Thursday, July 30, 2009

Another trip to the FARMHOUSE....fabrics that is!


1. Rick Rack trim in all colors
2. Ribbon Rick rack (a special FarmHouse Product)
3. Dupioni Silk in many colors
4. Spaghetti Bias (a special FarmHouse Product)


I went to the the awesome warehouse of Farmhouse Fabrics to get my monthly fabric fix. Sally and the gang were great as always. Here are some pics of some of the awesomeness that is Farmhouse Fabrics . They manufacture their own spaghetti strap, bias, ribbon rick-rack, and wholesale BEAUTIFUL Double Faced satin ribbon in any size and color your heart desires....seriously! As well as all of their high end fabrics., ribbon, trims, etc, etc...it is a meca for all of your fabric needs.

They have a first Friday of the month Open Warehouse coming up, so if you want to head on over to Beech Island, SC...i am sure you will not be disappointed.


In the morning, G

Saturday, July 25, 2009

All Local Farmers Market Goodness

local goodness

Every Saturday we have the All Local Farmers Market at 701 Whaley Street (an awesome old refurbished building in the heart of Olympia, in Columbia, SC) Where they "promise no bananas". This morning we went out and bought a couple of things...I only had $10 so we bought potatoes, whole wheat aristan bread made by Heather's Artisan Bakery, and 3 sunflowers from Floral and Hardy Farm. one for me, E, and B...they got to pick out their flower (fowler...B's word) and pay for it.

I love the new look of the Market and wish it much continued success, I know I am glad we have it EVERY Saturday now!

Off to make some tomato pie!


In the Morning,
G

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Garden's Bounty

Garden
From this

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to this

Garden Bounty
to this.

SO REWARDING. All of the hard work, watering, weeding, is worth it.
Made a delicious ratatouille with the all of the garden's bounty, and it is still producing! YUM.

In the morning, G

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Lovely Zinnias.

Pretty Flowers
Zinnias traveling to Spartanburg in my lap.


I love zinnias! They are such a pretty summer flower. So easy to cultivate, and they bring such color to the garden when everything else is struggling in the stifling South Carolina heat. We have quite a few surrounding our vegetable garden this year, the kids love picking them and we have bouquets of them all summer long.

These particular zinnias did not come from our garden, b.c. I didn't have the forsight to pick them before we left for our weekend, so we dropped by our ALL LOCAL Farmers Market and got them from Floral and Hardy Farm.

This bouquet was for Grandma Bette for taking care of the kids this past weekend.

In the Morning,

G

Monday, July 20, 2009

An Asheville Escape

Biltmore Cows
I don't know what it is but I LOVE mountain meadows.
Makes me want to paint this...on the list.

This past weekend we dropped the kids off in Spartanburg and headed onward and upward to Asheville for a much needed day/night away. Originally, Scott wanted to go camping, but sanity(me) won and we stayed downtown and had a day and a half of Asheville fun. I LOVE being in Asheville, it satisfies every bit of my being, from the bohemian/free spirit to the crafty/artist to the outdoorsy/hiker chic, to the refined/socialite (ala Biltmore, a girl can wish she was a Vanderbilt Heir):) Anyway, it was great. Every bit of me feels rejuvenated. I ate, drank, shopped and lazed around and even managed a bit of exercise. AND it was only 70 degrees it felt like spring.

Places we went in Asheville.

Waechters Fine Fabrics: has fabrics for all types of sewing, they had a huge selection of Liberty of London fabrics so beautiful to the touch. I could have stayed all day, but the hubby was restless...(although what shop offers beer to the poor husbands and has a corner carved out with a nice chair, and men mags) Definitely on my list of places to go in the future.


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Biltmore Gardens with Home in the distance.

Biltmore Estate Winery: Really fun in the afternoon, Tour the Winery, have wine tasting, and finish your tour with a glass of wine outside with a bluegrass band playing, and the mountains in the distance.

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Outside of the Bistro at Dusk

Bistro 1896: On Pack Square downtown Asheville. Weather was so gorgeous we had to sit outside. Awesome people watching, The Napoleon appetizer was to die for, and if they had not overcooked my steak it would have been perfect, but the Chocolate Torte made up for it:)

Tupelo Honey Cafe: For Sunday Brunch. Even though I didn't NEED the Eggs Bette (benedict) I had them anyway and they were DEVINE! The hollandaise to DIE for! THE reason I worked out 10 min. more on eliptical this morning!

Back to the Biltmore: Went for a stroll around the Bass Pond, and went to the River Bend Farm. They have the kitchen garden, and chickens, and tons of stuff for the kids.(for next time) Must have the Moose Tracks Ice cream.........YUM!

July_09 120 icecream...after
Moose Tracks Before and After....
a great way to end a nice getaway. Even if it cost me 5lbs


Biltmore
Wouldn't you know we went to the Biltmore and saw the house but didn't go in..
I have been so many times and Scott just didn't want to, so we explored everything
ELSE the Biltmore has to offer.


