we're ready

These days there's only one item on my To Do list immediately after Thanksgiving: to get the advent calendar up. Beyond that, I'll do anything to avoid Black Friday, and I figure we've got all month to do all our additional decorating and shopping. I'm in no hurry.


So Tsia and I hung up the mittens, and just when I was wondering what to put inside each one, Tsia asked for her leftover Halloween candy. (I was fairly certain she had forgotten it...?) She managed to find something in the stash for each mitten, which even saves me the that part of the task. Oh to be four, when a single leftover Pez candy for each day on the calendar makes you perfectly happy!


The pattern for these mitten ornaments is available for free download over at Oliver + S. Last year I made one mitten every day, so Tsia received a mitten each morning when she woke up, with a small gift inside. But they also make great ornaments, little gifts or decorations on gifts, so have fun with them!

pace

On my way downtown the other day I caught sight of this sign in the window of a vacant store and it stopped me in my tracks. Then I had a good chuckle.


So I'm going to follow the advice of this wise window and slow down for a few days to enjoy time with family and friends. Hope you can do the same. Happy Thanksgiving!

book week: Amanda Soule's Handmade Home

I'd like to tell you that Tsia and I made this paper mache bowl together as a family project the way Amanda Soule does with her children, and the way she intended it to be done in her book, Handmade Home. But I have a confession to make: I got a little carried away and completely took over this project.


You see, we started out doing the paper mache part together, but Tsia decided the paste was too messy and she didn't want to get her hands sticky. So we compromised, and I did the pasting while she handed me the strips of newspaper as I needed them. We did lots of chatting during this time together, but the crafting was being done my Mom, not kid and Mom. (I was expecting her to really get involved in this part--any tips for overcoming the goopy factor?)


Well, once I got this involved in making the bowl, a vision emerged and I knew exactly how I wanted "our" finished bowl to look. I thought it would be really pretty if we covered the outside of the bowl with brown craft paper and then painted the inside a bright color. So of course when it came time to paint the inside I wanted a neat edge (that was part of my vision, after all!), which meant that I had to paint the top portion and Tsia was left to paint only the bottom (under my very close supervision).


And then I just had to touch it up a bit. But I didn't get too weird about it, did I? Oh no, not me. I mean, at least we spent time together while I got my obsessive-compulsive groove on, right? Or that's what I'm telling myself, anyway.

The instructions for making the bowl and the recipe for the paper mache paste are both in the book, and I really had no idea how simple it is to make the paste! Tsia and I are still marveling that our bowl is made out of only paper, flour, water and salt. Sounds almost edible, doesn't it? Oh, except for the paint. But that's it!


Anyway, I admire Amanda's dedication to her family and the crafting she does with her kids. They spend lots of time creating and exploring and just being together. I admire Handmade Home for inspiring us all to spend time making things together, being together, and making things that will be useful when we spend time together as a family.

For our next project I'll try to loosen up a bit on the control aspect. Maybe we'll do a little repurposing, the way Amanda encourages you to in the book, and make something that we can do together.

Without getting our hands too messy, that is.

book week: Ramona and friends

I mentioned that we've been reading the Beverly Cleary books to Tsia. They're the first real "chapter" books (as opposed to picture books) in which she's been interested, and when I say interested I mean captivated. Before this she was frightened by the rat in Charlotte's Web, and my beloved Paddington Bear is still a bit old for her. But Ramona! Well, the girl couldn't be more enthralling, could she? And the books are as good as I remember them. Maybe even better. I can't stand to miss a chapter, so when it’s Todd’s turn to read, he reads to both of us.


This fall we obsessively made our way through every Ramona story, and then we exhausted most of the Henry Huggins books as well. But Ms. Clearly is right when she says that children want to read "books about kids like us;" Tsia is definitely more interested in the stories about girls than boys (although Ribsy is pretty cool, too). Right now we're hoping that Ellen Tebbits will repair her friendship with Austine, and suddenly ballet classes sound appealing, when two weeks ago she responded with a big "NO!" upon being asked if she was interested. (Ellen and her friend Austine take ballet classes together.)


