Cynthia Treen Studio

Reindeer pattern download!

2011-11-12T13:17:00.001-05:00

Big news folks!

Break out your needle and thread.....

My quilts, kits and this new Reindeer pattern

are featured this weekend on

the Martha Stewart crafts Department Blog

If you are interested in the downloadable pattern,

it is available for $2.00 in my Etsy shop

through November 14th.

Happy early holidays,

and very happy stitching!

Visiting friends in creative spaces

2011-09-20T10:37:00.000-04:00

While Irene was blowing up the coast

I had the pleasure of spending a delightful, creative craft weekend hosted by my friends

Debra and Pete at their sweet little pad in Pittsburgh.

Debra and I hunkered down for most of the weekend in her studio chatting and stitching while Pete kept us nourished with tasty bits through out the weekend.

I wish the zoom on my phone had been more forgiving because Debra has so many little treasures scattered around her house and studio... little collages and sculptures.... waiting for you to come close for an intimate viewing.... but alas, my technology was not in full cooperation.

In the morning and afternoon Pete made lattes to keep our minds fresh and fingers nimble as we stitched away...

I brought two kits for Debra's little one (on the way) that she made over the weekend.... a penguin and a Kangaroo.... these kits (and much more) are available in my etsy shop...

I am not sure what I was thinking but I got the idea that I wanted to make something different... something that I had never considered making before...

A doll?

Then I realized that I really wanted to make miniature clothing...

Which I believe was inspired by the amazing show that Debra took me to at

The Center for Contemporary Craft

Mariko Kusumoto work is stunning and inspiring...

She creates miniature worlds that reside somewhere between doll houses, jewelry and sculpture that long to be explored....

I look forward to following her work!

Also at

The Center for Contemporary Craft

is the haunting work of Lia Cook...

her woven photographs are wonderful!

This is a close up detail of the weave

It was a wonderful weekend with great friends, much stitching,

beautiful weather and inspirational art.

Thank you, Thank you Debra and Pete for such a lovely weekend!

Best wishes to Maxwell...

2011-09-11T10:14:00.000-04:00

Early one morning at 2:30 am we had a unusual storm.

Hail, wild winds, thunder crashes and lightning...

We lost several trees in the storm

and two cat birds who left us a tiny little friend....

Maxwell

Photos By Karen Philippi

I scooped him up and nestled him in a box with a soft cotton cloth then

got on line to find out how and what to feed him.

Every 15 minutes for two weeks I nursed and fed him...

We found his fallen nest and made a cozy box for him,

and he grew

and spread his wings

and grew some more

and he went out side to see the world

and we fell in love.

He shimmied around his box to be close to me and jumped onto my fingers.

I had no idea about bonding with birds until I met Maxwell.

Then we had a photo shoot . I had to have those wallet pics

before he went to be reunited with his extended family in the wilds of Rhode Island
(thank you Karen For your beautiful photos!)

So we drove him to south county to a wild life rescue. You see, I was not confident about the next stage of mothering and he had come too far to make any mistakes!

I hope he will find us again.....

Photos By Karen Philippi

My new plan for a leaky skylight....

2011-06-02T13:28:00.005-04:00

Wonder Land Quilt Complete!

2011-05-24T20:51:00.008-04:00

Well, I have finally finished with the Wonder Land quilt!

I have been working on a gift of a commission for the past 12 months

(four hand stitched quilts).

There are two more to go (well on their way thankfully) so I am not done yet, but with each completion I feel a great sense of accomplishment and relief. Each of these quilts takes so much time and patience. Every stitch is made by hand... sometimes I think I have lost my mind but I really love the work for 95% of the process.... mostly I feel a Zen like calm. As the deadline approaches however, I hesitate to call my state of mind anything resembling to Zen.

Over the weekend we shared a slow and lovely Sunday with our friends Ron and Inga. Wonderful company, delicious food and delightful conversation. They are such dear friends and were kind enough to share their beautiful bedroom and king size bed to photograph the quilt. Inga even went so far as to order a sweet little rug from Morris etc to add a splash of color to the room.

I highly recommend a visit to their website to see some wonderful hand woven rugs.

So that is it... moving on to the next. Some champagne and cassis tonight then back to work on Thursday.
Stay tuned for the next two!
Many thanks to Karen Philippi for her wonderful photos... amazing as always!

Textle Museum: Online presentations

2011-05-20T08:34:00.002-04:00

Every spring I dream of heading south to Washington DC to check out the annual Celebration of Textiles event at the Textile Museum. I have not yet made it but this morning I was peeking at their website again with longing and discovered that they had a wonderful "On line presentation" feature for people like me.... and perhaps like you....

