cozynotions

dahlia days

my favorite. 

random post.

In the fine traditon of whacky Oregon summer weather, it's crazy hot out here!  Ok, ok, it's about 90.  That's not crazy hot to some.  Having never had any tolerance for the heat (I wilt like the gentle flower that I am...heh heh heh), some days 70 is too hot for me.  I'm holed up here in the Casa De Cozy, reveling in the AC and sucking down sinus meds.  Yay, allergies!  But at least there's a good reason, wildfires burning in Central Oregon are sending smoke our way.  So, if allergies are all I'm dealing with, I'm in good shape.

All this time at home while Mr. Cozy Notions is away in Seattle has me doing a lot of trolling around online.  Etsy, let's just put it out there, you basically own me.  Lately, I'm into paint by numbers with an Asian flare.  No idea why.  None. 

 
Don't you just want to hang out with this guy, though?  He looks pretty chill. 

Other than that, I've started doing the whole Pintrest thing!  Loving it so far.  It's a great way to organize little bits of the internet that I want to remember.  Much better than trying to find one thing amid 1,000 bookmarked links!   I'm going to attempt to put a Pintrest button in my sidebar.  Which is really the only plan I have for my entire day!  Speaking of which, the older I get, the more I'm finding this quote to be particularly true: 

Enjoy your random day!

 

Hm.

Today I'm considering what to do with this blog.  Do I like blogging?  Yes.  Why?  Sometimes I have thoughts about things and it would make my friends insane if I sent them every home dec link I love.  Its also nice to be able to show fam/friends what I'm up to.  I do put pressure on myself to have *perfect* content and if it isn't *perfect* then I don't like to even bother.  Which doesn't work in real life or on a blog!  Which is probably why I haven't blogged in ages. 

 

This is Oscar.  He's part of a project I'm doing for work, taking pictures of all the staff pets to display in the lobby!  I'm loving it.  Pets are, of course, my favorite subject matter, but how do you ask people, "Hey, I'm not insane, but can I take 500 shots of your cat?" 

Anyway....that's what I'm up to.  I'm considering moving this blog to a free service, such as Blogger.  I'm considering never blogging again.  When I consider that, it makes me kind of sad.  So, maybe that's not the right step now.  I'm considering taking the dog for a walk because it's a gorgeous (perhaps even fall-like?  hope, hope, hope!) morning!  I'm considering quite a few things.  I'm considering not making a plan and just doing things as I think of them.  Hm. 

spring cleaning

hello?  is it me you're looking for?  I'm such an intermittent blogger.  The last vestiges of winter/early spring are here in PDX and I'm so. very. sick. of. rain.   I do really love rain, but seriously.  It's time to lighten up out here!  To that effect, I made new *ultra*girly* curtains for my studio.  (side note: it's decidedly a 'studio'.  Toyed with atelier, craft room, sewing room, but it's really a studio.  Things are studied.  Then I *might* end up making something...or I might take a nap with Floofy.)

That photo was taken a month ago, when it was still dark outside at 5pm.  Love that it's lighter later now!  Looking forward to even better light to come, better for photos indoors and out.  I've taken a ton of pictures lately, but, get this, my computer is FULL.  It can't handle any more picts until I make some room!  So, lots of spring cleaning around here!  It's nice, really, to prepare for 70 degree weather when the last thing I'll want to do is be attached to my computer! 

I've done some cute little projects lately, too, including a little mug rug.  Thinking there will be more of those in my future, they're like tiny little quilts, easy to finish, instant gratification quilts.  Heading into a cleaning up of the blog, new banner, new links, etc.  But first, a mini-vaycay!  Travelling back home to upstate NY to visit a dear friend and her little boy this upcoming week!  SO excited to see them and have some time to chill out!  I'll be back in a couple of weeks, see you then!

snowmageddon

 

 

It snowed last night!  They always say it's going to, but it never does.  I had my doubts.  They were unfounded.  It's always "Snowpocalypse 2011" on the news, whenever a flake may fall.  Just keep calm, people!  Drive slower.  That solves most problems. Theo loves watching the snow fall, you have to wonder what he thinks it is...

Watching the snow with a cup of coffee and a kitty, what a perfect morning!

who knew?

I thought this was going to be my picture for the day:

 

Slightly out of focus, because candlelight will do that, it was dark this morning... because this was about to happen:

We were all very curious.

This had not been part of the forecast...

Big clumps of snow, like lake-effect back home!  Odd. 

We'll keep you apprised. 

 

5am? really?

(found last year at an antique shop) 

Never thought I'd ever post this early in the morning.  But my coffee was ready on time, the pets didn't put up a fuss during feeding time and so far (in this hour) things have been going smoothly.  It's quiet, of course, and there's a cat on my lap.  As soon as a lap forms around here, a cat just *appears*. 

My Take Once Daily project is definitely a challenge.  Some evenings I find I haven't taken anything, then it's dark and incandescent light makes all my shots glow yellow.  I've been including them anyway, they can't all be gems and there's some sort of truth to glowing yellow evenings in winter.  I've found that most of my pictures are of pets or food and there's a lot of truth in that, too!  Pets and food are pretty important around these parts, esp during the dark, rainy days of winter. 

Haven't been doing too much sewing, which is a bummer.  Though I did whip up some napkins in a desperate need to actually finish a project!  Been working on a quilt that's slowly making me insane and I needed some instant gratification.  The quilt is the first one I'm making for Chez CozyNotions, not giving away as a gift.  And, for some reason, that ups the stakes for me.  Frustrated Perfectionists, raise your calloused hands!  There's some  puckering at the end of my rows, though I used a walking foot and adjusted the thread tension.  Possibly my machine needs a tune up?  I need to think about this problem more before I go back to that quilt. 

