speckled nest

psst!

2008-04-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

I've thrown my stuff in a hefty and moved!
Please come and visit me at my new home: www.goodygoody.typepad.com
I look forward to seeing you there!

Today's activities and follow me!

2008-04-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

These bundles of pure vintage yumminess were put together by Claire and I today for some upcoming shows. We're calling them lollipop stacks. We've done all the work for ya by combing the thrift stores and creating fat quarter stacks and charm packs of our favorite vintage pillowcases and sheets..and whatever else we can get our hands on and hack to bits with a rotary cutter. They're just de-lovely..and we'll have them at Down to Earth April 19th and Bazaar Bizarre May 3-4th.

So, I mentioned a few posts ago about "the change". No, not menopause. No, not the coins in the bottom of my washing machine that seem to be multiplying with every load. But a new name and a new spot for all my jabber. I've been speckled hen for a few years now and although I still love the name, I'm feeling like it's not unique enough. There's a few other blogs out there with "speckled" names and I'd like to stand out a bit. Until now, goody-goody has been used for my card line. But I'm going to take that name now for all my crafted tidbits and blog. My cards will be under the new name Two+Shoes. When I get my butt in gear and make some, that is. There's a sad 1500 lb. letterpress in my garage just beggin' for use.

So, please, for my hump day giveaway, join me tomorrow at my new blog: www.goodygoody.typepad.com. I promise it will be worth your while! I am so thrilled at how many people have been visiting me and saying hello. I really look forward to seeing you over there! Thanks for the support and laughs. You make my day!

free tutorial! tgif quickie :: sushi roll pincushion

2008-04-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

I have been seriously jonesin' for some sushi lately, so when it came time to think up this week's quickie, I knew exactly what I wanted to make. One of the first things I ever sold on etsy were these catnip-filled cat toys shaped like sushi. They were pretty hilarious (or so I thought). This is simply a bigger version--minus the catnip, unless you like a little feline company on your sewing table. So roll one for yourself and a few more for the all the sushi lovin' sewers in your life.

Get it:

Black or dark green fabric cut into a 3.5" x 6" rectangle
Felt (wool or poly) cut into two 2" circles
Stuffing
Lentils or rice (for heft)
Needle + thread
colored buttons

Do it:

Fold your dark colored fabric in half widthwise, right sides together, and sew up the side edge. Now you have a little tube. Cool. Turn right side out.

This part is kind of a pain. Sorry. It might involve some swear words. Like dang-nabbit and snickerdoodle. Try and keep it clean. Take your needle and thread (one strand doubled and knotted) and sew up through the fabric and up and over the felt and back down. As you whipstitch along the edge, kind of roll the felt circle to meet the fabric like a little hat. When you're halfway done, you might want to add a little stuffing in just to have something firmer to sew against. I tried to take a picture of this part, but you couldn't see squat with the white thread against white felt. If it doesn't come out as tidy as you'd like, just take out your stitching and try again. Felt is nice. It forgives you when you suck.
Once you've got your circle on, put a small layer of stuffing in the bottom. Layer in a few teaspoons of rice or lentils. This will help your pincushion feel more substantial and keep it from rolling away from you. Add more stuffing, then rice, etc..until it's full. Pack in a little more stuffing for good measure. That's always my philosophy on polyfill and chocolate. Sew on other circle the same way. Add buttons at each end for your desired fillings. Yum. No soy sauce or wasabi required. Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto.

have a great weekend.

Cute shoes and flying poo

2008-04-03T09:09:00.001-07:00

Claire thinks I need to talk more about me. And my life. Such as it is. She's right in a way. I don't feel like I have much to say. And I don't think that I'm funny. But she says I am. So blame her for this post.

After a nice lunch out with my daughter, we're heading back to the car. And she drops her little purse. In poo. Not just any poo. The mother of all bird droppings. So huge I had to take a double and then a triple take at the pile of gray matter splattered on the sidewalk. So large that I could not believe this came from any bird on this planet. Pterodactyl, maybe. You could use it to sculpt an urn for your great-grandma's ashes and still have some left over. So..I gasp and she immediately picks up her purse and starts flailing madly. Not really sure why. Okay, she probably takes after me. I've been known to go all-akimbo when walking through spider webs or when someone says there's a bug in my hair. But now there are poo droplets soaring through the air, landing on her sleeve, her shirt and hand. I want to help her, I really do, but my fear of being hit keeps me at arm's length. Finally I shout "Freeze!" and she actually listens. Amazing. The child that NEVER listens just did. I guess it's only for important matters involving feces and sparkly accessories. After we get all wiped up and in the car, she starts discussing the pros and cons of hand vs. machine wash of clothing and purses...and I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.

Clearance shoes at Gap. A near-death experience with turd. All in a good day.

The winner of the hump day giveaway is morgan ! Visiting her blog about all things book-related reminds me that I need to read more. Not just the dosage information on allergy medicine. I used to be smart. Really. Please send me your snail mail, morgan, and your earrings will be on their way! Thanks for playing, everyone. Ya'all come back next week, 'kay?

See you tomorrow for another fun tutorial!

hump day giveaway!

2008-04-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

New and exciting! To celebrate the half-way mark of the (tedious, stressful, boring, amazing--you fill in your own adjective) weeks of our lives, I'm a gonna give away something every Wednesday. Or until I run out of things--which, by looking at the state of my craftland, isn't going to happen very soon. So, up for grabs is a set of bitty button earrings made from fabric covered buttons. Just right for putting a little handmade oomph in your Spring wardrobe. Just leave a comment telling me how your week is going. That's it. You don't have to share any gory details, but those are always welcome. I'll be drawing a number at random tomorrow morning. And since it's already 3 o'clock out here, the odds are in your favor.

I've been busy behind the scenes...contemplating all the details of a new name and new blog. Same me, same stuff, just having an identity crisis of sorts. More about that later..

Have a great rest of your week...enjoy the downhill slide to Friday. I'll see you back here for another tgif quickie!

tgif quickie(sunday edition)::panty sachets

2008-03-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Well, hello. Better late than never, right? By poplular demand (okay, it was just Melissa) I have a sweet smelling quickie for you. Mother's Day is sneaking up on us and if it's anything like the holidays in March, it will be smack in your face in no time. These make great girlfriend and shower gifts, too. Enjoy!

Get it:

contrasting fabrics for waistband and panty--small bits, no larger than 3.5" x 4.5" (FYI, I got the lace-print fabric at JoAnn's a few months ago, the dot is Amy Butler. If you care.)
ribbon for tab (optional)
lavender (I get mine here. Lots of lavender that will make a buttload of sachets. Butt. Ha.)
needle and thread
paper for pattern

Do it:

Make yourself a panty pattern. High cuts? Granny? Thong? It's up to you. Two pieces: waistband and panty. My waistband rectangle is 1.5" x 4.5". Sketch out a panty that's around the same width at the top. Symmetry problems? Fold the paper in half and sketch half the panty. When you cut it out, both sides of the pattern will be the same. As you can see, I should follow my own tutorial. My legholes are kinda whack.

Pin pattern to fabrics and cut two of each piece. Pin waistband to bottom panty, right sides together. Sew together along top, repeat for other side. Iron both sides flat. Pin front to back, sandwich in your little ribbon loop on the side. I've showed it on top, loop facing in, but it should be tucked between the two sides. Pin it in there.

Starting middle of the top, sew all around the sides. Leave a hole when you get back to the top. At least 1" should do. I've tried leaving a smaller hole, but it just makes turning an incredibly painful, awkward, near-ripping experience. Kind of like giving birth. Clip curves and corners if you like. You don't have to. I won't tell.
Once turned, I like to iron it flat and smooth. Use a chopstick or paintbrush end to get all those nooks and crannies out. Make a little funnel out of paper for filling your panty with lavender. I made one out of cardstock and just stick it in the bag with the lavender so I always have it handy. Use a chopstick or skewer to help the lavender get in there. Stuff to desired fullness and stitch closed. Sha-zahm.

