Pizza, espresso, gelato and fabric

I recently enjoyed three glorious weeks in Italy, the first two relaxing in Tuscany and then a more hectic week in Rome. Of course we managed to fit in a bit of crafty shopping between all the sight-seeing, eating and eating. We did a lot of eating.

A bit of research before the trip pointed us to a big old fabric shop in Rome. It did not disappoint! Fabric was stacked wall to wall, floor to ceiling. And there was room after room after room. It was overwhelming.


I picked up a few half-metres of sweet little prints. Just getting the fabric was a whole procedure. I told the woman what I wanted and, not speaking much English, she wrote down the price and amount for me. She cut each piece, asking first, then carefully counting the fabric and writing up a list of what I got. She gave the fabric to another woman and the receipt to the cashier. Only after paying could I actually touch the fabric.

While in Tuscany we stumbled on a fabric shop in Lucca, a great old walled town. The owner didn't speak much English and was super excited to have a chance to chat with us. It was especially fun when he was trying to tell us about the animal prints he sold out. He stretched his arms out, and leaned down to mime a dachshund. I got this cute sheep print on heavy cotton. The fabric was 2.8 metres wide! I figured just half a metre would be more than enough.


He cut the fabric, neatly folded it and then wrapped it up in special waxed paper with his shop's name. How lovely. I was hesitant to unwrap it when I got home. But I had a project in mind - make drawstring bags to fill with some Tuscan goodies for my friends. I bought olive oil soap that smells amazing and panforte, a traditional Tuscan fruit cake, in San Gimignano - the scenic old town just minutes from our villa.


The trip was just wonderful and I'll be reminded of Italy when I see the fabric. Amazingly I spotted the fabric shop in Rome while we were on one of those hop-on, hop-off buses. Talk about a keen crafting radar!

Sew cozy

I pinned a sewing machine cover tutorial long ago, then finally felt inspired when I picked up a couple colourful fat quarters with cute bird and owl patterns. Oddly, it turns out, it's the same fabric as used in the tutorial. You'd think I purposely got fabric that matched the crazy wall colour, but that was accidental too.

I made all the measurements and cut out the fabric, which required a fair bit of tedious piecing since I was working with fat quarters and then I figured while I was piecing I might as well make it interesting. But then I left it part way done, I think because I was afraid I made a math mistake that would only become apparent when I put it all together.

Today I summoned my courage to finish the cover and against all odds it fits perfectly. So another happy accident! (I know I measured, but really it is amazing it worked out.)


I'd definitely recommend this tutorial. It's well written with lots of pictures and the trick for the corners sure is nifty.

Crafting superstar

My mom is a crafting superstar. I was looking for a messenger type bag I could take with me to Italy that would hold a lot and be rugged, while also looking nice. I found a bag I liked online and asked my mom if she could make me something similar. Silly me. Of course she could. I gave her the fabric - Echino cotton/linen blend with bicycles that I've been saving for just the right project, and Laura Gunn poppies in complimentary colours - and let her do her thing. I would have taken weeks and weeks for me to get this together, but my mom whipped it up in a day. I'm sure with lots of time leftover for other crafting, followed by a martini with her feet up.

How awesome is this bag?! I can't wait to tote it around the Tuscan countryside.

Happy birthday, birthday twin!

These pillowcases are made with Amy Butler's Love collection. The paisley pattern was a bit busy, so I used just a splash of that for the cuff and used the larger patterns for the main part. The set is a present for my birthday twin. She's one person I know for sure I won't forget her birthday!


Today I'm having my family over for a birthday brunch. Although does it count as brunch still if we won't be eating until after noon? I'm making a couple breakfasty casseroles and I whipped up a beautiful fruit salad we'll have with Greek yogurt with honey. It should make for a lovely meal. Now I better get to work getting the house ready!

New addition

I've been quite remiss lately in crafting and posting. But a new addition to my home is a bit of a distraction. Meet Alexi, a three-year-old Borzoi. Borzoi are sighthounds, so related to a greyhound only more hairy. Her fur is so soft and shiny like silk. With big black spots underneath her mostly white coat.


I haven't taken a lot of photos just yet. Although she seems quite adept at posing. She and the cats are slowly getting to know each other. The cats aren't so timid (they spent a few days on top of the furnace) and Alexi is learning they don't want to play (a few hisses and swats later). Hopefully soon we'll all settle in.

Turkish delight

My lovely friend Tara was so sweet to pick out a Turkish spindle for me while she was recently at the Sock Summit. I saw them while I was at a spinning retreat last fall, but hesitated on buying one more thing when I had already splurged on so much fibre.


These spindles are handmade by a man in the states who I think can barely keep up with the demand. You can really see the care that goes into them. The Turkish spindle is a neat design because you can pull all the pieces apart and you have a ball of yarn ready to knit or easily ply. Bottom whorl spindles also spin way longer and smoother than a top whorl. This one is pretty teeny and I plan to take it on my upcoming trip to Italy. I'm sure my mom and I will get some interesting looks while spinning in the airport.

Not only was it super sweet for my friend to pick this up for me - and use some of her valuable yarn-buying time - she gave it to me as a birthday gift!

I know I like them

Today I'm going to a friend's bridal shower. Along with a gift card, I wanted to give her something handmade. So, yes, another set of pillowcases was made. It gave me a project for this amazing fabric I picked up not long ago. (It was still sitting on my sewing table to admire.)


The pillowcases are so pretty on their own I don't think anything more than a ribbon is needed.