Current Exhibitions

	Second Lives: the Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles February 4, 2011 through January 8, 2012
	The Textile Learning Center Permanent Activity Gallery

Online Exhibitions

	Green: the Color and the Cause Online Presentation
	Ahead of his Time: The Collecting Vision of George Hewitt Myers Online Presentation
	Common Threads: Unraveling the World of Textiles Online Presentation
	Pieces of a Puzzle: Classical Persian Carpet Fragments Online Presentation
	Flowers of Silk and Gold: Four Centuries of Ottoman Embroidery Online Presentation

Online Exhibitions

	Green: the Color and the Cause Online Presentation
	Ahead of his Time: The Collecting Vision of George Hewitt Myers Online Presentation
	Common Threads: Unraveling the World of Textiles Online Presentation
	Pieces of a Puzzle: Classical Persian Carpet Fragments Online Presentation
	Flowers of Silk and Gold: Four Centuries of Ottoman Embroidery Online Presentation

The bloggers Quilt festival

2011-05-15T12:49:00.007-04:00

I just discovered the Bloggers quilt festival at Amy's Creative Side and thought I would join in... I have posted my Bojagi (Quilted Korean wrapping cloth) before but I thought I would post it again for the festival and add my most recent piece as well.

This Bojagi wrapping cloth was a an exciting piece because it was my introduction to quilting and the beginning of what has become an obsession (a healthy one I like to think).
Anyway I was asked to be a part of an exhibit on Korean wrapping cloths by my friend Chunghie Lee . She is an amazing Bojagi artist and a professor at Rhode Island School of Design. The exhibit was at the AQS show in Paducha two years ago. I was astounded by the work I say there and excited to be a little part of it.

So that was it, I was hooked....
Here I am two years later and several rewarding quilt experiences richer. Below is one of the most recent hand stitched, appliqued and embroidered pieces I have completed.

Fabric "Drawings" by Louise Bourgeois

2011-05-15T11:54:00.002-04:00

Louise Bourgeois: The Fabric Works
At Chiem & Read
May 12 - June 25, 2011

Grow your own clothing?

2011-05-04T17:35:00.002-04:00

That is just what Suzanne Lee is doing with her beautiful Biocouture project.
You can watch a video of her speaking at TED to get the full story...
and also find more photos on Designboom

Beautiful designs from the spring RISD sale

2011-05-02T07:45:00.007-04:00

At the RISD Sale this Saturday I found some wonderful young designers... this is the exquisite work of Kathryn Maresca. Her line of hand printed fabric is light, airy, fresh and clean. Many of her pillows are hand embroidered with delicate french knots... Perfect for summer!

Also not to be missed is Margaret Hinges wonderful feather jewelry. She is still a student but has her work available on Etsy at mhinge.etsy.com

Also if you do not know the ceramic work from Gleena you should check it out. Designer Asya Palatova makes blends her graphic design skill with and her love of porcelain to create tablewear, personalized gifts and table settings.

Big News! My Etsy Store is Open...

2011-04-15T15:33:00.013-04:00

The Cynthia Treen Studio Etsy store is finally up and running!

Please come for a visit.....

There are fun felt sewing kits, perfect for Easter or spring craft making.
They come with easy instructions, beautiful illustrations and all the materials you need to create whatever felt critter you choose.

If you are not feeling crafty... not to worry
there are finished goodies for you too.
stuffed animals, pillows, and even a one of a kind Tea Cozy.

Enjoy the shop and thanks for visiting

In between the quilts...

2011-03-29T09:26:00.005-04:00

I have been working on a quilt commission of four hand stitched quilts in twelve months. Needless to say my fingers and wrists are barking.
In my free moments I have had a few little projects in the works. This is one....

linen, cotton (Kaffe Fassett shott cotton) appliqué and reverse appliqué

A little appliqué and embroidery piece.
I have no idea where it will lead.... a mini quilt perhaps?
Part of a full sized quilt?
Who knows...

Seed stitch, chain stitch, couching, and back stitch

It is liberating to work on projects that are without a plan or schedule.... each step is uncharted and allows a quiet space for contemplation on the next move. No rules, not deadlines and a world of possibilities!

New this Spring

2010-04-22T14:42:00.010-04:00

Well, Spring is in the air and I have been out in the garden every morning looking at new shoots and watching the yard come to life. The apple trees were in full bloom this week and teaming with bees. This morning though it was a shower of petals as I sat beneath them at the picnic table and had my coffee.... lovely.

As I enjoyed the morning I scolded myself for not posting in an eternity (but not much because it was too beautiful for that).

So here I am with a little photo of a fern embroidery I made yesterday . I have been thinking about embroidery a lot lately because I am working on a new business that is all about textile arts, travel and you.

I am getting ready to do a super soft launch of the site (threadfollower.com) on the first of May. I won’t let the cat out of the bag today but I hope you will visit me there soon and share your thoughts about the project, what you are making and where you have been….

See you there!

New Choreography by Mark Harootian

2010-02-10T11:30:00.014-05:00

Last month I had the pleasure of meeting Mark Harootian, a wonderfully talented dancer and choreographer from Festival Ballet Providence. He asked me to create the costumes for a piece he was developing for Festival's "Up Close On Hope" production (which runs through February)

His dance is set to the music of Shen Qi 's erhu (Chinese violin) and it brings to life a love story between the wind and a lotus flower. Together we collaborated to design the costumes for the "Lotus" character and two "Water" dancers in the piece.

