summer school

Living Room Perspective

 

Vancouver has been enjoying the best summer in years. the summer that I chose to go back to school!

 

i'm currently upgrading my 'senior certificate' in interior design to a diploma at BCIT. i have seven courses to finish before January 2015 to be eligible to write the special exams to become a 'Registered Interior Designer'. (as well as completing thousands of hours of work!).

above is the product of what I've been learning in Computer Technology for Interior Design. the course has covered using SketchUp to draw a small house in 3D and then rendering it in Photoshop. i'm really enjoying the course and have bought a Wacom drawing tablet to draw & colour on the computer.

the other course has been much more challenging. i had expected that Business Communications would be a fairly easy course. after all, i've been writing memos, emails, and letters for a very long time. and i read a lot. well, it's one thing to read and entirely another to write in a hot classroom. it's been a very useful course even if just to teach me how to manage my anxiety.... like anything, it gets easier with practice.

the two courses i will start in september are Joinery for Interior Design and Autodesk Revit. I'm excited to make some simple furniture and reacquaint myself with AutoCAD. And not write reports. Or speak in front of people.

 



home made: cooking

preserved lemons

 

for the past year my husband has been the head chef around our house. it's his way to unwind after a long day at work. and that's fine by me. my preference is for baking and 'project cooking'. but with the relaxed pace of summer holidays I am enjoying doing a little more everyday cooking.

 

last year I bought yvette van boven's book, "Home Made". a couple of weeks ago I got my hands on Home Made Summer and Home Made Winter and they do not disappoint. great recipes with beautiful photos and lovely illustrations.

 

I can't wait to try out our new tajine and cook with the preserved lemons. the kids were very hopeful that I was making lemonade with rock sugar. we'll see how they like the salted lemons....

 

 

pink poppies

 

 

nature never ceases to amaze me.

sad sad news

I had a fantastic sunday: ran my longest run since junior high; watched my daughter's swim practice; went for coffee and croissant with a friend; and spent a sunny afternoon planting seeds and gardening. and the entire day i kept telling myself how truly content i am at this point in my life - our family is enjoying a full life.

and then... sat down with a cup of tea to catch up on reading some of the blogs i follow, and learned of the tragic death of Kathreen Ricketson and her partner Rob Shugg. so terribly sad and a huge loss for their children, family, and friends. Kathreen and the Whip Up blog were such a great inspiration and resource back when i was home with a new baby and just getting back into sewing and knitting. and even though i never met her, she felt like a friend.

i felt the need to do some small thing for Kathreen and Rob's children and you can too. the link is found here. now go hug your kids.

indigo

indigo dyed flags from little coyote

it's no secret to those who know me that i love all things blue. turquoise, cobalt, cyan, prussian blue, navy, ultramarine, and indigo name a few of the hue. my firstborn is named blue.




bill cunningham from the sartorialist

i really enjoyed 'bill cunningham new york' when it appeared on netflix. working on a sewing project and covered head to toe in fuschia feathers, i was struck by the practicality of mr. cunningham's uniform of a blue french utility work jacket. 

blue smock apron from bookhou



but i like my arms to be free and my legs covered. how happy i was to find arounna's lovely blue aprons are in her shop again. perfect for any work -  be it sewing feathers onto a costume or rolling out pastry dough.

and my own contribution to making something blue. reversible tote made of navy and cream cotton canvas with a blue and white striped denim lining. the strap is a piece of vintage japanese indigo cotton with cream woven details. the bag has both an exterior pocket and a pocket on the inside with a 'katemakes' label.

sketchbook project

last summer i started keeping a sketchbook and learning to draw. the two younger kids have embraced it too. we are all a little more creative with our spare time without cable tv.

for christmas a couple of years ago my mom gave me some art supplies, a sketchbook, and an illustrated life by danny gregory. it was so inspiring and led me some of his other books such as The Creative License, Everyday Matters, and An Illustrated Journey. and so i started just drawing without worrying about how badly i drew. i find it very relaxing to draw some ordinary object while watching movies on the computer.

my little guy (who is 5) draws a lot of robots and battle scenes and does so every day. but today he sat down and drew ordinary objects in our kitchen (see the lower right-hand picture). 1. Vitamix blender. 2. Ice cream maker. 3. Dehydrator. it was so gratifying to see him enjoying doing what i do. i couldn't be more proud of him.

just a small list of the drawing books i can recommend from personal experience (in addition to the links to the danny gregory books above):

• Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards
• Drawing with Children, by Mona Brookes
• Artist's Journal Workshop, by Cathy Johnson
• The Art of Urban Sketching, by Gabriel Campanario
• The Complete Decorated Journal, by Gwen Diehn

anybody can learn to draw - it just takes doing it.

