Beach Bound

Friends, I'm going on vacation tomorrow, to Hawaii! Mr. Jones and I are going to The Big Island for a full week, a trip I have been anticipating since the last time we went to Kauai, three years ago.

I love Hawaii, and not just for the beaches and people and the animals and the water. Hawaii exists in my imagination, as a 70s Polynesian paradise, and an 80's TV special. Is it like that for every American not from the West Coast?

We have lots planned in Hawaii, from hikes in volcanoes to horseback rides in canyons to snorkeling and swimming in the sea. I've made 3 new dresses, and found 2 amazing vintage ones. I can't wait to show it all to you upon my return. It's been such a manic anticipation, I almost need a holiday from myself! This space will have a post or two in my absence, and I'll 'see' you again in about a week.

I bid everyone at work good-bye with these "Pineapple Right Side Upcakes", made from the same recipe as last time, using a cup of pineapple instead of the blueberries, and no sugar swirl in the middle. Candy leis on simple icing made them even sweeter.

PS. I'll be announcing the giveaway winner upon my return. Still time to enter!

Bicycle + Sewing Machine = Love

The Bicycle Cap by peSeta for the New Museum from casa peSeta on Vimeo.

Summer Lovin'

It's Summer! And Dean, of New York, is enjoying his Oliver & S playsuit.



Just perfect on him. I picked up a similar pattern for a girl, from this year's collection. Can't wait to try it!

Summer Strawberry Cake

When we have larger meetings in my office, I bring treats. I brought this Strawberry Coffee Cake to work on Wednesday and everyone claimed it was the best thing I've ever baked.


The recipe is here, though I substituted strawberries for blueberries. I don't think it needed the brown sugar swirl in the middle (I left out the pecans, too) but if you're in need of a late day sugar rush, by all means stick with it.

I'm dreaming of this cake with other seasonal fruits. Peaches, plums (my favorite), or even pineapple for a Pineapple Upside Down Cake!

Summer Camp Shirt

Summer Camp and Back to School were the two places I liked going most as a child. So in the Summer, I like to pretend I'm still going to camp, and dress accordingly. This homemade shirt is just the kind I would pack, for the big week away.

I fell in love with the fabric. It's a sweet woodland theme, without being too overt.

The pattern is Butterick 5300, which I've made before. This time I made a size Small, instead of XS, as I like the slightly looser fit in the slightly heavier weight quilting cotton.

I'll be taking this shirt of my vacation, where I'll be doing things I dreamed of doing at camp: riding horses, swimming in the warm sea, and hiking trails to see amazing sights.

Whereas at camp, we made friendship bracelets, drank 'bug juice', and swam in the dirty lake. I'd still do all three of these things tomorrow. That's what Summer is all about, right?

P.S. I got a new (old) sewing machine off Craigslist for a song, and it's amazing! Sewing has improved 150% and buttonhole anxiety has left the building. The joy of sewing has tripled!

Original Design: HarVest Pumpkins!

Here in Portland we haven't really started Summer weather yet, and I'm thinking about Autumn. I have adapted the HarVest to include pumpkins! I've also found a model, who will be sporting both fashions for an upcoming photo shoot.

I'll be writing up the pattern, so you can make HarVest for the wee ones in your life, by Autumn. Hopefully it will come in sizes 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and 9-12 months.

Which do you like more, the apples or pumpkins?

The Girl in the Yellow Dress

This is my favorite vintage dress. I've had it for about 3 years. If you're my friend, and I've been to your wedding in that time, I've worn this dress (and if any of you have shared wedding albums online or in person, you've probably noticed).

I wore my favorite dress this past weekend to a wedding, but it was my last one. I'm retiring this dress. It's just been 'done' now. It being vintage, it's also coming apart. I sneezed at the reception and split a hole near the zipper.

I'm sad to be retiring my dress. Of course, I won't get rid of it. I'll repair it, dry clean it, and store it. But before I become known as "the girl in the yellow dress", I think I'll give up wearing it.

