every little thing

Happy Halloween!

The Rollercoaster that is October

I've had several awesome thrifting sessions lately, and I have yet to take pictures of my loot and post about it.  But you better believe that is IS sweater season finally, and that means felting, felting felting!  I got hooked last year and have been eagerly awaiting this years sweater hunting/shrinking season.  I'm sure there are loads of "how to felt a sweater" tutorials online, but I'm thinking of putting one together to share on my blog too.  I think I have a few new tips to share, including a small list of certain clothing labels whose sweaters resist the felting process.  So, look for that in future.  The felty bits above are creatures in progress.  So are these below, slightly further along the production line. 

 

Check out that b&w polka dot sweater?!?!  That was the find of the season, I always wanted a dotted wool sweater and, apparently, they are almost nonexistent.  This was a mens sweater, actually *ahem*, and it felted like a dream.  You better bet the body of the sweater  will turn into a tote bag (with cherry red, scallop edged vinyl handles!)  So excited about this sweater, I can't even tell you.  I love how the twin polka dottie creatures are on either side of the striped stud.  It makes me think of that old song "Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister, and lord help the sister who comes between me and my man!"  Oh, and aren't the pink and red eyes funny?  I actually found a few packs of them from, where else, the thrift store.  Now I'm really on the lookout for another white sweater, hopefully with a touch of cashmere, to make some albino creatures with.

All of this woolen, winter excitement was bought to a halt when i noticed that Seraphina has a case of the blues.  It may be seasonal depression...but I think there's more to it.

All she wants to do is sit around and stare at her autographed picture of Paul Anka, and listen to records.

Even a new dress wouldn't cheer her up.  And I know she's wearing those dark glasses to hide her red-rimmed eyes, puffy from crying.  This  Paul Anka obsession may have gone a bit far.  I am think about staging an intervention.

Plantation Christmas

First of all, thank you so much, everyone, for the Birthday wishes!  Indeed, I had a lovely week.  I didn't want it to end, actually!  But now I'm back, and I have lots of fun things to share and emails and orders to catch up on, but first I want to show pictures from my all-time-favorite holiday festival of the year, Plantation Christmas at Chippokes.

The hand-spun wool is always a favorite, and I was delighted to see some recycled-sweater mittens among their new wares.  The felted sweater craze is really going crazy now!

Almost bought a cameo, totally should have.

Oh my.  Love these guys.  Herbs for Healthful Living is one of my favorites (and sorry, but they do not have a website.)    I adore them so intensely due to the fact they they sell......

That's right!  GRAB BAGS!  My ultimate favorite,  and their's are more than generous, too.  Each of mine (I bought four) had at least one small bar of soap, a lip balm and small envelope of bath salts.  And they are just $2.50 a piece!  You gotta love the grab bag.

   

And the plantation house is actually my house.  Awfully nice of me to let them hold the festival on my personal property, don't you think?  *Sigh......

 

The BBQ was good, but the apple dumpling with ice cream was even better.

The land out in Surrey is so dreamy.  I've wanted to live there for ages.  Just minutes away from the Smithfield pork packaging plant!  Where plump, golden hams are shipped out all over the world.  Ahhhh. 

See the cattle out there?

That's better.

Even Krissy found a patch of crocus to graze in.

I'm so happy that we still got to go this year.  It rained buckets on Friday and Saturday, I thought they would cancel the whole thing.  But, Sunday was drier, and windy.  It actually felt of Autumn for a change 'round here.  Perfect festival weather.  Hope you all had a great weekend too!  I'll leave you now with a picture of a man in colonial garb, ladling soup samples.  He seemed really annoyed when I was took this photo of him. 

The blog shows no mercy.

Cake for breakfast

I have two friends named Kat.  One lives right down the street, and the other is  may miles away.  Early this morning, the down-the-road Kat came to my door, in the rain,  bearing my first birthday gift of the day: a huge piece of chocolate cake.  I forget what it was called, but there was  chocolate cake, covered in chocolate mousse, chocolate shavings, and WOW...I'm still reeling for the sugar high.  But, nice way to start the morning, eh?  Today is my birthday.  I'm 27 years old.  But, back to the cakes (and the Kats.)  So, my other friend Kat, that lives far away, we talk on the phone quite a bit.  We were chatting yesterday afternoon, in fact (our conversation cut short by a not rabid possum, but that's another story).  And it seems that one of us brings up the movie Pollyanna almost every time we talk.  It just always comes up for some reason, and yesterday was no exception.  We both completely love the movie, of course, and we just can't mention it without thinking about the humongous cakes from the carnival scenes.  I mean really, if you've seen the film  and you can't remember those cakes, then there is something seriously wrong with you.  Kat and I always talk about recreating those ridiculous, 8 layer, frosted towers one day.  (And eating monster-sized corn on the cob.)  That would definitely be  a birthday wish of mine.   Not just the cake, but the friend, too.  Then watching the movie together, which we've never done.  That's be pretty, darn swell.  So, thank you Kat (both of you) for the birthday cake, real and imagined.   

Field Trip, Round One

 

 

(well, that's a strange looking critter...)

