Some things that inspire me right now.
photo by YoungJun Koo/I’M KOO
photo by Art Night Austin
photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
Click on each photo for source.
inspiration
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Author Archives: Amy Dietrich
beautifully designed and blue
I do not usually gravitate to the color blue.
But lately, I am liking some lovely things that also happen to be blue.
Inspiration: Dries Van Noten
I smiled and smiled and smiled while I was looking at the Spring 2014 RTW show from Dries Van Noten. I got that feeling that stirs me when I’m looking at something inspiring and humbling at the same time. Such Beauty.
The collection is soulful, powerful, and feminine. There is adornment and restraint. It takes my breath away.
The collection mixes influences, cultures and craft.
And shows some gold brilliance.
And I want to look just like this.
All photos: NY Magazine
phillip lim for target
On September 15th my reminder alarm went off. I got on line because the Phillip Lim for Target merchandise was going to be available that day. And I wanted at least one of the bags. It was about 9:30 am. All of the ones I wanted were already unavailable!
I checked Racked to see how it was going in New York. Sold out within minutes! Check out the article here.
Well, I live in Michigan, not NYC anymore so I rushed over to my local Target. Here’s what I saw:
There were plenty of the bags. (No yellow ones, however. I don’t think that store got any to begin with.) I spotted one woman wearing fabulous glasses with 3 bags in her shopping cart. Otherwise, I was the only one in the department. That’s when I went a little Target-price-nuts!
When I was paying, the cashier asked me if these were nice bags because the last customer had bought 6 of them! That made me feel better. Ok, so I went a little overboard, but I haven’t bought a bag for myself in ages. And these are definitely way less expensive. See how I’m rationalizing?
I’ve already used the big tote and the little bag. They are very smart looking don’t you think?
The medium size in taupe makes me feel very Grace Kelly. Sigh.
(All photos by Amy Dietrich for Coventry Drive)
garage sale
I’ve heard about finding treasures garage sales, but I’d never experienced anything major. Until…..last week!
I had just dropped off the kids at their schools and had my vente iced nonfat latte in hand. I was driving home when I spotted them sitting out on the driveway of a garage sale. I screeched to a stop and parked. I tried not to sprint over there. My designer’s heart was pounding. Could they be real? Even if they’re not, I’m interested.
There they were: 3 yellow chairs. Chrome bases. Dirty. Fine. I tipped one of them over.
HERMAN MILLER! Be still my heart.
(no way, are you kidding me?) I’LL TAKE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There they are: my Eames chairs in a gorgeous yellow. Welcome home chairs!
I bought these chairs from a woman who had received them as a wedding gift in 1954. I told her I would love the chairs and remember her story. She was happy. So am I.
The next day I received the DWR catalog. And here are the current Eames chairs in all of their mid modern glory.
fall shopping list
Ahh, fall clothes. My favorite! Moto boots, cashmere, leather… sign me up!
I know, not much color on my list right now. Usually there’s one color that I’ve got to have, or else! But this fall, I want cozy neutrals, tough accessories, and simple shapes.
1. Equipment Cardigan, 2. MIssoni Scarf, 3. J. Crew Floral Tee, 4. Eileen Fisher Dress, 5. FEED Bag, 6. DKNY Pencil skirt, 7. Rag & Bone Boots, 8. Greta Garbo iPad case
Happy Mother’s Day
My QuiltCon Recap
QuiltCon is over. I am back home and back in my routine. I learned so much that my head is still spinning. Seeing friends was priceless. I loved my workshop with Rachel Hobson, was inspired by Amy Butler, David Butler, Heather Ross, Yoshiko Jinzenji, Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle, Angela Walters, Kat McTee, Denyse Schmidt, and was thrilled by the exhibition quilts. I also got to participate in the APQ 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge.
I did manage to buy a little fabric and the registration bag was filled with all kinds of great things too. My suitcase definately weighed more coming home.
Beautiful inspiring quilts:
(Quilts 1,2,3 Denyse Schimdt, 4 Yoshiko Jinzenji, 5 Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild, 6 Jacquie Gering , 7 Janet McWorkman, 8 Nicole Neblett, 9 Nancy Scott)
wonderful inspiring people:
(Amy Butler, Yoshiko Jinzenji, David Butler, Rachel Hobson, Angela Walters, Denyse Schmidt, Heather Ross)
All photos by Amy Dietrich for Coventry Drive
QuiltCon here I come!
Yes, I am really going today! This week will be the first ever QuiltCon presented by the Modern Quilt Guild. Modern quilters will converge upon Austin for lectures, workshops, information, fun, and friendship. The talent at this event is overwhelming.
I am looking forward to reuniting with friends, attending some amazing lectures, a workshop, and learning tons!
Let me tell you who I can’t wait to see and hear:
Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle (Modern Quilt Workshop and Craft Nectar), Yoshiko Jinzenji (uber inspiring), Denyse Schmidt, Amy Butler, Rachel Hobson (I’m taking her Redwork workshop), Heather Ross, and so many more!!!
The Modern Quilt Guild thought it might be a good idea to get to know each other a little before hand. They are having a link party. They want to know 5 things about everyone. So, here goes…
1. I have my degree in Biology, but was a fashion designer in NYC for many years. (No, it wasn’t the most direct path.)
2. I am a proud adoptive mom of 2 almighty kids who systematically blast my To Do List to bits each and every day.
3. Two of my biggest dream have already come true: traveling to Paris as a fashion designer and becoming a Mom. So anything else is pure delicious icing.
4. I traded my NYC fashion life for a life in Michigan (the land of my birth) with my two kids. I live in my very first house. What? no super to come fix things? I have to shovel snow? Buy a lawn mower? I love it! I can just walk out my back door and cut flowers for my mantel! And nobody pounds on the ceiling if we are too noisy.
5. I like strong coffee, shopping, country music, Pinterest, running, make up, quilts, Bertoia side chairs, Dries Van Noten, and making stuff.
See you in Austin!!!
patchwork bracelets
I bought the book, “Quilt Love: Simple Quilts to Stitch and Treasure,” by Cassandra Ellis a little while ago. I love the book. It gave me a nice boost of fresh inspiration.
Cassandra’s quilts are cheerful and meaningful. There is a really nice assortment of projects in this book.
There are instructions for making a friendship bracelet by hand in the book with these pretty photos below:
I needed to make SOMETHING—and fast! I decided to give the hand sewn bracelets a try. I used my Mom’s stash of fabrics that she uses for making church banners. Making the bracelets was easy and fun. ( I always think better when I’m doing some hand sewing or knitting. Do you?)
I’ve worn these nonstop since making them. Unfortunately, the fabric doesn’t hold up well and the metallic thread is unpredictable. So I took another approach.
I did a variation on Cassandra Ellis‘s idea and made longer bracelets that I can wrap around and around my wrist. And of course, there’s always room for more bracelets on MY arm!
First I made a green bracelet with solids and one print. Then I made another bracelet using 3 different blue Liberty print scraps. Of course, these bracelets work well with other bracelets too!
And then…. I HAD to make bracelets from left over scraps from a strip I had done for the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild which is being assembled into a quilt. We used some gorgeous modern Spoonflower prints. You can check out my strip here. These are the bracelets from those scraps below.
Check out http://www.cassandraellis.co.uk/ as well for more about Cassandra Ellis along with some gorgeous photos of her work.
Thank you Cassandra Ellis, for your inspiration!
Photos 1,2, 3 are from the book, ” Quilt Love: Simple Quilts to Stitch and Treasure” by Cassandra Ellis
Photos 4,5,6, & 7 are by Amy Dietrich for coventrydrive.
Coventry Drive 