We've been borrowing Ms. Cleary's books from the public library, and I've been surprised to see that the newer copies of the books have "updated" illustrations. I still visualize Ramona as drawn by Louis Darling, the original illustrator of many of the books. From what I can gather, Mr. Darling died quite young, and several other illustrators were hired for later books. But it’s the Darling illustrations that have stayed with me, and I’m sorry that they’re being replaced. I really don’t think the newer illustrations do the books justice. When I think of Ramona, I still see her with her printed dresses, fuzzy cardigans and oxford shoes with floppy bobby socks. I completely agree with this blogger, who says that Mr. Darling’s illustrations are appealing to children and adults, in part, because of their nostalgia. They were also just beautifully composed and compelling in the way they captured the expressions and personalities of their characters. Call me whiney, complain-y and old fashioned, but I really do think the illustrations are an integral part of the books.


Todd’s parents recently sent us his copies of the books which they had saved for him, signed by Ms. Clearly herself. I’ve enjoyed paging through them to reminisce, and I’m putting them away until Tsia is old enough to read and enjoy these copies herself. I’m sure our first reading of the books was just one of many for her. But I hope that future printings of Ms. Cleary’s books will include those original illustrations so that more children can enjoy them as well.

book week: Cal Patch Design-It-Yourself Clothes

I wish Cal Patch was older than me and wrote Design-It-Yourself Clothes about 15 or twenty years ago, because when I was 23 years old I would have stalked her. I think she's probably relieved this was not the case, but this is the book I went hunting for when we first moved to New York and I wanted to make my own patterns. Nothing like this was available back then, and if you've been wanting to design and sew your own clothing you're going to love it.


Since this book wasn't available back when I wanted it, I purchased a set of patternmaking textbooks at FIT instead and was immediately overwhelmed by them. Terms were used and not defined, previous experience (or classes) were assumed, etc. I quickly realized it would have taken at least two of me to get started: one to stand still and the other to take measurements and do fittings. It also would have required many hours of work just to get started. I didn't know where to begin.


Later I went to school for fashion design and it all became clear, but that didn't make the whole process any less complicated and time-consuming. I did eventually manage to develop my own set of slopers, but it shouldn't have taken more than a year of fashion education to develop the skills to make simple skirts and blouse patterns for myself. (Fortunately, the advanced education was been put to good use elsewhere....)

Anyway, I really like Cal's approach to making patterns. Instead of following the more traditional (and convoluted, although very technically worthwhile) route, she shows you how to draft a pattern using a set of measurements you take from your body. You'll still need to test the pattern (she explains how to make a muslin, or prototype, which is a simplified version of the garment used to adjust the fit before you cut your actual fabric and spend a lot of time sewing it), but with her method you've removed several steps and brought yourself that much closer to having a sewing pattern.



Having said all this, however, I need to add a few cautions before you run off to get the book and whip up a fall wardrobe for yourself. First of all, patternmaking takes time. Just drafting the pattern is rather time consuming, but it's the fitting and adjusting (and fitting and adjusting) and then determining how to assemble the pieces that really takes a while. So don't get the idea that you're going to stitch together a suitcase full of clothing for yourself before the holidays. Start with a simple project (the books start with knit tops, but I would suggest starting with a woven shirt since knits can be a little tricky to sew with good results) and take your time. Enjoy the process. From start to finish, drafting and finishing one garment might take you several weeks or more than a month. On the other hand, if you stick with it you'll have a pattern with which you're really happy and can sew again and again.


Additionally, in order to adjust your muslin and get a proper fit from your pattern you're going to need to learn how to make adjustments to the pattern. A number of good books have been written about this topic, and I would suggest that you purchase one or two because proper fit isn't always intuitive, especially if you're a little curvy. Either that or find a friend who has lots of experience with alterations and adjustments, because fitting something on your own body can be frustrating or impossible. (And boyfriends or husbands aren't always helpful or willing assistants. Trust me on this.)

You'll also need a solid grasp of garment construction in order to make good use of this book. The sewing instructions in the book are minimal (I'm sure space was a consideration here, plus the title says "Patternmaking" and not "Patternmaking and Sewing"), so once you've finished drafting and fitting and correcting your pattern you'll need to understand how to assemble the pieces. I would recommend that you practice by following a few sewing patterns to develop a solid understanding of construction techniques before you attempt this at home. (In other words, this is not something to attempt immediately after you've finished a beginning sewing class. Give yourself a little time to develop your skills before you attempt this book.) Once you have a good grasp of the steps you need to take and the ways to make a garment look finished, you'll have fun designing and making your own clothing.


(On a side note, I was amazed while reading this book to find how similarly we both feel about a large number of issues and areas. For example, I've never seen anyone else apply bias binding using the same method that Cal and I prefer. So I feel especially good recommending this book because we obviously think along the same lines in many areas.)

and speaking of books

I'm so excited about this event! We don't get to get together as often as we'd like, but in just a few weeks not only will Heather, Denyse, and I get the chance to hang out in one of my favorite places, but we'd like you to join us:

The wardrobe opportunities for this event, thanks to Heather's amazing poster design, are potentially endless. What to wear, what to wear...

book week: sewing reference

I've been on the hunt for a really good sewing book to recommend, and I'm very picky. I don't like the books that start with a few pages about the tools you'll need and then immediately start talking about sewing patterns and how to use them. Are you kidding? I'd never teach you how to drive by showing you the controls of the car and then telling you we're going to drive to Chicago on the freeway for your first lesson, and in my opinion giving someone their first sewing lesson with a sewing pattern is akin to that long-distance beginning driving lesson. I feel strongly that your first few projects need to start very slowly, teaching you how to operate a sewing machine, how to stitch a straight line with an seam allowance (what's a seam allowance, anyway?), how to backstitch, etc. If you start with a sewing pattern you'll quickly be overwhelmed and frustrated. So there. (But that's just my humble opinion...)

My favorite book for many years now has been the Bishop's Method of Clothing Constructions, but I only like the reprinted 1966 edition because it contains what is called "torn projects" in which you learn to sew by using simple fabric rectangles to make basic projects like an apron without a sewing pattern. The book builds from there and is an excellent resource for many garment sewing techniques, even if the projects themselves are a bit dated. You can still find the book at used bookstores, but I wanted to find a new book to recommend. The Sewing Bible, by Ruth Singer, fits the bill.


It covers all the basics, showing you how to sew a seam and the variety of ways to finish a seam allowance:


How to stitch and clip curves:


How to stitch and turn corners:


And it delves further into a wide variety of techniques, if you want to learn how to do a particular type of finish or want to perfect a particular method:


I was surprised to also find more elaborate fabric manipulation techniques like this section of various ways to pleat fabric. Calvin Klein used some of these methods in recent collections:


It also contains quite a few project for a wide variety of skill levels, and it's not at all like driving to Chicago since the projects vary in difficulty and gradually expand on basic sewing skills. It's a sizeable manual (300 pages), and it also makes a terrific reference book. I've been keeping it next to my workspace at the studio so I can refer to it when I'm writing instructions, and it's come in handy on several occasions already.

book week: creative coloring

It's past time for another book week, isn't it? I've been saving up all sorts of good ones to show you, especially since the holidays are arriving. It's nice to have a few ideas for giving and receiving, I think, so I'll show you some favorites, new and old, over the next week (or so).


Like a lot of parents these days, I'm not very keen on the traditional coloring book. Rather than color someone else's artwork, I prefer to encourage Tsia to do her own drawings. But we all need a little inspiration sometimes, and Tsia and I are both excited about the Doogles book by Taro Gomi, which acts as sort of a springboard drawing and coloring book that expands on the idea of a coloring book and makes it much more fun. Instead of coloring inside the lines, each page gives a suggestion for the start of a project and lets you take the creativity from there. For example, you can draw silly faces:


Or decide what to feed some crocodiles:


And I especially like this sort of page, which demonstrates to children that you can make your own patterns and embellishments within the basic framework that's been given (in other words, it doesn't all have to be one color!):

But you're not limited to pages with drawings already in place. Use your imagination to decide what (or who) is making this noise:



Tsia and I are looking forward to doing some of the collaborative projects in which, for example, two people can each decorate a fish on neighboring pages. The fish are drawn with just a simple outline so we might use glitter or yarn to decorate them once we've done a little drawing and coloring.

Near the back of this enormous book book (it's more than 350 pages thick!) is a short story to be illustrated. And at the very back are blank pages with suggestions like "Draw a pair of uncomfortably pointy boots." (Oh, I think I might have those in my closet already!)

Once you've worked your way through the entire book (and that should take you a while, with all those pages), there are several more by the same author that build on this concept. Tsia and I had a difficult time choosing one book, they're all so inspiring.

We've been giving this book to Tsia's friends when we're invited to birthday parties. I frequently stock up on items like this so we don't need to go running off in search of a last-minute gift, and I like this book because it appeals to boys and girls and to a variety of ages.

If you're looking for other creative books for older children who might be interested in making things with their hands, I still love the Girls' Best Book. In just a couple of years I think Tsia and her friends will be ready and I'll start stockpiling it for gifts, too.

mini gardens

I had a little moss left over from a recent project (long story--I'll tell you sometime later) and remembered this tutorial on Design Sponge about making terrariums using found items. Can I tell you how much fun this was? I wish I had been a little more organized; I would have collected wide-mouthed jars and taken the materials to Tsia's school. The kids would have loved to make them!



Right now the teacup and two Mason jar terrariums are living on our dining room table; they make great centerpieces. I'm still looking for little seedlings to add a bit of height and variety, but that may need to wait until next spring when baby plants are alive again (assuming the terrariums survive that long). Even if they don't survive the winter (or my really sorry lack of plant-keeping skills), I'm noticing lots of moss in the cracks of the sidewalks. Maybe Tsia and I will plant more terrariums together next spring.

my favorite stop

I hopped off the N train the other day just to take some photos for you.

Oh ok, maybe I did it for me, too. This is my favorite stop in the subway system, and I don't get to admire it much anymore. (Once upon a time I worked in the Flatiron Building, which is just upstairs from this station, so I visited it much more often than I do now.)


The walls of both the uptown and downtown stop are lined with mosaic hats.

Here's a quote from the MTA Arts for Transit website about the work:

"From the 1880s through the 1920s, 23rd Street was a major vaudeville, entertainment, and cultural district, and 'Ladies Mile,' the fashion and department store haven of the time, was located nearby. In his mosaic Memories of 23rd Street, Keith Godard represents the area through the various hats they might have worn."

The hats are all at different heights. Here's one that's especially far from the floor:


Why? Well, take a close look at the plaque below it:


I would imagine that Mr. Barnum was very tall. And why do I say that? Take a look at the hat next to it, which is very close to the floor. Click the photo to see whose hat it is:


(If you can't read the type, it says "Tiny Tim.")

I love the glass tiles used in the mosaics. They have a rippled surface that reflects the light in a fascinating way, and the colors themselves are incredibly clear and vibrant.

It's fun to stroll up and down the platform imagining the people who wore these hats. I have a few favorites, but I'll let you admire them and pick your own:




green





beret
beret
tophat



There are many more, but unfortunately the next train arrived and I needed to leave.

Which is your favorite?