CHICKPEA SEWING STUDIO

Weekend Sewing

I spotted this marvel here and in the new Domino last night. It's 'only' $129, hum...A good thing that it's not yet available because I might have some expensive trouble with self control!

I am now determined to make a sling this weekend. Thomas is painting the kitchen ( brave, brave soul) and I love to work on something while he's doing something next to me. By the way, since it's shopping day for sling fabrics, I might mention that we used Aura paint from Benjamin Moore, and it's terrific! I was a little worried about the initial cost of the gallon but no longer. The paint is thick, covers beautifully and doesn't smell at all.For the living room khaki walls we choose light beige. We didn't have to prime the walls first at all. two little coats later, the room is much much brighter.

Enough about paint, what am I going to use for the sling? Maybe heavy weight Amy Butler Nigella or this linen spotted at Joann's and on the small object in February (!).

Pick-Me-Up

My last Etsy purchase arrived on Monday. It my best impulse buy ever! I made it a week or so ago when the future seemed all gloom and doom. Scarfs have the great advantage to be one size fit all, and that means a lot right now (being that I still live on one sole pair of pants and pregnancy T-shirts only). I did know then that It would be a welcome change to all the burp cloths that most commonly adorn my neck, however trendy the fabric I sew on them ;)

The scarf is a Syko product ( I am a huge fan of hers). When I saw the post about it I started hyperventilating (polka dots will do that to me) and as it was still mysteriously available I knew it was simply meant to be.

Truly Ugly

Today I went thrifting with my friend Sara. It was a mildly successful adventure, and if I end up making anything from those vintage mason jars and bead packets you will be the first to know!
However I believe that in a contest for the ugliest thing seen this year I would get the prize.
This chair is unbelievable! I had to share. What can this paint finish mean? It leaves me baffled.

Scissors Paper Glue

I received my first etsy order on Saturday, from Scissors Paper Glue.  When I opened the box I immediately understood that this would be different than all my previous mail-order experience.  Everything was beautifully wrapped, and It took me a while to get the courage to open the little packages. They contained hand felted mushrooms that I just want to look at all day. After some pondering I am storing them in a clear jar, so that they remain dust free from many years to come.

I really wish I could hand felt too. They are so much sculpting possibility there. None of the knitting shops around me seem to teach classes though. Maybe someone knows of a great how-to book?

Post update:
Ever delightful Kristin, from Kleas, sends this link from her blog. She received the most amazing things from Jen, the mind behind the Scissorspaperglue blog. Check it out, or recheck it out as is the case for me. I had no idea it was from the same crafty lady!

Weihnachtsmann

                                                                           

Tom bought me this little guy half an hour ago and I am already in love. I can't get enough of watching him blow smoke out of his little pipe. We found him at a little shop called Mount Olympus Clocks, the kind full of nutcrackers and pendulum clocks. The real purpose of the visit was to find the tiny candles that fit in the pyramids like the one in the photo below, but we were unsuccessful. I guess they still make the pyramids but not the candles anymore. Two years the store has been out of them. I might try the candles that go on Menorahs and see if they will fit.

  This figurine is a Christian Ulbricht, which I believe is from east Germany, which doesn't mean GDR anymore. The pyramid on the other hand I purchased last year in from Kathe Wohlfahrt in Rothenburg which is in the south of the country. Don't be fouled however, it is horribly cold out there right now. The coldest I ever felt. I love the little persons on the pyramid, they remind me of the Peanuts. especially the one with the baseball-looking hat in the back!

                                                                  

Mushroom Delight

Today is officially Internet shopping day at this house, Mushroom Internet shopping to be perfectly accurate.

In the morning hours I acquired this German made nutcracker. Its appeal and size will prevent it from ending up in the bin along with the nut shells (wishful thinking). It is offered by our good friends at Garnet Hill, at a price you can live with.

For more woodland wonder, I was directed by Karin  to hello yarn. This blog has the cutest gnome wreath, check it out!

It also offers a list of suppliers amongst which this fabulous web site Blumchen & Co. They have old stock cotton spun toadstools, for a price you can also live with. A word of warning though, I got a bit over excited looking at their merchandise and gave myself morning sickness. It's all better now I have secured some (picture above on the right).