my customers are very wise

I recently got two requests for customized tea towels, and I was amazed that both were requests that I'd been ruminating about (procrastinating) for a while. So it was nice to get a kick in butt to get moving. The first request (above) was for a tea towel with sprigs in green. Why I haven't done this before, who the heck knows, sometimes I just get a little tunnel vision and only think about certain designs in a certain way. But for this I had no excuse because I've done the sprigs in green on aprons. Oh, to understand how my brain works. I'll have more like this in the shop soon.

The other request was for a tea towel with maple seed pods. I printed it yesterday and just need to hem and photograph it and I'll have that in the shop soon too. There are a few other new designs/products in the  works too. More on them is forthcoming. 

Some scenes of printing. I love how the pattern is transfered onto the roller after the block has been inked. 

flea market finds

Last weekend I met Celine and her crew at the Chelsea garage flea market. I didn't get there until pretty late in the day so I didn't have a ton of time, but I did find a few bits and bobs. I didn't really capture it very well in this picture but the little crocheted square is incredibly intricate and delicate. I have no idea what I'll use it for, it really seems like it should be made into some decadent doll accessory. But it really making me want to learn how to crochet like that. 

I'm really excited about these scissors too. I've never seen another like this. Of course there are all sorts of contemporary plastic Fiskars with scallop blades, but I like these so much better! Plus, they weren't dull! It's such a pain to get pinking shears sharpened, I can't imagine it will be easy finding someone to do these. Oh well, I'm not exactly sure what I'll be using them for anyway....

scenes from this week (and last...)

this week kind of got away from me. I did something really odd to my back and couldn't get out of bed for a day and a half, so some of these pics are more aged than the others.

New designs. Currently being tested in our living room.

New Hable tie backs. I've only been promising to make tie backs for about two years now...Got the fabric from their sample sale last year with the intention to recover our couch, but B didn't like it so much, so I've been trying to find ways to use up all the fabric. Look for more projects featuring 'beads' soon.  (Was sad to learn the Hable is closing their store this month)

Blooms. I just realized that I post pictures of my plants the way some people post pictures of their pets and children. Hmm, let's try not to analyze this too much...

the storque loves tea towels

I've been meaning to post about this for a few days, but our internet has been really wonky. It seems to be back now (knock on wood), but yeah, the storque hearts jewelweeds! Thanks goes to Elizabeth of FlyingRhymes for organizing, writing and pushing us to produce some wonderful pictures.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Queen Ann's Lace (one of my favorite wildflowers...) by Inleaf

Blue Chrysanthemums by Flowerpress

Manuka Floral Print by shakyisles

Please take a minute and check out the rest of designs featured in the article here.

moody blues

Just a few random pics, been busy a some projects for the apartment and new designs, but it's been too dark and cloudy to photograph, not to mention photo taking would require some serious tidying.

shop update

I keep forgetting to mention that I've been updating the Jewelweeds shop. I've been trying to add a few things a day, so if there was something you might have spied at one of holiday fairs, it should be up soon. Or shoot me an email and tell be to get on it...also keep an eye out for some new stuff...

all over print experiments

My first foray into all over printing. Started in Lena's textile stamping class. It still needs some work and I have a few ideas about how to improve the results. Thanks Lena!

winter

To me a dusting of snow helps make winter more bearable. B thinks I'm crazy, but I think that if it's going to be bitter cold, it should also snow. Of course not having to drive anywhere or even shovel the sidewalk helps this. I'm sure I'll feel differently when we have to deal with those annoyances. But a little sprinkling of beauty really helps in the doldrums of mid-winter. So do paperwhites.

thanks Etsy Admin!

I thought this year would be better...

I was really trying to be a better blogger this year, so far, not so much. But I will turn it around, promise. Anyway here are some delicious pics of homemade ravioli. We borrowed our friend Dylan's awesome camera (we are in luuuve) for a project I'll share more about soon, but while we had the camera, we took pictures of things like ravioli. Hungry?