Poomba Berry Studio

Enjoying

2008-10-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

A great new CD

With an awesome video for this song

Get Fat, Be Happy.

2008-10-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are not from Central Pennsylvania:

A whoopie pie, sometimes alternatively called a gob, black-and-white, or bob is a baked good traditional to the Pennsylvania Dutch culture as well as New England, made of two small, chocolate, disk-shaped cakes with a sweet, creamy frosting sandwiched between them

Thanks, Wikipedia! Sorry I mentioned whoopie pies a few days ago without describing what they are. I didn't realize that they are a regional thing!

Now, go make these, get fat and be marvelously happy. That's what I've been doing lately. They are best stashed in the fridge. And, don't fear, the thick "hide-the-fat-sweater" weather will soon be upon us. You can worry about your thighs come Summer.

HT: Culinary Creations by Peabody

Sigh.

2008-10-12T20:04:00.001-07:00

This coat...... is perfect.

Fall Fashions.

2008-10-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

Lately, there is just a bit of a chill in the air, especially in the early morning. This made me want to spend more time on my patio, but all I have is a pair of very cute, but not so comfortable, wooden chairs from IKEA. However, October is not the best time to be searching for furniture. I've found a few loungers left at Target, but they don't quiet match the rest of my outdoor decor. Oh well.

In honor of the awesome fall weather, here are a few outfits I've been craving lately:

Anthropologie

Paul by Paul Smith

Also Loving:
These Pumpkin Whoopie Pies which I made on Monday, and have been eating, rather stealthily, since then. They are wonderful all cold and right-out-of-the-refrigerator, as I prefer them.

Fabulous Fascinators!

2008-09-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Ack! I've been neglecting this poor, little blog! Sadly, my sweet Gram passed away last week, so I've been back and forth to PA for the past few weeks, first visiting her and then going back for the funeral.

Onto happier things. . . maybe it's totally cute Kenley on Project Runway, or this beauty recently featured on Making It Lovely, but I am loving fascinators lately! And, I recently found this awesome tutorial on Burda Style.

And, if you prefer to buy a fascinator rather than attempting to make one, that beautiful blue one above is on sale at Love, Lulu Mae.

"Let There Be . . . Paper Source!"

2008-08-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Folks, the clouds have parted and God has smiled down upon me. Nope, I'm not preggers. But, I have discovered that Charlotte is getting a PAPER SOURCE! Paper Source is my favorite place in the world. I have a weird obsession with them, actually. My wedding invitations were from Paper Source. I love handmade papers and I horde Paper Source's large sheets because it's too precious to make something out of. I mean if I used it, I would have to order more. (And don't get me started on the thrill of seeing the huge cardboard portfolio sitting outside of my door when I order from them.) But, now I don't have to get lost in Georgetown (as I did last month) or Boston (as I did last year) looking for my beloved Paper Source, because there will be one here in Charlotte! And it opens in November!

To celebrate, I might just make something out of the sheets of Japanese paper I've been hording in my office since my trip to the Georgetown Paper Source last month. (FYI- That beautiful Japanese paper above was the cover of my wedding invitations.)

Just So You Know.

2008-08-24T18:58:00.001-07:00

This is not nearly as disgusting as I expected it to be. In fact, they are pretty tasty. I have now reached a point in my life where I am eating food from a can.

Home Envy

2008-08-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

I am loving the flickr home shots from Bling On My Sewing Machine's Rachel Denbow. I wish Charlotte had better thrift stores, because I am totally envious of all the great finds. You can check out her etsy store, PonyParty, for a great selection of those awesome vintage finds. I wonder how she decides what to sell and what to use in her own home. If it were me, I'd keep it all!

Back to School

2008-08-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of this post by midwest modern girl (love your blog!), I thought I would list of few of my favorite back to school items.I love this laptop sleeve by Etsy seller Janine King.

And this lunch kit, from Etsy seller Glue and Glitter, is totally adorable.

And these have been my favorite pens for the past few years.

What are your favorite items for back to school? (Or, if you're a grown-up, back to work.)

Trench Coat Dreams

2008-08-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

I saw the new Richard Chai for Target line today and totally fell in love! Everything in the line is adorable, and I love this trench. I have no need for another coat, but this would be adorable with some dark wash trench jeans and flats. And, at less than $45, it's a steal! There are lots of other cute items available. But, like many other GO International lines at Target, they might sell out quickly.

Longer Than Expected!

2008-08-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

So, that lull in posting was much longer than expected. My husband and I went to D.C. and Pennsylvania to see friends and family and then we brought my five-year old brother back to Charlotte with us. Wow! I now stand in awe of mothers. Constantly looking after a kiddo is a lot of work. We had a few craft times together, including pottery painting.

