string*THEORY

When in Doubt - Play with Color

Yesterday was my first full day of health (with the exception of the sharp pain that kept me up from 1am-2am last night). It was also the first of the three days that I get to myself this month to do whatever I want (or need) to do. It was also the beginning of the only week I will have in my house this month. I wanted it to be filled with productive work, the kind that makes the mind strong and soul calm. Cleaning...cooking...organizing...crafting.

Almost none of that actually happened (with the exception of the last one). Instead I sat around feeling guilty for not being motivated to do any of it. And sad that the one week at home this month was also the one week the hubs would be away. Egh, hate that feeling.

Things really started looking up when I finally decided to throw up my hands and indulge in the feeling. I didn't want to "regret" my non-productive Saturday, so I did what any child of the 80's would and turned on Dirty Dancing for a day filled with mindless craft + periodic naps.

The day ended with lots of fabric tags (in the boutique now) and an Entourage + Flight of the Conchords sleep-over with my sis. My sister has many many talents - but her best skill? Cheering up her big-baby of a big-sister.

 

Holy Moly

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the enthusiastic response to my new little endeavor. Thank. You. So. So. Much. Really, from the bottom of my crafty little insecure heart. "Insecure" is what has kept me from jumping into the Etsy pool...and you guys (plus the hubs + my ridiculously loving family) pretty much beat it out of me. Thank you for that.

This thing is big, but trust me, nuthin's changin' around these parts. This journal will not turn into some obnoxious + ruthless-enterprising-buy-buy-buy website where I'm constantly pimping my "stuff". No, no, I just don't have the energy for all that jazz. Plus, I still believe that the key to reducing waste in this world is for all of us to contribute by buying only the things that we really truly love. So, I see the itty bitty boutique as a little country shop attached to the back of my studio, where all the things I lovingly and painstakingly churn out end up for the world to adopt. When I'm able, I will fill it. When I'm not, then I will just babble on and on as I have in the past. But for the most part, I will sit here like I have, cutting + sewing away, and every once in awhile, when I hear the little chime of the cow-bell attached to the shop door, I'll put down my scissors + glue, brush off my apron and greet the person who has waltzed in the shop to support me.

The little ledger book up top is the sweetest most thoughtful gift received today from Beth. A perfectly imperfect notebook that coincides nicely with the over-all production of my shop + will now serve as the shops foreman while it works hard to keep my orders straight. I can't get over the sweetness of it all, the embroidery, the way she matched the fabric to the thread...and the perfect little stitches holding everything together. It reminds me of the notebooks used in some of the down-home stores or stalls you see in the country or at the farmers market. Thank you, Beth.

Corners of My Mother-In-Law's Home

This was a sign i found, here in the home of my in-laws. The house is primarily decorated by my mother-in-law with little tid-bits of inspiration & influence from her husband and four children. Walking in the home is like walking into a living museum of my husbands childhood. This sign is so sweet and gentle and is just one of many examples of pieces that represent her kindness.

Spending time here also re-connects me to some of the personality traits my husband has that I know must come from her. Things I take for granted or forget are unique. Like his ability to be so relentlessly forgiving and kind.

And, experiencing their relationship with each other, makes me hopeful, that one day, I should be so lucky to have a relationship like that with my son, if I were ever to have one.

Mother's day for me is a celebration of all the mothers in my life (aunt's, and grandmothers alike). But, I can't help but think about the women who long to be mothers, but can't or are having trouble becoming one. Or those that have lost their mothers. I bet Mother's Day is challenging for them.

So to that, I wish you a very peaceful weekend. Weather you spend it with your children, or think about those you may have some day, I hope your day is filled with calm in remembering the women in your life who have given you the gift of love and care.

With the exception of the first one, the photographs are treasures that I picked up yesterday at an estate sale. Feminine in color and texture, and fitting for this post, I thought.

Again with the Embroidery

I know, I know, a little obsessive compulsive. I'm sure that's more then just a little annoying. You know, these little spurts of random craft experimentation. I mean, I bet you come here for knitting inspiration, and instead, your getting...embroidery. A lot of it....like 2 weeks solid. Thank you for your patience. This too shall pass, I'm sure. (No guarantees, though).

I learned quickly while studying art history in college that a common habit of a lot of the great artists were manic spurts of energy and creativity. Involving days and nights of voluntary solitary confinement as they worked and worked to churn out higher-then-normal volumes of art.

I am, by no stretch of the imagination, comparing myself to any of these greats, but merely pointing out the fact that I've noticed similar creative bursts of energy in my everyday routine. OCD, for sure. The silver lining is that I'm learning a lot from this embroidery binge, in a short amount of time. Like, how it's better to stick to simple fabrics with very little patterning. You know, to avoid that "skin eating disease" look. Example:

The photos here are a sub-set of my OCD - an OCD of an OCD, if you will. Stitchettes, embroidery designs by Hilary of Wee Wonderfuls. And, wonderful they are. These little babes are so young and sweet, and make it easy for one to get lost into their colorful, adventurous little worlds.