Then home, Sigh.... all in all a great trip.

In the Morning, G

Thursday, July 16, 2009

A sketchbook confession!

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My sketchbook at the park in a tree!

Sketchbook
My Sketchbook lying in a bed of Creeping Jenny.

All designers have a sketchbook, RIGHT? They sketch wherever they go, to keep ideas written down. Their sketchbooks are literally bursting at the seams, a treasure trove of ideas, inspiration, etc. When they have a block, they can always go to their handydandy sketchbook for inspiration, b/c they have everything written down, sketched....

NOT THIS DESIGNER!

I have a confession to make...I have many sketchbooks and rarely write in them, I usually grab them to write the occasional phone number or grocery list (you can grab any of my books, and see what i got at the store on any random day.) I sketch when I HAVE to, but I very rarely "sketch" for fun. I think it is because i don't have a sketchbook that inspires me....my mind has been bursting with ideas lately and I can't keep them all straight...

SO....

I marched down to my local stationer Jot owned, by talented graphic designer Tara Felder, (if you haven't been in her store you must go she has great taste and really awesome things in her store. In case you are wondering the sketchbook is by ELUM.

I have started sketching, during the day, night, and at the park, whenever an idea strikes me....and i must say it is LIBERATING.


I can only show you the outside, b/c I am a bit shy of my sketches at the moment, but isn't it loverly.

In the morning, G

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Typecase to Threadcase.

Threadcase

threadcase

In the last issue of Sew Hip Magazine, they had an article on one of my favorite Pattern Designers Oliver + S. They showed pics of her studio and she had a wooden case holding some of her thread. Since letterpress is one of my artistic endeavors, I have a few old typecases hanging around. I decided to use one of them to hold some of my thread. This way I can see it out, it is more accessable, and it is also colorful and graphic on an otherwise VERY drab wall. I can also show my husband that I ALWAYS find a way to use things that I buy and stash away. He just has to put up with the stashing part until I find an appropriate home for my finds!

This is a little sneak peak into the studio, but until I find a way to make it look less "basementesque" this might be all you see for a while:)

I have a few ideas up my sleeve to make it cozier, it is just finding the time...imagine that!

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And in case you are wondering what is holding my scissors in such a nice way, that is an antique flower frog...usually hold flowers in vases, but in this case the flower are scissors! Scissor Frog!

Enjoy.

In the morning,
G

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Fun with Fabric Scraps!

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sewing 003

Here is the little block, i embroidered and sewed together for Baby Page. It is a great project to do with scraps....plus I got to play around with my machine and the embroidery. I also, figured out the best way to sew the square together, I have had trouble with that in the past.(will post that at a later time) I wish it was as perfect as these designed by Lesley over at Smidgebox, but I think it is getting there.


Oh and I made my own tags to go on it...Fun! My Logo printed on ink jet fabric paper that you can get Dharma Trading Co.

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In the morning, G

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Welcome Baby Page!

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You might remember that in May I designed a baby shower invitation for a my good friend's brother and his wife...well, Page Julie Mcgregor was born Monday afternoon. My friend C wanted me to make something for her and I knew just the thing. I have been wanting to monogram on this soooooo soft receiving blanket which you can get at my favorite Farmhouse Fabrics. Baby Page's new bedroom is decked out in butterflies, green and purple... , so it was only fitting....

I also have to reitterate that I LOVE, HEART, LOVE my new Babylock Ellure sewing maching. It is so fun to play with...oh the possiblilities!

Congratulations to the new Parents. It is an amazing adventure and I always shed a happy tear when I find out that someone has become a parent...the happiness is surreal.

I hope I am not ruining Aunt C's gift surprise, as I am sure you have more on your minds than seeing this before you get the gift.:):)

I have something up my sleeve that i am making, but I have not finished it yet...here is a sneak peak. Hmmmmmm.

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Sneak Peak of my gift....wonder what it will be. Stay tuned.

In the morning, G

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Fourth of July


Happy Fourth of July everyone. Here are the outfits made from this fabric from Farmhouse Fabrics. Eliza's is a dress of my own design, I LOVE the halter in the summer and she really likes it too. I will post the pattern design when i get the chance SUPER SIMPLE!

dress_detail

Dress Detail

That's all for now, must now go make peach cobbler, tomato salad, star cookies, etc. you get the pic, for our Fourth Bash.

In the morning, G

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Oh Martha!

martha


I have to say I am a Martha Fan. I LOVE HER! I think she is an amazing talent, and eventhough she has a gaggle of art directors, designers, etc. I think she is an inspiration. I horde her magazines and refer to them often for inspiration (I feel like I have used that word alot lately) I actually think I am deluged with inspiration lately and I don't know how to process it...therefore "the blog"! Anyhoo, i digress.

Today I got a pile of her mags and just flipped thru them...thus the picture. I like to grab a pile and go outside onto our deck, let the kids play and i flip, and flip, and reflip...SIGH:)

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Please disregard the wilting plants...it is HOT!

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

In the morning, G