nanaCompany

:: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Let's talk ABC's...

See the embroidery below?  I've had it in my favorites for a while now...

{ ABCs by A Lovely World }

and of course, this...

{ Daisychain ABCs from Posie Gets Cozy }

and this awesome fabric...

{ Williamsburg Sampler by the workroom }

... which inspires a desire to cross-stitch, though I've never tried it.  Also, I happened to see the most beautifully embroidered alphabet sampler in person last week ~ it was so fine I could have died, it was breathtaking.  But the truth is my embroidery skills just aren't what they ought to be, so I decided to do what I can ~ an applique alphabet.

And now, after a flurry of cutting (sometimes with an exacto knife) into my flowery stash, ironing (racing out as fast as I could to get a new iron when my own conked out halfway thru), top-stitching and hand-stitching...  my new favorite alphabet is hanging on the wall in the kids' room...

It is a little thing.  About 10" x 12" ~ I love it so.

And now I know my abc's.  xo amy

:: f is for friday

Awesomeness is happening around here.  I have just a glimpse to show you...

I realize that's not much but it'll be done soon and I can't wait to show you the whole thing.  Have a great weekend, friends!

1. Buttons, 2. lo and beholdness..., 3. puddle, 4. Untitled, 5. Thoughts On Being INTERdependent, 6. Strawberry pincushion, 7. 010, 8. Ah!! such a long way to follow your smile..., 9. Close up of vintage pink glasses, 10. pom pom goodness..., 11. Selina Lake - Vintage books, 12. vintage hankie pillow ~ embroidery and crochet trim!, 13. Retro Paper Straws

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

:: beautiful no matter what

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

Tuesday I was running all around the city streets of downtown Los Angeles with a new bloggy friend (good times!) and our first stop was at Michael Levine's in the garment district.  I picked up this pile of soft, calm, "prairie" country prints.  I think I can confidently blame Alicia Paulson for the influence.  Never in a million years did I think I'd be all over calicos and wincing at brights, but I am of late.  Perhaps you've seen the changes creeping into my work this past year... (though, by the time I finish saying one thing, the opposite may be true).  As for now, these prints are my pure delight.

Had the loveliest day.  We went on to a Japanese bookstore, a cafe, and an old millinery store, then lastly a restaurant where my husband joined us.  So ~ not much sewing lately.  I did make these two new blocks...

{no.55 Linoleum, no. 31 Evening Star}

The tiny strawberry print arrived in a package from the Netherlands the other day.  Thank you, Leila.  Love love love.

Sadly, the blue in the corner squares of my Linoleum block don't line up, but I don't care!!  I'm making 9" blocks instead of 6" and doing the math on my own ~ this is going to be one wonky Farmer's Wife quilt.  I'm convincing myself it will be "beautiful no matter what".  Arrgh.  I have to admit I'm feeling a little deflated today and I can reasonably blame that on hormones.  And as much as I don't feel like it, a cup of coffee and an hour of kicking ass at the gym is probably enough to get rid of this malaise.  It usually works like magic.  Then maybe I can sit down at the sewing machine later today and make something awesome!

I wish you all a happy joyful productive day... xo amy

:: linen + sequins

When your daughter is nearly 16 with decided taste on all matters of utmost importance (Lady Gaga? no ~ She and Him, yes.  Twilight? no ~ anything by Wes Anderson, yes.  Pretty boys? no ~ geeks, yes) ... it can be a little difficult making just the right thing for her palette.  I'm happy to say that 'linen + sequins' was a yes...

Linen scraps, crochet trim, a bit of calico, and some shiny sequins (I think these were part of a card making kit Anne received as a gift many moons ago)... easy peasy!  I'm seeing linen + sequin stars, next.

xo amy

:: summertime...

... and the livin's easy.  I found my new fave instant beautifier for the house at the Farmer's Market yesterday.  Uh huh ~ baby's breath.  $1 for a giant bunch and you can't go wrong, right?

