every little thing

I consider myself a semi-creative gal, I always try to think outside of the box, and all that.  But, it never occurred to me that you could mix leafy, green vegetables into a smoothie.  That makes green smoothies, it makes them even healthier for you, AND it means that Max will eat VEGETABLES!  Why have I never though of this before?!?!  I found a blog, Happy Food, through some random blog-hopping the other day, and it's a very fun site with lots of neat ideas about vegetarian and raw-food eating (of which, I am neither, by the way.  I just love trying new things, plus our family eating habits have gone from decent, to marginal, to downright awful over the last few months, and I've been trying to turn that train around.)  I'll also be the first to admit that Max has turned into a picky eater completely due to my enabling, and often times, downright laziness.   I'm not proud of that, but acceptance is the first step.  Instead of "sneaking" the spinach into his smoothie, I told him what I was doing, and I let him watch while I made it.  Hopefully, at some point, he will realize that veggies really aren't something evil that I have to trick him into eating.  We are taking the 30 day Green Smoothie Challenge (more info on the blog) and I'm really very excited about it!  It's only been 4 days, but I feel better already.  I think this is just what I needed to jump start our family into better eating habits this year.  Plus, these green smoothies will be even better when I can use fresh spinach and swiss chard from my own garden!  Ah, come on Spring!!!!  We are SO ready.

*Smoothie pictured above was made with frozen bananas, frozen pineapple, lots of pea shoots and a splash of water.  (and it was very, very good!) 

I'm an idiot

So, Max has been asking for an Artist's Smock for  a while now, and I actually got around to making one.  I made this a week or too ago, really, and it's pretty nice.  You know.  For a boy.  I used the pea green vintage sheet instead of the shabby, pink, rosey one.  And I trimmed it in blue binding, not mint green with Barby rick rack.  The pocket is rectangular.  I guess it's manly enough.  Max seems to like it, and he was happy to report that the pocket withstood the 138 crayons he loaded in it without ripping.  So.  Am I just an idiot for wanting a little girl sometimes?  You can say that there is  plenty of fun crap to sew for boys too, but it's not true.  Girls are boat-loads more fun in that department, always will be.  I guess I could sew girly things for the shop, but I doubt that would really scratch the itch, you know?  I guess I could have another kid, but Mike seems to think (in the grand, puffy-chested, misogynistic tradition) that it's just boys, boys, boys for us and nothing else.  Don't even try, it will just be triplet boys!  Then, I could live out my fantasy of turning into Lois from Malcolm in the Middle.  She's my hero.  (Oops, shoulda saved her for Friday.)

I completely winged the pattern for this.  I traced a basic neckline onto the fabric, cut it out and trimmed the entire thing in itty-bitty seam binding.  And THAT is, in fact,  why I'm an idiot.  (see the torture device below)

   

The story goes something like this, and it's always the same:

A random night, a few weeks ago.  It's about 10:30pm and I'm pretty tired.  I should go to sleep, lots to do the next day.  But wait, instead, maybe I should do something completely stupid and worthless.   I will  take out my miscellaneous bag of sewing machine attachments, and stay up till 3am trying to figure out how they all work.  When A:  I have no idea what most of them do,  B:  I have no instructions and refuse too get help, and C:  Most of the attachments were bought from yard sales and are probably broken anyway.

THAT is why I'm an idiot.  This was not an isolated incident either, I do this all of the time, wasting huge portions of my days and being horrifyingly inefficient.  (But, I have other redeemable qualities, so I try not to let it get me down.)  However,  I did dominate  this binder foot.  I kicked it's ass, actually.  Once you get in the groove, you can sew on the tiniest binding thisclose to the edge.  Perfectly.

That binding is only 1/4 wide!  Look how tight that is, and that was just a practice strip.  I'm trying to come up with more things to bind now, just to reign further triumph over that silly piece of scrap metal.

The ruffler foot?

I don't want to talk about it.