I sell these sachets at craft shows from time to time and at one such show a middle-aged sour-puss asked "Aren't these a little crude?" while holding up a panty sachet to her utterly-disgusted face. I'm not one for thinking on my feet...otherwise I would have retorted, "Well, they are CLEAN panties. No skidmarks, I promise."

I apologize for my poor, bluish pictures (yet again). Our cross-country trip had me a little jetlagged and I missed that early morning light. Enjoy what's left of your weekend!

fiesta hangover

2008-03-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

Since when do kids birthdays last a whole week long? With a preschool party, a family party on her "real" birthday and a party at the park yesterday..I'm completely birthday-ed out. Hey, I admit it--I'm a willing participant and planner in all that goes on, but sheesh. When I was a kid, we had a small dinner, cake and the gifts? Painfully practical. One year it was a bathrobe and a hairdryer. Serious.

So, planning a party on a serious time crunch? Cute, festive and simple. Thanks be to Martha for her free printable PDF's and rice crispy cars. (No, it wasn't a global warming/carbon offset birthday theme..the cars just turned out a little big for the platter. Although, they are marshmallow-powered luxury sleds. Totally green.) I saw these cupcake picks on craftpad and was hooked. I stuck those suckers everywhere. Thank god for label sheets. I love you so.

A shout-out to Mary-Ann over at Indie-Pendence for featuring my bunny. He's still homeless...so snatch him up at my shop. He's a good little bunny who deserves a life outside the rubbermaid under my bed.

I'm off for a week...so next week's tgif quckie will be on Sunday. Yeah, thanks Melissa for being the spoiler. Think lavender. Think panties. The laundry you will actually enjoy doing!

free tutorial!::tgif quickie::chiclet stuffie

2008-03-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

Remember chiclets? The horrible chewing gum disguised as pretty candy? I can still hear the rattle of the box and see them peeking out the window. Open me up, little girl...we look sooo yuuummy...

This chiclet will not disappoint! Perfect for little hands and Easter baskets. Under his wing you can tuck an extra little treat or gift, too.

Get It:

2 pieces of fabric cut to 5 x 6" (body)
2 pieces of fabric cut to 3.5" squares (wings)
felt scraps--preferrably wool (eyes, beak and feet)
embroidery thread (eyes)
stuffing

Do It:

Iron all your chicken parts. If you're using poly felt, then leave those parts out. Your iron will never forgive you. And you'll be too pissed to finish your chick. Iron your little squares into triangles. Voila! Wings.
This is the super-easy-fun part. Make yourself a chicken sandwich: place back piece face up, layer on your feet toes-up, wings and front piece face down. Make sure your feet are in-between the back and wings (rather than wings and front). Otherwise, you will have one seriously deformed chicken foot...and no one loves a deformed chicken. Even on Easter.
Starting at the middle of the head, sew all around but leave a hole to turn the chicken out. I make that stupid mistake more than I'd like to admit...which means it happens a LOT.
Iron again and stuff the bird! Stitch closed. Cut a little diamond for a beak and some little eyes. I use my much neglected .25" hole punch to get a nice little circle. Otherwise, I never seem to get both eyes the same size. Use french knots to secure circles. And with a little treat under its wing--this quickie is finger lickin' good. Oh come on, you saw that one coming. For a nice, well-endowed chicken, put a chocolate egg under both wings. B-cup, C-cup--it's up to you.

Bok-bok. Happy Easter!

thank you from the bottom of my kitty bowl

2008-03-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

I am completely in awe of all the visitors that have stopped by my little space to check out my tutorial. Yee-haw! Of course, the big thanks goes to Craftzine who picked it up for their blog on Monday. I'm so used to being the lurker on everyone else's blogs that I feel like I've gotten caught in the bushes with my pants down. Like--hey, hello there. Why, yes, I am wearing granny panties. But as long as you're a-looking, come back this Friday for another tgif quickie. This one will be for a little-last-minute-homemade-something for those Easter baskets. No underwear. I promise.

free tutorial!::tgif quickie::fabric collage

2008-03-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

New and exciting! Better than housework! Every Friday I will be posting a super-easy quickie. No, not THAT kind of quickie. Get your mind out of the gutter. But you may have enough time left over for that, if you wish. Your business. Not that kind of blog. Simple stuff taking less than an hour, but still impressively cute. There ain't nothing like making something start to finish. Or getting to use the word ain't. It just feels good. And I promise there won't be a huge narrative to wade through...like this. So I'll shut up and put up. Here we go.

Get it:

Small canvases, any size. I used these 4" squares because they came in a pack o'nine. Nice.
Nail gun
Mod Podge or something like that
Brush..well, you're not gonna use your fingers, right?
Fabric scraps and a piece large enough to wrap around the whole thing

Do it:

Center canvas on larger fabric piece, making sure it's large enough to make it to the back on all sides.
Pull and staple the first edge. Fold corners in hospital-like, making it super tight. Cut off excess and hammer in the staples to make them flatter, if necessary.

Coat the front and sides with Mod Podge. While it's drying, cut out your fabric to make a little vignette. It's fun to customize it for someone. This one with the nesting birds is for a housewarming gift.
Mod Podge pieces and slap 'em on. Coat again until it's saturated and all the wrinkles/bubbles are gone. You can seal the whole thing again later with another coat if you want.
Finish the back by hot-gluing a piece of paper cut with those paper edgers left over from your scrapbooking phase. Try to cover the staples, but don't stress over it. See, I've got one sticking out.
Attach a loop or sawtooth hanger from the hardware store. So handy to have around. There you go. Collage. You be done.

me, too.
Happy weekend.

Finally she's mine..all mine

2008-03-13T21:46:00.001-07:00

Have I ever mentioned my childhood obsession over Mary Poppins? I watched that OCD, uptight-but-gorgeous, Bert-flirter and immediately wanted to be her. I prayed for gusty storms to blow in so I could be out there with my umbrella--certain that this would be the time I would finally take flight. She wasn't all oooey-gooey lovey like so many other heroines of my day. In fact, she had an edge. She turned reality on its head and looked at those dang kids like THEY were the ones with the problem. I loved that. She was tough. Confident. Brash. She inspired me to use the word "nonsense" a lot. Now as an adult, I'm fairly certain she also had whips and handcuffs in that giant carpet bag. Right next to her coat rack, lamp and measuring stick. She'll always be 'practically perfect' to me. And I can craft her myself! Pattern available here and here among others. Lordy lordy. The hat. The bag. Even the scarf. I would jump up and down with excitement, but I know that Mary would play it much cooler than that.

more little friends

2008-03-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday's show had tons of traffic and wonderful live music. I didn't sell much, but had a great time chatting with Amy and Sophia. I hadn't made much new stuff and since the booth was free, who can complain? It was such a pretty evening, too. Lots of deep breaths. Can winter really be over?

As much as I love design*sponge (and typing it is fun, too!), it makes me want to push all my belongings to the curb and light them on fire. Such beautiful, clean spaces with quirky collections. Not exactly my reality--unless you count miscellaneous toy pieces and animal hair as "quirky collections". The big clean is coming but since it hasn't tapped me on the shoulder yet, I think I'll just wait a few more days to get started. And possibly cut out fabric for a few more critters.

serendipity

2008-03-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

Last night the stars aligned and I was able to make this little guy from start to finish with no huge hassles. I am borrowing a friend's sewing machine and was a little nervous about using it for the first time. I pulled it out of the box (it's brand a spankin' new Janome) with sweaty palms and nervous anxiety--much like a first date. I read the manual cover to cover, started sewing slowly and fell completely and utterly in love. It sewed like buttah. We were like peaches and cream, frosting and sprinkles, chocolate and peanut butter...well, you get the idea. My apologies to my $99 Brother machine that is now in the closet. Get used to it.

