Wednesday, September 28, 2011

small, medium and large

::Small::
























Prettiest iron ever. Got this at the Antiques Mall at Fort Andross in Brunswick this summer and I've never seen another one like it. I love it way more than a person should be allowed to love an iron.

I actually use this iron every day. As a doorstop.



























A bouquet of dried flowers that I picked up at the Common Ground Fair this past weekend. I wanted one of everything at the Common Ground Fair but for once in my life exercised a little restraint. This was the one thing I bought. Well, I feel I should specify this was the one thing not food related that I bought :-)

When I visited the Blueberry Hill Inn last summer, the ceiling of the dining room was a huge collection of dried bouquets, and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since. Perhaps this small thing is the beginning of something big!


























A small collection of Denyse's new fabrics from JoAnn's. I have no idea what I'm going to use them for, but I do love to make piles of fabric.

Plus a strawberry ornament on top, because, you know... it's a strawberry ornament!



::Medium::



























I got these Paper Lantern flowers from a house on a side street in Camden on one of my days off. The gal had one of those signs that said how much the flowers were and a coffee can to hold the money. Honor system. I circled the house three times before I got up the nerve to stop, because for some crazy reason I am shy about these things, but I really wanted those flowers. After I put my money in the coffee can the lady came out of her house and told me all about how to keep them for years and years, and not to plant them in my garden because they will take over everything. I listened intently but the whole time I wanted to tell her that I had paid: my 5 bucks were in the coffee can. Just in case she was wondering. Guess it's the Catholic guilt.


























We finally have a woodstove! I have had woodstove envy for many, many years now. I grew up in a wood-heated home and I tell you there is nothing like it. So we've been scheming and dreaming about a new woodstove and chimney since we moved in. I knew I wanted a small, off white enamel Jotul, because our living room is very small and doesn't get a lot of light. A big, dark, heavy woodstove just wouldn't look right.

Well, I have indeed been blessed by the woodstove gods, because our neighbors (the same ones whose home was destroyed in a fire this spring*) gave us their woodstove, and who would've thunk it, it's a small, off-white (almond!) enamel Jotul. They even gave us some touch-up paint!

*For the record, the fire in my neighbor's home had nothing to do with the woodstove (it was electrical, I believe...), but understandably, they no longer wish to heat with wood.

If you know your woodstoves you know that this is quite the score. I am beyond thrilled and so grateful to our neighbors.

What I won't show you is the HUGE hole we've had to dig outside to house the footing for the new chimney. Can't wait for that thing to be filled in.



::Large::

























The LARGE mess in my sewing room. I wish I could say this was due to getting a lot of sewing done, but sadly this is due to being a horrible picker-upper. Ironically the most sewing I have gotten done this summer has been of the hand-stitched variety.

See all the piles of fabric in the picture? I told you I liked to make piles!


























And perhaps the biggest thing of all: the UPS truck appears to be over at the shop at this very moment. You know what that means! Today's my day off, but I might have to wander over and see what arrived...



That's all for this version of small, medium and large.

Hope you had fun!

XO,

Rhea

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Link-a-dink-a-doo



















• My kitchen: been canning a lot lately using the water bath method. It's our first time and we are loving it!


• Ollie and I went out on the Schooner Olad with Captain Aaron the other night for the sunset cruise. We had a great time. Ever the professional, Captain Aaron spent most of the cruise racing the Schooner Appledore. We literally sailed a circle around them... *loved it*


• Saw a great post over at crazy mom quilts and was inspired beyond words. Can't wait for the instructions to be available! (Was also inspired to repaint my studio).


• Ollie and I are going on vacation here at the end of the month (Phiona we're coming to see you, girl!)... anyone from that area (Cindy) have any great recommendations for what we should do? I'm all ears!

• Here's a great link from the Ink and Spindle girls explaining the pricing formula used by many shops and why it's important for shop owners to use it. A must for anyone who's ever wondered why certain prices at certain places are so high. (Guess I am personally affected by this, therefore found it fascinating... thanks, ladies!). I'm not out to make anybody feel guilty for buying less-expensively priced fabrics, but it is important to understand the price differential.

• And speaking of such things... here's a link to the newest Echino collection, which should be arriving in a few weeks. We've ordered the entire line, plus 4 bolts as laminated cottons. Can you guess which 4 we ordered as laminates? But seriously, folks... very excited about the newest Echinos. I'm a sucker for anything with birds on it. And anything Echino for that matter.

• Have you seen the new fabrics section of our shop lately? I was surprised when I sat down to take a look. I've been out of the shop for 24 hours exactly and there was a LOT of good stuff that arrived yesterday, including the Anna Maria Horner Needleworks fabrics. But I think my favorite is this one from Moda. What is Nankeen Buff, anyways?

• Brooke is opening up her Etsy shop again soon... Can't wait to see what she makes with some of our fabrics and some of her stash!

• Ollie and I watched Sucker Punch the other night. I was surprised it was only rated PG-13 but upon a second viewing I see the potholes that lead to an "R" rating were carefully avoided. Confession: I liked it. Guess I don't mind violence if it's completely over the top and stylized (see also: "Desperado," "300," "Sin City" and "Shoot 'Em Up"). Not saying I would want to watch this with my little sister, but I liked it a lot.

Alright, off to buy some carrots from Brady to make Amanda's Carrot Tomato Soup and see what other kinds of trouble I can get into on my day off.

See you all again soon!

XO,

Rhea

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sewing Retreat photos coming soon...


















But in the meantime there are some awesome photos that Sue took of the day at this link here.

As you can see, we had a great day and a great time!

I need a couple of days away from the computer (we shall see how that goes...) but I will be back before too long with my own photos of the day.

In the meantime, enjoy.

(Thanks, Sue!)

XO,

Rhea

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

My apologies...

I have been a boring blogger lately, but I have a good excuse...

We have been learning to machine-quilt on our new long arm quilt machine!

























If you like drawing (and I do, I do!), you would like quilting on a long arm.


Some things have gone really well...

















































And some things have gone not so really well...

























But it has been a great learning experience and we are all having lots of fun.








































Right now, we are accepting long arm customers locally, but pretty soon, we will be accepting quilt tops from all over the country (the world!).

Stay tuned to see how this new adventure turns out!

XO,

Rhea