Wise Craft

color your cloth

2009-11-09T05:00:00-08:00

I have a confession...

I've never liked batiks. Of any kind. I couldn't really explain it except to say I saw no inspiration in them. I knew I gravitated toward clearer colors in general, so maybe that was the reason.

But whatever the reason, I did not like them. Until I saw Malka's work that is.

I started following her blog, A Stitch in Dye, earlier this year when I realized what beautiful, original things she was doing with color. She did batik in a way that felt totally new. She hand dyes and hand prints her fabrics using wax resist and other techniques, and each piece is a pure riot of color. Sunny, vibrant color. Batiks suddenly looked quite new and modern to me.

I played around with Malka's method of dividing fabrics for a project up by warm or cool for piecing the Tuesday morning patchwork pillow (in the Spring 09 issue of Stitch magazine). And now I'm happy to have my own copy of Malka's new book Color Your Cloth: A Quilter's Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric. I often tell creative friends that I am looking for a sewing, crafting type book that will take it to the next level for me (whatever that actually is). This one definitely does. The first half of the book talks about how to add pattern and color to your fabric through a processes such as wax resist, stamping your fabric with found and homemade objects, how to use a tjanting tool (a tool used in traditional wax resist), brushes, etc. These are the types of surface effects many of us have been curious about but have never jumped in and tried. I've tried bleaching and loved the results, but knew there was a whole world of this type of thing to explore. This books breaks it down into understandable capsules of information. For beginner or more advanced.

I had ordered swatches of Malka's fabric a couple of months ago, wanted to do a project from the book with them. A manageable project for me right now is yet another pillow. The colors in the swatches I have reminded me a lot of the stack of Childcraft books we have in our family room (my kids still love these books and often read them over breakfast), so I'm now calling this the Childcraft pillow. I followed the basic layout of the Twinkle Applique Quilt pattern in the book, but changed the size of the squares slightly and created a 20" x 20" pillow. The squares and the circles all have raw edges exposed, and I really like the effect. The frayed edges add to it. I wanted the color of the batiks to stand out, so I sewed them all onto cream cotton twill and stitched everything with gray thread.

The fun, very doable projects in this book will really show off fabric you've manipulated using the processes she describes in the first part of the book. Or any fabric you choose really.

Available at amazon, and in Malka's store.

You can see pictures from the book here.

komforte chockolate winners

2009-11-07T14:39:38-08:00

The random generator gave us our two winners-

Heather

Amber

I have sent you both an email. Send me your address you'll have a set of Komforte Chockolate bars heading your way.

Thanks so much for all who stopped by with combination ideas and good wishes!

thank you!

2009-11-03T19:56:07-08:00

Hello! And thank you for all the chocolate (or should I say -Chockolate love?)! We are so appreciative of all the wonderful feedback, suggestions, and general good wishes we've gotten (our list of combos to try is getting longer). Feel free to keep chiming in, I'll keep the post open for comments a few more days and draw 2 names at the end of the week, who will get a bar of each of the flavors.

That photo above is of me setting up at the Holiday photo shoot we did for Value Village last week at Armstrong Studio. Those photo shoots are so fun, I really do love seeing everything I've made come together in the photos. I'm wearing my total go-to outfit of late. (You can't see it, but that's the scarf I made a few weeks ago. I've already made 2 more since this one.) I wear black every day these days (no kidding), its just so easy for me...everything matches or works together... (Mom, don't worry, some day I'll add in some color, its just a phase.) The black cotton tunic I'm wearing (the longer piece) is a favorite right now. Simplicity 2725, I made it super simple...the length is a little longer than the tunic length...sleeveless...plain round neck...zip up the back. I made it to use as a layering piece, I wear it with just a t-shirt underneath, or with a scarf and a cardigan. I'd love a couple of other versions, maybe in a muted, simple plaid, or a pretty solid gray wool.

Sad to report there has not been much happening on the crafting side of things around here. Well, except Emma, who's still making things from this book as fast as I can bake 'em.) I got the call today that Ian's quilt is now quilted and waiting for me to pick it up from The Quilting Loft and I'm dying to see it. I'll have to figure out what to bind it with next. I just got my copy of Color Your Cloth and can't wait to try some of the fabric dyeing and wax resist techniques in there. Couple of random thoughts...I recently started drinking a cup of coffee after dinner every night, like I did last year this time. I think the time change and just the general darkness is cozy but tiring in the evening, and the coffee gives me the ability to stay up past 8:30pm. And I'm suddenly wearing my reading glasses a little more than I used to (which maybe means I should get a cuter pair, the ones I have are awful).

I got myself an Iphone and have to admit, I am amazed at not only how more organized I am, but there's a ton more room in my purse (I carried two planners before...don't ask). Its amazing you can carry that much of your life in a small little thing. Now I'm geeking out on all the apps and wallpapers. The kids love the Hangmath app, I love these wallpapers (like it matters, but they are so pretty). Jen turned me on to the Shake It app, which turns photos taken by your iphone into polaroid-like images, which is how I took the photo above. Sick fun, I fully realize that.

komforte chockolates

2009-11-01T19:35:00-08:00

All summer, this house has been working on a seed of an idea that is finally ready to show its face in the big world. I am so excited to tell you about it!

(I have chills typing this!) After numerous conceptual meetings, decision making, midnight a-ha! moments, and, of course, lots of chocolate testing, I am so excited to introduce to you a line of chocolate bars designed and created by my husband Peter and his partners Frank and Robert. Komforte Chockolates.

I know! This is coming out of left field, right? Wait! A chocolate bar? What?

Komforte Chockolates (pronounced just like 'comfort chocolates') began as a casual idea among friends earlier this year. As a brand consultant, Peter has had the opportunity to create and craft brand images for many people and companies, but I think the desire has always been there to produce his own brand. Creating a brand of chocolate came about because we had access to knowledgeable folks within the chocolate industry. Peter collaborated with Seattle Chocolates, a leader in the industry, and his idea grew with their knowledge and expertise. They believed in the concept and jumped in to help develop the product.

So, what is Komforte Chockolates?

The idea is simple. Peter believes in all-American comfort food. Food that is familiar, that feels like home, that's full of flavor, and that tastes good. Komforte Chockolates does not come from an elite palate, but rather, one that finds familiarity in good food. Mixing amazing chocolate with everyday, flavorful comfort food was the goal. Sweet and savory is nothing new in chocolate (chocolate and bacon comes to mind), but Peter's idea was coming from a different. Our summer months were spent mixing recipes (both at Seattle Chocolates kitchens and here in our own kitchen). Deciding to focus on three great combinations was the easy part. Getting those combinations just right took many months, but we are so happy to be finally there.

Our first three flavors are:

French Toast- premium milk chocolate mixed with bits of crunchy, savory french toast. A hint of cinnamon. Just like mom used to make.

Tortilla with Lime & Salt- Milk chocolate mixed with lime infused tortilla chips. All of our favorite flavors in one bar...

But then, we were absolutely stumped on the third bar. Nothing was coming together quite right and we were running through the list of possibilities, having no luck.

And then, one night at dinner, we were talking to the kids about our dilemma.

Emma had a random thought...

"Dad, what about ramen noodle?"

Blank stares across the table.

Suddenly, we had our third flavor.

Emma's favorite food of all time, Ramen Noodle (now you know the truth about mealtime around here), became the third combination. (My favorite combination actually.) Crunchy ramen noodles mixed with rich dark chocolate. Consider it sort of the next evolution of your childhood nestle crunch bar. (Check out Emma's hidden "ERS" initials on the bar's label. She's very proud of that.) Seriously good.

The packaging of these bars is intentionally clean and unadorned.

Why the weird spelling? Well, if you've ever tried to trademark a generic word like "chocolate" you'll be nodding your head right now. So, Peter got creative.

Where can you get it? Its slowly making its way out into the world. If you're in Seattle, you can find it on the amazonfresh home grocery delivery website. They are also available on the main amazon website, but as of yet only by the sleeve (12 bars per sleeve). They will soon be available at Uwajimaya (we will be doing a sampling demo there soon, I will let you know when). We are excited to now be available in Portland at The Meadow. For right now, our website is mainly for wholesale orders, but if you are interested in wholesale, please email us at sales@komfortechockolates.com. All up to date news can be found on our facebook page (there is a fan box in my upper left sidebar).

**Right now, I've got 2 sets (1 of each of the bars in a set) available to give away. Please leave us a comment on this post, check us out on our facebook page, and tell us what your ideal Komforte Chockolate flavor combination would be (we have a list, but would love to hear from you too). Thank you!

Update: The winners have been chosen, thank you to everyone!

the polymer clay cookbook

2009-10-29T20:05:47-07:00

So, Emma, myself, and, pretty much every girl that comes into contact with it is freaking out over The Polymer Clay Cookbook. It is so crazy cute. We've had it for a couple of weeks and its been by Emma's bed for nightly reading ever since (she has a so much homework these days, that's when she gets her leisure reading in, poor girl). The allure of baking clay here at our house is strong. Emma has been playing with it since she was able to hold it in her hands, and over the years, her creations just get more elaborate and detailed. And now this book is taking it all to a whole new level.

