5 am and start playing with their toys. After I've woken from accidentally falling asleep again on the sofa, they've got half of their rooms dragged out into the family room. They used to veg in front of a cartoon or two and wake up slowly while I sipped on coffee and read the news. Why have we changed our routine you ask? The 42" flat panel TV purchased less than a year ago decided to stop showing us pictures to go with the sound. If they want to "watch" TV, they now have to gather around the speakers and imagine (which isn't bad at all except for the toy excavation I have to perform later to find my family room floor).

After coming home from driving my husband to work, I run inside to unlock the garage door, manually lift it, hop back in the car, drive it in, and manually close it. This is my routine every time I leave/arrive at my home. My garage door stopped working. It was the first gadget to go. My biceps will be the size of rump roasts by the time we get that fixed.

Note that this post has no photo and is relatively short. And although you can't see it, I am typing at the speed of light trying to get my thoughts out before my Apple crashes and burns perhaps for the last time ever. This is the third thing to self destruct in as many weeks.

We think our gadgets are on strike. Its either that or we live on a magnet landfill that has been long forgotten.

Nani Iro's Free Patterns

2008-02-05T17:39:00.001-05:00

Some time ago, I added Nani Iro to my "places I wish I could shop list" for two reasons. First, the fabric is gorgeous. Second, free patterns! The link takes you to patterns for mainly kid's clothes, adult clothes, and accessories like bags.

I like to look at patterns to see how the clothes get their shape and how they are sewn together. It can start to see how a certain shape produces a specific result. That said, Nani Iro's patterns are generally one page and leave a lot of steps un-illustrated which, unless you can read japanese, means you have to "fill in the blanks" so to speak.

There are no full sized patterns, so you have to have a lot of time to draw out a full-sized pattern based on take-off points. You also need knowledge of basic garment construction and be able to follow schematics. I think I'd brave it for those cute little bloomers, but I'd hardly have the patience for a few of the dresses (maybe since they are really really cute...).

My Favorite Little Girls Shoes

2008-02-04T12:43:00.000-05:00

Livy is so getting a pair of these shoes except for in a chocolate brown. I love love love them, so classic and plain. I found these at Tiny McSmall.

Midge the Pigeon and Merle the Squirrel

2008-02-04T12:16:00.001-05:00

The Pigeon and the Squirrel have recently earned their keep.

I wasn't going to sell them because I love them so much. They are one-of-a-kinds and an original design. I figured it was time to part with them as they've only been sitting in the closet. After our beach vacation in August, I added the crab and jellyfish to the collection (also just sitting in the closet). So I listed Midge the Pigeon and Merle the Squirrel in my shop and hoped they would be well received.

Over the weekend, shortly after their listing, a fellow Etsy-ian contacted me about including them, along with several other items listed, in her handmade shop in Lexington, Kentucky! I was shocked (and rather proud). This is my first request for wholesale. She said she loved Midge and Merle - and thus they've earned their keep, even if they haven't sold yet.

Other requested items include the Big Girl Bags and the Little Lunchbox Lovenotes!

My other thoughts about the request? I've gotta get sewing because that is a lot of work!

Big McLove

2008-01-19T13:29:00.001-05:00

OK, Tiny McSmall, you win a coveted spot on this blog under "inspiration" AND "where I would love to shop" That how much I love this website.

I recently discovered that some of my work was featured on a blog called Mama Said Shop. When I started hunting around (great site by the way) I found Tiny McSmall. I spent the next 30 minutes engrossed in their site, letting the kids rip apart the house.

I suppose I really like the clothes because I love simple and understated for little girls. They are not unlike the things I try to make for Plainly Jane. But, I also like Tiny McSmall because all items are made in the US or Europe by artisans and designers who are themselves parents.

Inspiration in from "Ranger Rick"

2008-01-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

The copy of "Ranger Rick" was devoured by my son and daughter; the November issue I think. As I was cleaning up the mass of magazines I notice this article and wondered why it took me until January to find it. In case you don't know "Ranger Rick" is a kids magazine on wildlife published by the National Wildlife Foundation. Its been around since I was little, but now I wondered "when did it become so cool?"

Each bug is made from a metal part of something: trumpet mouthpieces, change purse skeletons, old silverware, car parts, ashtrays, and just about anything else metal. Look at these photos carefully and you'll see what I mean. This artist is fabulous. If I could only find the "Ranger Rick" I found him in, I'd tell you his name... I'll work on that.

