Sunday, October 17, 2010
Thank Goodness It's Sunday
This Sunday, I'm feeling grateful for:
:: The dusky light as I walked out to my studio this evening. And the way the studio retained the day's heat so that even as it got a bit chilly outside, I was warm and snug in my little room.
:: An episode of family tickle-time this afternoon. That sort of breathless, snorting, long laughter is such a balm....
:: The chance to go running when the clouds cleared. If I get out even once or twice a week, I'm feeling happy.
:: Completing the tasks of organizing the junk drawer, the bathroom cabinet, and sorting the toy boxes by type. Sisyphean? Perhaps, but it still feels good. And lo and behold, my 3 year old asking "What else can we organize?" Truly.
:: The outrageous blossoming that is happening everywhere outside. Spring, spring, spring!
Hope you have had a weekend filled with small happinesses also.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Give Give Giveaway: "The Handmade Marketplace"
I've been planning this giveaway for some time -- I'm so excited. 101 readers on the blog, and nearly 150 likers on Facebook. Yay! Here are the giveaway guidelines:
:: Giveaway comments will close one week from tonight, around 8 pm New Zealand time on the 23rd of October. The winner will be chosen courtesy of random.org.
:: I'm happy to send anywhere! International readers most welcome.
:: Please be a Facebook liker and/or follower of the blog to leave a comment.
:: To make it interesting, I'm asking that you include your favorite arty/domestic/life tip in your comment. For instance, I've recently discovered that you can use really fine-grain sandpaper to get rid of pilling on sweaters. Awesome! I'm sure all you brilliant folk out there have a lot to teach me (and each other for that matter.)
:: I won't respond to any of the comments in the comments section because it throws off the numbers for the ol' random number generator. But please know that I'm reading and appreciating every one. I'll choose a few of the most interesting and handy tips to publish on the blog when I announce the winner.
So, what am I giving away?
An autographed copy (new) of Kari Chapin's The Handmade Marketplace. Such a great book -- I was given this as a birthday gift by my sister last April, and I found it so helpful that I bought a couple of extra copies when I traveled to Portland in August. Kari Chapin had recently done a reading at Powell's Books, so it was a bonus to find that they had a stack of autographed copies.
Thank you thank you thank you, readers and likers. I so appreciate your support.
Good luck!
:: Giveaway comments will close one week from tonight, around 8 pm New Zealand time on the 23rd of October. The winner will be chosen courtesy of random.org.
:: I'm happy to send anywhere! International readers most welcome.
:: Please be a Facebook liker and/or follower of the blog to leave a comment.
:: To make it interesting, I'm asking that you include your favorite arty/domestic/life tip in your comment. For instance, I've recently discovered that you can use really fine-grain sandpaper to get rid of pilling on sweaters. Awesome! I'm sure all you brilliant folk out there have a lot to teach me (and each other for that matter.)
:: I won't respond to any of the comments in the comments section because it throws off the numbers for the ol' random number generator. But please know that I'm reading and appreciating every one. I'll choose a few of the most interesting and handy tips to publish on the blog when I announce the winner.
So, what am I giving away?
An autographed copy (new) of Kari Chapin's The Handmade Marketplace. Such a great book -- I was given this as a birthday gift by my sister last April, and I found it so helpful that I bought a couple of extra copies when I traveled to Portland in August. Kari Chapin had recently done a reading at Powell's Books, so it was a bonus to find that they had a stack of autographed copies.
Thank you thank you thank you, readers and likers. I so appreciate your support.
Good luck!
Felt like Friday....er, Saturday
Arg, I've missed a day in my Blogtoberfest quest. In lieu of time in front of the computer yesterday, my husband and I enjoyed an "in-house" date night following the Nelson Masked Parade. It was well worth it....Imagine, a whole conversation, uninterrupted! So, I'll cheat a bit and squeeze in an extra post over the weekend -- here's the first: a lovely "Freshen-Up" Felt showcase - - items that feel like spring to me.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
My Creative Space
I won't hold back: I'm feeling really proud of myself. Know why? I followed a sewing pattern! I did everything -- the measuring, the finishing of edges, the pocket. Everything! I know it probably doesn't sound like a big deal to you veteran craftsters, but for me, this was huge. I only figured out how to thread my sewing machine about a year ago and during my short history of sewing I've mostly had what a friend described as a "rip sh*t and bust" attitude toward projects. I am both impatient and very stubborn. I'll finish a project no matter what (and usually as quickly as possible) even if it's a total disaster. Funny, the contrast between my take on sewing and my approach to print-making (where I'm incredibly slow and detail-oriented.) Anyway, using a pattern and actually reading the directions took a little while, but hey -- look! Something we can actually use! And it (probably, hopefully) won't disintegrate in the wash! Who would have thought?
This is the "Simple Dress" out of Lotta Jansdotter's lovely Simple Sewing for Baby. Next, "Simple Pants." There's no stopping me now.
(Full disclosure -- this is actually the second time I managed to follow a pattern. The first was a few days ago, with a much simpler pot-holder pattern:
What else? I've done some work refurbishing a child's art desk that I found the same day I found the doll's house at the flea market. The two cost $20, combined. I do love the flea market -- and clearly it loves me back.
And finally, some baking.
Pumpkin ginger cake, Anzac biscuits, and no-knead bread -- our starchy mainstays of the moment.
PS Everything is still on sale in my shop.... Take a gander here if you like.
PPS 100 readers, yay! Giveaway coming over the weekend.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Spring Cleaning: SALE!
In the spirit of spring (cleansing, renewal, growth) I've decided to have my very first sale. Absolutely everything in my shop is reduced by 15 to 20%. Yay!
I think the sale will go on for about a week. I'm excited to make room for some new stock!
Monday, October 11, 2010
At My House....
We've been in the garden!
We've planted lettuces and spinach, a second grape vine, and our strawberries (in the guttering.) The guttering is a new thing for us this year (as are the strawberries, actually.) Not too sure on the spacing, but I suppose we'll figure it out. I love that this uses otherwise unusable real estate along a very sunny wall - - we could have tier after tier of these! We're waiting a few more weeks to plant tomatoes and such. This is only our second year in this house, but we've been busy improving corner by corner....I think this summer's garden is going to be awesome.
If you have the time, stop by the fabulous Buttons By Lou Lou blog and see what everyone else is up to at their homes this week.
We've planted lettuces and spinach, a second grape vine, and our strawberries (in the guttering.) The guttering is a new thing for us this year (as are the strawberries, actually.) Not too sure on the spacing, but I suppose we'll figure it out. I love that this uses otherwise unusable real estate along a very sunny wall - - we could have tier after tier of these! We're waiting a few more weeks to plant tomatoes and such. This is only our second year in this house, but we've been busy improving corner by corner....I think this summer's garden is going to be awesome.
If you have the time, stop by the fabulous Buttons By Lou Lou blog and see what everyone else is up to at their homes this week.
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