Morning Glory Design

9.9.09

2009-09-09T13:02:00.005-04:00

I felt compelled to create a little design for this special day.

Today is a very unique day. I went to get a massage today (not something I do often, but hey, I had a gift certificate) as I was writing the date on my check it struck me...9.9.09. I had a flashing thought back to the 3rd grade when my teacher said. You know today is unlike any other day, it can never be duplicated or changed, it is a day like none other. I think there was some sort of lesson in that (evidently there was because I remember it!) but today IS unlike any other day, never to be duplicated. As a mom, sometimes you think(at least i know i do) that I am in GroundHog Day, every day is exactly the same...but it isn't. So I am embracing the day.

It is also, I might add, easy to embrace the day when it is GEORGEOUS outside, and my muscles are no longer tense after an hour long massage, and my kids are surprisingly agreeable. But hey whatever it takes.

How are you embracing your day??

Interesting side note...represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001),

In the Morning,
G

Getting back to the Stationery...

2009-08-31T15:42:00.003-04:00

Little Lady Thank Yous and Calling Cards

I have not done any stationery for a VERY long time, b/c my printer has been shot...but we just got a new one, and in time to do this sweet suite of stationery for a friend of mine. I have missed, missed, missed my paper designs. opening the files was like seeing an old friend, I was like "I remember you" you were one of my favorites. Inspired by my little lady.

If you notice from the post below, the embroidery design compliments the stationery. Business idea??? Maybe...

Enjoy.

In the morning,
G

My very OWN Embroidery Designs...

2009-08-28T16:14:00.005-04:00

Sweet Flower Embroidery Design

Little Chick Embroidery Design

So I am in the process of digitizing some of my stationery designs into embroidery designs. This was prompted by a few friends wanting me embroider a couple of baby blankets for presents. Being the "I can't just do any ol design girl" that I am, I decided to download a couple of free 30 day trials for digitizing software and go to it. This is the result. I am actually quite happy with them.

What do you think? Should I do more???...Hmmmm, maybe I will. Maybe there are some more 30 day trials, b/c I don't want to fork over the $$ just yet for the software.

This makes yet another crafty notch in my belt...

Now that the kids are going back to school I will have time to do more.

In the Morning,
G

Channeling my Inner Southern Girl Cook

2009-08-27T17:12:00.003-04:00

Okra and Tomatoes in Prep,
don't have the final product, we were to busy eating!

The graciousness of a next door neighbor brought about my inner Southern Girl Cook the other day. He is 98 years old and still tills about a HUGE garden by hand...and has more bounty that he and his wife and extended family can endure! He dropped a whole bag of okra by on our front door and I thought I HAVE to do something with these. I do like Okra and tomatoes, and have needed a new vegetable recipe. Soo... Foodnetwork.com here I come...the next stop...the consomate Southern Cook Miss Paula Deen. (you may have heard of her!)

I grew up in the south but my parents were transplants from "just north of the Mason/Dixon" in Maryland. We really never had the classic southern cuisine of fried chicken, okra and tomatoes, macaroni and cheese, cobbler, etc. (my waistline is much appreciative:) So I must rely on the good ol internet to bring them to life. And this recipe did the fresh okra justice. E kept asking for seconds, and thirds! So a winner all around

This is one of the more healthy of the Southern Favorites, so you should try it.

Here is the recipe... Okra is almost out of season.

In the Morning,
G

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, diced into small pieces
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon chicken base
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups fresh okra, cut into 1-inch pieces (may use frozen, if fresh not available)
Fresh ground black pepper

Directions

Cook bacon slightly. Saute onion and garlic with bacon until tender. Add tomatoes, chicken base, sugar and pepper. Stir well and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed. Meanwhile wash okra and remove fuzz if using fresh and cut into pieces. Add the okra and simmer until okra is done, about 20 more minutes (less if using frozen okra.)

I can do that...my matra!

2009-08-16T15:45:00.000-04:00

Please ignore the wrinkles, I just got out of the car!
and the photography isn't my best.

So I decided that I was going to make something for myself the other day. Of course I am not a big planner, and didn't have a pattern, or fabric that was especially inspiring, but when I get something in my mind, I can't get it out.

