Month of Mail: day 2

or I spent the morning weaving paper...

Making my tea this morning the idea hit me- weaved paper. While I have work to be done, it's no use when I get and idea in my head, and so there I was cutting and weaving this brittle, vintage paper into an envelope.

This paper is from an agricultural periodical. I have a giant box of them in various topics- Quail breeding, Judging Sheep, Cutting the Farm Woods, Duck Raising, and the like. These were all given to me by a friendly stranger. She said to make her something and send it to her, so I did...this envelope! Although it's been at least a year, maybe two since I was given a box of these wonderful papers. See how bad I am about my mail? That's why I'm so glad to be doing this project. I'm finally sending this kind person the thank you note she deserves. I just hope it gets to her safely!

As for the weaved paper, I'll be making a how-to post on how to make your own soon. I just wanted to post this today!

Big shout outs Leah, Penny and my friend Margaret who will be joining along in this month of mail! You can join in too, no pressure. Do a week of mail, or just write one! But definitely share it with me- tag it #monthofmail and send me a link! It would make me so happy...

A Month of Mail....

or a little personal challenge, to write a letter a day for the month of May...





















































I am well meaning, always the best of intentions. Every year I say that this will be the year I stay on top of my written correspondence. I'll send thank you notes for holiday gifts, remember to send birthday cards, and finally write back to my pen pals. Instead of feeling shitty about falling short again this year I decided to play catch up with a challenge to myself: a month of mail, everyday I'll write at least one letter, card or postcard. I'd love it if you joined me!

What I did is write a list of all the thank you's, hellos, upcoming birthdays, and notes I've been meaning to send. Then one by one, I'll tick off each letter daily. I don't have to mail one each day- just write it and enjoy making or choosing the stationary. Then at the end of the week I'll mail them all together. It's stressful to think of mailing one each day for me, as my post man never takes our outgoing mail and that means a walk to the post office each day.

I'd so love it if you wanted to join me! I'll be posting on flickr and twitter. We can use the hastag #monthofmail and your month doesn't have to start at the first of the month, just whenever you'd like. It can be a 30 day challenge to yourself...

Everyday I'll post my snail mail and some inspiring mail related links, how-to's, and I really want to make a Mother's Day card DIY project. I'm thinking a stitchy card!

Here's my first letter!...

Viva la snail mail!!

my lately....

This past weekend Jeremy & I explored a new area (to us!) of Brooklyn, Boerum Hill. We rode our bikes there and then just walked around. There are a bunch of antique shops there and if there's anything I really enjoy it's meandering about looking at vintage goods.




Darr - loved the black walls and the display of mirrors ever where.









Collier West. This was my favorite shop of the many on Atlantic Ave. I'm obsessed with apothecary drawers, and this shop had so very many great pieces. The one in the last image is the most amazing piece I've seen (the photo doesn't do it justice), as it has so many little drawers of all different sizes. Also, who can resist a funny little Schnauzer named Tchotchke!






GRDN, not an antique shop, but such a beautiful, lush, garden shop. We'd die for a little outdoor space to have a garden.


We also had the tastiest lunch of garlic bread and lentil soup. Bike rides, old stuff, good food... it was a really nice day.

Are there any areas where you live that you'd like to explore? Anyone in NY have any mores suggestions of any more places that would be good to visit?

Hope you've been having a great week so far!


p.s Check back on the blog today, because I'll be posting about a daily project/challenge to myself for the month of May...

Martha Stewart Etsy Show...

I was a lucky lady last (you like what I did there?) Monday when I went to an all Etsy Martha Stewart show taping. The show airs tomorrow, April 26th at 10 am on the Hallmark channel. Tune in, you may see my arm or something as they panel the audience, but probably not. I was sitting to the very far right, third row- no man's land for the camera pans.



The audience was made up of all Etsy sellers in a sea of bright, colorful outfits. We were all asked to bring something from our shops. At one point Martha was walking around the audience at the floor level and everyone was holding up their wares hoping to be spotted- wish I had stopped to take a picture of that!

I brought a wedding embroidery piece I just finished and sitting next to me was Virginia, who brought some prints...



One of my favorites parts of a MS taping (this is my 2nd, and last. Did you know the show is ending?) is the audience prep with the hilarious Joey Kola. Here he's telling us we have goodies to look forward to, lots of free stuff, hence the double wink...

And besides a fun all Etsy show, they took everyone in the audience's photo with their item, and gave us lots of crafty stuff. I got a polymer clay book by Jessica Partain, who was featured on the show making insanely cute miniature clay food jewelry, a few polymer clays too, MS paints, giant MS stencils, and some MS paint related items.

It's always nice to be in the midst of my crafty community, say hi to old friends I only see at craft shows, and to see the behind the scenes of the MS show....



If you have the Hallmark channel check out the Etsy show (April 26th at 10 am)...

My lately....

in instagrams....

