NYC

We went up to New York a few weeks ago to adventure around what they now call "downtown Brooklyn" and for a day with the brilliant Heather Ross. 

The Brooklyn flea is pretty amazing dealers from all over the place have great vintage and antique finds, as well as hand crafted furniture, jewelry, ceramics, and clothing. I was surprised by how clean all of the antiques were, it makes sense considering that the people of New York do not have yards to scrub down their purchases. It was just a big contrast to Va where you can find some great things but often times they require a scrub down. 

Williamsburg, Brooklyn at dusk was a really beautiful view of Manhattan and a nice time to sit and enjoy the summer night. Many people seem to come sit and relax here after dinner... pretty quiet, you almost forget you are in NY. (Finally used the panoramic feature on my phone).

Sunday I participated in an all day Heather Ross workshop. It was nice to meet one of my favorite textiles designers and some other talented illustrators. We crafted most of the day, and after lunch took a little walk down to the Seaport museum, above. They have printing presses that date back to the 1700's and the building itself is one of the oldest in Manhattan. It was a really beautiful place, and I got to stock up on some papers, tags.

Heather and I. 

Neat seat cushion made out of the new Heather Ross fabric. 

Before we left on Monday we stopped over in SOHO because no trip to NYC is complete without a stop at Purl. I stocked up on my Liberty fabrics and such. We also went to the Flatiron district and ran into the Fish Eddy's store, what a great selection of pottery and glassware! It was not my usual trip to New York, where I hide in the art museums all day, however it was lovely to eat the food, see where the locals are hanging out and enjoy the time away with Sandra. 

February

This Gnome is the best image that I can find to describe how I feel about this month. In general February is just not a great time of year for me... I did meet Sandra in February, four years ago so that did help make it better, and it does make me smile to think of those days. Other than that, I really could just skip the cold, miserable month, that occasionally has a missing day. We have had a much colder winter than normal here in RVA, and while I know that we are usually spoiled we have been cold and even had some snow, sleet, rain, mess this year. I know that some sewists, and artists love days like this to sit in inside and make... I have to agree a rainy day is great, but I could live without the white stuff, not really a fan, (and that is putting it nicely)! So while I long for warmer, longer days I have been cutting up and sewing some things, and trying to gather inspiration from anywhere that I can. 

A few weeks ago I found this gorgeous vintage quilt at an antique store, I was half tempted to buy it, however I keep reminding myself, "I can not rescue all of the old textiles in all the antique stores and estate sales, because that is how hoarders are created." I did take a picture to remember the simple lines of it, the pale colors, paired with bold accents and the aged fabric, so soft. I am putting this around 1930-1940 based on the colors, the pattern and the fabric. It looked as if some of it was made from cotton shirts or even old pajamas. I love finding a textile that is as relevant the day it was made, as it is today. This quilt could be in a modern quilting magazine as easily as on a 1932 bed. It looked to be all cotton and wool batting, sewn and quilted by hand.

It is on my list to get outside and photograph some finished quilts, but in the meantime I started this... All of the hexagon "fabric" that I have been making over the past year, from my scrap bin has now been cut into squares. I am framing each square in a pale fabric and can't wait to get deeper into this project, so far pretty addicting! 

Of course there has been some reading while trying to keep warm. The Country Living, U.K. edition never seems to disappoint, with the most gorgeous covers and great articles. I could almost climb into that room! 

And finally on the book front I have been working my way through this... Wally Lamb's new book. He is such a brilliant writer that does not leave out one detail. I have read all of his books, and while they are not really "fun" reads they do spark a different feeling of depth into the characters lives. It is a bit of a slow read for me, a few pages here and there, but sometimes that is exactly what I want... a book that takes a bit of time, sort of like this winter...

inspired

Sometimes a weekend away, away from the noise, the movement, and everyday life, can be just what you need to gain some inspired thoughts. That's just what I did this weekend. My sister gave S and I tickets to Mumford and Son's this weekend and off to Bristol, VA the three of us went. We drove six hours through the Appalachian mountains and ended in this little town that separated Tennessee and Virginia, you can literally have a foot in each state. I am sure the locals enjoyed watching all the visitors  taking photos and going between the state line down the middle of the street... 

There are even little markers in the middle of the street. 

