The girl who does yoga

Good afternoon,...

Namaste! I just started bicram yoga class last night with my gals and it totally agrees with me! I feel like a million. Plus, I am one of these people who is always cold, so in these winter-y months ahead of us I will very much look forward to the 100+ degree temperature inside the yoga room at Synergy studios.
Joan, who is my new teacher is really a kind soul and a great instructor. And of course, I love spending time with Alison, Kristine and Michele (The ORIGINAL "Alewives Girls"). We are a crazy group of women (1 Marine Biologist, 1 Dr. of Audiology, 1 future Lawyer and 1 designer- that's me!)and I like it that way. We sweated in places we won't talk about at parties, but this morning I feel great. Have already had one man tell me I looked (and this is a direct quote) "sort of... radiant." How cool is that? Sign me up!

Oh, and this has absolutely nothing to do with bicram, but I would be completely remiss if I didn't mention our new show in the gallery! From now until November 30, we are very pleased to have photos by Leon Vanella in the gallery at the shop. Leon's photographs are from all over the world AND from right here in the Mills. They are truly unique: not your run-of-the-mill "lighthouses" and "lobsterboats" (no offense to anyone who takes/enjoys photos of said subjects), but really different stuff. You can see his work online at www.leonvanella.com, or even better, you can stop by his Opening Reception this Friday night from 6:00-8:00pm. Leon AND his photos will be here at the shop.

That's all for now.
Have a namaste!

Rhea

Happy Halloween!!!

The scene: Interior Alewives Fabrics, this morning, around 11:30 am:

Erin (To Rhea, who is dressed as Meredith Grey for Halloween):
You need to update your blog!!!

Rhea: No, what I need is to get Wireless Internet so I can update my blog as frequently as I'd like to.

Erin: How hard is it to get wireless?

Rhea (Defeated): Not very.

End scene.


In other words, ladies and gentlemen, I am one of those people who complains about not having wireless, but who has not actually taken any steps toward getting it. Why am I so inactive about the whole thing? Excellent question. Sit down, get comfy cozy and I'll tell you.

Now, my friends are ALWAYS telling me that my life is like a movie. Strange, ironic and wonderful things happen to me, just not always in that order. Take today, for example. I am all by myself at the store today, looking forward to a nice, productive stretch at the sewing machine, capped off by a couple of friends swinging by around 6:00 to help me hand out candy. Is this how my day goes down??? Nooooo. Far from. It's more like this:

9:45: Get to store. Notice pretty new fabrics. Notice pretty new fabrics have no price on them. Look for pen to price fabrics with and packing list which tells me what price to write down.

10:00: Remember halloween candy. Unwrap candy and put it into a big basket. Toss candy like salad to insure even distribution of hershey's, kit kat's, reese's peanut butter cups and snickers. Notice renegade Kit Kat has abandoned basket and is lying on the table, looking all scrumptious. Eat Kit Kat to celebrate successful tossing of candy.

10:05: First customer of the day comes in. Customer needs 4 yards fusible fleece. Notice we only have one lonely little yard. Ask customer if she can wait for said fleece, as I ordered fleece last week and it should be in any second. Customer agrees to purchase one lonely little yard of fleece and come back for more later.

10:10: As customer is still browsing, Fed-Ex man shows up with order containing fusible fleece. Hallelujah. Proceed to sell customer #1 remaining 3 yards of fleece. Also flirt a little with Fed-Ex man. Example: Me:would you like some halloween candy, even though you're NOT wearing a costume? Fed-Ex guy: Yes. And I AM wearing a costume. I'm dressed up like a Fed-Ex guy. *roll eyes*

10:30: Start un-packing rest of notions order

10:45: "9 months pregnant Rachel" shows up to visit.

11:00: Erin and her 1 year old, Elizabeth stop in to visit. Elizabeth is dressed as little Red Riding Hood in a costume her mama made for her. I tear up the store trying to find my camera so I can take a picture. Erin harrasses me about not updating my blog more often.

11:45: Erin and "9 Months pregnant Rachel" go home.

12:00: Resume un-packing notions order. Realize that I haven't checked the store's e-mail yet. Begin the looong process of booting up computer/dialing into the internet to check mail.

