drop cloth

New Work- Sneak Peek: YELLOW!

2012-02-09T08:23:00.000-06:00

This piece (still a work in progress, and with a title forthcoming) is so close to being finished...

New Work- Sneak Peek: PINK!

2012-02-08T08:21:00.000-06:00

Here's another sneak peek....this one's almost done.

You make me want to: Crochet!

2012-02-06T20:21:00.000-06:00

I don't really aspire to crochet, but I do want to hang out in the studio more with both Julie Ruin and lots of hot pink crocheted granny squares. Speaking of pink, I'm off to the New York Public Library tomorrow to look at old valentines. So much of my artwork is about love, and this is one of my most favorite times of year. There's pink and red and hearts and sweet candy in every shop.

New Sampler!

2012-01-30T06:46:00.000-06:00

For a long time, I've had this banner hanging on my studio door. I made it as a sort of mantra for myself; a reminder to make what I most want to see in the world. It was inspired by one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets; Mary Oliver's Wild Geese (click the title to read it online). Over the years a few people have wanted to buy it, or wanted a replica, but I never made it to sell. It was always for me. I look at it everyday on my way into work. For a full view, I posted a low res image on the dropcloth facebook page.

For a month about love, I decided to design a sampler with the same sentiment. Here it is:

I printed a limited amount for Valentine's Day. For details and close up photos, please see the listing in the shop.

New Work- Sneak Peek

2012-01-29T10:24:00.000-06:00

I've been working on a lot of new pieces these days. This is one of my favorites. Come see it in person at the Museum of Art in Design this Wednesday. I'll be there working on it all day.

Embroidery in New York New York

2012-01-25T09:33:00.003-06:00

I've got a new class starting up next week at the Manhattan Textile Art Center. It's an intro to embroidery four week class; perfect for newbies as well as those who have fallen off the embroidery wagon and want to hop back on. I'll cover a ton of stitches as well as show you how to transfer and layer images. Hope to see you there!

Poppies for Sale!

2012-01-24T09:00:00.002-06:00

A long while ago (in grad school!) I printed yards and yards of these poppies for a bigger project. I've been carrying all of it and the screen I printed it with around ever since.

In a New Year effort to get rid of a lot of excess stuff (for a laugh, see previous post), I cut it up and packed it up with a lot of other printed and vintage fabric scraps and listed all of it over in the shop. Each set includes a big piece of the poppies, printed on cotton flannel, as well as lots of other goodies. They're all packed up with pink ribbons and heart shaped tags for Valentine's Day.

Thrift Score!

2012-01-23T11:31:00.000-06:00

While I was teaching at Ox-Bow, Jesse and I made it to one of my favorite thrift stores, Bibles for Mexico. (TWICE) This is one of the few places where you can still find things for a quarter.

I found a big box full of these colorful crocheted doilies, with a sign on the box listing them as $1 each. I picked out my top ten and made my way to the check out with my other stuff. The sweet ladies working the register asked me how much they were and then, frowning, said "That's too much! How does twenty five cents each sound, dear?" Great! Clearly, I had to go back and get the rest. And so I did. If you live in West Michigan, check this place (in Holland) out.

Manic Drawings and Wayward Surfaces

2012-01-20T08:21:00.000-06:00

I had so much fun teaching with my friend Jesse Harrod. We first taught together when she was a grad student at SAIC and she was the best TA ever for my intro classes. Her work is a burst of smart theory and amazing color- riotous patterns and exploding flowers. Best of all, she laughs at all my jokes and makes me laugh until I cry with her own crazy way. We had eight great students from SAIC (and one from MSU). Big big thanks to all of them who were so much fun to be around for two weeks of drawing and making art in the woods.

Back From the Woods

2012-01-19T08:07:00.000-06:00

I'm back from two weeks in the deep woods of Michigan. Ox-Bow was amazing this time around. I'll post more pictures from my class later this week (and you can go to Ox-Bow's facebook page to see more right here.) It was weirdly warm for the first week and then- a blizzard. The whole campus was covered in eight inches of snow. On the last day there a plane flew over and I realized it was the first one I heard. It was quiet and the snow made it even quieter. Here's to more of that in 2012.

Favorite Things: Chicago Thrift Stores

2012-01-11T08:23:00.002-06:00

One of the things I miss the most about Chicago are it's insanely cheap and predictably awesome thirft stores. While New York has it's thrift stores (Housing Works is pretty cool), they are for the most part either way too expensive or way too gross. It's a real bummer. I used to walk to the thrift in my old neighborhood at least once a week. It was just the right distance from our house to make it count as exercise, and I could always count on there being one or two jewels waiting to be had. Best of all, most everything in the clothing aisles was always organized by color. So satisfying to look at! Looking for a red? Boom- over there! Green? Not today. I'm teaching a three week intensive at SAIC next summer, and you can bet that after hours I'll be hitting up every Village Discount Outlet in town.

On the upside, Brooklyn has stoops full of goodness just set out for the taking. New Yorkers don't have time to take things to the thrift store, so they just take what they've got outside, sometimes leaving a "free" note, but usually not. Everybody gets the stoop code- if it's sitting there, it could be yours if you pick it up. Nothing lasts longer than a few hours on a sunny afternoon. People just set things out that they don't want any more, thereby cutting out the middle man. With books it's like a community wide lending library, no card required and no late fees. In December I found two items that had been on my wishlist for a long time; a tripod and Trivial Pursuit, both in mint condition. I actually found two Trivial Pursuit's on the same day, but the first was in kind of sloppy shape. I was bummed for only five minutes until I found the second. All three of the books I got my dad for Christmas were found this same way: for free! Sweet! Right before I went to Squam last year my neighbor put out a giant box of embroidered monogrammed linens. I gave them to all my students (after washing on hot twice.) I miss those color co-ordinated t-shirt racks, but I'll take what I can get in Park Slope.

Favorite Things: Red Work (and Backsides!)

2012-01-06T10:00:00.007-06:00

When I was getting ready to write this post, I looked around the studio, then the living room, then the cookbook shelf, looking for this book. Then I remembered that I don't own it, I just had it on permanent faculty check out when I was at SAIC. Oh the glory days of the faculty six month library loan period with unlimited renewals. It was sad to return my favorites last December.

Redwork is: red embroidery on fabric. Duh. It is exactly what it sounds like. It is always this particular color of turkey red and it is ~~always~~ usually simple line drawings, sometimes with text. Lots of it was made by tracing book and newspaper images in the 19th and early 20th century. I have a big collection of it, including English, German, Czech, and Hungarian text examples. These are the newest additions, gifted to me by my friend Frances last May. Anybody know the language (or better yet the translation?)

I love the backsides of embroidery. A whole different blurry magic world happens back there. In my work, it's a wild tangled mess, in these beautiful red work examples, it's a softer version of the front.

Favorite Things: Golden Nature Books

2012-01-04T07:22:00.007-06:00

A lot of MAD visitors ask me about my inspiration. Where do I get all my ideas and images? My response is that I make a lot of drawings. When ever I teach a workshop that's longer than an afternoon, a big component is always drawing. I probably make a hundred ho hum drawings for every one that is really good. It's a warm up exercise, like those stretches that I'm supposed to do before working out (I'm much better about drawing!) I also do a lot of writing, and a lot of jotting down of quick thoughts before they float out of my brain forever. I try to always have a sketchbook nearby, but sometimes I write on any old piece of paper and glue it into the book later. Good thing I'm into that layered look!

Like most people, I don't inherently know how to draw a lot of things, so I have a ton of resources that I look at and draw from. Some of my favorites are the Golden Nature books. They fit in my hand just so, and I love the drawings....the bird books are my favorites, especially the one that has my Grandma's notes in the margins. The best part of these vintage copies is that when I open them up, they smell just like the cottage I grew up going to.

Year In Review

2011-12-31T08:28:00.065-06:00


January: Moved to Brooklyn......

February: For a brief moment in time, had a highly organized studio....


March: Took a vacation with my favorite kiddo.....

April: Spent all month with my nose to the ground getting ready for my solo show in Chicago...

May: Celebrated the opening of Red Sky at Night with my friends in Chicago....

May: Went back to one of my favorite places on earth; Haystack......

June: Taught at Squam again, marveled at the ice houses again.....

July: Fell in love with old Coney Island.......

August: Hid out in air conditioning and made drawings....too hot!

September: Discovered Rhinebeck, and Wing and Clover........


October: Taught a really fun workshop in Santa Monica, CA........

November: Loved up the Brooklyn Flea, and made batch after batch of apple butter and jams......

December: Started new work and a new residency at the Museum of Art and Design, NY.......

Happy Holidays....

2011-12-20T10:10:00.001-06:00

I'm signing off the blog for a little while. I'll be traveling for Christmas, and then teaching at Ox-Bow for a few weeks in January. In the meanwhile, I've scheduled a few end of year blog posts as well as few treats in January to keep you going until I'm back. The shop is closed until January 1st, after that Katy will be here shipping out samplers until I get back from the woods. Best wishes to everyone for a great holiday and a happy new year. See you soon!

Last Day of Sale!

2011-12-17T12:21:00.000-06:00

We are fast at work on top secret operations here in the dropcloth/ringquist studio, stopping only for bagels and eggnogs, but I wanted to take a quick break to be sure you knew that today is the last day to order safely for Christmas.

All of today's orders will get mailed out either this afternoon (the post office is right next to the bagel shop) or first thing Monday morning. I'm including a free chain stitch sampler with every order, a free mistletoe sampler with every Kit ordered, and please remember to take 20% off with coupon code STOCKINGSTUFFER (all one word, no spaces) Merry Christmas!

See you in the Wintery Woods?

2011-12-16T10:58:00.000-06:00

Two spots just opened up in my Ox-Bow class. It's the eleventh hour, but if you were thinking of joining me in Michigan, there is now an opportunity. The description is below- but there's more to Ox-Bow than the class. Come spend a week in the beautiful winter woods of western Michigan; eat amazing food, hang out with other artists, get away from it all and draw......hope to see you! *Room and Board assistance is available to help defer the cost!

