new ladies

These new gals are in the shop!

reading

I found this guy reading at the bottom of the steps the other day.

I'm reading Wuthering Heights right now. What are you reading?

vintage french

Vintage French cotton became lavender pillows last week. 50 of them! This week I'm working on more clothespeg dolls.

I saw The September Issue over the weekend and loved it! Go see it!

dolls

Because I was doing a lot of hand sewing this week stitching up lavender pillows, I was thinking often of my grandmother, Rosalie. She was an artist and also great seamstress. When I was little, she made me the doll on the left from a kit. She sewed the doll clothes too, out of (surprise!) vintage fabric. When I look at the way she finished these clothes with the most immaculate hand stitching, it leaves me speechless, thinking about the time she took to make these and the love with which she did it. Although she died almost ten years ago, it is really nice to remember her through her work. The antique doll on the right was also a gift from my granny.

Beautiful doll clothes here, from Wren Handmade.

Incredible hand stitching and all around vintage fabric genius, Ann Wood, here.

Have a great weekend, next week I will get to posting my holiday shows!

sea story

I've been working on making lavender pillows this week. This fabric came from an old house dress from the 1940's. The fabric is too fragile to make something that gets a lot of heavy use like a throw pillow or a bag, but it is perfect for something that will have a quiet life, like a lavender pillow. I love the way the details of the fabric stand out, making each pillow a little illustration. A little sea story that smells very nice.

snow

It snowed here yesterday, really! Well, lots of very wet snow that melted away with the rain that followed it. Doesn't it seem too early for snow?

photo shoot

Yesterday Angela Liguori and I had a little photo shoot at my house in preparation for some upcoming shows we are doing together this holiday season. Angela brought lots of her beautiful ribbon, paper, and cards to use as props. We styled some shots using both of our products, then clicked away with our respective cameras. I can't wait to see how Angelas's photos turn out! Before she left, Angela gave me this beautiful yellow box which some of her paper comes in and this little bit of antique measuring tape. Thank you Angela, for such a fun and productive morning!

Next week: I'll post my Holiday Show Schedule! Lots of work to do before December!

i had forgotten

I had forgotten about these scarves in a box under my bed. I went to get my winter scarves and hats out (yes, it is cold here this week) and re-discovered these pretty scarves and handkerchiefs. Most are flea market finds, except the Liberty print one, which my parents gave me for my seventeenth birthday.

Someday soon I am going to try a recipe from forty-sixth at grace. They all sound delicious, and I love the way Nikole photographs food. And I would really like something from her shop, Herriott Grace.

classic knits

I found this Classic Knits book yesterday in the bargain bin of my favorite local bookstore, Porter Square Books. $6.99, folks! Oh, I just love it! Even if I never end up knitting anything from it, I can dream. It's by Erica Knight, with photos by Katya de Grunwald.

Elisabeth Dunker of Fine Little Day is guest blogging at Design Sponge all week. I can't wait to see what she posts each day.

And thank you, all of you, who left me comments over at Bliss on Friday. I so appreciate your support and your lovely words!

about fall

I'm over at Bliss this afternoon talking about fall! Come visit me over there! And have a lovely weekend, too.

tartans and checks

Been working with some of my favorite tartan wools to make zip bags and this pretty peachy gingham wool to make totes. The lovely vintage hand mirror and glass bottles are from Little Byrd Vintage. I'll use the mirror at the holiday fairs this season for people trying on scarves.

Foodwise: beautiful photography and recipes at Sunday Suppers via frolic. Maybe this will make me feel a little better about losing Gourmet.

And thank you, Rebekah, for mentioning my dolls yesterday!

good-bye gourmet

So sad that Gourmet Magazine will no longer be published. I know others have been posting about it, but I had to post something, I mean, we have had a subscription to Gourmet for almost ten years and every month I have looked forward to its arrival, the beautiful photography, and the delicious recipes. I cook from it all the time, infact it's what saves us from having boring dinners. And I always read Ruth Reichl's letter from the editor, she is my favorite food writer. At least I have held on to my favorite issues and recipes for the past couple of years.

Gourmet, I will miss you so much!

niceness

Last week I had asked Rebekah of Little Byrd Vintage to let me know if she ever found any vintage clothespegs. She wrote me right back saying she actually had some she would just send me. This morning this wonderful box arrived from Portland, with not only clothespegs that are just perfect for making dolls, but also a bit of lovely pink cashmere wool, a seductive looking black skein of yarn, and this package of mini clothespegs. So awesome. Thank you, Rebekah! Your niceness is very much appreciated!

p.s. Rebekah's vintage etsy shop is not only my favorite, but also, Apartment Therapy's. I'll be posting some of my own finds from Rebekah's shop later this week too.

finished

Finished this scarf this week. I finally learned how to do the moss stitch! It will go in the shop sometime next week. I added some new dolls there today.

Just got a notice that the 2010 Satsuma Press Calendar is available for pre-order. Love it!

Wouldn't you like to go to the NY Art Book Fair at PS1 in NY this weekend?

I'm just gonna be around home this weekend hanging out with my family.

Hope your weekend is sweet.

i heart

I heart my daughter's chalkboard drawings. Happy October!