I recently got to visit the amazing Mary Jo's nearby. This place is incredible! It's basically just a huge warehouse full of all different fabrics. (Check out the very impressive store right here.) There was an entire wall of trim and another long wall of buttons. You can shop online from their site but, trust me, it's nothing like visiting the store in person. I could've spend hours (and a lot of cash!) there.

While at Mary Jo's, I picked up a few yards of this awesome Amy Butler fabric (for something like $6/yard) and am using it to redecorate my bathroom. My friend and I made a big cornice-like thing to go above the shower out of a huge sheet of foam insulation (less than $10!), some polyester batting and this fabric. I'll be posting pictures soon! I also have to post the "after" pictures of this awesome redecorating project as well.

Oh! And I just discovered that Mary Jo's has a blog, too!

A Short Break

2008-07-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

I'm off for a few days. Be back soon!

The Big Picture

2008-07-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

Have you discovered the amazing Big Picture blog? The blog, from Boston.com, tells big news stories through photographs. The stunning picture above shows an airtanker dropping fire retardant over a wildfire in California. The blog features amazing photography and is updated about three times a week.

Currently Loving:

2008-07-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

The US National Whitewater Center

Hideaway by The Weepies

This great notebook tutorial
from Rachel Simonsen

These quilted postcards from Pink Chalk Studio

What are you loving?

Life Is Beautiful!

2008-06-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days when things just seem to fall into place in a way that is both effortless and beautiful? I'm having a day like that. There are still things that need to be worked out, but I am just pleased with where things are right now for me personally. I guess this is that whole learning-to-be-content thing? Hope you're having a beautiful day!

Studio Tables

2008-06-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

I have been lusting after this Pottery Barn project table for pretty much forever. I would love to have this in the studio that I will have some sweet day. However, at over $1000, I thought it was a bit steep. I know it would be super simple to recreate for much less, and look (below) what I discovered today at All Things Pink. A nearly identical copy for about $150! Holly gives great instructions on how to make one of your own. Thanks, Holly! Your studio is adorable!

I also discovered this over at Midwest Modern Girl. An Ikea kitchen island used as a studio table. Also great! I can't wait until the Ikea opens here in Charlotte. It is my favorite store!

The Art is Found

2008-06-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

I just discovered this very awesome blog, The Art is Found. The prompts here are really creative and they have totally inspired me to take a second look at my recycling bin, which is my favorite type of crafting. How beautiful is this handmade book?

HT: Amber Ulmer

Dreamin'.

2008-06-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

(image from Design*Sponge)

(image from Apartment Therapy)

Lately, I often find myself wishing that I could live in a house, not an apartment. I'm about to renew my lease for another year, and purchasing a house is at least 3 years away, but a girl can dream, right? I want a little patio, like the one above, where I can host charming parties and serve guests on vintage, mismatched china.

So, while I'm dreaming, I thought I would share a few little bits of funky-home eye candy with you all. Happy dreaming!

(image from Design*Sponge)

(image from Apartment Therapy : San Francisco via sfgiflbybay)

Looking Up.

2008-06-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

My sweet husband came home this morning with a couple of small goodies for me, including these Martha Stewart Craft paper tags. It was a really small gesture, and could be considered rather insignificant, but it made me feel great. I've been rather down lately, just a lot of things happening, and this morning was kind of bad. I was getting ready for church, and I just felt horrible, so I put my pajamas back on and got back into bed. And my husband was awesome. He let me sleep and washed his car and came home with these and some stickers. And they were just a small thing, but they made me feel very loved.

Head On Over . . .

2008-06-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

. . . to Creature Comforts for a very cool blog birthday giveaway! There are some awesome prizes up for grabs!

You Can Stand Under My . . .

2008-06-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

One last wedding post. This is one of my favorite pictures from our wedding. The paper parasols are from the very cool Pearl River which, if you haven't discovered, you must do soon! Pearl River is a brick-and-mortar store in NYC, but I have ordered from their website several times. They have a great selection of paper parasols, paper lanterns, bamboo blinds, bento boxes, restaurant supplies and thousands of other goodies. I got the lanterns for something like $4.50 each, and the color matched the dresses perfectly! My photographer (who was awesome!) had a lot of fun with these props. Parasols and paper lanterns would make great additions to a summer party! Pearl River carries them in a lot of different colors, too.

Centerpieces

2008-06-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

Remember those centerpieces I promised? I am posting a picture from Rebecca Thuss' site. This is the image from the article in Martha Stewart Weddings where I saw this idea. They are branches (which I clipped from family and friend's yards!) with tiny crepe-paper blooms attached with brown floral tape. The little millinery birds (available at craft stores) are then glued to the branches. These were horribly labor-intensive, and my mom, husband and I made most of them in the days leading up to the wedding. I put the branches in clear glass vases ($3.00 each from A.C. Moore) and put white stones in the vases. The picture below doesn't show them well, but they looked exactly like the image above. They were so lovely, and so inexpensive, and I just fell in love with them. My aunts and relatives all ended up taking one home, and I now have one in our bedroom. These would be equally as lovely for a bridal shower or ladies' tea. Instructions are available here.