Manic Drawings and Wayward Surfaces

Students of any level are invited to participate in this two-week course exploring a Maximalist Aesthetic with drawing, mark making, embroidery, appliqué, and beading. Taking inspiration from “outsider” artists, as well as contemporary art world models, students spend the first week loosening up and learning a bevy of surface embellishment techniques; improvising to create new methods of accumulative marks. Starting with contemporary drawing exercises combined with traditional embroidery techniques, students quickly develop their own vocabulary of mark making and additive processes. Drawing and sewing machines will take these ideas further, offering vigorous and immediate ways of making continuous lines and textures. The richly layered landscape and altered environment of Ox-Bow serve as both backdrop and jumping off point. Collaborative and individual projects are supplemented by a survey of contemporary art as well as historical examples, Individual and group critique keep things moving quickly.
When: January 4–January 17, 2012
Where: Ox-Bow School of the Arts, Saugatuck, Michigan. Learn more about how to register here.
*I am co-teaching this workshop with my friend Jesse Harrod.

Nowhere near neat and nowhere near tidy

2011-12-16T06:27:00.002-06:00

A few Christmas Eve's ago, someone made me a little bag to attach to the side of my sewing machine, meant to hold scraps of thread. There's a pin cushion built in on the top. As I opened it, my mom bursted out "Have you ever seen her studio? That bag won't even begin to contain the mess!" She's right. It's a big old mess.

By contrast, one of the MAD visitors yesterday commented that the studio there was so tidy. It really is clean in there; mostly out of necessity since it gets transformed into a different person's studio every day that the museum is open. It is a weird experience for me setting up and taking down at the Museum every Wednesday, but I must say that I like being able to see my work without all the clutter that usually surrounds it. It's a great preview for what it will look like in a white walled gallery. I was quick to tell her that my studio in Brooklyn is the polar opposite, a chaotic messy collection of piles and layers of stuff, just like my artwork. Here's proof! I did do an end of the year clean up this morning; click through on that photo for more of the mess.

A rare sighting of the top of the drawing table!

Brand New Squam!

2011-12-15T11:22:00.000-06:00

The brand new, beautifully updated Squam Art Workshops website launched this morning. I hope you'll check it out...I'm teaching there this Spring for the third time, and I couldn't be happier. My first summer there I wasn't sure what to expect. It was mostly knitting workshops, and I wasn't sure how my workshops would go over, but boy was I excited to find a generous, kinder than all get out crowd waiting to greet me. It was the same this last spring, and I am already mentally packing up my things for next May.

One of the best parts of the whole Squam experience are the cabins, each with its own little dock, fireplace, and ice box (chilled with ice harvested out of Squam Lake all winter). Cozy conversations over wine and cocoa have taken place by the hearth every night that I've spent in these little cabins. I took this picture through the screened in window on the sleeping porch where I made my home for the five days of workshops in 2011.

You can check out my workshops directly here. Hope to see you in New Hampshire!

Visiting MAD

2011-12-09T11:05:00.000-06:00

Hello! Yesterday was my third day of the residency at MAD, and I thought you might be curious what it's all about. With no scientific accuracy, here is a list of the most frequently asked questions.

1.) How did you (I) get interested in embroidery? I got started embroidering in the midst of a feminist art history class in college in which we were studying colonial samplers.   If you (blog reader) are curious, I wrote more about that here.

2.) How are your eyes? I am happy to report that I am lucky to have excellent vision, and do not wear glasses. (this is the second most popular question among museum visitors!) I try to stretch my eyes (and my hands) every twenty minutes or so when I'm working.

3.) How did you get this residency? There is an open application to the Open Studios residency. The recipients are chosen based on portfolio review and interviews. There are six residents in all, one for every day that the museum is open. I am there every Wednesday, and some Thursday evenings.   My work will be on display in the museum until the end of July.

4.) How long does it take you to finish a piece? It is hard to say, since I work on a lot of things at once, but on average, pieces tend to hang around my studio getting stitched on for a few months to a few years.

5.) What is your background? I went to a small liberal arts school in Iowa called Cornell College for my BA, and then I got an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I then taught for seven years.

Quantifiable Progress

2011-12-07T18:19:00.000-06:00

I just got home from another day at the Museum of Arts and Design. I switched up what I am working on this week, and am happy to have proof at the end of the day of what I got done. Here it is, before and after. Big, giant, huge chain stitch (actually back stitch, but you know what I mean.....)

Thread Collector

2011-12-02T11:37:00.000-06:00

Remember when my mom came to Chicago to help me pack and spent an entire weekend organizing my thread? All that thread had never looked nicer, but geez, it certainly isn't in that state of organization here in New York. However, I do still have bits and pieces of organization, like these two sets of thread, one a gift from a student at Squam, and the other a gift from my friend Cal. They look so good all neat and tidy, it might take a while to break the spell and use them....

Have a great weekend everybody!

MAD Residency

2011-11-29T08:18:00.002-06:00

Starting tomorrow, November 30, I will be an artist in residence at the Museum of Art and Design (MAD). I applied back in July, and was excited to find out that I got the residency at the beginning of this month. I'll be there most Wednesdays (and a few evenings, TBA) working on my artwork on the sixth floor. The studio is directly in front of the elevator. And although I'll only be there on Wednesdays, my artwork will be there all the time, from now until July. If you're in NYC, please do stop by and say hello! I'd love to meet you....

The return of old faithful, and free shipping....

2011-11-28T08:14:00.001-06:00

Since I started making these printed samplers, the one that has been the most popular, and most requested is this one; old faithful, the first one that I designed and printed for the fair at Squam. It was out of commission for awhile, but I decided to reprint it for the holidays, and it's back!

I'm gearing up for a busy week this morning, but wanted to stop in and say hello. It's Cyber Monday, and it's also the last day that I'm offering free shipping as well as a free Chain Stitch Sampler in my shop with every order. Just use the code THANKSGIVING in the coupon box. Order a kit, and I'll throw in a mistletoe sampler too.

PS: Wage a guess at the stitches in last week's post for a chance to win a mistletoe sampler....contest extended until tomorrow morning!

Embroidered Crazy

2011-11-22T19:17:00.001-06:00

I have a fondness for the crazy quilt. This one peaked my interest years ago, and quickly won my heart to become my favorite object in the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. I mean, it wasn't a contest. A whole quilt dedicated to a boxer? It's too weird not to love completely.

I went to the new/old version of the American Folk Art Museum today with a heavy heart to see the second installment of their quilt show. I was so saddened to hear their location on 53rd street closed. It was one of my favorite places in all of New York; a quiet retreat from the chaos of 5th avenue. My favorite things today at the Lincoln Square location were two crazy quilts. Do you know what these stitches in red are? Or the same ones below in pumpkin? I think they are some variation on the feather stitch, but please do pipe in if you've got the specifics. Everyone who wages a guess here will be entered into a giveaway to win a free Mistletoe sampler. Leave a link to a stitch diagram for bonus points! I'll announce a winner on Monday afternoon, after the holiday festivities.

In addition, from now until then, I'm offering free shipping in my shop when you use the code THANKSGIVING. Please do tell your friends. I'll be offering another little surprise through my Facebook page later this week, so be sure to check over there before Friday if you're thinking of ordering.

In the meanwhile, I'm off to keep on enjoying a week of feeling like a lucky tourist in this great city of New York with my visiting family. Happy Holidays!

Rummaging....

2011-11-15T07:47:00.000-06:00

It's no secret that I love Maine. Since I was a kid, it has been one of those places that feels just right. In my dreams I live there in a house with a wood burning stove and a garden full of kale, warm boots by the back door and a cozy studio with windows looking out onto the ocean. Teaching at Haystack sealed the deal for me; Maine is my favorite state. Last fall, when I was at Haystack for New Works, my friend Crystal and I stopped at Liberty Tool on the way back. A perennial favorite at Haystack, and a popular discussion topic at the dinner tables, I couldn't wait to see for myself. It's one of those places that far exceeded its reputation. I don't use most of the stuff that is contained in this three story treasure trove of a house, but I sure do love to look at it. So, imagine my delight to find this video last night; a sweet portrait of this magical place. Enjoy

There's No Place Like Here: Liberty Tool from Etsy on Vimeo.

See you in Connecticut.....

2011-11-14T10:24:00.001-06:00

I spent yesterday in Rhinebeck, teaching at Wing and Clover, and just like last time, it felt so good to smell that fresh air. I could tell that there were lots of woodburning stoves near the train station, and as I stood there waiting I tried to soak in and savor every single breath.

This morning I'm back in Brooklyn and popping in here to remind you that I've got a great workshop coming up next month in Connecticut, just a short distance from New York, at the Brookfield Craft Center. Come for the weekend and get cozy in this sweet Textile Arts cabin. Perhaps you are interested in embroidery, and your friend is interested in stained glass? Perfect! My friend Nancy is also teaching a glass workshop that weekend. Read all about us both here.....

More works in progress....

2011-11-08T08:34:00.000-06:00

Inspired Ideas

2011-11-07T08:17:00.000-06:00

The newest issue of Inspired Ideas debuted today, and guess who's got a project included? Click here for a preview and here to order your own copy......

Kits

2011-11-04T10:14:00.002-05:00

For a while now, people have been asking me about offering the samplers as kits. I wavered back and forth, not wanting to accumulate more stuff in an effort to produce something new. I already have way too much stuff, you know? Then, a few weeks ago when I was trying to decide whether or not to make them for the holidays, I cleaned out my studio. I found what I bet a lot of you might find if you cleaned out your spaces; fabric. Lots of it. Way too much! (I got rid for five or six HUGE trash bags full of fabric before I moved to New York, how can this be?) Among other things, I found a bunch of nice white cotton, and of course, lots of great vintage embroidery. So, I noodled around one afternoon and came up with a pattern for making drawstring bags, and then sat down and cut out embroidery from a pile of vintage fabrics to make appliques.

From the piles in my studio to you, I'm introducing kits this year! I am so happy to be able to make something in my studio into something useful for you.