Last Friday night we saw it all come together at the rehearsal.... it was so exciting to see his dance and the costumes working together!

"Up Close on Hope" is performed at Festival Ballet's dance studio in a small space so you are right up with the dancers. Quite an experience to be so close... if you love Ballet this is a must see!

Breakfast with feathered friends

2010-01-21T07:47:00.006-05:00

Photo: Karen Philippi

Pj's, tea, oatmeal, a warm fire and birds in the window... nice morning.

Who Put the" Yummy" in Yummy Goods?

2010-01-15T10:03:00.008-05:00

Melissa Averinos, fabric designer, shop owner and author that's who

Last week I took a drive to West Barnstable Massachusetts for a visit to her sweet little store. It is located in an old train depot and quaint as can be. Within its frosting walls she has all sorts of gifts, books, t-shirts, and hand made crafts.

On the day I arrived she was preparing for the last photo shoot for her new book "Small Stash Sewing" which will be out this May. I got a little preview all of the projects and she shared the adventure of the process with me. I am a fabric hoarder so I always have too much but I think this book has a wonderful concept... all of the projects are designed around using fat quarters so they are economical to everyone with small and large stashes of fabric.

The Great Coat Sew Along!

2010-01-12T10:14:00.004-05:00

I just got a comment Kathleen, a member of The Great Coat Sew-along and wanted to share information about this cool interactive blog. The blog is made up of members who are all making coats and posting about their progress while supporting each other along the way. It is wonderful to see their beautiful coats and the network of stitching support this blog provides. Go coat sewers!

My coat to keep...

2010-01-11T10:07:00.012-05:00

For three years my partner has been asking me to make a coat for myself (I am guessing because my coats are usually frumpy thrift finds) I am sort of like that shoe maker with holes in his shoes. I keep only the leftovers from my sales.
I make things to sell but not to keep.... so here it is..... my coat to keep.

I found the green wool on a trip to Vienna about two years ago... the rest of the patch work is from a collection of scraps saved in my studio for something special. The pockets are trimmed with green suede and the embroidered word LACE was on the end of a vintage bolt of wool I bought at an antique shop in New Hampshire while visiting my parents.

The cuffs, buttons and collar are made from a recycled fur coat I had kicking around for nearly ten years...

The dahlia pattern is embroidered in a chain stitch of heathered cranberry worsted weight wool.

I am always looking for ways to wear my pajamas out of the house... now I have a great new disguise to cover them up when I am out and about in the cold weather!

Studio Recharge

2009-12-04T13:25:00.018-05:00

This December I am taking some some time to work in the studio on my own projects. After a busy year and I needed to recharge. I decided to start by making a pattern from a shirt I found about fifteen years ago in my favorite antique shop. I just about wore it out but saved it until now to make a pattern from. It is a simple muslin wrap top with red block prints of a dragon on the front and back. The great thing about this pattern, like a good wrap skirt, is that it is flattering at just about every size... a worthy style to make a pattern from.

My plan for years has been to lengthen the pattern to make a winter coat.

Over the last two weeks I made two versions getting ready for the final coat. I figured I would make finished garments so the fabric would not go to waste as I worked out any issues with the pattern. The first piece I made in a chartreuse cotton with a matching floral pattern as the lining.

All went well so I moved on to a second pattern and made it slightly larger to accommodate the thick wool I would use for the coat as well as lengthening it to the knee.

The final coat, which I hope to have ready by Christmas, will be in a deep green wool with embroidery and patchwork embellishments.

Wood chip wishes...

2009-07-28T21:35:00.006-04:00

Last week I had one of those cosmic moments where the stars aligned in just right way to reward me with what I most needed. I suppose it was a shame at that moment I didn’t wish for something slightly more grand, but this remarkable odd blessing made my day.

For the last four years I have spent my summers in a lovely garden in Tiverton R.I. as a segment and craft producer for the home and garden program Cultivating Life. The morning last week began as usual gathering craft materials for the following days segments. I had all of my supplies ready by early afternoon except for cedar shavings, which I had thought would be one of the first items checked off my list. I had planned to pop into a pet store on my way to the studio and pick up a bag without issue. As it turns out most pet stores no longer carry cedar bedding due to animal allergies. Who knew?
With props and supplies it is always the one thing you think will be easy that eludes you in the end. So five o’clock roles around (I will not relay my harrowing search) and still no sign of a local source, then the phone rings. On the other end of the line I hear the voice of Dan Warren, a blast from the past.
Now you know you are living in a small state when you get a call like this… the first thing Dan says is “So I have these cedar shavings and I thought if anyone knew what to do with them it would be you…”
As it turns out Dan was working on a job not three miles from my studio where he happened to be creating a beautiful batch of cedar shavings. Not one to waste a good thing he knew he had to find a home for them and I was the lucky recipient and on the only day I had ever needed them…. Now that is Rhode Island for you.
Oh, did I mention that he had them separated into chips and curly shavings… very organized. Thank you Dan!