More critters to come..

falling behind...

2008-03-04T09:56:00.001-08:00

I haven't posted in March yet? Hmmm. I feel like a big wave is cresting behind me and I'm about to get pummeled. Going out of town and returning to mountains of laundry, crabby/sick-ish kids with busy schedules and a show coming up this weekend make me feel like I will not make it up to the surface for air in time. I know most people are celebrating the beginnings of spring--lots of beautiful pictures and words out there in blogland--but, honestly, I am finding it a bit disorienting. The in-between kills me.

Okay, whining's over. I put a few of my new pendants in the shop last week. Not much action on those or the little purses, so they'll be traveling with me on Saturday. We'll be at the Second Saturday Artist's show at McMartin Realty in Sacto (5-9 p.m.) where I'll be sharing a table with the lovely and talented Amy. I'll be making some good deals to clear the way for new creations. So stop by and say hello! I might even have cupcakes. Now you have no reason to say no.

cold mornings turn to
warm days--all life is hurried,
frantic + pushing forth

Etc..

2008-02-26T09:57:00.001-08:00

I spent most of a rainy Sunday trying to figure out how to incorporate fabric into necklaces. After wasting a huge amount of time dorking around with translucent Sculpey (translation: translucent does NOT mean transparent), my friend Sara came to the rescue. She had a whole bag of thin balsa wood shapes. Slapped some decoupage glue on those suckers and *voila!* instant pendants. I drilled a small hole at the top and coated the whole piece in glossy acrylic sealer. Sometimes you have to struggle before finding the easy way to do things. It sucks. Anybody need a half-used brick of translucent Sculpey?

The winner of my itsy bitsy giveaway is Pink Petunia Designs! Please e-mail me your address and I will get the little pouch on its way. (Or maybe I'll see you at the meeting on Thurs.?) Check out her blog--especially her lengthy discussion on the perils and tribulations of buying jeans. So true.

What? It's only two o'clock? Is anybody else out there ready for Happy Hour? Seeing this on Poppytalk made me want to start some heavy drinking. Cheers!

typewriter #2

2008-02-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

So you don't think I'm all high and mighty after my recent clean-out, I needed to show you this. This is the second typewriter I've bought in a month. What is wrong with me? I'm happily perusing the thrift store appliance aisle (which has like twenty quesadilla and sandwich makers--what is with that?) and come across the cutest little typewriter in its own travel case. It's sweet and chubby and just had to come home with me. To add to the nostalgia factor, inside the case was the former owner's (I assume) resume for food service work going back to 1976 when he "MADED SURE THAT ALL MEATS GOING INTO THE MEAT DRAWERS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR". I really hope he got the job he was applying for. I picture him setting off to find incredible success and never needing the typewriter again.

It's manual, so the little hand in the picture can't really press the keys hard enough to make an imprint. Which means they get the other electric one all to themselves. Everyone wins. Right, hub?

happy weekend.

dumping the baggage...

2008-02-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

I started out by trying to fit something into the closet yesterday. An image of myself appeared in my head--cramming yet another thing into an already exploding, closet doors-off-the-track space. That's it! Six and a half bags later, it still looks the same when closed, but now I have no fear of things burying me when I open it. I don't consider myself a hoarder, but I am very aggressive about reusing things. It was nice to let go and give myself permission to donate it instead. I like the rule of thumb that if you haven't used or needed it in a year, then you won't miss it. Hasta pasta old pillowforms, third generation hand-me-down kid's clothes and miscellaneous ugly fabric.

I was having a grouchy morning until Claire called for a trip to the JoAnn supah-stah. A fun, quick trip that lifted my spirits. And put more crap back in my closets. Ah well, that's the circle of life around here. It's new, exciting crap.

I am still doing a mommy "badge of honor" giveaway. Send me your most humiliating/degrading/unbelievable mommy (or daddy!) moment and I'll put you in for a random drawing for some cute stuff to put in your life. Just picture this little zippy filled with fun..

wee shop update + mom stuff

2008-02-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

A few little purses have finally made it into the shop...dragging their handles behind them. It had been so long since I had listed on etsy that I was a little rusty. And the pictures aren't nearly as lovely as I had hoped. But they're in there, waiting for some little hands to carry them and fill them with shiny, tiny bits and baubles.

When I was in the shower this morning (I have such profound moments standing in the steam by myself), I was thinking about the things I have done as a mother I would have never expected (i.e. proof I have become on of "those" mothers I used to sneer at). The ever-growing list includes:

rip open boxes of unpaid snacks in order to make it through the store
drive around for hours when they fall asleep in the car so I can hear myself think
let them play/slobber/chew on various essential belongings like my cell phone, keys, wallet
nearly wreck the car trying to find the pacifier/toy/crayon/book that's fallen
jump out of the shower to fix the t.v. channel
allow for discussion of various topics while I am using the bathroom
fix someone's toy while I am using the bathroom
mediate disagreements while I am using the bathroom

It's not what you think. I don't really spend THAT much time using the bathroom. They just have radar for needing me right at that precise moment. My point is that I would do it all again--shamelessly.

What's the greatest length you have gone to as a mother or father? Leave a comment and I'll randomly pick someone for a little goodie bag next week.

Valentines, three day weekends + more!

2008-02-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had an especially sweet Valentine's Day. I made two little purses for my girls and tucked in a small box of Jelly Bellys for each of them. I had an ulterior motive--next to chocolate, they are my favorite candies. And since the hub graced me with a pound of See's, I have the best of both worlds! Or worst, if you have a sweet tooth and no will power like myself. I'm debating taping the chocolate box shut until after dinner.

It's Friday! Three days! So full of possibilities! It tempts me to write a to-do list, but then I realized there are really too many things *to-do*. Blah. That's no fun. So I am making a "little joy" list for the weekend instead:

Enjoy an entire cup of coffee in one sitting (I usually wander off and forget it some where)
Go for a drive in my happy lemon convertible
Watch a sunset
Read a magazine cover to cover
Make something with my girls
Kick this cold once and for all

There we go. That seems pretty reasonable, no?

Today is the last day to submit your entry in the pillowcase challenge! My entry is below--a handy little re-usable shopping bag. The hub gave it a trial run at the local co-op (how great is that--my man shopping with a floral pillowcase bag!?) and it got a thumbs-up. I will post a tut/pattern here soon.

Have a great weekend!

patterns of life
spawned by habit, broken up
by dappled sunlight

Oooh...my tummy

2008-02-13T09:50:00.000-08:00

The cupcake party on Sunday was filled with laughter, food, sweets and punch. I was feeling particularly girly so I made this champagne punch (champagne optional...well, not for me, of course). I was amazed at the vast array of cupcakes that arrived at my table. Six wonderful gals and six totally different recipes. Perfect. We are still eating cupcakes around here and each time I take a (rather large, gaping) bite out of one, I think about the person who made it. Corny, I know. But tomorrow's the corniest day of the year, so I guess I'm just getting warmed up.

I especially enjoyed looking at my loot from the craft goodie bags I had people bring and exchange. I spread them all out on my sewing table, just like a kid after trick-or-treating. I haven't felt like that in quite a while--just giddy. Maybe it was the sugar, but I don't care. Thanks, ladies.

Their blogs are just as creative and diverse as their cupcakes--so pay them a visit!
Missy
Tamie
Melissa
Claire
Amy

Tamie has a free crochet pattern for the little hearts she brought us on her blog. Perfect last-minute valentines. I'm off to try and get some good pictures of my little purses which didn't make it into the shop on Monday like I planned. I might just go take some cold medicine and lie down instead. All this linking has made me tired. Happy Wednesday!

