Wellesley Marketplace 2008


If it's in my studio and I made it, I'm slapping a Simply June label on it for tomorrow's show! Sorry things have been so quiet on the Simply June blog, but these little hands have been sewing and have all but forgotten how to type.

Make sure to stop by and visit me at the Wellesley Marketplace from 9am - 4pm tomorrow. If you aren't in the area, tune in here next week for updates as I will start updating my Etsy shop for the holiday shopping season...

I have all kinds of exiting new products and designs including lap/baby quilts featuring the fabrics of designer Amy Butler, Embroidered Button Zipper Pouches featuring Japanese import fabrics and my own embroidered buttons, Oilcloth Totes...Zip Pouches...Bibs...Lunch Totes, a NEW tote bag design featuring a pairing of designer Amy Butler's home decor line and 100% natural linen fabric, new Original Simply June evening bags and more!

See you soon!

Holiday Bazaar - Sunday November 9th



Join Simply June for some early holiday shopping at The Goddard School in Wayland on Sunday November 9th from 11am-2pm.

What Planet is Kolya from?


So, I was dropping Kolya off at school today and was chatting with one of the Moms from his class. She has a younger son "L" who is a year younger than Kolya and they are buds. The Mom shared the best story with me as we headed back to our cars... "L" has been really interested in planets lately and has been asking lots of questions about different planets and who lives on them... Here is their conversation:

"L": Who lives on Venus? "L's" Mom: Nobody honey. People only live on Earth. "L": We live on Earth? "L's" Mom: Yep.

"L" goes off to play for a while... pondering the information as little kids do. A bit later he goes back to his Mom...

"L": What planet does Kolya live on?

Yeah, Kolya's Mama wonders that sometimes too...

Shop Update

Leanne won! My favorite Project Runway contestant and fellow Etsian won! Check out this great article on Leanne Marshall on Etsy's Storque. Check out some her past and current collections as well on her website.

There is just never enough time in the Simply June studio, but I finally got a few new items up in the shop. Check them out when you get a chance...

Embroidery Class

I'm so excited to announce that I will be teaching an embroidery class on Sunday November 16th from 1-3:30 pm at Spark Crafts in Cambridge. Here is a class description & one of the projects we will be working on:

Basic Hand Embroidery

Learn a variety of basic embroidery stitches to complete the class project and more. We will be making embroidered buttons…perfect for updating your favorite old sweater or gifting to your favorite knitter. We will also adapt our buttons by making embroidered button rings…make one to match every outfit or to give as gifts. We will cover line stitches, chain stitches, satin stitches, couching stitches, French knots and more. We will also cover great embroidery reference books and design transfer methods.

Class Fee: $30
Supply Fee Options: $10 or $20 (to be paid to instructor the day of the class, cash or check only)
Basic Materials Fee: $10.00
In class use: Hoops, Scissors, Transfer Pens, Variety of Threads
Take Home: 10 ring bases, 10 button bases, Some thread, 1 needle
Take Home Kit: $20.00
In class use: The Kit (that you will take home)
Take Home Kit: Embroidery Scissors, Selection of Needle sizes, Embroidery Hoop, Fabric, Thread, 10 Ring Bases, 10 Button Bases, Transfer Pen

Offered: Sunday, November 16 from 1:00-3:30 (Karen)




So, if you live in the Boston area take a look and sign up! I'd love to see you!

Transforming Your Experience of the World

You know those days when you leave the safety and comfort of your own home and head out to do something as simple as go grocery shopping and along the way you encounter aggressive drivers, unfriendly faces, people bored with their jobs, people caught up in their own challenges of the day?... How is it possible that I can go grocery shopping and possibly only talk to the checkout person to say "paper or plastic?" But, we all seem to have a million things going on and I have even found some people alarmed when I try to engage them in conversation at a store (granted I do live in New England). None the less, sometimes I am just as much at fault for this. However, there are those days or moments when I clear my head and live in the moment...take the opportunity to complement someone, connect with someone.