 

Anybody who's anybody in the crafty-blog-world knows that craft books are hot, but Asian craft books even hotter.  I've always been jealous of those Japanese craft books that everyone has, but I have yet to buy any.  (I can barely follow instructions when they are in English as it is.)  But then, last spring, I was contacted by someone about doing a tutorial for possible publication in a Chinese craft book! Oh I was SO excited!  I can't believe that it has been almost a year, and I've actually kept pretty tight-lipped about it on the blog.  Partly because I'd never done anything like this before and I didn't know the protocol for when you are supposed to blab the details, books take a long time to get made, I've realized.  Also, I was just submitting my work, there was no guarantee that it would be included in the book.  Now, the book has actually been published, and my tutorial is included, and I'm so very grateful!  The book is called I Love Handicraft, by Affa and Wing,  published by China Light Industry Press.  Here is what my pages basically look like, the tutorial is for a small, drawstring pouch with a felt flower detail:

Cute, right?  I'm so honored to be included in this book, and I can't wait to receive my copy!  I will scan and post better pictures then, too. I made/sold these little bags last spring on my webshop and in a couple of local craft shows.  Affa found my pictures on Flickr and contacted me about writing a tutorial.  The book features 56 crafters form all over the world, and you can meet some of the other contributors and find more info on how to order a copy for yourself over at their Flickr group.  It looks like Wing and Affa are already scouting projects for book number two, so if you are of a crafty nature, be sure to join the group, introduce yourself, and post some picks of your work!  The whole experience was so wonderful!  I was very nervous writing the tutorial and taking the pictures, it was all such new territory for me, but I'm glad I did it. Affa and Wing are my heroes, who would of thought that I would ever get to be published in an Asian craft book?!?!  I truly do love handicraft.  Truly. 

Stuck in the middle with you

Long time, no post.  Sorry about that.  Things are moving along nicely around here, and I feel like I have lots of stories to tell, but none of them are complete yet.  I have lots of beginnings, even a few middles, but no endings.  Ah, this sounds like it's headed for a metaphor, but don't worry, I'll derail before we hit that station!  I hate to leave you all with just a bunch of teasers (I'm such an impatient person myself and it drives me bonkers to be left hanging.)  Let's just say, that my sister is stumbling along a little adventure of her own, that I'm excited to be observing, and may even involve a little expedition to the Big Apple soon, to help formulate the ending.  Have I peaked your interest?  Let me just tell you this, fellow thrfiters and junk pile diggers:  Keep your eyes open!  You never know what you may find out there, lost treasures are all around us. 

Oh, and the photo up there.  I made the cupcake pin cushion a few months ago from the Betz White tutorial that she did for the Martha Stewart Show last year.  The cheeky cupcake pick?  It's part of a line of handmade decorations I'm developing for the  Emporium.  I've been working on them for ages now, and the ending is in sight ( I think.)  I was going for a "Alice in Wonderland" feel when I made this one,  but you could interpret the message any way you like ;)

Very Happy Valentine's Day!

Much love,

~Amanda

All the Rage

*First, I have to take a little side-bar here and do a "Thank You" speech.  I don't know what most people would consider "success" in the small on line business world.  I'm not sure how the little shops I run in my corner of the Internet would rate in the big scheme of things.  I do know though, that when I'm packing orders, and seeing the same names and familiar people over and over....it's very humbling.  So many repeat customers, I can hardly believe it.  Thank you.  I'm so grateful to able to do this, I can't really express it in words.  Being at home, doing something on my own and not completely failing at it.   Pretty amazing.  I also realize that a lot of my customers probably don't read my blog, so I have been brainstorming some special "thank you" gifts to add to outgoing orders.  I have some pretty good ideas, hopefully I'll have them ready in a few weeks. 

Alright, enough of the sap.  On to some photos of recent completed (or almost completed) projects:

I found a very pretty, vintage book with loads of flower illustrations, perfect for card and tag making.

 

Why not?  Everyone else is doing it.   I still think the circles should be a bit closer together, but when I do that they just look too cluttered to me.  Also, this picture isn't very good, you can't really see the scale of the space (the room has very tall ceilings.)

I've been saving that vintage pom pom trim just for these pillows.  Can you see that the curtains above are polka dotted?  I'm quite happy how this all turned out.  I assume that you are supposed to sew the band of trim inside the seam, but I liked it better having it on the outside, I thought it was more visually appealing.  (and they are my pillows, so I can make  them however I want, so there.)

Not even March yet and I'm already talking garden.  I can't help it, I'm so ready to get my hands in the dirt this year.  My 2006 garden was fabulous.  Last year?  Let's just say that I'm not the best multitasker.  I was completely over-scheduled with my business stuff, and the garden was severely neglected.  I don't think you could even call it a garden, it was more of a wildlife refuge.  NOT THIS YEAR.  And I'll say it again, NOT THIS YEAR!  I missed it so much, I can't let that happen again.  Mike made me these super neato cold frames out of old, salvaged windows we found on the side of the road.  Guess what's going in there in a few weeks?  Spinach and lettuce.  Oh yeah.  Maybe a few radishes, just because.   I can't wait.