Lazy Saturday

2008-02-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

Wow, how fast a week goes by. At least I don't have to title my post tgif (again). I'm making a batch of cupcakes from here for my swap tomorrow. Claire has already told us the tasty treats she's bringing. We are going to positively eat ourselves silly. You will find us tomorrow afternoon splayed out on the living room floor with frosting smeared all over our very contented faces. My recipe of choice? Because I'm not in the running (just hosting) the contest for best-tasting and best-decorated, I can reveal it to you. Black bottomed peanut butter cupcakes with chocolate frosting. I wanted something that was just as bad for you as a peanut butter cup. The dough was essentially peanut butter, brown sugar, cream and butter with a little flower thrown in...ohh lordy, as my Grandmother would say. We'll see how they taste. Right now they're still goopy in the middle even after the recipe said they should be done. Tricky little suckers. I love how you can see me and my purple bathrobe in the bowl. Why, yes, it is almost noon.

Found these little salad/treat sized plates at Ikea last week. On clearance for 50 cents each. They had boxes and boxes of them (and matching bowls, which weren't as cute, in my opinion). Had to resist the urge to buy six or eight...I just got two--one for each of the little sweeties in my life. There's something so fun about having dishes for all the various holidays. I don't remember a Christmas without my mom's Spode or Easters without egg cups filled with tiny jelly beans.

Speaking of egg cups, I nearly peed myself with excitement (you think I'm joking?) when I saw that Alicia had posted her tea towel designs as a free PDF. I love 'em all. I have resisted the urge to print those suckers out and start on them. It would be much more fun than the housecleaning and laundry and mommy-intervention I have to do today.

A sneek peak at some little girl's purses I'll be putting in the shop on Monday. They are really simple, each with a vintage button + elastic closure. Perfect for toting around whatever strikes their fancy. (My little one is currently into rocks. Like, can't pass up any one rock. Takes us twenty minutes to get the oldest to school in the mornings.)

happy saturday
our pleased cat rolls in warmth
on her side, smiling

You're not going crazy...it is different

2008-02-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

I am obsessed over changing up my blog banner and font colors. I could make a new one every day. I am kind of shy (some, namely the hub might even call me antisocial), so it's easier for me to change up my blog than actually blog. Loser. I know. But he married me anyways.

The banner background is courtesy of metremade. (Okay--it WAS. I couldn't get the resolution right and then I found this other image..and well..there I go, switching it around again!) Such wonderful patterns. I want to eat them all. And piknik.com--who didn't tell me about this place sooner? Hello? All the time I spent making myself loco trying to cut and paste and fumbling my stupid self around Photoshop could have been spent eating bon-bons and having foot massages. Take your pics--add frames, shadows, text--whatevah. Super easy and free. Someday I pledge to learn the real deal. Just not now. And if I wait long enough, I won't have to...see, procrastination can really pay off.

Now, back to my life of leisure. And sarcasm.

tgif

2008-02-01T08:58:00.000-08:00

I realize that I title all my Friday posts "tgif". Not creative. But when Friday finally comes, I really am thanking God (or some omnipotent spiritual being)--every single time. I know a lot of you must feel the same. Unless you're one of those unfortunate ones who has to work on the weekends (or never gets a break). Then maybe you're doing your happy dance on another day. I remember working retail (for more years than I would like to admit) and having to work long days on the weekend and having my time off be some random day during the week. It was surreal--like, hey, the world doesn't stop on MY day off?

I'm doing a happy dance because I got not one, but *two* wonderful little packages this week. First, thank you thank you to Mary Ann over at A Very Mary Design for last week's giveaway. I cannot remember the last time I won something. Such a beautiful handblown pendant with a great story, too. I like just holding it and rolling it around in my hand. Yes, I am strange. Don't ask me to show you my "worry stone" collection of smooth rocks that I have amassed. Because I will. And you will regret asking.

My mom sent me some Clover Pocket Templates--apparently they were on Martha a while back, but I never seem to catch her show. She's my designated I-saw-this-on-Martha-and-you-just-have-to-have-it person. It's nice having my own personal shopper. And these ribbon balls from JoAnns. Man, I am a complete sucker for packaging. They are the grown up version of those bouncy balls in vending machines you always begged your parents for. So worth throwing a fit over.

Today we have sunshine! Hoping it stays that way through the weekend. We're running a 10K on Sunday, which would be so sad and soggy in rain. Don't worry, I'm not one of those crazy skinny runner types. After I run, I'm eating Superbowl food until I explode. It's all about balance.

these chirpy sweeties
just joined our nest--Huckle and Finn
welcome, little birdies!

yesterday

2008-01-28T09:34:00.001-08:00

I was lucky enough to leave town yesterday without kids--surprisingly, no alarms or sirens went off as I left the Central Valley for the City. I was invited to attend the SF gift show with my pal Deborah who owns the sweet shop, Bower Bird. She thought it would be fun and inspirational..and boy-oh-boy. Think three football fields filled with vendors of all kinds. You had your cutesy, your indie, your vintage and your flea market imports. And your $9 tiny spinach salad. I woke this morning with a crampy back, not realizing how far I must have walked in my flat-arched (but sooo cute) shoes. It was a blast, followed up by a yummy Spanish dinner complete with Flamenco dancers. On our way back to the car the wind was gusting, rain was spitting and we nearly forgot where we parked. It felt like quite the adventure for someone who usually functions in kid-centered, predictable suburbia. Now if I could only bend over.

Some of my favorite booths were Tinsel Trading Company (been lovin' their website for years), Flowiestyle (wonderful screen-printed yummies) , FluffyCo (wanted one of everything) and Joli Jewelry (think six year-old in a candy store).

I came home with some vintage buttons, teensy doilies, glass hearts and bunches of business cards from people ranging from tiny start-up to mega ribbon corporations. I went to bed dizzy with ideas and possibilities. Because, that's what keeps us going, isn't it? The chance to create and the excitement of what's next.

the sun is shining
clean, clear, blue freshly washed air
open the door wide

sometimes she does...

2008-01-25T16:12:00.001-08:00

I love it when she wears these jammies. It's a nice visual reminder. Even if she doesn't say it often enough. Have I mentioned the rain? I have? Oh my...well, it's raining. Still. I'm having Pacific Northwest flashbacks and checking the walls for mold. Pretty soon my fingers will be all pruny.

Look below. See! I have been crafting. I just keep taking things to Deborah's little shop before remembering to take pictures of them. These little aprons started out as McCalls M5551 but I found them to be too long and dowdy. A little shorter, a little ric-rac, one pocket instead of two--well, now they aren't really the pattern at all. But I like how the pattern has both kid's and women's sizes. The pictures are far from lovely, but it was the only dry spot I could find outdoors.

no haiku today. i'm not feeling that poetic...can you write one for me? tgif.

Blogger, brew and random bits of craziness

2008-01-24T13:16:00.000-08:00

So, lately Blogger has been a little wonky. Pictures disappear from posts (where do they go? to other better, more popular blogs?), posts get published twice after I go back to edit something..I'm not sure what's going on. All I know is that I hit *publish* and hold my breath. It's a crapshoot. But it's free, so why complain.

That bubbling bottle is my hubby's hobby. That disgusting slush of goo and liquid becomes beer. It's amazing. This particular batch is gluten-free since his sisters have Celiac disease. We'll see how this turns out. Gluten free=no malt=strange brew. Which also means there's no danger of this batch blowing the top off and spraying cat-yackish globs on the kitchen ceiling. It's happened. Twice.

I was thrilled to shop with Claire today. It turns out she also suffers from last-minute-buyers-regret-dump-it-all-on-your-way-to-the-checkstand disorder. We are our own little support group. We want it, we really do, but when it comes time to pay for it, we just can't do it--kids are yelling and whining and our husbands' floating heads appear to haunt us--"dooo you neeed it???" Pretty soon, we're bailing out stuff faster than a sinking ship. Sorry, Ikea employees. We can't help ourselves. Please forgive us. Until next time.

