tiny happy

early autumn

 

 

 

Early in the mornings, when I'm hanging the washing outside, it's cool enough to make me think that autumn is gradually arriving. I love the crisp coolness of late summer. It's probably too early to be thinking of brown and red earthy colours already, but I sewed something brown anyway: a new dress/top, from drapey vintage fabric. It's raisin-brown with a print of blue and cream flowers. I used this trusty pattern, like I did more than a year ago. The size of the fabric I used resulted in a rather short garment to be worn as a dress, but it might be okay with leggings and boots in the autumn. But probably best with jeans underneath.

Also pictured: something very small that I made to send to a friend: a little felt pincushion. Hand-sewn and embroidered with wool felt. 

Have you seen this music video? Hand on your heart, by Jose Gonzales. I like it very much. Even though I laugh when I think of my sister and I listening to the original version (Kylie Minogue) in our bedroom circa 1989.

Wishing you a happy, warm weekend wherever you might happen to be.

stitching on wool

 

 

 

I've been working with quite a bit of wool this week, stitching up both gifts for friends, and some things for my shop update today. I made a small stack of wool needlecases, with botanical embroideries. Willow, tansy and queen anne's lace. I do love sewing with wool, even in the summertime. It comforts and protects.

I found this poem by Mary Oliver last night. It makes me think about observing what is around me and being patient. Thought you might like it too.

Next Time

Next time what I'd do is look at
the earth before saying anything. I'd stop
just before going into a house
and be an emperor for a minute
and listen better to the wind
or to the air being still.

When anyone talked to me, whether
blame or praise or just passing time,
I'd watch the face, how the mouth
has to work, and see any strain, any
sign of what lifted the voice.

And for all, I'd know more -- the earth
bracing itself and soaring, the air
finding every leaf and feather over
forest and water, and for every person
the body glowing inside the clothes
like a light.

- Mary Oliver

jam jars

I was given two bags of apricots last week, and decided to make some jam for the store cupboard. I love apricot jam. Especially on toast with butter.

I had half a jar of jam left over and remembered these cookies I made for Valentine's Day last year. This time I used this recipe, adding a little more flour, and substituting almond essence for the vanilla and apricot jam for the raspberry. Good in the school lunchboxes, and not bad with a cup of tea, either.

Here's my recipe for apricot jam in case you have have a glut of apricots too. It makes about 4 small-medium jars.

Apricot Jam

1.5 kgs fresh apricots, halved and stoned

about 10 apricot kernels

1 1/4 cups water

6 cups sugar

Crack about 10 of the apricot stones and remove kernels (I used a nutcracker for this, then a hammer which was more effective.) Put the apricots, kernels and water into a pan and cook slowly until fruit is pulpy. Add sugar. Stir until dissolved. Boil briskly for 30 mins or until setting point is reached. Remove the kernels and pour jam into sterilised jars (I just wash mine and place them in a low-heat oven for 20 mins or so.)

sunflowers

 

 

 

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a warm summer's weekend: dinner with friends outside in the garden, icecream from the corner shop, sunflowers growing outside my sewing room, a new beach bag sewn from an old curtain. filled with swimming gear to take to the river.

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vines and leaves

 

 

I made a new batch of notecards using watercolour paints and some index cards. I was inspired by some of the pages in this vintage book I wrote about a while ago. I love the simple, muted designs of the old Swedish embroideries. And the vine and tulip motifs that are featured quite often in the book. And I also loving having new stationery to use.

It was rainy and quiet yesterday. Perfect for listening to music with the children and painting together. At least, that was my idea, but they preferred to argue over dress-up costumes and eat biscuits.

Wishing you a happy weekend...

p.s. If you live in New Zealand and enjoy listening to Radio NZ National, would you consider joining this facebook group to show that you're worried about the proposed funding cuts to our public radio? (Actually, you don't have to be in NZ to listen to our top-quality national programme - go here. :)
Thank you!

a bag jubilee

 

 

 

I don't know what the collective noun for 'bag' is, I just made that up... I've always liked the word 'jubilee'. And I had fun making all these bags for my shop update this week. I made a couple for grown-ups, including a market bag from sturdy striped wool. But some are for children- they're like an older child's version of these foraging satchels that I've been making for a while now. My kids are getting taller and seem to require more things when they go out. Things like heavy books, swimsuits and bits of lego. It's so great now they can carry their own stuff. For the first ten minutes of any trip, anyway.

I love this music video... it's beautiful. 'Blood' by Middle East.

Happy Wednesday to you...

second-hand finds

 

 

It's been a very good week for second-hand shopping. I went looking for some preserving jars at the flea market and recycling centre on the weekend. I didn't find any of the right size, but I did find an asortment of nice blue and white things. A new duvet cover: blue and white stripes, with wooden buttons. Some creamy ceramic cups. An antique tin of pins. A book for Tom to take to his office (they don't make government-issue school books like that anymore.) And my favourite: a new shopping bag, blue and white striped denim with wooden ball-handles. It's quite big and seems to be handmade. I don't know what it was doing at the flea market, but needless to say it has found a good home.

wild carrot

 

 

Even though these wild carrot flowers (Queen Anne's lace) are considered noxious weeds here in NZ, I do like them. Especially their incredibly delicate white petals. I found these on the roadside over the weekend. For me, they are synonymous with my childhood summers, as they grew abundantly all over the family farm and alongside the path we walked down to reach the school bus in the mornings.

Of course, I had to try embroidering them.

cotton & wood

 

 

 

The light here was lovely this morning, so I took some photos around our bedroom/my workshop area. Then I found these necklaces that I made recently, and thought I'd show you. I've been collecting wooden beads for a while, I really like them. And then I realised that I could combine cotton or linen with wood for a nice, natural effect. So I strung some of the beads on cotton bias tape to make long necklaces that can be looped over the head without necessarily being untied. The big white beads came from a Noa Noa necklace from Norway that was always a bit too big. The little red beads (that I threaded onto linen embroidery thread) are just plain wooden ones that I covered with pieces of Liberty lawn. (I used fabric glue for this- I think I first saw this idea in this book.) Threading beads in another one of those calming activities, like cutting and pasting. At least, it is to me.

Hope you have a relaxing weekend! See you on Monday.

scissors and glue

 

 

Did you see this post on card-making at angry chicken blog? It inspired me to sort out some of the many papers and old magazines that I have been hoarding, and make some stationery from them. I cut up images of botanical paintings from last year's calendar and glued them to index cards (using the same method that Amy describes in her excellent post.) Then I made some more from some old Peppermint and Frankie magazines, being sure to credit any artwork used (on the other side of the card.) After glueing, I placed my cards under a heavy stack of books to dry flat.

There's something very soothing about sitting down with papers, a pair of scissors and a pot of glue.