12:30: Decide I am hungry. Make Ramen Noodles.

12:45: Am eating Ramen noodles/cecking e-mails. Michaela stops by to drop off the birds and elephant she sewed for us from the new Last Minute Patchwork Gifts book by Joelle Haverson. Decide birds are super cute. Abandon e-mails, yet still eat Ramen as we decide where birds should hang.

1:00: Hillary brings in her son, Scotty, dressed in Optimus Prime Transformers costume. Scotty demonstrates how costume actually does "transform." Peak at her daughter Izzy, dressed as a chicken, asleep in backseat of Hillary's car. Again, search for, but am unable to locate, camera. Cry a little.

1:30: Hillary and crew leave. Michaela and I begin search outside for real live tree branch to hang cute little birds on.

1:45: Locate branches. Bring them inside and hang birds throughout the store.

2:00: Am visited by Amanda, who have not seen since high school. Spend next hour catching up on last 10 years of our lives.

2:45: Amanda and Michaela leave.

3:00: Resume checking e-mails/checking in notions order/eating halloween candy/waiting on people/writing this blog.

You see how my life is, Erin...? At which point am I supposed to do the whole Wireless Internet thing? But I'm soooo not complaining: I have the best job in the world. And, P.S. I found my camera!!! Talk to you again soon... and with pictures, I promise!!!

Eats and Treats

Yesterday afternoon, after a lovely visit with my friends Kristine and Allison and Kristine's beautiful kids Maxin and Renner, I returned to the shop for sewing lounge only to find the parking lot full of cars. Out of one of these cars stepped my friend Natalie, who screeched at me, "You're LATE!!!" This was true, I was supposed to be there at 4:00 and the combination of fresh baked cookies, tea, friends and babies was sooo hitting the spot that I didn't want to leave. So, as Natalie reminded me, I was late. After screeching at me (There really is no other word for it), she added, with a smile on her face, "I brought you an Italian sandwich..." Now, anybody who brings me food is on my good list. And that brings me to today's topic of discussion: people bringing me things at the shop.

I don't know what it is about me, but people bring me little offerings at the shop. Completely un-solicited, too, I might add. I've had people bring me a rainbow array of goodies, including chicken soup, pastrami sandwiches, brownies, cookies, christmas ornaments, books, a stained glass quilt square for my new house, gourmet chocolate (Green&Black's), not-so-gourmet chocolate (Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pumpkins), and my personal favorite was a Strawberry Daquiri made with freshly picked local strawberries, still in the blender cup (Thank You, Allison!!!) How do you like those apples? And now, Italian sandwiches. I told Natalie that I liked it when people brought me stuff at the shop. I said it made me feel loved. She screeched at me AGAIN "Of course you're LOVED!!!," like that was the craziest thing she'd ever heard.

Anyways, I guess the point is that sometimes I feel so lucky to do what I do and I appreciate it when people kind of "take care of me" back. So, this really has nothing to do with anything, but for all those people living so far away who read this blog to keep up with the goings on in Damariscotta Mills, or for anyone who's not lucky enough to live in Maine in October, here's a little, unsolicited treat for YOU... the foliage around here lately has been ROCK STAR quality and I thought I might perhaps share with you. And to everyone who's ever brought me a little something something at the shop or elsewhere...keep up the good work, will ya?
XOXO Rhea

Playing Tourist

Fall has finally made an appearance here in Midcoast Maine...

There's a quilt at the shop that's called "Finally Fall," and I know that "finally" feeling. The last few days have been hotter than I ever could have imagined possible for Maine in October, but today, it's raw and chilly outside and you actually merit that cup of tea (or cocoa or coffee or cider) in your hands as beverage-slash-handwarmer.