One stem at a time...

2009-07-28T20:19:00.014-04:00

My mother has returned to painting in her retirement. On Wednesdays in the summer she and a group of friends paint together for several hours in the morning. One week in a garden, the next perhaps an ocean view.... they are an inspiring group with an enviable schedule. One of these Wednesdays I will join them for a visit...

My summers are on the busy side. I truly enjoy my work but sometimes I long for the a slower pace on hot July days.

Early this June (with my mother as my inspiration) I treated myself to a new set of watercolors. I had no idea how addictive it would be. It now travels everywhere with me and waits patiently for a free moment. For now I paint a flower here, and insect there... but I have plans for my growing botanical collection.

I recently picked up a plug-in for Photoshop to create textile repeats.
I never stray far from fabric.

This is my first experimental pattern made with painted "dot" elements that are combined and layered.... The possibilities are endless...

5:30 am

2009-07-28T17:06:00.007-04:00

When I visit my family on the Cape I usually take the opportunity to sleep in,

but I woke up at 5:30 am on my last visit and took an early walk.

It was worth the groggy morning that followed.

There is usually time for a nap in the afternoon.

Exploring Bojagi

2009-02-26T20:37:00.012-05:00

I have just completed this piece for an exhibit on Bojagi (Korean wrapping cloths) that will open in conjunction with the annual American Quilt Society Conference in Paducah, Kentucky this April ( Julian Carroll Convention Center, April 22-25, 2009).

My interest in wrapping cloths has been ongoing for many years but this was my first opportunity to explore the complexity of Bojagi on a personal level. I was first drawn to their beauty and was intrigued by their cultural use as a way to present gifts wrapped in hand made textiles. The recycling element of Bojagi (in construction and use) also resonated deeply with me. Over the years I have dabbled in Korean patching techniques and have grown to appreciate the time and patience that goes into these carefully crafted textiles. With their roots in family and frugality I believe now more than ever Bojagi are a metaphor for our times.

Not far in the future with the participation of family and friends I can imagine holidays enlivened by colorful patchwork wrapping cloths. I picture trimming my Christmas tree and thoughtfully choosing which Bojagi is right for each gift. What will my nephew's first Bojagi look like and what memories will we share making it together? How much space in our landfills will be spared through this one recycling effort? How many trees will continue to grow? How many people will be inspired to create? After making my first Bojagi I have so many questions and look forward to discovering the answers with my community.

When working with fabric I am always daunted by the amount of waste I generate. I hate to throw fabric away but due to time and efficiency I don’t often make use of small pieces. The piles of scraps in my studio grow as I create and recede as visitors leave with overflowing bags and smiling faces. In making this wrapping cloth I became even more mindful of the waste in my studio, at home and the world around me.
Photos:Philippi Photography

I began this project knowing that the creative process alone was a gift. Sorting through scraps was meditative and reminded me of the beauty and history each individual piece held. These silks, cottons and wools began their lives as part of living organisms. Transformed by hands and machines they were carefully woven into luxurious fabric then cut and sewn into their final form. Beyond this form though, “waste” materials live on. With luck, these chosen remnants plucked from my scrap piles will live a charmed future. Wishing for their longevity I created a pattern resembling tree bark and nestled the scraps into the nooks and crannies framing each one. Within the wrapping cloth is a brightly colored patchwork pattern depicting an illuminated sprouting tree to honor new beginnings.
The slow contemplative process out of which this Bojagi grew was much needed and allowed me to reflect on issues of our environment, recycling, frugality and creating beauty from humble beginnings. Scraps will continue to accumulate, and visitors will continue to take them away but I am looking through new eyes at my surroundings with deeper thoughtfulness, inspiration and possibility as I look forward to exploring further the larger meaning of Bojagi.

This is Patience Butterworth....

2009-02-11T12:11:00.010-05:00

Patience and I found each other eight years ago when I was living in New York and she was just a wee puppy. At that time she weighed only one pound and fit in the palm of my hand....she was irresistible. She is slightly larger now, closer to 5 pounds.

Due to my schedule she has retired to New Hampshire with my parents to live the high life of constant attention and rotisserie chicken dinners. I am very happy though to have her visiting me in Rhode Island for three weeks while my folks take a road trip down to sunny Florida.

Eight years ago my family was working on our family tree. Patience Butterworth was the oldest member of the family we could locate... from the 1600's I believe.

The more Patience matures the more her borrowed name suits her.

Pin cushion for Heidi

2009-02-02T11:58:00.006-05:00

I made the first of these three little pin cushions in thanks to Heidi of "Two Kitties" for the adorable lamb pin cushion she made for me. I look forward to our exchange!

I had such a good time making her pin cushion that I just kept going and have made several since. I even ordered 30 lbs. of Turkish Emery so I could make many, many more.

My enthusiasm for emery ordering lead me to create a class at Kreatelier on this process coming up in the spring...(dates to be determined soon) Take a peek at their website for all the classes they offer for both adults and children.

