Some Advice

If you decide to wake up early on a lovely Friday morning and pay some bills on the computer before you head out of town, don't spill coffee with cream and sugar all over your keyboard.

My computer has been rendered useless for today, and I type this from an extremely sub-par laptop, which is why I can't post any of the lovely photos I had planned to share with you.

And now, my lovelies, I'm going off on Holiday. I'll be back in a couple of weeks. I'll probably be lurking around from various remote locations, reading blogs, but just not able to post.

xoxo

good stuff

xoxo

curiouser and curiouser

*
I got an email the other day about how you can't outsmart your own foot. Try this:
Sit where you are, right now, and start rotating your foot clockwise. Are you doing it? Okay, now draw the number six in the air with your writing hand. Did you do it, or did your foot change direction? Try it again. See? I told you. Your foot is smarter than your brain. Isn't that crazy?

***

Okay, do this:
Think of a number from 1 to 10.

Multiply that number by 9.

If the number is a two-digit number, add the numbers together.

Now subtract 5.

Determine which letter in the alphabet your number corresponds to (example a=1, b=2, c=3...)

Think of a country that starts with that letter.

Remember the last letter of the name of that country.

Think of an animal that starts with that letter.

Remember the last letter in the name of that animal.

Think of the name of a fruit that starts with that letter.




Are you thinking of a kangaroo in Denmark eating an orange?

My husband and I both tried this and got very different answers, but apparently most of the population will end up with a kangaroo in Denmark eating an orange. If you came up with something different, you must be a very imaginative and smart person.

***

Now read this:

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.

The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch

at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a

wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in

the rghit pclae.

The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm.

Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but

the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling

was ipmorantt!

You read it, didn't you? mmmmhmmmm.....
Well, that's enough brain candy for now, I suppose.


*That's a Rorschach inkblot by the way, just in case, you know... you were curious.

xoxo

Hey, look!

I made a child's apron, and I'm just pleased as punch about how it turned out:

It's three tiers of thrifted vintage sheets with ties made from some of the same fabric. I'm sure that's not real apron-making lingo, but hey, I'm not a real apron maker. What I love about using sheets as fabric is that the edges are already hemmed, which is seriously a nice touch.

I saw something similar at one of my favorite little shops in Minnesota last time I was in town. It was reasonably priced, but it was just so cute that I had to try making my own.

Okay, then. Now I can cross that off my list.


xoxo

weekending

I think I managed to fit all of summer into one week: We had guests in, went to the pool, out for ice cream, ran around with sparklers, bought bouncy balls, drank some mojitos with Ellie (and we crafted like madwomen in the pm hours), hit every thrift shop within a 15 mile radius (plus one estate sale and a church garage sale), FINALLY got our sod, and found a supercute little children's shop in town that wants to carry Sweet Jessie. This week will be no less crazy.

My very favorite find is this pink award ribbon - it's BEST IN CLASS for a men's gardening club. I love love love it!

and here's a thrifty bequeathement from Miss Ellie Richellie:


The end result of my noctournal crafting session (it's for a baby gift):
a decoupaged suitcase (ala Pixiegenne). El's is going to be a mobile craft case, which I think is a great idea. She scooped hers off before I could get a picture of it, but I promise it was supercute!



Now I need to get another cup of coffee before the madness of the upcoming week sets in (3 playdates, stuff to sew, two sports classes for the kids, 19 loads of laundry to fold, birthday invitations to make and send, a trip to the pool, a piano lesson, a cut and color, a mani and pedi, some waxing, a night out with the neighbor girls, and then... we're off to Minneapolis for ten days or so!)
xoxo

Couldn't wait

I pre-ordered this book 4 months ago on Amazon. I know because they sent me an email with the original order date when they explained that there would be a slight delay in shipping. I couldn't wait. I had to run to Barnes & Noble and buy a copy. And now it's mine, all mine. And I'm going to stay up late reading it.
As for the one that's now in transit from Amazon, well, I'll have to figure out something to do with that one....

xoxo

a postcard

Greetings from Chicago's New* Outer Drive Bridge on Lake Michigan

See? A postcard. Just like I promised. I'll be back Monday with lots of things to talk about (and then we can feed the fish and visit King Friday together).