The inspiration for this sudden urge to make something for myself came from our Asheville trip...I had popped into JCrew and I saw this top for $98 and I thought. I can do that! I tend to say that about alot of things. So I just jumped in and sewed one for myself. This is the first rendition of many. It fits fairly well, There are a few things that i will change for the next one. I wore it with white pants and yellow shoes. (don't have a pic of that but hey, can only do so much)

What do you think?

The next one will be out of Dupioni silk with a silk ribbon trim...I think will be perfect for the fall.

In the morning,
G

I love a good field.

2009-08-01T13:12:00.006-04:00

This is one of my favorite paintings that I bought at Meeting Street Antiques in West Columbia a couple of years ago...it was a splurge at the time, but it spoke to me. I was about to have my second child, and the mother with her children wandering through this field, I could see it being myself...it started a fixation with fields. It is hanging in my living room right where I see it often.

If there is a third child it will have a lot to do with this painting...and the fact that I might want one:) I digress.

There is something tranquil about a good field, the color contrast of the sky and land, that it seems to go on forever, its peacefulness, it is beautiful year round, I could go on. It makes me want to just jump on a horse bareback and gallop with reckless abandon or run through one with my family.

(it also might have something to do with my favorite childhood show "Little House on the Prairie" and the opening sequence of Laura running through the field like a plane.

Here are a few pics fulfulling my field fantasy.

Photo taken by Hope Bray of our Family in the Fall

Taken my Moi the other week on our drive to Aiken. Just stopped the car on the side
of the road and snapped away...something I have been wanting to do for a while.

In the morning,
G

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

2009-07-30T11:48:00.003-04:00

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

All Local Farmers Market Goodness

2009-07-25T11:51:00.006-04:00

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

Garden's Bounty

2009-07-23T12:58:00.002-04:00

From this

to this

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

Lovely Zinnias.

2009-07-21T20:21:00.005-04:00

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

An Asheville Escape

2009-07-20T15:08:00.007-04:00

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.

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.

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!

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

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

A sketchbook confession!

2009-07-16T14:38:00.005-04:00

My sketchbook at the park in a tree!

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

Typecase to Threadcase.

2009-07-14T18:32:00.008-04:00

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!

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

Fun with Fabric Scraps!

2009-07-09T15:37:00.006-04:00

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.

In the morning, G

Welcome Baby Page!

2009-07-08T20:47:00.004-04:00

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.

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

In the morning, G

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

2009-07-04T11:53:00.000-04:00

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!

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

Oh Martha!

2009-07-02T13:57:00.000-04:00

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:)

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

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

In the morning, G

Designing for myself is FUN!

2009-06-29T15:28:00.001-04:00

Designing is Fun!

I had some time today to play with this design. The Pattern Feature in Illustrator ROCKS! It is a pain trying to get it all to line up...but in the end it is much easier.

This design is called"Summer Lattice" for the time being....in 5 different colorways that I am feeling today. I am not the most creative when it comes to naming things and wording.

I am trying to decide which color to print on spoonflower. I think it would make a really nice classic print and I have about 10 more colorways i want to try....trying to reign in my design isn't the easiest thing in the world...but i am trying.

Which color would you like most?

Enjoy.

in the morning, G

Hot Off the Press!

2009-06-26T13:30:00.000-04:00

Entire Wedding Suite with Letterpress Plates

Here are the wedding invitations that I designed for my good friend Todd and his soon to be wife Liz. I am so excited about the design and I hope they are too :)

The dots emulate vines in a way, and it is also contemporary look, which compliments the couple to be. Plus the impression of the dots is great for letterpress. I am so happy they chose this design.

Look at that impression! My little Pearl Press did a good job!

What shall I name this design suite.....any ideas????

Enjoy.

In the Morning, G

A Baby Shower invitation

2009-06-24T21:15:00.000-04:00

Just a invitation that I designed for my dear friend's brother. They are about to have their first child...a girl, and I was asked to design the baby shower invites. The shower was at a family home on the intercoastal waterway in Charleston, SC and her brother likes to fish, so it was only fitting that I illustrate a little girl on the dock scoring her first fish!

For the present I printed out the illustration on ink jet printable fabric , you can find it online at Dharma Trading and made a little pillow with pink rick rack trim and a green flannel back. Of course I thought of doing this right before we left for charleston, so I didn't take pictures, but it turned out beautifully.

In the morning,
G

First Textile Design....Spoonflower

2009-06-23T17:58:00.000-04:00

So Here is my first design PRINTED by Spoonflower I am calling
it "Bauble" in the Green Tea colorway. I have not yet decided what I am going to create but I have narrowed it down to 2 things....stay tuned!

In the morning,
G

Back from the Beach...SIGH...

2009-06-20T20:38:00.000-04:00

Jeddis on the beach

We are back from our family vaca at the beach...what a week. WHEW! It was so much fun being with family and friends, but boy i need a vacation from my vacation. Vacationing with children is amazing and TIRING. We went to Folly Beach and halfway thru the week got transfered to another house because the house we were staying in had electrical problems YIKES. It was a beautiful house on the outside but it seems as though it was having a problem producing enough electcricity for the entire house. SO we got to stay marsh side with the beautiful sunsets for half of the week and on the ocean with ocean breezes the other, so it worked out beautifully.

we lost a day moving houses but it was worth it. (even though my small attempt at organization was blown out the window when we moved DURING a vacation.) I only forgot my camera charger in when we left today! Which is par for the course because i ALWAYS forget some sort of electronic device when i go away.

I also had fun playing with my camera i actually took it off AUTO and played with shutterspeed, etc. It really makes a big difference.

My Little TowHeads

Write your own caption...I really wonder what is
going on in that little mind of hers.

All in all I feel recharged and ready to CREATE....I will post about the new projects that were conceptuallized at the beach....

In the morning, G

First entry in a giveaway

2009-06-12T14:44:00.000-04:00

I call this "Summer Fun"

Here is my first entry into a giveaway it comes from Whipstitch Fabrics and lets you be the designer of your own fat quarter bundle! It is hosted by The Fabric Shopper. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Craft Supplies on Etsy - NEW Anna Maria Horner Good Folks, Fortune in sun by WhipstitchFabrics (1)

Craft Supplies on Etsy - Kona cotton solids, lemon by WhipstitchFabrics (2)

Craft Supplies on Etsy - Carolina Gingham from Robert Kaufman, celery by WhipstitchFabrics (3)

Craft Supplies on Etsy - NEW Anna Maria Horner Good Folks, Cathedral in peony by WhipstitchFabrics (4)

Craft Supplies on Etsy - Juicy Stripe in bright pastels, from Alexander Henry by WhipstitchFabrics (5)

Craft Supplies on Etsy - Pimatex cotton broadcloth in aqua/lime floral by WhipstitchFabrics (6)

In the morning,

G

Switching Gears...literally

2009-06-11T20:44:00.000-04:00

Ink, Paper, and press in the back ground ready to get started

So, I also design and print letterpress.

My most generous father gave it to me when i was in my letterpress faze, but i still LOVE to do it, it is just more time consuming than sewing (as in the set up and clean up, you can't just leave anything.) SO I don't do it as much as i would like, but on the occasion i do. Read more about it here and here.

You would be right if you think that i sure do jump around to all sorts of design endeavors. .I am very ADD when it comes to design, I know just a little of everything to be very dangerous and expensive...Everybody now....POOR SCOTT!!!!

Anyway...an old friend of mine is getting married in August and I have designed the invites for he and his soon to be new wife. I letterpressed the envelopes tonight so that they can get to the fun task of addressing all of those bad boys! I am so excited how the envelopes turned out and can't wait for the whole invite suite to come together, but here is a sneak peak.

Oh and the craziest thing happened...when i pulled the very last envelope there was this huge clap of thunder and lightening...like someone was saying with hands on hips "uh, huh, that's right...your good"!

Printing On the press

Packed and ready to go

In the Morning,
G

And the sewing begins....

2009-06-10T17:31:00.000-04:00

Sew (I love to say that!)
Here is a dress i made from some of the fabric i bought....I LOVE this print is is from Fabric Finders #465 (I really think it should have a name, like swirly dots, but anyhoo i digress. ) I am really into boatnecks, and pillowcases and my new sewing machine, so this was the my attempt. I had never done a boat neck before, so i looked at one of Eliza's dresses and here is my first attempt...there are a couple of things i would do differently, but i think it is a good first try. (you be the judge)

And the embellishment on the bottom is one of the stitches from my machine,
so much fun to hit start and get such good stitches.

Anyway, enjoy. More to come...
BTW: Aren't my hydrangeas beautiful...i LOVE them in May. I wait all year for big scrumptious bouquets of BLUE, BLUE pillows of petals!

In the morning, G

oh the things i will do....

2009-06-08T18:45:00.001-04:00

Well, I mentioned the many projects and ideas i have swirling in my head...well here goes on the list and maybe this will hold me accountable to getting them done by the end of the summer. I went to my FAVORITE place Farmhouse Fabrics in Beech Island, SC i wrote about it here 2 years ago (and only like 10 posts ago which is REALLY horrible...i promise i will be better)

Anyway, they have grown so much since then and have SOOOOO much stuff. I recommend going with a list:) Since they really are not a store and do most business by the internet they don't have regular store hours...they have started an opening their doors the first Friday of each month from 9-3. So i dropped the kids off at grandmas (THANKS GRANDMA) and went on my merry way.

Well worth the 1 hr. 45 min drive from Columbia.

Here are some of the things i got...and the projects to start. They have started their own line of rickrack bias, bias tape, and piping. Sally(the owner) is so resourceful and thought all of the fabric they carry needs matching notions and she went about having it manufactured. So no more making your own bias, which can be time consuming for the stay at home mom who has trouble fitting in sewing to begin with!!!!

SO here are my finds....i wanted to buy so much more....my husband is happy i didn't:)

In the morning, G

And so the fun begins

4th of July projects ...Can't wait to make a dress and johnjohns. MMMMM!

Baby Blanket Blank (can't wait to embroider something on this oh so soft blanket.

Planning on a flouncy little top for with this beautiful bit of lawn fabric

Back to the land of blogging

2009-06-07T16:12:00.001-04:00

Art imitating nature....a mug of my mothers (love the colors) and
it happens to go well with a bowl of oranges and green apples)

Just a juxtoposition of flowers on my butcherblock in the kitchen.
Have so many flowers this year in the garden!

Well Bonjour!

I am back to the world of blogging....almost 1 year. So i am reintroducing myself to the land of the blog.

In the past year my children have grown 1 year older and have taken most all of my time... i took a step back and concentrated on them, they grow up so fast:( blogging was just one thing that had to go. But hopefully i will stay on track this time.

I have kept the creativity flowing and have done quite a few projects, but just didn't have time or the the inclination to post, sometimes when you feel like noone is watching (which they weren't in the case) it is easy to let things slide. I have so many ideas floating around in my head i thought i needed to start writing them down again and chronicling all of my projects....

Anyhoo, i have added a new gadget to my list of implements. A new Babylock Ellure sewing machine...i figured that sewing is in my blood I am self taught since high school and i should get something nice to sew with....sewwww i did. My wonderful husband got it for me for our anniversary/mothers day...I am so lucky. I don't know how happy he is though since i moved my "studio" into the basement, HIS domain. Because lugging this hunk of a machine up and down the stairs was not going to cut it...now i can leave a project instead of cleaning it up every time! OH well. I do more laundry now:):) I will post pics of the little studio space later when it is clean, Ahemm.

I have banged out quite a few things with it so far and am still learning the ins and outs. I will post those at a later date, when i get the photos off of my camera, but for now. I wanted to say "bonjour" again.

In the morning,

Fruit and Crayons!

2008-06-29T15:18:00.001-04:00

fruitandcrayons, originally uploaded by geisele.

Eliza and I were sitting at the table eating fruit and she was drawing and it just struck me as a a neat juxtaposition of little hands drawing (a thank you note) and eating yummy summer fruit. She loves to draw "inbitations" for me, her bears, her brother, and any one else. What crayons, a piece of paper, and an envelope will do for a little mind. (oh, and the fruit.) And the fruit is being served in my mom's pottery...she is amazingly talented.

in the morning....g

A Going Away Present

2008-06-08T21:09:00.001-04:00

Gardenia notecards and wrapping paper, originally uploaded by geisele.

We went to a going away party for a couple that are old friends of ours last night, and I wanted to do something special and handmade as a going away present... custom designed Notecards of course! My friend is so sad that they had to sell their house, and one of the many reasons is they have tons of Gardenias that surround the house, so I thought it was appropo that I illustrate a gardenia and put it on notecards, with envelopes with their new address. Of course it was wrapped in custom designed gardenia wrapping paper. What fun! Anyway that is all for now.

Oh and the little model had an accident (we are still potty training!) on her new outfit before I was able to take pics, so when it comes out of the wash (hopefully it fares well:) I will get pics of the whole thing, I added cute shorts in coordinated fabric to the ensemble.

In the Morning...--G

My Creation!

2008-06-04T19:49:00.000-04:00

Sew...
Here is the my creation! I worked on this all yesterday and I think it turned out well, minus a few imperfections( being self-taught, I never really learned the "proper" way to do things and sometimes it shows...will be taking some classes to remedy this situation:):))....But being imperfect leads to "Happy Accidents"...and Thank goodness for happy accidents I thrive on them, I think some of the best design (not that I am saying this a masterpiece by any means!!!) comes from "Happy Accidents!" Things that I love about it are the sash, super long so it can wrap around twice and tie in the front or the back, and the yo yos. I will post pictures later on the model, but she is "oh! so sick" today, so these pic will have to suffice.

A funny story about the yo, yos (how to make them here Heather Baily's YO YO tutorial)...

I was at the kitchen table making them, when Eliza came in to see what I was doing...she said "what are you making?? Yo Yo's???"...How did she know that! I have no idea how she knew what they were, but she did know that is what they looked like! So they are definitely named appropriately, because if a 3 year old knows what they are and doesn't have to ask,
well then, there ya go.

Enjoy the pics, I have the sewing bug again.

See ya in the morning...--G

Ready, Set, Sew!

2008-06-02T20:17:00.000-04:00

Sew....
I bought some new fabric today, (Heather Baily and Amy Butler) and some coordinating cottons. I am dusting off the sewing machine and getting ready to sew Eliza a new little outfit!!! Too bad so many of my favorite fabrics are not condusive to little boy clothes or Ben would be getting some too...luckily boys don't care as much as girls (he,he). Anyway, I am going to do something ruffly. Since I haven't sewn anything in such a long time, and Eliza has grown so much since I have (4T i can't believe it.) I bought a few new patterns, which I am notorious for changing around...if I was better at making my own patterns I would, maybe someday. So, we will see...going to cut everything out tonight and sew tomorrow.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

In the morning...
--G

Why Morning Glory???

2008-05-30T10:10:00.000-04:00

I always get the question "why Morning Glory". Well it comes from my mother....every night when I was a child she would say "see you in the Morning Glory!" and every morning she would say "Get up in the Morning Glory!" so it was a phrase I became very aware of and say to my children now. Morning Glorys are flowers that bloom in the morning and fade in the afternoon, but keep blooming day after day. Morning Glorys were all over the arbor at my husbands and my wedding site, serendipity to me. Morning Glorys have just popped up a lot in my life. The word to me makes me think of getting up and going and doing, that you always have another day, that you can be beautiful in the morning fade in the afternoon, but that there is always another day to be beautiful. Morning Glory makes me smile, and last of all I always think of my Mom, who cultivated my creativity from a young age, is my biggest fan and cheerleader, is always there to listen to my latest and craziest ideas, and will love me regardless. So there you have it, the meaning behind the madness!

See ya in the Morning...

New Rollers

2007-12-03T16:28:00.000-05:00

Well I recieved my new rollers today in the mail...RAMCO was great to work with, Adrian even machined 2 new trucks for me, exactly like the old ones. So the press has 3 working, rolling rollers!

I ordered a ton of plates today, so hopefully I will start posting my new designs soon. I am doing the ladybug first for a friend, and christmas presents...so I will be working and printing this week and next. YAY! I can't wait to get started. I am sure the new rollers are going to make a huge difference.

So I will post when I have some stuff to show.

Au jour le jour,
Gretchen

The Press is Here!!!!

2007-11-26T14:29:00.000-05:00

Well, I must say that keeping up a blog is not the easiest thing in the world. I know it has been a month and a half since I posted last, but what can I say...I have been busy.

The press arrived about 3 weeks ago, and I wish I could say I have been working busily on it, but I have not had as much time as I had anticipated having...tis the season and 2 kids! Anyway, I have been able to work and play a little bit on it, and I have printed a few things...and it is working wonderfully. We put it in the basement studio, and it is the perfect size and in the perfect spot. I am having the rollers recovered by RAMCO in California, so I won't be able to work on it for about a week, but it gives me time to design.

Speaking of design, I have been updating my website like crazy, take a look at the baby designs.

Au jour le jour,
Gretchen

ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon

2007-10-07T10:39:00.000-04:00

Picture taken by me.

To those that know me, I am always on the hunt for beautiful ribbon and fabric. Unlike big cities that have places to go and browse for such luxuries, we don't have much here in South Carolina. (at leas that I know of.) And Michaels and JoAnnes...well they are good for some things, but for Swiss Satin, taffeta ribbon, beautiful vintage fabrics, etc...you just can't find it. I always have to order online. I am a tactile person that likes to feel things before I buy them, so buying online is always a gamble. Well I came across a site the other day, and their address was very close to my home town. So I went on a hunt...and was surprised to find that there IS a great place in South Carolina. FarmHouse Fabrics in Beech Island, who would have thunk it.

Farmhouse Fabrics is online company that sells vintage fabric, ribbon, buttons, etc. etc. It is not a retail store, but they will sell to the public, please call first. I was in ribbon heaven, I could touch and feel so many things I had only seen online. I found this beautiful French Ribbon in the colors of Chez Paperie, it is gorgeous, if only I had known sooner...

Sally(the owner) couldn't have been more welcoming and her business is doing very well, it seems there are many people through out the US and abroad that are like me and at a loss for such nice notions. So if you are in the neighborhood of Beech Island, SC (the home of James Brown!) or you want to stop by the site...you are sure to find something fabulous.

http://www.farmhousefabrics.com/

--G

The Pearl is on order

2007-10-07T10:30:00.000-04:00

Thank you briapress.org for the use of this picture.

Well It is a done deal, I will be recieving my press in @ 2 weeks. I have so much to do to get ready, and quite a few things that I need to order so that the press will be up and ready to go when it gets here. It's "home" is still undecided...it is between my studio, the basement, or my husband's workshop out back. I am pushing for the studio, but there are a ton of logistics involved so it doesn't fall through the floor!!!! and I don't know if it is going to be feasible. We will see.

Labor of Love

2007-10-03T10:10:00.000-04:00

Pictures Taken By Me: still learning to take pics of letterpress

Here is my first letterpress job. The one that gave me the bug.

I designed this for a friend that is getting married. I wanted it letterpressed more than she did, and I found a way. I called around finding out that it was going to be way out of her budget to have them "professionally" printed....so I started researching any place close to my area and found out that My Alma mater (USC) 3 miles from my house has a great bookarts studio, and they allow Alum to use it! You could have knocked me over! Well after a 3 hour workshop on the 10 X 15 Chandler and PriceI was let loose to work whenever I wanted.

This was in the beginning of August...Well about 5 Saturday's later, a few smashed plates (oops) , a bit of lost paper, and a lot of brain power. (boy putting a plate in a chase and setting up the press can be quite a puzzle.) Printing is the easy part!I had this beautiful design peice.(at least I think so). It was totally a labor of love, I felt like I was handing over a child when she picked up the box of work, I was sad I couldn't look at all the peices together anymore.

She and her family loved it, and that is so satisfying, to know that my hands touched every invite that went to such a big event in their lives...I am totally hooked.

Au jour le jour, (each day as it comes)

Gretchen

My First Blog

2007-10-02T19:59:00.000-04:00

So I have done the unthinkable...joined the bloggers of the world.

I have always been one to resist the urge to go with technology, and it is kind of funny the reason for my starting this blog, because I am going back in time, to the time of Gutenberg. I am starting my journey in the old style of printing...letterpress.

Actually, it started a few months ago with a desire to start something, and I read an article on the subject, started researching (and boy do I research), surfing the net, and going to the library, making phonecalls, and finally touching and working on my first press...and lo and behold I was hooked!

I have always loved the old and resisted the new...an avid antiquer, a lover of old architecture, fabrics, design, flowers...etc. etc. and then behold I found letterpress...I can blend my design work with the old way of doing things!!!!!!!!...and voila a beautiful tactile lasting piece of work.

I am in the process of buying my first press...a Golding Pearl...now that sounds a lot better than HP 9180 (although I don't know what I would do with out this printer the name is bla) but Golding Pearl they sure could name them in the old days. I can't wait to start getting all of my designs printed....might take 1 or 10 years but what the hay you have to start somewhere.

SO thus the journey has begun, and I thought it was an appropo time to begin blogging to get all of my thoughts down, maybe help someone along the way, and who knows maybe I will like this whole bloggedy boo.

Au jour le jour (each day as it comes)
Gretchen