I should probably mention that Turkish emery is a grinding and polishing media that has a pleasing weight and the added bonus of sharpening your needle points as you use it. The weight of the emery also makes these little velvet sculptures a pleasing paper weight for just about anyone.... Hope to see you in class!

Photo: Karen Philippi

A small world full of wonder

2009-01-14T18:32:00.006-05:00

Poking around the web the other day looking for images of Bojagi (Korean wrapping cloths) I came across the blog twokitties.typepad.com and her post about Chunghie Lee, a good friend of mine and the curator of "Bojagi and Beyond" (American Quilter's Society April 2009) the exhibit I am currently working on a piece for. I was curious to see what else this blog had to offer so I scrolled down and to find many inspiring posts and video clips about textile arts.... as I continued scrolling I was surprised and happy to find a post about one of the projects in my book "Last Minute Fabric Gifts". I made a few comments sharing my enjoyment of her blog, my connection with Chunghie and my thanks for the post about the book. A few days later I received a lovely email from Heidi with links to several other posts about projects she had made from my book. As it turns out that was where she first learned about Bojagi*. Sometimes I just cannot believe how small and interconnected the world has become.... Many thanks Chunghie and Heidi for their beautiful work and inspiration.

*"Bojagi" or "Pojagi" are two comon english spellings for Korean Wrapping cloths but recently "Bojagi" has been accepted as the more correct pronunciation of the word.

* The photo above was borrowed from a site that, sadly, I can no longer find... I will update when I do locate it.

So, take some time to wander through Heidi's posts, there is a wealth of visual inspiration with thoughtful, humorous commentary... I for one am a new fan.

Here are links to just a few highlights...

December 30, 2008: Writing with thread: Miao Embroidery
December 18, 2008: No name Women: by Chunghie Lee
Sept 24th 2008: Debora Tompson Williams: Hand made books from unusual materials
September 17, 2008: What Happens inside a sewing Machine.
July 20, 2008: More heidi Rettig Art.
April 29, 2008: Beetle Wing Embroidery of Michael Cook

Heidi's links about "Last Minute Fabric Gifts"

March 10, 2007 : Rabbit Run
Nov 3, 2007: Cloche hats from felted sweaters
March 28, 2007: Fabric gifts
Flock of sheep detail
March 31, 2008: Felted rocks

And as for Chunghie, I just found a utube clip made by one of her students that gives you a tiny window into the wonderful world of her wintersession classes at RISD.

2008-12-31T09:33:00.020-05:00

Where on earth did December go? January is in full swing and here I am with one lonely post from the first last month. I must make a belated New Years resolution to keep up a bit better. Honestly though, who has the time in December with all of the holiday whoop-la?

So here are a few scattered photos of the goings on…

A visit to Chicago
Millennium Park and the big “Bean”

If you have not seen" The Bean" plan a visit next time you are in Chicago. It is quite simply a perfect object. From a distance you see a distorted Chicago skyline reflected in its convex mirrored surface, like a giant bead of mercury the size of a building it sits alone in the center of a great expanse of gridded concrete tiles. People wander around it dumbfounded and happy waving to their reflections. Adults behave like children, children behave like children and there is so much pleasure and awe in one place that it is hard to comprehend. I can honestly say I have never seen a single object bring so much delight to so many at one time....

Another stop was to Salvage One, a wonderful architectural salvage store housed in a four-floor brick warehouse. Sadly I did not bring anything home due to airline weight restrictions and cumbersome sizes but have these nice pictures to remember the visit.

The chairs of my dreams.....

After coming home from my Chicago visit there were a few nutty weeks getting prepared for the RISD Alumni Holiday Sale (Many thanks to all my customers and friends who came), and then the big day itself. It was a very nice holiday spent with family and friends... the highlight being my nephew and his new tent.

He is a year and a half old and the first grandchild of the family, so this year is the beginning of Christmases with youthful energy. I hope this tent will be a part of many childhood adventures for him, for elaborate games of peek-a-boo, to hold court at Camelot, for games of adventure in the wild west and a quiet place to read and relax.

The support poles are 6' bamboo stakes so it should be large enough for many years of use...

photos taken by the wonderful and talented Karen Philippi

So that is the abbreviated version of the time lapse in my posts. Wish me luck keeping up with the resolution to keep up posts...

A new friend with many talents

2008-12-01T22:00:00.010-05:00

Back in October I had the pleasure of being introduced to Melissa Averinos, a talented, fresh-faced textile designer who breezed into my life with style and inspired me to begin this blog. She is a woman of many talents and endless energy as her multiple projects attest.
She is not only an avid blogger herself but has a new shop in West Barnstable Massachusetts called Yummy Goods and a line of deliciously bright quilting fabrics appropriately titled “Sugar Snap”.

You might think the shop is in a sleepy little town but as Melissa will tell you her location next to the Old Village Store is “pretty high profile for West Barnstable”. The store itself opened its doors in mid-September with lots of yummy goods to choose from. Hand made bags, accessories and soaps, cook books and craft books, jewelry, t-shirts, candles and cards, whatever you need as a gift for a friend or for yourself. This is truly the place for a treat.

