cshoresal.com

2010.042 Silk Piping

cshoresal — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:28:48 +0000

As my family will tell you, sewing piping is one of my favourite things to do! It is even better when I get to work with silk taffeta and silk thread. “Shot” silk is made with different colours for the warp and weft threads. In this case, the two hues are warm gold and pink. The result is a fabric that changes colour with its angle to the light. Click on the thumbnail to open up the full sized image, then click the link below for more views of the piping, showing the subtle colour shifts and textures.

Click here to view my Sewing Projects gallery.

2010.041 Still Winter

cshoresal — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:58:34 +0000

Mother Nature is reminding us that it is February in New England, with a classic coastal snow. I brought my camera to work, knowing we’d be closing early and hoping the roads wouldn’t be too messy for a drive around town. Click on the thumbnail for this post to see the full photo of these gulls that were hanging out down by the river. Why don’t they seek shelter in the nearby marshes and woods? I have no idea. Crazy birds, standing out in the wind driven snow!

Follow this link for more photos of the birds and other wintry sights of the day in my Winter gallery:
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2010.040 Blues & Greens

cshoresal — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:02:54 +0000

I love thread. It’s so… colourful! And useful. And full of potential. Here is a small section of one of my thread bins. I have them sorted by colour, each olour group has a drawer, and there are six drawers full. And I do mean full. They are difficult to close without carefully positioning each spool. You’ll be seeing more thread here in my 365, I’m sure.

Tonight, Jim the tailor helped me choose the image to use, since I wasn’t really up to the task. He thought the lighter version of this image was a better choice, and he’s probably right. But for some reason, the too-dark version I used for the post thumbnail is the one I prefer. Something about it appeals to me. The jewel-like tones, perhaps. And the mysterious darkness. Can thread be mysterious?

Follow the link below to see the photo with others in its gallery, including a few more views of the blue-green drawer.
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2010.039

cshoresal — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:32:01 +0000

I wore this necklace so much… well you can see what happened. I wore it right out! It’s on the top of a stack of things to fix. Anyone know/remember what it is, and its significance?

Follow the link below to see the photo with others in its gallery.
Prints, mugs, t-shirts, and more, here.

2010.038 Out back

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:21:42 +0000

My family spent the afternoon with friends, celebrating their son’s birthday and generally having a nice relaxed visit. This happens very rarely during ‘tax season’, and is much appreciated when it does. One of these friends is an accomplished portrait photographer, and we enjoy talking cameras. And film! So, when the shadows grew long, we took a short walk around and out back, behind their house, looking for ’something interesting’. There were branches, and pine cones, an old wheel barrow, and shadows. Then, back in the warmth of their home, reflecting stars on windows, shadows dancing on curtains, and a young piano player tinkling the ivories.

People have asked how I find things to photograph for this series. Well, there seems to be something everywhere I look. I’m drowning in images here. The hard part is choosing. The wheel barrow stood out, I think, because of its weathered colours, hard/curved form, and setting in the winter leaves. I put a sampling of the photos from today up on my SmugMug galleries, which you will find if you click the link, below. Would you have chosen a different one?

Follow the link below to see the photo with others in its gallery.
Prints, mugs, t-shirts, and more, here.

2010.037 Sewing Supplies

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:29:07 +0000

Because my home office is located in the sewing room, I find myself with plenty of photo subjects right at hand, like this antique dress back on day 23. Well, here is a nifty tool that works great and looks pretty, too. Do you know what it is?

Follow the link below to see the photo with others in its gallery.
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2010.036 Birds, and other signs

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:01:41 +0000

I know it seems early to be thinking of spring, but I’m definitely seeing and hearing signs of winter aging. The past few mornings I’ve been greeted with birdsongs when I have left the house. And several nights have been filled with the rich conversation of barred owls. We hear them all year ’round, but they seem to be chatting each other up quite a bit more, lately.

It’s like an orchestra tuning up… a little here, and there… brief moments of cacophony, with just-discernible snippets of something larger, coming through. Add to those aural signs few mornings with breeze carrying earthy smells. I’m sure it will be at least have another 4 weeks before any of the more durable signs are obvious… twigs and branches greening (and reddening), buds swelling, and noticeably warmer sunlight. But that’s okay, I’m busy with indoor life right now. Spring can wait, but I’ll be watching for signs, nonetheless.

Follow the link below to see the photo with others in its gallery.
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2010.035 Favourite Things

cshoresal — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:57:13 +0000

Today, a few of my favourite things that I hope I’ll never have to live without. Three teas from John Harney, Master Tea Blender, at Harney & Sons in Salisbury, Ct.

Eight At the Fort – An historic blend created for the time the Group of Eight world leaders met high above Denver at the Fort Restaurant. This blend of eight teas was created and served at that dinner. This is my everyday breakfast tea.
Paris – A blend reminiscent of one of the most popular blends in Paris. It is a fruity black tea with a hint of lemony Bergamot. Mmm… yumm!
Blue & Yellow – A floral blend of Chamomile, Lavender and Corn Flowers. So soothing, and so pretty!

Harney & Sons is a Connecticut company located in the northwest corner of the state, in Salisbury. They also have a Tea Room just over the border there in Millerton, NY. But that’s too far for me to travel for a cup of tea, so I go to a local gem, The Herbary, on Middlesex Tpke just this side of the Old Saybrook line on the way up to Essex.

In the warmer months, she has plants and fragrant herbs for sale and a lovely border of wild roses which you’ll see in this blog later in the year. For now, go up and let her pour you the perfect cup of tea, of your choice!
The Herbery
1001 Middlesex Tpke
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
806.388.4753

Follow the link below to see the photo with others in its gallery.
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2010.034 Ope’ning?

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:22:56 +0000

I can understand a cabinet maker who isn’t a great speller, though I would expect attention to detail from a fine one. It’s the sign-maker I have an issue with. Surely, spelling is near the top of the desired skills for anyone who is in the business of putting things in print. Mistakes happen, of course, but this sign has been up for a few days now. My co-worker Heather and I considered using up a bottle of white out to cover an ‘n’. But the question is, which ‘n’? I think we decided on the first one, because ‘ope ning’ is just more interesting than ‘open ing’.

Follow the link below to see the photo with others in its gallery.
Prints, mugs, t-shirts, and more, here.