More kitchen-themed sewing today! Have I ever told you about my "new pen" life philosophy? I'm sure I'm not the only one who lives by it's principles. Whenever I had a writing deadline in school that I just wasn't very motivated about working on, I'd buy myself a new pen. I know. It's just a pen, right? But for some reason...'just a new pen' was enough excitement to get me started writing. I'm not ashamed to admit that I bought a few 'new pens' at various 'stuck' points in the process of finishing both of my manuscripts.
The "new pen" approach, though, can be applied in many situations. Like in a Maine kitchen at the end of a long winter. A kitchen - when you're trying to eat as local and organic as possible - that has seen far too much soup of late. (I swear, if I see another root vegetable, I might cry.) You know I love my kitchen, but even I struggle in it this time of year with a lack of motivation. It's the normal late-winter boredom thing - soon to be remedied by the first greens, I know very well. But until then...I'm keeping myself cooking and in my kitchen with "new pens," or as the case may be, new bread bags. And patchwork kitchen rugs!
I was motivated by the arrival of the soon-to-be-released (next week!) Patchwork Style and Linen, Wool, Cotton - both part of the Make Good: Crafts + Life series (I love that the word series implies there are more to come! And I should mention that we share a publisher in Trumpeter Books.)
{Update: I've just heard that the books are available now at the website makegoodbooks.com.}
Do they look familiar? They both made their way around the craft blog circuit a while ago now as Japanese craft books. But the difference is that these are in English! Oh yes. I can read them! And make the patterns with ease! You know how exciting this is, right? I'm excited.
I've poured through each of the books so completely re-inspired by their pages, now having the words and the instructions to know what's going on. This patchwork rug caught my eye - as the author writes that it's meant to be 'soiled' as all kitchen rugs are. And the solution to that? Just sew another patch on! Brilliant. Brilliant in it's simplicity. And super fun to make, too. I used a linen on the front 'base', with loads of different scrap fabrics "patched" on. The back is a mattress ticking.
When I was done with 'mine,' I made a slightly smaller - and with brighter prints - rug my girl and her kitchen. (I say 'my girl's kitchen', by the way, because she's the one mostly playing with it these days. The boys played with this everyday at her age too. And I'm sure Harper will too! I get excited thinking about my grandchildren playing kitchen with me someday too. Is that bizarre?)
Until that day, though...I've got some more bread to make and likely some more soup too. Having a fresh new pretty rug underfoot makes just a little bit more fun.
Bring on the parsnips!
