Ray Eames

J and I watched the documentary Eames the architect and the painter on This American Life the other day. (Thanks PBS!) It was an all around great movie, but two things really stood out to me. One of them was the perhaps underrated (possibly just in my mind) rose of Ray Eames.

 

I loved that they really showed her background and role as an artist and how she was such an important cog in the Eames machine. Ray had a background in Abstract Expressionist painting and had studied under Hans Hoffman. This gave her an eye for color and the ability to make a static tableaux dynamic and alive with just that right tweak.

And of course she designed gorgeous fabric, which endears her to me.

Kudos to you Ray Eames!

Oh, the movie is available on Netflix, if you are interested...

Laurent fabric from Sandberg

Oh, how I am lusting for this fabric. I need it, I must have it. I will have to save a lot of $$ or it though..and actually don't have a set project in mind for it. (although when has that ever stopped me buying fabric??) I first fell for it in the October issue of Living Etc.

The light background is pretty, but I have my heart set on the black. Come to think of it, I have been looking for fabric to do some Roman Shades in my living room, and the white would work for that. Hmm, I wonder if J would go for cakes on his window. But the black just pops, doesn't it?

This is upholstery weight fabric from Swedish company Sandberg. It's name is Laurent and it is from the Engla & Elliot collection. I've only found it for sale here, for $81 a meter. Which is why I really need to figure out my project before I buy.

Nick of time

Speaking of projects being finished, I stopped dragging my feet and finished my Empty Bobbin tree skirt 2 days before Christmas. I actually had to move all the presents out from under the tree and then replace them on the tree skirt. I could have let it go until next year, but couldn't face the shame of not finishing it (which of course, only took another hour). Now I'll be set for next year!

I used Alexander Henry buttons, Kaffe aqua shot cotton and some red/white dot Polly Danger bias tape.

2 hour apron

Yesterday when I made my year-end list of things to do, there were actually three lists. Home, Work, & Projects. Work was the biggest and most daunting so I ignored it. Home involves a lot of paint, so couldn't be worked on. But projects! I'm speeding through that list! Granted, they are stupid little things that either needed one more hour to finish, or didn't take that long to begin with.

For example, poor J needed a new apron for when he does the dishes.  (Because not only do I make him do the dished, but he had to wear a Hello Kitty apron. Sad) So, "Apron for J" has been on my list forever. I started it yesterday and 2 hours later, finished! (I used the Lotta Jansdotter reversible apron from Simple Sewing, Heather Ross guitars, and Kaffe nut brown shot cotton).

Blank Slate

Christmas is over. Sigh. We had so much fun, did you? I hope so! I always look forward to this week between Christmas and before New Year's. It's fairly quiet at the store and we can turn our attention to subjects that had been pushed aside during the holiday frenzy.

I've got a blank notebook and a pencil from Buckingham Palace. With Royalty at my side, I think I can get 2012 wrangled out before the new year...

Merry Christmas!

You had to know Bing would make it on the blog eventually. Merry Christmas!

Open today!

Just so you know..we will be open from 10-6 today, but closed on Monday.

Happy Holidays!

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Gift Du Jour. What? You aren't done shopping?? Hustle down here and we'll get you set up with the perfect gift. Aside from what we've posted so far we also have a slew of other jewelry, books, handmade gifts, and gifts to make handmade gifts. See you soon!

Happy Holidays!

White Christmas

Did you see the Designsponge "Living In" White Christmas post?  I've always wished I lived in White Christmas, think of all those dance costumes I could wear!

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Gift Du Jour: Fabric Stack. YUM!

This Stocking Stuffer with That Gift:
I Love Patchwork book. Combined with the fabric, they will be busy all winter.

Christmas Cheer

Here are some pics of the house after J and I gussied it up for the holidays. I love all the extra lights..I'm going to see how long I can leave them up before it drives him crazy.

 Oh! And look at my Merry Christmas banned I made from the Empty Bobbin banner pattern. I have to admit that I loved this project..it was simple, relaxing and I felt surprisingly accomplished when done. I will be making one for every holiday!

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Gift Du Jour: Oilcloth lunchbag. Lunch is happier in oilcloth

This Stocking Stuffer with That Gift:
Razzle Dazzle chocolate bar. Chocolate for lunch is the best!

fabric!

  This is a nice present isn't it? A box full of 10 bolts of fabric. 4 prints from Annette Tatum's Boho line, 2 Heather Bailey fleece prints, and 4 new shot cottons. Lovely.

By the way, the fleece is awesome! You've still got 4 days before Christmas...enough time to whip up some pj's!

White Table Style

I was asked by our friend Emily to make a gift guide for her new blog White Table Style...check it out!

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Gift Du Jour: Sewing Kit! Not just any kit, one that is extra cute and full of wonder.

This Stocking Stuffer with That Gift:

Bobbin Saver. I can't lie, I think this is one of the most brilliant sewing accessories ever. 

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Gift Du Jour: Selvedge magazine set. I can't think of anything better than an afternoon digging through these gems. Your loved one will be eternally grateful.

This Gift with That Stocking Stuffer:

What can I say? I love a magnetic pincushion.

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 Gift Du Jour: Matching Apron and Oven Mitt; for those who have a secret wish to be just a little more like Donna Reed. Pearls not included.

This Gift with That Stocking Stuffer:
I love cheese! So do other people!

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Gift Du Jour: On a Stick! cookbook. Because you know that eating things on a stick is more fun. Especially when it's spaghetti and meatballs. 

Now Voyager fascinators!

Ok, are you ready for this? Because I'm about to show you the best things ever...

 Now Voyager hair fascinators! Shaped like cakes! Put your coat on..grab your keys and get down and try one on! This is the other big surprise we found in London. E and I were at the Elle Fashion weekend (Did I tell you about that?) the night before we were leaving and we randomly found a booth selling the most gorgeous felt cake headgear. I of course left with the chocolate cherry cupcake fascinator (above) as well as a tiny straw hat.

But we couldn't leave their brilliance behind and ordered some for you as soon as we got home. I think they are worth the wait. I can tell you that I am never happier then when I have a cupcake on my head.

And look at the mince pies and snowflakes, which are perfect for that upcoming holiday party! 

 

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Gift Du Jour: Fancy calendars. These are filled with vintage images that turn a calendar into art.

 In 1907 the Japanese artist Yoshio Markino visited Paris for the first time. He was overwhelmed by its beauty, and made watercolors of its many moods. Here are thirteen favorites.

 Alice in Wonderland seems to inspire many fine illustrators to great heights of their artistry. What children's illustrator wouldn't want to try their hand at the Cheshire Cat's smile or flamingos as croquet mallets?

 In the late 1920s the French fashion magazine, Gazette du Bon Ton, commissioned artists to make fashion plates, and then printed them by an expensive stencil process.

Some of the most beautiful ads and packages ever produced are for perfumes. We gather here twelve of our breathtaking favorites: Azura, Mauis, Viridilflor, Ambree and more.

This Stocking Stuffer with that Gift:

Polly Danger Bias Tape. So inspiring!