My next project just might be a pillow, since SMS is having Pillow Month and I LOVE pillows (Mr. Cozynotions would say I love them to a fault).  Playing around with some Echino and linen.  Flooooofy (aka Ivy, Doodle, ScroofyPoof) approves.

take once daily

This morning I sat in the cold winter sun with Theo, our morning ritual; he purrs, I groggily drink coffee.  I don't want to forget that time, ever, because he's such a little buddy.  And so I'm doing a little year-long project, one picture a day to remember the little things my life is comprised of.  This is not an original idea, I've always loved it and wanted to try it.  The little things are what make up your life and, yeah, holiday pictures are great...but that's one week/year!  What happened the rest of the year? 

Take Once Daily is the project name.  The pictures won't be posted here, only on my flickr page, so pop over if you like to see little snapshots of my world!

 

 

Sewing, 2011-style!

Sew Mama Sew has a little sewing survey, looking back at 2010 and forward at 2011.  They always have fun conversations going on over there, count me in! 

Looking back on the sewing scene of 2010, what trends stand out in your mind?

Designers using 'new' fabrics for their lines.  Anna Maria Horner with velveteen, there were some cotton lawns out there, voile, you name it!  I have no clue how to use them, which I guess is the point!  Modern Quilting is big right now; modern can mean whatever you want it to mean!  For me it means a little slack on the quilting rules (ie- quilts 'must' be done such and such way, etc), which makes me much more likely to try techniques I wouldn't have been comfortable with before. 

What were some of your favorite things? (Trends, fabric collections, patterns, blogs? Whatever you really loved.)

Love how online sewing shops (like SMS, Pink Chalk Fabrics and FabricWorm) have really started to embrace their blogs, making it much more of a community-minded venture!  Reading those blogs feels like hanging out in a sweet little shop with a bunch of friends chatting about projects/techniques over a cup of joe.  I remember back when Sew Mama Sew was a teensy tiny little online shop that sold primarily oilcloth!   Ah, change is good. 

What was your very favorite fabric collection or print?

My 2010 favorite collection just arrived in stores 2 weeks ago!  I'm in LOVE with Melody Miller's Ruby Star Rising collection!  SO fun, love that it's a linen blend, and Viewmaster slides?!  Drool.  It was in stores, then *poof*, out of stock!  It's so different from anything else 2010 had to offer.  Overall, I didn't feel 2010 had great fabric selections.  It all looked the same to me.  The only other collection I had to have instantly was the Alexander Henry Farmdale group!  I don't drool over it like the Ruby Star line, but I HAD to have it!  The prints are very reminiscent of calicos from when I was 3 years old, late 70's.  Its fabric that you aren't afraid to cut into, that you actually want to use, not make a shrine to.

What was the best thing you made in 2010?

Hands down the best thing I made was a baby quilt for my co-worker's daughter (Marin).  It was a cinch to put together and the results were really great.  Momo's Wonderland from a couple years back and a whisper soft muslin (yeah, I know, but the feel was so much nicer than the Kona solids I saw!).  Patchwork on the front and appliqued tree on a hill for the back.  Love that damn thing. 

back:

What is one of the best things you saw that was made by someone else?

Oh, man, let's see....how can I narrow this down?!  Well, the one that made me smile the most was Blair's Wintertime Sunshine Quilt.  LOVE yellow and grey together!  And, heck, it's the Pacific NW, I'll take whatever sun I can get!

What do you think 2011 has in store? (Again, trends, fabric, patterns, etc.)

I think the 'new' fabrics trend will keep on keepin' on.  I'm hoping for more designs in knits, since you get sick of solids and cheap prints after a while.  It feels like solid fabrics are poised for a comeback, as well.  

Anything you’re ready for the sewing world to get over?

OWLS.  Merciful Heavens.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good owl.  But they're everywhere.  It feels like Hitchcock's Birds around here. 

also

(and this isn't going to be popular)

Children's Clothing. 

Seriously.  Children outgrow clothing in microseconds.  Why don't designers spend more time clothing the ADULTS?  There are SO many more kids' patterns than for adults!  You're an adult a lot longer than you're a kid, so you can wear things you make for YEARS!  And kids don't even appreciate the effort.   So.  In conclusion, down with kids, up with adults. 

What’s on your sewing agenda for 2011? What are you excited about? What would you like to learn more about?

Knits.  I like 'em.  I'd like to use them.   If that goes well, I may consider investing in a serger.  But, I think I should actually complete some projects first.  I'd like to learn more about how to alter patterns to fit you better, without making a muslin.  I have limited time, people!  Limited!  

There are also a TON of free tutorials out there that I have hovering in my Favorites list...and several quilts waiting to be made, shirts to be altered....  it's shaping up to be a busy year already!  Coffee, please?

woah...what? I'm posting?

What?  I have a blog?  Huh, fancy that.  Ahhh, prime blogging season; January 2nd till July 4th.  Good times!  What have I been up to?  Well, lots of working at the hospital, my brother + sister in law + nephew came for Christmas, some more work, then some work!  I like it, though, it keeps my mind occupied.  Did some sewing, made a ton of cookies (gaaaah, coooooookies!) and now I'm settling in for a long winter's nap.  The napping will be offset by coffee consumption, intermittent sewing fits and blog entries.  This is the BEST time of year.  Followed closely by cookie season.