You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March, 2008.
I’m making some summer harnesses for The Doodle. She is thrilled.
I tend to buy fabric from all over, wherever I find it. Printed duvets I cut up, Ebay vintage, random little shops, secret little outposts…..but here are some links to my favorite online fabric providers:
First up is Reprodepot. A well organized site with lots of interesting fabrics, hard to find patterns and fun little oddities with a kitschy flair.
My go-to source for large quantities and sales is fabric dot com. Sign up for their mailing list to see new inventories and sales.
JCaroline never disappoints with her selections of canvas and heavy/mid weight cottons. I also love to order coverable buttons, ribbons, and miscellaneous notions from her.
Another site with a huge selection is Hancock’s Paducah. In addition to everyone’s favorite printed cottons, they usually have all the Kona Cotton colors and lots of linens. They also have good sales from time to time.
Create for Less is excellent for large quantities of notions and tools. They cater to the “youth group” crowd, but if you need multiples or if you want to go in on an order with someone (they have ‘minimums’ for most items) their prices can not be beat.
And last, but certainly not least, is Purl Soho……everyone knows about Purl, because the selection is wonderful and the service is great.
Other favorites:
This pattern mocks me. I may be wrong, but I actually feel it has been mocking me for years. I see it and I think “I could make that, how cute!” and then I read it and I think it’s way too much work. Of course, then I head off to NY wishing I had my little weekender bag for my over night stay. When I get home, I look at the pattern again enthusiastically…. and then I read it over and think, forget. it.
Instead, I bought this number once my other bag fell apart. I love that it has secret shoe storage to protect my clothes, and it has all sorts of compartments. But the Amy Butler pattern continues its siren song to me. I envision perfect Amy Butler stopping off at a chalet with her perfect little weekender bag and I think “Yeah, that’s what I want!” But….. when I picture myself, I imagine it ripping apart while I’m boarding the ferry because I’ve stuffed too much in it because I resented how long it took me to make and so then I’d be a mess….see?
It mocks me.
This was a special little birthday treat from a very sweet friend. Dancing Deer cake and cookies! I love these cookies, I mean really love them. Like, if there was only one package left in the store and an little old lady was reaching for them, I would shove her out of the way and snatch them for myself. Yeah. That good.
Angela Liguori, maker of beautiful hand made books, has new stock of initial ribbons over at her etsy shop. My timing was perfect and I was able to get 6 meters of ‘A’. I have no plans for it, but I am happier for having it.
More photos here.
The little Snowy Owl I received for my birthday has captivated Lottie. It does not matter where I move it around the loft, she finds it and she cries for it.
If I continue to leave it out where I can see it, I can only hope she grows tired of letting me know how she feels. Otherwise I will have to hide it away. And I really do not want to do that, because I think it’s the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen.
Video Here.
Biscuit…..all set for a week in Mexico. The hat is a perfect fit I’m told. Whew!
Julie and I call her ‘caterpillar girl’ because, have you ever seen a little kid with such big eyes? All of Julie’s kids have giant, Precious Moments-type eyes. But Biscuit’s are the largest in proportion to her little head. Of course, I am an auntie so I can say this: they are the most beautiful kids in the world!
More photos here.
First day of spring and my mind is racing.
I’m forming lists in my head and getting myself so overwhelmed I can’t write them all down. Lists for all the things I want to do this year, professionally and personally. Lists for all the things I want to make. Lists for all the ideas I have for the direction of this blog.
For now, I will say that every year on this day my head goes spastic. It’s a combination of loving the new energy in the air, everything is buzzing with anticipation, and the fact that it’s my birthday……. Double whammy!
Usually, I get a bit droopy and withdrawn around my birthday. What can I say? Turning 29 over and over again gets a little dull. But this year…..this year I have apparently been a very good girl because the gifts are rolling in people, and I’m full of life!
I’m in NY for a jam-packed marathon tomorrow, so tonight I am turning in for an early respite.
