Christine Chitnis: November 2009

Sew Thankful

We leave tomorrow for Chicago, where we will spend Thanksgiving with my family and as I prepare for the trip, I can't help but reflect on the things in my life that I am thankful for; my wonderful husband, supportive family, colorful community, comfy home and fulfilling career. I feel incredibly blessed that I get to write about things like crafting, simple living, and creativity. Take my latest article for example...I had the pleasure of interviewing four AMAZING women, Amanda Blake Soule, Maya Donenfeld, Tif Fussell and Michele Simeon, for a SewHip! article entitled Simple Living, Handmade Touches.

I mean come on...I get to sit in my pajamas, in the comfort of my home and talk with a few of the most inspirational crafters on the planet...pinch me!

I don't normally do this, but I know this magazine is very hard to find in the States... so I will post images of the article here for your enjoyment (if you click on the images, they should enlarge so that you can read it). If you have the chance, definitely pick yourself up a copy. This issue has some great patterns and a fabulous interview with all-star quilter Denyse Schmidt. Not to mention the fact that it is so important to support high-quality craft magazines right now since business is not exactly booming in the magazine industry.

Sew Liberated Gift Swap

I have been challenging myself lately to get more involved with the craft community. One incredibly fun way to do this, is to join swaps. Besides the ongoing journal swap that I am participating in, I also signed up for Sew Liberated's Holiday Traditions Exchange. I love the idea of swapping traditions, instead of just gifts, because it moves us away from thinking of the holidays in terms of materialism and consumerism. Speaking of...I can't wait to show you some of the handmade gifts that I have made for Christmas this year...I am striving for an entirely handmade holiday!
Anyway, here is the package that I put together for my swap partner. I made her a few linen trees from this tutorial, and on the back of the vintage postcards, there is a recipe and a tradition. I shared a tradition that my mom started...I call it the "Little Big Box."

Every year at Christmas, my mom and I exchange one large box. Inside, there are lots of small gifts that we collected for each other throughout the year. They are all pretty inexpensive, so it is not the cost that makes them so valuable, rather the thought that was put into each one. They might be things like special soaps we found at our farmers market, trinkets we picked up while traveling, miniatures for our printers box collection...but every little thing has a story behind it, a reason for being included. It is a fun way to show that we were on each others minds throughout the year.

It all comes down to this...it's less about the stuff and more about the thought!

Welcome To The House of Woolly Wonders

Wow...so this was not a project for the faint of heart. First, I spent about five hours making over 50 pompoms, then I had to tie them all onto the wreath, which took another couple of hours. It was a long endeavor, my goodness. But I think that it looks adorable hanging on our door! What do you think...does it say "Here lives a festive crafter?" or "Welcome to the scary house where woolly wonders come to die?" I can't wait to see what my husband thinks, that is, if he even notices it. He is not the most observant guy when it comes to my various home improvements!
Here is a picture of the wreath that I used. I found it at the Salvation Army for 89 cents, which means that the entire cost of the project was less than a dollar since all of the other supplies came from my stash! It was pretty hilarious because as I was waiting in line, trying to hide my hideous selection, a lady stopped me and asked, "Ooh, were did you find that, it's fantastic." Hmmm?

Mixtape Issue 11

I have a little piece in the newest issue of Mixtape! It's a reflection on the raw foods diet that I did a while back...plus a super fabulous recipe (click the picture to enlarge!)

Journal Swap

My lovely Squam Art Workshops Summit sisters and I are doing a journal swap. Each sister has a journal and every month we pick a topic to focus on. You can write, draw, collage, paint...anything! Once your entry is finished, you pop it in the mail to the next sister. In the end, everyone gets their journal back and there is a an entry from every single sister. Isn't that a cool idea?! What a great keepsake!

This month's topic was "50 Things You Don't Know About Me" and here is my entry... (and yes, I do love Twilight, don't hold it against me).

Hoop Display

I wanted to show you a little DIY project that I whipped up a while ago. I have a collection of beautiful lace doilies and unless I am using them on my dining room table for flair, they sit in my studio collecting dust. So I decided to take one of my favorite doilies and create a jewelry station!

Here are the simple step-by-step instructions:

1. Find a doily that is slightly bigger than the embroidery hoop of your choosing. Stretch the doily across the hoop and tighten. Use clear tape to stick any loose doily ends onto the inside of the hoop. Using glue will damage your doily.

2. For the second hoop, stretch a pretty fabric across and tighten.

3. Hang the hoops with a small nail and use them to display your favorite dangle-y earrings!

There you go...a pretty little jewelry station!

PomPom Madness

Do you ever stop in the middle of a project, look around at the mess you've made and just start laughing? I had a moment like that last night after making 40 pompoms by hand. Why? Why would anyone in their right mind make 40 pompoms? Good question!