*circa 1937

xoxo

good mail

Here's some of the stuff I got in the mail this week:

a fabric grab bag from A. Bel Emporium:


And also these little dandies:


Some fabric from Kitty-Craft; Vintage Whitman playing cards from Ebay; Bakery Labels for my Bits and Pieces Packets:


New bluebird squeekies from Ebay (Sarah sent me a link after I posted the picture of the first's destruction):
although I have to admit, I never should have tried to replace them. They can't possibly compare.

I also got a huge box filled with all of my Paper Source goodies, and my order of 36 beach balls for my kids' birthday party next month. What fun!

Here's what's going out:
These bookplates are going to Honey-Bunch.com - such a cute shop based in Toronto. I'm thrilled to be a part of it!


Tomorrow my friend Miss Ellie arrives from St. Louis with two kidlets in tow, so I'll probably take a bloggie break for a couple of days, but I promise to take lots of pictures. And maybe I'll even send you a postcard.

Until next week, then, lovelies...

xoxo

Futzing around

Saturday:
I was uber- aggravated, because I drove all over God's world trying to buy a few things, only to have to come home and order them online. I dragged my husband downtown Saturday morning, through heavy-construction Chicago traffic to get to Paper Source on Armitage. I needed some envelopes for a birthday party invitation, and they had to be just the right shade, so no, I could not just go to a nearby stationery store; I had to go to Paper Source. By the time we got there, Jack was already grinding his teeth but promised not to ruin my 'Paper Source Experience'. Imagine, just imagine, my dismay when I realized that they were not carrying my favorite color of their signature "PS" collection in store anymore - but I could still order it online. I wanted to whisper to the nice lady to please keep it down about ordering online so my husband wouldn't hear that part. They were also out of the mint bookcloth I wanted. Again, it was in-stock online.

I made (sweetly asked) my husband to stop at the Salvation Army on the way home, and he timed me. He gave me five minutes to run in. How was I to know there would only be one cashier in the joint? I exceeded my time limit. He was not happy, but I got a bunch of great sheets for, um.... why did I need those again?

Then I ventured out to get a book for a birthday gift. (I decided to let Jack off the hook, and I went out by myself). I went to both Borders and Barnes and Noble to no avail. They could order the book for me. I can order it myself! I said a sweet Thanks, but no thanks to the clerk.

Sunday:
Had a supernice Father's Day bbq, and futzed around quite a bit.

Today:
That sounds Yiddish. Is "futzing" a Yiddish word? Well, that's what I'm doing more of today. My sister-in-law is here with me, and we had a playdate with some friends:: took the kids to a splash park until we got kicked out because of the ominous clouds and forecasted storm:: had a picnic at the kitchen table (way to freaking hot outside):: walked the dogs:: going to a movie later this afternoon - and then hopefully I can work on some projects. I have lots of projects to work on.



xoxo

Candy is Dandy

Thank you for all of the lovely thank-you's for the Sweepstakes Prizes - I'm glad you all liked them. What I found funny was that a lot of you said you ate the candy first (I sent candy buttons and saltwater taffy). I love getting candy as gifts, but it never even occurs to me to eat it. I know that sounds weird. I hoard candy. I put it in jars. I display it. But I never eat it. With the exception of Twizzlers Pull 'n Peel, my new odd obsession, which I can't get enough of.
I guess I'm more of an ice cream and cookies and cake type gal, which explains the snug fit of my bathing suit yesterday.
Speaking of dessert, I think I need this paint by number jello mold over at fred flare.

xoxo

Dammit, Jackie....

feeling blue..birdy

I just realized that I never unpacked from my trip to Minneapolis. I hate unpacking. But when I opened my suitcase, I remembered the fun new things I bought, like this dress at Anthropologie. Anthropologie is my very favorite place to buy clothing. I've been shopping there for years and years and years; I even have a few things with "Anthropologie" tags in them, from when they made their own label. I especially like to shop there in Minnesota, because they don't charge tax on clothing in the Land O' Lakes.
The closest Anthropologie to me now is about 45 minutes away, which I'm surprisingly okay with because I don't want all of my friends and neigbhors wearing the same clothes as me. See how cute my dress is?
And then I unpacked these little darlings. They're salt and peppers, and I just think they're so very cute.
And since we're going by color here today, I wanted to share with you my prize bucket and treats from Sarah over at Welcome to Girl Land. Sarah's such a cutie pie. I've done a few custom projects for her, and I think she's just swell.
Sarah, we should meet in Oak Park next time you're in town! We can go to Penny's Noodles and Paper Source!