In case you were wondering, the table numbers are made from wooden fans (scored on Ebay!) which I hot-glued open. I then covered the glue strip with an orange ribbon bow and added the table number, which I had printed onto orange card stock. The reception venue had the little mounting things. These really accented the flowers well.

This Day In Crafty History . . .

2008-06-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

Since this is an artsy-crafty blog, and since tomorrow is my second anniversary with my awesome husband, I thought I would post a few of the crafty things I made for our wedding. Easily the biggest (and some would say craziest) undertaking was doing the bouquets and such. About 11 pm the night before my wedding I started assembling them and wasn't finished until like 3 in the morning. I probably could've done them earlier, but I am a big procrastinator.

I ordered all of the flowers from Costco's website and had them delivered the Thursday before the big Saturday. I ordered about $300 worth of hydrangea, orange roses and daisies. I ended up only using about half of them.

They were delivered in perfect condition. Seriously. All but one single daisy was in mint condition.

I had a binder of magazine clippings for inspiration. Then, when I ordered the flowers, I just sketched out what I wanted the bouquets to look like. When arranging flowers, remember that odd numbers of blooms always look best. Each of the bridemaids' bouques had 3 hydrangea, 5 orange roses and about 5 (I think!) daises.

I got these butterfly pins from Macy's and I attached them to a long, stiff wire and incorporated them into the bouquets. I love the way these ended up. The photographer really caught the beauty of the jewelry. I also added orange dupioni silk around the stems.

My bouquet was pretty special. I used the pink daisies from Costco, but those lovely pink peonies (my all-time favorite flowers) were cut from a bush in my parents' yard. This made my bouquet extra sentimental. They were the exact color of the bridesmaids' dresses and in full bloom the day before the wedding, when I cut them. I added a dragonfly pin to my bouquet, and also a really long, beautiful silk ribbon tied around the base of the flowers. The ribbon hung down a few feet and looked awesome in the pictures.

For about $350 in flowers, pins, ribbons and silk, I was able to create 5 bouquets, several nosegays for the moms and grandmothers, 10 or more boutonnieres, aisle decorations, a flower girl's basket and still had half the flowers left! I would totally do this again, and I highly recommend it. It would've been a lot less stressful if I had done them earlier!

Later on this week I'll show the EXTREMELY labor-intensive centerpieces and a few other special touches. For now, I'll link to the the lovely Rebecca Thuss, who was style director for Martha Stewart Weddings, and provided loads of inspiration for my wedding two years ago through that awesome publication. I think I may have linked to her before, but she's worth a second look.

As for me, I have a whole day of picnic-ing, movie going and museum visits planned for tomorrow!

Farewell, Friend.

2008-06-07T12:08:00.001-07:00

Last summer, I found myself in a new city, with no friends and no real prospects for a job. I was terribly lonely. We went to visit my uncle, who gave me a brand-new sewing machine. I hadn't sewed for a really long time, but that machine was just the catalyst I needed to get off my bum and start crafting! Instead of wallowing in my loneliness, I starting sewing and painting and creating like never before. And I discovered the best fabric store nearby. Sewing Arts Studio, along with all of my favorite crafty blogs (see the sidebar!) gave me plenty of inspiration. Sadly, the sweet folks who run this adorable store are shutting their doors. So, sadly, I will go there today for one of the last times. Everything is on sale, and I hope I get the opportunity to tell them what a great catalyst their sweet little store was to me. So, if you get the opportunity today, be sure to tell your favorite inspirations what they mean to you!

Etsy Love

2008-06-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

I just discovered Joannarutter's shop on Etsy. I just love the graphic style of her jewelry and the adorable bird designs. I want just about everything she has! How beautiful are these bird and branch earrings?

(via Creature Comforts)

Easy Clothing Embellishments

2008-06-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

I was shopping with my friend Morgan yesterday when I started to notice a trend in a lot of the clothing I found myself attracted to. They all seemed to be covered with the type of embellishments I could easy make myself! This sweater (at left) from J. Crew is adorable, but I could easy replicate a similar look with fabric scraps and a sweater I already have. I also loved this sweatshirt from Anthropologie, but at $88, I could easily replicate the look by adding fabric-covered buttons and appliquéd fabric scraps to a cheaper button-up sweater or sweatshirt. I also remember seeing (but I can't remember at which store) a sleeveless blue shirt with a neckline covered in yo-yos. How simple would that be to recreate?

I'm Kendall, Nice to Meet You.

2008-06-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

This blog is devoid of personal information about me, have you noticed? I won't post a picture right now, because I hate all of my pictures, but I thought I would post a few random thoughts about me.