We were looking for an easy craft activity for our Girl Scout meeting this week and I was totally inspired by this book. The girls are coming to us straight from classroom Halloween parties and will probably be pretty sugared up, but I am hoping they will love this. We'll be setting up three tables (there will be about 10 girls). At each table, there will be supplies, directions, and a parent to guide them in making a piece of jewelry. The projects I chose were the candy corn earrings (or rings), a tiny cinnamon bun (scented with cinnamon and a mixture of school glue and white paint to create the icing), and a pink cupcake, both of which can be hung from a thin cord necklace I'll have for each girl.

And because it is the responsibility of a good Girl Scout leader to be fully prepared, I felt the need to spend an afternoon testing out each craft and making samples before I let the girls try them.

chocolate cupcake with raspberry frosting and a cherry

my cinnamon roll with a head pin that's ready to be twisted into a loop. And it smells like cinnamon.

Cute????!!!!!

I thought about keeping this book locked away until Emma's birthday, then giving it to her with all new clay and supplies, but I just couldn't wait. (I decided to give her this book instead, with a stack of felt and notions.)

I thought I would post more this week but it just didn't happen that way. I will see you here on Monday though. Till then, happy weekend!

my styling toolkit

2009-10-26T19:18:45-07:00

I finished my second photo shoot for Value Village today. I'm so excited about these new projects! This set is all for holiday and will be going up on their site soon, I will let you know when.

Its so fun to see everything come together at the shoot and have a professional photograph them. (Armstrong Photography does amazing work and have been so great to work with on these projects.) As a photo stylist for these shoots, I learned quickly how important it is for me to be prepared for anything. The photographer needs to know you've got their back, and that you're on it before they realize that you needed to be on it (well, that's my goal anyway). I realized during the Halloween shoot that in order to be fully prepared, I needed a lot of stuff. This was the real deal. I made a big list, did a little research, and assembled a kit. Which is fantastic, because anybody that knows me knows, I love kit.I thought I'd share this because a have a hunch a few of you out there like kit too, so you would understand my geeky happiness at something like this.

This is a pretty basic photo stylist's kit. There are many versions of a kit like this, depending on what type of shoot its for...clothing, food, etc. Here's what mine contains-

a variety of tape (glossy, matte, double stick, gaffer's tape, etc), tape measure, binder clips, tacks, pushpins, and nails, sharpie pens, small needlebook with assortment of handsewing needles and some thread, business cards...

several types of scissors (paper, tiny embroidery type, fabric, wire cutters), brushes, safety pins, rubber bands, glue, more tape, matches, fabric tape measure...

(*I love the new fine tip Martha Stewart glue pen. Used it for touch ups several times today and it works great!)

foam mounting adhesive squares, adhesive type clay, super glue, lint roller, pins, lint-free cloths, hammer, artists tape, goof off, tacky wax (helps keep round things from rolling around, etc), clear acrylic squares or small things to use as inconspicuous "risers" (to slightly raise items off a table, for ex.) fishing line/monofilament and, my new best friend, a can of compressed air, which absolutely saved me today. There was glitter involved with a couple of the projects I did and, shooting in macro, every single stray piece shows up in the photo. But with compressed air, just zap zap... all gone.

In addition to all this, I bring any paint I for touch ups, the projects themselves and the extra, leftover pieces (because sometimes process shots are needed to help explain how the project is made), any props (candles, plates, food, etc.) For each of these projects I focused around a color palette that I decided on early on, then bought every extra prop with the intention of working within that palette. We are not shooting on location, so if I don't have something, chances are its there in the photography studio somewhere. Shooting on location would require a lot more stuff. But still, my goal is to come prepared.

Everything goes into a tackle-type box with a lift out tray and several compartments to keep things separated. I'm not crazy about my pink box, but I'm also not picky and I figure this will stand out in a mess.

This box (like my fabric scissors) is off limits to everyone in our house. Nothing should ever be taken out of it...glue, tape, nothing (Emma!). It gets put away, fully stocked, until the next time I need it.

Making up this box took my back to college, when we were taking our sewing classes and carried our tackle boxes of sewing essentials back and forth to class. Compartmentalized boxes really are great for carrying a lot of smallish things. I was surprised to see many of the folks on Project Runway also carry a tackle box, which made me smile to think that things like that haven't changed much.

the only empty space not filled with glitter around here

2009-10-22T21:24:38-07:00

Today I spent part of the day being completely geeked out on Martha Stewart's new tinsel glitter. Have you seen this? I love it! I am moonlighting on a new set of projects for Value Village due next week and am now convinced that everything is better with this glitter on it. Everything. Really. Everything. Well, except maybe my floor.

And my black cords.