That's it for now, folks. I have to go "face the music" and have a piano lesson.

xoxo

New Stuff

It's taken all weekend, but I finally have some new onesies and hanky dresses for my shop (see more pictures on my Flickr page). I'll try to get them up on Etsy later today, and then I'm going to start my wholesale order of bookplates for Honey Bunch - Yay!

for the love of Tord

My new issue of ReadyMade finally came today, and in it was a review for this new book:



I must have it (and if you click here, you can have one, too).

Have a happy weekend, lovelies. Thank you for all the get-well wishes!

xoxo

Yesterday, as I was floating around in my feverish...fog, I was thinking about Heather at Apples on a Stick and how, when she was sick a couple of weeks ago, she stayed in bed and embroidered all day. Oh how I wished I had the foresight to prep some quiet projects to have on hand. As it was, all I could do was shuffle from room to roof, stare at some stuff, and go back to bed. Today I'm much better but still sub-par. Still wandering around, going from project to project, not actually doing anything. Then I remembered this little bad boy tucked in a drawer:

Maybe I can handle a quiet little project. After I take the kids to go see "Surf's Up" this afternoon.

xoxo

HOLY GOD

...so this is how Olivia's been feeling! I've got it, too. I'm calling in sick for blog today.

xoxo

a mother's work...

...is never done.

I didn't forget about you today. But my baby girl was sick. And so we were on a strict popsicle and 7-up regiment, interrupted only by a visit to the doctor's office. Once there, we realized that my son was due for a shot that he couldn't receive last week at our doctor's visit, or the week before that at our scheduled appointment, or even the week before that at his Kindergarten physical. So both of my kids got shots today. Olivia's was elective, though; The doctor told her she'd feel much better much faster if they could just inject an antibiotic straight into her little tushie. She agreed. That's how "miserable" (her word) she felt today. And then of course we had to go to Build a Bear Workshop for their prizes. My kids always get a prize after a brave doctor's visit. They both 'built' husky dogs and they both named them Gracie.

We came home and I let the dogs out of their kennel (more like a double wide luxury suite, actually) and I realized that one of them had used it as a litter box. Lovely. I've got my eye on you, Gracie. So that was lots of fun to clean up and launder all their blankets. They have lots of blankets. I told you, they live in luxury.

Then I made dinner, which everyone except my husband refused to eat. Truth be told, I didn't eat it either. And now here we are. And I need to go play puppies with Jack.

xoxo

an unfortunate beginning

Not to get too Lemony Snickett on you, but that's how summer vacation started around here. My daughter woke up with aches and pains and Lola (one of the dogs) threw up all over the carpet - I think she ate a yellow crayon or something.


Luckily, things turned out a bit better as the morning progressed (and after both kids had some chicken noodle soup, yes - for breakfast, and a can of seven up - with a straw). And I was able to cut some fabric and take pictures of some of my thrifty treasures from Mpls. No doubt said treasures will soon find their way into one of my pieces packets :

Now I'm taking both kids with me to my piano lesson. I'm crossing my fingers and praying for the best. And a little bribery never hurts either.

xoxo

I'm baaaaaa-aaack

Hi kids, I'm back!
I had such a lovely weekend in Minneapolis. I got to spend quite a bit of time with my family and my oldest friend (whom I've known since I was five), eat too much, drink some mojitos, visit my brother's new condo, buy some new work from my very favorite Minneapolis-based artist, Jennifer Davis, move everything out of my summer "cottage" and over to my mom's house, and do the tiniest bit of shopping. All in about 72 hours. I need a vacation after that vacation.

Then I came home and packed up some goodies for the Sweepstakes Winners (I'm still waiting for two addresses, girls, so if you haven't sent yours to me yet, please do!)...


I had everything all packed up so cute, and then I boxed them up for shipping and was very unhappy with the results. So I UNPACKED everything and started over. Because I'm crazy like that. But I did get it done, and ten packages are off and running (I went to the post office this morning). And even though Chicago was just ranked as the worst postal system, I live near a sorting center, and mail seems to go through my area quite smoothly. So be on the lookout, ladies.

xoxo

a quick book review

read this book:
I'm serious. Go buy it now.

xoxo