Now, if you have not been yet, you may want to put December 12th on your calendar. She will be having an Open House that evening from 6 to 9 pm and it should be a good time. I just spoke with her tonight and it sounds like she is getting the store and her studio ready for the season and the opening.

When Melissa and I first met she brought me a colorful selection of her new line all tied up in a neat bundle. I have been anxiously waiting for a free moment to dig into them and whip up something to share here.

I knew I liked her fabric when I first saw it but realized later as I looked through my studio that the patterns in her collection pair perfectly with many of my favorite colors. I only have a small quantity of each pattern so I have been savoring them, trying to stretch the goodness out as far as possible. I plan to make several fun projects over the next few weeks mixing and matching her patterns with fabrics I have on hand… I hope you will stay tuned in.

This pillow was inspired by the patchwork pillow in my book “Last Minute Fabric Gifts” with an added a welt pocket just for fun.

The wool and cotton patchwork runs around both sides of the pillow displaying seven Sugar Snap swatches.

Leaf Embellished Blanket

2008-11-10T14:44:00.004-05:00

With the scent of wood stoves in the air and cooler weather coming on it is no wonder I have blankets on my mind. Ideas for soft woolen blankets with smooth silk bindings lure me to the studio. They are big blank canvases waiting for embellishment. With endless possibilities it is hard to settle on one technique or pattern so limitations are a welcome design tool. Since it is fall, I focus on patterns of the season and for technique the basics are always a good choice especially on large-scale projects.
This double-sided alpaca and merino wool blanket employs a new patterning technique I developed using a running stitch as the base to attach outlines of scattered leaves in surface crochet.
This project is not exactly “last minute”. Take your time and work on it in stages. The directions are broken up into workable sections to make it more manageable. Once you have completed the binding though, you can do the stitching and crochet embellishment curled up on the couch. If you prefer a completely couch friendly project, simply do the embellishment on a new blanket. For a simpler project, skip the embellishment steps and just make the blanket with bound silk edges.

Photo: Karen Philippi (karenphilippi.com)

Materials:
1. 2 1/4-yards wool face fabric
2. 2 1/4-yards wool backing fabric
3. 2 yards silk charmeuse for binding
4. Yarn- medium to light weight
5. Yarn darning needle (with large eye and blunt end)
6. Tapestry needle
7. Fine quilting needle

The very basics:

- When stitching a permanent seam with a sewing machine always backstitch at the beginning and end of the stitch.
- Face to face = right sides together
Preparing the blanket
1. Cut the two wool fabrics to the same width (if they are not already). Put them face-to-face and stitch the long sides with a ½-inch seam allowance leaving the ends open. If you have a serger, serge the edge of the seam allowances to stop fraying, if not use a zigzag stitch in place of the serged stitch. Turn the wool blanket right side out and press the stitched edges. Lay the blanket flat on a clean floor with one wool side up and the other face down. Make sure the open ends are even and square to the stitched sides, trim them as necessary. Hand-baste both open ends closed. Use large stitches about 1-inch from the edge. Don’t spend a lot of time here, these stitches be hidden beneath the binding.

Charmeuse binding:
Charmeuse tips: Charmeuse is notoriously slippery and slinky but is more forgiving when cut in length rather than in width. Cut into lengthwise strips charmeuse looses some of its slinky quality. In this direction it is at its smoothest for use as a binding.
Cut Charmeuse strips: For a 2-inch binding cut charmeuse into 4-inch wide strips from the length of the fabric. The strips should be at least 4-inches longer than the length of the basted blanket ends.

Attach Charmeuse strip: Lay the charmeuse strip lengthwise on top of the basted wool edge, face down and centered with the extra length overhanging wool on either end. Match the edges of the charmeuse and wool. Pin edge to secure it. Stitch the strip to the wool with a 2-inch seam allowance. Press the strip back so it faces up. Flip the blanket edge over. Fold the detached edge of the strip in toward the wool edge until they nearly touch. Press the fold in the charmeuse down along the entire length of the strip with a warm iron. Bring the pressed fold around the 2-inch wool seam allowance to encase it. Match the charmeuse fold to stitch line. Pin folded edge in place so it just obscures the stitch line. Baste the pinned edge in place and remove pins. Use a fine quilting needle to make a small running stitch along the basted edge to attach it. Try not to let your running stitches penetrate the opposite side of the blanket. Repeat the above process on the opposite end of the blanket, and remove basting from the charmeuse.

Embellishment:
Pattern: Use natural leaves or leaf imagery as your inspiration. If you are comfortable sketching leaves by hand do so onto a manila folder or other cardstock weight paper. Make each leaf about 10 to 14-inches across. Cut them out. Otherwise enlarge an image on a photocopier and trace it onto cardstock then cut them out. Trace leaves with a fabric pencil or marking chalk onto what will be the top surface of the blanket.