(a new haiku for you)

my messy kitchen,
cold toes, dreams of warm springtime
greet me each morning

my new keyboard

2008-01-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

Last week my keyboard died. Specifically, the letters a,s,d,f and j,k,l (you know, the ones your fingers rest on and you use the most). I thought it was very cruel of my computer and I think it got secret joy out of me trying in vain to punch on those keys (I won't tell you how long I tried. It's rather embarrassing.) My solution? New computer! Yes, I'm impulsive like that. My hubby gave me his usual who-is-this-crazy-woman-and-why-did-I-marry-her look and sent me a link to this keyboard instead. It's felt! It's washable! Freakin' adorkable. Check out the plastic bag laptop carrier and USB bracelet, too. Unfortunately they're still in development. Right now I'll settle for the scavenged iMac keyboard from the kids' computer. All the letters work--at least until my computer decides otherwise.

(a haiku..for you)

cold drippy tuesday
but at least it's not monday.
i'm in my jammies, and you?

Quick Getaway

2008-01-21T10:27:00.002-08:00

As land-locked dwellers, we frequently find ourselves drawn to the ocean. Our favorite spot is the area around Pt. Reyes where farmlands and grazing cows greet us on our trip to the sea. It's a beautiful journey--grassy marshes lead you to the dunes and gusty beaches. I was saddened to see how much trash had washed up from the winter storms--specifically plastic. It strengthened my resolve to get more plastic out of our lives. It's hard to explain to a six year-old why all that junk is in the ocean. I recommend reading "Plastic Ocean" by Susan Casey in the compilation book The Best American Science and Nature Writing, edited by Richard Preston, if you need that extra push to start thinking about where plastic goes after the trash can. Twelve powerful pages that will make your stomach turn.

Back home, my mind is floating with thoughts of aprons + matching potholders for Valentine's Day. Pretty large projects for someone who's used to making teeny tiny hedgehogs. I've got fabric piled up on the floor, ready to go. It's just easier to make a cup of tea and disappear into blogland instead.

happy weekend, wherever you are.

Scrumptious Hummus

2008-01-17T08:53:00.001-08:00

By popular demand (okay, just Melissa and Claire) here's my hummus recipe, which actually originated from some friends in our Fresno days. I love it because the recipe has no oil but still whips up light and fluffy.

1 can garbanzos
6 T tahini
salt to taste
2 cloves garlic
5 T lemon or lime juice
cayenne to taste
1/2 c water or more, depending on desired consistency

I start by putting the garlic, a few beans, 2 T of the tahini and a bit of water in the processor to get smooth. Then add the rest. That way, the garlic isn't too chunky. One time when I made this recipe, I accidentally doubled the garlic (how, you say? I don't know--I had two kids hanging on me, probably!) and it still tasted good. I just had a green aura for a few days.

I am loving Peptogirl's series of posts on getting your craft business jumpstarted. Check it out--she shares some wonderful resources.

happy thursday!

tgif

2008-01-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Just when you think the day is going to be drizzly, slow and torturous, you hear the UPS truck pulling up (screeek!) in front of your house. I don't care what's being delivered--today it was crochet hooks and beermaking supplies (two separate boxes, that is). That *thump* as the packages hit the doormat is the most beautiful sound ever.

I'll tell you a secret. Although I have a deep appreciation for the finer arts of sewing, when it comes to sewing for my own house, I'm a lazy a## crafter. I needed pillows for our new (well, new to us) sofa STAT. Nothing frilly or fancy. No hidden zippers or button closures. And washable, for god's sake. Because they only stay on the sofa about 37% of the time. The rest of the time they are stepping stones, weapons and trampolines. And when mom's not watching, they make handy napkins. Yes, the throw pillow has a limited lifespan around here--about 4-6 months. Then, I dissect them for their fluffy middles and we start over again. My favorite type is the envelope back and I found the easiest instructions here. They can be adapted for all pillow sizes. I usually have to make a few adjustments because my pillow middles have been used many times and have lost some of their pouf. These took me about 30 min total. I used Erin Michael's Loft 1800 sale fabric and Mr. Dewberry always comes in handy! And now the sofa is looking slightly less like a tent from M*A*S*H.

have a great weekend

a little less about me

2008-01-10T13:22:00.003-08:00

My painting friend gave me this print as a belated Christmas gift. I admired it one evening when I was over visiting him and his wife and checking up on the status of the new (and wonderful) studio he is building behind his house. The print is very small and I'm keeping it close by until I find a good spot for it. I'm not sure who the artist is--it's just signed "Julia". It's such a pleasant reminder of all the blessings I have in my life. How time is so fleeting--first they are babies and before you know it, they are teaching YOU new things they've learned at school. I'm beginning to feel like one of the outdated textbooks I studied. You know, the history ones that ended with the Vietnam War.

I haven't been making many things these days. I am trying to not pump out things like a machine. Having my crafting be *purposeful*. Thanks, Claire, for that inspiration (and for putting my blog on your list--she has some great blogs to check out). This little break has allowed me appreciate what other people are doing, making and talking about. Melissa's rocks, Amy's papercuts, Tamie's book... I'm really enjoying their excitement and successes. This does not mean I won't be crafting soon--I have sofa cushions to make and vintage pillowcases to transform. The house is looking more shabby than chic.

happy thursday!

i know...enough with the mushrooms

2008-01-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

These days, whenever I manage to pop in a local thrift store, mushrooms grow in my basket. A few months ago it was this and now these just magically appeared yesterday. Mushrooms are tricky like that. I think it's serendipity. My hubby thinks they should multiply in someone else's home.

More from the depths of the WIP basket. These are little girl purses that I dressed up with a little applique there, a button here...and there we are. The fabrics are a mishmash of Ikea, JoAnn and vintage from my estate sale stash. The tree one has a little red bird in it that you can't really see in the picture. They were fun and easy, the perfect size for little hands or for big girls who don't want to carry a lot of stuff.

And, last, but certainly not least, I had to snap a pic of the yummy cupcakes I made to share with the SCM ladies tonight. I ordered this book to expand my cupcake repertoire (but hopefully not my pants).

That storm was a-rocking..

2008-01-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

And it came knocking in the wee hours on Friday. Wowsa. I was mesmerized by it all at our front window. Trash, umbrellas, our Christmas tree, small dogs--all flying down the street. Okay, there weren't any dogs but I swear that wind could've taken your Chihuahua into the next county. Do they make teensy-tiny leg weights? My littlest almost soared into the sky in a parking lot, umbrella inside out. It was all very exciting and a little scary at the same time. Why don't we get to name our West Coast storms a la hurricanes in the East? This one should have been "Hammer" (as in MC "I'm gonna knock you out" Hammer). Our DSL went out briefly when the power started flickering. I took that as a sign to turn the computer off for the day. I hope that everyone who had to go somewhere made it back safe and sound and my heart goes out to those who may still be without power.

I had the chance to finish up a few projects that had disappeared to the bottom of my WIP basket. I thought I wouldn't see them again but low and behold, I pulled them out sucked it up and just DID it. The bibs are linen on the front and contrasting cottons on the back. Simple seam binding for the ties. I had about 10 started (which is usually the main problem--I try to do too many at once and get overwhelmed) and have finished four. I know linen may be sooo 2007 but I still love it for it's simplicity and feel. Melissa makes some beautiful raw-edged linen bibsters. I think they may be in the new book she's featured in.

Here are a few pics (taken with a dying camera in-between storms).
Happy Saturday.
Stay safe and dry wherever you are!

finally...

2008-01-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

The weather persons have been talking about this upcoming series of western storms (that brings up an image of clouds wearing cowboy hats..but my mind wanders..) for an entire week. Each evening, hubby and I would sit down to watch the local 11 o'clock pseudo-news (one of our lamer hobbies, but there's nothing like a good laugh before bed). They kept reporting on a storm that wasn't HERE yet. Sending the poor junior reporter lackeys into the streets to talk about how it MIGHT be flooded once it starts to rain in TWO days. One poor soul drew the short straw and had to go stand in the pitch dark riverbed and demonstrate how high the water level might get. I can just picture him twisting his ankle among the river rocks, ruining his best suit and dress shoes. Poor guy. It's almost as entertaining as watching them bring the snow report from the same spot just above snowline. It goes something like this: "Hey, it's snowing. It's white. It's cold. My job sucks." So worth staying up for. Now it is actually raining.