But, during this hot, hot weather, I had some great adventures. My "glamorous friend" Kalinah was visiting me from Boston and we ran around doing "Maine Tourist-y" things. We went out on the Schooner Olad in Camden (Hi to Captain Erin!!!). My Mom and Grandmother and I have been sailing out on this particular Schooner at least once a year for the last five years and the Captain always remembers us. I was anxious to see if he'd remember me "out of context," that is to say, there with someone other than my Mom and Grandmother, but he totally did and we had such a good time. If you're ever in the Midcoast area with friends a ride on the Schooner Olad is a must-do. Sure, there a bigger boats that sale out of Camden Harbor, but the Olad is hands-down the best (And believe me, I know of which I speak). What makes it so great? They have cushioned, open-air,
cockpit seating that is totally conducive to hanging out and being mellow and schmoozing with fellow passengers, and Captain Erin is the best. He has the best stories. Some of them I've heard before but I love them all the same. Sometimes he just talks about life and it has nothing to do with sailing or wildlife or the harbor, but it's always fun to hear him tell stories, no matter what the subject. He's just a cool guy. AND they take a picture of your group and give you a complimentary copy. Plus I just like sailing. I like when the boat gets really tipped to one side and you're convinced it's gonna tip over and then you tack and come about to the other side and you're convinced it's going to tip over the other side. But, then you get used to it and it's just fun. Those boats can't go fast enough for me. I guess I'm just a speed demon crazy gal trapped in the body of a quilter.

Kalinah and I also poked around Pemaquid point. This was a repeat "Tourist-y Thing" from her last visit to Maine, but this time we did a photo shoot for her clothing line on the rocks. I took the pictures, then she would run behind one of the big boulders and change her outfit and we'd do it all over again. We also got to go INSIDE the lighthouse, which, as a local, I have NEVER done before, and the view from up there is RAD. Very fun day. Oh, also, there were HUNDREDS of monarch butterflies whizzing around. Apparently, it's a good year for Monarchs,as evidenced in these photos. That, and all those fuzzy caterpillars that are SUPPOSED to be orange and black are JUST orange this year. What's up with that? If anyone knows the answer or has a theory, would you pretty please clue me in, because I'm convinced it can;t be good. My friend Rachel's Grandfather says it means it will be a snowy winter and it's going to snow ALL of November. One month after 90 degrees it's going to snow? I just can'tbuy it. But, hey... stranger things have happened and Nature is a crazy thang.

Last tourist-y thing we did: Eat lobsters (HUGE lobsters) straight off the boat from a local lobsterman friend of mine. "I know a guy..." I told Kalinah. It was great. We had a really good time. Now she's gone home to Boston and I'm settled back into my comfy little life.

The Red Sox swept their playoffs, so now they're on to the next round. My friend Shawn hopes they don't have to play the Yankees, he just wants them (the Yankees) out of the equation altogether, but I say, the playoffs wouldn't be the playoffs if we didn't have to step on the Yankees on the way to the top. Isn't that what we all secretly want? A little action? Drama? Entertainment? Heart-Pounding, bottom of the 9th, edge of your seat nail-biting baseball? Me, yes. But I'll settle for a win in any way, shape or form.

At any rate, I'll mozy...
Be back again soon with new stuff
XOXO Rhea

Soxtober

Happy October!!!
Or, should I say Soxtober??? I come back from a particularly satisfying night at Sewing Lounge and turn on NESN to find that my favorite Red Sox have taken Game 1 against the Angels. Sweet. And the best part? I know that my lovely little Grandmother will get the paper tomorrow morning and check to see if the Sox won or not and when I go visit her for tea, she'll say "I noticed your team won last night." She's the best. She reads and saves articles about Mac computers and Graphic Design (even though she doesn't particularly care anything about them, nor the Sox), because she knows that those are the things that I like. She takes good care of me that way.

My friend Kristine had her baby on Monday. Renner was born on October 1, 2007 and he's a gorgeous 10lb. baby boy. I went to visit her in the hospital and got to hold him and he fell asleep in my arms. I fell in love. He's great and has a fabulous Mom and Big Brother Maxin and Dad Jeremy. They are a totally cool family. But you know what? I'm a little terrified because 10lbs. is awfully big. I thought he might look small in person but that baby is sooo big for just one day old. Yowzah, Kristine. Way to go. You deserve a push present more than anyone I ever knew.

