scout.

A quilt and some news.

I think I was a little hard on it when I called it the quilt of doom. Honestly, it's soft and sweet. A simple little tie blanket in very summery gingham and linen, for a family with a home on the coast. I can't blame the quilt. The problem was the making of the quilt. And then the thinking about the making of the quilt. Major Sewing Lesson Learned #1: Do not write a letter to anyone that refers to making a quilt as a thank you gift. No matter how much you want to. Or how much they deserve it. (Which they do.)  Because things happen. And you might not expect to suddenly start looking for, buying, or renovating a house, and every time you think about the unfinished quilt you break out in hives, ruminating on what a big jerk you are. So you don't sew anything, not for yourself or the new house, over the course of the entire year.  

Thankfully, in early December, I took a vacation, brought home a dog (with separation anxiety, huzzah!), and then it snowed. So it wasn't until I was completely housebound that my feelings softened and I made friends with the idea of a tie quilt, instead of doing it by machine.  I spent the better part of the month with swollen fingers as a result, but it took the pressure off, and that was the important thing. When all was said and done, I spent a scant 12 hours on it, which is pretty much nothing in quilt time. Everything held up just fine in the dryer (there was much bated breath regarding the ties). And it turned out kind of lovely. More importantly, I never have to worry about it ever again. Thank. Friggin. Goodness.

Although I have a backlog of craft-related posts to share with you, posting may be a bit scarce here in the weeks ahead. I will be guest posting over at the always inspiring, Habit, for the month of February, and cannot wait to see what will come. Molly and Emily have created something truly special with this project, and I hope you'll visit me there. Be well, friends. Oh, and happy Friday.

All love,

*Andrea

In with the new.

2: 52 weeks.

In the spirit of the new year, what with a new president, a new dog, a new head cold,  and new zest for French macaroons, I'm just going to forge ahead and pretend like it isn't the end of January and I'm sharing my resolutions with you all right on time. Because I am feeling both optimistic and delusional. Feel free to hold me accountable.

A New List for a New Year

- Learn to play the accordion. A child's accordion or toy will do. It's just that. damn. I have always wanted to be the chick with the accordion.

- Make this purse.  From the amazing Zakka Sewing book. In gray, of course.

- Leave the city. Which includes visiting the Oregon Coast at least once, and the Columbia River Gorge. I have been thinking about this place more and more lately. I plan to take the pup on every excursion. He's an explorer of the world, that one. And since we're on the topic,

- Fully commit myself to Bradley's separation anxiety training. Every day. No excuses. I haven't talked about it much here, but we've sought professional help, someone specializing in the disorder and highly traumatized dogs, and there is much hope for recovery in six to twelve months. This pup is so incredibly loving, with a capacity for gentleness that I've never before seen in an animal. I owe him a least that much.

- Finish decorating the studio and attic/guest space. After working exceedingly hard on the rest of the house, I was overtaken by a fit of laziness. And then it snowed and was winter and, you know, more laziness. But I think our guests would prefer to sleep in a bed. 

-Buy a guest bed.

- Find at least four new bands to love. This does not include new albums from old favorites. When it comes to new artists, my old fuddyduddy tendencies have been increasing lately, and this must be stopped before I begin wandering around with an ear trumpet, talking about Gershwin.

- Order soup from SoupCycle. I love soup.  Especially soup that arrives by bicycle. Unfortunately, I live outside of Souplandistan, but I am determined to figure out a way around this. 

- Make at least one dress. I would like to make one I really love this time. Preferably in gingham. How long until Spring again?

- Take part in the One Little Word project.  Too many to choose from, but in the end, I decided on still. Because if you know me at all, you know that I am rarely still.  With or without the camera, moving at the speed of light. Aaron refers to me as 'the squirrel' for  good reason. But it's internal stillness that concerns me, the thing I most want to embody. Somehow in focusing on that this year, I feel like all the rest will fall into place.  Which leads me to...

- 52 Weeks.  What better way to seek stillness than to be your own material? I am already on week four and feeling wholly out of my element. Definitely good.

- Walk across the Broadway Bridge. It has always been my favorite bridge in Portland (we have a lot of bridges), and when my pal Andrea did just that, I was totally inspired.

- Dance barefoot in the living room with Aaron as often as possible. There can never be enough of that.

The list-lover in me would like to go on and on, but if I learned anything from last year, it's that simplicity is everything, fun is necessary, and geekiness is unavoidable. Off to find an accordion... Happy weekend, friends.

All love,

*Andrea

Hello 2009, or How I Learned to Love Resolutions

& a Happy New Year.

I'm stealing time at the moment, writing while my husband attends to the pooch's much talked about posterior glands, so this will not win me any points in tomorrow's 6 am 'who's turn is it to take the dog out' battle. But it's a fight I'm willing to lose because it's already the middle of January and I have yet to wish you a happy new year, or share my plans for the next twelve months, of which there are many, and most of which are completely ridiculous. But that's beside the point.  Is it too late to wish you a happy, bright, shiny new year? I hope not. 

I was never one for resolutions, until I decided to make a few and post them on the internet last year, and Internet, you would not believe how effective you were. You were the glue that held it all together. Well, either you or the untold future guilt.  Either way. It worked! But I can't just go right out and share a new list without revisiting the old one. Right. Ahem. 

Ye Olde List.

Take vitamins regularly. A resounding success. I am a vitamin taking machine, have yet to miss a day, and have been sick only three times since March. As opposed to last years twelve times in one winter. NOT KIDDING ABOUT THAT. TWELVE. For reals.

 

Make a quilt. How about two quilts? Huzzah!

Take my journal everywhere. Which went swimmingly until it disappeared during the move into the new house. Alas.

Take a photography class. I guess talking about it a lot doesn't count.

Take better photos. Probably would have been more successful if I had actually taken a photography class.

Go ice-skating. I even got off the ground a little. I even flew.  

Take more walks, even in the rain. Thank you, Bradley.

Eat more green veggies. Thank you, Uncle Paul.

Buy a piano, dig up sheet music. Well hello pretty girl.

Use only muslin totes. We did so much better than I thought we would, but it was a struggle to remember at first. Still have a long way to go to get rid of icky plastic packaging too.

Blog regularly. A total failure. But at least I avoided guilt blogging. Which is something. I think.

Sew for fun. Which happened only when I finished the quilt I never thought I would finish, otherwise known as the quilt of doom. I even made Bradley a new coat! I know. Lunacy. There will be a show and tell soon.

Worry less. This is funny because I have a mortgage.

Laugh more. A great way to blow off the stress of having a mortgage.

Dress up for dates with the hubs. Although the opportunity was scarce, I took full advantage of any heel-wearing potential. 

It occurs to me now that I made this list with no idea of what the year had in store for us. There was an inkling for sure, the slightest glimmer of knowledge that everything was about to change. There had to have been. Why else would I have included the much longed-for piano? I remember telling myself to think small, focus on the doable, and let the rest lie. Smart, as it turns out, because the level of upheaval, the total rearranging of house, work, finances, and responsibility in the ensuing months, made it doubly hard to focus on the ordinary, the everyday, the simple. Who can remember to take their vitamins in the midst of all that? But that was the point. The small mercies of the everyday. Being proud of tiny accomplishments. I plan to keep this year's list just as simple. But you know. You gotta keep it interesting.  Next up, a new year, a new list, and a new level of nerdiness.

All love,

*Andrea