I've Been Tagged

I was just tagged by throughtherainbow. Here's the lowdown:

THE RULES: *Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog. *Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.*Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog. *Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I'm supposed to be on vacation this week, but have worked part of the day on Saturday, Sunday, and today. They're starting to make jokes at work about me flying back and forth to the Caribbean.
2. I never had a cat as a child but now I can't live without them.
3. One of the things I had to have when we built our house was a soaking bathtub. You can fill it with water almost up to your neck.
4. I'm currently felting a totebag I knit as a Christmas gift for my sister. It's agitating in the washer as I type.
5. I've been a vegetarian all my adult life (since I was in college).
6. My two favorite sweet flavors are chocolate and maple.
7. My goal this week is to clean my art room. It hasn't happened yet.

Time to tag some others.... I think I'll visit some blogs owned by my new EtsyBloggers comrades:

Lucky Ladybug Designs
Beaded Tail
RoseWorks Jewelry
Homemade Originals
Mies Mama
Dorset Hill Beads
Unique Commodities

My Secret Pal Revealed

After spending much of the summer receiving fabulous packages from my SP12 Secret Pal, her final package arrived on Saturday. Since it was such an insane day (5 buses totaling about 260 people in addition to the usual customers), it's taken me a little while to get a photo to share.

But take a look at the great loot! You can tell she had fun gathering goodies for me.

My Secret Pal, Lynda, drives a truck with her husband. She spends most of the time on the road. (What a great opportunity to knit, knit, knit!) I suspect she picked things up for me along the way. Isn't that wonderful?

I had a great time unpacking everything. She had wrapped all the goodies so it was like Christmas In a Box. She did a great job! The yarn is a gorgeous brick red. She suggests I use it to knit a Lucy Bag, a bag I've wanted to knit for a while. Sounds like a good idea!

I'm drinking tea from the big, gorgeous Starbucks mug right now. And look at all the other goodies: a handknit wine cozy, a cute sheep ornament, a candle holder and votives, lots of pretty little bits of paper..... thanks so much, Lynda. You've been a wonderful spoiler!

storybeader

Often when you make a purchase from an Etsy seller, they send you a little extra something to thank you for your patronage. Perhaps the most creative langniappe* comes from storybeader. With every purchase from her shop, Deb promises to send a haiku written specifically for that piece. How wonderful and creative is that?

Deb, and her Etsy shop, storybeader, is the focus of November's EtsyBloggers' Featured Artist.

Deb's work has a lush, Southwest flavor. Lots of turquoise. Fetishes. Native American images. It's not surprising to find that she lives in Oklahoma. Her work speaks of the land and people of the Great Plains.

About her haikus, she writes:
"I'm a frustrated writer who likes to put words and colors together to make wearable art. How do you wear words, you ask? I suppose my haiki poems can float around in your brain as you sashay down the lane, wearing one of my necklaces."

What a great idea for a gift! A beautiful necklace and a one-of-a-kind haiku written especially for it.


*langniappe: from the Louisiana French for a little something extra. The idea behind a baker's dozen.

EtsyBlogging

I just joined EtsyBloggers. It's a very active Etsy Street Team -- I've encountered their members all over the place lately. There are a number of members involved with the Sneak Attack, etc.

I also figured it would help me (um, make that "make me") blog regularly. I'm one of those people who does better with structure.

They require that you participate several times per month. First with a bi-monthly topic (see below), and second with a post on their featured member (soon to come).

So... plunging in... the current topic is: What Am I Working On?

I'm always working on a lot of things. When I was a child it drove my mother crazy that I would focus on one thing then dart off to another leaving the first thing hanging. Now that I'm an adult, it's called "creative" (well, when it's not being called "messy"). I eventually get most things completed, and I have a much better time doing them if I'm not forced to stick with them non-stop from beginning to end.

That being said, one of the things I want to create very soon is a line of one-of-a-kind gnome stuffies. I really like little gnomes and don't know of anyone else on Etsy doing something like this.

I'd like to make them pretty much completely from felt I've made from recycled wool. So I've been felting skirts and coats and blankets and sweaters that I've picked up at jumble sales. The beard is knitted from eyelash yarn. I never thought I'd touch the stuff again but it makes the perfect beard.

I made one a few months ago as a swap gift. It took a while to make it, but I loved it when it was done. And, honestly, that's the main reason I make things -- to have fun doing it.

