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.

the secret life of clothes

Did you have the same response as I when you opened your mailbox the other day? I think my voice dropped an octave with a breathless "No!" uttered in disbelief and awe: we just received a J Peterman catalog!

How thrilling to see this. It's the same crazy vintage-inspired stuff as ten years ago when the company was in its prime. I think it's exactly what the marketplace has been missing since Banana Republic went mainstream.




Do you remember the old Banana Republic catalogs? I adored their style, and this book (I found it on ebay a few years ago) about the company has been a source of endless inspiration to me. I love so much about safari style: the linens, washed cottons, brushed khakis, and rough twills are everything I adore about textiles, and the timelessness of the styles still appeal to me. I'm attracted by the adventurousness, the well-traveleled mystique of someone who had been everywhere and seen everything. Much of it, too, was questionable with regard to wearability. But it oozed rugged glamour.



So back to our friend Mr. Peterman's catalog. Some of it continues to be constume-y and nearly unwearable: witness the Great American Shirt. If I were an advice columnist I would tell my readers to avoid any man wearing this shirt, especially on a first date. It screams "I believe I'm attractive enough to wander my way onto the cover of a romance novel." Not someone with whom I would recommend you get involved, unless you're the fawning type who needs a man to take care of as a hobby (or a full-time job?). Or the Crinoline Dress? This dress seems suitable only for an evening of zoot-suited swing dancing, complete with fedora and speak-easy. But maybe my imagination is just too tired to comprehend kelly green underwired dresses today. I'll try again tomorrow.

On the other hand, I'm all over the Adventurous Shirt Dress. I've been meaning to finish a sleeveless shirtwaist similar to this that I drafted before the arrival of Tsia (four years ago, now...). It's sitting on the shelves of the studio, cut from pinstriped navy linen, just waiting for a quiet afternoon for stitching together. And I love the Latin Quarter Peasant Shirt, which feels a bit like a grown-up version of the 2 + 2 Blouse and which I would probably wear every single day if it were made in the light-weight grey-blue cotton I purchased last weekend with something exactly like this in mind.

I think the J Peterman catalog is important precisely because of the unusual items it includes. The non-conformity of the more exotic offerings are what make it unique, especially today when so much apparel looks the same. I love the possibilities it offers, even if I tend toward the more conservative, wearable (to my mind, anyway) items. So hurray for Mr. Peterman! I may still be mourning the death of the REAL Banana Republic, but I can celebrate the true purveyor of outlandish items; they're what make the sartorial world interesting today.

short and sweet

Oh, so much to tell you! Most of it needs to wait for another day when I'm not so tired. But here are a few items:

The fall Oliver + S line is now live on the website. Go. Sew. Enjoy.

The new issue of small magazine is out, too. Super cute illustrations by Jayme McGowan and lots of great photo styling. Do check it out!


Also, I'm loving these calligraphy styles and am trying to not send these folks everything I ever write. I love it so much I want to send them my To Do list everyday. That would be really inefficient, wouldn't it?

Ok, more later.

Home Companion

I'm so pleased to tell you that Oliver + S is featured in the current issue of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine! We met the team from MEHC at Quilt Market last October, and they contacted us shortly after the show to request samples for a photo shoot. Since it's the June/July issue, they wanted samples in red, white and blue fabrics, which was easy to do once I saw the American Jane Wee Play collection from Moda, which served as the basis for the group. Here's one of the photos from the shoot, and now you can see the feature on the website.


And we're in good company! Anna Maria is featured in the magazine, too!

I love this magazine. In fact, I only re-discovered it last summer when we were in Michigan and I found it in a bookstore. It's been completely re-designed, with a contemporary, clean feel and lots of terrific inspiration. Heather Bailey was featured in the last issue, if you missed her. Lots of good stuff.

So, so sad

I learned from a friend today that Blueprint has just stopped publishing on a regular basis. That's it.

What is the world coming to? First Martha Stewart Kids, now Blueprint? Ack.

Ok, on to some happy things:

*Hillary's free pig ornament pattern. Cute!

*Mitten ornaments made by a kindergarten class. I'm amazed.


*Thanksgiving decorations that I just can't seem to put away, despite an abundance of Christmas and winter decorations that are in the process of going up. Something about the Wisconsinite in me just loves winter wheat, especially in snow-covered fields. (note to self: must get home for a visit soon!)

*Spending a happy afternoon in the studio with Ms. Tsia helping to wrap and assemble Christmas gifts for the mail.

Ok, time to get one kiddo off to bed. I swear sometimes she gets less sleep than I and seems to do better for it as well.

Time-filling list

Notice I didn't call it a time-WASTING list? Here's my current list of favorite things:


++Blueprint's feature on David and Amy Butler's home.

++Dharma Trading's selection of dye-able bamboo fabrics. I'm so glad bamboo as a textile is catching on; it has many wonderful qualities.