Thursday's mission: striped tights. Saw them somewhere with cute red clogs. But every time I look online, my search results are mostly "clown supplies". What does that say about me? If I was one of those gifted knitter types, I could just whip up my own. But I'm not. I am going to give crocheting another try with this and this. I might suck, but I'll have super cute supplies. Part of my problem is I'm left-handed. Which usually means there's this tiny convoluted footnote at the bottom on how to do it if you are a lefty. Another (larger) problem is my complete inability to comprehend things spatially. I usually have to have my hubby translate patterns for me..I can't wrap my brain around them sometimes. That's true love--sitting down late at night to calmly explain instructions to your hysterical wife who can't figure out how to make a friggin' purse.

We are currently enjoying this CD in constant rotation. Thanks, Auntie B. If you're a child of the 80's, then you will know these songs by heart. I wanted to change my name to Interplanet Janet. Or Mary Poppins. It was a tie. I've made an effort to work some SR phrases into my daily life. Telling my three year old to "unpack her adjectives" and randomly shouting "interjections!" is fun. If "Three Is A Magic Number" doesn't make you get your groove on, then you need to have your groove examined. Hm, that sounds uncomfortable.

happy thursday. crafting is to come soon. really.

fresh breath

2008-01-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

After our three days playing the snows of Mt. Shasta, it has been really hard to jump back into post-Christmas life. Consider it a cookie/fudge crash. The little ones are stir crazy having a whole week before school starts up again..the joy of being together has morphed into irritation and crabbiness. This afternoon I dragged all the crabby parties into the back yard. They got to watch me rake (and rake..) leaves while breathing in some fresh air. Minus the elusive dog poo we kept stepping in. It seemed to help. The fresh air. Not the poo.

Doesn't my girl look like she's in one of those tic-tac commercials, juggling the two tiny people on her tongue? Ahh. Minty people.

I was very excited to see my lil 'ol blog in Missy's blogroll. She is one of those amazing people who has her finger right on the pulse of the crafting/blog/trend world. It's the first time I have ever seen speckled nest listed on someone's blog. I know it's such a small thing, but it meant a lot to me today. A day where I'm sort of getting through--much less feeling crafty or inspired.

I love these cards...

I might need to buy some to frame for the girls' room.

Welcome, 2008!

2008-01-01T17:51:00.000-08:00

Hi there..and Happy New Year to you all! We had a pretty unexciting New Year's Eve thanks to an all-encompassing round of the barking cough and cold. I could tell where my kids were in Ikea today based on the pitch and frequency of their coughing. Truth be told, I checked them into Smalland to contaminate other kids. I know, I'm horrible. I told them to cough in their elbows--at least give me credit for that. Please tell me that you had some swinging good times last night so I can live vicariously through you. Seriously. I am 33 and I already feel like my swinging days are waaay over. The problem is, I never really started. Good girl syndrome.

I am so excited about 2008, although I'm not really sure why. New beginnings, a blank slate, a chance to become a better person, wife and mother. Letting myself off the hook more. Stop swearing--or at least in front of the kiddos. To not hold everyone up to my crazy neurotic, borderline OCD standards (which I really don't follow myself--I just complain and whine about things, mostly). To make more friends. To listen and not judge. To cook more. To attack with spontaneous hugs. To appreciate what I have. What are yours?

I'm trying to put Christmas away, but some people (uh..I mean, animals that think they're people) seem to not want to see the tree skirt back in the box. Oh well, I'll give it up until tomorrow. Wasn't it yesterday that we were setting up?

Wishing you all the best for your blank slates..thanks for reading.

...and to all a good night!

2007-12-22T20:43:00.001-08:00

We've decorated. We've shopped. We've wrapped. We've baked. We've packaged. We've shipped. We've baked some more for those on our list we forgot. We've been back to the grocery store four times in one day for that "one" missed thing. We've laughed..and cried (don't ever substitute half and half for heavy cream). We've made it.

Now that all the fluff is pretty much taken care of, I have had some time to think about how amazingly blessed I am. In a year that has given all of us quite a ride--devastating blows and little miracles, I am so thankful for this moment of peace that overwhelms me. I hope that peace finds us all in our quieter moments in the next weeks as we take count of what this year has meant. And look forward to whatever lies ahead.

happy holidays to you all..
see you in the new year

wrappin' it up

2007-12-17T16:45:00.000-08:00

Yo. After three trips to the post office (one of which was today--NOT such a good idea with a three-year old), christmas cards made and addressed, gingerbread construction well underway, and the giant heap of wrapping mostly done, I feel like there's a light. Thump+thump. That's the sound of me patting myself on the back and surely jinxing my karma big time.

I know that lots of you have already discovered Amy's tags just in time and also these. Wunnerful...just what I needed!

Of course I'm not mentioning the lowered state of house hygeine that seems to have arisen while I was working on Christmas cheer. I'll deal with the pile of dead ants in the corner of the bathroom and the funky litterbox after I'm done with my happy dance. It looks something like this.

Here's hoping that you have time to do a happy dance--wherever you are.

Countdown...

2007-12-15T20:39:00.001-08:00

Am I the only one that feels like I'm running out of time? It doesn't help that my husband put the NORAD Santa tracker on our Google homepage. It's a constant reminder of how many days and hours are left until I *ahem* I mean, Santa, has to have it all come together. Which it will. It always does. By the time Christmas morning is over, I'm already thinking about what to do for next year. Getting ready isn't as hard as being in the moment for it all. I'm working on that part. There was a brief moment--I took a deep breath at Peet's--and I was there. It was quickly followed by my daughter shoving the entire peanut butter cookie in her mouth and trying to talk in my face and the agonizing traffic that caused us to crawl the 1/2 mile home. Like I said, I'm working on it. Om.

I made the tote bag for a little girl's birthday party this weekend. I was very excited at how cute it turned out. It made me wish that my name began with an S. And I had a chunky white turtleneck sweater to wear with it. And brown go-go-ish boots. I would be so cute.

brrr...

2007-12-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

I realize that us Californians are quite whiny...with our wildfires and earthquakes. And the past few days have been cold. I mean COLD. Crack your knuckles open cold. We're a big group of itchy, scaly, shriveled-up whiners. The only ones that don't seem to mind are the birds. It's a constant parade at the bird feeder. I love getting up in the morning, holding my coffee and watching them go at it. So busy and neurotic--all without caffeine. Nature's miracles.

Three little hedgies have come to visit my shop this morning. The last few were snatched up and I got some new fabrics in the mail...a good a reason to make more if I've ever heard one. The blue one looks like a tiny, delicious tea cake. Yum. I'm trying to wrap up my holiday orders, then moving on to family gifts and THEN I'm switching gears to do some painting. Really..I swear. Just as soon as I make a gadzillion cookies to distribute, the world's cutest log-cabin gingerbread house, gnocci to freeze for Christmas and two twirly skirts for two twirly girls. Oh, and single-handedly drink all the cranberry cordial that's steeping in the fridge. It's mine..all mine.

Cranberry Cordial
1 big 1.5L bottle cheap white wine (chablis, sauvignon blanc, anything will do)
1 package fresh or frozen cranberries (about 2-3 cups)
2-3 C. sugar, depending on how sweet you like it

Pulse cranberries in food processor. Add wine, berries and sugar to pitcher or carafe. Let steep 5-7 days, stirring every once and while. You may want to taste it periodically, too--for me that's about 4:30 every day. We start happy hour early around here. Cheers!

forgot to mention to STRAIN the cordial before serving (unless you like chewing your drinks)..