 







start where you are.

use what you have.

do what you can.

           - arthur ashe



new "toy"

it's been a very long time since i had the time or inclination to post. school, work, christmas, new year's, birthdays, illnesses.... the last few months have been pretty full of life.

my new 'toy' - the collapsible photo booth - means the dreary weather can no longer hold me hostage. it's a bit bigger than i probably should have ordered but  i will just have to make bigger things like pillow covers and bags.

spring is definitely on its way and that always brings the urge create. time to reaquaint myself with my sewing machines, camera, and etsy.

fresh sketchbooks

a new school year means new school supplies. my kids' school supplies are included in their tuition which is convenient and means that all the students have the same supplies. however, i do love shopping for new art supplies and we ran out of sketchbooks some time ago. it's too easy for the kids to grab my printer paper and the sketchbooks are a great way to see their progress as artists over time.

the plan for these sketchbooks is that they will be used for 'family drawing time'. the idea is from amanda soule's book 'the creative family' though we've been doing our own version for years. we always remember to take paper and a pen when we go out to eat with the kids and pass the paper around the table while waiting for our food to arrive. everyone gets a chance to spontaneously draw with elaborate and often hilarious results. each of us will have our own book and sit down together to draw the same object at our own dining room table. (cancelling the cable tv last year has been great for doing creative things together).

this is the first time i've seen sketchbooks with such colourful binding. de serres is having a sale - five books and a tube of winsor & newton white gouache was about $50 - if you're in canada.

let the drawing begin!

Tutorial: Monkey Shorts

 

monkey shorts: little shorts to wear under your skirt while playing on the monkey bars.

 

the girl will be starting grade three in a few days and we've been getting ready - shoe shopping, labelling clothes, and organizing her uniform. we decided that maybe it might be nice to have some little shorts to wear over her underwear/under her skirt - to preserve a little modesty while climbing the playground equipment during recess. i used an old pair of leggings as the basis for the new shorts.

 

Materials:

- one yard of cotton jersey, pre-shrunk (can make about 6 pairs depending on size). i used navy blue to comply with school uniform requirements. old t-shirts would work well if they are very stretchy.

- 1/2" wide elastic, a couple of yards if you want to make a few pairs

- thread to match jersey fabric

- small pieces of ribbon (optional) to use as tags/labels

- tracing paper or scrap paper, paper cutting scissors, pencil, ruler

- old pair of leggings or jersey tights to use as a pattern

 

Equipment:

- sewing machine (that can sew zig zag stitch)

- serger machine (not necessary but very nice to have)

- sewing machine needle for knit fabrics

- twin sewing machine needle for knit fabrics (not necessary, but great for finishing hems on knit fabrics)

- scissors or rotary cutter (for fabric)

- pins

- measuring tape

 

Step 1: Cut the old pair of leggings to desired length and cut along seam lines.

 

 

 

 



Step 2: Lay the leggings onto the tracing paper and trace in pencil.   

 

 

 

Step 3: Add 1/4" seam allowance to the seams and 1/2" to the hem. Draw a line to indicate the grainline and label with any notes you might need. Cut out the pattern with your paper scissors.

 

 

Step 4: Pin the pattern to a double layer of the fabric, lining up the grain line. Cut out using your fabric scissors or a rotary cutter.

 

 

 

Step 5: With the fabric pieces right sides together, pin the leg seams together.

 

 

 

Step 6: Sew the leg seams making sure to remove pins as you go. If you are using a serger (as I did), just trim off a little as you sew. The seams can be sewn using a standard sewing machine - use a stretch stitch or a narrow zig zag stitch. Stretch the seams as you sew.

 

 

 

Step 7: Turn one leg right side out.

