Jumping the Gun

I have so enjoyed reading about all of your childhood companions!

I am so glad that I did that post - it's been fun reading all of your stories.

Ginny has just done a blog post about her childhood friends

and her very first sewing project. So sweet!

_____________________________________________________

I've titled this post "Jumping the gun" because I've been working on two new taskets and I'm so eager to share them with you, that I'm blogging about them before I even have them photographed for the shop.

My photographer is super busy at work,

so it may be a day or two before I can get these listed.

I made them using two super cute Japanese canvas fabrics.

This one has robots!

And this one has sweet little birds.

I just can't believe that each little bird has an orangey dot on it's face -

and here I had this fuzzy orange dot ribbon - they go perfectly together!

And I'm loving this blue/orange/white color combo!

This is one of those projects that just called out "Make me!" and I had to do it.

: )

Hope you have a great Monday!

Jenn : )

Dirty Wow Wow

Dirty Wow Wow (and other love stories) is a charming little book written by Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz. I discovered it when Josh and I were in San Francisco on our road trip back in June. The book holds a collection of photos and short stories about "threadbare companions of childhood", and it is so sweet, I just love it.

I bought this book because the photos (like the one on the cover) of threadbare, bedraggled, much loved companions really struck a chord with me. Then, after we returned home, I realized why; because there are two well-loved companions from our own childhoods that Josh and I still have today.

I'd like to share them with you.

This is Morgan.

When Josh was a small boy, this was his favorite little stuffed dog.

Josh's mom brought Morgan to us years ago when she came to visit.

Morgan has seen alot of love. We handle him with care now.

This is the very first purse that I had when I was a little girl.

It may have been a hand-me-down from my cousins, but it was new to me and I loved it. I remember feeling like I was something special because I had a real purse of my very own.

The Raggedy Ann face on the front is a pocket.

Can you see how scuffed and worn this poor little purse is?

I carried it with me everywhere I went, filled with all my little treasures.

I think most everyone can think back to a favorite blanket or stuffed little critter that was special to them when they were a child. Do you remember your favorite teddy bear? A much loved pillow or little toy that you treasured beyond measure?

Leave me a comment and tell me about your favorite childhood companion.

I would love to hear what was special to you when you were small.

And if you'd like to do a blog post about your favorite childhood companion,

let me know and I'll put a link here!

* Update: Tara has posted a photo of her childhood companion on her blog,

I hope you'll check it out and enjoy the story of Moosie as much as I do.

Thanks for sharing him, Tara!

Best,

Jenn : )

Sew Sleepy....zzzzz

Josh and I had a busy day on Saturday, being home, doing domestic stuff.

This was a weekend for cleaning. Getting things done!

Giving the house some good ol' TLC.

The basement was swept and mopped in preparation to move back

all the boxes that were taken out when the floor was redone.

The kitchen was cleaned.

The fridge was completely emptied, wiped down and restocked.

Dusting, sweeping, laundry - you name it, it got done.

We had quite the cleaning frenzy.

It was like a cleaning party.

So when midnight came around, we locked the doors and closed the windows,

gathered up the kitties and shuffled upstairs,

our eyelids already feeling heavy from the long day.

And that's when the real party started.

No, not that kind of party.

The party our neighbors decided to have all night long.

A shouty, drinky, laughy, Shakira filled evening,

of wall shaking dance music.

Josh, of course, slept through the entire thing.

I got up and cut fabric.

Until 4:30 am.

These pretty fabrics and ribbon will eventually become bunny bags.

Goodnight, Shakira.

I'm happy for you and your boundless enthusiasm for the music.

It's been fun.

But now I need a nap.

zzzZZZZ

Getting closer...

Hello from sunny Seattle!

We've been having some unusually cloudless, warm days here.

It's so nice to have the windows open.

The cats are sprawled out in pools of sunshine on the floor.

Life is good.

Thanks again for all of your birthday wishes.

I walked over to Ballard and treated myself to a lemon drop cupcake from

Cupcake Royale (one of their slogans is "Legalize Frostitution".... ha!)

* Delicious. *

In my mailbox were two packages from friends:

Lots of wonderful little goodies from Christina,

including this little dish, and a pair of earrings that she made!

I wore them to my birthday dinner with Josh. Thank you Christina! : )

And I got a cute little paper suitcase, ribbons and this, from Ginny:

Hilarious! Can't wait to try these recipes! : )

_______________________________________________________________

Around this time, eight years ago, Josh and I were incredibly busy.

We were planning and organizing our wedding (all by ourselves), Josh was working 40+ hours a week, interviewing for a job in another state, working tirelessly on his portfolio, AND he was freelancing on a big project: as one of the artists working on a computer game called "Cro-Mag Rally".

Being involved with Cro-Mag Rally was alot of fun, especially since our good friend Marcus Conge was also one of the talented artists involved with the project.

I don't know about Josh, but when I think back to all of the things we had going on at that time, I can't believe everything came together without a hitch. The wedding. Josh interviewing. Working on the game.

(My man is pretty darn amazing!)

We are so excited that Cro-Mag has recently been released for the iPhone!

If you have iTunes installed,

you can purchase the game at the iTunes Game Store.

Whenever I see Cro-Mag I can't help but think of our home in Indiana, our friends there, our friends Marcus and Tammy and how young and busy we were!

A screenshot of a Cro-Mag guy and girl racing.

She has red hair.

Coincidence?

I think not!

; )

_______________________________________________________________

Over in my Etsy shop, I am nearing a milestone.

I'm three away from my 300th sale! Yay!

I've already started putting together a special goody bag

to include with my 300th item sold.

: )

Hope you have a GREAT day!

Have you reached a milestone lately?

Getting close to one?

Leave a comment and we'll share the celebration!

Jenn : )

Birthday Goodness

Hi everybody!

I'm not on my usual computer for doing blog posts today. I don't have my Ecto program on this computer, so there's a good chance that any layout work I do on this post will be for nothing - as Blogger has been mashing my posts into one big messy paragraph lately.

That should be taken care of tonight and I'll be back on track!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments on my birthday post!
I loved them all!

I printed them out, cut them into strips and had Josh pick one out of a basket at random.

The winner of my birthday goody giveaway is:

Roger & Anne Marie! Yay!

I'll be posting again soon - with more details and maybe another giveaway!
(I've got an Etsy milestone coming up!)

Jenn : )

Again?!?

It's that time of year again, friends!

I'm turning 29* years old tomorrow!

Yayyyyy!

Want to celebrate with me?

Just leave a comment from now until midnight Tuesday the 8th.

I'll select one of you to share a little birthday goodness with me : )

Come on, lurkers! Leave a comment and join in on the fun!

Have a great day,

Best,

Jenn : )

*wink ; )

Done!

We had a noisy, fun 4th of July here.

Josh and I could see and hear fireworks from our back deck,

and just as they were winding down, there was a late night parade

one street over from our house!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend : )

_________________________________________________

I can cross sewing these little house ornaments off of my To-Do list.

I've finished sewing together 6 sets of 5.

I used tiny pieces of felt, wool and shimmery ribbon to make these.

They measure about 2 1/4" wide x 2 1/2" tall (about 5" with the ribbon).

They are each hand embroidered.

I also finished up 2 sets of my snowmen ornaments.

(I love making these!)

I'll tuck them all away for the holiday season later this year : )

(Anyone starting their Christmas shopping early -

just let me know and I'll be happy to put a set in my shop!)

Jenn : )