1. Highlight of last week was the 5 Boroughs Ladies Arm Wrestling charity event where I cheered like a crazy fool for my friend Julie aka Nancy Drew Blood. I had no voice the next day. Accordions, a Glocktopus, burlesque dancers, ladies arm wrestling for their lives, dance offs- you gotta find an event near you and go!
2. We carted a bunch of stuff to donate to the Goodwill. On our long, slow walk I kept noticing building details, I love exploring my neighborhood.
3. Love my boy friends new old vintage shoulder bag.
4. Got a bunch of fresh zodiac fabric to make a bunch of kits and prepare for Renegade.
5. Eps! Yesterday I went to an all Etsy Martha Stewart show. Everyone in the audience was an Etsy seller and they featured lots of Etsy goods.
6. Each seller brought an item they made to the show to share. This Ring Bearer Hoop was what I brought.

Hope you're having a great week!!

Unders the Sea at Anthropologie...

This nautical window display at Anthropologie at 30 Rock blew me away with it's creative recycling...

Love that such ordinary materials could transform into something so other worldly. Paper barnacles and coral on a sunken ship of cardboard, a bottle cap whale fin, sea urchins of brightly painted wood skewers in a tight bunch, and glass lightbulbs were perfectly glossy bubbles.





Amazing, right?!

They talk a bit about their collaboration with Wyland for Earth Day on their site here. It's accompanied by some ridiculously beautiful faux underwater imagery.

lately...

and usually, it's mostly pets + food.

This past week was a blur of number crunching for tax time, so I really didn't pick up my camera till the weekend. That's always when I give myself more time to document and enjoy myself, and it was such a beautiful weekend! Had my first bike ride of the year on Saturday, took a meandering 2 hour walk with Lillian, our foster pup.

I loved our Sunday brunch of tofu scramble and cinnamon pancakes. Always craving pancakes! Then later for a second sweet brunch we had wagashi treats, these fancy Japanese sweets Jeremy got for us. Every year he makes a point to get their seasonal cherry blossom candy. I had a green tea cake, a peach jelly with a cherry in it and Jeremy made me a sweet matcha, yum!!

I'm also already cutting buttons for Renegade. Yeah, I hand cut each circle!

What did you do this weekend?

Embroideries...

My latest Stitch Dictionary Class at Purl Soho was a blast. Everyone clicked and seemed to enjoy learning the stitches and getting to know each other. This kind of vibe makes me so excited to teach! I always feel a little goofy giving "homework" in my classes, but it works. Margaret did such an awesome job on her homework piece above, and here are a few of the pieces in progress...




I've been receiving request for class, both group and private, which I love! I'd be so happy to arrange a class, just email me or check my class events page for the latest classes available.

Have a great weekend! Any plans to make something?!

Inspired by beautiful tattered rags...

...or Boro, Japanese for "tattered rags".



































These vintage Japanese cloths are a lot like American quilts, but were made to be used, a lot. What I really love about them is that all the layered fabrics and textured stitches are not just an aesthetic choice, but traces of their use and the care taken to repair them. The more use, the more patches and stitches, the more history and beauty. No wonder these pieces are so expensive. I'd love one, especially an indo one on my bed.

All images via Kimonoboy & more here on Japanese textile history. 

my lately...

After discovering instagram, I think I forgot about my DSLR for awhile. For shame. I dusted off my camera this past week and made a concerted effort to snap some pics here and there. It didn't hurt that the light is changing with the seasons- longer, brighter days, and warm honey light in that late afternoon.

This past week I took a little break. So I concentrated on some stitching projects, our little zoo of animals (especially our foster dog Lillian who needs so much care and attention) and had a great Sunday with Julie & Laila (love her pattern/color combo up there!) at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. It was so warm and lovely out. It was a perfect day!

Hope you had a great weekend! 

Weekend Project

DIY String Sculpture

I've had this idea of floating letters for awhile now and really wanted to make them. I'd love to make a wall of these letters- how amazing would that be? But you don't have to stick to letters. A silhouette, simple illustration or abstract shape would work nicely too. Now I just want to spend the day making string things.

For my test I made a miniature PMA (Positive Mental Attitude, which I've blogged about before) and I quite like this little positive affirmation. Nix (who makes drop dead beautiful drawings!) of Fernbeds suggested framing it in a shadow box, so now I'm on the hunt for a tiny shadow box.

Here's what you'll need:
Thread or Yarn - I used embroidery floss
Tracing paper
Pencil, eraser & Sharpie
Freezer paper
Tape - I love painters tape.
Cardboard piece that's as large as your sculpture
Sewing pins
Craft brush
Fabric stiffener - I used Stiffy Fabric Stiffener (insert chuckles here)

1. Braid three threads together to form a thicker string. 
2. Create your pattern on tracing paper using pencil and then trace over with sharpie. 
3. Flip over the tracing paper so that it's in reverse and layer over a piece of freezer paper, matte side up. Retrace with sharpie. You only need this step if you are making text or a pattern that is not symmetrical.
4. Tape the freezer paper, glossy side up, to your cardboard piece. Your pattern should read normally, not in reverse. Pin your thread to the cardboard following your pattern.
5. Paint the stiffener on with a craft brush until the treads are fully saturated. Set aside to dry over night. 
6. Once it's dry remove the pins and scrap away the excess stiffener on the edges of the thread. 
7. Hang with sewing pins or mount in a shadow box.

Here's a corner of my studio, my reminder to keep the pma.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend. Did you make anything?!