All the other pieces are here and I am ready to start shipping them out this weekend- earlier than expected! Each kit contains a handmade bag sewn from 100% cotton and appliqued with vintage embroidery, a printed sampler of your choice, needles, 3 colors of embroidery floss, a wooden hoop, and two embroidery needles. I recommend adding your favorite embroidery book along with it. My favorite how to guide fits nicely in the bag. Enjoy!

Work In Progress

2011-11-03T15:20:00.000-05:00

I'm working on a big new piece. It's 4' x 4' (roughly) and rather unwieldy to photograph. It's been alternately under the needle in my machine and in my big 3' x 4' Q-Snap. Here are some details, taken today under cloudy skies.

On my Bulletin Board

2011-11-02T15:20:00.001-05:00

My studio is covered on one big wall with three 4' x 8' sheets of connected homosote. That's where my work in progress hangs, and gets taken off and put back over and over all week long. Little bits and pieces of fabric and thread come and go and get sucked into new pieces all the time.

On another wall are two other bulletin boards, one covered in found crochet, and another covered in favorite things and artists. It doesn't change so often. I love having these touch stones on my way in and out the door of the studio. A short list of what's included: a card for Carol Jackson's show at Gallery 411 in Chicago, one of the first things I ever embroidered, a postcard of one of my favorite Kerry James Marshall paintings, a handmade stitched birthday cake postcard from my friend Kate, a postcard artwork from my friend Alisha Wessler, photos of an amazing day with my favorite kid, my favorite *Atomic* needle case, a postcard from my friend Susie Brandt, an artwork from my friend Aviva Alter, a paper hand found at a Chicago thrift store, and a button that I bought the day after I met Michelle Obama.

Favorites: Two Things I Never Use, and One I Do.

2011-10-28T09:06:00.000-05:00

As someone who makes most of my work with embroidery, I have accumulated a lot of weird sewing tools. Rummage sales, thrift stores, and the occasional box in the mail from someone's Grandmother's closet clean out have left me with lots of pin cushions, rusty needles, ragged (but beautiful!) measuring tapes and dented old thimbles. Lots of that stuff was left with excited art students in Chicago, but the cream of the crop came east with me. I thought I'd share my favorites with you today. I hope you'll share your favorites with me in the comments!

At the top of my list of favorite sewing notions is this piece of beeswax. Would you believe that it's my great grandmother's? While I do often use beeswax to condition my thread (particularly rayon and metallics) I don't very often use this piece. I love imagining all the threads she pulled through it.

My second favorite is this ring. Have you ever seen anything like it? It's both terrifying and glamorous. The inner part of the blade is sharp, so the wearer can cut threads with it. Worn on the finger it's impossible to cut yourself, but man does it make the wearer look like a bad ass. One of these days I'm going to get this thing sharpened so I can take it with me to workshops. I found it in the bottom of a tin full of thread at a thrift shop in Chicago, and it fits my finger perfectly.

Lastly are the two things that I never embroider without. I made the switch to sewing with a thimble a while ago and it's hard to imagine ever being without one (or two or four). My calluses have definitely suffered (ie: disappeared) but my fingers don't hurt anymore and I can embroider SO MUCH FASTER! First I used an old fashioned metal thimble, then I switched to silicon, and now my thimbles of choice are these rubber mail sorters, purchased by the dozen at the office supply store in downtown Brooklyn. Of course, they are probably available at the office supply in your downtown too. I use two, one on my pointer and one on my middle finger, and sometimes I use them on both hands so I can really get going fast. They are my favorite sewing tools.

What are your favorite obscure sewing notions? What's the one thing that you can't sew without?

New Sampler: Mistletoe!

2011-10-26T09:53:00.001-05:00

The newest sampler makes its debut today! Mistletoe is here. Although I'm still very much in fall mode, embroidery takes TIME, so I released this design today to give everybody time to finish it for the holidays.

Bottle Beach

2011-10-25T08:40:00.000-05:00

Here's the loot that I hauled home from Bottle Beach last week. It took a little scrubbing to get the algae out of a few, but for the most part I was amazed that the bottles were largely free of chips and seaweed. They've been clanking around in the water for half a decade, how is it possible that they're still intact?

Lots of them have patent numbers on the bottom or text on the sides (St.Jospeh's Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin), and I've been having a lot of fun dating and identifying particular brands. From hair tonic to an additive to make paint stink less, there sure is a lot of interesting antiquity washing up on this beach every week. I highly recommend checking it out for yourself.

Brooklyn Beach Report

2011-10-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

While sea weed floats and starfish were the highlights of my trip to San Francisco, glass bottles were the highlight of a recent trip to Dead Horse Bay here in Brooklyn, or Bottle Beach as it's more appropriately called. You can read about the history of this interesting beach here. I had read so much about this not so secret New York gem, and finally made the trip last week with a friend of mine. The trip satisfied the part of me that is a scavenger, which has been itching for a search since leaving the midwest and its nirvana thrifting.

As you can see from these pictures, one section of the beach was mainly clear glass, while another was mostly big pieces of rusted metal, including this dinner set, washed together randomly by the ocean. Also in this picture you can see a small piece of a clorox bleach bottle, which I found at least twenty of- including several that were still in tact. It makes me wonder what people will be finding by the hundreds on beaches years from now, leftover from our generation. Cell phones, dental picks, markers? Will it seem as interesting as all these bottles did to me?

I love the way these clear glass bottles had been arranged; they went on forever, stretching out further than I could walk in my mud boots.

A hand drill, the hot plate of a stovetop iron. Can you believe this is in New York City? After hiking through a bramble and emerging out onto a windy oceanfront, I sure felt like I was somewhere else. It's a rare treat to be alone or nearly so in this busy city of mine, and it sure felt good to be out there searching and wondering about who all these things belonged to and what their own story of New York City (or Ireland, for that matter) was all about. I'll show you my cleaned up sorted by color collection of bottles tomorrow. It will come as no surprise to my friends that I brought WAY too many home.

Cheers to California!

2011-10-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

Watermelon Beer? In October? Don't knock it until you've tried it! I will admit that I am a victim of packaging, and have come home from the store more times that I care to admit with cans of food purchased only because of their beautiful labels, so it is no surprise that on my first visit to the amazing Berkeley Bowl, this beer, the perfect representation of my visit to the bay area jumped into my basket, along with a watermelon to serve it with. The beer soaked fizzy watermelon at the bottom of the glass was delicious! And, while today in Brooklyn as I sit here eating curried carrot soup for lunch I can hardly imagine drinking a fruity beer, last week in the sunshine state of California it was perfect.

Santa Monica Beach Report

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

These are my favorite pictures from my afternoon at the Santa Monica Beach last Friday. I felt like LA lived up to its reputation in the best way, with surfers, a huge lizard, high flying trapeze artists, roller skaters with steel guitars, and more. Best of all, after listening to Under the Boardwalk endlessly play in my head all day, it was satisfying to pull up to a fish taco stand and hear it coming out of a real speaker, under the real boardwalk at Big Dean's Taco Stand. California, I think I love you.

Sunrise over Santa Monica.

2011-10-19T12:23:00.000-05:00

Whew! After almost a week and a half breathing in the sweet eucalyptus air of California, I'm back in Brooklyn. I had such a great time, and I've got lots of pictures to share with you over the course of the rest of the week. First up, Santa Monica.

Since Santa Monica was the first stop on my trip, I was pretty much on NYC time the whole weekend, which worked out great. I'm an early riser anyway, so it was a lot of fun to get up at six, hop on one of the inn's cruisers and head across the street to the beach to watch the sun come up. Two mornings in a row I rode to Venice Beach and back, and the first day I almost tipped off my fat tired bike because I was laughing out loud with happiness.

I saw some of the same joggers, roller-bladers, surfers and fisherman both days. I love morning time. More on daytime at the beach tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Embroidery Birthday Bash

2011-10-10T12:00:00.001-05:00

I just arrived in Berkeley, after having one of the best weekends of the year in Santa Monica. A student of mine that I met last summer at Squam asked me to come out and teach a workshop for her birthday, and after much planning and finagling, what started as a whim came true this last Saturday.

It felt like a charmed day that unfolded with embroidery, and led to an al fresco lunch, cupcakes, laughter, and lots of people who had never embroidered before leaving late to dinner because they were having such a good time. I hope all the birthday guests had as much fun as I did!

As my first private in-home workshop it was a fabulous event- complete with the sweetest dog on earth, Bella the Beagle, who sat by our sides and looked on.

Manic Drawing and Wayward Surfaces

2011-10-10T10:19:00.001-05:00

While I'm off in California, I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you about an upcoming workshop that I am particularly excited about. It's been awhile since I've taught a workshop that is longer than a few days, so I'm really excited about this two week (3 credit) intensive that I am co-teaching with my friend Jesse Harrod. Students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago can take this course for credit, but the general public can also take this class for no credit! This means you! Registration opens at the end of the month.

Ox-Bow is the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's summer program, located in Saugatuck Michigan on a beautiful lagoon that leads to Lake Michigan. The campus is made up of beautiful turn of the century cabins nestled into the dunes (there are a few winterized buildings). It is a twenty minute drive from the small town of Saugatuck, so once you are at Ox-Bow it is pretty remote. When I taught there in the past, I actually never left campus, except once to get an ice cream cone. Once you're there, all you have to worry about is making art. Everything about the experience points you back to your work. The food is amazing, really some of the best I've ever eaten, the rooms are comfortable and beautiful, and everyone that works there is kind and supportive. I've taught there twice before in the summer, and I can't wait to be there this coming January in the dead of winter.

January and February are when I miss Michigan the most. While I love living in the city, I sure do miss those beautiful white weekends of skiing and sledding and nesting near a window of snow. It's beautiful there. I think I've secured a pair of snow shoes to borrow while I'm there, and I can't wait to hike up into the dunes and check out the views that I've become familiar with in summer.