Now thats inspiration for makers, hackers, and craftsters alike - and found in a kids magazine! I've got to keep my eyes much more open from now on.

New in the shop...

2008-01-05T06:27:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to concentrate my efforts lately by making multiples of the same thing, just with different prints. And yes, I am using brand new fabric. Its slim pickin's at the thrift stores lately so I figured I'd find some new material for once. The above is one of the Front Pocket Blouses I have in the shop. Honestly, I almost kept this one.

Recycled Sweaters

2007-12-18T06:42:00.000-05:00

Last month, I started turning adult-sized wool sweaters into baby and toddler felted-wool sweaters and coats. I love watching a gigantic sweater emerge from the wash as a 2T, cutting that sweater apart, and sewing it back together with elements from other sweaters or woolen items. Most of these creations you won't see on Etsy so I thought I'd show them here.

"Dwell" on it

2007-12-13T14:35:00.000-05:00

I am a magazine-aphile with an appetite for design and craft magazines. I devour them. It is a mandatory stop in almost any store so you might see columns like this every once in a while on Plainly Jane Handmade. I like to share what inspires me, makes me think, or is just plain innovative.

Today... Dwell (dec./jan.).

For my inner-crafter...

For woodsmen whose facial hair isn't quite up to snuff. This woolen knit cap is by Icelandic design collective Vik Prjonsdottir.

The landscape architect in me finds this two-for-one quite interesting. Is it a fence or is it climber? I suppose it depends on the user. Bends and bulges make fine places for children to play or for adults to, literally, park it. Produced by Tejo Remy and Rene Veenhuizen .

A shadow of what used to be. In Montreal, its painfully obvious what existed before this parking lot and its tiny shack. I love the evolution of old cities and how unintentionally their character is sometimes developed. Photo by Matthew Monteith.

I love the grocery store, but I'd move in if it looked like this one. This MPreis is situated in Wenns in the Alps and was designed by Astrid Tschapeller and Rainer Koberl. Dwell: "By virtue of progressive architecture, excellent siting, and stunning environs, MPreis elevates an often mundane fact of daily life." Way to take advantage of the natural landscape.

After grocery shopping, I'd serve dinner on these plates. City Plates collection by notNeutral turns cartography into stunning dinnerware. Not only interesting to the landscape architect or urban planner, but mighty crafty as well.

New Inspiration

2007-12-11T15:35:00.001-05:00

Who couldn't help but love a face this sweet? And the dress... so so cute. This book is on the way to my mailbox as I write. I love new inspiration like this. For those of you who don't know, Japanese pattern books like this are written in, well, Japanese. I don't know a lick of Japanese, but I could look at the pictures and schematics forever, making each piece in my mind. I would much rather follow a Japanese pattern than an American pattern - they get right to the point and draw everything out for me.

So, a few more pictures from the book to drool over before it arrives in my hot little hands. Maybe you'll see a new little dress for Livy next week, or even something for the shop...

Seven Sticky Pairs of Shoes

2007-12-11T15:23:00.000-05:00

I must have been in a really crafty mood when I started this. Seven pairs of baby shoes - each a little different. I generally sew all layers together, but it takes a mighty long time with lots of room for error. So, I tried something new this time. I used a heat bond product to adhere the layers of fabric together. "I am so crafty", I thought, "and I'll save so much time." Neither were true.

It turns out that sewing through heat bond leaves "sticky" on your machine needle which causes skipped stitches and frayed thread. Who knew? I thought thats what heat bond was for - adhering applique pieces to a base to be sewn through at a later time. I must be doing something horribly wrong. Does anyone know what I've done wrong? You would be saving me from 7 pairs of handstitched shoes.

New work

2007-12-09T12:34:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd show you a few things I've been working on, variations of which might show up at plainly jane.

A Lunch Bag for my niece:

front:
back:

Its felt with vintage fabric applique and small leather handles. The finished size is about 8"x8" with a 1" gusset. I'm really liking this - possibly to sell in the shop.

Next, just a few things I found thrifting yesterday:

The Store is Open, and now so is the Blog

2007-12-07T15:19:00.005-05:00

I figured that since I've been selling the things I make on Etsy and other places, I should have a place to document my current projects and ideas. I have a blog already but I haven't used it much lately. I suppose it was much more for exploring the materials I find at the thrift stores and the vintage fabric that I just love. This blog will be oriented more toward what I've made with those findings and what might be in the works.

My goal is to update this blog often, even if its just with a picture. Feel free to comment - I love comments.