By Brienne

Picture Pouch

So, this is one of those projects... It's one of those projects that gets in touch with the you who started sewing to make something special or something. With the you who felt sentimental enough about her new boyfriend to hazard a selfie with him in the frame. With him, with you, with sunburn and a kiss in the frame. 

It's a glorified open wide pouch - the parts are a bit bigger than the pattern calls for - but what an excellent shape. 

In the wee hours before I drove through a snowstorm to board a plane to somewhere that promised to be warm - I had to make something. A memory pouch, a homage to the last time we vacationed together. Before there were houses or cars, kids, or a credit card for goodness sake.

I love the pouch, though I'm not sure if it's super cool or something else:) I used some gray linen for the top, leftover from her button placket dress plus some leather scraps leftover from this tote.

It's making me happy and making my beaux laugh while we're away from home. Here's to the hoping you're getting some sunshine where you are and that we all enjoy many more years of foolishness.

Joining Frontier Dreams Readers today over in Nicole's Space. 

Perspective

More and more, my son has been reaching for my camera. It's always been my intention to share photo taking with them but I've never been very good at including them. It's heavy, it's fragile, I'm lazy. 

I'm working on letting him in, though. So, yesterday - when I heard the shutter clicking, I resisted the urge to caution him or to tell him that today was not a good day for it.

He took these in the sewing room yesterday and although, like many moms, I have a deep fear of camera lenses - I am saving them. 

I was fortunate to participate in a photography class with Thea Coughlin last summer. The camera technique was over my head (due in NO part to her instruction - I was just out of it that day:). But the classwork  also included material about the spirit of photography and so much of what she and the other students shared really stuck with me. 

I hesitate to try to narrate the details because her presentation was so well articulated. Do help yourself to one of her classes one day, you'll not be sorry!

Suffice it to say that Thea encouraged us all to be photographed. She shared a slideshow with us of her mom, who - like me and practically everyone else in the class, did not appreciate having her picture taken. Her mom is now gone. And she reminded us that those photos are for our families - who are not likely to look back on them with disdain over imperfect skin or the way that their mama looked in jeans. 

If you're curious about Thea or her photography projects, or if you're a mom, or a blogging mom, or an aunt or a grandma or a sister, check out her across the room project. Just head on over there and read a bit of what she has to say. It will do your sweet soul some good. Be sure to have your kleenex close at hand. 

Love this one he took of his sister, hard at work. 

Do you let yourself be photographed? How do you get past the discomfort? 

P.S. I was working on a Brigitte Needles and Notions Pouch . I need about four or so of these, upsized in order to fit my longer double points. 

 

Joining the Small Things readers today - head on over for loads of knitterly inspiration. 

Two Spring Totes

 I'm in love with this fabric. That Miss Matabi is one clever curator. 

 

These two are on reserve for the Squam Art Fair in June - but hopefully I can bang out a couple more to put in the shop soon. 

Simply but sturdily constructed with few details and lots of space to stash. Coming soon to an art retreat near you (gulp!) 

Joining Frontier Dreams readers today.

Her Spring Uniform

I wish you could hear what she sounded like. I know that we all feel like this. And I'm glad for it.

Is there any greater pleasure than the sound of your little one's voice at its most hopeful?  

I tore myself away from the machine for a moment today in order to capture these pants and my girl. And she wanted to walk for awhile. And I obliged. 

 We leapt over rushing rivers and considered the clouds. We spent almost an hour chatting with a neighbor and her dogs. I know that it's not unusual. I do. But it is the very best. And it bears repeating. 

There was coffee spilled. There was dirty work that no one wanted to do. I doubled my alotted caloric intake. And there was my bad attitude. My feeling like, I don't belong here (even though I've almost always been here).

But there was playing at the park too. Leaning on a dear friend. Chatting with a nine-year-old that ran up to tell me he remembered trick-or-treating at my house.  And a second neighbor stopping by to talk about vintage campers. 

The pants are Parsley's with pintucks and cargo pockets. The fabric is Garden Party Tango available online here. It's one of those prints that I would never have noticed, had I not been in the shop. I would never have chosen it from an online source. But I really love it. It has a great vintage vibe. And I have no worries about its being splattered with mud. 

The top is yet another Flashback (I can't help it) with a curved hem. The fabric is to die for and I got it from here. Of course it's gone now:(

I talked about the sweater that she's wearing here. And the hat here. 

How's the stitching going for you? Is it warm where you are? 

Sailor Suit

Hey there, Happy KCW! 

So, I have been sewing up a storm - but I can't share it just yet. It feels good to have a secret, it's true but I've missed the sharing that goes on here. Since I haven't been able to write about the sewings on, I've been loving the madness of instagram.

I'm a little bit burned out. And a little bit fevery about the spring that is starting to happen. So the name of the game  for me this time around during the KCW is to sew things that are speedy and simple. And I do believe that the intent of the KCW, after all, is just to give it a go a bit every day to make your littles some handmade goodies. Not to necessarily pump out the perfect outfit every day of the week... But it is fun to try! In the spirit of slowing down today, I whipped out a little sailor suit. 

First, a Flashback Tee hacked and scrapped. I made it raglan-style as usual, using an upcycled double knit for the arms (and salvaging the original sleeve hems - yay!). The stripes are from SR Harris in Brooklyn Center. 

Next, a quick pair of Parsley Pants with some cuffs added to make up for his having apparently outgrown the size that I had cut out...

I think that I'm going to give this pants pattern some love this week. I'm in love with the skinny leg pants but actually, the wide leg is really great for the kiddos too. These are in a sweet chambray and with the wide leg, they are nice and cool and roomy enough to fit swim trunks under. They pull on easy and can go over rain boots for a comfy fit. 

Oh, look at that blue sky! What a gift!!!!

Next up, a pair of Parsley's for her, I think. What are you stitching on this spring?