My friend Jessica is making a Turning Twenty out of her own hand dyed silks. She makes gorgeous silk jewelry that she sells at www.jlynnedesigns.com and I cannot sing her praises enough. She's so talented. I'm lucky enough to own one of her pieces and it's become my favorite accessory. I had to post a picture of her quilt squares as she was laying them out.

So, that's all for tonight. Just a quick woot woot for the Sox and all the awesome people in my life. Look for more very, very soon.

XOXO

Rhea Rhea

Some things never change

Good Morning to everyone,



I don't know why, but I'm in one of those totally annoying, "Today Show" era Katie Couric, good moods. Why? I have no clue. Honestly. Must have had sweet dreams last night and gotten the magic amount of sleep or something. Also, the weather has been AMAZING lately. Perfect fall, Maine weather. Kristine's having a baby ANY MINUTE now (I'm just waiting for my phone to ring with the news that "the Eagle has landed"...) We won't talk about the Red Sox today.

Anyways, I have these pictures to share with you... I don't know how many of you know the shop's history, but the building we're in was once upon a time a Carriage House for the big yellow house across the way, which is now where Dr. Friedland (Our family Dr./photographer/neighbor) and his family live. In the meantime, it became, around 1933, a general store, owned by Mr. Ernest McGray. Ernest McGray was actually my great, great, great uncle. He was my Grandmother's uncle, in other words, and my Grandmother used to work there when she was a teenager. She pumped gas and helped people buy penny candy and bananas and soap flakes and all that old-fashioned-y stuff. In the meantime, it was sold to the Hallowell's (another old, Maine family) and then sometime, about 30 years ago, it became a fabric store and has remained a fabric store to this very day. My Mom bought the store 3 years ago (even though I've been working there for over 10 years) and she turned it into the fine establishment that it is today. In other words, she put the FAB back into FABRIC.

And even though we have a kind of contemporary feel to our fabrics in our old-fahsioned building (the best of both worlds, n'est-ce pas?) every once in a while something happens that reminds me of the days of 'yore. About a month ago, I hear the un-mistakable sound of Nick and his horses coming up the street, and they stop at our store for a little rest and an apple or two. Well, the horses had the apples, Nick had a Klondike bar or two. It was so cool!!! I had to run out with my camera and take a picture. You don't even have to try that hard, looking at these pictures, to imagine it's 1933 again.

XOXO Rhea Rhea

No place like home!

Michaela got married just fine, it was truly a wonderful wedding and she and her man spent the honeymoon in lovely Nova Scotia. And, do you know where I myself just returned from??? Just a little old place called FENWAY PARK where I watched the Red Sox completely spank the Yankees 10 to 1. Nevermind that this spanking was sandwiched in between 2 absolutely heartbreaking losses... they won when I was there. I MUST be a good luck charm. Now all I can think of is going back to another game: they need me. I'm completely addicted now: it was the most fun thing I've done in a long time. AND I got to share this experience with my little sister, which made it even sweeter. Her assimilation is now complete: I have succesfully cloned a "mini-Rhea".

And since I mentioned in my last post that all of my friends are either pregnant and/or getting married, I thought I'd show you a little somethin' somethin' that I made for my friend Rachel who's having a little baby in November: It's the Weekender Bag by Amy Butler. This is my second attempt at the bag, folks. My first attempt came out okay, but I was feeling very much held back by my inferior machine (brand to remain nameless). Now that I have inherited and taken advantage of my Great-Grandmother's old green Kenmore I am UN-STOPPABLE. If you can get your hands on an old, heavy Kenmore, you'll never go back. That thing sews through ANYTHING and I can't say enough about how much I love it. Thank you, great-Grandma (whom I never met) for your sewing machine and thank you Grandma (who I still meet every morning for Tea) for MAKING me use it, even when I said I wanted something new. Grandma's are great things.

So, I'm very pleased with how Rachel's Weekender Bag (Which she requested as a Diaper Bag) turned out. I added pockets to the interior for bottles and thangs and made her a matching changing pad. Welcome to the world little Sarah-Mae!!! Your stylish mama can't wait to meet you. Neither can your Auntie Rhea-Rhea!!!

P.S. Thank you, Erin for taking the lovley photos!!!