EVA + DANIEL

Autumn Unfiltered

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:06:00 +0000

Paris Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:07:00 +0000

Untitled

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:29:00 +0000

Purse

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:14:00 +0000

Pattern from Lisette.

Zoo Mulhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:12:00 +0000

Bee Study

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 07:25:00 +0000

Linen Shirt for Hubby

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:03:00 +0000

A handmade gift for my dear friend.
Pattern from June 2011 Burda Magazine Men’s Chemise 138.
I lengthened the sleeves for Daniel's long arms and took in the side seams to make it less boxy. A great pattern, folding the facing to the outside of the chemise and topstitching it down! I used saffron colored thread.

After the Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:11:00 +0000

Tawny daylilies.

Tomatoes

Siberian Lavender or Russian Sage. Seen frequently planted in the middle of roundabouts here.

A vigorous mirabelle tree shoot came up spontaneously from the jagged stump of the previous one. We let it grow and this is the first year it's given fruit. We're excited to see what they'll taste like. We hear it's a gamble as to whether or not we end up with good tasting fruit because we haven't done any grafting. We wanted to let these new little genes express themselves! There are maybe a dozen mirabelles on the tree, two of which have oozed this transparent secretion.

Has a worm inside extruded this juice?

Deodorant Experiment II

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:42:00 +0000

I'm almost out of my Aubrey calendula blossom natural deodorant spritz, thought I'd attempt to make my own again. I wasn't thrilled with my first attempt which had a messy, creamy clay base.

I noticed that Dr. Hauschka's natural deodorant getting rave reviews on various sites and instead of paying $20 + for a small bottle, I thought I'd try to make my own variation....

lemon balm, sage leaves, sage flowers, German chamomile and lavender from the garden....

Simmered in 1.5 cups water for 14 minutes...

Cooled....

I bottled up the fragrant liquid and tried it....
FAILED. Why? I'll try adding some essential oils to this tisane base and see if that works.
Stay tuned for more experiments...

Rose Robe

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Tue, 24 May 2011 07:23:00 +0000

Mornings are re-energized with this crazy big rose print robe! The fabric is from Boussac, thick and almost like terry cloth in absorbency, this could totally go to the pool. Features hot pink bias-taped edges and hems and a front pocket. Thanks again to Aunt Sue for the 70's robe pattern.

White Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Fri, 20 May 2011 06:55:00 +0000

I found this white jersey with tiny black polka dots at Emmaüs and decided to make a dress with it.
I dug through my stock of vintage patterns and chose the unlikely Butterick pattern 3160 (thanks Aunt Sue!) which is a pattern for a big-sleeved night-time robe with buttons all the way down the front to the hem. I simply stopped the buttons at the waist and got this garment. Madame Sutter showed me some buttons she'd removed from a white blouse and I was hesitant in using them because they had a contour of gold which can be too classic looking. But, actually, they weren't at all bad and decided to use all seven of them. The jersey was difficult to work with.

Romper

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Thu, 12 May 2011 06:50:00 +0000

Based on McCall's pattern circa 1994

Garden in May

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Tue, 10 May 2011 07:07:00 +0000

Chives

German chamomile

Thyme

Snail on dandelion

Sage

Flax

Borage

Dandelion

Iris

Rose

Photos by Daniel.

Arachnid Nature Outing, Strasbourg

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:37:00 +0000

We had an absolutely amazing morning with a wonderful guide who acquainted us with fascinating spiders in the Rohrschollen Nature Reserve. Entomology rules!

Asparagus season is upon us.

