Lovely World

little deer

I just finished this little deer this morning. She stands six inches tall. I have been wanting to make her for a while now. I had been waiting until I found some nice wool fabric. I finally found some at Tala's, the local quilting shop. Tala has a very limited supply and range of colors, though. If anyone has an online source for quality wool fabric, I would appreciate knowing about it.

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Autumn is upon us here in Western Massachusetts. The color and clarity this season brings is always an inspiration to me. I thought I loved summer, but I realize that sometimes it is just too much - too much sun, too much heat. Spring and Autumn, the seasons that move towards and away from summer, suit me best, I think.

Be well, friends.

XO Maribeth

blocks

My 6-year-old son Adam constructs his world with blocks, wooden tiles, Lincoln Logs and old Fisher Price people. This is what he made on Sunday. (Often there are good guys and bad guys. I think the little square blocks are the good guys this time and the Fisher Price are the bad guys. Go figure).

 

quotable sunday

When we really begin a new year it is decided:

who shall be truly alive; and who shall merely exist.

This is in honor of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, that my family celebrated this past week. Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins this evening. Yom Kippur demands a more serious reflection on the year past and the one to come. My intent is to go forward with an open heart and to "be truly alive." My hope is that all else important will follow.

ducks and daisies

My aunt brought me a package of vintage sewing supplies the other day. She had gotten it from a friend at her church who, unfortunately, has developed dementia and is no longer able to sew. The woman made a lot of dolls and children's items. These decorative patches were inside of a little fruit candy tin. My daughter is now using the very same tin to bring her lunch money to school.

new shoes

I just made these new baby shoes this morning. I am liking linen and pretty cotton fabrics. 

I recently got this new book, "Handmade Zakka," at Kinokuniya Bookstore while in was in NYC for an appointment. The book is in Japanese, but I find I can follow along pretty well by looking at the diagrams in the instructions. This is where I found the new shoe pattern.

By the way, if you find yourself in NYC, you should visit the Kinokuniya Bookstore. It is right across the street from Bryant Park, on 6th Avenue and 41st Street. Besides all the beautiful books in both Japanese and English, they have a fantastic stationary section.

 

scottish clans and tartans

I found this funny little book, "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans" recently. It was published in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1933. It is a small book, about 5 inches tall. I am amused by the advertisements especially. I don't see many men wearing skirts here in Western Massachusetts, although I do have a (male) friend who wears a kilt just about every day. I contemplated what it would be like to make a kilt, but gave up on that idea when I thought about all those pleats.

quotable sunday

Let go

and make yourself independent and free,

not being bound by things

and not seeking to escape from things.

- Yuanwu

paper dolls

While cleaning up the other day, I came across this paper doll and clothes that my daughter made. I guess to be correct, it is a paper fairy doll. She stands about 2 1/2 inches. Her clothes include a dress, a veil, and wings. She colored the body in a light tan skin tone, and even added tiny dots for nipples and a belly button.

I love that children are constantly moved to create little alternative worlds for themselves, whether with paper, scissors, and color as my daughter did with the fairy, or with blocks, blankets (forts!), clay, found objects - the materials are endless. If you give children the right balance of free, uninterrupted time and unconditional support they can seemingly create anything.

new blouse

I made this blouse over the weekend, and promptly wore it all Sunday afternoon. It is an easy Simplicity pattern, if you don't mind fussing with elastic. I used a heavier cotton in a floral print. The colors of the fabric are quite similar to the colors of some flowers we have growing in a pot off the kitchen. I love the deep purple in the center of the daisy-like flowers.

new fabric

I just received my recent order of fabric from Super Buzzy. I love Super Buzzy, all that nice Japanese design. I suppose most of you can appreciate beautiful fabric, even if it hasn't been transformed into a finished project yet. Hedge hogs, squirrels, and the big bad wolf. I can't wait to get started.