I remember one trip to the store when I was standing in front of the dairy case... looking for a certain item. A woman came up next to me and I made eye contact with her and just shared a friendly smile. I headed back to my cart to add my item to it and she hurried to catch up with me. She told me that she hoped I had a really nice day and that she wanted me to have something. She handed me a round pin with the American flag in the shape of an apple... I believe celebrating excellence in education. I took it and thanked her and wondered for a moment why on earth she had given me the pin when I realized it was because we had connected... no other reason. Giving a gift was her language...her way of telling me that and she gave me what she had. That moment was so rich that I still remember it all these years later.

Well, this leads me to this amazing excerpt from NPR that I heard Sunday night at church. The clip was from the NPR show Storycorps: Recording America... all stories recorded in a traveling sound studio visiting towns and cities throughout the country. This particular story was titled "A Victim Treats His Mugger Right"... told by Julio Diaz of New York City and his account of being mugged and the amazing story that unfolded. It is really worth the listen and really drives home the point that we can transform our own experience of the world.

Blankets Cost Money






I'm looking forward to a girls night out tonight to celebrate my friend Karen's birthday! We are meeting up at our ritual hangout to eat good food and celebrate our friendships. The lap quilt is a birthday present for Karen. I love making these and combining a palette of colors. These colors speak her name and are from at least a couple of Amy Butler's lines. The quilt is machine sewn and the bias tape is half-machine and half-hand sewn. I learned a new bias tape trick recently that has really made the task much easier. Have I mentioned how much I love to hand sew? I could really sit for hours and sew on bindings... very methodical... very meditative...

On the subject of quilts... I recently had a conversation with my son Kolya about some quilts that I am making for some upcoming shows. This comes following many conversations where I am trying to teach Kolya that we can't always buy new things when we get tired of the old ones. Things cost money and we should spend our money wisely.

Kolya: What's that?

Mama: This is a lap quilt that I am making.

Kolya: Oh!... a blanket!

Mama: Yep, that's right.

Kolya: Who is it for?

Mama: I'm going to sell it... hopefully someone will love it and buy it.

Kolya: Are they cold?

Mama: (chuckle) Maybe.

Kolya: Don't they already have a blanket?

Mama: Probably, but they might want another one.

Kolya: Oh, but that's not a good idea if they already have a blanket... blankets cost money!


Yeah, I guess I got my point across...

We have been making a few changes around the Simply June household lately. In an effort to get more organized and to tighten our financial belts, we have been coming up with a weekly menu and creating a grocery list based on it. We have seriously cut about $50 off of our weekly grocery bill as a result! Of course from half of you, I'm sure there is a resounding chorus of "Duh!", but we are a little slow to pick up on things around here sometimes. Maybe it is the creative spirit that we have tried to cultivate in our household, but we usually would just "wing it" while grocery shopping (or food shopping to those native to MA - still makes me giggle for some reason). Anyway, we would just sort of wander into the store and follow our cravings. Yeah, bad idea. So, now I add a cookbook to my weekly list at the local library and sit down at the end of the week to flip through the pages and see what strikes my fancy. I have found that choosing recipes from the same author helps in my quest to save money as they are partial to specific ingredients that show up in many of their recipes. How many times have you purchased a package of fresh thyme or a carton of buttermilk only to find them lingering in the back of your fridge a month later because you only needed a Tbsp. or 1/4 cup of their contents? I have also found that we are eating healthier. I know exactly what we are going to be making each night, so I'm not poking around in the kitchen...nibbling on things until I give in and come up with a plan.

So, what is this weeks cookbook you are wondering? "The Food You Crave...Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life" by Ellie Krieger. So far we have had the Stuffed Turkey Burgers (p. 218) with Garlic "Fries" (p. 265) and Macaroni and Four Cheeses (p. 168). The picture above is of the mac and cheese which is made with two packages of pureed winter squash in addition to the four cheeses. Now the author says "This creamy, crumb-topped macaroni-and-cheese gets its bright orange color and a big nutritional boost from pureed winter squash. Don't tell an no one will ever know. They'll just thank you for making their favorite cheesy comfort meal." So, I whipped up this recipe while the boys were playing astronaut in the living room and served it up without a word. Kolya later looked down at his plate and claimed to have a tummy ache. While Jason was clearly mentally going through this weeks grocery list to discover the mystery ingredient. Yeah, not fooling anyone here. The dish did however get a vote of approval. Yum.