I think I'll spread the little bunches all around the house.  (My husband is cleaning it right now!)  I know, lucky me ;)

Happy Friday all!

1. AK - 367, 2. untitled, 3. Petites Lettres Rouges (Blackbird Designs), 4. Recess Baby Quilt, 5. Instruments of Grace, 6. zara-blue-jumpsuit, 7. doll quilt detail, 8. country bench, 9. Selina Lake - varlig vintage china, 10. Paris Christmas Table, 11. Vanilla & Blooms - quilt top, 12. The Friendly Phoebe, 13. Untitled

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

brown paper package day

It's a wonderful thing to be sewing and laying out fabric combinations, despairingly rejecting fabric after fabric, when the postman appears with a brown paper package from Singapore (thank you, sweet Wynn!) containing goodies and trims and fabrics worthy of swooning.  No really.  Look at this fabric...

The vintage and new spools are mine... the fabric (designed by Atsuko Matsuyama, a fave) was so pretty it inspired this mini photo shoot.  Two minutes later, though, I was cutting into the new fabrics Wynn sent me and happily sewing again...

{no.16 Calico Puzzle}

{no.6 Big Dipper}

{no. 20 Churn Dash}

{no. 107 Windblown Square}

And although many of you thought my previous block no. 30 was just fine, something about it was bugging me and I re-did it that night.  I love the new one, miraculously...

{no. 30 End of Day}

And all together, now, it looks a little something like this...

It's changing, isn't it?  Hmmm...   Hope you all have a lovely Thursday.

xo amy

:: perfect week-end

What makes a perfect weekend for you?  For me, it's lots of quiet yet productive time, sewing, Pride & Prejudice playing on repeat in the background, a new coffee maker (the kind that makes one cup with the touch of a button, oh luxury), happy kids, charming husband, a good burger, and a whole afternoon of relaxing, calm, thoroughly enjoyable hours spent at the beach (with no frantic potty incidents or accidents... thank you).    I have four new blocks to show you...

{no. 50 Honey's Choice}

{no.30 End of Day}

{no. 75 Rosebud}

{no. 38 Four Winds}

So, at the moment my Farmer's Wife quilt looks something like this.  But I don't know if it will stay looking like this.  I think block no. 30 may have to go...

This is definitely going to be my calm quilt.  Someday I hope to have a linen closet piled with quilts of all different styles and color palettes.  All I need is time... ;)

At the beach yesterday, we took the longest, slowest walk along the water's edge collecting little treasures...

{Anne, inspecting her pile of shells}

It was the perfect week-end.  xo amy

:: thursday

I've made two Farmer's Wife blocks that are simply not going to work... one is too small and one is completely off color palette.  Darn.  And they took me hours to make ~ maybe I'll show them to you later.  (If you're doing the FWQAL and you're not loving the templates or don't have the book yet, here is a great tutorial by Lori Holt on drafting the blocks yourself).  I took a break by meeting a friend for dinner last night in West LA, but we got sidetracked by the cutest little shop on Sawtelle, called Rimo.

I took home some new earrings and a new top.  It was a lot of fun to be with my BF ~ without children ~ and shopping in a store other than Target.  Really, my whole life is bought at Target, and that's fine, but this was lotsa fun.

At midnight, Anne and I went to the Harry Potter film ~ the place was packed with kids and adults all dressed up as wizards and everyone was just so excited.  Good times.  I don't want to say anything about the movie... you'll just have to go and see it.  But, indeed, I do want to read the books now... to get more understanding.  And I loved your comments.  Loved hearing we're not the only nerds around here.  (You know, in the pretty crafty bloggy world) ;)

A bit of inspiration and then I'm off to run, to sew, and cook... my favorite things! 