 

 

 

Step 8: Place one leg inside the other, right sides together. Match leg seams and pin.

 

 

 

Step 9: Sew the crotch (is there another word?) seam together, removing pins as you sew. Again, you can use a zig zag or stretch stitch with a standard sewing machine if you don't have a serger. Remember to stretch seams as you sew - we wouldn't want this important seam to split open while on the monkey bars or doing cart wheels!

 

 

 

Step 10: To hem the legs, turn up the bottom of each leg 1/2" and pin. Sew from the right side using a standard sewing machine with a twin needle or using one single needle with a zig zag stitch. Don't forget to stretch the fabric and remove pins as you sew.

 

 

 

Step 11: Measure the elastic waistband from the old leggings and add 1". Or wrap the elastic around your child's waist, stretching it slightly. Lap the edges of the elastic over 1/2". Zig zag stitch the elastic together.

 

 

 

Step 12: Divide the elastic waistband into four even sections and mark with pins. Do the same for the shorts. Pin the waistband to the wrong side of the shorts, aligning edges. Stitch edges from the right side using a serger OR zig zag stitch if using a standard sewing machine. Remember to stretch your fabric and elastic and to remove pins as you sew.

 

 

 

Step 13: Fold over the waistband to the wrong side (interior) of the shorts and pin. At this point you can add a little piece of ribbon to the center of the back (optional).

 

 

 

Step 14: Using the twin needle, sew the waistband while stretching the fabric/elastic and removing pins as you go. This can also be done using a standard sewing machine with a zig zag stitch.

 

 

Step 15: Make a lot of monkey shorts and play, play, play!

 

back to school prep

we've started getting ready for school to start. and after spending a small fortune on new shoes and some extra uniform pieces, i decided that i could make them new lunch bags with fabric i had in my stash. now that my little man will be in all day kindergarten he will have to take a lunch and snacks. and the girl seems to have a hollow leg so the generous size of her lunch bag will accomodate a full lunch and lots of snacks.

i used the tutorial from pink penguin with a couple of small modifications to enclose all the seams. inspired by knot, thread, stitch i traced the kids actual printing/handwriting and embroidered over it. they are thrilled with the results.

now to research some lunch ideas...

RIP David Rakoff

 from nytimes

i was so sad to hear that david rakoff died, having just finished his book, half empty, on thursday. it's a strange feeling to know that as i was reading his last chapter detailing his brutal struggle with cancer, his family and friends were saying goodbye to him. this american life posted his last dance on their website. eff you, cancer.

new skill: piping

this was a fun project for a friend who needed new cushion covers for her kitchen chairs. she chose the fabric - a lovely coated cotton with an abstract chrysanthemum pattern. there were a ton of videos on youtube to help learn about cutting bias strips for piping and sewing it onto cushions. i bought sash cord from the hardware store - 45 feet for about $2 - much cheaper than the fabric store. now i'm looking around the house to see how i can incorporate more piping.

Frieda's Machine

our house is only one of four on a block with views of the gulf islands, each lot with a substantial garden. we've been lucky to make friends with the family next door who have lived here for over 40 years. our kids play with their kids, running through the sprinklers and playing in treehouses and forts together. we feel fortunate to have such friendly neighbors.

the beautiful house behind us has just been sold. it is a beautiful custom built mid-century home and we hope the new owners don't tear it down. the original owner is a lovely lady named Frieda. she lived there on her own until she was 93 and started to need a little extra help though i know she is still sharp as tack. she's is now in a senior's home and according to her family, enjoying the outings and company. we got to know her by waving across our yards and when it snowed we shovelled her walk. we made sure to take her garbage cans back from the curb. we chatted every few days when we saw each other out shopping on our local market street and learned about all of the changes in our neighborhood over the last 50 years. we took over cookies, muffins, and vegetables from our garden. she was always lovely to my kids and they learned to be 'neighbourly'. Frieda would tell me not to sew too late into the night - her kitchen looked onto my sewing studio and she said she said she wished her eyes would still let her sew. she brought over fabric and we talked about sewing projects. my favourite memory of her will be when she hired a maintenance crew called 'men in kilts' to clean out her gutters and spent a lot of time checking that the base of the ladders was secure for the handsome, kilted workmen.