Headed Westward

2011-10-05T07:36:00.000-05:00

I'm getting out of dodge tomorrow and heading to California for a mini trip up the west coast. First, I'll be in Santa Monica teaching a private workshop. I've never been to LA before, so I am really excited to walk the beach and smell that Pacific Air. I also can't wait to help my friend celebrate her birthday in a big way with a day of embroidery!

Next I'll head up the coast to Berkeley to spend a week with my close friends and catch up with lots of other people I know in the Bay. While I'm there, I'll be teaching a workshop on the 13th in the Mission. There's still space available, so to all you Bay area readers; I hope to meet you! I'll try my best to post a few pics of the workshops and the ocean while I'm in California. Do any of you have recommendations for things not to miss while I'm in Santa Monica/San Francisco/ Berkeley/ Oakland? I'd love to hear your suggestions....

Nick Cave Double Duty Excitement in NYC

2011-10-04T07:56:00.000-05:00

Because of a bunch of deadlines here, I was late getting to the Nick Cave party that's going on right now in NYC. He has long been one of my favorites, and I am so glad to have finally seen one of the two shows last weekend. Imagine my surprise and disappointment to find out right after I got back to Brooklyn that I had missed the second show at Mary Boone! Dang. If you're here in New York or nearby and you haven't been to the TWO GALLERIES featuring solo shows of Cave's work- now is your chance. You don't want to miss this. Here's a link to an article from the New York Observer.

These new button sound suits at Jack Shainman knocked my socks off this Saturday. The gallery is just steps from the Highline, and just down the street from the Donutplant (where they had fresh raspberry donuts this Saturday). It's a trifecta of amazingness, and I guarantee you'll love it. If nothing else, you'll love the donut. I'm headed out to see the second show at Mary Boone tomorrow.

Where am I?

2011-10-03T07:59:00.001-05:00

My friend Jackie was visiting last week, and we took in NYC in a big way. From the West Village to Eataly, to the Met, to Washington Square Park, to the Brooklyn Bridge, to the new Caroussel in Brooklyn, the Promenade, Prospect Park, Coney Island. Whew! It was a busy week, and I was glad to have an unlimited subway card.

My favorite outing was the trip we took to the Cloisters. Have you been there? This annex of the Met is an amazing escape from the city. After sitting on the subway for an hour and half, we walked out into Fort Tryon Park, and I felt like we were walking out into the Tuscan countryside.

Steep hills, amazing views of the Hudson, dramatic arches and pathways all made me feel like I had completely escaped Manhattan. But there we were, in New York City. A woman hurriedly scraping all the coins out of an ancient fountain brought me back to reality, and back to the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler.

Last Weekend....

2011-09-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday morning I got up bright and early and headed to Rhinebeck to teach at Wing and Clover. It felt so good to get off the train and breathe the fresh country air. I wish I could have stayed longer, and I hope that I will get to stay longer when I'm back there in November teaching another workshop. I had to rush back to New York because one of my best friends flew in that afternoon from California! We spent an amazing whirlwind week in New York together avoiding the rain. More on those adventures next week.

I am sad to say that I didn't get a chance to take any photographs of my class, but I did take some photographs at the beautiful train station. Half the fun of going to Rhinebeck was riding along in the train up the Hudson River. It's a great trip.

Stripes

2011-09-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

I'm working on a new striped background for the crocheted ladies. Lots of color fun.

Winner of the Paisley Flickr Contest....

2011-09-20T06:25:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to spindle and shuttle, your photo wins the contest! Contact me with your address and I'll send out the Summer Lines Sampler. Thanks to everyone for posting!

Classes start this week.....

2011-09-19T08:17:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody, the fall workshop season officially starts this week, with a workshop on Wednesday night at Pins and Needles, and another at Wing and Clover on Sunday. There is still space available for YOU in both locations!

Funny Ladies from Chicago

2011-09-15T10:21:00.001-05:00

I'm hanging out with these three today, and two of them just got sucked into a brand new piece. More to follow....

Flickr Love....

2011-09-13T10:30:00.002-05:00

O, a photo by bluepeninsula on Flickr.

There are a few new pictures being added lately to the Sampler flickr group (you can get to it by the link over on the right). I love looking at them, and especially love the details, like this satin stitched O that my friend Bonnie added recently. And just look at the details on Susan Norwood's all pink cake sampler! It makes me think of raspberry meringue.

There's lots more to see at the flickr group, but sadly no photographs of the newest Paisley sampler. I'd love to see what you all are working on! Post a photo to the group between now and next Tuesday and I'll draw a random winner to receive a free Summer Lines sampler. Your work does not be any means need to be finished- after all, the details are often the best photographs; a little tiny corner of colorful Paisley would be lovely! Leave a comment here to link to your flickr photo. Good luck!

A Fresh Start For Fall

2011-09-12T12:23:00.000-05:00

I almost never set aside a sketchbook until it is finished. I like the pages to be absolutely full before I open the next one. But something about the last sketchbook just wasn't working. Maybe it was the size, or the paper, or the drawings, but it was bothering me every time I sat down to write or draw something down.

After much hemming and hawing and guilt about not finishing what I started, I cracked into an old box of handmade sketchbooks, found the perfect one, and started fresh last week. I'm so glad I did. Once in awhile, starting over is just what is needed. Some good ideas are filling up the pages again, and I'm feeling good about fall. I'm so glad I live someplace where the seasons change four times a year. It feels so good.

See you in Rhinebeck?

2011-09-07T20:44:00.000-05:00

After a summer of working in the studio and getting acquainted with New York City, I am really looking forward to teaching again. While it is the first time (in nine years!) that I'm not sharpening my pencils and getting ready for a fall semester of teaching at a university, I am excited to be teaching so many workshops this fall. There are links to all the locations on the right, and short class descriptions up top now. I'm still having some blogger formating issues up in the Classes section, but the info and links are all there.

Soon I'll be getting on the train and heading uptown to Pins and Needles for a two day sampler workshop, and the following weekend I'll get on the amtrak and head up the Hudson to Rhinebeck to teach at Wing and Clover. It feels good to be brushing off my favorite handouts and threading needles in anticipation of meeting some of you. I hope you can join me.

I'll show you mine.....

2011-09-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

Hello again! It felt good to take a break from the blog for a little while. I've been on a break from the studio for the last part of August, fighting back a cold and taking in the last few weeks of summer. The kitchen has been busy, with an ever present pot of steaming water for sterilizing and sealing jars of preserves. Peach Butter, Dilly Beans, Pickled Beets, Tomato Jam, Pickled Carrots and Radishes, and Tomato Paste are filling up the cupboards for winter. At the risk of sounding like a jam blogger rather than a studio artist blogger, let me just say; I love canning. It really appeals to the squirreller in me, just like thrifting for fabric does.

While I was away from the blog I thought a lot about what I might talk about upon my return. There's lots of new stuff in the works for the studio and the blog this fall. One of the things I am most excited about right now is bright, loud, crazy intense fabric patterns. For a long time, my artwork was pretty white. I used found embroidery and stitched back into it, creating a new narrative. While I am still excited about that work, and still collecting found embroidery, I am really interested in a much more saturated color pallete these days. A lot of the work for Red Sky at Night was really bright (and even fluorescent), but I am finding myself wanting even more lately.

These are some pictures of the fabric that I've been working with this summer. I found all four of them at once, at a thrift store in Chicago a few years ago. They were in the arms of someone else. My heart sank, and then I decided to use pure will to get that person to put the fabric back on the rack. I pictured it going back up where it belonged, and it worked! I sound like a crazy loon just writing this, but it really worked. Put it back, put it back! I just stared into the back of this woman's head and then all of a sudden she did just what I hoped she would- and I swooped in and scooped up all four hangers of fabric. Most of them are at least three yards of brand new, 1960's? polyester screen-prints. I'm sure I didn't pay more than 2 dollars each. I love them so much. Chicago thrifts really are the absolute best. I miss them so much.

In deciding to show you all four piles of fabric yardage, it struck me that it makes so much sense in relationship to the name of this blog and business. I came up with the name based on the cloths that I lay down before I print fabric- the thing that protects the padded table. But I also think of dropcloth as a way of talking about my studio practice; picking stuff up off the floor and piecing it back together into a new composition and story. Today it's about dropping the fabric that I'm most excited about and photographing it to show you.

I showed you mine, will you show me yours? Leave a link to your favorite fabric- I'd love to see your wild patterns and bright colors. Whatever you are excited about- show me what you've got!

Still here despite the crazy weather....

2011-08-29T09:24:00.000-05:00


Coney Island Mural

After experiencing my first earthquake and my first hurricane (or was it eventually just a tropical storm?), I am still standing here in Brooklyn. The studio survived both with no damages. I'll be back here in full force after labor day, but thought I would check in to say hello. I've added a new toolbar up at the top of this blog, and listed all the classes and workshops that I'm teaching this fall there. Please check back soon, as I'm adding a few more this week. In the meanwhile, please enjoy these dog days of summer. From now until labor day, I'm offering free shipping in my online shop. The secret code is LABORDAYSALE See you soon!

Cottage Life

2011-08-17T09:36:00.003-05:00

I have always thought that I could live quite happily in a city apartment if only I had a cottage on a lake or ocean somewhere to spend most of the summer.. A small little place, with original Fiestaware in the cupboards (chipped) and stained vintage tablecloths and that mothball smell when you walk in the door. Water that tastes great right out of the faucet, old quilts, bacon in an electric frying pan, pancakes even though it's Wednesday morning, crows in the woods to wake me up if the bacon doesn't do the trick. Gin rummy and beer in glass bottles after dinner, a kayak or paddleboat ride around the lake at sunset to watch the fish jumping. Old paperbacks, bird identification books, barbeuqued chicken and hot dogs. Do you know the place I'm talking about? Have you been there? My grandparents had just the place. A real escape from it all.