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Fri, 06 May 2011 06:58:00 +0000

I've noticed that people here eat with the seasons, letting the farmers dictate what's on their plates, rather than the people demanding the farmers to put on their plates what they capriciously desire. So when a vegetable or fruit is in season, there's celebration.
When the asparagus emerge, there are signs and stalls along the road, the markets abound with humble farmers selling asparagus exclusively, restaurants boast it on their menus. We get our fill now. Any other time of year, it's just not the same having traveled many miles to get to our supermarket. It's asparagus now or never.
As a native midwesterner, I'm used to green asparagus, but here in Alsace, they pack earth up around the growing shoots to protect them from sunlight and they are unable to produce chlorophyll. These sun-deprived albinos are very fat and meaty, very tender even at the base of the stem. We eat them steamed, hot or cold, plain, or with a simple vinaigrette.
Someday I'll have an asparagus plant of my own and will anticipate the stalks coming out of the ground from a rhizome like snakes each spring.

robe à plastron

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Thu, 05 May 2011 06:44:00 +0000

Daniel found this white cotton fabric with varying thicknesses of pale blue stripes digging through a giant bin at Emmaũs. There are so many crazed ladies after the fabric that one of us stands guard as the other rummages frantically. I got elbowed in the ribs.

I decided to use the fabric to make this 'robe à plastron' from a book I borrowed at the library called 'La Couture Nature.' There are light gathers under the dicky shirt front, the officer’s collar has interfacing to keep it rigid, and four buttons have hand stitched buttonholes to enter into. The pattern can easily be shortened to make a nice shirt. Think of all the contrasting fabric possibilities!

Le Cirque, Obernai

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:56:00 +0000

Funky Ikat Jacket

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:48:00 +0000

I don't know if this is cool or barfy. It's a nice fit though. I finally got labels for my handmades. Jacket based on Stylish Dress Book II, pattern L.

Le Lundi de Pâques

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 07:12:00 +0000

We just had an extended Easter weekend. The Monday after Easter is a holiday, so we took advantage by climbing to an elevation of 1100 meters in the Vosges Mountains near the town of Salem. The views were spectacular.

Playing 'Statue of Liberty.'

Silvery moss on the rock pile.

We found several enormous ant hills. The ants are the same color as all the copper needles they use to construct the mound and are initially detected only by their movement! I love watching them.

We took some time to make two tall wooden sculptures we called, 'Us.' Do you see the resemblance?

After the hike, we picked up Madame Sutter who was visiting a friend in Aubure, and got some artisanal ice cream in Ribeauvillé.

'It's great to get out, but it's also great to go home,' said Madame Sutter.

Villa Borghese Gardens Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:51:00 +0000

Latest dress based on pattern from 'La Couture Nature' by Kyoko Sakauchi. Features sash at waist, suspender shoulder straps which are constructed high enough to always rest securely on the shoulders and rows of tucks towards the hem.

I love this cotton print in anticipation of my next trip to Italy: Roman volutes and porticos, trellised gateways, cyprus trees, roses.

Homemade Wallet IV

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 07:57:00 +0000

I made another wallet out of a vintage silk scarf....

I love the birds and nests!

Big enough for everything! And this super supple silk feels awesome!

Ikebana Geisha Pajama

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:46:00 +0000

I found this cotton fabric remnant out thrifting and used Simplicity pattern 1325 from 1955 to make these much needed summer pj’s! I just love these little kneeling geishas arranging their ikebanas in between powder blue stripes.

I opted out of the buttoned waistband and went for elastic in the pants, not only because it's easier but more comfortable! One small pocket at bust can hold a handkerchief.

I tried to place one geisha in the center of each covered button.

I also made an optional sash. I was super nervous about completing the collar, I didn't know if I was capable or not! I definitely want to make more button-down, collared blouses for practice. Good night!

Sunday Sunday Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:59:00 +0000

Kaysersberg and Ribeauvillé.

Felt Bunny Pin Cushion

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 09:08:00 +0000

I needed a pin cushion instead of keeping my needles in a cylindrical tin container.

I also kinda wanted to make a bunny out of felt.

Kitsch Pop Flower Hippie Burn Out Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Eva Marie Sutter) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:09:00 +0000

I couldn't resist this psychedelic cotton fabric in hopes of making a colorful summer dress.

The most fun was deciding which flowers would go where!

I let the selvage of the fabric become the natural hemline and the largest, pinkest blooms fall towards the bottom center.

The yoke and the gathers under the yoke are small. So are the sleeves which have a bit of elastic in them.

The back closes with two buttons.

I used a Burda pattern from 'Couture Facile' # E971, robe tunique.

Peace out!