pausing...

...to catch my breath,

and get ready for the work ahead.

i may be away from here for a bit,

so i thought i'd leave you with some 

wild indigo.

(this may be my very favorite color).

what's yours ?

this morning

in our neighborhood.

and at the vermont veterans memorial cemetery.

War is what happens when

language fails.

-Margaret Atwood

(may we work on expanding our vocabulary...)

work in progress

since my sweet sewing machine is in the shop for her annual tune up,

i've put together a portable handwork project.

using the english paper piecing method shown in this book,

i'm making a ball for another expected baby!

(yes, bobbi, you spotted some sock monkey fabric).
the author uses cottons and linen together in a most lovely way.
i got a little bit impatient with the fussiness of the prep work,
but the ease and precision in the actual sewing has been worth the effort.

have any of you used i love patchwork ?
what project did you try?

peace

vert mont

Vermont

green mountains

come, dear reader, come sit by my side.

take a few deep, cleansing breaths.

stretch your arms up over your head.

take a few more breaths.

put your hand over your heart and feel the steady beat.

just be.

it is enough.

xo

giveaway winner and new handwork project

Henry and I sat on the screened porch this morning, and he helped me randomly select the sew, mama, sew giveaway winner. The winner is...JUST JINGLE, a really fun and inspiring blog, and I am delighted to have found it via this giveaway. Crafting in Worcester, MA, the author shares tutorials, links and fun peeks into her process.  Go on over and see for yourself.

And, oh, lucky me...I'm a winner, too! I've followed Pomona's blog from the very beginning. I feel like she's a kindred spirit, despite the ocean between us. I'm looking forward to finding her parcel in my mailbox! Thank-you Pomona!

It's been fun to explore so many new blogs these past few days. Thanks again to the folks at sew, mama. sew for organizing this huge adventure! And thanks to all who popped by here and left kind comments.

I've organized a small handwork project to keep me busy while my friend is away. Small and portable, it will be perfect for the upcoming long weekend. Can you guess what it might be?

one of my best friends

(If you are looking for the sew, mama, sew! giveaway, click HERE).

This afternoon, I will drop my beloved sewing machine off for her annual tune up. It's so hard to let her go for a week. I bought her (after much budget crunching) in December 1994, and over the years, we have become very good friends.

I have sat in front of her and stitched so, so many things...

• clothes for all four kids...overalls, dresses, shirts, quilted jackets
• Halloween costumes
• baby clothes for shower gifts
• costumes for dramas (both in-house and in the wider world)
• nightshirts for Batman
• prom dresses
• home goods...pillowcases, tablecloths, napkins, curtains
• tote bags, purses
• mended and patched...rips, tears, holes
• quilts...to welcome babies, to send loved ones off to college, to hang on walls, group quilts
• finished a quilt that was left unfinished by cancer
• art quilts
• memorial pieces and celebration pieces
• challenge quilts
• many, many pieces have left the house as gifts
• and some projects have landed in my fledgling etsy shop

My sewing machine and I have worked together in so many intangible ways as well.

• I have gone to her for comfort and retreat when the world seemed to be loosing it's mind.
• Many a plan has been hatched while quilting yards and yards of lines with her.
• I have found forgiveness for others and for myself under her watchful eye.
• I have worked through grief with her steady stitching as my comfort.
• I have worked in secret with her, behind closed doors, on many surprise gifts.
• Sometimes the only place I can find my voice is when she listens, without judgement.
• She and I have become dream weavers, and we share secret ambitions.

And so, as I send her off for her much deserved R&R, I say thank you, dear friend, for aging gracefully with me.

sew, mama, sew giveaway

Sew, Mama, Sew! is a fun blog, dedicated to fabric and sewing. I pop over there occasionally for tutorials, inspiration and the fun sense of community. They're hosting a huge online giveaway, beginning today. Carve out some time in the next few days to brew yourself a pot of tea, and check out all the fun. You'll discover blogs you've never read and you might win some handmade goodness.

At the last minute, I decided to play along, and here's a peek at my giveaway...

a sew and sow life tea towel,

appliqued with a bit of my own shibori hand dyed blue,

a bit of birch and fern fabric.

 a collection of woodland inspired fabrics,

(mostly fat quarters).
if you click on the image, you'll see better details of the fabric.

and a set of six of my notecards from my shop.

Here's how it works...

-Leave a comment here on this post, or send me an e-mail (address is in the sidebar).

-Be sure to let me know how to get in touch with you in case you win!!!

-I will choose the winner at random, there are no gimmicks.

-I will ship internationally.

-This giveaway will be open until midnight (EST) on Wednesday, May 25th. I will post the winner's name by 9 AM (EST) on Thursday.

So...join in the fun, leave a comment and cross your fingers for good luck! Thanks so much for stopping by to play along! And many thanks to Sew, Mama, Sew! for the organizing logistics...well done!

THERE WERE SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE LINK FROM SEW, MAMA, SEW'S BLOG, BUT WE THINK IT'S OK NOW. IF YOU EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS LEAVING A COMMENT, PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL. THANKS.