WASTE NOT WANT NOT

December 15, 2009

For me, this past decade was about learning to use the resources that I had readily available. My goal for the next decade will be about digging deeper to fully understand all of the resources that I have and then to use those resources wisely and wildly.

It is my wish that we will use all of our gifts to enrich our lives this & every season of the year and upcoming decade:

Make the fabric above – “Waste Not Want Not” – by printing your left-over bubble wrap using a textile airbrush paint.

Simply lay out your fabric on a clean work table and apply paint lightly to the bubbly side of bubble wrap with any sort of sponge or brush.  Print onto fabric by pressing the painted side of the bubble wrap gently to your fabric. Repeat as desired.

We used a taupe color paint (mixing white with tiny amounts of yellow and black) on a white fabric; however any color will work.

Let your printed fabric dry thoroughly and do not wash for at least three weeks to allow curing. This resource can be used for paper, wood or any other surface that you might choose to decorate.

Wash bubble wrap after use and store for using over and over and over again.

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THE BEGINNING OF THE END (OR GIFTS + GIVING)

December 14, 2009

As the year slides towards its close, I know that it is the time of year that we all get tired of Gift Guides.

This year, we are seeing not only the end of the year but of the decade. This has been a really BIG year for all of us here at Alabama Chanin – and an even BIGGER decade. (My Ten Year Anniversary of living, working and loving Alabama will be coming up next year.)

For whatever reason, it seems that the “changing-of-the-decades” have always brought important and beautiful changes into my life. So, I would like to take these last days before the holidays (and the last weeks of the year) to look back – and a little forward.

Bear with me over the next weeks…

Back to Gifts & Giving (this one last time – well, maybe):

If you just can’t figure out what to do for a special person in your life this holiday season, consider a donation to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

As some of you will remember, my father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma last year. He is, gratefully, in remission now – thanks to great medicine and research – and amazingly recovered from his stroke as a side effect to the chemotherapy. Thank you again to everyone who has been there with us… thank you to those who brought strength, understanding, kindness, patience and, sometimes, just cookies.

This could be the best gift of the year:

Leukemia Lymphoma Society

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Make a Wish Foundation

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Update of two more great organizations (thanks Sara):

Cure Search

American Cancer Society

*Photo of Ms. Jessie’s Vegetable Soup – also a great gift.   Recipe can be found on page 95 of Alabama Stitch Book.  This picture was originally taken for “The Kitchen Project” – perhaps  coming to our archives section one day.

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HALF BROKE

December 9, 2009

HALF BROKE HORSES - JEANNETTE WALLSI just finished Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls and am awed.

It has – rightfully – been compared to Out of Africa and West with the Night. While I respect her first book – The Glass Castle – this new book will become an American classic. Kudos to Jeannette. Enjoy while looking at photos from In The American West by Richard Avedon

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PROJECT #6

November 4, 2009

This shawl was made from a pattern similar to the Rose Shawl pattern from page 108 of our Alabama Stitch Book. The shawl was cut in our white 100% organic cotton jersey fabric (doubled layered) and the ends of the top layer were painted with the Facets Stencil using grey airbrush paint. After drying, the ends were reverse appliquéd using the instructions from Alabama Stitch Book and the shawl constructed. After construction, selected areas of the pattern were beaded with white bugles in circular patterns. Finally, the entire scarf – yes, beads and all – was over-dyed in a color similar to our storm blue.

You can re-create this look with the following materials:

Rose Shawl pattern from Alabama Stitch Book
2 yards 100% organic cotton jersey in Storm Blue
Facets stencil
White airbrush paint (to mix grey)
Black airbrush paint (to mix grey) 1 spool
Coats & Clark Button Craft Thread in Slate #26 1
package white bugle beads

Fabric Detail:

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CHANEL DOES COUNTRY – REALLY.

October 7, 2009

Okay a small fashion moment this morning, please.  Can we just ponder for a second?

It is a moment courtesy of Garance Dore – my new heroine.

You have to seriously love a girl who writes this about herself:  

“Seriously though, there’s always this side to me that ends up utterly unorganized, that can’t get its act together to be the perfectly manicured creature of light that I would sometimes like to be.”

I have been feeling a bit like that off and on for the last month.   I dream to have a tea (or other beverage) with Garance and Scott.

I would like to interview and photograph the two of them…

I have thought so often about a post that Scott did in August called “So What Do We Think About This?”

The quote below has really stuck with me. In my constant berating of myself because extra weight that came with having Maggie at 44, I shy away from cameras and photos like most other women. Perhaps this should be reconsidered:  

“When I am shooting on the street older women and larger size women often say “no” to my request to shoot them. Actually, much more than any other category of people I shoot. I think they have a real suspicion about how the image will be used. I also think there continues to be a growing disconnect between the fashion community and “average” women in general.”

BUT back to today, nobody captured the mood of the Chanel like Garance. Please go read her post and look at her photos.

Karl Lagerfeld does country with Lily Allen singing. Really? I am not sure why this shocks me so…

Please tell me what you think.

Garance sees a time coming soon when fashion shows will be like rock concerts.

Are The Songbirds singing?

*Photo Garance Dore

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