it has been almost three months since we arrived in connecticut. it is now spring. we see flowers and leaves everywhere. everyone is out on the street, hanging out. cotton prints, floral skirts. it’s wonderful and we are loving every bits of life in new england.

i had also take on a new position. and i’m thrilled to be where i am right now. this is probably the best place i can be in terms of having a career, and i’m really loving it. as such, i have shifted my focus away from craft. my knitting and sewing are no longer governing my life. i suppose it has its pros and cons, but surprisingly, i’m very much at peace with the transition.

this change of routine had led me to really think about what i want out of my craft. i think i want them always be something i would enjoy doing, and this portal would be the place where i would share them. i don’t really want to deviate from that, at least for now. and that probably includes not feeling somewhat guilty of letting this blog run dry.

it has been incredibly rewarding and humbling, being part of this online craft community. i have made several really good friends here and had the pleasure to meet a few in real life. hopefully, this interaction would only continue to grow and enrich my life as a crafter.

knitting was sporadic for the past couple months, to say the least, but my clapotis was progressing quite nicely. sewing wise, i was trying to hem a pair of jeans on my now two year old sewing machine, which did not go over very well. i’m starting to accept the limitation on my machine; it is after all, a beginner’s machine, not really designed for heavy duty fabrics.

this summer is going to be busy. my brother and his family will be in boston for work. they will stay for a few months. it’s going to be fun, spending time with family and exploring the loveliness of new england summer. we have a lot to look forward to.

posted by blossom at 01:19 PM | Comments (7)

pattern: amy butler's barcelona skirt
difficulty (1-5): 2
pattern size: small - medium
fabric: 1.2 yd of wool and cotton
notions: invisible zipper

a while ago i asked brooke if she would be interested in swapping some of her amazing weave works for some handmade items from me, she agreed to my proposal. naturally i was delighted, for i have been following her journey as a weaver. while not able to indulge into this craft myself, owning a piece of a fellow crafter's weaving art seems like a much better end of the bargain.

that being said, sew something for another person was challenging, fitting in particular. i like brooke's almost monochromatic photos and details in her work very much, and i wanted to make something that would fit in. so a piece of textured charcoal i have in my stash was chosen to be made into a skirt. i also wanted to incorporate my take on her style, so i added the bright cotton print as lining. it adds the moment of unexpected joy. which really is my belief in style and fashion in general - moments of unexpectedness, hiding out of sight, only reveals to those who also appreciate such wonders. she did like this little pouch with a pink patch i made before, so i don't think she mind the splashed yellow underneath the charcoal.

and the weather was getting warmer as the swap was progressing. spring is really the time for cotton and washed denim. i was really inspired by the textural work of brooke's weaving. so i thought of waves... waves of fabrics folded, creating interesting shades. lines were created to stabilize the creases, sometimes they would be out of alignment, but that's the point of waves, a little bit unpredicted. handles were hand stitched.

pattern: wave bag (my own)
difficulty (1-5): 2
pattern size: medium
fabric: 1yd of denim
notions: cotton for lining, a pair of handles

more pictures can be found here and here. the beautifully woven tree top shawl from brooke arrived at my doorstep this week. it is as light and airy as the photograph and has now become the most amazing shawl in my closet. thank you so much, brooke!

posted by blossom at 08:20 AM | Comments (18)