todd and i drove down to Boston in the grease bug the other day to pick up a new treasure. one that i've been wanting for some time now. a letterpress! i love it and can't wait to get all my ducks in a row so i can begin using it. fort nest is almost complete...i just need to set up my sewing station!

one of the most amazing gifts ever! theresa (my FLO HO co-worker) made a gorgeous garden book for toddie and i. i weep every time i open it. the seeds are all stitched in vellum pockets, the pages are hand bound, and her sweet little cursive instructions will help guide us to grow this thoughtful collection of seeds. our little yard is going to be so happy! thank you, theresa.

also, kitty kisses make me laugh.

good morning. looks like it is going to be a lovely day.

my first post at S.D.

fort nest loves friendly visitors! i think it's funny that the chickadee is perched next to a photo of miles' paws...if photos could come to life, i don't think that birdie would be so happy.

i like my post at flora home today...it's from my last visit.

a recent visit to flora home.

i'm not quite ready for blogging at swatch diaries, yet, but soon. i'm still working on the first issue...STILL.

around the fort...books...swatches...drawings...a bunch of ideas, but nothing finished. another day trip to the library. another day out in the yard - we've prepared our 20'x30' bed and we're ready to plant! so exciting. more on that later. have a cheery day.

still blooming...i love daffodils. happy weekend to those of you who don't have to work.

as i was cleaning out parts of the fort, i found a little bag that i made when i was first learning how to use a sewing machine. my dad found this great machine on the side of the road, i believe, and brought it home, made a beautiful base out of wood and polished it up for me. i made a small series of handbags using scraps of fabric from Grammy Evans. i wish i could find the red & white gingham check bag...it was a little longer and wider than the one shown here. i think it's finally time to dust off the old sewing machine.

swatch diaries!
Hopefully I will begin blogging there in the next week or so.

the perfect skirt for a rainy day such as today

happy spring shapes make happy spring shadows.

yesterday, todd and i had lunch on commercial street and got a glimpse of the bay. it made me a touch nostalgic for the old days when i lived on peak's island. just a touch.
today the sun is out and i wish i could go dig in the garden and get it prepared for the seeds that we bought. soon enough, i hope. i'm also hoping for some studio time this weekend! it's been a while since i've actually been able to get work done in Fort Nest. ah!

it's been such a hectic week at work...we're having a big sale, so i've been there everyday this week. i rummaged through my small archive for some peaceful imagery. i think i found it...these were taken up at my parent's new place in Stockton Springs, ME.

getting the garden going...it's just the beginning. i can't wait to get some plants planted and be eating freshness from the land everyday. nothing much happening in Fort Nest since got back from the big road trip. Madder keeps evolving and the first draft i have been working on keeps changing. my deadline is june...so i'll keep you posted.

i'm back from miami, where toddie and i picked up my grandmother and aunt and drove them up here. actually, todd did ALL the driving and i was the navigator and knitter. i managed to take a few snaps in miami before the road trip began. it was so green and sunny there. and warm. summer will be here soon, right?

spring is finally here and todd & i are taking off for miami. ?? bizarre, i know, but we'll be back at the end of the week - hopefully just in time to see the daffodil's in bloom. see you then!

fresh

yummy. freshly squeezed orange juice.

thrifty

$2.00 (well spent)

Library Books

Every Tuesday I happily make my way to the Falmouth Library to check out a weekly dose of cook, craft, & garden books. I take them home, flip through, and dream of all the fun things I could make if I only had time...maybe someday. I still love looking.

snowy sights...

finished!

finally finished my 2 knits for CE...phew.

knit bits: finishing up 2 pieces for Classic Elite's Winter pattern book and hopefully starting a couple vests for the first issue of Madder.
wedding bits: we're working on stuff...invitations soon...
spring bits: it's cold up here still...i think it was in the low 20's last night, but the longer daylight hours gives the illusion that warmth is on its way. daffodils help too!

letterpress class

over the weekend i traveled down to western mass for a class that was totally worth the trip! amazing, in fact, and now i want a letterpress of my very own. and, of course, the one i'd like is rare to find...it's called a Pilot press.

Floor Removal

Toddie took one of the floors out, so now it feels like an open loft in the living room. We thought we'd rebuild, but now that I'm experiencing this new, brighter room, I can't let it go. Who cares if we're making our small house one room smaller? In the grand scheme it will be just right.
I'm off this weekend to a letterpress class!

cooking with crock pots

Nothing like slow cooking!

Cold Stick Study