every little thing

Names

When I was starting up my blog last year, the part I dreaded most was naming it.  The same with my online shops, too.   And even with my son, (the nurse finally came back for the third time and demanded, "One of you has to name this baby, now.")   Nothing like a little procrastination.   I guess I just figured, when the time was right, the perfect name would just materialize and I would know, and it would be perfect, and magical and the planets would align, etc.  I've never found that to be the case, so I just had to wing it.  I love old, southern sayings...and the "how is every little thing?" line is, I think, from Gone with the Wind.  And it does seem to fit here.  I really do love, and unwittingly surround myself, with tiny things.  Lots of tiny things.  Every little thing. 

a little snack

a little change

minnows are little (and so is my sister)

corsican mint, my favorite little plant (and can you spot the little snail?)

breakfast, a little late.....

....with little waffles (my miniature waffle maker is one of my favorite possessions.) 

a little loud

a little quiet

a little good-bye.

Etsy Love Part 2 + other interesting things

At last!  More handmade-love to blog about!  I've been stalling this post in hopes of finding frames for my new artwork so I could share pics of the items actually gracing the halls of our humble home.   But, alas, I'm having trouble finding the *perfect* frames to go with them so I will forge ahead and just use the artist's pics.

First up:

Do these guys look familiar?  I am constantly delighted by the crafty things people are doing with these little miniatures, but these photographs just took the cake (topper)...ha ha...ha.  (Sorry about that.)  Seriously, how funny is this?!  And how about this one:

"Oh Dear."  Really....that's the title.  I'm thinking of hanging this one in the downstairs bathroom just to see the reaction form visitors and guests.  He he.....it really makes me giggle!  And there are more, oh yes.  Visit  the lovely Swirling Thoughts  shop for this, and  more fabulously whimsical photography. Be sure to check out "Hopped Up on Coke" .  It's one of my faves. 

More art?  Oh, yes please!

   

I found this stunning, original watercolor quite by accident.  I was just browsing on etsy and *POW*.   I literally could not stop staring at it.  The shop is Leontine May, and it seems all the artwork has been snatched up at the moment (not surprisingly.)  But, I'm sure there will be more soon!  In the meantime, you can browse their sold section and look at all the beauties that you missed out on.  Like this and this.  I wish I had bought them all!  I will definitely be shopping here again in the future!

And now, Lenor....

Now, I'm a sucker for a cute brooch....and these are just so original!  They remind me of rosy-cheeked little flappers!  And, the detail and craftsmanship are top-notch.  The shop is Coisas Fugidias, and they also offer other cuties like these brooches shaped like little trees.  So much personalty!  I find them all so inspiring! 

Was I done shopping?  Not quite.  I also snuck in some fab postcards from the Notorious Jane's Apron.  No pictures yet, but you can get the full scoop right here.  They are to die for (as expected!)

After all that shopping, what little dough I had left was spent on a HUGE miniature order.  I have lots of photographing to do, but keep in mind, there will be an Emporium update very soon.  Bunches of new thing.  (Hope you're ready for Halloween *hint*)    I may have left the Studio a bit bare this summer, but I've had to learn my limits.  I just can't move mountains. However, I will, in the very near future, be gearing up for two big holiday craft bazaars, which always translates into leftovers for the Studio.  I'm really excited about both of these shows!  The first is Crafty Bastards, a very well-know and semi-prestigious show in our Nation's Capitol September 30th (link is on the left sidebar.)   Amber and I will be selling our wares as members and founders of the Norfolk Craft Mafia.  And, if I may toot out horns a bit, there were, like 400 applicants and only 100 spaces.  So, yeah.  We are pretty much total rock stars.  And speaking of the craft mafia....that brings me to craft show number 2:  Handmade Parade, East Coast, November 10th, Norfolk VA...hosted by none other than me and Amber.  We, and the Mafia, are actually hosting our own show!!!!  Ahhhh!  Crazy, huh?  I've been hesitant to mention it because we were having the darnedest time finding a venue, but now we have snagged a location, signed the contract, and are about to start soliciting vendors!!!  If you are a craft/artsy peddler in Hampton Roads and the surrounding area, please check out our website for more info!  Or, drop me a line abelstudio@gmail.com and I will be sure to keep you updated!

I've spilled enough beans for today, I think!  Thanks for reading all of that, if you made it all the way through...good for you.  You are my favorite reader.  Really, and you shall be rewarded.  Keep a sharp eye out for a blog giveaway soon.  I'm painfully overdue.  It's gonna be a doozie!

I have spoken....

A silly little toy you can play with here, discovered on the fabulous Meringue Blog.

Where I was this weekend...

What did all you Potter fans out there think?  I'm just sad it's ll over.  At least we  have the last two movies to look forward too.  *sniffle* 

Dreamsville

Is it just me (and Max, and my mom and sister...) or is anyone else having a very active dream-life these days?  Perhaps it's the position of the moon and stars, or the  sumer heat.  I'm normally a heavy dreamer anyway, but lately it's almost been overwhelming.  I've asked Max about his dreams just about every day since he could talk.  No reason why.  Just part of our morning ritual.  For the longest time it went like this:

"How was you're sleep?  Did you have good dreams?"

"Yeah."

What did you dream about"

"Nothing."

It went on like that for a while, then he started remembering his dreams and being able to tell me about them.  Lots of morning, he'd just make things up, it was pretty easy to tell.  But it's very obvious when he really remembers.  His eyes get huge and you can actually see him almost reliving it.  Sometimes they are  bit creepy, and I'm sorry I asked.

"I dreamed that a lady came to take away Sydney (our kitty) and she was not a mean lady, but it was funny because she was bald.  And I didn't want her to take Sydney so I was real sad."

"I dreamed that you and daddy left me at somebody's house to stay the night, and then you snuck off to a secret muffin party and didn't take me and you ate all the muffins and I got none."

I try not to analyze his or my dreams, it's just too much work.  And, don't worry, I won't bore you all with my bizarre-o dreams...not yet, anyway.    I was just wondering if any of you other blogger out there were struck with the mid-summer night's dream-fest  too?

(And, yes, this is a very old picture of my Maxwell.  Going by the style of pull-up I'd say it's circa 2004.)

Amanda : 1, Computer : 89, 546

I had to pop in and say "thank" you to Sarah for her help with my computer issues!  I can once again comment on blogger/blogspot without crashing the entire system, hooray!  I don't have to lurk anymore (though I did enjoy it, in a seedy kind of way.)  Also, whilst blog-hopping this morning, I came a cross this lovely blog I'd never seen before and I had a total Brad-Pitt-from-Fight-Club-moment.  They have a recipe box feature just like mine!  Same printable cards, picture of the old tin box.....and they made their's ages before I did.    Not that I thought I was the first to ever do anything like that, but it really made me think of that line, "You are not a special or unique snowflake."   Ha ha!  Back to the old drawing board!  And, speaking or recipes, I have not updated mine as promised, but I am working on it!  I promised someone the refrigerator rolls recipe a long time ago!  I'm working on it!

that's  all for now, over and out.

Etsy Love Part One + Some Thrifting and (2) New Toys

I have purchased so many lovely new things lately, that I am splitting them into two posts!  First of all, I must show off the adorable felted clutch I snagged from Ask a Fox to Tea:

I think needle felting is the coolest thing ever, and I'd really like to give it a try someday.  I thought this little pouch would be perfect for my Starbucks money....it's just so cozy!  The brains behind this, and lots of other felt-cuteness, is Zie the talented offspring of one of my oldest blog friends, the infamous Cerri of Little Pink Studio.  Zie's storefront, Ask a Fox to Tea, his here, and you should definitely take a peek! 

Now, my next purchase is my first from the Black Apple.  If you haven not heard of this shop, then well, you must be living under a rock.  Emily is really the rock star of the blog/etsy world.  She's like Jem:  truly, truly, truly outrageous.  So I finally picked up a print of hers and a super snazzy hedgehog tee shirt for Max (which immediately got worn and covered in dirt, and is now in the wash.)

There really isn't much I can say about this gal that hasn't already been said.  Great stuff, highly recommended.  I will show off more etsy goods tomorrow.  Now it's time for some thrifty goodness.  (It's always time for thrifty goodness.)  My new obsession?  Vintage Tupperware. 

I love these plastic cups so much.  They are really tall and skinny, like high ball glasses.  And those mini-ice cube trays totally made me squeal!  I remember these from when I was young'n and I can't believe I actually found some!!  They make the most darling sugar-cube sized ice bits you've ever seen. 

So what if they melt in you're beverage in 10 seconds?  Oh, and look at this sweet lunch box.

It is very bento-like, as my sister pointed out.  So I'm all about the old Tupperware now.  It is expensive at some thrift stores, but have you seen how much the modern Tupperware is?!  Yikes!  I was next to a Tupperware booth at church craft show last year, and that stuff is NOT cheap.  (And people were buying it up like hotcakes, so I guess it's still all the rage.)