Running stitch: Thread a tapestry needle with a long length of yarn and make running stitch around each leaf. The stitches should be approximately ¼-inch long and ¼-inch apart. Keep the stitches somewhat loose. If they are too tight when you begin crocheting the detached end of yarn will allow you to go back and loosen them later.

Crochet: You will need to know how to crochet for this step. If you don’t know how, consult a beginners crochet book. To begin each leaf thread a tapestry needle with yarn, and make a small knot at one end. Make one stitch into the top layer of wool so the point of the needle comes out at the place you will begin your crochet (the leaf stem is a good starting point). Work the knot through the fabric by either pushing it or by giving it a little tug until it slips through the fibers of the fabric and between the two layers of wool. Remove the needle from the yarn. Slip your crochet hook under the running stitch closest to the thread. Make one crochet stitch. Continue to use each running stitch as the loop to make your next crochet stitch. The resulting crochet should look like a raised chain stitch on the surface of the blanket. If your running stitches need to be looser go back around and loosen the stitches one by one.

Finishing touches: When you finish your crochet stitch, knot off the yarn end close to the surface of the fabric, but wait to cut the tail. Knot off the end of your running stitch but wait to cut the tail. Thread one yarn end through a tapestry needle. Thread the needle through the top layer of fabric to make one large stitch. Pull the length of yarn through the fabric cutting it at the surface. Allow the yarn end to slip back between the two layers of wool to hide it. Repeat this process this for each leaf.

Etsy store...

2008-11-02T21:08:00.003-05:00

In the rush to get my Etsy shop up and running and share it with my new lovely readers I forgot to provide the user name to locate it... forgive the snafu. My user name is "Treen". I have only two handbags up at the moment but will add more items soon. I will have zip wallets, scarves and skirts ($24 and up). Thank you all for your recent visits. Soon I will sort out how to add links to the blog, one step at a time....

Photo: Karen Philippi (karenphilippi.com)

Halloween "Food Wears the Disguise" Party : Jello fish bowl

2008-11-01T21:15:00.012-04:00

Friday was Halloween and the "Food Wears a Disguise Party". What a night! The food was outrageous, confusing and delicious.

After much brainstorming I settled on a Jell-O desert disguised as a fish bowl. I had the bowl but was unsure of the flavor. It could not be anything that would effect the color of the pectin. I had rose water (which is clear) so in it went with a good portion of sugar. My over night test had good clarity and flavor so I hit the toy store for some wind up fish in the morning, made a sticky mess in the studio and waited for the magic of Jell-O to set up. Happy with the result I was off to the party with a jiggling desert deep incognito. The last touch to this flavorful treat was a bowl of "fish food" made of crushed pistachios, cardamom and sugar to sprinkle on top.

This party is in its third year and getting more and more elaborate with every round. When I arrived there were many entries on the table. There were eyeballs made of avocado mousse, an ashtray with edible ashes (of crushed Oreo cookies and confectionary sugar) and chocolate cigars, also a fantastic ghoul log (Halloween interpretation of the Yule Log) and the controversial "bridge to nowhere" made entirely of pork with Sara Palin at its end.... Don't forget to vote Tuesday!

There were so many great entries, sadly I can't remember who all the awards went to, but I can tell you this, the ghoul log took the prize for most beautiful, and best of show. Good job! The bridge to nowhere received an honorable mention due to its late arrival (could have taken most scary in my opinion). I am happy to report though that the fish bowl was well received (and tasty) taking the award for most convincing fake. I think everyone is already planning for next year.

Woodsy fashion now available on Etsy

2008-10-29T21:57:00.016-04:00

Before I left for the Berkshires I gathered some new skirts
and bags from my studio to take along on the trip, hoping for good weather and nice light for a photo shoot. Saturday turned out to be beautiful and warm. A great day for the drive. We stopped along side the road in a wooded glen with mossy rocks and a brook. Never having models around when I need them I made a quick change on the roadside into my tights, heels and a skirt and hiked out into the woods (fortunately I did have a photographer on hand). It was a treacherous walk in my formal attire but with some assistance from the rear, I managed to climb up onto a big boulder covered in moss and leaves for a skirt photo. On my tipsy walk I also found many other spots to capture fall hand bags and zip
pouches.

I have been busy in the studio making skirts, bags and scarves among other things and have finally created an Etsy shop to make them easily available beyond the city of Providence.

I should note though that a nice array of my designs can also be found at Eli-Phant (eli-phant.com) a great new shop in Portland Maine specializing in hand made products.

Photos by Karen Philippi (www.karenphilippi.com)

Artistic offerings from the Berkshires

2008-10-29T14:41:00.019-04:00

This past weekend I went out to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts to check out the new shows opening at Mass MoCa (www.massmoca.org). It was a beautiful crisp weekend with the brilliant leaves still hanging on to the upside down maples (Natalie Jeremijenko: Tree Logic)
The shows were a foreboding group but well worth the trip. It was truly hard to choose which was most haunting.

Jenny Holzer’s Projections was set in a large gallery with massive beanbag chairs strewn about the floor. They offer slouchy comfort as you watch large mesmerizing type wrap around the walls, gradually scrolling up them like a disturbing teleprompter. Descriptions of the horrors of war and its aftermath scroll up as you lounge uneasily in the warm dim light. Gradually the tone of the projections shift describing a time further away from the conflict in an attempt to sooth you with the forgetfulness that time brings. Just when you have been lulled into complacency the projection begins again this time surprising you from behind…. Darkly realistic.
Other seasonal offerings at Mass MoCa:
Badlands: New Horizons in Landscape, Anselm Keifer, Joseph Beuys and several others.

Food Wears a disguise: sugar cone, brownie soil, mint sprig

2008-10-25T07:52:00.006-04:00

Halloween is sneaking up, I am pressed to come up with an idea for the "Food Wears a Disguise" party I have been attending for the last two years. This party was the brain child of a very creative friend and has become a tradition and a great challenge. The categories are as follows:

Most convincing fake, scariest food, food disguised as other food, food disguised as non-food, and yes... beautifullest food.

Last year there was an amazing spread. There was something that appeared to be bowls of colorful Italian ice but in fact were very smooth warm mashed potatoes, what a surprise! There was "Grave yard dip" with hand made crackers set in rows and made to look like grave stones and a chicken with a mini pumpkin head dressed in a bikini of orange peels. Her oven roasted carcass lounged on a woven leek beach mat in a bed of cornmeal sand. None of the accessories were forgotten; her hand bag, a bottle of suntan lotion all carved from squash of some sort I think.

My entry was a Burpee seed tray filled with tiny fresh mint sprigs planted in brownie soil and ice cream cone pots. I have to make something new this time around but these had such great flavor I had to share.

Mint Sprouts Seedlings - food disguised as non-food

Groceries Store:

Pick up a box of rich dark brownie mix, 2 packages of sugar cones with the most pronounced waffle pattern you can find and a tube of marzipan. If you have any chocolate mint in the garden use that otherwise pick that up as well.

Hardware store:

Burpee seed tray

Kitchen:

First get the cones ready. This will take some patience and there will be frustrating casualties, hence the two packages.

Use a serrated knife to cut off the bottom points of the cones so you are left with the top 2/3 as your planting pot. Make enough to fill the seed tray.

Set this aside and make the brownies.

While the brownies are cooking finish the pots. Use a small ball of marzipan paste to stop up the hole in each one. Pick your mint (if you have not), clean it and put the sprigs in a glass of water.

When the brownies are ready pull them out. Immediately scrap at the warm brownies with a fork to make a soil like texture. Fill each pot with brownie soil.

Cut small sprigs of mint and remove the two bottom leaves. Poke them into the soil and serve.

They are best when still warm so get off to your party as soon as possible, and enjoy!

Barnacle Scarf Directions

2008-10-24T20:35:00.006-04:00

I made this scarf from a beautiful chocolate brown boiled wool I found at Mood Fabrics in New York (www.moodfabrics.com) It was quite wide so I was able to cut the length of the scarf across the width of the bolt. It measures about 9-inches wide by 60-inches long. With the right boiled wool you don't have to finish the cut edges in any way. They have felted together and will stay put just the way they are.

If you can't find any great boiled wool (it can be hard to track down) any other wool you like will do just fine. Cut out a front and a back scarf panel that each measure about 9-inches wide by 60-inches long. Put the scarf panels face to face and match the edges. Sew a 1/2-inch seam allowance leaving a good 3-inch hole to turn the scarf. Press the scarf and close the hole with what ever stitch you prefer.

For the barnacles you will need either boiled wool by the yard or a boiled wool thrift sweater in a complementary color. Initially, cut 4 circles from the wool in a range of sizes (2, 3, 4 and 5-inch diameter). Use these as your templates to cut out the remaining 36 circles. If this is an overwhelming number make as many as you like and arrange them in your own pattern.

To create the barnacle shape, use a running stitch to sew around the outer edge of each wool circle I suggest using a buttonhole thread for this. You will be putting quite a bit of tension on it when you gather the edge. Thinner thread may break. When you reach your starting point, pull the thread to gather the stitches and knot off the thread.

To attach the barnacles to the scarf first arrange them in a pattern you like and pin them in place. You may want to use safety pins to avoid a prickly experience. Use the buttonhole thread for this as well. Stitch around the outer edge of the barnacle with a blind stitch that catches the it and the scarf. The stitch should look like a running stitch on the backside of the scarf and be invisible on the front.

I make no claims that this will be a last minute project but the barnacles will keep you busy on a long car ride if you have fidgety fingers.

A Zen question for my first entry

2008-10-24T18:16:00.002-04:00

Who reads the first blog of a blogger and has this question been asked by other virgin bloggers in their early entries? I’ll have to do some research on that. It seems like the age-old question about a tree falling in the forest, sound or no sound? I suppose I will simply forge ahead with a positive attitude looking forward to my first small peep in the blogosphere as I ramble on about working with fabric, sewing projects, art, inspiration and other tid-bits of interest.

Photo By Karen Philippi