Custom Inspiration

I love having to the opportunity to do custom work when it fits into my schedule. I was given the pitcher from Anthropologie as inspiration for the color palette for one of my embroidered yo-yo dish towels. I love poring over my fabric collection to find the right colors or fabrics for a certain project. It is also nice to have the challenge to work within the constrains of the fabrics I already have. So, here they are... the finished "inspired" dish towels.

I have so many projects on my plate right now. Keep an eye out for an Etsy update soon... I promise and I'm getting ready for three upcoming shows and a few other surprises for the Bostons folks...

On Waking Up...



One of my favorite parts of parenting is the amazing conversations you get to have with your child...

On a recent morning while Jason and I were still sound asleep in bed...

Kolya: (whisper) Papa...good morning... Papa...wake up... Papa... Papa

Jason: (groggy) Good morning Kolya... (groan)... (mumble)... (stretch)

Kolya: Papa...get up... lets play

Papa: Give me a minute Kolya... its hard to wake up.

Kolya: Papa, its easy! Let me show you... (lies down in the bed)... (makes LOUD snoring noises)...ZZZZZ...Choooo....ZZZZZ....Choooo... (sits straight up with a big smile)... See! Its easy!

Mama: Chuckling... half asleep...

stART on the Street

stART on the Street was a huge success yesterday! We had a beautiful weather and a very friendly and fun crowd. I took a quick stroll around all of the tents, but they seemed to go on for miles so I didn't have much time to visit with the other amazing artists. It was fun to see the variety of work though and so many customers were amazed at both the size and quality of the show. The stART on the Street team really has their act together. I wish I had photos to share, but I forgot my camera and Zandra's battery was dead. If nothing else, I had wanted photo evidence that we put up our tent correctly this time! We spent our last show casually hanging in the back literally holding the posts down! Jason made us these incredible weights for our tent and Pete replaced the crucial missing screw and we are back in business.

So, now I am home recovering from the excitement, the unloading, loading, driving etc. It always takes me a few days to recover from a show and thankfully I have some time off before my next one in November. In the meantime I will be sewing, sewing, sewing, visiting "Oprah",`son. I'm so sad to see them close.

I'll hopefully be sending out an e-mail later this week with a big UPDATE to the Simply June Etsy shop. It has been all but picked clean during these last two shows and I have lots of great new designs to share with you!

Renegade: Chicago

Oh, to be in Chicago this weekend... If you are lucky enough to be in that part of the world this weekend, check out Renegade Craft Fair. The list of vendors is awesome and I've already spied some of my favorites from Etsy... Coo-Koo-Ri-Koo, The Small Object & Art School Dropout.

TWIST Recap

TWIST was in one word...Amazing. Lexie Barnes and her amazing team + endless volunteers put on the most amazing show/party. I felt truly honored to be among the amazing talent at that show. Word of TWIST 2.0 is already in the air...due out this Spring!

So, to tell it best...let me show you some pictures. The event was held at the beautiful Center for the Arts in Northampton and showcased in the stunning ballroom and galleries. I was in one of the two art galleries. The paintings were an amazing backdrop for all of our creations. Check out the artist... Suzanna Schlemm... her work really captivated me... in particular check out the untitled piece from 2008 featuring a woman in a green blouse...who in my opinion is carrying a decadent chocolate cake for one...

So, here are a few photos from the event...

Our gallery

The incredible ballroom ceiling...check out the disco ball that added a bit of funk to the show

Vendors set up in the main ballroom

Whistling Sparrow Designs... you have to check out Libby's work... recycled funky t-shirts made into skirts and brooches... + the most amazing dresses from vintage curtains, doilies and other vintage fabrics. Her aesthetic is impeccable and you are sure to find the most unique pieces in her shop.

Simply June table...