Nowadays, I talk all the time about how to bring cottage life to real life. How do I make our apartment in Brooklyn feel more like an idyllic cottage in Michigan? I listen carefully so I don't miss the crows in the backyard, I play a lot of cards after dinner, I eat on (not so chipped and actually brand new Uranium free) Fiestaware. I have three drawers full of vintage stained tablecloths, and all those animal identification books from the old cottage. Once in awhile, when I wish more than anything to be at the cottage and not in the stiffling stinking heat of New York City, I open one of those books and take a deep breath, and if my eyes are closed I can imagine that I'm there. Mothballs are transporting.

Today, in an effort to soak in a modified cottage life, I woke up early and headed to Brighton Beach and combed the seashore for signs of life.

Clams, muscles, sponges, crabs, jellyfish, and this fellow, a horseshoe crab!~~which I can not identify. All of my animal identification books are from Michigan, where surely this guy wouldn't stand a chance~~. I should have put my foot next to it while I was photographing it, because you might not believe that it was at least twice as long as my foot. It's huge! Do you know what it is?

Announcing a Paisley Workshop

2011-08-16T11:55:00.000-05:00

I am happy to say that the next few seasons are filled with lots of teaching opportunities for me, which I'll share with you here as they go online. I love being at home, but I also love traveling, and I feel lucky that this year my job will be taking me to lots of different corners of the country. Especially lucky since I have friends in so many of those corners that I wouldn't otherwise see.

However, I'm also so excited to be teaching this fall right here in New York City at Pins and Needles and up the river in Rhinebeck at Wing and Clover. Details on all the workshops are over on the sidebar under classes. When I taught at Squam in June, so many people asked me if I was teaching any local classes back in the city (or nearby), and it feels good to finally say YES! People of Squam- these classes are for you!!!!!!

This fall I'm teaching mainly classes that are based on my printed sampler collection. These one day workshops are perfect for people who have never embroidered before, and they are also a lot of fun if you already know embroidery but want to master some new stitches and hang out. Since Paisley debuted here yesterday, I am particularly excited to be offering a workshop based on this sampler in November. Details are below, and registration is now open over at Pins and Needles.

Paisley Embroidery Workshop with Rebecca Ringquist

If you have been looking for a the perfect winter project, this is it. Come and perfect a handful of embroidery stitches while you begin working on this new paisley printed embroidery sampler. Chain Stitch, French Knots, Backstitch and more come together to create a dazzling new pattern, suitable for framing

$180 (plus materials)

Thursday, 11/3 & 11/10…6:30pm – 8:30pm

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Introducing: Paisley!

2011-08-15T11:52:00.001-05:00

I'm excited to finally be able to share the newest sampler pattern with you. Paisley is here!

The original idea behind this sampler was to make it more like my artwork. I wanted to draw and stitch a sampler that was as dense and colorful as the studio projects. I am so happy with the result, and I hope you will be too.

It was inspired by Indian paisley patterns, and in particular my favorite deck of cards, stolen from my parent's house as I was leaving for college because I loved them so much. I don't ever play gin with these, but I do, on occasion get them out and have a look. I love the red and yellow super seventies design. You might see some carryover into the embroidered pattern.....

I stitched my example as a stash buster, grabbing the nearest collection of bright perle cottons and going to town. However, I'm thinking of stitching up a second in a more monotone palette, like these awesome blue and white bandannas. I can't wait to see what you all do. Please keep on adding your awesome work to the sampler flickr page. My own example is not quite finished itself, so please stay tuned for the grand finale. I've still got some pinwheels and lazy daisies to fill in...... The new sampler is now live in the etsy shop. Thanks!

Heads up Brooklyn (and elsewhere)

2011-08-14T17:08:00.001-05:00

I'm popping in on a Sunday to let everyone know about this event, an embroidery meetup at the Etsy labs, tomorrow afternoon. New Yorkers can take part in person, but everyone can take part online. It sounds like so much fun! It's supposed to be another dreary rainy August day here in Brooklyn, the perfect Monday for embroidery. I'm pasting the information below:

Embroidery With The Merriweather Council
Using basic embroidery stitches and techniques, each participant will create their own personal, simplified mandala. Colors, imagery and composition are up to each artists’ own discretion. Without strict instruction, each piece will be representative of the artist who made it and their personality. It is considered somewhat therapeutic to work within a circle and mandalas have a long history of being a sort of self portrait of their maker at the time of making.
When is it? We'll host demos hourly at 4:15, 5:15, 6:15, and 7:15 p.m. on Monday, August 15. (Clean up starts at 7:45 p.m.)
If you can't make it in-person, we will be hosting a live Online Lab at 3:30 p.m. ET of this very project.
What should I bring? All supplies and materials will be provided, though you are welcome to bring additional fabric, embroidery floss, and 4" or 5" embroidery hoops. (We'll have enough supplies for 1 hoop per person.)
Who is teaching? Tonight's visiting artist is the lovely Danielle Spurge, a.k.a. The Merriweather Council. Check out her shop on Etsy!

Coming soon....

2011-08-10T10:48:00.000-05:00

Heads up that a new sampler is in the works. I won't give away all the details today, except to say that the new pattern is inspired by a summer spent looking at and drawing textile patterns at the New York Public Library, as well as lots of drawing at home, while sitting next to this book for inspiration. The new pattern will be listed in the shop Monday morning, but check into the dropcloth facebook page for a sneak peek later this week.

Dish towels

2011-08-09T07:19:00.000-05:00

Because she knows I love pickles and old dish towels, my friend Rachel brought me back this towel from the Brimfield market for my birthday. Not only do I love both of those things, but I also love red gingham, and I happen to also really love those canisters (which she knew). Check out the detail of this print, made a few years ago, that includes the very same pattern, printed here in black textile ink on hand dyed cotton. It sure makes me miss printing.

Studio Clean-Up & Stoop Sale

2011-08-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

I spent the better part of the weekend cleaning out the studio. It felt good to uncover things that I had given up on ever finding and to sort through heaps and turn them into better organized piles. All the pencils are with the pencils, and all the pens have found their way back to the pens. The reds are together again, and so are all the greens. One of the reasons I wanted to clean up was to make way for a desk space. I turned one of my racks into the perfect spot for my laptop. I cut a premade countertop into the perfect workstation using my scroll saw, attached it with clamps and viola! A fourth work station dedicated to my computer in the studio.

Rearranging always makes me feel brand new, like I've magically moved into a new home. I love it. After the desktop was in place, I spent yesterday afternoon tackling a huge basket of fabric that I hadn't sorted through since September. Which means, if you're paying attention, that it was packed and moved across the country as a total mess. Whoops. HOWEVER, it is now organized! There was lots to throw out, but there was also lots that I can't hold onto but is too good to throw out. So, in the spirit of Brooklyn, I'm hosting an online stoop sale to get rid of it all and share the love.

Photographed on a real Brooklyn stoop!

There are eight bundles of fabric, roughly organized by color and or pattern, including hand printed and dyed cloth, new and vintage commercial fabrics, embroidery, misprinted samplers, and more surprises. All the pieces included in the stoop sale bundles are big enough for projects, and perfect for adding a fun burst of handmade color to your summer.

Each bundle comes wrapped up in a small flat rate envelope, packed to the brim with goodness. You won't be disappointed! Check out the dropcloth facebook page for more pictures of the stoop sale goodies, or to buy one, head on over to the shop.

Bringing the midwest to Brooklyn, again.

2011-07-29T10:02:00.009-05:00

This summer I learned how to do something new. It's something that I have done a lot of times before but not really paid attention to. I have made strawberry jam with my mom probably no less than ten times, but I've certainly never paid attention, if you know what I mean. Despite her best efforts to explain, and despite my best efforts to read the directions and follow along, she was driving the operation, so it never seemed crucial that I entirely know what was going on. My mom also lived not so far from Chicago, so Katy and I could count on a box full of canned goods each fall. There really was no incentive to can my own foods. There really wasn't room in the cupboard. As long as we returned our jars every spring, a case filled with canned peaches, plums, pears, tomatoes, pickles, jams and chutneys arrived like clockwork every year. Not to brag, but my mom's canned peaches are the absolute best. If she were the type to enter them in a fair, I am sure that they would be blue ribbon worthy.

Then we moved to New York. My mom got me my own canning equipment for my birthday, and I dove right in, first making pickles and then earlier this week, a delicious batch of Vanilla Plum Jam, a recipe I adapted from this version. I have spent hours reading and rereading recipes to figure out the step by step process of preserving, and for someone like me who does not really follow a recipe so much as use it as a jumping off point, this was no small endeavor. Especially this first jam, since the recipe was not written for preserving, so there was lots of cross referencing of other plum jam recipes involved. So far, it's worth the effort. I'm having so much fun.

If you've never canned before or if you have a small kitchen and can't imagine buying a huge canning pot, here's a bit of adivce; I have the Ball Canning Discovery Kit, and it fits right into our regular sized stock pot. Well, almost. Ours is a little small, so I took the handle off, but with jar lifters it works great, and holds three pint sized jars (maybe even four) or five 8 oz jars just fine. For small batch preserving I love it. I've found lots of great recipes with yields that fit my pot in this book.

My friend Kate made this recipe last year and said it was her favorite, so I figured it couldn't be bad. Oh. My. God. The vanilla mellows out the sour plums and it is so good. So good that it felt like the jam deserved a cake, so I made a vanilla nutmeg cake to pour it over. Not too shabby.

How about you? What are you preserving this summer? Do you know of any great canning/ pickling blogs that I should know about?

New Library, New Pictures, and More.....

2011-07-28T09:48:00.000-05:00

If you've been reading for a while, you might remember my post about one of my favorite places in Chicago, the Image Files at the Harold Washington Library. What a treasure! I recently discovered a similar collection here in New York, right across the street from the main branch of the New York Public Library. I've been there a lot lately, pouring over lots of different things, researching this that and the other thing for a new body of work (more on that later).

This week I discovered something new; the postcard collection! A wall of tiny little drawers, like card catalogs but a little bigger, lined up with categorically organized postcards. It's a real dream come true. Take this anchor for example. Amazing! Embossed and beautiful and entirely original, with its senders birthday inscription still there after all these years. What a collection. I'm always drawn to sorting through the postcards at antique shops, but I've never seen so many (tens of thousands!) in one place. A whole separate collection of holiday themed cards is housed elsewhere. I left that treasure (Hello, my Sweet Valentine!) for another rainy or miserably hot day. Thanks New York, for continually knocking my socks off. Even in sandal season.

