Things I sewed in 2011. Can you tell I love Wiksten? I've come a long way since making my very first piece of clothing (the red Tova Dress) a year ago. But I'm going to go even further in 2012! One of the biggest things I've learned is to always wash and dry the fabric a few times (not just once!) before you sew to prevent puckering, which happened in the striped shirt shown above.

Some things I've made recently. Right now I am loving these socks I made for myself over the summer and fall. Handmade socks really are the best. I altered the November mini quilt pattern from Purl Bee (it wasn't mini enough for my taste)- i think I quartered all their measurements! It's my first quilt!

Recent finds from my mom. Isn't she great?

Laura sent a beautiful bag of gifts my way. It was so fun to open, as always.

BE LINEN MOVIE from Linen and hemp community on Vimeo.

Have you seen this film about linen yet? I love linen even more after watching it!

There's a really interesting article on the etsy blog right now called "The History of a Cheap Dress". I found it via Lena Corwin's blog (she did the awesome illustration). The article discusses how women between the advent of the sewing machine and the 1950s either made their own clothing, had a seamstress make them, or were willing to invest in a quality piece. These items totaled an average of 9 outfits for the average woman, as opposed to 60 pieces of clothing purchased each year by women today. It really aligns with the reasoning I've had for learning to make my own clothing over the past 6 months.

Beautiful snowstorm last night!

Valentine's Day: a tie made from this pattern, my favorite dress, lobster gnocchi, and The Graduate.

Dad and I found this rock foot while taking a walk in Memory Grove today. It reminded me of these stone animal drawings Laura and I found in Chicago this summer:

Grandpa made this nickel button for my mom. I want one, too!

Blackberry mint lemonade cocktails...mmm!

Lately I have felt the need to play like a kid and experiment with materials. Origami is my new favorite idling activity, after making the framed numbers from this blog.

Day off activites: sunprinting cotton fabric with Quaking Aspen leaves and making roasted peaches with matcha green tea smoothie.