Thursday, March 7, 2013

Make & Listen Along: Curtains with The Lumineers

One of the first things that was set up after we moved in (after the beds that is) was the sewing machine. I had a whole lot of sewing to do and the studio was up and running before I even unpacked my clothes. Priorities you know! Some new music was also in order for all the creating to come.

I am all for silence when the time is right. Yes, some little people I know have not learned how golden it can be just yet! But when I make things I love to listen to music....all kinds of different music. 


Sometime the machine hums along with the soulful notes of Nora Jones, other times the needles click clack along to the Dixie Chicks, while the little people dance with wild abandon in the living room. 

And still other times I find myself stitching away in the passenger seat while listening to the latest hip-hop and R&B has to offer... And the little lady in the backseat belting out Girl on Fire with all her might. That is what happens when my inner city boy has control of the radio.

Often while cooking together we treat ourselves to the wonderfully simple and delightfully happy tunes of Elizabeth Mitchell. Throw in songs from the likes of Matchbox 20, Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, Linkin Park, Maxwell, and Faith Hill for good measure and you get the idea...

Needless to say we listen to a mix around here and I am always looking for new music. So I am curiously interested in what others are sending out into the airwaves... and inspired by what others are making. 

I love the idea of Ginny's Yarn Along  and while I don't knit quite as much as I once did I love to go see what others are reading and stitching. I figured why not a Make & Listen Along?

On Thursdays I am going to post what I have been making and listening to as creations grow. 

If so inclined post, on your blog or flickr, about what you have been making (on your own or with little hands by your side) and listening to while you create. It can be new music, flash backs, a song or a whole album... whatever you like. You can be stitching with needle & thread, yarn, paper crafting, painting, cooking... and beyond. Share what you are making and the tunes that are fueling your creativity. Then come back to my Thursday Make & Listen Along post and leave a link in the comments so we can be inspired right along with you!


Make & Listen Along

Our first week in the new house I turned a pile of fabric into curtains while listening along with The Lumineers. 













Making

It was the first time I had done any kinds of piece work like this. And those were some tiny pieces. I was inspired by a bag I had seen in Zakka Style and a rug in Maya's book Reinvention. I could not get it out of my mind so I decided to dig in and see what happened.

I wanted to keep things light in our bedroom and strike a balance between masculine and feminine with my fabric selection. As the little lady reminded me when we were fabric shopping, "It is Dad's room too!"

I also wanted to bring in some colors of the southwest with the orange and turquoise.

It was a lot of work and I see some things I would have done differently, but I love the way they came out just the same. I am still on the hunt for the right tie back idea. I have seen a few that I like but no decision yet. I will post about that and the rest of the room when it all comes together.

Listening

The Lumineers impressed me when I watched them perform at the Grammy's. Since we don't have any kind of cable television at home it is a performance I would have missed had we not been staying in a hotel at the time. When searching for new music to sew along to I pulled up The Lumineers and they were just the up beat, thoughtful, and diverse band I was looking for... The more I listened the more I fell in love with their sound.

So do you want to play along?
What have you been making? What is on your play list?
Please do share!

22 comments:

  1. I LOVE them, so light, airy and beautiful.

    Making around here - felted eggs, knitting a shalom and little man now tells me he wants another knitted animal, but he is not sure which one :)

    Listening - a little Mumford and Sons, some Nora Jones and Jason Mraz..quite the mix here too.

    Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kim.
      Knitted animals go over well here. Lots of requests!
      I wil have to check out Jason Marz. Thanks for sharing!

      Delete
  2. Your curtains are beautiful!

    I do have a few knitting projects going, but most of my making lately has been of the writing sort.

    My 17 yo led me to the British group Tiny Ruins, which is fantastic, introspective writing music. And my all-time favorite is Bright Eyes or anything by Conor Oberst. I write to him all the time. His lyrics, his voice--I'm weak-kneed for him! He inspires me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Patricia.
      I always love your writing sort of making ;-)
      Thanks for the music tips. I will check them out!

      Delete
  3. Seems like you should be making luminettes while you listen to the Lumineers. ;-)

    Your curtains are beautiful!

    I do have a few knitting projects going, but most of my making lately has been of the writing sort.

    My 17 yo led me to the British group Tiny Ruins, which is fantastic, introspective writing music. And my all-time favorite is Bright Eyes or anything by Conor Oberst. I write to him all the time. His lyrics, his voice--I'm weak-kneed for him! He inspires me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha!
      Did the comments give you trouble. I never comment on my own blog so I never know if it is a hassle for people. Let me know if you had problems!

      Delete
    2. No, I wanted to add my corny luminettes joke, but I guess I didn't realize that the previous version had already been submitted. I'm a dork!

      Delete
    3. I loved that joke! It made me laugh. Glad you came back to add it.

      Delete
  4. I recently recovered some chair cushions. Well, almost. I've 3 of the 4 done. Not super-creative, but it was satisfying. (You can see them in today's post on our blog.) Listened to my Mary Gauthier station on Pandora while working. Given your musical tastes, I think you might really like it.

    Love your curtains! They look like a lot of work. Bright and happy--really like the colors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love those kinds of projects too... just the satisfaction of completing something can be so motivating.
      I will check out your musical suggestion!
      And thanks!

      Delete
  5. what a great idea! i'll be joining you.
    also, love the lumineers :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've been making a lot of things. Not so much now this week but .... Recently I finished a scarf, knitting bag, needle case, skirt for s and v, a dress for S's doll and a blanket for each girl's doll.

    I love sewing of knitting to Spoon, Adele, postal service ,Ditty Bops. We've been listening to sparkle stories a lot too.


    I really like this meme of yours I'll definitely join in once we are settled in France.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You always have great makings on the go...
      F just checked out a book about making girls clothes with clothes/blankets for dolls to match. Great fun.
      I will have to check out Spoon and Ditty Bops...
      So happy you want to join in...

      Delete
  7. love the lumineers. i could make you such a mix cd. maybe i will. :)

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  8. Fun idea! I sewed something (can't remember what it was! but required lots of tracing I recall) while listening to the Lumineers a few months ago! I had the house to myself by some miracle, and my biggest problem was that I kept dancing, while I really needed to focus on tracing. Happy memory.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was totally inspired by you Ginny!
      I love how music is a foundation for memories like that. So fun!

      Delete
  9. Those curtains turned out great. I love the Lumineers, although I think I listened to them too much so we're kind of taking a break. I am currently in love basically the full discography of the Avett Brothers. Lots of upbeat songs, but lots of thoughtful ones too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I missed this post last week! Beautiful curtains and I love your idea for these posts. I will be sure to share and tag along on your Make & Listen Along!

    ReplyDelete