Sewing for Love

It starts with a little thought, or a wish, or a desire, or perhaps even a need to make a dress. It is almost always a dress. A cotton print dress. The kind of dress forms in my mind, a loose idea. Fabric selection then, holding prints up to the light, running my hands over the weft and warp, and making decisions.

Looking through patterns to find a basic bodice that is suitable for what I have in mind, followed by pattern paper and colored pencils. Deepen the armscye, alter the neckline, lengthen the bodice, add ease to the side seams. I scrap the inset cap sleeve idea and instead create a gathered shoulder three quarter length with a princess cuff, oh yes much better.

As I cut out the pieces, my girl is home sick and she watches. She gets up close next to me and asks questions. "How do you know to cut like that and not make a mistake?" "Why do you pin the pieces together here, but not there?" "Can I do the marking with the wheelie thinger?" "Is it time to sew the ribbon on yet?" I answer her questions and tell her it takes practice and patience and love. I give her some tracing paper and the 'wheelie thinger' and show her how to use it, where to make the marks.

As I sew, there is focus and intent along with assuredness; this is what I know. It is in my hands, my head, my muscle memory, my heart and soul. This is how Lola Nova was born, making nice things for my girl; this is how I grew my skills, found my passion, and it is love.

It is a little like therapy; it quiets the chaos and brings me back to myself, it restores confidence and brings joy.

And then there's this...

Thank you for all of the lovely comments and well wishes this week, I truly appreciate them. I am on the mend now and looking forward to the days ahead.

xo

little bits

Little bits of vintage goodness.

This weekend was a wild ride, uppers...downers...turn-arounders. There was a small break in the weather, some troubling news, a baby-sitting swap with the neighbors, a difficult 3rd verse, and a tiny bit of vomit. There was also a 'Mad Men' themed company party for which, I broke out the red lipstick for the first time in years.

When this morning rolled in, it brought fog and a slightly unsettled feeling within me. After school drop off, I bravely faced the grocery market and fulfilled my duty as the keeper of the food. Coming home, I was thinking of some recent inspiration I came across here, and oh my goodness here, and definitely here. It occurred to me that I was in desperate need of some therapy. Fraulein Pfaff was waiting stoically in the studio, knowing I couldn't stay away.

I started gathering up little bits of vintage goodness...some received from lovely blog friends, some from sweet grannies, and some found on treasure hunts. Then it begins to happen, cutting and stitching and all the rest fades away. Yet, all the recent events, the inspiration from here, there, the buffet line at a Mad Men party, my longing for a bit of sunshine, the afternoon adventures of "Fleeto the Rabbit and his Horse with no Name"...all the little bits of life go into the dress I'm making.

By the time I have clipped my last thread, the sun is out, it's time for school pick up and I feel much better.

And now it's time to introduce you to a little something that Pony Girl calls, 'Rock N' Roll Modeling'!

Oh Yeah!

and check out her very first pair of Doc Martins, picked up for a song at the local thrift...with super cool miss matched laces, sweet!

Oh My Stars!

Hello and happy Monday!
You might think that since I am a somewhat crafty type - that I would be hands to scissors and foot to pedal (sewing machine pedal that is), busying myself with the industry of gift making. While I have thrown a couple of slapdash things together and started another one or two, I have mostly been pondering and wandering the floors of the cottage. Spending my time pottering about and moving the furniture. This is somewhat worrying, as there is that list I made and the reality of time moving swiftly towards the day.

At least the cookies have been made. Which will be most helpful in the coming days when a sugar rush is what is needed to make it through another round of "who am I forgetting?"

Yet another year has found me not quite getting to the holiday cards, I swear, I am a tragic mess when it comes these things. Still, while most of my 'Best Laid Plans' have gone all wonky, I have decided to accept and let it roll. Fretting is not good for one about to turn another year older (especially since I started working on my worry lines at the age of 7). Stress is not in the spirit of it all anyway, so roll on I shall. 'Que Sera' ala Doris Day, whatever will be, will be.

Notice I did finally get around to trying out the Grandma Twinkle crochet pattern from Michelle over at The Royal Sisters and I am smitten! She has 4 wonderful crochet tutorials and I am so looking forward to trying out the others. Pop on over and give them a whirl, I promise it's addictive. I am a beginner and I found her instructions and photos so very helpful and easy to follow.

May the day find you with stars in your eyes my friends, and I hope that you all take a moment out of your busy days to let go of worry and stress - know that it all is going to work out beautifully. If you should find this difficult, I recommend biting the head off a smirky gingerbread man :)

Joy

I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day, I certainly did.
It began with Mr. Nova whipping up a batch of his famous and entirely too delicious Belgian Waffles. Yes, my man is known around here for being a somewhat mad late night baker, lucky me. You should taste his coffee cake, it's heavenly!

After breakfast we packed up a picnic lunch and headed out on an adventure. We drove to Sauvie Island and headed out on the Warrior Rock Trail. A perfect day for a walk in the woods, partly cloudy with sun breaks dappling through the trees. The trail is next to the beach where we saw some Sturgeon fisher folk and sailboats gliding past. There were views of the mountains covered in snow and a cacophony of bird song in the air. It was just the thing, quite needed - to be out in the green with my dearest ones. The only disaster was when I came upon a snake (no, that was not the disaster), I picked it up to show my girl and after a good inspection, I let it free to go on it's merry way. Well, you'd have thought the sky was falling what with the amount of wailing let loose by my girl. "He was my best friend, I love him, GET ME MY SQUIRMY!!!!" If she chooses, she will make an excellent actress someday. Soon, the fit fizzled and she decided it was time to search for bears. It was entirely wonderful.




On the way home I spied one of these for sale
1974 International Airstream in good condition for a bargain price. It was then my turn to wail and fit and say, "It's my best friend, I love it, GET ME MY TRAILER!!!!!" Even at a bargain it's not in the budget. My fit lasted a little longer than my girls but, it finally settled into a quiet melancholy that is still felt today. I will have to tell you the story of my own Airstream someday, it's lost to me now and I occassionally pine for it.

Later in the day, I was given the gift of a cool couple of hours to myself. Being much inspired lately by the extremely clever Tif at Dottie Angel, I've been spending some time reading her gorgeous blog, usually with bits of drool at the corners of my mouth. She creates magical things with a vintage vibe and writes a most entertaining and thoughtful blog. Check out her Etsy shop. Due to this inspiration, A-Thrifting I did go. It has been ages since I've been able to thrift, it was once a passion born from necessity. Most of the stores close to me are full of rubbish but, I did manage to pick up a couple of wicked cool mid-70's embroidery books, vintage sheets for summer dress making and some great books for the kidlet.


As a final note, the chick chicks are in smashing form. The first day and night I fretted like a nervous new mama, checking them constantly. Now we have found a more reasonable rhythm and routine. Irma is the biggest and least frighty. Fran is a wing flapper and yodel cheeps in a most amazing way. Tweet Tweet is aptly named for she tweets quite a lot. They are all sweet little gals (I hope).

Goodness this was a long post, so much news. There is more to share but, I'd best get to the making, many projects await. Have a great week.