Verre New York jewelry: I have several pairs of earrings and one pendant. I love the simplicity of the forms and the variety of colors. Imagine how much fun it must be to make the pieces, dipping the silver wires in molten, colored glass. Very delicate!
I picked this pair up at a little boutique in Newburyport this weekend while strolling around with my Aunt (visiting from out of town).
So, Julia and Kent over at Fooey have a blog. It’s in the same vein as their ‘Fooey Faves’ section on the Fooeyusa site, it has just morphed into a more regular blog. And it’s hilarious. What I love most about it, what makes me really happy, is to read about all the hilarious things they find. I know they are sitting around talking about this stuff with other Chicago friends and while I am slightly jealous, I am also psyched they they are posting online so I can pretend to be there too.
For instance, finding the YouTube of Tom Yorke rocking out to MY music!
A little hat for sunny days in Sayulita along the beach. Wish I was going too! Modeled by a very tiny Chihuahua. Of course, Biscuit’s head is not much larger.
More photos here.
Depending on the yarn and design, I’m a wood needle kind of gal. Metal needles hurt my hands, but are good with linens or cottons (for speed). Bamboo needles make up most of my needles…. I like them, but they can be slow and I find the tips of the smaller sizes dull quickly (I have about 4 pairs of size 3). My favorites are Brittany Birch needles and Colonial Rosewood needles. The Colonials (I only have 2 pair) are by far my favorites. They make a beautiful sound while working and their texture is warm, flawless and smooth.
What a weekend. Rain, rain, rain all day Saturday. So, that leads to lots of movies and knitting.
First, the knitting. I made lots of progress on the sweater while Lottie snuggled in for the afternoon.
Second, the drinks. I rarely drink alcohol, but put the ingredients for a Bellini in front of me and look out. (Note: this cut into production, especially when Donny Darko came on).
Third, the sun was out today big time. I feel rotten for all the people in the Midwest and South, suffering through a blizzard. It’s 55 and Sunday today. We made the pilgrimage down to Canton to buy a new ankle for my machine shank. I bought all those new presser feet (remember the invisible zipper ordeal?) and I’ll be damned if they didn’t fit my ankle (even though the packaging says they should). On the way home, we stopped off at Barnes & Noble for MP to pick up a new Moleskine and I saw this book in the sale bin! Steal!
All around, a gluttonous weekend. The last we will have for a while. The next few weekends are full of house guests and commitments.
I saw this pattern on Ravelry last month….and knew I had to knit it. I promptly googled it because Rowan Studio doesn’t seem to be available around here (and by “around here” I mean the entire Eastern Seaboard). I found it on eBay in the UK and swiftly sent for it. Paypal managed to forward a bizarre hybrid address to the seller (which went unnoticed by me for a week). The hybrid address was my office name/ title with my old home address. Needless to say, after 3+ weeks of waiting I still had no pattern (normally it’s about a week- tops- from the UK). I contacted the seller and she sweetly sent me another. Well, my boss came into the office yesterday and said “hey, we received a package for you at our home”, I shrieked “IS IT FROM ENGLAND?” This little package managed to be mailed to a hybrid address that doesn’t exist, was forwarded to my boss’ home that he last owned in 2005, he happens to keep in touch with the people who purchased his old home and they forwarded it to his new home. Ah, living in a small town.
I’ve been in a knitting funk, mostly because the kids are getting older and not so much into hand knits (too itchy, or too not cool). I still have the baby to knit for, but the requests seem to be fewer. Really, I think these are just excuses and I’ve just lost my knitting mojo. But, this Rowan Studio 6 pattern will be perfect to get me back on track. It’s a funky short sleeve cardi, perfect with jeans, a lightweight blouse and flats this spring. It’s a chunky knit, not my favorite- but it will be quick. It has cables, which I love and I know exactly the yarn I want to use.