1. Village Frock Pattern, 2. number the tea cups, 3. Untitled, 4. go fly a kite 2, 5. 6, 6. carnationcones, 7. In love with Ranunculus ♥ !, 8. Vintage Zig-Zag, 9. malven, 10. Sneak Peek - Maman strike-offs, 11. Finished if you're a girl quilt, 12. Untitled, 13. FREE Vintage desktop background

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Happy Friday, friends! xo amy

:: at midnight

nerd?  why yes.  I am.  Anne and I are going to a midnight showing because we just can't wait.  Are you a fan?

Source: weheartit.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

Actually, we're going to the 12:20 showing as the 12:01, 12:05, 12:10, and 12:15 showings were sold out unless you wanted front row seats.  I have to admit I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books, though I am a reader.  Since childhood I was the one who wouldn't go to sleep once I was wrapped up in a book, couldn't put it down, felt sad when a book was finished ~ sad and even disoriented, as if I'd just traveled through time.  I've read all the classics, I've read War and Peace, The Iliad and the Odyssey, all Jane Austen, all Hemingway, all Fitzgerald, all Salinger, all Victor Hugo, all Henry James, Tolstoy and Doestoyevsky and so on... but when Olivia was born reading came to a full stop. 

About a year ago we started watching the Potter movies as a family.  So I'm not that much of Harry Potter nerd.  I don't even know how it ends or what's going to happen in this last installment, but I'm already sad because I don't want it to end.  I heart Ron and Hermione, Ginny, and Neville, and Luna, and Hagrid.  Who is your favorite?

xo amy

:: fully addicted

When one has lost all interest in feeding one's family (what?  hungry again?!?) because making Farmer's Wife quilt blocks is so much more fun... well, you know you're fully addicted.  I have other things I need to be sewing right now but I'd rather not, thanks.  I'm liking the way these blocks look laid out together and I don't even mind that a few of them are all wrong...

{no. 29 Economy}

This block used to have nice points, but then I realized it was much larger than the 9" blocks I'm making (9 1/2" unfinished), so I trimmed it down and voila! ~ a blunty point block, and somehow I don't mind.  Just ask my husband, I normally would re-do this until I got it right but I've thrown accuracy out the window.  Oh the freedom!  When the quilt is done, who will know or care?

{no. 71 Puss in the Corner}

{no.2 Autumn Tints}

{no. 100 Weathervane}

The block above was made completely wrong and I didn't do it on purpose.  Some triangles should have been pink and some white, but I mixed them all up.  I have no idea what I was thinking, but it doesn't matter now... the block is pretty, right?

{no.11 Broken Dishes}

I'm using my usual bright and pretty prints in candy colors, but I'm muting them down with calm background prints.  I love seeing them all together...  It works doesn't it?

But I don't get to sew all day ~ (darn).  Sometimes you'll find me at gymnastics or the park... where I've slowly been embroidering this...

While keeping my eye on the little ones...

They look a little dreamy here, but in fact they were running around like hooligans, playing catch me.

And before I go, I wanted to mention... I've loved seeing the "cookies & milk" snack mats some of you have made, so let me know if you've made one, too!  I've got to go feed my kids... ;)

xo amy

:: a fresh new start

Yes, I am a Farmer's Wife once more.  I've started anew, with 9" blocks and they're still on the soft side colorwise, but I think a little fresher.  I love this first one.  I figured if I used Liberty of London fabric I'd be sure to love it and I do...

1. pale pink solid, 2. calico from JoAnn's, 3. Liberty of London lawn - Nancy Ann

And I like my second block, too.  This one was a breeze to sew up...

1. Moda Snippets grid light blue, 2. Windham Storybook IV, 3. Lecien Old New 30's collection

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

xo amy

:: friday love

Some lovely things found their way into my home yesterday...

The red & white stripe fabric tape is from Paper Source.  The pink ribbon is from JoAnn's, and the rest is just a little glimpse of a big surprise package from my friend, Mette.  She sent so many pretty things, I was dying when I opened it all up.  Love love love.  Thank you so much, girl!