Have you ever had a garment you've retired, but have been sad to do so?
Please do tell (and enjoy this cute photo of Mr. Jones).

Photos by Tristan Oliver

First Argyle

I've always loved argyle. It's so whimsical and so classic, isn't it? I had just enough yarn left from a few other projects (and do I mean just enough. I came within yards of using up all 3 colors) to make the 1 year-old size of the "Oscar Argyle Sweater" from my favorite knitting book.

I changed the pattern to be knit in the round (like I almost always do with bottom up sweaters for any age). I was taught how to do the math on this from my friend (and former coworker and knitting teacher at Loop), Linda. Being Norwegian, she's an expert. She also said her mom and friends finish many sweaters on their sewing machines! So with this one, I did just that.

I sewed in the sleeves as I would with woven shirts and it not only secured the ends of the argyle, but made me confident that everything was sturdy enough for its one year-old recipient. Try it knitters, you'll love it!

Wedding Season

We sure have been to some pretty ones lately. Congratulations, Keiron and Lauren!

June Giveaway: New England Knits

Thanks for entering the May Giveaway. The winner has been announced, and the patterns are being sent.

The June Giveway is a copy of "New England Knits" by Cicily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre. I was sent a copy of it, and having previously purchased it, now have an extra! It's filled with great patterns (you can look inside here) for all seasons. I can't wait to make the Greenfield Cardigan or the Mystic Pullover!

If you'd like this book for your collection, please leave a comment on this post with your name and email address. I'll pick a winner at the beginning of July, and send the book to you, where ever you are in the world. Good luck!

Melanie is our winner. Thanks for playing!

Family Affair

My sister Heather got married this past weekend in our hometown in Pennsylvania. The wedding was beautiful, and I don't think I've ever seen her happier. Congratulations, Heather and John!

My grandmother also made it to the ceremony. She will be 100 years old in October. So very special.

My Craft Room

The little 2 bedroom house we rent here in Portland was built in the 1950s. It has lots of amazing 50s features, and I love them. My heart, however, has always belonged to the 70s. So when Mr. Jones let me have the extra room as my craft room, I knew I could display all of my favorite 1970s items. I thought I might show you my craft room, as I know that someday we'll move again, and it will be nice to remember it. It houses so many of my favorite things, and has helped me create even more of them.

My sewing table (under my sewing machine cover) sits on an antique desk we bought here in Portland for $25. In the drawers are all my sewing accessories and tools, and is within reach of all my craft books.

Some of my books have been with me for years, crossing the ocean with me in shipments when I've moved from New York to London, or London to Portland. They're mostly from the 1970s with some newer titles, too.

My smocking pleater and yarn swift, on top of the bookshelf.

Further down, a Merry Mushroom canister (I collect this mushroom stuff) with my little girl tape measure, a squirrel I can't seem to get rid of, and a TV with dog portraits in it that always makes me smile. There's also my yarn ball winder, and my collection of vintage steel knitting needles (most of them bought in a huge lot, at the Goodwill, for $10) in a glass vase.

Against one wall is a small sofa-bed, and next to it is my yarn stash in a basket, my scrap fabric stash in a vintage suitcase, a roll of muslin and sew-able tracing paper, and of course Mr. Furly!

Mr. Jones bought me this dressform off Craig's List for my birthday last year. I love working with it. To the right is a closet where I hang my clothes, and keep fabric folded on shelves.

Another of my favorite recent finds is this circus trash basket, bought in Portland's Selwood neighborhood for $6 (I still haven't removed the price tag!). I think it's so sweet.

This is Pin Cushion Dog, given to me by a coworker named Dan Nord, on my very first job out of college, at Nickelodeon. He's still holding up (the pin cushion I mean, I have no idea where Dan is). He sits in front of my 70s radio, where I play KMHD to my heart's content.

I could go on and on, my friends. Sitting in my craft room is like sitting in a toy box, each tool exciting and special. I love it there. It's made the Portland rain tolerable, and home time divine. Now, if I could just keep it this clean more often!