… why I am happy today:
I learned what a Piglet Squid is and saw one for the first time! (Isn’t it cute?)
I scored 19 vintage packages of rick-rack for $1.00 - whoo hoo!
And this video, which makes me laugh every time I watch it:
(There’s very little sound.)
What makes you happy today?
Best, Jenn : )
I’ve been tagged by the fabulous Morrgan to do a “7 Facts” post.
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
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So, like my friend Morrgan, I’ll try not to repeat too many things I’ve mentioned before.
These will be quick and I think I’ll list random things about my day:
1. I’m wearing a t-shirt that has a sewing machine printed on it.
Just like this one, except mine’s brown and gold.
2. I’ll be making Linguine Puttanesca for dinner using *this recipe*.
3. I called my Grandpa this morning to wish him a Happy Birthday. : )
4. I’ve been inside all day.
5. My studio is a mess right now, I’ve just finished up a project,
I’ve got a few more in the works and there are books and pieces of felt strewn all over the place.
6. I’ve been nibbling on Cadbury milk chocolate every time I pass through the kitchen today.
For some reason I’ve needed to go there alot.
7. I’ve been working on this all afternoon:
More on that later. ; )
What have you been up to today?
Jenn : )
I’ve had a busy time over here - getting out Issue #1 of my newsletter, shopping for birthday gifts for friends and family over the weekend (now I’ve got to box them up to take to the post office tomorrow) and yesterday I made cupcakes for Josh to take to work with him (Carrot Cake Cupcakes from Ina’s “The Barefoot Contessa Parties!”)
All this time I’ve been working on a secret embroidery project. I’ve been so excited to share it with you, but I’ve been waiting until I had them all finished. So, without further ado, here is my latest project: hand embroidered bookmarks!
Ginger Kitten,
Cinnamon Kitten,
Sugar Kitten,
Pepper Kitten,
& Nutmeg Kitten.
Word-Bot,
Page-Bot,
Type-Bot,
Ink-Bot,
& Chapter-Bot.
I’ve just finished a *huge shop update* - you can check them out in more detail there.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a terrific day!
Best, Jenn : )
Jenn fact: Whenever I make a sale and need to go to the post office, or I need supplies and need to go to Joanns = I walk. Walking is really my main (and sometimes only) form of exercise. And I walk ALOT.
I just recently replaced my sneakers and I was pretty shocked by the difference in condition of the old pair vs the new pair.
(Click on photo for a horrifying close up - eeek!)
See where the heels have worn away? I sure knew when I’d stepped in a puddle!
Poe gives the new pair her seal of approval!
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In other news…
I was very flattered recently to be asked to do an interview by Suzanne (her Etsy shop is BlissCandles).
I hope you’ll check it out *here* and also take a look around her blog: MustLoveEtsy, where Suzanne has interviewed many Etsy artists and craftspeople, who create a variety of handmade items.
A big thanks to Suzanne for inviting me to do this fun interview!
I hope you all have a terrific day!
Jenn : )
This year, I’ve gotten it in my head to start preparing for the holidays early. I know that I’m going to be very busy as it gets closer to the end of the year, who knows what the economy will bring, and with many friends and family on the other side of the country - it wouldn’t hurt to start setting aside gifts now.
Last year, in keeping with the Buy Handmade pledge, we did alot of our shopping on Etsy and local small businesses. This year I’d like an even greater percentage of our gifts to be handmade - including some made by me!
Not too long ago I posted about this great canvas fabric that I purchased at The Quilting Loft.
The one on top is called “Sprig Canvas Green: 2007 Jessica Jones for J. Caroline Designs”.
The blue and green is called “Peapod Blue/Green Circles: 2007 Jessica Jones for J. Caroline Designs”.
Both of these fabrics had washing instructions on the bolt,
and the clerk recommended serging them before washing.
Here is what I did with them:
I cut them…
I stitched them…
I ironed them…
I pinned them…
And by the end of the day I had made four Market Tote bags!
Two will be Christmas gifts for my mom and two will be gifts for my grandparents.
They hold alot!
Two in this gorgeous green sprig pattern.
And two in this eye-catching peapod pattern.
The pattern I used was fantastic.
The bags were fun to make and not difficult at all.
These bags are reusable and washable, so my relatives will not only have a handmade gift from me, but they will be helping the environment by not using plastic or paper grocery bags.
By following the easy, step-by-step instructions, before I knew it - I had made French seams! That’s a technique that I’ve been hearing alot about but I had never tried before. Now I know how to create them and they are wonderful!
I got this great pattern from my friend Ginny and she has made it available to everyone through her iSew shop. I made the very basic bag, but her pattern also includes instructions for various pocket sizes and an additional exterior decorative band.
So, if you’ve been looking for a gift for that hard to buy for person - well, get ‘em going green with a gift of a reusable Market Tote. They’ll thank you, and so will the environment! : )
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Just one more quick note: I am getting ready to send out Issue #1 of my e-newsletter,so if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up!
Cheers!
Jenn : )
I love this time of year,
when the little pumpkins make an appearance at the grocery store.
I always buy some, and I look for the littlest ones.
Do you remember The Great Pumpkin from the Peanuts comic strip?
Have a great day!
Jenn : )