Sister Dollies

2007-12-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

"Hey, is that my headband?"
"No. Your's is on your head. Duh."
"You totally copied me. Take it off."
"No way! I had it on first!"
"Whatever. You're jut jealous because my skirt is cuter than yours."
"Hey, don't touch me."
"I'm not touching you..not touching you..not touching you."
"MOM!!!"

When I saw the clothespin dolls in Melissa's shop, I tried to snatch one up but she had already sold them all! Boo-hoo. So do I give up? No. I corner her over a bowl of chili at Claire's house and won't let her leave until she's made two of them for me--in the likenesses of my little girls. They found them this morning, sticking feet-first out of their advent calendar. You can find her kits to make your own in her shop (if she hasn't sold out of those, too). They have wonderful bendy arms--perfect for acting out fight scenes. We have a lot of those around here.

Lookie Here!

2007-12-08T20:27:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! The best little gift shop in Davis, Bower Bird is now carrying my speckled hen and goody goody items! The owner, Deborah, just snapped up all my leftovers from my last show...and then she wanted more! Sorry about all the exclamation points. I'm just thrilled to be represented in town and have a spot where people can see my little creations in person. Shopping local, buying handmade...it's all good.

Another Shop Update

2007-12-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well, my blogging streak of two days in a row has ended--not much of a streak. My allotted computer time yesterday was spent elfing myself and my family at this site. So funny it hurt. I have listed new cards and tags in my goody-goody shop for those of you (like me) who have yet to send out cards or get those gifts wrapped. Or buy the gifts. Or think about what I'm going to buy or make. That's how far behind I am. I was so impressed by some people at the show last weekend who were walking around with detailed lists of "who" needed "what". I was one of those once... before kids. I may not be on top of things anymore, but but give me the drippy, bejeweled, glittery Holiday crafts and those proud faces instead. I'll take 'em.

Holy Crud!

2007-12-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Look at me! I'm blogging two days in a row! Woo-hoo! I managed to squeeze in a small photo shoot yesterday--in between wiping a screaming, snotty, chapped face and promising that, yes, Pinocchio WILL turn back into a boy from a donkey if they'd just GO WATCH THE MOVIE. There are days where some cosmic force is telling you to just give it up. Because now it's raining. WTH? So listing today are little hedgie and donut pincushions. Perfect for stockings or that person who sews and MAKES everything and is so superior about it. Oh wait, that's me.

On a related note (related meaning cynical and crabby), I've just discovered the Knock Knock folks have started a blog. I want to be friends with these people so bad I could stalk them. Personally, I want the entire collection of Self-Hurt books for Christmas. Spread the joy, people.

Post Show Hangover

2007-12-03T08:47:00.000-08:00

It was a three day affair at the Davis Art Center Holiday Show--kind of like running a marathon while sitting down. That's how tired and sore I feel. I really can't complain, though. What's not to love about meeting etsy friends in person, making new ones and getting some "grown-up" time to myself? I'd be lying if I said my hubby wasn't a little relieved to head off to work today after having munchkin duty morning to night. As for me, I may or may not get out of my sweats and take a shower. Right now I'm pretty happy eating toffee for breakfast...

I will be listing lots of stuff for the shop this week--ASAP because I know most people are finishing up their holiday shopping (well, some of us haven't really started). Lots of small handmade love to round out your list.

Thanks again for the booth kudos at DAC (I'll be back next year!) and a big holla out to my in-laws and hubby for the food, potty breaks, caffeine and endless kid trips to the park in the bitter cold. You guys are so rad. Now, back to the toffee.

Get Made & Fall Thrifting

2007-11-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

Hello...yes, it's been a while. I know that after about a week, most people just quit checking my blog. And that's okay..I'm down with it. Maybe they'll stumble upon it later and be pleasantly surprised. I am not a great photographer. And it doesn't even occur to me to take pictures when I'm outside. I figure that most people are a little weary of the perfectly lit Fall blog pictures or photos of what's for breakfast. Okay, maybe it's just me. I'll leave those up to someone else with a better eye and a much better camera.

But if you're in the mood for pictures of *stuff*, then here we are. My booth at Get Made Holiday--absolutely stacked, stuffed and over-flowing. Too bad the rain discouraged most people from coming. We had fun standing around (no room for chairs!) and chatting the night away. I had sore legs for about 4 days. Serious retail sales floor flashbacks. Later in the weekend, I got to chat it up with Melissa and Claire over stew. Delicious, perfectly scrumptious stew. All in all, it was a swell weekend.

On the way home from preschool, I ducked in the neighborhood thrift store and found a fun Fall-ish mushroom pitcher. It's way too grody for potable liquids, so it will have new life as a vase. The mushroom lid cracks me up. $4! Yay! There was a matching canister set, but alas, counterspace is at a premium in our house. Yes, the camera flash was on. I'm crazy like that.

Stocking up for Fall...

2007-10-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

Handmade Parade was a great time. The weather was so perfectly Fall--not too hot or cold--with the light settling down so beautifully on all of us. Claire--you rock! What a great event! I was a little panicked because I, uh, thought it was on Sunday not Saturday--a very spacey mom-moment. My life is full of them these days. But I had a few hours to get my act together and a wonderful hubby to pick up the slack at home. My girls *adored* the stamp demo and came home with foam stamps and prints...hmm...I'm thinking Fall/Christmas cards. Kids' art is a perfect solution to any crafting dilemma. Thank you, Jen.

I managed to sell some things but have oodles left over for the Get Made Holiday show Nov. 10. It will be the perfect place to put a dent in your holiday shopping. All kinds of crafty and live music. Stop by!

I've been working on cards to accompany my sewn items at my upcoming shows. Up until now, I've only had a few selections in my goody-goody shop (it's pitiful!) but I busted out the lino cutter and got down to business. It feels good to switch gears every once and a while. Above are my little tags, all lined up and ready to be packaged. So cute, so quiet, so obedient. The perfect children...

I have been wanting to put up a picture of my studio space (space meaning the 4X6' area I carved out of the toy room) but it's never looking Martha. I give up--here it is in all it's crafting glory. As you can tell, I'm very good at making fabric stacks. Putting together yummy sandwiches to be turned into dollies, bags, scarves, aprons and the like. Sometimes I just stack them for no reason other than to look at them. Yes, I am that odd. When people come to visit, they refuse to stay in this room for fear an avalanche of fabric will fall on them while they sleep. If it were me, I would die happy, the last words from my mouth: "Heather Ross, Denyse Schmidt...Superbuzzy..."

Well, off to do some thrifting. A cup of coffee and a thrift store on a Fall day. Heaven.

Everyone Loves a Parade

2007-10-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

Come one, come all! It's going to be such fun. There are going to be great demos and kit classes offered by fellow Craft Mafia gals. We were laughing up a storm at last night's meeting. For two hours, I felt like a giggly, silly high-schooler again. Wish I could bottle that stuff...sometimes being a responsible adult isn't freaking fun. I enjoyed chatting with Melissa, who I probably sat next to in college but didn't know it and the uber-talented Missy who knows my close friend Cheryl. Sometimes this world seems so small and cozy! Pass on the Handmade Parade info and you could win a darling little giveaway from Claire, our wonderful event organizer. I need to go find more batteries for my wireless mouse..sometimes technology can be a drag!

Have a great day, wherever you are.