Now, I’m your run-of-the-mill yarn snob. Acrylics in general make me hiss and withdraw my hands. But I can overcome it if the texture is light and the color is amazing. A while back I knit a little cardigan for Biscuit that used a bit of this mustard yarn on the edging. Lion Brand is not usually a yarn I would go for, but the color! It is THE perfect shade of mustard. After trimming the little cardigan, I went back and purchased 6 more skeins for my stash. Now that I’ve started it, I’m going to need to transfer it onto a US15 circular needle - it’s too chunky for even 14″ straights- and even though I have 4, 732 pairs* of needles, the only one I don’t have is a size US15 circular. Isn’t that always the way?
*slight exaggeration.
Ok, if you are not an animal lover, read no further. If you are the kind of person that believe animals are not disposable, that they have emotions and need the comfort of stability, please take a moment of time to read up on this concept: Rent a Pet. That’s not a typo. Too busy to be bothered with pesky trips to the Vet? Too busy for all that daily affection? Look no further: FlexPetz is for you. Of course, you might also be the type that is too busy to write your own term paper, or do your own due diligence. Or maybe you just can’t be bothered to maintain a relationship of any kind?
I first read about it on Dolittler, and this company is now spreading like a disease across all 50 states. I’m hoping that if you care about the role that animals have in human lives, if you believe humans are responsible for animal welfare, and if you relish the joy that pets can bring to a family, you will speak up and make sure this does not spread to Massachusetts. Legislation is on the boards to prevent it, but they need to hear from citizens. If Flexpetz has not found a way to your state (yet), be on the look out and be prepared to ACT!
Act Now to Prevent the Renting of Pets in Massachusetts
Because the bill was filed late in the session, it is critical that you act immediately to ensure its quick movement through the legislative pipeline. If not passed before July 31, it will die and pet rental businesses will live.
How You Can Help
1. Email Rep. Angelo Scaccia, who chairs the House Committee on Rules, Rep.AngeloScaccia@Hou.State.MA.US (or call 617-722-2692) and encourage your friends, family, colleagues to do the same. Ask that “An Act Prohibiting the Renting of Pets” (H.D. 4864) be moved promptly into the appropriate committee. This is just the first step, so it needs to happen soon.
1. Email Rep. Angelo Scaccia, who chairs the House Committee on Rules, Rep.AngeloScaccia@Hou.State.MA.US (or call 617-722-2692) and encourage your friends, family, colleagues to do the same. Ask that “An Act Prohibiting the Renting of Pets” (H.D. 4864) be moved promptly into the appropriate committee. This is just the first step, so it needs to happen soon.
2. Please copy Rep.PaulFrost@Hou.State.MA.US (or call 617-722-2489). He deserves a round of applause for his compassion and vision.
3. Then forward to (or call) your state legislators asking for their support. If you don’t know who they are or how to reach them, go to www.mass.gov/legis And if you have a minute, please thank some or all of the first legislators to step up: Reps. Callahan, Canessa, Coakley-Rivera, Fresolo, Guyer, Hill, Kennedy, Khan and Provost; and Senators Antonioni and Augustus.
4. Check the status of the bill at www.mass.gov/legis; under Current Legislation, click on Search Bill Histories.
5. As soon as the bill has a committee, email and call committee members and your state legislators to urge their support.
We live in a very industrial part of town. I don’t mean that in a hip, cool “industrial” way. I mean, gritty industry (our neighbor is the waste transfer station). The upside is that we have endless sunlight and unobstructed views of the Boston skyline. Just down the street is another long bank of warehouses where MP has his woodworking shop. My niece has dubbed his time in the woodshop, “man crafts”. As we transform our loft to make it our own, we will be collaborating more on what we make for the space. First on the list is three ottomans / seats. They will tuck into a wall-mounted shelf unit (Collaboration No.2 perhaps?) that has been designed, but yet to be made.
MP made the bases for the ottomans.
I made the cushions.
Now we have three ottomans / extra seats.
More photos here.