Max is feeling much better this week.  I'm almost caught up with the laundry.  It will be Yard Sale season again soon.  Tom Petty is touring this Summer.

Things are looking up.

buck up, little camper....

This child has managed to contract a year's worth of childhood  illnesses in just under 4 weeks.  I'm thinking he's working on Pink Eye now, so it's off to the doctor this morning.  We are a relatively healthy family, and it's hard to complain, but dang.  The poor kiddo.  Not that I mind having him home from preschool, quite the opposite, actually.  But even being home sick gets old after a while, and now Max is just pitiful, kinda depressed, and grumpy.  (And who wouldn't be?  You should just see the goopy mess that is gushing from his wee, little eyeballs.  It's absolutely awful.)  So, Max...this Friday's for you.  Chin-up, my darling.  You'll be back in the game soon.

Suspicious Bunny (and a shop update!)

Watch your back little rabbit, or Spring will sneak up on you!

    

All of this and more is over in the Emporium today!  I tried to make some cupcakes to use in the photo shoot, but my first attempt at making them from scratch (aka, not form a box) didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped.  The taste was great, but the texture was a bit too heavy.  More like cornbread. Should I have used shortening instead of butter?  Did I over or under mix the batter??  Guess I'll have to try again, (don't I have a  rough life?) 

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

a small kitchen, more carbs, and some chemistry

Ok, so I'm sort of over the thrifted curtain in my kitchen window.  It just doesn't go in there, never really did.  The kitchen and cabinets are all white, white, white.  I think the curtain needs a lot more charm and color.  I must add that to my to-do/to-make list.  Did I mention that I have the smallest kitchen ever?  I like to whine about it sometimes.  Wha wha, poor me.   But, look at the sweet little valentine banner that totally makes up for it!!  Super-cuteness from the NICE shop.  Love it so, and Caitlin is such a doll-face.

Not a lot to report on this fine, sunny day today.   Feels like full-on Spring out there, a balmy 65 degrees at least, and I'm finding that to be terribly distracting.  Oh, I did make more pretzels last night, and thanks to my kitchen aid dough attachment, they were the best ever.

A double batch, and they're all gone.  I did take a bunch over to the Craft Mafia meeting last night, and that was lots of fun as always.  Plenty of ho-hum stuff for me to do today; bank, post office, laundry.  I get to put the laundry outside on the line though, and that makes the chore just a bit more tolerable. 

And, here is a small sneak-peek of the spring-easter lovelies I am getting together for the Emporium:

Yes, I finally have the  fluted, scallopy baking cups that are so dreamy, and I'm also very happy with the packaging I found for the sanding sugar.  They are almost like little  plastic test-tubes (and yes, I know the label pictured  has the wrong color on it...it's just a test-run.)  If all goes well, I should have these goodies up and running by Wednesday, at the latest.  I know, I'm pushing Easter and V-Day isn't even here yet, but I'm trying to plan ahead, keep up....it's not easy.   You gotta play the game (at least, that's what they tell me.)

It's Monday!  (We can make, just think positive.)

   

oo-de-lally

Arguably one of Disney's finest animated characters.  Well, at least I could argue it anyway, (and probably lose.)  Nevertheless, Sir Hiss has always had a special place in my heart.  I'm not sure why, really.  He is a snively, codependent little snake, generally pretty evil, yet not bad enough to officially be labeled a "Disney Villain", I wouldn't think.   Even though he was in insufferable know-it-all, he didn't deserve to be tortured so brutally at the hands of Prince John.

  Disney's Robin Hood has always been one of my favorites of theirs.  Love it.  I mean, it's a classic.  I still get those "Disney Goosebumps" when the rooster-narrator sings the  Every Town song.  You know which one I'm talking about?  I could just cry thinking about it.  You know, it's hard enough to capture an audience in movies these days, make them care about the characters and what happens to them.  I've seen so many movies lately that were pretty good, great cinematography and all that jazz, but when it came down to it, I just didn't connect with the characters and was only mildly interested in their fates.  Now, you can love Disney or hate them, but you gotta give 'em props for creating some of the most endearing characters of all time, plus they aren't even people!  You'll find yourself getting emotional over a turtle dressed in pantaloons and derby hat, now THAT is suspension of disbelief, my friends.

Oh hey, I found the song I was talking about up there (love ya, youtube!), it's actually called Not in Nottingham.  Let's listen to it together, and shed a tear for injustice.

(A pox on the phony King of England!)