1. WIP - Grandmother's Flower Garden, 2. portrait, Pachas Flowers, 3. Lilli love, 4. Tea in the Garden, 5. Mary Jane's TEAROOM, 6. tea towel made from vintage tablecloth, 7. Untitled, 8. FWSQ, block 38, Four Winds, 9. Crochet circle squares detail, 10. Taking breakfast outside, 11. Untitled, 12. patchwork twirl skirt for girls, 13. Hello Weekend!

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

And now the weekend starts...  Happy Friday!  xo amy

:: cookies and milk ~ snack mat tutorial

Cookies and milk.  Mmmm.  We use these snack mats every night just before bed.  And as I've said... cuter than paper plates, reusable, washable, and handmade with love.  Let's do it!

You'll need:

2 x base fabrics 11" x 8 1/2" each

1 x trim or ric rac 11" long

1 x ribbon or trim for tag 2" long

1 x batting 11" x 8 1/2"

fabric for applique

Wonder Under or other fusible web for applique

embroidery floss

(Use 1/4" seam throughout)

Step 1: Add trim to bottom of base fabric.  (The trim I used was too wide, so I cut it according to what I wanted to see poking out at the bottom, plus 1/4")  Place your trim and base fabric right sides together, raw edges aligning.  Fold the ends of the trim, as shown in the pic, so it won't get sewn up later in the side seams.

Step 2:  Add your appliques.  Use the fusible web (I have a how-to on fusible web applique here).  The milk circle is a 2 1/2" diameter circle.  The plate is a 5 1/2" circle with a little flourish if you'd like to add it.  Here's how I made my template:

I know this looks ridiculous but I swear it'll make you a plate and I'm sorry I don't have better software or a scanner.  (hangs head in shame.)  Iron on your milk circle and plate in these positions...

Step 3: Add a tag 1 1/4" down from the upper left hand corner if you'd like:

Step 4: Place the two base fabrics right sides facing each other.  Place batting on top.  Sew along all four sides of the snack mat leaving about a 3" open space to pull everything right side out.  I left my open space on the left hand side, next to the plate.  Once you've pulled the mat right side out, iron and slip stitch the open space closed.

Step 5: Stitch the appliques down.  Stop stitching exactly where you've begun, then pull all the threads through to the back.  Make a big knot, thread all the threads into the needle and pull that big knot back into the mat, burying it and the threads in the batting.

Now you have this...

Step 6: Embroider.  A 3 1/2" circle goes inside the plate, centered.  Also stitch around the milk circle.  Then there are the words... cookies... milk... crumbs...

And you are done!

This tutorial was written for those with a basic knowledge of sewing, but if you are new to sewing and have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  I'll try to help you the best I can!

xo amy

:: baby animals embroidery

For those of you interested in the vintage embroidery patterns used in my quilt, I have put together these links for you...

1. duck with umbrella, 2. juvenile jamboree 16, 3. juvenile jamboree 48, 4. juvenile jamboree 18, 5. juvenile jamboree 38, 6. SP 4044 l, 7. NI 007 d, 8. WB 027 c, 9. cat with yarn, 10. Design-786-Bunny, 11. kittens-&-mittens, 12. Design-786-Elephant, 13. Design-502-Bunny

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

A huge thank you to those kind ladies who've shared these patterns on flickr...

xo amy

:: indeed, the weekend was a blast

It was a lovely weekend... ended with a blast.  The husband was home with us the whole time.  He and I even had a date one night.  Just a quiet dinner and then a quiet coffee and tea.  Quiet is a luxury for us.

Friday, I tried out my new cookbook and made this dish, which is made up of only five ingredients: Potatoes, tomatoes, onions, torn basil, and parmesan cheese.  Oh and olive oil, salt and pepper.  I liked it, didn't love it.  Definitely had a peasant dish feel, very simple.  Maybe too simple for my family.  I have a feeling that if I add a ton more cheese and a sprinkle of bread crumbs, it might please everyone a little more.  Next time.

