things i have learned recently

+ Vinegar and water (half of each) takes salt stains out of leather boots.
+ Silk thread makes sewing through leather so much smoother. Plus the thread doesn't break as often.
+ Wetting a needle rather than the thread makes threading a needle much easier, via disdressed.
+ What a snow squall is like. The weather people talk about them all the time but until earlier this week, I had never witnessed one. It's very sudden, the sky gets very dark and the wind blows like crazy. With snow. And then, it's over, as quickly as it started and the sun shines.
+ If you keep your kitchen compost bucket in the freezer, you don't have to deal with fruit flies or strong smells if you don't always empty it right away.

beauty

The port2port press calendar arrived today. Mav does such nice work. Each page is filled with beauty: the printing, the image, the ink colour. Bring on the new year!

colour

After the gray, colour feels like a treat.

In the soup

Posting everyday is proving to be a little challenging. I seem to find myself ready for bed and then remember that I haven't posted yet. Sorry about yesterday. There probably won't be a post tomorrow either as Aren and I are heading to Ottawa to see this. I'm pretty excited; Pina Bausch is huge in the world of modern dance. I also have never been to the NAC before.

I will leave you with the recipe for my new favorite soup. It's savoury, hearty, simple and filling in the best possible way. This the fortifiying soup that you need when you are fighting off a cold or about to skating on a pond. It may seem long, having to make a special broth but it comes together quickly and it's essential to the wondefulness of the soup. Next time, I think I might add some red pepper flakes.

Spanish Potato Garlic Soup
from Moosewood Restaurant Low Fat Favorites
Serves 4-6

1 large onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
2 large potatoes, cut into thin slices
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp olive oil
1 c chopped tomatoes
1 tsp dried thyme
6 c garlic broth (recipe below)

Saute the onions, potatoes and paprika in the oil, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes, until the onions have softened. Add the tomatoes and thyme and simmer for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the garlic broth and simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until potatoes are tender.

Garlic Broth

1 large whole head of garlic (about 20 cloves)
1/4 c miso
3 c water
3c vegetable stock

Preheat oven or toaster oven to 400F. Cut off the stem end of garlic head, break it into clove and peel. Bake the garlic on an unoiled pie plate for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden but not browned. In a blender on high speed, puree the roasted garlic, miso and water until smooth. Combine with stock and gently heat.

Bon appetit!

apple study

For some reason, I love taking pictures of apples.

the sausage

We have a pillow that we use to prop up us more comfortably when we watch movies in bed. We call it the sausage. It needed a new covering, so inspired by Design*Sponge's DIY Wednesday posts, I decided to add some graphic elements to our bedroom decor.

stupid blogger

I can't upload any photos. Harumpf. Inspired by Design*sponge's DIY Wednesdays , I made a graphic pillow for our bed. I'll try posting it tomorrow.

leaves

From my walk this afternoon.

good mail

Lots of good mail recently.

The new Selvedge arrived and it's wonderful as usual. I felt very much like the exclamation point on the cover.

These are part of a fabric sketchbook by Louise Bourgeois. I would love to see them in real life.

I saw this book over at Posy Gets Cozy and wanted it immediately. It's lovely; dense, colorful photographs juxtaposed with recipes on airy, white pages. I made the lentil soup tonight (with roasted yams and toast), perfect for a cold fall night.



Last but not least, I ordered a port2port calendar for the second year. I am so looking forward to receiving it. The one for 2007 truely made life a little better.

grey day

grey in my work

dark grey

The view from my apartment today. Very grey.

I made this (millet, chickpeas, cabbage and avocado with a dijon vinaigrette) in attempt to add a bit of colour and freshness to the grey, cold day.

grey around my house...

...bias strip of wool that will become piping on pillows for some contract sewing I am doing...

...a drafting chair I found by the side of the road a few weeks ago...

...a thrifted candlestick...

...smooth pebbles from Bowen Island...

...and the adjustable panels of my dress form.

grey

I seem to be having a love affair with grey as a colour to wear. It's a completely new relationship, you see. I have long enjoyed it as a text colour or wall colour, in fact the pages of my portofolio are grey, just not as a garment colour. I loved black deeply in university, rediscovered pink shortly after graduating after a decade-long stand off and embraced yellow in the last few years. But never grey.

This fall, I can't seem to get enough grey. My jacket, favorite dress, 3/4 sleeve boatneck shirt, turtle neck sweater, my spring bag (that I am still using). It feels comfortable and collected, simple and refined.

Inspired by this, I think I will explore grey this week.

>>>>>

{For yesterday's post}.

fall

/////

Great fabric found here via fine little day. I wish there was an 'r' tape.

books

As I mentioned yesterday, I have acquired some great books recently, from the library and from the bookstore (don't mind the ripped pillow case in the photo above, eek).


"Augustus F. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits 1905-1920": I bought it a few weeks ago and am completely engrossed by the compelling faces.

"Modigliani": Growing up, this Modigliani print hung in our house. I always loved her collar but was confused why the baby had no face. I am inspired (ironically) by his simple, illustrative approach to faces. I struggle with faces in my renderings and am hoping a fresh perspective will lead me to a better approach.


"Folk Art of Europe": I love the patterns and shapes. I have yet to go through the whole book, these are my favorites so far.

"Pure Style Living"; Ah, at last! This beautiful book is mine, to pore over and dream up ways to make our living space more beautiful and functional.

"Swedish Style": Another lovely shot. This book is a little chintzy/shabby chic for my taste but there's usually at least one thing that resonates with me. In this photo, the canopy and bedframe. Swoon.

The end.

a little late

I have decided to participate in this even though we are five days into November. I just found out about so I figure better late than never, right? I've gotten out the blogging groove so hopefully this will help make it more of habit.

Last night, I hosted a CraftOn at my house. LQ and LW brought their projects (wool sculpture and cross-stitch christmas tree ornaments, respectively) and tasty treats over and we crafted away. Sorry about the blurry photo, must invest in a tripod soon.

I worked on a remodel of our bathmat. Our bathroom is small, monochromatic but a wee bit dingy (ie. needs a paint job and a tile/vanity/flooring upgrade. Ah, the joys of renting) and our yellow bathmat ended up looking stained rather than pleasantly pale. It is still in good shape so I thought a top level refit would sort it out. I was going to go a patchwork design inspired by these beautiful rugs but decided it was going to take too long. I designed block and everything (it probably already exists, I'm not an expert on quilt blocks) so maybe I'll make something else with it one day.

The other day I stopped by the Virgina Johnson store and bought some scraps for five dollars. Her prints are so lovely and just the right about of colour/scale of pattern for the bathmat project. The VJ scrap was a little small so I added a little strip of fabric and am quilting it to the mat. I am going to bind it with some linen. More photos once it is finished.

I went to library on Sunday for the first time in ages. I found tons of good books (more tomorrow) but I will leave you with this snap from 'Swedish Style'. Isn't wonderful? So simple, airy, clean. I love the contrast between the linen and the wood.