Rose Water

In the New Year

Heading into the New Year with grand ideas and promises to myself, one promise is to get this kitchen remodeling finished, almost there as you can see in the first photo just some fine-tuning and we are done.

Sewing for my little shop is on hold while I await much needed fabric, in the meanwhile I started working on a few sketches and developing ideas for an illustration, my Christmas books are giving me much needed inspiration and I am happy for that.

Are you ready for Downton Abbey tonight?  I am, popcorn ready with a snuggly blanket. Am very proud of myself because when the third series began I was in England but did not watch one episode and stayed away from spoilers.  Bring on the period costumes!

PS, don't you love the colors in the above image?  Vintage blue/green, gold and cream, very warm and romantic.

Crochet

I’m so tired illness sometimes creeps in making work and life difficult at times, depression, muscle pain, sleepless nights are only a few of my issues to contend with the past five years. Sitting at a sewing table or sitting at a desk the pain is the same but what keeps me going is the satisfaction of my work and the pleasure of seeing a design come to fruition.

Here are a few photos that make me happy, they were taken about a year ago when my hands were able to crochet fast and furious. These photos give me inspiration for art I can create.

The last photo is something new I made over Christmas holiday, my rock sock something that took time, slow and methodical.

Winter Cold

Looking back at the past year, yearning for Paris once again, seems I cant get there fast enough.  Work, life, responsibilities, if only I could pick up and leave tomorrow.  

My week is filled with work, reading, and knitting, weekends in the studio designing and creating more dresses and tops for spring market, kitchen remodeling work and house duties.  I so wanted to go hiking on Saturday but it is just too darn cold out, it has not been this cold in a long time, down coats are in order this winter.

Have a lovely day, must dash off to teach.

XoXo

E

Adieu 2012

Looking forward to making new memores, experienceing new adventures, and visiting my beloved City.  Hello 2013!!!

Home is the heart of the holidays.

 

Sunny, blustery, snowy and cold, waking up early this Sunday morning so we could get some work done renovating the kitchen.  The sun so bright filling the house with its rays, but not warming us one bit. Hot coffee, sweaters and movement of the thermostat gave us a good start. 

 Sitting here now in the living room looking at the Christmas lights on the tree, opened presents waiting to be put in their proper place, I now realize the end of another year is upon us, my home is filled with medieval music...digitally, monks and nuns chant, singing praises, Anonymous Four singing out loud bringing goodness into our lives.  I am thoughtful, reflective and forward thinking, grateful for so much. 

Even though my little cottage is a mess. 

Festive and Frosty

Last Nights Full Moon

Don't want to let Christmas Go!

This new year we have so many projects planned for this little cottage, kitchen work, a built in living room entertainment unit, a new porch.  

First up is the kitchen, Monsieur is in there readying all the supplies to begin work, first up,  the inside of the walls, pipe replacement, electrical work, lastly the aesthetics, adding my beloved bead board to the walls and in the back entrance area.  Last night I emptied out the kitchen of all its pictures, wall plates, curtains and appliances, it looks like when we first moved in, a clean palate for me to work on once his renovation is complete. Will be some time before I can share with you photos, in time.

As for me, today I have plans to hunker down, snow is knocking on our doorsteps, so I am knitting ready with music and holiday cheer.  

Plans for the next three days are exciting, Im spending time in the sewing studio working on a new piece for my shoppe

XoXo

E

PS I am so spoiled with all this blogging time.

Winnowing

Last night while watching Happy New Year Charlie Brown I stared working on Brooklyn TweedsWinnowing, I have been wanting to start work on this project since September but never really had the time to sit down and study the instructions and charts. It took me a few tries but I finally got the hang of the pattern and made small progress before sleep hit sometime during a replay of Masterpiece Mystery.  The chart is pretty memorable and consistent which makes a great project to bring to the college and work on in between teaching classes.  

The Inversion project was frogged last night once I realized there were too many stitches on my needles and was half way done with side A.  Oh well, good practice, the fiber was gently wound and put back into my spiffy new knitting bag, a straw bag at that, I love straw bags and baskets, my sister calls me the Queen of Baskets, not such a bad preoccupation me thinks.

All of these projects going on at once feels wonderful, I'm able to stretch my creative endeavours and develop new designs, am so thankful the college gives us this time off during the holidays.

Stay warm it's cold out there, I may bundle up and head to the mall for a bit of post Christmas shopping.

XoXo

E 

Shoppe

I have been ridiculously busy over the past few months, working weekends in my studio making lots of things for my Shoppe come spring.  Here are a few previews of only some of the items I have created over the last few months. 

~A dress made of a vintage Indian throw.  This dress is special because its designed to fit various sizes, medium to XL. (More dresses are in the works.)

~Two tops made of medium weight cream linen, the first top is Edwardian lace inlay, the second is appliqué vintage 1930's lace.  Both tops are made to be loose fitting, size small.  

~The last two photos are from my jewelry line, found objects enclosed in glass surrounded by durable polymer clay foundation.

The dress line will range from size small to XL, all loose fitting garments designed for comfort with an antique, ethereal aesthetic. These thoughtful creations are designed and executed by me and only me from concept to completion.

Each and every item is one of a kind, no two pieces are alike.

You can find this and more spring 2013 at my weekend booth in upstate Ny.  

XoXo

E

Cold but Cozy

2pm before the snow.

The snow storm arrived around 4pm

The best frosted window ever.

Monsieur gave me the most delicious perfume for Christmas.

Great Grand Mums basin.

My Madonna from Paris sits on Grand Mums dresser.

Everlasting Imperial Bed

Beautiful custom bed alcove Monsieur built for me.

A better view of the beadboard wall replaceing the ruined Waverly wall paper.

Our oddly shaped vintage bathroom, complete with new walls, ceiling, grouting and a frosted window to allow natural light into the bathroom while keeping privacy.  

It's snowing!  We are comfy and cozy in our little cottage.  The bedroom and bathroom renovation is now complete and everything in its proper place.  So much stuff was boxed and packed away, resolving myself to Less is Moor and Im pleased with the results.  

When I took these photos the sky began to turn gray and by the time I finished my mini photo shoot a powerful snowstorm began to hit us here on the east coast, yikes!

We will be busy over the next week, the kitchen renovation needs to be completed, and I have tons of work to do in the studio, so many projects are in the works it is taking me an excel sheet to organize all my work.  Getting ready for opening day for the outside market in Woodstock Ny in spring is not easy task. Excited to share with you some of my dresses and tops.

XoXo

E

Merry Christmas

Image via Pinterest