I saw this adorable wreath over at Bluebird Vintage and I decided that I simply must make one. Oh, the situations I get myself into for a good craft. But isn't that half the fun of crafting; the absurdity, obsession and perfectionism that surface when you are in the crafting trance. I was at the yarn shop recently and I overheard a couple of knitters talking. One was mentioning that she would never dream of paying over $100 for a sweater, but she would gladly spend $200 on yarn to make one (and that is not even accounting for the value of her time!)! How absurdly funny!

I am thankful for these funny little moments that make up my day. Now, enough reflecting...it's back to the pompom sweat shop.

Cider Mill

I am in Michigan for a quick visit home and today I decided that it was the perfect cider mill day...crisp fall air, you know the kind, with that certain spiciness to it, like freshly fallen leaves and wisps of chimney smoke. We got a jug of freshly pressed cider and too many hot and fresh donuts, found a park bench and enjoyed our treat. My favorite part is the anticipation, gazing into the brown bag, stained transparent with grease, and inhaling the scent of fresh donuts...really, is there anything better than these simple pleasure life has to offer us?
I hope you have a simple, lovely weekend!

All Wrapped Up

Thank you for all of your lovely comments regarding yesterdays news! It is exciting to be writing for magazines with a wider audience. Oh...and just wait until you see what's coming up in these next few months, SO exciting!Anyway, I finished up my quilt for Craft Hope and it turned out so cute...I love that you can roll it up into a little take-along package. I found a beautifully carved wood button that perfectly complimented my fabric choices, and it really was the icing on this cake.
I think that this quilt would be the ideal holiday gift for a special little someone on your list; perfect for sleepovers, picnics, cuddling by the fire, beach outings and marshmallow roasts!

Sunday Suppers

Hi friends...I am so excited to show you my latest writing clip! I did a review of Sunday Suppers for Time Out New York magazine. You can find it in the latest issue or right here! I am moving up in this writing world!

Photograph: Karen Mordechai

A Melancholy Moment

This weekend I had the unbelievable pleasure of being flown down to Virginia for a story that I am covering. Although I can't yet tell you the magazine, or the story, I can show you just how beautiful it was! Once the shoot was done (I can't wait to show you some cool 'behind the scenes' shots of the photo shoot), I headed out into the Virginia countryside to check out a few wineries. I was driving, so my tasting was limited....but I was pleasantly surprised by some of the dessert wines I tried. Who knew Virginia produced such lovely wines?
Once I had my fill, I headed into Charlottesville and toured around the University of Virginia campus. It was bustling on this Sunday morning and as I had a late breakfast, I eavesdropped on the conversations around me, all revolving around the previous nights dramas. Remember the emotional intensity and energy of college? Sometimes I find myself missing that time in my life. I hate to admit it, but while I was walking through the gorgeous campus, I became misty eyed and was filled with a strong longing to return to my college, University of Colorado, for a visit. Perhaps I was missing the carefree attitude I acquired in college, or the late nights dancing through the streets with friends, tipsy on cheap champagne and the promises of the night ahead.
Before I could become too nostalgic, I happened upon a lovely bench, perfect for reading. I was deep into my latest find, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, and as I basked in the warm afternoon sun, I found myself pulled into this story, which revolved around the aging process. I finished it on the plane last night and it left me feeling very melancholy. So here I am today, relishing this past weekend and all its beauty, but also struggling with a case of 'melancholy Monday.'

Crafting for Hope

I will be the first to admit that lately I have been wallowing in self-pity. At least a couple times throughout my day, I would start on that "oh poor me" track of thinking. I kept hoping that something would snap me out of it. Turns out, all I needed was a good project!As I have mentioned before, there is no better therapy than quilting therapy, so when I happened upon Craft Hope and saw that their latest project was quilts for homeless children in the Grand Rapids, Michigan public school system, I knew that I wanted to participate. Working on this quilt (for some special little boy!), has brought me so much joy. As I was hand-stitching the binding last night, I kept thinking of the comfort that it might bring to some little person facing big hardships during this holiday season, and I couldn't stop smiling.
Isn't this creative community that we are all a part of just incredible? What an uplifting idea; using crafts to bring hope, joy and comfort to others.

I am working on a writing project right now that focuses on the community aspect of crafting and I am curious to know...how have you gotten involved in the creative community. Has it been through blogging, online communities (such as Ravelry.com), craftivism (activism + craft)? I have met so many wonderful people through all of these methods, not to mention through real-world happenings, such as Squam Art Workshops, but I am always looking to meet new, inspirational people. So I am curious to hear your stories! Please share, I am all ears!

Happy Halloween!

We had a fantastic Halloween here in Rhode Island. It was an unseasonably warm night and so the trick-or-treaters were out in droves. We passed out candy and enjoyed chatting with the neighbors before heading to a friend's Halloween party. I had to pass along these pictures of my little brother, who decided to go as Elvis this year.Wow...did he nail it or what!? I hope you all had a fantastic Halloween...did you see any super creative costumes?