I am happy to report that I see an empty white box called Sunday in my little planner (by the way, am I the only one who still carries a planner??). Apparently, we will not have a thing in the world to do but sit around and catch up on relaxing. No soccer. No school tours. No Halloween costumes (done as of today, only one to make this year). Just sitting, watching the newest Project Runway with Emma, board games with Ian, a little planning what the girl scout troop is going to do at our meeting next week. Maybe I can start stitching "Walk in the Woods". I've also got new reading (thank you Jen).

Have a great weekend. Wishing you a big white empty space at some point in your weekend...for you to fill up as you wish!

And your reward for listening to me ramble? This! It's as good as tinsel glitter

one more simple halloween idea

2009-10-21T05:00:00-07:00

I saw a red spray painted wreath in a recent issue of Country Living (which was lovely against a yellow wall and I have misplaced the image I was going to scan in and include with this post). I had all the materials here (leftover orange spray paint, a grapevine wreath) to do a Halloween wreath version to hang on our front porch. Its simple, but I like it and may add some more Halloween out there. Then again, I may just add red spray paint to this next month and call it Fall. I have such a love/hate relationship with Halloween. I know to some kids Halloween is bigger than Christmas, but Emma stays spooked from the minute anyone puts up the first decoration. She really struggles with it. So we keep it low key in our house.

I also wanted to mention that the folks at Red Tricycle have a contest going on for folks in the Seattle, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. You can register to win this tricked out red tricycle here on their site. So cool!

And thanks so much for your encouraging words on my last post. Sounds like a lot of us are going/have gone/thinking about going back to work. I'm really glad I can share our little story here.

Have a great day!

appreciation for the little things

2009-10-18T09:23:51-07:00

Well, I disappeared from this space last week unexpectedly. I am not surprised. Picture me, making a *lot* of lists, then making another list to prioritize the lists I made. As I sit down at my computer to type this post this morning, I am thankful for the peaceful feeling in the house right now. Because I know that soon enough we will, yet again, hit the ground running later today. One of the big issues on our minds right now is figuring out where Emma will go to middle school. Middle school... Next year... Oh my god... Its coming fast and we're trying to think through our options rationally and realistically. Its taking a lot of my mental energy. Because that's what moms do, devote a lot of mental energy to things like that. At the same time I am spending time with Emma, the fifth grader, cause she's pretty great. We go shopping for cool headbands and cute shoes. We paint our nails. We talk about boys (sometimes, when I can stand it). I cherish little moments like this with her.

And work. I really like my new job. It feels good on many levels. Many have asked for me to give more details. There are lots of proprietary things I don't feel comfortable sharing, but I can certainly talk to the idea of how me working out of the house for the first time in nearly 12 years is affecting myself and our family, because a lot of us struggle with that. The office I work in is a small one, with a lot of good energy every day when I walk in. Its super important for me to feel I'm making a difference in what I do, and to feel good about work. We get things done there, which also feels great. Sort of like I would imagine going back to school might feel to me, the unexpected appreciation for little things that happen there are exciting. I will admit that there are days here and there when me working makes our family life a little more harried, but Peter and I are learning to work together on things like this, and that also is very good. (And I am learning to love my slow cooker, which really requires its own post, "ode to my slow cooker"...) Like the other day when I felt I needed to work a little later and get a package out the door to one of our factories. Peter jumped in, changed gears, and picked the kids up from school. Just like that. Now, of course, me being mom, and knowing things like that don't happen often (if ever) but may happen more, I was curious about what the kids were thinking. I asked Ian "Did you wonder where I was, and were you surprised to see Dad after school?", to which he, very matter of factly, replied "Well, I just said to myself, 'Mom must have had something extra to do at work, that is why Dad is here'." It may sound silly, but I guess I love that he got it and that he was not worried. Emma, being 11 in a few weeks, is of course very excited and intrigued by the fact that I work for a clothing designer, and she often says "your job sounds fun". Ian, being 8, is very intrigued by my descriptions of the sweet dog that hangs out in our warehouse with his owner and greets me at the door and sits on my lap.

I feel like our house has entered a new phase. Each of us is realizing a new role within the family. There will be bumps, big and little. But it feels like we are gaining new appreciation for what each of us contribute to the whole.

Now on to those list(s). Halloween costume to be finished, a new project for Value Village stores that I'm excited about. And, um, cleaning the house. That probably should move up a little higher on the list.

glittering

2009-10-13T05:00:00-07:00

I don't often need a reason to play on the computer, but the coolest thing popped into my email inbox last week from Martha Stewart. At her site, you can download a photo of your choice and have it "glitterized", which means it is automatically separated into segments of color (kind of like a paint by numbers effect), like this-

You also get a list of suggested Martha Stewart colors to complete your image (and a coupon!).

I'm feeling a Gracie picture for Emma coming on big time-