Pinning Patterns

2011-07-27T10:02:00.009-05:00

I stumbled across the rabbit hole that is Pinterest a few months ago. One lazy spring Sunday, when I was probably waiting for the soup to finish cooking I innocently put together a few categories. Several hours later I had acquired more than a few boards, & tons of images. I liken it to thrift shopping. Pinterest is about collecting. A free kind of collecting, but a kind of collecting that nevertheless does take a lot of time. If you're already wondering where the time you used to have before you met Facebook went, don't click on Pinterest. And don't say I didn't warn you. I am purposely not linking to it. HOWEVER- I have been spending a lot of time looking at patterns lately, and it is certainly a great resource. I have my own pattern board, which includes lots of Marimekko prints, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw this while I was walking up Broadway last week.....

There is already a tiny little Marimekko shop at the Crate and Barrel on Houston, but a free standing shop right next to Eataly, and right around the corner from New York Cake and Baking Supply? It's too much- a trifecta of goodness! Slow down New York!

Something coming down the pike.....

2011-07-26T18:01:00.000-05:00

There are a few workshops brewing, many that are under my hat for now, but one that I can tell you about, albeit far off. In April I'll be traveling to California to ~~visit my best friends~~ teach a workshop at Teahouse Studios in Berkeley.

I can't wait! Their studios look like a bright sunny breath of fresh air, and I look forward to a weekend spent drawing and embroidering. Perhaps you'll join me? Here's the link to my class.

It's getting hot in here

2011-07-21T15:58:00.000-05:00

When I went outside to sign for a package earlier today one thing was clear. That was going to be the last time I stepped outside for the day. It's hot here. Way too hot for a northern state. That heat dome that was in the midwest a few days ago? Why couldn't you midwesterners keep it to yourselves? Anyway. I'm staying in where it's cool.

That's fine, because the studio is feeling good, and for me, summer is all about drawing. Berry picking (so to speak) and storing up big ideas for winter. I'm loving painting with gouache in my sketchbook these days. What are you doing to stay out of the sun?

Wooden spools seek good home.

2011-07-20T13:20:00.002-05:00

I'm cleaning out the studio again this week, organizing things that are just surfacing after teaching at Squam. May and June (and part of JULY) were a blur- so much travel and teaching and art exhibiting. It feels good to be in the studio again, but it's been a dumping ground for awhile and I'm getting to the bottom of it this week. Counterspace is emerging! I unearthed a bunch of samplers from the past that had accidentally expired over in the shop- so those are back up again. If you saw Mary Jane Meckleson's post about the pink cake sampler, I found 18 more and they are now back in stock. The chain stitch sampler is back in stock too in a few colors. It's amazing what a little tidying up will find!

In other tidying news, I unearthed a small box of empty wooden thread spools. I used all the thread already and have no interest in what's left. Do you? If you would like them, I'll happily mail them to you. Just send me a message (rebeccaringquist (at) gmail) with your address. First come, first served. The spools are headed home to Louisiana!

Finally- You have until Friday to enter to win a sampler of your choice from the shop- just upload a photo to the flickr pool (see link at right) of a sampler in progress- even if you've only completed one or two stitches! Good luck.

Carrots and Beets

2011-07-19T09:56:00.001-05:00

One of the things that I can not get used to around here is the huge difference in growing seasons between New York and Chicago. Maybe I should say New Jersey and Michigan. I used to read food magazines in Chicago and think how stupid it seemed for there to be recipes for corn and peaches in July. Didn't they know, I thought (eyes rolling), that it's cool to eat seasonally? I mean, corn and peaches are a late August treat, a back to school phenomenon. Well, I keep smacking my own forehead in amazement every time I head out to the farmer's market this summer. Peaches and Corn in the middle of July? It's pretty great, but I feel really disoriented.

This weekend I broke in my new canner with two batches of pickles. Rosemary Carrots and Spicy Golden (and Chiogga) Beets. Hard telling what they taste like, but I'll let you know in August.

I had so much fun making both batches. It took the better part of Saturday, but I loved every single part of the process. Pickling really appeals to the part of me that is a squireler. I really like to tuck things away for a rainy day. I'm not a hoarder, but I do love knowing that there are delicious treats waiting in the cupboard. I love the possibility that I could eat them at any time, and I'm positive that most of the time this prevents me from eating them until it's just the right moment. I was the kid who could make her Easter candy last until half way through the summer.

Now on Facebook!

2011-07-18T07:27:00.000-05:00

July Studio View

I created a facebook page this weekend. Nothing will change around here, but I thought facebook would be a good way to quickly answer questions, post more frequent updates and highlights, and get to know my readers (you!) a little. You can get right to the Dropcloth page by clicking over on the facebook icon on the right. Stop by and leave me a message- I'd love to hear from you!

Browsing....and Giving Away!

2011-07-16T09:00:00.001-05:00

I am always so pleasantly surprised when, every so often, I take a minute to glace at the sampler flickr group. You can too; over there on the right there's a button. In progress or even finished embroidery in all different sorts of colors and combinations march across the page. It's fun to look- some of those stitches are really incredible! To those of you who covered huge areas in satin stitch- yowza, I'm loving the thick colors.

All of this is to say that I love seeing all of your takes on my designs. It sure does make me want to draw. Another design is coming down the pike soon I do believe. Stay tuned. If you've got a picture of your own work, please do upload it to the group. I can't wait to see it- leave a comment so I know it's coming over!

These little snippets of stitching are Bonnie's- started in the Stitch Dictionary class I taught at Squam last month. I love the blanket stitched apple. You can see more of Bonnie's work, including her beautiful knitwear patterns over at her blog, bluepenninsula.

After taking a good long look this morning, I realized that there really aren't that many examples of the newest samplers in the pictures. So, if you've got one that you're willing to upload, leave me a message about it here, and I'll enter your name into a drawing for another sampler of your choice from the shop. Comments will stay open until Friday at 9 am, when I'll announce the winner. If you've got more than one sampler that you're working on, by all means, enter twice, enter three times! Just leave a comment(s) so I know what's what (don't forget to include your e-mail so I can contact you if you WIN!) Good luck, and thanks for posting!

What took me so long?

2011-07-15T09:30:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure why I waited so long to head to Brighton Beach, but yesterday was the day. I headed out for a walk and it felt like a real Michigan morning. Cool, no humidity. Could it be true? In Brooklyn? I raced through my to do list, shoved all the necessities into a beach bag, and ran to the Q train. As it turns out, only 30 minutes from my house is a beautiful Atlantic beach, which I knew, but hadn't really figured out until yesterday.

I mean, sure, there's a lot of broken glass in the sand, but still, a real beach, with sea shells, sunbathers, big waves and all! And, after walking a long ways, suddenly there is something else; Coney Island!

I can't wait to go back and ride the swings. They go up so high, I'm sure you can see almost all the way to England.

Just you try to go there and not take a million photographs. Especially on a really sunny day like yesterday.

So long, Cy Twombly.....

2011-07-13T17:04:00.001-05:00

I am so sad to learn today that Cy Twombly died last week. I love his paintings so much.

A few years ago when I was a visiting artist at Southern Methodist University, my friend Rebecca drove the two of us down to Houston to check out the Cy Twombly Gallery at the Menil; a whole museum full of his paintings. It was amazing.

And it was a real thrill when the Art Institute of Chicago's Modern Wing opened with a room full of Twomblys work. I spent many lunch hours in that gallery, sitting with his huge paintings. Rest In Peace, Cy Twombly. Thank you so much for painting.

One Thing I'm Loving in NYC Right Now

2011-07-11T08:21:00.000-05:00

Katy and I rode our bikes to Fairway yesterday, and even though it is a pretty amazing grocery store, I was even more excited about the views from their parking lots. In a nearby park we found this....

I can't wait to go back on Thursday for the barge tour.

Just when I was starting to feel the heat a little too much, a bike ride to the water really helped. In the harbor we saw a cruise ship bigger than my hometown, sailboats, a huge tug, and lots and lots of taxis. The breeze felt so good.

Here's to enjoying summer.

Happy Anniversary!

2011-07-08T17:48:00.003-05:00

Well, look at that. I did it for a year! The blog turns one year old today. Check out this link to read about how it all started.

I think I'll keep on writing and keeping you abreast of the goings on around the studio. Thanks for reading! Since sampler sales are what started this blog in the first place, I thought that in honor of the big event I'd throw you all a coupon for *free shipping* over at the shop this weekend. Just use the code HAPPYANNIVERSARY to activate your discount when you're checking out. I'll leave it up until Monday at noon (EST). Thank you so much for all your comments this year, and a big thank you for supporting my work!

*Special thanks to my sweet friend Kate for the cakes. They were filled with her own Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, and they were so good!

Home again and back in business

2011-07-06T12:51:00.001-05:00

I'm back in Brooklyn, baby. And I'm happy to say that those Stitch Dictionary Samplers that so many of you have been asking about are back in stock. Hooray! Just in time for that trip to the beach you've been planning......

While cruising around reacquainting myself with the internet today, I stumbled across a finished version of the Knot Sampler by my friend Sarah. We met at Squam last year, and she came back again this year to take the knots class. Here she is working on it from the dock...

Her complete version is amazing, and far more finished than the one that I've got going. Check out her post about it here.

See you soon....

2011-06-24T14:04:00.002-05:00

I'm off to Michigan for a week or two to relax, swim, sail, build sand castles and hang out with my family. I'll be back after the fourth of July with lots more New York studio and city news to talk about. Have a great holiday!

Five Things I'm Loving in NYC Right Now

2011-06-23T14:13:00.002-05:00

1.) The Kelvin Slush Truck. Just the other day I said to Katy, "wouldn't it be amazing if there were a place to get slushies that weren't too sweet, and were just natural ingredients or even just cold frozen tea? " All of a sudden, yesterday, I'm walking down the street and whammo! There it was! Thanks, Kelvin!