The most beautiful concert tickets I have ever had, so artistic, and such a close attention to detail. 

There were rubber stamps throughout the festival for stamping the back of the tickets.

Fabric flags were hung everywhere...

Catarina, me, and Sandra

Attention to detail, everywhere we looked.

Tea was setup in the middle of the woods.

This piano was set up in the middle of the pool by the main stage.

I was impressed with the attention to detail that took over the whole town. Mumford and Son's got together their favorite bands and the seven of them put this festival on. The whole town was taken over, and embellished with flags, country themes, mason jars filled with candles, antiques, and well thought out tasteful centerpieces. It was a lovely time, brilliant music and an awakening of senses.

So many people, fun had by all.

The Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Chicago Antiques

Of course I could not go on a trip without finding a little antique store... or 5! In Andersonville there a few shops and a yummy brunch place called M Henry.
This is actually a thrift store in the area that occupies and old building. It reminded me of our diversity thrift here, when it used to be in the old building on main street. I loved it there.



Roost- Had a great assortment of really eclectic things and really well organized and interesting to look through. I want to order some letters from them. They had a great assortment.










This store had a Scotish/English feel to it, lots of plaid! Really great blankets to upholster things with. I would love the cabinet with the little drawers!!

antique-ing in the OBX

Last week I went down to the OBX for a few days. It was lovely to escape to the ocean for a few days. While I was down there I went to a few antique shops with my family and I found some great things. The hats above were in a room in one of the stores, stocked from ceiling to floor. I thought they were beautifully composed.



I got this 1930's baby quilt at one of the stores, it is in great shape, the fabric is so soft it feels like soft cream. The colors are not fading which means that someone took care to keep it out of direct light. This is the kind of find that makes me excited!



All the pretty fabrics sewn in a crazy quilt motif.



The fabric on the back, sweet blue flowers on a creamy white background, so pretty and delicate.

chocolate box...

I finally found some hem tape makers in richmond, at the Hancock fabrics on Midlothian Turnpike. (In case you are looking too.) I had to go into the antique store next door and poke around for a little while. I am glad I did, struck treasure! I got this sewing box full of neat odds and ends, the whole thing cost $10. The box itself is 50-60 years old and was an old choclate box, I am so excited over this find. It is all in great condition and beautiful. I must add "cool display unit for sewing boxes" to the list of furniture to keep my eyes out for.

score!

In celebration of being finished with the PRAXIS, and the workload for this semester, I decided to go to an estate sale this morning. The house was full of neat plates and such but this box caught my eye. I got it to add to my sewing box collection. It is a Barbie lunch box from the 60's and belonged to "Wendy" in the second grade! Cool, I know! It was full of little spools of thread and needles and such but the little retro travel sewing kit inside really caught eye and made it worth it. I can't get enough of these boxes, one of these days I am going to have to find a way of displaying them, not that I keep all the boxes but lately the boxes themselves have been worth while.
It is warm outside, the trees have their leaves, and I am just about finished with school for the semester. I can't wait for my break, I feel like a child that sits and waits what seems like an enternity for June to arrive. Before I do anything else I am going to paint some rooms in my apartment, I have lived here almost two years and I am over the white! Then I am going to finish my quilt and start some others. In addition to all that I have projects planned and some etsy posts to attend to. Can't wait! I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weekend.

finding ana

Ever felt really unlike yourself? Find yourself avoiding everything you should be doing, and doing everything you know you could do later... Well I have had one too many days like that lately, so I took the early afternoon to go to a quilt store and look through some fabric, and then to an antique mall. I did not get any fabric but the antique store was a score. I found a stack of photos at a really good price, and got all the cool ones in the stack. I love looking at the different clothing styles and poses in those old photographs. I also got a couple of handkerchiefs, which I rellly do not need more of but they were fifty percent off, who could resist?.. The one in the picture here is my favorite find in a long time. It is a handkerchief from washington, dc, practically where I grew up. The were made as soveniers in the past and they are real treasures to find. I am off to get ready for another week...

juxtapositions

The updated quilt....Almost there I just need to keep going I want to have it done soon so I can work on something else.



A little composition after the christmas came down. I hope everyone is well, I have been under the weather and not posting as often as I would like. I promise I will try to soon.