i came home with radishes and asparagus and no real plans for a meal.  not sure how they would work together, i grabbed some eggs, noodles and chives from the garden.  it might be nice to have a twist of lemon, but salt + pepper was all it took to make this taste like:

spring on a plate

asparagus, sliced, steamed
radishes
fresh chives
noodles, cooked (bought in a cardboard box)
eggs, cooked in olive oil
s + p

in case it's helpful, here's how i steam asparagus.  slice hard ends off.  slice spears into about 1 inch pieces, set tips aside.  put about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of a small lidded pot and set to boil.  add asparagus and boil/steam for 5 minutes.  add tips and steam for 3 minutes more.  drain.

assemble and enjoy!

what spring dishes are you eating right now?  happy spring, friends!

love,
jane

we've covered her wiksten tank pattern a few times before, but jenny's wiksten tova is perhaps my favorite pattern.  i've sewn it as a top with sleeves or without and as dresses too.  i love tova's loose, but not frumpy silhouette.  ​the placket on tova might be a bit challenging for a beginner sewist, but with patience and determination it can be done.  my preference is to leave the collar stand off and simply bias bind the neckline.

​my sleeveless versions are bias bound at the arm holes as well.  i also like to add a snap or buttons to the placket.  in regards to fit, i have had to do very little tweaking with the wiksten patterns.  as with any pattern however, it is always best to sew a muslin (a test version with cheaper fabric) in order to be certain...and to have the opportunity to make any desired changes before making a final version.

(these two tovas were well-loved.  the top was made from a lovely indian vegetable dyed block print.  i wore it until the color faded out.  the sleeves on that top were made using an old sleeve tutorial of jenny's that i've used repeatedly...works like a charm.  the dress was made with some of ermie's first fabric.  i felt so lucky to score some of that gorgeousness!  i used the regular sleeve piece and formed it into a cuffed sleeve.)

i have made this pattern numerous times, but have chosen unfortunate fabrics a few times.  i made two organic cotton tovas (not shown here).  the fabric had a "sticky" property that made it hard to slide a sweater over.  the dress would also bunch up over leggings.  i hope this makes sense.  liberty tana lawn, voile, or lightweight wovens would make lovely tovas.  my favorite one (above) was made from a beautiful (and inexpensive) emerald shot cotton.

jenny also wrote two lovely patterns for the lena corwin's made by hand.  i would love to make these up at some point.  this entire book is full of beautiful projects to try...good summer project inspiration!  check it out from the library!

jenny is about to release some adorable children's patterns and even though i don't have any little ones to sew for right now, i can't wait to see them!  her daughter, iris, looks so sweet in her mama made pieces.

(sorry for the quality of these photos...they are old and the best i could find.)

parts 01, 02, and 03 of this series.

love,
​jane

the satisfying labors of a gardener are among the most profound and paradoxical evidences of grace in all life.  ~john calvin

sewing is a great way to know exactly who made my clothes.  :)  this seamstress is paid with a garment that is a joy to wear...hopefully, not always.  :)  it's not so easy to know the origins of the fabric we sew with, but hopefully transparent supply chains will come, since more and more sewists are becoming curious.  as far as sewing patterns go, i like to support independent designers doing good things.  and...luckily, i like to sew.

julie (check out her blog- i know you'll like it!) suggested that i could let you all know about some of my favorite pattern designers...in case you are considering sewing some of your own clothes.  i'm happy to oblige!  

first of all, if sewing is a new skill you'd like to tackle... there is no better time to learn.  these pattern designers are all about patterns that teach.  they want to help you make a successful garment, so they work hard to write clear instructions accompanied by detailed pictures.  expert instruction is packed right into that little paper envelope...or shooting out of your printer!  :)  many designers also do blogged tutorials with color photos and descriptions that make you feel like they are right along side you walking you through all the steps to a beautiful wearable finished product.

the traditional pattern books of those big pattern companies are still in the fabric stores...and i do like to page through them periodically.  many times, however, the sizing seems off between the measurements given and the finished product.  this can be extremely frustrating since it results in wasted fabric, time, and work.  just like when buying anything else, it can be rewarding to support independent pattern designers...and they in turn work hard to supply a tested pattern that will fit as described.  they are sewists themselves and know what we want and need.

chocolate banana ice-cream

3 bananas, sliced and frozen on a plate to avoid clumping
spoonful of peanut butter
2 spoonfuls of baking cocoa
milk, add little by little to desired consistency

blend.  eat.  smile.

love, 
jane

i was hoping for some sunshine after a rainy mother's day, since i need to take pictures for a post.  sitting here thinking about what to post on a day with a slight drizzle predicted to turn into thunderstorms.  of course, what comes to mind is "thunderstorms, clouds, snow, and a slight drizzle"... if you lived in this house, you'd know what i mean.  

at the moment, everything around here relates either to twenty one pilots or gilmore girls.  it cracks this little tribe of girls up to realize how often that happens.  twenty one pilots (don't write that 21- it's apparently ridiculous) has been the top favorite of jo for 2 1/2 years (and one of my favorites too).  let's just say we hear it a lot around here.  it's sort of like the soundtrack of our lives...in a good way.  one of the best things is to hear it being played on a ukulele, keyboard or cello...tentative notes "being tested by a ruthless examiner" and putting smiles on the rest of our faces.  see...it just happens like that.  :)

and then there's gilmore girls...my favorite tv show of all time.  i spent seven years watching that show on my own (girls in bed, mr. tribe at work).  i think it informed my parenting in the best of ways.  in the past couple years we have checked the seasons out from the library and watched them straight through three times.  it's completely different watching it with my girls.  they have opinions of their own about dean and jess...christopher and luke.  and again, everything relates.  the other night, i started to say, "it reminds me of..." and julia said, "i knew you were going to say gilmore girls."  love it.

my amazing mother's day cards brought another soul-smile.  their words are my treasured gifts, and crazily they both referenced one of our heroes, lola...from charlie and lola.  predictable, right?  :)  somehow lola always knows the best things to say.  she knows just the right way to putting things, and it never gets old.  so julia wrote that i am the best "in the whole universe and world"...and jo said that i am her "favorite and her best".  sorry, i don't mean to boast, but had to give you a taste of lola.  :)

a favorite band, a favorite show, a favorite character...just a sampling of the simple pleasures shared with my two favorite girls.  so happy that i get to be their mama!

love,
jane

pointless or the point?
becoming an activist.
​made in michigan.
loving this podcast lately.
me made may.
break free.

​give me my choice.

happy weekend, friends...especially all you mamas!
love,
jane

i remember the days i prayed for the things i have now.  ~unknown

i've been painting our bottom kitchen cabinets this week...what a slow job.  so you know how the designers on those decorating shows always seem to be able to paint rooms in their stylish outfits?  well, i don't paint like that.  i end up with paint dots all over me.  when i was painting the kitchen ceiling, i finished in time to take jo to work.  she laughed as she told me i had paint on my face.  i laughed and said, "yeah, i know."  i always have to pick paint dots off my glasses, my face, and off my arms.

well, i caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror on the way, and i had a smear of paint about the size of a nickel all up under my nose.  she smiled and said, "well, i told you."  :)  so, um yeah...i'm sort of a messy painter.

so what does a messy painter with a simple wardrobe do about painting clothes?  well, i do have one old tee that i've kept for painting...but if that's stinky, and for bottoms...i wear a top and my shorts or pants inside out.  no extra clothing needed.  no one will ever see the little dots or even a couple smears of paint.  and all the flapping tags, pockets, and seams...they make my tribe laugh...so that's just an added bonus.  :)

love,
​jane