Happy Happy Day!!

I have some happy happy HAPPY news to share with you...but not until Thursday. I know, I'm an extreme tease. Sorry. You'll understand why on Thursday. I found out about it yesterday, but I have to wait...I know, makes no sense. But you'll see.

The news that I received yesterday sent a jolt of energy right through my crafty little fingers. I sat right down at the sewing machine....and made...and cut...and sewed...all day long. I was totally exhausted when I was done and happily curled up in the fetal position with my dear sis for some good ol' trashy television in the form Entourage & Desperate Housewives. I'm constantly amazed at their ability to balance "brilliance" with "trashy". I loved every minute.

The up and downness of my moods these days are making me feel a bit manic. And knowing how I am with change, I bet it has to do with the weather & the adjustment to Spring. To that note, I've been trying to "welcome" Spring, more then "adjust" to it. It's a mindset thing. And I think that getting out the sewing machine and adding some inspiring books to my collection has done a lot to help the process along. In a positive way. (Thank you, Susan, for the suggestion!)

One piece of the fruit of yesterdays labor is shown here in this little bitty zippered pouch. It's a simple bag, no pattern, but just your standard zippered fare. I'm trying to incorporate my new embroidery skill in other areas of craft, like sewing, and I like the look of this pattern-less embroidery design. Simple & clean.

P.S.

And...because I feel like I owe ya'll some knitting inspiration (It's been absent from this here blog, so my apologies for that) - I wanted to tell you about Alyssa Ettinger. She makes, easily, the most amazing ceramic pieces inspired by knit wear designs. Absolutely stunning.

Criss Cross Coasters

Last night I finally pulled out the ol' machine. It's been a feeling I've been battling since I returned from vacation. The desire to do some other then knit verses the laziness to set up (once again) my temporary studio in the kitchen.

I wanted so badly to experience the calm and creativity that comes with the process and rhythm of piecing and re-piecing beautiful fabric together. It was the gumption to do more then just think about it that was stopping me. I needed something simple and quick, yet again, and I found that in the tutorial by Jenny B from All Sorts. So fast. So easy. So so cool.

Well. "Cool" relatively speaking, you know as "cool" as coasters can be. I don't know what it is about crafting that provokes us to making things that are relatively useless in our lives. I mean sure, we make sweaters, and bags and things like that. But coasters? Come on. Do any of us really have furniture so fine and delicate that it warrants a three hour crafting session to make something to protect it from the evils of our sweating ice-teas and Gatorade?

But, there's something really comforting about dressing our nests in this way, isn't there? And I enjoyed taking the time to do just that. Playing with color, piecing and re-piecing. Dressing my nest.

Rainbow Trout & Eskimo Cuties

So, I guess, in Casa de sting*THEORY, knitting is a winter sport. Well, maybe. It is for now, anyway. Or maybe it's that embroidery is the food of the stressed. It's simple you know, and non committing. No math to be done, no gauging or planning. Just a needle and thread. And I think I need that right now. Simplicity.

Plus, who wouldn't love this little red-headed, green-eyed Eskimo Cutie? And those rainbow colored fish she's catching? Why, a delicacy from the frozen sea, of course. And not at all some freakish strain of plutonium laden fish swimming alongside Homer Simpson's nuclear plant, I promise.

The purpose of this exercise in exploring a new craft was purely that. Starting something new (and of course snapping out of the funk I told you about). So, when I ironed this on originally, I did so with that intent, never really considering that I probably should make this into something eventually. So here I am, with this proud Eskimo fisher-girl floating in the middle of a piece of crisp wrinkled white linen, wanting and waiting to become something.

What would you make this into? Where does she belong in this humble little house I live in? I'm not really sure. But for now, she'll keep waiting. And she'll stake her claim in what will surely become a giant pile, A pile of her future embroidered sisters and brothers and birdies alike.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

How did she? Did they ever reveal her sources at the end of the movie? I'm asking because I lost mine. Not my ability to date or be romantical, but more like my ability to create and be inspired and just feeling like myself. It's been gone ever since I've returned...and it could be hiding in a number if different places. Places like my notions bag tucked neatly inside of my lost luggage. Or possibly one of the many piles of mail I need to open or dishes I need to wash.

I'm not really sure, but I feel like I've done everything under the moon to reclaim my groove & nothing is clicking. I'm just overwhelmed, exhausted. Distracted.

Today will be a day of playing catch-up....putting together a sweet sweet package for Ingrid the winner. Another of vintage treasures for Kristy from our Vintage Button Swap. A refashioning of noses for Ms. Cori, because according to the hubs, she looks like Hitler (do you agree? I think he might be right...). And that's just not something we want to snuggle up with at night, Hitler. And lastly, but perhaps most importantly, in terms of groove reclaiming, a trip to the sewing store to replenish my notions. Because really, how am i supposed to do anything without my beloved tools? And I think the designing of a new sweet little bag to carry around my tools is in order as well.

I can already feel myself filling up with energy.