Aaah...now that's good reading

2007-08-14T08:51:00.001-07:00

Hi there. It's here--my IKEA 2008 catalog. Eye candy that lowers my blood pressure by just flipping through its pages. Yes, most of the items haven't changed, but I don't care. It's colorful. Happy. Clean. It inspires me to pare down, think creatively and makes me believe my house can be anything I want, even on a budget. And the little walking hobo screw guy on their website? I could watch him all day, he's so cute. My husband said "Aha! Now I know where all the missing screws go." I guess his reputation proceeds him. Poor little guy. I'd run away, too. Find some nice flathead friends...

nice people finish first

2007-08-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since I've blogged. I took a little break for personal reasons--things in life seemed to be shaking, cracking and falling apart. But after a rough two weeks and a few good crying sessions (the kind where your diaphram hurts the next day), I feel like poking my head back out of my cave. And what do I find? My dear friend Cheryl nominated me for a nice award! She's such a sweetie..a REAL nice person herself--honest, loyal and romantic. She once made me trudge back through the huge Target parking lot with her because she was UNDER-charged for something (I believe we were both pregnant at the time). She's that good. If anyone could bring me out of my funk, it's her. Thanks, hon!

Now I need to give myself a good, stiff slap across the face and get moving! I'm very excited to be a part of this year's Handmade Parade in Sacramento. It will be filled to the brim with cuteness, must-haves and crafty demos. I can't wait to make new stuffies to go with my wee mice (which are now gone..but they'll be multiplying). I was super-ecstatic-happy to have made the etsy home page over the weekend. Thank you to those kind souls that informed me of such, since weekends are usually spent far away from the computer. The oodles of convos in my inbox should have given me a clue!

Thank you for reading. And I hope you have a great day, wherever you are.

20 minute makeover

2007-07-31T08:47:00.001-07:00

I like spray painting. A lot. Almost too much, actually. These cheap little nesting tables--so cheap that any little nicks would scrape off the "wood" finish--needed something fun and colorful. My $6 solution? Robin's egg blue. The amusing part was as I was painting them and instructing my girls on the hazards of breathing paint fumes, they went and made paper fans and fanned the tables to "blow away all the yucky smell". Painfully cute.

Hope you're having a good week. Thanks to everyone who's commented (okay, all four of you!).

this is summer...

2007-07-26T08:45:00.001-07:00

Nothing like reading a good book in a pile of clean laundry! That's the pace we're at this summer. And I'm loving it. What the picture doesn't show is my older daughter who's fully dressed, brushed and ready to go at 7:30 in the morning. It's a struggle to find the balance between relaxing down-time and having enough activities to look forward to (somehow, fabric shopping with Mommy doesn't count).
I did manage to finish up a shirt for myself, made from this pattern. It's the first shirt I've made that I will actually wear out of the house. I hate seam binding the armholes, mostly because I try to do it with the narrower binding vs. the wide binding the pattern calls for (which would look kind of wonky, I think). I knew I did a good job when my husband said, "Wow, that looks pretty cute." I'll just ignore the shock in his voice. This pattern is next, I think. Yeah, I know, everyone in Blogville is making their own shirts, but why the heck not? I saw some cute smocks (cute fabrcis and big 'ol buttons on the straps) at Target yesterday and thought, "Hey--that looks homemade!" Now who's copying who??

Have a great day, wherever you are.

me vs. myspace

2007-07-24T09:57:00.001-07:00

I spent most of a valuable kids-glued-to-the-t.v. morning trying to set up a tasteful myspace page. Is there such a thing? If you want your background tiled in winking blinking pink hearts and want Justin Timberlake blaring on repeat, then it's a cinch. But asking for something demure and subtle is like asking for a chocolate croissant at a donut shop. No offense to myspace-- it has become so huge that you have to give it props. My crafting group communicates primarly on its message boards so I had to dive in. It makes me feel so OLD when tweens are out there programming html and I can't even get my header uploaded (it's still reading "Your Header Here"--which translates as "I don't know what I'm doing and have to wait for my husband to get home and fix it for me"). Making things nice, pretty and appealing is my obsession so to not get it the way I want is maddening. And the nerve of my kids to actually want to talk to me while I'm swearing at this silver box? That's when I know it's time to unplug. I'm off to make mudpies and look for tomato worms. In my pajamas.

more more more

2007-07-18T17:14:00.001-07:00

Umm, yeah, I had a LOT of stuff to list in my etsy shop. More than I anticipated--it's like a bottomless pit of things I just HAD to make a dozen of. Call it compulsive, on-a-roll, whatever... It's just strange that I don't know when to stop. And now I've moved on to more linen bibs and smocks. New things to show soon. They've been simmering in my imagination for a while. Sometimes you just have to make it so you can get 'em outta there.

In the meantime, I'm trying to finish Barbara Kingsolver's new book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle which is due back at the library *ahem* tomorrow. I'm too stubborn to admit defeat and not finish it. There's about 50,000 holds on this book so if I don't finish, it's bye bye for another six months. Many others have blogged about how it's changed their way of living, eating and thinking. Let's just say I'm lovin' my tomato patch right now.

mondo etsy update

2007-07-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

I had a blast on Sat. selling my wares along side some very talented members of the Sac Craft Mafia but I was left with a motherload of goods. I'm not sure why I find it necessary to make SO much stuff for each show..I suppose I like to have choices and assume everyone else does, too. So, if you're inclined, please visit my etsy shop to see them. I lowered my prices a smidgen to encourage some adoptions, too. Once again, I'm finding it hard to take decent pictures, especially when there's a lot of white. These came out with a blue cast to them but I can deal. It's cute stuff. Trust me.

And yowzah! thanks to my buddy Cheryl for showing my stuff in her blog not once, but twice in one week! Her shop has the cutest vintage pattern for felt kid's purses...gotta make me (uh, I mean, my daughters) some of those. She just started her blog a week ago and she's already posting the pants off me. Go girl!

such sweetness...

2007-07-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my great friend Cheryl who cheered me out of a hot funk this week with a package of goodies. I love it all--but my favorites are these two little fabric patches of vintage artwork. Maybe it's the Holly Hobbie history in me, but I just HAD to make something with them immediately. Like my life depended on it. I made two little tiny tall totes with some black denim I picked up the other day. When it comes to purses, I'm a no-fuss kind of sewer. Totes, mostly. No fancy closures or handles. Keep it simple and practical. That way you can love 'em and leave 'em guilt free. You can find these in my etsy shop which has been collecting dust this summer. I'm hoping to get my butt in gear and list a bunch of goodies this week, so keep checking! And if you're in the Sacramento area this Saturday, please stop by the Coffee Garden for the SCM Second Saturday Stop, Shop and Stroll and say hello.

yep, i've joined the mafia

2007-06-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

The Sacramento Craft Mafia, that is. I joined their group early in June and attended my first show with them this past Sunday. What a hoot! I really enjoyed meeting all the super-nice mafiosas (is that the feminine of mafioso?) and selling some of my goodies. I especially loved watching people come along and touch, hold, feel and explore my treats. Then they would look up, almost ashamed, and say "I'm sorry" like it was a bad thing. I consider it the greatest compliment when people see things I've made and need to hold them. Maybe it's just the proud mama in me, but I love it. And when they would leave and come back, bringing a friend, to show them my stuff--well that made me feel over the moon with joy. Thanks for the luv, ladies. Next show: Stop, Shop and Stroll--see the little pic on the right side and if you're in Sac, stop by and say hi!

hello again..

2007-06-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's me. Did you notice I was gone? Probably not, but that's okay. I've decided to pass through the gates of bloglandia once more! I didn't get my hand stamped last time, so I've begun with a new name, fresh start, and ready to talk about crafting. Boy, there was a day when I *hated* being called crafty. Artsy, talented--anything but crafty. It was a word associated with being less than creative and more with macrame and decorated jelly jar lids. But now, in the midst of the digital age, people are returning to handmade. I started speckled hen almost a year ago..opened up an etsy shop, listed a few items, held my breath, and....yay! things sold. It's been the most amazing experience to make what I want, when I want and sell it, too. I'm still in awe of the leaders of the handmade movement. People who have blogged for ages and inspired newbies like myself to embrace being crafty. Creating, expressing, sharing and being excited by making things has made me a better mom, wife and person in general.

Keep your hands and arms inside the ride at all times! Here we go! Wahoo!