See what we’ve been up to lately, thanks to Instagram!

I know I'm not the only one who goes out with a tape measure as an accidental accessory ✂️ OK REAL TALK time (lol what's a segway and why do I need one?): friends, I'm exhausted! Woke up this morning hopeful to feel some sense of re-energized motivation to tackle the to do list, and all I was able to muster the energy for was to half assed do our dishes and watch an episode of Outlander while death gripping my coffee before coming into the studio and wanting to fall asleep in the scrap bin. One day off a week is not enough to fill my cup, and I am feeling it. I was writing down my wins from last month and what I need to work on moving forward- special thanks to my @gettoworkbook for helping me organize my thoughts -and I had the realization that I cannot be the best I can be (and neither can Old Spool) when I'm this mentally drained. I mean, I haven't taken a break since the first few weeks the shutdowns happened last March and that wasn't a break! So, I'm releasing myself of any responsibilities beyond showing up and teaching the kids here at the studio for the month of March, because they deserve all of the energy I do have left (so dramatic Jul, but whatev 😂) I'll of course be answering emails and if you want to come by and shop I'll be here, but I will not be participating in social media, teaching any adult classes beyond the ones already scheduled (but @creadesigns will be here on the 27th for another metals class, it will be on the site today!) or putting any pressure on myself to create anything for the next 30 days. Hopefully this gives me what I need to be able to show up with more pizazz in the Spring (adult garment classes! Shop collaborations and giveaways! Summer camp registration for the kids!) and if you're feeling this way, this is your permission to do the same! ✌️see you in April, my loves! I'm working on getting the March and April workshops up this weekend (life is busy and weird and I no longer feel guilt about doing things in slow motion, neither should you!) but one class I do already have up is this cute lil' project bag with @mandy_bree_handmade on Sunday the 14th! She sewed up the "medium" size of this Kandou Patterns bag in some @rubystarsociety Speckle and @pbsfabrics Indian Summer fabrics from my shop- complete with multiple interior pockets and a handle ✂️ it's hard not to steal this for my own and tote this guy around with me with my [3 million] WIPs inside 🧶All my knitters, crocheters, needlepointers, cross stitchers and embroiderers who are looking to practice their sewing skills will love this project, it's beginner friendly but so satisfying! I've been sharing a few Half Square Triangle pillows lately 📐but it's only because I'm way impressed with my students! From clever fabric selection, to interesting layouts and designs to quilting lines that really take the project to the next level- I love when these guys can find their creative voice thanks to a bunch of squares and triangles ✂️ Nothin' more satisfying than making a G I A N T rope bowl to gather all your random bits and bobs in... which is almost always our previous scraps here at the studio! ✂️ hosted this as a class back at the end of last year and everyone really enjoyed it, if there's interest we can do it again! I made this massive sucker out of a 200 foot hank of cotton clothesline and aforementioned scraps, but I've made smaller bowls out of only 50ft (scroll back on my feed, it was a quarantine project) It's also super fun to sew something that isn't fabric for a change ⚡ 🌻🌺Sharing a floral stack of fabrics on a snow day in Jersey is just how my brain works 🌼🌹 these gorgeous babes by Cassidy Demkov on organic cotton by @cloud9fabrics are the types of fabric I hoard in excess because they are vintage-inspired with just the right touch of "I live in a cottage and make friends with butterflies all day ✂️ I'm redesigning my website to make it easier to navigate and shop, but if you can work around the construction site it has become you can find these online! We recently finished up my bi-annual tshirt quilt class, and while Laurie is getting her top long armed, I thought I'd share in action shots as inspiration! This loving mama spent her time making this quilt for her son and it turned out so special...and extra long for his 6'4'' frame 💥 Ahhh Sunday, my day off! I'll be at home, endlessly knitting my current WIP- a shift cowl by @dreareneeknits in yarn from @balzacfibers - all while watching Blown Away on Netflix because ya girl LOVES anything that reminds her of dorky art school critiques. I highly recommend it just so you can giggle every time they say glory hole 😂 every episode I just think how I should never be allowed near a hot shop because of how often I drop bobbins and knock into tables at my own studio! I'll stick to fiber arts crafts for how soft and forgiving they are to my spazziness. 💥 Get ready for fabric spam two posts in a row!! A few garment wovens in the shop, sitting pretty in a corner with my @helens__closet Suki Robe and a cactus that needs to be repotted 🪡 solids are lyocell twills, as well some viscose/rayon babies that would make killer blouses OR I have plans to do a @truebias Calvin Wrap top in that perfect polka dot. I did a weekend workshop a few months ago for the #sukirobe but it's such a great piece I may host another one, any takers? Also I'll be at the shop until 6:00 for @creadesigns metals workshop, so feel free to come shop if you're in the area!