Late after dinner that night I went down to my sewing cave and began cutting 2.5" squares from my new fabric (that's how I usually begin anything), and fiddled with them awhile, uninspired.  Then, with sudden enthusiasm, I decided to finish something I started over a year ago.  When I opened the quilt top I couldn't believe I'd let it sit for so long.  It started off with ten embroideries...

... and ten nine-patches...

... and now there is a finished quilt...

It's small (about 30" x 36") but it took me all day Saturday to quilt by hand.  X's in the nine-patches.  Squares just inside the embroidered blocks and around each animal.  I also did a scalloped stitch in the border, and sewed the binding by hand.  I love it.  Again, can't get a single good shot of it with my poor sick camera, but in person it's so pretty.  So pretty I don't know what to do with it.   I'll probably throw it on the wall for now.  What would you do with it?

But oh, what a feeling!  It's great to finish a project ~ especially one that's been sitting around for more than a year.  And it's perfect when you finish on a Sunday when Monday is a holiday.  Yes!  To celebrate the 4th of July, we had a picnic at the park.  The kids rode bikes, my husband and I tossed a football, and later we went to our friends' house for fireworks.  Even our cake sparkled... 

And driving home we saw fireworks exploding in clusters all over the city.  What a great weekend.  I hope you enjoyed yours, too!  xo amy

:: animal alphabet

I just found the cutest thing in the world and I just had to share... check it out...

Source: flickr.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

Isn't that adorable?  You may be familiar with Paola Zakimi's work, but I just found this alphabet print and I'm bowled over by her talent.  So lovely...

Source: paolazakimi.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

She has an etsy shop here, and I'll be heading there to pick up some art prints asap.

xo amy

:: just 3% crippling self doubt...

Yesterday was Farmer's Market day and I couldn't wait because I've been craving those super sweet strawberries ~ so much better than the ones at the grocery store.  I also got tomatoes, onions, and potatoes for a country dish with torn basil and cheese that I'll make for the first time tonight.  I got a new cookbook from the bargain racks at the bookstore and it's filled with neat old-fashioned recipes that I'm itching to try... if they're any good I'll share.

(ooh, yes, I forgot about the flowers.  Got some of those, too)

I am so thankful for your comments, encouragement, tips ~ all the help I got from you sweet ladies regarding my Farmer's Wife quilt meltdown.  That makes it sound so dramatic, doesn't it?  I haven't tried another block yet because I'm not sure how I want to go forward, but I assure you, I will be going forward.  I'm not a quitter.  I mostly want to figure out what size block and which color palette to use.

You've seen this quilt book, right?

I can't remember what the book is called or who it's by, so if you do, please refresh my memory?  I've had this pic saved in my computer for years and I've always wanted to do it.  I thought maybe I'd do the Farmer's Wife quilt with these happy japanese prints and colors, but I didn't start off that way because I didn't want to go so bright.  I'm now thinking the smallness of the cuts and the patterns for each block need such high contrast.  Idon'tknow.  Am I overthinking?  I saw this quote on pinterest: "I am 97% kick ass and 3% crippling self-doubt."  Yep, that's me.

Well, to get my mind off all of that, I finished this yesterday.  Check!

A placemat for a sweet sweet girl in Portugal who's been ever so patient.  She sent me a huge package of awesomeness a while back.  This will be on it's way to Ana soon, just have to gather up a bunch of other lovely things to go with it.

I am off for a quick run, the kids' first trip to Chuck E Cheese (I've put it off as long as I could), and then back home for cooking and sewing (my favorite part).  I wish you all a lovely Friday! 

1. Birds, 2. laundry bokeh, 3. Summer Flowers (Kazuko Aoki), 4. Country Homes Scan 2, 5. Vintage Sheets, 6. Soon to be NY Bag, 7. Daisy..., 8. Pink and Green Crochet Flower, 9. An apron for my little helper, 10. Crochet: Summer of Love Scarf, 11. Aqua Floral Tin, 12. On my fabric cabinet..., 13. A Collection

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy