Over the weekend I constructed myself a tiny travel watercolor kit and I’m pretty jazzed about it. I’ve been kicking around the idea of a year-long project like Justin’s poetry project, but with watercolors. The paintings would be small, and should take no longer than 20 minutes: a daily, meditative practice. A few years ago…
Author: keri marion
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Covering for an old friend.
This week was full of little celebrations of friendships, and while that isn’t so unlike any other week, maybe this week had just a tiny bit more. The shorter and cooler days are rich with intimate and domestic tasks, much of which comprises mending, knitting, rearranging, tidying, organizing, planning, thinking and conversing. But a dear…
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Nopalitos & Eggs / Caviar Mañanero
On a recent library excursion, Justin & I picked up Pati Jinich’s Treasures of the Mexican Table. What a book! One of the things I appreciate most about Pati is that she explains how to prepare items not usual in our regional cuisine, case-in-point: nopales. I’ve eaten nopales plenty of times, but always they have…
The cozy time of year is upon us, which means I’m knitting, and Betty & Judy Lodge Sweater happened both quickly and smoothly. I already have plans to make more of them because it was so straightforward and easily customizable. I had some stash yarn in a nice, dark brownish-grey that I used for the main…
Transcontinental Kitchen is a method for friends and family to connect across distances through meals. The idea is this: we agree on a recipe and a date, then we cook, eat, and discuss. Our pilot meal is from the Blue Zones Kitchen Cookbook, Nicoya section, p 163: Tender Bean, Potato & Onion Stew, and Jesse’s…
January 15, 2023 This sampler was a smorgasbord of disappointment, but with each stitch brought the meagerest of morsels tasty enough to try again. This post is lengthy, but it goes through the process almost entirely (I only omitted some ridiculous attempts that weren’t even worth discussing), but I think the final test swatch made…
January 12, 2023 I’ve started the dirndl bodice today using the reclaimed wool from the skirt that I didn’t need for the Halloween costume. January 13, 2023 ALL THE GRANDMOTHERS, AND NONE MY OWN My childhood didn’t really provide a grandmother – at least not in the traditional sense. I had a Norwegian grandmother for…
January 9, 2023 It’s a double feature project plan. Project A: Milkweed floss capelet. This will likely take more than one growing season to collect enough floss to cover the capelet, but I have a p pretty good start to my collection. Project B: Reclaimed woolen winter dirndl blouse, whicg I believe is called a…
January 8, 2023 I have come to a decision on the sleeves. I will take them out, add length, and reduce width by what appears to be about ¾” and then I will hand-stitch it all back in. Took 5/8″ out each side of arm Serged 3″ to bottom of sleeve; serged all edges. Re-stitched…
January 7, 2023 Wellp: I’m nearly finished with Nonna’s coat liner replacement and overall repair. I still need to hemo the lower edge of the liner, and I think I’ll likely need to re-do the sleeves. I noticed when I test-fit the coat that the sleeve hems at the cuff pull the e cuff up…
January 6, 2023 I accomplished a lot today. I double checked the liner pattern against the coat, then cut and serged all the individual pieces, as well as stitched the body together; then, I steam-ironed the seams and the serged edges. When I took inventory of the pocket bags, realized they need to be completely…
January 5, 2023 I was able to remove successfuly the leftover sleeve liners without damaging the stabilizing twill. It needs a steam and brush, which makes me wonder if I could use that lavender wool cleaner in my steam iron, or at least in my new (vintage) steamer. Note to self to check. I was…
January 4, 2023: Nonna’s Coat. I’ve had this coat for a good, long time. It belonged originally to my good friend’s grandmother, and I “inherited” it at her —that is: Nonna’s — passing. I also inherited a big box of vintage sewing patterns, some of which I still have. The coat is great. I wore…
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“Mill Coat” liner replacement
Mill Coat Project 12/30 Got all the pieces taped together and traced on to paper. Purchased some mustard polyester to replace lining. I think it will be a wonderful contrast to the grey: just like springtime. 1/02/23 Deconstructed the arm I had already set in because I had a dream I did it incorreectly, and…
Bestway B2085 This project is still going fine, but overall I’ve gone completely rogue on the upper portion. I’m running low on yarn, so I may not be able to make it a mock turtleneck, or if I do, I’ll have to sub some other similar yarn. I still love it, but I’m looking forward…