2.) The New York Public Library. The top floor reading room is my favorite place to get office work done. It's cold, peaceful, and best of all quiet. Even in Brooklyn, quiet places are few and far between, and sometimes it's worth the train ride to Manhattan just to work in cool silence.

3.) The Brooklyn Farmer's Market. Who knew that New York was so far ahead of Michigan/Illinois' growing season? Not me. So, you can imagine my look of excited shock to find raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries all waiting for me on Saturday at Grand Army Plaza. My friends in the Midwest (K!) will be happy to know that our chest freezer is officially plugged in, and we've started refilling it with Jersey fruits.

4.) The view from my studio window. While the view from our front windows is all Brooklyn- loud buses, kids playing on the street until midnight, neighbors blasting Motown all day Sunday from their parked motorcycles (please, please stop!), the view from the back of our house is completely different. Out there are five story tall Catalpa and Maple trees, cardinals, woodpeckers, and a tiny little pond filled with fish.

5.) Uncle Louie G's Italian Ice Stand, and the sweet lady who handed me the list of non dairy ices on Sunday.

Oh, Louise......

2011-06-22T14:01:00.001-05:00

At long last, getting in just under the wire of the show closing and me leaving for vacation, I made it to Chelsea this afternoon to see the Louise Bourgeois Show at Cheim and Read. It was worth the wait. Just look at these fresh, bold, summery collages of colored cloth:

I love Bourgeois' work so much, and I think about her life as an artist a lot. She worked until she died, which wasn't until she was 98.

I visited her once in the Chelsea loft she lived in during one of her artist salons in 2005. At the time, her number was publicly listed and anyone could call and invite themselves, so I did.

I arrived at three in the afternoon and was whisked into her parlor to sit and wait. The walls were covered in years of warped and peeling exhibition posters, drawings, and notes. It felt like we were sitting in the living room of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler, (remember her?) and all of us, drinking cognac and coca cola and red wine were completely hushed when out from the decrepit kitchen shuffled the queen herself, in bare feet and leaning on a walker she came and sat down amongst us, and one at a time we all sat next to her and showed her our drawings.

I think I used her powder room three times, not because I had to go, but because from the toilet you could look at the sketches that were drawn right into the wall in the tiny little space. The whole afternoon felt like a pilgrimage, and I remember thinking, upon my return to Chicago, that anything could happen in New York. I met Louise Bourgeois and sat in her living room on her ratty old couch, for god's sake. It was pretty cool.

Maira Kalman at the Jewish Museum

2011-06-22T09:10:00.001-05:00

If you're in New York right now (or anytime before July 31) you've got to see the Maira Kalman exhibit at the Jewish Museum. The Principals of Uncertainty, an autobiography/journal/record of Maira and New York has been at the top of my book pile for a long time. I love the curious, honest, colorful way that she represents her world, especially New York City. When I was in the process of moving here, Kalman's book was a touchstone that made me excited about the move. I bought my autographed copy at the Strand, where Kalman has done several readings.

Ever since I read an article about her in the Times where Maira talked about doing most of her work in public, and especially on the subway, I rarely get on the train without looking around to see if she's there drawing. Could it be? Is it her? Is she catching this woman in the crazy hat? Is it possible that she's looking at me? Will she make a drawing of the two kids who got on the train with a cage full of rats? (Don't get me started)

The exhibition, which includes many of the original drawings for The Principals, also includes objects from her house, photographs, embroideries, and more. The museum is an easy stroll up fifth avenue if you're in town for the Alexander McQueen show at the Met, you don't want to miss this show. (Free Saturday's!)

Chocolate Sailboat

2011-06-16T18:39:00.000-05:00

I do love stories about sailboats, and this ship, which arrived in Brooklyn two days ago full of CHOCOLATE, deserves a mention. Just when I'd forgotten that I'm living next to one of the world's biggest harbors, the Wall Street Journal (of all places) gave me a friendly reminder. I'll be first in line at Dean and DeLuca to buy a taste.

Show extended, and another announced!

2011-06-11T06:49:00.000-05:00

In gallery news, I'm pleased to tell you that the show in Chicago at Packer Schopf, Red Sky at Night, has been extended to June 25th. I'd love for you to see it if you're in Chicago! AND- if you're in Michigan, three of my works are up as part of a group show at Trilogy in Three Oaks with Deborah Baker and Kathy Halper ...wish I could go see it all myself.

Contest Winner Announced!

2011-06-11T06:34:00.000-05:00

My apologies for missing my own deadline yesterday- I had an unexpected kind of a day, a good one, but forgot all about the deadline. Now, a winner, chosen randomly from all the entries....Toni K. Please send me your mailing address, Toni, and I'll ship your sampler right out on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Perle Cotton FOUND!

2011-06-08T13:48:00.001-05:00

Just in time to get going on the new samplers that you all seem to be ordering (Thank You!) a student of mine from Squam, Bonnie, e-mailed to let me know that Herrschner's has all their size 8 perle cotton on sale. So many students at Squam told me that it was impossible to find this stuff at their local stores, so hooray for an accessible online source!

Of course, in NYC, I'm partial to Daytona Trimming, but if you don't happen to live in the big apple, it looks like Herrschner's has got all the colors! Thanks, Bonnie!

Newest Sampler Has Arrived-With a Summer Giveaway!

2011-06-07T10:50:00.000-05:00

The newest sampler, Summer Lines, has arrived along with the heat in Brooklyn. Get your printed version today, and settle in next to the nearest air conditioner to work on it! They are available in limited supply at the shop, as well as a (very limited) supply of the Knotted Stitches Samplers left over from Squam. I'd love to mail you one, even though the post office is not air-conditioned.....

This example was hand stitched this spring by my generous mother (you may remember her from thread organizing fame) while she and my dad toured across the country by train on their way to the Grand Canyon. I wish I could have been on that trip, but I'm so grateful that she could stitch this up- amidst the final push of getting my work ready for the show at Packer Schopf and all the preparations for Squam I was pretty slammed last month. Thanks, Mom!

In honor of the beginning of summer, I'm hosting a giveaway for this newest sampler. To be entered to win, leave a note in the comments about where you're planning on taking your embroidery this summer. Shakespeare in the park? The Jersey Shore? Fire Island? Mackinaw Island? (I wish!) If you had a sampler, where would you embroider it? Leave me a note and I'll pick a winner by lunchtime (EST) on Friday (June 10) . Good luck!

Back from Squam

2011-06-06T09:31:00.001-05:00

I got home from Squam last night, filled up with the joy of teaching. I hadn't done that since December, and I really missed it. Thanks to everyone who came and took my classes- I loved meeting all of you and hope we'll meet again sometime for another workshop. I didn't take a lot of photographs while I was in New Hampshire this year, but I did bring back this tip for you:

Madi, a student of mine from Fort Worth brought out this gem of an idea one grey afternoon. I couldn't get over how smart this was, and I can't wait to go out this afternoon and get my very own book light to shine some light on my hoop. This is the perfect tool for car trips, bus trips, plane trips....etc. Thanks Madi!

In case you're wondering what she's working on, it's one of three new samplers that are currently in the process of being listed at my online shop. This one was custom designed for the Stitch Dictionary workshop at Squam, and a few leftovers are now up and ready for sale.

Tides

2011-06-03T13:25:00.001-05:00

The tides are inpsiring to me. They come in, they go out, everyday they are different and everyday they are the same. The idea that something which is constantly changing is always normal is comforting to me.

The smell of the ocean as soon as we hit the coast (and especially after we crossed the bridge onto Deer Isle) is one of my favorite smells in the world.

I love the water, and even though I might loose some kind of born in Michigan credential, I especially love the ocean.

Just look at all the life that's in there! On Friday morning Katy and I drove to a nearby beach with our friend Carole to pick mussels.

Wearing our mud boots and warm fleeces, we lifted huge layers of kelp to uncover dinner. You can't do that in New York City! Or you can, but I'm not sure what you might find to fill your plate....

Later that afternoon we hiked along another beach and kept on hiking (since it was low tide) out to an island, and onward to another. For a Midwesterner like myself, the idea of walking to an island across the ocean's floor on a sunny afternoon is pretty amazing.

Lobstering

2011-06-02T12:54:00.000-05:00

Last week Katy and I packed a rental car and headed north to coastal Maine for a much needed vacation from the city.

Exactly one week ago today it was so cold that we both wore silk underwear under our pajamas and piled wool blankets on top of our sleeping bags. The temperature outside right now in NYC is more than double those dreamily chilly Maine digits. I'm not cut out for the heat.

We spent the week on Deer Isle, the largest lobstering community in the United States. We ate like kings for the week by picking and steaming our own mussels, and eating locally caught scallops, crab, salmon and lobster. I think our omega fatty acid levels are all set for awhile.

One of the things I like the most about the island is all the paraphernalia of lobstering. Every time I've been there I'm surprised and inspired by the bright hot pinks and oranges of the lobster cages, bait bags and buoys. I always expect them to be plain wood like the ones you see in antique stores. Even lobstering is bright and modern in color!

Out the door for Squam tomorrow morning!

2011-05-31T12:53:00.001-05:00

I feel like I've got whiplash (or an undying affection for the New York Turnpike) because after arriving home from Maine Sunday, I'm headed north again tomorrow morning for New Hampshire. I've spent every waking hour since I got back getting everything ready for Squam Art Workshops which start TOMORROW!

While I'm gone I've prepared a few posts about our trip to Maine, and you can bet that as soon as I'm back I'll have lots to share about my time at Squam. I can't wait to meet readers that are coming! See you soon....

Threading Needles

2011-05-19T11:56:00.001-05:00

In getting ready for any workshop, or just a long day of work, I like to pre-thread lots and lots of needles. I think it's a great way to start the day. Threading needles is mindless, grounding work; a sort of a meditation, and it certainly comes in handy when I'm in the middle of a project or a demonstration and don't have to stop to reload. If I'm working in the studio, I arrange them all by color in pincushions, but if I'm traveling, like I am in a week or two up to Squam, I keep all my needles tidy in a needlebook.

