So hot my garbage can melted

It's a sweltering 100 degrees here in the land of -20 below winters. We just aren't used to it. Today we bought a blow up kiddie pool and cooled our dogs and our toes in the icy water. Last week, we had a little mishap with the garbage can. Let's just say don't trust charcoal, no matter how many days (or weeks) it's been cooling. Water it down before you put it in the can, or at least that's what friendly fireman guy told me. Yep, the fireman had to come.




















Anyhoo, been working on Christmas ornaments this week (yeah, seems weird, but the No Coast Craft-o-Rama is only 3+ months away!). Also this clothespin hanger. I read an article this week that many developments in the suburbs are banning clotheslines. I've done a lot of thinking about it, and boy am I glad I don't live someplace like that. So, for all you fellow tree-hugging, tradition-keeping people like us, I'll make you a clothespin holder and you can go hang your undees outdoors like it was meant to be.

Art Car Parade and Pillow Talk

My nieces came to visit yesterday and we went to the annual art car parade. My favorite was this "band van" featuring Savage Aural Hotbed.

And...I spent my Sunday morning making another pillow. This one has a quilted pinwheel pattern back with some complimentary stitched leaves. Makes me want to take a nap!

New Card Design Featuring My Parents!

Our newest card design features my mom and dad in a starring role: it's their wedding photo from 1963 with a vintage postcard-collaged church in the background. It doesn't get much cuter than that. Happy almost anniversary to M & D.

Interesting Article about crafting...

Thanks to my friend Jen for sending me this great article by Rob Walker in the New York Times regarding crafty businesses and the indie craft community:
Craft Work

Find of the Week: Crispina / Fuchsia Inc.

We really strive to create things using recycled materials whenever possible, but I just have to share this gem of a company I discovered via my weekly email from Treehugger.com. If you've got kids, you'll love: http://www.crispina.com/collections/collection_ragamuffins.html

If you don't, they have really cool and colorful bedding, rugs and pillow shams! They've got a great concept, good design, and a really neat web site. Go support fellow treehuggers!!
http://www.crispina.com/collections/index.html

Currently inspired by: '60s upholstery

Years ago, my mom and dad somehow got invited to help clean out some old farmhouse in Wisconsin before it was demolished and my mom scored some great decorator samples for me. They've been sitting in my sewing room just waiting for me to do something with them. So, I've started putting together some pillows, and they look so cute! I am keeping one, but here's one that will be for sale in my etsy shop. Many of the pieces are much more mod — lots of browns and some nice blues and reds, too. Stay tuned for more ways to take hipper naps!

This weekend was a much needed vacation, but now it's back to work. I've got a custom order earring hanger to make...if only I could find the perfect fabric!

My Happy Place: The Fabric Store

Well, to be totally honest I didn't actually buy anything at Mood Fabrics in the Garment District (NYC), but I did look, feel and ogle the fabrics for quite some time. I also witnessed many a weird New York wannabe fashion designer doing much the same thing, but with much more fury and many more exclamations, such as "I just MUST hahve ZEES!"

Anyway, I just returned from New York and am full of new ideas. I did a lot of shopping, and also had my fashion-dar on to check out all the great (and some really terrible) styles.