Hello Sailor (wink, wink)

Ahoy Maties! Finally finished up this sweet blue, white and grey nautical-inspired sweater-coatie. I had a lot of fun with this, especially loving the whimsical blue and white stripes of felted wool.


Of course my version of a "sailor collar" came out feminine and flouncy, with asymmetric pieces of this light navy blue layered and circling the neckline.

Added to this mix is one piece of the striped blue and white, so there's a lot going on to catch the eye. The top of the sweater is a lovely grey merino wool. I really like using merino for the tops of these sweaters because they just look so classy and the drape is wonderful and flattering. The middle section here is made of more of that sweet light navy blue, only this time in cableknit, which I've cut to flare out from the low waist to give some room for hips (and so that when you spin it will shiver your timbers).

To finish, I've made coordinating blue and white striped front ties, and a lovely and feminine striped flounce, so that you get some stripes on the top, middle and bottom. Three of my signature "freckle flowers" dot the upper left shoulder.

And as an extra special detail, I put a tiny striped pocket on the right sleeve (just the right size for a tiny, hidden treasure.)

Lifeforce

The other day, when I was dropping Eamon off at school, I noticed these three round holes in the middle of the white lines of the road which runs in front of his school. Rte 1. gets lots of traffic. And these lines must get run over hundreds, if not thousands, of times a day. But inside each of the three little round holes in the pavement was a little cup of dirt, and growing in each little cup of dirt was a tiny green plant, less than an inch high. Just small enough so that when a car tire runs over the hole, the plant is protected in its little cup in the pavement. Amazing.

Thriftstore Score: Globe

One of this week's Thriftstore Scores is this "really old" globe. I wish I knew how old it is, alas it has a copyright, but no date. I'm sure after some research and several hours of squinting at countries that no longer exist, Chris and I will be able to figure out at least a rough estimate as to when this li'l sweetie was made. In the meantime, I will enjoy her for her loveliness. The yellows of the continents and the ocean's blues are especially rich in tone. And just look at that sweet but sturdy metal base (clearly this baby is old). But what I love best are the adorable, almost "cartoony", mid-century looking graphics of flying fish, penguins, aeroplanes, and ships dotting the surface, conjuring up visions of steamer trunks with big leather belts and shiny locks for--not trips, but--voyages. This is not merely a circular map to help you orient yourself in the world, but rather, a lusciously romantic object to help fancy-up your dreams.

Art Star Craft Bazaar

Gearing up for the Art Star Craft Bazaar show in Philly next month. Here's the yak:

The Art Star Craft Bazaar is an outdoor retail art/craft show that is juried by Philadelphia’s Art Star Gallery & Boutique. Over 100 local & national artists have been chosen to set up shop & sell their wares along the beautiful waterfront @ Penn’s Landing. Shoppers can expect high quality handmade goods that reflect the unique & often quirky aesthetic of Art Star, set against the backdrop of the sparkling Delaware river. Art Star has hand selected a diverse collection of artists that create anything & everything, including housewares, paper goods, dolls, prints, ceramics, clothing, accessories, paintings/drawings, sculpture, and many other one-of-a-kind curiosities. All items have been handmade from a variety of mediums that include fabric, clay, glass, wood, paper & much more

It's my first show in Philly and my first two-day show of 2010. I don't normally do a lot of Spring/Summer shows (due to the fact that I work primarily in wool and cashmere), but this one was recommended to by by a friend and it looked so intriguing that I thought I'd just go for it and see what happens. Apparently there were hundreds of applicants vying for the 125 slots in the show. I'm excited I was chosen to be amongst what looks like an awesome group of indie crafsters. The location of Penn's Landing seems like a beautiful place to spend a couple of days, so I'm gearing up production, making plans to hit the road (and praying for sunshine and good weather). If you live anywhere near Philly, stop by and say Hello!

Here are the details:

When: Saturday, May 15th from 11-6pm & Sunday, May 16th from 11-6pm

Where: Philadelphia, PA @ Penn's Landing Great Plaza - on Columbus Boulevard between Walnut Street and Chestnut Street (click here for directions)

If you live anywhere near Philly, stop by and say Hello!

The King and Queen of Easter Fabulous!

Sunday, at Dawn B's (Poppi Shop) famous annual Easter Sunday Brunch, we had a fabulous time stuffing ourselves with too much delicious food and champagne (I must have eaten five of those giant chocolate covered strawberries), sitting under the umbrellas in Dawn's back yard, chatting with Dawn's awesome collection of (mostly artists) friends, and enjoying the perfect day.

Allison and her husband Kevin took the prize for Easter Fabulousness.

Sakura: Cherry Blossoms in DC

Well, Friday was the first day I'd had off in many weeks, so I decided to head down to The Mall with my bike. It was such a gorgeous day. What I'd forgotten (don't ask me how) was that it was not only Cherry Blossom time, but Cherry Blossom FESTIVAL time here in DC, which means The Mall was a mob scene. Still beautiful to be sure.

This is my third spring in DC, and I am always awed that the festival planners--who begin planning the festival a year in advance--always manage to get it just right, holding the festival in just those two weeks when the blossoms are at their peak. I took a few pictures (really, you can't help it), because I knew it would only be a few more days until the blossoms were gone. Sure enough, today it will be nearly 90 degrees and the blossoms are "melting" off the trees.

Of course this time of year always inspires a flower-maker like myself. So I'm including a couple of pictures of "blossom" hats I finished today. Enjoy the spring!