that time of year

Okay, we had a little snow. But the streets are passable, the sidewalks clear...so please pop in and see all the wonderful choices now on sale ! My own COREY&CO pieces are a bit in short supply at the moment, so I guess I know who will be tied to the sewing machine for awhile.

ready ready ready

The elves have done their work. The cookies are in the oven. And it is almost time to make Harriet wear a silly hat again. Thank you to all my many shop visitors for their good cheer . Tomorrow COREY&CO. will be open 'til 3:00. If we haven't seen you yet, stop by tomorrow...the cookies will be there !

twinkle twinkle

Lights are lit, wreaths are hung and people are out enjoying the walk-about in Portland. My windows are decked with red birds and festive bird lairs.

intake

Step away from the cutting table, step away from the sewing machine. Macworth Island fairy villages and mammoth tree roots, Willard Beach pilings, Boston airport sculpture piece, kitchen counter paperwhite roots. Can you tell that I have had a couple of days off?

vests

Some pieces I have made....as promised. However, not dull colors!!!      I just love vests and the way they can join disparate items of clothing into a cohesive look. One is sculpted of felted wool, the second a cotton rough-edged vest which almost looks like a Colonial era garment. The third: brocade and ready to wear to the opera, no?

a side of color

My taste in clothing (and therefore , the shop's) runs to the neutrals: greys, blacks, taupes, naturals. My idea of COLOR is olive green. But the subdued palette of Corey&Co. is saved from ho-hum by accessories-to-the-rescue. Color on the head, 'round the neck, on the hand or foot....this I can do. The "bits and bobs" are fun to photograph and make for a holiday feeling. Next week I will focus on something I have created. No doubt it will be grey.

 Scarves in-the-round by VERLOOP and gloves with textable fingers. color !

o.k., now we're having fun

The shop is chock-a-block with really amusing things right now. We all know what season fast approaches and one must be ready ! The felted elfin slippers are from the Nomad's Foot. The chunky wooden beads and birds are here from ELK of Australia.  Of course, there are lots of garments vying for space as well.

ah, Butapana

A new line for me ...Butapana. So Japanese. There was a wee problem with communication. They: no English . Me: no Japanese. Luckily, I have friends who speak the language and helped with the necessary conversation. But I did receive some lovely photos of the cherry blossoms in bloom...and now I have the even lovelier garments in the shop. The knit is so unusual and people are really responding to the pieces: sweaters, skirts, scarves and headwear. Butapana.

through the green door....

A week or so ago, an old portal between stores was re-opened and now COREY&CO and FIACHRE have a friendly connector between shops. Customers can take a peek, shop-keeps can have a chat, and the view is superb. The rustic green door makes a natural photo back-drop for these tweedy pieces I made last week: black and white wool cropped jacket and cowl-necked tunic. And here is what I see of my wonderful garden shop neighbor...

...through the green door.

YOON swoon

The sweaters pictured are from YOON, favorites from the rather large cache of woolies now at COREY&CO. People are finally reconciling themselves to the fact that fall and winter are hurtling our way.....might as well bundle up smartly.

let there be leggings!!!

It is the season for the tunic, for layering, for garments atop leggings . Soooooo happy to wear socks, to wear shoes, to wear boots......aren't you? Here are some last lingerings of linen and cotton. 'Pushing it, I know. And now, onto the light-weight wools.....The stockroom is teeming with sweaters and all things wool. I am cranking out garments after my brief hiatus in NY , but feel so far behind my planned fall imaginings. I have neglected the blog a tad- so sorry- but in the interest of making, making, making. Thank you to Linda, ol' buddy -ol' pal for keeping me on blog post track.

hey, good lookin'

I purchased this snazzy woman's tux at friend Ronnie's yard sale this morning. But uh-oh ! Will I bear a frightening resemblance to my relative, front and center, who was the proud leader of the Swedish Drill Team???? I do love a uniform (and tux,morning coat,etc.),but am having second thoughts.

Hmmmm....what connection can be made between Willard Beach at sunset and these gorgeous new garments from KOKUN?? Well, there are the beautiful color gradations of both sky and yarn, both palettes range from celestial to earthy....and then- there is the fact that I NEEDED TO WEAR A SWEATER that evening !!!Summer is turning that exciting, but melancholic corner to autumn here in Maine. It does it every year, I know. But it is always new .

mood indigo

Ever since Miki returned from Japan, she has been indigo-mad !! One recent evening found 3 of us at her house - eating, drinking and dipping. I bet she is dunking something in the foul-smelling brew even as I write. But, here in the shop it is late August-mode: things on sale, things down to the lonely last of its style group. Solution ? Miki indigo-dyes some of the stragglers! Still-great pieces in white are even better in the enchanting ,uneven, saturated hue.

stripes , always

At the fabric store, at the product showroom....show me a stripe. I may have said before that I think it may be my Scandinavian proclivities- but who knows? Don't we all love a stripe?? The jersey top and skirt: my doings. The scarves: Sammy, Ethiopian women, weaving.

back from cleveland

Back in the shop and making my daily scrap messes on the floor. Four days away is four garments behind schedule. Better ramp up the sewing because a New York trip is coming up in a couple of weeks. summer !

with open arms

I am thrilled to pieces to present to you my new neighbor, FIACHRE. This amazing store spent several years on Fore Street here in Portland and, in that time, garnered many enthusiastic fans. Fiachre, the patron saint of gardening , is sure to be smiling down on 17 Pleasant Street. Here is a sneak peek- more photos to come.  Harry and Bea will show you around.