Funky Finds

I met Jess quite a while ago through Flickr and Swap-Bot. We chatted for a while and then decided to set up a private swap. She's one of my favorite people that I've never actually "met."

Jess' day job is a graphic designer. She runs her wonderful website, Funky Finds on her own time.

Funky Finds is a collection of great finds -- well designed, creative products that add a little extra to your life. Jess has a great eye for beautiful, unique items. In a world of big boxes, Funky Finds is a little haven of the individual and the handmade.

Unlike me, Jess is extremely vigilant about posting daily. Every time I visit the site there's lots of new and wonderful finds. She also runs frequent contests to win treats from shops that she's featured.

Take a minute to visit. I guarantee you'll find several things you can't possibly live without. And gifts.... well, it's a great place for gift ideas.

Sneak Attack

I love this idea -- a group of folks get together and plot an "attack" on a new Etsy seller. They set a specific time and at that time, they all purchase something from the new shop.

What a great way to give a boost to a new shop! Can't you imagine how thrilled you'd be to find out you were under that kind of Attack?

Well, Michael Phipps of PhippsArt Etsy shop has come up with a way to make this happen over and over on a regular schedule. He is hosting a site called The Handmade Movement.

Volunteer hosts take care of a specific Attack. They choose a new shop based on specific criteria (0 or only a few sales, some items under $10, the shop has been open for at least several weeks, etc). At a specified time, the name of the shop is announced and the buying begins!

So... tonight I'm hosting the Attack. I've been stalking all sorts of new Etsy shops and have come up with a candidate. It'll be announced on The Handmade Movement website at 7:00 pm EDT.

I hope you'll join us in making October 27 a day this seller will never forget!

Pictured above: the cute little pitcher I purchased in a Sneak Attack about 10 days ago.

New in the Shop

I've been working to add more items to the Etsy shop as the gift giving (and buying) season gets into full swing.

Here are some of the new goodies...

Rubber Stamps
I love carving rubber stamps. I tend to work tightly and a little too precisely and the medium forces a looser approach. Last week I added a little acorn and leaf stamp to the Etsy shop. I need to make more -- I think there's a good demand for them and not that many Etsy sellers making them. Maybe some more new ones today?

Stamped Notecards
I originally carved these stamps for a Swap-Bot swap with a Chair theme. I just love chairs -- the design of them, how homey and welcome they make you feel. So I made large stamps of four of my favorite chairs: an Eames chair, an Adirondack (Muskoka, if you're in Ontario) chair, a nice simple straight chair, and a comfy armchair for reading or knitting or just relaxing.

Retro Potholders
These potholders also started life as a swap project. The of the reason I do swaps (other than the fact that I love making them and getting mail!) is for the inspiration. Almost everytime I do a swap, I get an idea for something to make and add to the shop.

The fabrics for these potholders have been accumulating in my stash -- many folks know that I love these colors and the Depression era. The go perfectly in my kitchen with the Fiestaware, bakelite flatware, and Hall china. Aren't they fun?

Patchwork Notecards
Ah... the staple of my Etsy shop. I love sewing on paper and the look I get from mixing all sorts of gorgeous papers together into a little paper quilt.

The newest patchwork cards celebrate coffee and take a design from last year and add a new colorway. The papers for the coffee cards make me think of deep, rich espresso, the creamy swirl of milk in a latte, the steam from a delicious cappuccino...

The Christmas (or solstice) cards are a new color version of a design I made last year. The original cards (which I call, "Gather 'Round the Aluminum Christmas Tree") were in pink and green. I love these new colors. They still fit the design well, but give an even more modern look to them (along with the retro/mid-century look I love).

The good news is that the original pink and green card is included on the cover of a new book coming out soon. "1000 Handmade Cards" will be available in January 2009. What fun!

Will Art for Cures

I'm a part of a terrific group of artists entitled Art For Cures who make art to raise money for a number of causes.

Last year the group produced "inchies" (1 inch x 1 inch art) based on the theme, Woman as Goddess. A selection of the inchies have been beautifully framed and are now up for auction on eBay. Sales will benefit Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

The group is based at www.willartforcures.org.

They also operate an Etsy shop with art by the group members. Currently it features adorable little crocheted Pop Tart creatures (below left) by Kate. There is lots more merchandise to come soon...

