Blah, blah, blah

Sometimes I don't know why I entitled this blog something sewing-related when all I seem to do is post pictures of food:


A cake for my friend Patrick


Andrew having internal struggles over the cake



Beautiful roasted-tomato bread from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook (Please, you must. make. today.)


Even my breakfast.

I really have been sewing, but nothing terribly interesting, and if it is interesting then it's probably a gift for a friend and something I can't post yet. Because, of course, my projects intended for friends ebb and flow as I decide between Yes, they'll love it and No, it's just too awful to even give away.

So we redid our dining room recently, and although the room isn't done (because somebody didn't order enough wallpaper) I am still just completely in love with the paper that we did hang. And by "we", of course I mean Terry Jones of Horizon Wallpaper, a gifted hanger and the sweetest man to draw breath. Check out the before/after shots:





Once everything is in and gussied, I'll post more pics. I just love it. The dining room was my least favorite room of the house until recently. Now I just want to sit in it and stare at the walls.

Finally, at the risk of sounding like a blubbering fool about my deep love for Durham, I want to share with you a project that my friend Jeff started. It's called The Monti, and features live narratives and short real stories - think The Moth meets NC. He's having it once a month (right now it's in Chapel Hill) and I'm excited about attending the May one. Check it out.

The Full Manti

I think there must be a real art to photographing quilts, because every attempt I made at getting a shot of this one failed. I made this back in February and have been meaning to post a picture of it. I feel like that's all I say these days: "I've been meaning to..., I've been meaning to...".

This little wallhanging quilt is what I made my grandmother for her 82nd birthday. That's her in the picture, with my grandfather. They've been married 62 years. Sixty-two!! 6-2! They grew up in a small coal town in WV, very poor. My grandmother was one of 16 kids. Sixteen!! 1-6! That picture was when they were about 17. It's my favorite picture of them, besides this one:


I was inspired to make this quilt after discovering the most luscious little book called "Quilted Memories" by Lesley Riley. I'm a loser at scrapbooking, not having the skill or patience required, but I relax around fabric. When my friend Melissa and I went antiquing this winter I found a huge bag of antique linens for $10 and used two pieces on this hanging: one was a dinner napkin and the other a linen handkerchief. I told my mother that this was my most favorite of all the things I have ever sewn, both because of the subject and the ease. Easy, I tell you!!

Last week I started a new job as a midwife in a health-dept prenatal clinic. It's intense, non-stop, whirlwind work but I am slowly adapting and am able to stay up for more than an hour after I get home. I love to lay my hands on a big, rotund abdomen and feel the waves of baby movements underneath. All that to say that my craftier sewing has fallen by the wayside, but I am trying my hand at simple garments to wear to work. Several little skirts, embellished with trim and buttons. Pics to come!