it has taken Frieda's family the better part of a year to clear out her belongings. it must be heartbreaking to find new homes for all of your belongings and then sell the family home. Frieda's family was very kind to donate much of it to charity. we are very grateful for the doll dishes, child's chair, and a lovely slipper chair sits in the corner of my bedroom. but i was most touched to receive the little desk and chair in the picture above. the top folds out to become a sewing table and a beautiful 1963 Singer Touch & Sew pops up. it came with all the accessories and instructions and has knee controls. i can't wait to teach my kids how to sew on this machine and carry on the handmaking/sewing/crafting tradition that Frieda enjoyed. we miss you, neighbor.

happy anniversary

nine years ago we were enjoying hot, sunny weather and getting ready to be married. it really was a perfect day surrounded by our families and friends.

summer reading

this post could also be called 'restrain oneself from kissing postal delivery person'. i was so thrilled to get the mail on monday - a gigantic box of books and even my favourite sewing magazine delivered to my door. most of these books have been on the bookstore shelves for some time but not on my own shelves. i've needed a little fresh inspiration and these are scratching that itch. this september (in one month!) i will be able to focus on my interior design business thanks to all-day kindergarden.

i am really enjoying lisa soloman's 'knot,thread,stitch'. great projects, clear instructions, and lots of encouragement to try stitching your own way. i can't wait to transfer some of my kids' drawings onto pillows for them. and to get them started on a little hand stitching of their own.

lest you think i've been only reading books with pictures, here's a list of what i've read this summer on my kobo ereader and from the library. and no, i have not succumbed to reading any of the 'fifty shades of grey' books - yet.

summer reading list 2012 (in no particular order):

the birth house - ami mckay
cutting for stone - abraham verghese
the descendents - kaui hart hemmings
freedom - jonathan franzen
irma voth - miriam toews
let's pretend this never happened - jenny lawson
the sense of an ending - julian barnes
the sentimentalists - johann skibsrud
the shoemaker's wife - adriana trigiani
the sisters brothers - patrick dewitt
this is how: overcoming shyness,... - ausgusten burroughs
committed - elizabeth gilbert
the 100-mile diet - alisa smith and j.b. mackinnon
life a user's manual - georges perec

if i keep going at this pace i may need a new prescription for my glasses...

true love

last weekend was spent celebrating the wedding of my mom and bob. they are just so happy together and we couldn't be more thrilled for them. (and, finally, my lifelong wish to be a bridesmaid was fulfilled).

new pouches

the last couple of months just got away from me. i had every intention to post but very little time. it's nice to relax a little after a couple of fast paced months.

the kids are at summer camp, the laundry is done, and i don't have to go into work today and it is absolutely lovely to have a little time to myself. it was an entirely pleasant process gettting some new bags photographed and listed in my etsy shop. i love the new size of pouches - just right for pencils or makeup.

Lightning McQueen

the little brother turns 5 soon and he is having a joint birthday party with two of his girl friends in his class. like many little boys his age he is obsessed with 'cars', 'cars 2', lego and transformers but lightning mcqueen remains in the a-1 top seeded position around our house. his race car driving grandfather is pretty thrilled to have a fellow car enthusiast in the family after having two daughters (though i do know how to change a tire and my dream car is an aston martin).

there will be about 100 people at the party tomorrow - bouncy castles, pizza, cake and general mayhem. in lieu of presents, we've asked the guests to bring a donation for the vancouver food bank. for loot bags this year we decided to hand out cookies of our boy's favourite character instead of a bag of cheap plastic junk. i can't take any credit for the amazing cookies - my dear friend is a fantastic baker and she did an amazing job! the boy is so thrilled and sends a big sticky hug and kiss out to mrs. c.

R.I.P. Maurice Sendak



from wikipedia

from gwarlingo

sad to wake up to the news that maurice sendak has passed away. his books were read over and over and over to me when i was a kid and it's been my great pleasure to read them over and over and over to my own children. thank you for the wonderful stories and illustrations.

R.I.P. MCA

from: global grind

shockingly sad. i've loved the beastie boys since high school. thank you for bringing hip hop to my little sheltered suburban world.