Wouldn't some of these goodies be great as gifts?!

Tag, I'm "It"

I was recently tagged by Home Made Originals, a friend from Flickr and Etsy. I love watching her blog to keep up with all the goodies she creates.

The idea is to tell 6 things that people may not know about me, then tag 5 other bloggers to do the same. So here goes:

1. I collect cookbooks and own (and display and use) over 500.

2. Some of the jobs I've held in my life are: art teacher, buyer for old general store, artist at a magazine, baker, waitress, and museum vice president.

3. I never had a cat until I was an adult. But, as an adult, I have had as many as 15 cats at a time (I'm not so insane as I was when I was younger... only 6 cats now).

4. When I was a child I organized my books according to the Dewey decimal system.

5. About 95% of the time I basically wear one of two pairs of shoes. Merrill sandals in the summer, Birkenstock clogs in the winter.

6. Bob and I are currently trying to recover from Empty Nest shock. The boy got himself a good job (at a well know natural foods grocery chain that treats its employees well), is taking a full load of college classes, and has an apartment with his wonderful girlfriend. We miss him!

That was difficult to think of six!

Now it's time for me to tag. I'm going to pick 5 folks from the EtsyGreetings Street Team:

A Punkin Card Company

Fubabee

Jill Hannah

K is for Calligraphy

Macaroni and Glue

Now it's up to you. Play if you wish. Ignore it if you wish. :)

Manic Monday #137

What is one thing you admire about each of your parents?
I admire my mother's energy and my father's passion for things he enjoys.

Which parts of your home do you like best?
I absolutely adore my home. But my kitchen is probably my favorite part. It is centered around a wonderful stove -- rescued by my builder from a restaurant that went out of business. The backsplash above it is patchworked with tiles from Pewabic Pottery. The cabinets are solid cherry, Amish-made in Shipshewanna (and less expensive than ones from a big box retailer). The floors are cork -- great on your feet. The countertops around the outside are lovely green/grey/black granite. The countertop on the island is locally made maple butcher block. And I collected the knobs on the drawers for years before I had this kitchen. They're all vintage bakelite knobs and drawer pulls.

My collection of Fiestaware peeks out from behind glass-fronted cabinets and adds my favorite colors to the kitchen.

Can you tell how much I love it all?

Which would you prefer and why? To have every stoplight turn green upon your arrival for the rest of your life or to have one week of the best sex any person ever had?
Hmmmm, I'm going to have to think about that for a while... :)

Manic Monday (I finally got the day right!)

Manic Monday #136

What is the most useful gift you’ve ever been given?

The year Santa Claus brought me a piccolo was certainly the highlight of my gift-getting. Useful? I guess so. If I were to pick a gift solely on the "useful" criteria, I would probably pick knitting needles. Completely useful!

Name the most terrifying moment of your life so far.

This is difficult because I tend to forget unpleasant things once they're behind me.

1) The day Bob and I found our next-door apartment neighbor in a drug/alcohol-induced coma. Calling 911 was just like in a dream -- my voice didn't work well and it all seemed to be in slow motion. The trickiest part was the blizzard raging outside. It took 6 people to raise the stretcher above the 18 inches or so of snow on the ground.

2) Ok, I'm a wuss. Millennium Force at Cedar Point. This roller coaster goes 310 feet in the air with speeds up to 92 mph. 92mph in a little car with no protection! The teenagers I was with wanted everyone to ride it together. I figured I'd be a good sport.

I though perhaps I might die of a heart attack while riding...

One hot summer afternoon, while walking through a parking lot at a large shopping center, you notice a dog suffering badly from the heat inside a locked car. What would you do?

1) See if the car was locked.

2) Stay with the car while someone else alerted mall officials to get them to page the owner over the loudspeaker.

3) Call 911 if the owner wasn't found quickly.

New on the Catwalk

Yesterday I received a very fun package for the "Golden Lovers" swap. Gorgeous yarn, lots fun little pampering items, knitting magazines, treats for Winston and the kitties.... and this fun shrug for Winston.

It's his first clothing item ever. And it's lovely -- a blue, cabled sweater to keep him warm this winter.

Now he loves the cold, and doesn't really need the extra warmth very often. But he likes to have long walks in the snow. We'll have to get him some insulated booties -- his feet are always the first things to get cold. But armed with those and this sweater -- he'll be Winston of the Arctic!