++I've been on a mission to reduce the number of catalogs we get at our apartment, and it was taking forever to contact each company individually until Amy mentioned this site. Couldn't be easier: you log in, select the catalog you want to eliminate, enter the customer code number on the back of the catalog, and you're done!


++Hable Construction's Design Your Mantle feature. Very cute! Tsia has been playing with it and loves the "pirate" stockings. (At our house, anything with a skull and crossbones is known as a pirate.) I wish Hable would design a quilt fabric line. I'm sure it would sell phenomenally well.


++Heather Moore's wonderful tea towels. I just purchased this one (Heather's photo, above) and love it. I'm thinking Christmas gifts. Hmmm. Here's another designer who should be doing a quilt fabric line!


Crest spinbrush. I never understood why people like electric toothbrushes until I tried this. And for under $7.00?!? Battery operated, and my teeth feel so clean afterwards! Plus, it's better for the environment to replace the just head than to buy a whole new toothbrush. Just be sure to use re-chargeable batteries.


++Paper Source holiday catalog. Here's one I won't be removing with Catalog Choice. Current drools: the snaps, Xyron 900 machine (someone tell me: are they really as useful as they seem?), and that cute pinecone stamp. I guess it's time for me to get busy making our Christmas cards. Hmm, can I justify placing an order if I buy stuff for the cards?

If I'm not careful, this blog could become a Blueprint obsession

Ok, they've really got me. I'm ready to move into these three rooms from the current issue. I keep thinking about them, trying to figure out just what it is that I love so much. Here's what I've got:

I love living with neutrals. In my dream world, everything is made from naked wood, undyed linen and wool, or it's painted white. I've certainly tried to go that direction in our apartment, but for quite a while now I've been feeling like it's missing something.



I think those folks at Blueprint have it all figured out. Like that bedroom; it's nearly all neutrals, but the shot of color comes in unexpected ways, like the bed. Rather than painting the room itself yellow, they incorporated just enough yellow to elevate the entire environment. And that fabulous pale grey wall, combined with the pure white, just looks so fresh to me! Plus, the subtle addition of dark tones adds just the right amount of depth to the palette.


Lotta Jansdotter's living room (top photo) is comprised of both neutrals as well as a spectrum of colors. The muted shades of the colors are dispursed throughout the room, and the balance of lights and darks works nicely. The rug pulls the palette together, I think. None of the colors feel forced, yet there's plenty of color.

And that office? Well, it helps that Blueprint is located in the amazing Starrett-LeHigh Building (My former empoyer moved there while I was out on maternity leave, and those windows alone were almost enough to convince me come back), but how great are all those little pops of yellow, in several different shades? And I thought I wasn't really a yellow person. I was fingering the yellow tape at the art store the other day just because of this shot (they used yellow tape to add color to many of the items in the photo).

I'm still trying to decide what inspiration to take from all this. PI'm mostly feeling this odd relief at the realization that I don't have to force color into our apartment where it may not feel right to me, which is why I've been trying to do lately. But I'm also feeling like maybe I can try a few new approaches to color in ways I might not have attempted it before. And maybe some new colors as well. It's still brewing, I guess. I'll give it more time, and maybe a few more issues of Blueprint, before I take action. Although I'm secretly wishing I could paint our bed yellow.

Guess what day it is!

We're home again, and it's great to be back. What a long time we were away! I knew for sure that we were back when Tsia and I were putting our bags away in storage (which is our building's basement), and Tsia said to me, casually, "Mama, I saw squirrel!"

"Here?" I asked.

"Yes. Over there."

Now, I know we don't have squirrels in our basement. I also have a fairly good idea what might resemble a squirrel to a toddler while also residing in a storage area, and it doesn't make me happy.

Welcome home.


Anyway, I haven't shown you any of the treasures Todd brought back from Tokyo yet. Poor guy; he had a rough time of the shopping there, and it took heroic effort to find what I wanted. In fact, he couldn't find Cotton Time anywhere, and his crafting colleague wasn't familiar with the magazine either.


But he certainly found a couple of terrific books for me, and some great fabric as well! This is my favorite of the books. Actually, it's a magazine. It's all children's clothing, and I love the styling because it's so DIY-influenced. The looks that are presented are all about a handmade or thrifted look, and the various items are assembled in such unusual ways. I wouldn't mind dressing this way myself!


In other news, yesterday Tsia turned 2 1/2, and today is my two-year blogging anniversary! Hurray!


In honor of the events, we're working hard to potty train one of us. Now that we're home and staying in one place for a while, I hope we'll find success soon.

Blueprint, how I love thee

Blueprint magazine just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it? I wasn't so sure about it at first, but now I like it more than Martha Stewart Living. Someone handed me a copy of the July/August issue yesterday while I was wandering along the sidewalk hunting for a post office in the west village (Yeah, that kind of thing doesn't happen when I trudge to the nasty post office in my neighborhood, that's for sure), and it's crammed with page after page of great things. For example, I love these little parchment shades that transform a simple wineglass and votive candle into a cute tabletop lamp.


But you know I won't be buying the pre-made printed versions. I'll be making my own. Sorry, lovely vendor. I'm thinking little eyelet cutouts on mine.

Other things that caught my eye:

You have to see decorations in the baby shower feature. Actually, my first thought was of Sally and her fabulous aesthetic. Oh, and I've been craving a Dry Meyer-lemon soda ever since I saw the photos.

Brilliant ideas for using wall paper. Never thought I'd type that. Ever.


Denim fashion: way beyond the blue jean, moving into Bonnie Cashin territory (watch that link if you're at work--there's sound involved). I loooove Bonnie Cashin, and I'm all over this. In fact, how great would it be to make a denim (or maybe chambray?) backpack for fall? Hmmm. With cream-colored topstitching, I think. (By the way, the photo above is from Linda Loudermilk. Great line, discovered via the denim feature.)

And one other non-Blueprint things I love:

Instructions for an easy-to-make fabric ball necklace.

Have a great weekend! If the sun ever shows up, I'll be able to show you my new dress next time.

Hmmm

Ok, Alicia pointed this out to me the other day. Read carefully:

"All tapes, photographs, creative suggestions, ideas, notes or concepts or other materials (collectively, "Material") submitted to Blueprint magazine whether through a solicitation by Blueprint or Bluelines or unsolicited, become the property of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. ("MSLO") and will not be returned. Submission of Materials shall constitute an assignment to MSLO of all worldwide rights, titles, and interests in all copyrights and other intellectual property rights in such Materials. MSLO is and shall be under no obligation to (1) maintain any of your Material in confidence; (2)pay to you any compensation for any Material; or (3) respond to any of your Material. Due to the volume of submissions, all tapes and photographs submitted cannot be returned. By submitting a tape or photo, you agree to let Blueprint magazine use such tape or photo in any media, including on-air and online, and all submitted tapes and photos become the property of MSLO."

--Blueprint magazine, May/June 2007, page 142 (the teeny tiny text off in the margin of the page).

I understand the nature of a legal statement like this, but does this particular one seem a little scarey to you? Comments?

We need some Happy today

I was just kidding about the quilt. Sort of. Yesterday I started selecting fabrics for another doll-sized Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt, so apparently I quickly got over the amount of work involved in making the first one. In fact, I pulled together some of the scraps and templates from the last one and will happily send them along to someone else who wants to give it a try. Let me know if you're interested and I'll pop them into the mail. Just don't call me whining when you discover how long it takes you; I already know. (And don't say I didn't warn you, either!)

Here is the inspiration for the next one. I just love it, and it's a great excuse to do a little cross stitching again. It's been years.

Here are a few other things I love right now:


Sew Stylish magazine, published by Taunton (the same people who publish my beloved Threads magazine). It's loaded with terrific articles for everyone from beginners to expert level sewers. This is their very first issue, and I'm still amazed at how much good information they included. I especially like the article about sewing handbags, which offers lots of great tips for working with leather. For example, they suggest that you cover leather with Glad Press'n Seal before you sew because it helps the presser foot to move smoothly over the leather, tears off easily afterwards, and doesn't leave a sticky residue. And check out their blog as well.

This copy of the amazing smocked Bottega Veneta dress. Here's where having a dress form comes in really handy; imagine pinning and fitting all those pleats on yourself (or a friend)!

The new issue of Blueprint magazine, featuring Joelle (co-owner of Purl and Purl Patchwork) and her apartment. I haven't seen it yet, but I'll be heading out to find a copy tonight once the kiddo is in bed. Can't wait! (Don't worry; Todd is home to watch Ms. Tsia while I'm out.)

Pandora. Type in a favorite song and hear other similar music. Then rate the music you hear and Pandora will customize your very own virtual radio station. But watch out: you can spend a lot of time playing with this site.

And speaking of playing, these games are adorable and fun. Blast it, Courtney and Dorie, it's not like I needed other ways to spend my time.

Ok, gotta go. Just remember:

"It's not rock and roll if your pants don't hurt."
-- Jimmy Webb, "Anything Pink Rocks," The New Yorker, March 26, 2007

Just add that to the To Do list

Did you see this article in the latest issue of Martha Stewart magazine? It's nearly killing me. I've been wanting to try silk ribbon embroidery for the longest time now, probably since the December 1997 issue of Threads magazine featured Andra Gabrielle's intricately embroidered silk intimates, which she manufactures for Barneys. Actually, "manufactures" is the wrong word. Each garment must surely take hours of individual work, so I should really say "creates" instead.

I nabbed a few yards of silk ribbon at Tinsel Trading the other day--it was difficult to select just a few, since they carry a fantastic variety of colors and widths--and hope to find a little time to try it for myself sometime soon. I mean, did you see those vegetables? You'd better look again. They're amazing: