right now...

I'm feeling ever so lucky to be alive- here and now.
 (as corny as that sounds- it's very true and sometimes it just feels good to state it)

the view from my kitchen window.

all week...

I've been listening and watching the baby wrens in our yard as they've gotten bigger and louder and louder and even bigger. The bird house is all of 5' from the table in our back yard to they're hard to miss. Both the mother and father were hard at work all day gathering food for the every hungry little brood... it's amazing how fast they grow. Now all is quite. Seems like every ones made it out into the big bright world. I have to say I'll miss them a bit-

small bears + small gestures

there are so many benefits I wish I could donate work to- so many causes and reasons to try to help. Here's one of a handful of bears I'm donating this year. Ernest the Panda is flying to Australia this week for a Auction in support of ovarian cancer research, education and awareness. The auction date is November 18th. I'll be sure to post more info as I have it- until then... say hello Ernest.

one two three... from Sew Nancy

it's been a very busy couple days around here- family in from out of town, a birthday party, and a whole lot of Good Summer Liven. I've been popping in and out of the studio to get emails written but that's about it.

Until I'm back to work I thought I'd share this beautiful project that Nancy from Sew Nancy has been working on. A little bit of quilt magic.

that's one happy house.

(from Jay's trip to Denmark)

well hello there.

I finished the "first draft bear" for the new pattern I started working on the other day. I like making patterns but I'm not all that fond of writing instructions. It's so hard to explain how I do things I've done thousands of times- it's almost automatic for me and breaking it all down in tough. This might take me a while. hahha.

this morning...

if you're a parent of a young child- or just a human being with an overly busy and therefore very planned life- I'm sure you can appreciate the perfection of a day which flows without effort or thoughtful planning. This morning was just that. Emily, my dullDimaond partner and I more or less ran into each other while out and the next few hours fell into place perfectly: groceries, coffee, snacks outside, plant shopping. Then Claude fell asleep on the car ride home and snuggled in for his nap without so much as a peep.
Now that's a nice morning right there.

Wishing you all a very happy and easily joyful first day (and everyday) of summer.

(to see some fine photos of this very outing- check out the dD blog)

today...

working on a new pattern. ( and happy post-fathers day to all the papas out there!)

another...

3 worktables- 3 studios

from 2011- to 2008 - to 2005

I had a number of work spaces before these- I wish I had photographs of them all. The one in New Haven was photographed in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, but the two before that are lost in history. My very first studio I built into my closet. I could shut the door at night so I didn't bother Jay while he slept in our studio apartment. There was just enough room for me, a chair, a little desk with my sewing machine, and the piles of fabric above my head. Youth makes everything workable.