Ok, now I have exciting and somewhat scary news......

I bought a serger!!!  Actually, I bought two sergers:

Now all I have to do is have another child, and my sweat shop will be complete!  (ha ha)  Actually, one is for my sister.  What are the odds that, after months of scouring Craig's List, two Baby Lock's would be posted at almost the same  time?  I had to get both.  Super low prices, and both machines work like a charm.  At least, it seems like they do.  I've never used a serger before, so I'm still learning.  I've done a rolled hem and 4-thread over lock stitch and it's just so darn amazing.  I'd serge the cat's tail if I could (he won't hold still enough.).  I'm hooked. 

(Check back in a few days for the post about how the threads get all tangled, I can't get it to work anymore and so I stab  it to death with a seam ripper.)

The Amazing Mandino Does it Again....

Wow.  Did I disappear this week or what?  So sorry about that, I hate to neglect my blog.  I'm exceedingly grateful for the rush of Emporium and Studio that  I've been flooded with lately, and I'm working hard to get them out in a (somewhat) timely manner.  If you're waiting for some goodies, don't worry....I'm on it!  I was also distracted by some sisterly-fun-times involving the new Harry Potter movie, warm blackberries, pipe dreams, thrifting and Skip-bo.  Though, not exactly in that order.  I'll be back to my regularly scheduled posting next week, and I'll be sure to do that Etsy-Seller shout out then.  I have so many new things to share!

***Note to Blogger-Blog People!!!!  My computer will not let me comment on Blogger blogs anymore. I have no idea why.  It mus be some sort of browser setting, but if I try to comment, the page refreshes over and over, spasmodically until the whole thing just crashes and I have to reboot.  I don't get it.  So, I just wanted everyone to know that I'm around!  I'm lurking!  And, hopefully, I'll get it fixed soon!

And now, a crafty tutorial buy Max Krueger:

HOW TO MAKE AN AWESOME SAMURAI HEADBAND IN 3 EASY STEPS

1.) Find a long, skinny scrap of fabric form mommy's craft room floor. 

2.) Get your Aunt Kippy to tie it around your forehead.

3.) Grimace and do impromptu karate moves.  End with a small break-dance.

*Dragon tattoo is NOT optional.

Is this really neccessary?

So, it was one of those Saturdays where I had about 85 thousand things I should have been doing.  Things that really needed to get done.  And that's when my craft-ADD started to set in.  I began thinking, "What kind of crazy project can I start to avoid all of my other responsibilities?"  Hmmmm.  Oh, I know!  I can try to make bath bombs!  Also called, bath fizzies.  Basically giant alka-seltzers for your tub that scent and soften the water, are tons of fun and very expensive to buy.  My mind was made up, so I took the sensible approach and googled "how to make bath bombs."  In 4 seconds I had all the information I could ever need.  What did we ever do without the inter-webs?  (oh,  go to the library, I guess.)  Anyway, the only ingredient I didn't have was citric acid, which I found down the street and Wine and Cake Hobby..... just one more reason to love that place. 

Traditionally, they are supposed to be round.  I didn't have a round mold, so I just used an old tart/cake mold from my vintage kitchen supply stash.  The small round-ish ones were made with a melon baller.  I was really shocked how well they came out considering how humid it is here.  I let them dry right in front of the ac unit, so I think that helped.   I used some leftover fragrance oils I had on hand, but if I make more I will definitely use essential oils, and maybe get some soap dye instead (I just used food coloring.)   I may sell some on my shop someday too, you never know.  But, I highly recommend making them.  A lovely distraction!

Oh darn, then I got distracted again.  This time it was muffins.  Blueberry for Maxy and Blackberry for me.  I used the basic muffin recipe from Joy of Cooking.  It is my hands-down favorite recipe book of all time.  It has everything in it, and I've never been disappointed by it.  If you don't have it, go buy it now.  Trust me.

*Please do drop in the blog tomorrow for a few special shout-outs!  I've been doing some serious shopping over on etsy lately, so tomorrow's post will be featuring some of my favorite, fellow etsians (newbies and old-schoolers.) 

Hope everyone had a great weekend! (Mine was quite fizzy.)

Happy!

Happy Fourth of July (belated)!!!!   

Happy Friday!
Happy weekend!
Happy tomato on my head!

(I think the heat is really starting to get to me........)

See you guys on Monday.

-Amanda