If you're coming up to Squam to take one of my workshops, make sure you thread up your collection. If you're without a case, just stick them in a piece of folded up paper.

For those of you coming to the post-Squam sale, perhaps I'll interest you in a handmade needle case a la my studio- they are all made from hand screen-printed fabric with 100% wool felt to keep your needles rust free. A vintage button seals each one up. If there are any left post squam I'll pop these up in the shop when the new samplers go up.

Getting Ready For Squam

2011-05-17T14:29:00.000-05:00

I hit the ground running yesterday in an attempt to get everything organized for Squam before I head out the door for a much needed vacation on Saturday.

Today, I wrapped up all six sampler designs for the Squam Sale. I'm happy to say that there are now three brand new ones, as well as the three that are already up in the etsy shop. The newest will be for sale online on June 6th.

Each design is wrapped in a different color of ribbon to make things easier at the sale. I think they look pretty great all wrapped up like love letters and ready to go.

If you're coming to Squam, I can't wait to meet you! If you happen to be passing through Sandwich, NH on June 4th, please stop by the sale from 7:30-10. There will be 38 vendors, as well as music, beer, and cake!

I'll be posting a few other projects that I'm working on for the sale later this week. Stay tuned....

Thanks For Coming Out!

2011-05-16T18:23:00.001-05:00

Thank you thank you thank you to all of my friends and family who came out to Chicago (from five different states!) for the opening reception of Red Sky at Night on Friday.

It really made my day to see so many smiling faces from lots of different parts of my life.

I have the BEST friends! I just updated my website with images of the show, and thought I would post pictures of the party right here....click on over to the website for better images of the work.

Thanks to my mom for taking so many pictures! Katy and I were way too busy talking!

Red Sky At Night Opens Next Friday (May 13th)!

2011-05-04T10:03:00.000-05:00

At long last, I am packing my bags for Chicago to install my solo show at Packer Schopf Gallery. I hope you can join me in person for the artists reception on May 13th. I've included a teaser photo of Sailor's Delight as well as the press release here. See you in Chicago!

Red Sky at Night

Ringquist's work tells love stories and creates veiled, fractured narratives full of double entendre. She is inspired of late by the fictional relocation story of the Swiss Family Robinson as well as her own cross-country move to Brooklyn. She alternates between hand embroidery and machine stitching, and the harsh difference between the rates of speed with which she works conveys a complicated message. Although the machine stitching is in itself very labor intensive, it also carries with it a sense of violence and aggression, reflecting the tangled messy nature of relationships. On a large wall piece, the thick orange flames, which lick up at the bed suggestively, are quite different from the sweet daisy imagery that lies beneath. Ringquist's work is at times careful, contrasted with moments of fast machine-stitched frenzy, expressing implicit and explicit intensities, and alternating between innocence and recklessness.

Artists Reception:
Friday, May 13, 5PM 8PM

Exhibition dates:
May 13 June 18, 2011

Gallery Hours:
Tues. Sat. 11:00AM 5:30PM

--
Aron Packer
Packer Schopf Gallery
942 W. Lake
Chicago, IL 60607
312.226.8984

http://www.packergallery.com

Pink!

2011-05-02T15:10:00.001-05:00

The pink blossoms are out all around us in Brooklyn- from cherries to plums to unknown (to me anyway) sweet smelling flowering trees and even purple lilacs. For a midwestern girl like me, it all seems rather sudden and exciting. In studio news, I am up to my eyebrows in last minute tasks to get ready for the show in Chicago. My artwork is finished, and I'm just getting all my other business ducks in a row. I'll be back tomorrow with an official invitation for you to the reception. Perhaps I'll see you there!

Studio Visit

2011-04-20T11:07:00.003-05:00

The_tapisseriste-1000377.jpg, a photo by Stacey Estrella on Flickr.

Recently, my friend Stacey Estrella came by to photograph the studio. I love the way that she captured the space. To see the whole set of images, as well as other artists that she has photographed, you can visit her flickr page here.

Springtime in Brooklyn

2011-04-15T12:48:00.001-05:00

For the most part, I am loving living in Brooklyn. We were lucky to find a great apartment with room for all that we do, but I miss the back porch we had in Chicago. Around this time each year it felt like our home grew by one room and we spent all our time out there- eating breakfast, lunch and dinner out there most days, and spending most mornings waking up by watering the plants. It was a great space.

Flash forward to this spring and I'm too stubborn to give up completely on a little garden to take care of- I've moved into this tiny little (fire escape) space outside my studio window and planted snap peas, sweet peas, zinnias, bachelors buttons and basil (some are waiting inside until it's warmer.)

I'm not sure how realistic keeping this little plot up will be but it's worth a shot.

What are you planting? If you've got your own makeshift garden or a real live backyard, I'd love to see what you're working on- leave a link to share. Wishing you a sunny spring weekend!

Can't wait to get back to the woods...

2011-04-14T11:08:00.003-05:00

From where I'm sitting in my studio today, I can hear the songbirds outside the window, as well as the wind in the trees and the bubble of our downstairs neighbor's fountain. It's idyllic really, until I hear the traffic sounds winding around from the front of the building, and some far off unidentifiable neighbor who is blasting circus music (don't they know I'm trying to listen to the BIRDS?!)

I was so tickled to find this picture on Squam's Facebook Page yesterday. It's one that Christine Chitnis took last summer when she was taking my workshop- it captures the feeling of the event so nicely, and made me excited to pack up my embroidery tins and head north to sleep without the front of the house noises for a few days. I can't wait to hear the loons and the woodpeckers and the rain on the roof. Are you coming up to New Hampshire to attend Squam this year? Leave a note here to introduce yourself, or find me on the Squam facebook page.

I'll trade you.....

2011-04-13T11:26:00.000-05:00

When I kid I was an Olympian- then the organization was sued by the actual Olympics, and I became a member of Odyssey of the Mind. Did you do this? It's a creative problem solving club for nerdy kids. I loved it- and one of my favorite parts every year was the trading floor. We brought pins with our team's name, but some kids brought t-shirts, bags, bumper stickers, key chains, and other small trinkets. One year a team from a nearby town brought red tool boxes. There were only eight or so, and with two hundred kids screaming their heads off for them, they were red hot and awesome. Oh lordy did I want one of those boxes. Like the Stock Exchange, this culminating event was a total madhouse of yelling screaming negotiators trying to get as much of the coolest swag that we could by trading. It was SO MUCH FUN.

So, imagine my delight when I stumbled on a blog dedicated to trading art supplies the other day! Blarter is a place for bloggers to post something they want to get rid of and suggest what they might like in return. It sounds like a more civilized, less stinky version of the OM trading floor, which, although the frenzy of a BO filled gymnasium does have its appeal, this trading can be done in your pajamas with a glass of wine in your hand. From the looks of it, Japanese craft books are the red tool boxes of the blarter arena. If you've got one that you're ready to unload, you can pretty much get anything you want.

Anyhow, I already added this awesome new site to my favorites list off to the right, and you can bet that just as soon as I'm not chained to my sewing machine I'll be listing some stuff to get rid of. Check it out!

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-07T15:19:00.001-05:00

As my godson Henry would say, "oh my gosh, this is going to be gross." So, consider yourself warned. However, it's for your own good.

While working away on a pile of pieces this morning, I watched a squirrel systematically remove what I think were the outer coverings of all the buds on our downstairs neighbor's tree. Branch by branch he stripped the tree, and although I thought at first he was destroying the buds, I think he was just eating what would have fallen onto the ground as the buds opened up. Let's go with the second theory. Then, in a moment of "I can not sew a single second longer I must have a break and do something different," I decided to take my sewing machine apart. Have you done this before? It is satisfying in the way that picking a giant three inch scab off of your knee is satisfying, and it doesn't hurt or bleed. In fact, it's really good for your machine.

I learned this the hard way in graduate school when I took my machine in to get fixed and the repair man told me a week later that the ziplock bag he was holding was not even half of what he had extracted from my machine, and that the excessive lint had actually caused some of the metal parts to bend. Yowza. That was a wake up call. So, I slowly but surely figured out how to disassemble and assemble my machine part by part.

To clean it out I use a long pair of dental tweezers that I inherited from my Grandpa and a Japanese paintbrush (any smallish paintbrush will do). I used to use canned air, but stopped because 1.) it is not very environmentally friendly and 2.) it just jams dust further into the machine into spots that I can't reach with my remedial mechanical skills. Plus, the tweezers method is really satisfying (see paragraph two). The results aren't so shabby if I do say so myself. Give it a try!

Like the repair man, I must tell you that this is not even close to half of what I removed.

Five Things I'm Loving about NYC Right Now....

2011-04-06T20:35:00.000-05:00

1.) The guy who plays piano in Washington Square Park every weekend, and who, in Saturday's brilliant spring sun made my day with a full hour of beautiful music; reminding me that in a busy city, it feels so good to sit still.

2.) Walking in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

3.) Looking out my studio window and seeing spring unfolding, a little more each day.

4.) The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, which are free on Saturday mornings. I intend to eat as many Saturday morning bacon and egg bagels there as possible and watch the famous cherry blossoms unfold.

5.) Plotting the best place in New York to get a really good donut. I think donuts are the new cupcake and if so, I must know where to get the best one. This is where you come in. Where is it?

Production

2011-04-05T20:17:00.000-05:00

Whenever I talk with my dad, he always asks "how's production going?" And today the answer is: very well! I have never worked so hard or so much as I have this winter. I'm in the studio all day every day these days, and I am really excited about what I'm making.

There is a deadline coming up, I've been working most weekends and a lot of nights, but you know what? I love it. I feel really lucky to be in there doing what I love every day.

I'll wait until I can have a professional photograph the finished work to show you, but here are some shots of the busy studio. What are you readers up to in your spaces? I'd love to see where you work! Leave a link that tracks back to a photo of your workspace.