Field Trips are fun, but DANG.  Max's preschool class goes on lots of field trips.  They have at least one week these days.  These pics are from last week's trip to the farm.  The week before they toured the Krispy Kreme Donut Factory, and today we went to the pumpkin patch.  Whew.  Those four year olds get around more than I do.   Next one up is another trip to the Throughgood House, same as last year.  I think we may be skipping this one, once was enough.  It's hard to believe that I was blogging about the same thing almost exactly a year ago.  I am very close to my One Year Bloggiversary.  Crazy.

It's a good day...

....when you are on the news, and not because you broke the law.  (Our only crime was being crafty.) Awesome.

Click here to watch the clip and read the story on the 13 News website!

Baby, don't it feel like heaven right now?

Don't it feel like something from a dream?

Did you know?  There's a new documentary about Tom Petty and the Heart breakers, Runnin' Down  Dream.  It's a four hour film all about Petty's life and the band, directed by Peter Bogdanovich.   I had just heard about this film a week ago, and I was glad for that, because waiting too long for the release date would have been torture.  On Tuesday, Kristina and I went to Best Buy right after we dropped Max off at preschool.  We got there a little early, and there was a small line in front of the store, and we got all excited for a minute.  Are these people here for Tom too?  We really aren't the only ones?!  No.  They were there for the new Transformers Movie that also came out the same day.  Nevertheless, it did not damper out mood and were the first ones to get the documentary. 

I'm only about 1/2 way through it now (did I say it was 4 hours long?)  But, good lord, it it so good.  I don't want to finish watching it, I don't want it to end.  Great interviews, lots of "home movie" footage that's so endearing, rare performances.  I'm blow away.  Tom Petty interviews in the most amazing way.  He talks slowly, and seems gracefully humble and just present.  Just right there with you.  He tells his story without ceremony, like it could be your story.  Like, if he told the story of your life, no matter how dull you think it is, he could make it sound amazing.    I realize that Tom Petty may be a hard sell for a crafty, homemaking-type blog, but I gotta put it out there anyway.  What good is a blog if you can't share the things that really move you? 

I'm not rock and roll.  I never will be.  Never could have been. 

But I love a good story.  And that, to me, is what Tom Petty's music is all about.

Shop Update! Midnight Madness!

 

This update is called Midnight Madness because I will probably drive myself crazy trying to get all of these things listed by midnight, but I'm gonna do my best!   There are a few things listed now, and the slips are next (and they will be the hardest) and I plan to have those all listed by tomorrow, October 17th, by (midnight eastern time.) I have about 20 printed slips left, and that will be all for this season.  I will be making more tissue cozies, creatures, card sets and new things too, so check back soon!  For all of my extra-special blog buddies, I am issuing  a friend of the blog coupon:

• Free Shipping on all orders from A. Bel Studio!
• Valid Through Midnight, October 19th. 
• International Included! 
• *Not Valid for A. Bel Emporium (Miniatures Shop)  Sorry!*
• Please, you MUST mention free shipping in the "note to seller" section during checkout.  Or send me an email at abelstudio@gmail.com.  I won't know you are hip to the discount unless you tell me!  Just pay the total and I will quickly refund the shipping charges!  If you are paying by check or MO, deduct the shipping from the total before mailing your payment. 

As always, I'm here for you if you have any questions!   

   

Misadventure

There were no apples left, so we picked muscadine grapes instead.

   

After all, we had gotten all dressed up.

And it was a beautiful day.

And muscadines are so very delicious.

Who needs apples, anyway?

Amazing Old Movie Alert, *Part Deux

This is most definitely one of those movies that will make you say, "Why do I even bother watching modern movies anymore?"   I stumbled upon this one on Netflix this week, and I have to stress, I am NOT paid to sponsor Netflix, I SWEAR!  I just really love them so much and they have changed the way I watch movies.  This particular movie is on their "instant view" list, so if you are a netflix member you can go watch it on your computer right-this-very-second.  Who doesn't love that kind of instant gratification? 

I am so very deeply in love with this movie right now.  I could watch it over and over.  Apparently, it's an MGM classic, but I had never heard of it before.  I don't want to describe the plot for fear of ruining the story, but I think I could really recommend it to just about anyone who is into old movies.  Leslie Caron is so gorgeous, and is just  absolutely perfect for the role of a young orphan who is adopted by a traveling carnival.  The male romantic leads are equally dashing, and there is even a small, supporting role played by the fantastic Zsa Zsa Gabor.   

Here is a small clip I found over at the youtube, but please note:  the clip is a tad misleading, as this movie is NOT a musical, by any means.  (There are two choreographed dream sequences, but that's it.  Not that I have anything against musicals, I'm just sayin'....)

   

Did you detect the hint of excitement and wanting in the yound puppeteers eyes at the end of this scene?  But, what about Lili's childish attachment to Marcus the Magician and confirmed playboy?!  Ah, my friends, you shall have to see the movie for yourselves to learn the fate of poor Lili! 

Ok, I'm going to pack orders and watch this movie again, (sigh!)   Hopefully my instant viewing minutes don't run out!   Happy Thursday everyone, and thank you so much for all the great comments and congratulations on my HUGE TV debut...haha.  I love you guys.