Zeal

Donnabelle Designs... incredible one-of-a-kind jewelry with a funky spirit to match its designer... & Robbie Heidinger...check out her beautiful organic pottery...

Stop by and visit Simply June at TWIST!

September 5th & 6th, 2008
Northampton Center for the Arts
17 New South Street . Northampton . MA

Friday, September 5th (5 - 9pm)
Saturday, September 6th (10am - 8pm)

Twist is a fresh kind of fair, showcasing original handmade goods and art from over 50 of the regions most talented crafters and artists. Two days of browsing and buying starts Friday evening, with DJ beats and adult beverages. Admission $3.

www.simplyjune.etsy.com

Three Little Toadstools All in a Row...

I couldn't resist making a couple of mushroom button sets right away... they make me silly happy for some reason. I need to go scour my closet for something to add some to... so if you see me walking around town with random buttons affixed to my garments...just smile and wave...there really is no therapy for this type of thing... pssst.... check them out in the shop...

The mini apron is a gift for a little "Miss C" who is celebrating her 4th birthday today! Kolya is invited to her birthday on Saturday, so I whipped up this little apron for the birthday girl... I love being the Mama to a little boy, but once in a while it is fun to make something girly... I want to go to the book shop and pick up a little children's cookbook to pair with it. When I was little, I had a Jello cookbook and my favorite "recipe" was one where you cooled your Jello in a clear glass and then stuck a straw into it a few times... then add some cream to the top of the glass and beautiful white pillars would appear in your Jello! So cool! I know you are off to try it now...

Little Red Riding Hood & The Itty Bitty Embroidered Mushroom...

I did some updating in the shop today... including a couple of cute Little Red Riding Hood Zippered Pouches. They each measure 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and are lined witha cute coordinating red polka dot cotton. The main fabric is a linen blend imported from Japan. I embroidered itty bitty red and white mushroom buttons as pulls and now I'm sure these are going to show up on button cards in the near future...

Also pop into the shop for a new Matryoshka doll zippered pouch and two new applique tanks in some new sizes in case you have had your eye on those...

С днем рождения ...

Happy 4th Birthday Kolya! My little guy turned 4 today... here he is in one of the first pictures we ever saw of our son... So tiny...those same bright eyes and happy face. Because of delays in the adoption process we didn't even see these pictures until about 4 months after they were taken and we were able to travel to meet him a month after that. I always wonder what we were doing on that special day ... July 31st, 2004... the day our wonderful son was born. We are SO thankful for you! С днем рождения! (Happy Birthday!)

Applique Cami...

I was inspired by my commission to alter Z's skirt and couldn't stop cutting out circles... I love working with fabrics and combining my love of embroidery. This is a very simple, clean basic design that adds a really artistic element to your wardrobe. I love wearing camis and love layering my clothing... a cami is pretty much a staple in my wardrobe as they are perfect worn alone in warmer weather...peeking through a v neck top... or layered under a short cardi...

This one is a women's size medium and is up in the shop... more sizes to come...

Embroidered Buttons...

I can never seem to make enough of these to keep in the shop... acutally they don't even usually get to the shop. They are a lot of fun to make and I embroider each one by hand. I have done custom orders for these too including a really cool retro set on black wool for a customer's pea coat. The sets in the shop are on a natural linen... perfect for summer and would be great to add to a knitting project... update a plain jacket... attach to hair ties... or sew on as an adornment to just about anything... I'm partial to the red ones, but you already knew that...

Japanese Matryoshka...

I bought this cute Matryoshka fabric from Japan a while back. There are always a few fabrics that I just like to look at for a while before I can bring myself to cut into them. This was one. I absolutely love it... linen fabric with the rows of little Russian dolls... So, one of these zippered pouches will stay in my personal collection, but the rest will be in the Etsy shop or at upcoming shows. I only have a tiny piece of this, so snap one up if you love it... I also added a cute hand embroidered button as a zipper pull. Cute.

I've been working on all types of projects for two shows coming up in September. Make sure to mark your calendars for Twist... September 5th & 6th in Northampton and StART on the Street September 21st in Worcester...