After a hazy start, the wildfire smoke has cleared and it’s been a rather lovely July so far here in Michigan. Hugo and Clementine were at sleepaway camp last week, and it was blessedly quiet with just Elliot, who always enjoys returning to his former status of Only Child, a position so cruelly snatched away from him at the tender age of two.

 

This past weekend we had our annual camping trip/family reunion with my mom’s extended family and my kiddos enjoyed running around with their second cousins. Miraculously, we didn't forget to pack anything essential this time (previous years’ forgotten things include: the tent rain flap - there was torrential rain that year - fuel for the cooking stove, any long-sleeved clothing for Hugo). 

 

Here at MBR Labs, Elli and I have been hard at work getting the Garnet pattern ready for launch. It's been really exciting to see the preview testers' photos come in, and I've been sewing up a storm; seems I always end up sewing lots of last-minute versions of a pattern as the launch approaches. We also have print pattern updates to announce - more on that soon!

 

I finished repainting my studio this spring, and I've been hosting regular sewing meetups again. If you're near Ann Arbor and want to come and sew with us, please sign up for my Sew Ann Arbor emails. I'm also offering private lessons if you want to learn how to sew!

 

A few more updates and things I'm into lately…
 

mending: I started mending a pair of torn jean shorts using techniques I learned with Jessica Marquez of Miniature Rhino a couple of years ago at Squam, and it’s making me really excited to be back at Squam Lake in just a couple months. For those not familiar with Squam Arts Workshops, I wrote a couple of blog posts here and here.

 

knitting: I’m working on two knitting projects right now, the Spring Sorrel sweater by Wool and Pine (using Noro from Spun) and the Fizz Cowl by Barker Wool, below. I’ve been intrigued by the assigned pooling technique, so I was excited to find some Madelinetosh x Barker Wool at Spun and have been enjoying learning that new-to-me technique through the pattern.

 

reading: So many books to recommend! I read Still Life by Sarah Winman and now I really want to go back to Florence, and The Lincoln Highway was super fun. Two books by Taylor Jenkins Reid books - Malibu Rising and Carrie Soto is back; both are excellent fluffy summer reads. And Good Talk by Mira Jacob was so good – I want my kids to read it next.

 

listening: Can’t recommend the Wiser than Me with Julia Louis Dreyfus podcast enough. What a great interviewer she is, and what a guest lineup!! Can’t decide on a favorite ep…maybe Carol Burnett?

 

sipping: lavender lemonade. I’ve been simmering a large handful of lavender in a pan along with 1 cup water and 2/3 cup of sugar, then letting it steep for an hour before straining the liquid into a jar. We love to add it (about a shot) to a glass of lemonade - it’s so delicious!

 

sewing: I finished a fun bright pink jumpsuit out of Merchant and Mills linen procured from Oak Fabrics just in time to wear it to the Eras tour (Clementine: “We’re both going as Lover.” Me: “OK?” IYKYK). I also enjoyed sewing the Joanie Top, which is my friend Meg of Sew Liberated’s newest pattern release, with it's unique shawl collar (below).

 

We fly to Portland, Maine this weekend and then plan to drive up to New Brunswick for a road trip along the Atlantic coast. Acadia and Hopewell Rocks are on our list of things to see. If you've got any other favorite spots to recommend, let me know.

Hope you're having a fantastic summer!

 

xo,

Rae