1. I have a horrible sweet tooth.
2. I live 500 miles from my family and sometimes this hurts me. Well, a lot of the time this hurts me. Okay, most of the time this hurts me.
3. When I first moved to the South, I didn't know a single person for three months. I didn't have a job, and I did nothing but workout and read and watch television. Oh, and my husband and I would go to the movies at like 2 in the afternoon. But I didn't lose weight because in addition to all that working out, I also had copious amounts of candy and Chic-fil-a, which is heaven in a paper bag.
4. I am a full-time graduate student studying Christian Thought, which isn't as lofty as it sounds.
5. I am a big goof. A huge big goof.

If you are one of the few (but growing!) people who happens to read this blog from time to time, feel free to introduce yourself. Let's be friends!

How Cute!

2008-05-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

This fabric kills me with its cuteness. I may have a problem with the stock I am working on for the etsy shop update. Because I love it all so much, and I kind of want to keep it. I am making a crib quilt with this adorable fabric from Moda, and I want to keep it myself. And I am working on some adorable onesies (pictures coming soon) and I want to keep those. too. Mind you, I don't have a baby, but that hasn't stopped me before. Perhaps I should only sew things that I totally hate?

Poomba Berry Loves. . .

2008-05-24T19:47:00.001-07:00

I was at the always lovely Crate & Barrel today when I spotted these amazing white solar-powered paper lanterns. However, I couldn't find them on the website. I did, however, find the lanterns above, which look pretty much exactly like the ones at C&B. These are a little more expensive, so if you have a store nearby I would check them out there since they were only $20. A few of these would look lovely hanging outside during a memorial day celebration. Festive during the day and useful during the night! (Does anyone know how long the lights last?)

Poomba Berry Loves. . .

2008-05-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

I thought I would start something new here on the blog. Since I run across so many things that are lovely, I am going to start linking them here under the title "Poomba Berry Loves."These fresh-looking note cards are a set from one of my favorite new finds Red Stamp. I am a sucker for office supplies. When school started back in the fall when I was a kid, I loved shopping with my mom and sister for shiny new pens and notebooks and folders. And then, when I got my books, I would meticulously cover them with brown paper and decorate them with stickers and magazine cut-outs. All of the beautifully-designed products at Red Stamp make me giddy as though I were starting school all over again. These green and yellow cards look pretty enough to eat! You must also check out all of their adorable kiddie products.

(found via Creature Comforts.)

Easy Peasy Apron

2008-05-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

You will need:
1 tea towel
1 fat quarter (for pockets)
About 3 yds. grosgrain ribbon (for trim)
1 fabric-covered button
A scrap of another coordinating fabric (for yo-yo)
1 safety pin (for attaching yo-yo)

Cover a button using the fabric for the pockets. Make a yo-yo (great directions can be found here). Sew the button onto the yo-yo. Attach safety pin to the back of yo-yo. Set aside. (I made my yo-yo removable because I made this as a gift and I was afraid of washing the yo-yo. You could sew this on later, if you wanted to.)

Whip up some easy-peasy pockets. You can find a pattern for a “patch pocket” right here. Or, make one up. (Hey, I never promised a detailed tutorial, right? Right.) Moving right along . . .. After sewing the pocket, I added ribbon trim at the top. I attached my pockets about 5-1/2 inches from each side. I basically wrapped the apron around me and did a rough measure. If you don’t eat as much candy as me, your hips are probably smaller and your pocket measurement might be different.

I also added a length of trim around the bottom of my apron for some contrast. Add another, much longer (about 60 inches long) piece of ribbon to the top as a tie.

Safety pin your yo-yo above the pocket and, viola, a cute little apron! Tea towels can be found inexpensively just about everywhere. Wouldn't these be cute for apron-making?

This is my first tutorial, so I hope it was well written. If you have any questions, shoot me an email!

Dang.

2008-05-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else (Blogger users, that is) have trouble uploading pictures? Like, sometimes blogger just has this random freakout and it won't let me upload pictures. And I totally had an apron tutorial to show y'all. Dang.

Instead, I'll link to this site. Rebecca Thuss is an incredibly talented photo stylist/creative person who, unbeknownst to me, was at the helm of Martha Stewart Weddings back in 2005 and 2006 when I was engaged and buying every issue that came out. The centerpieces for our wedding were these branches with crepe paper flowers from an issue of MSW and I just loved them. They were an insane amount of work, but the tables were beautiful and I was so pleased with how they turned out. Plus, they were cheap. (I'd show you a picture, but you know, Blogger is being so awesome right now.) Rebecca's bio says that she is no long at MS, so I wonder if the beauty of that magazine has gone downhill any since I got married. It was, by far, my very favorite wedding magazine.

And, once Blogger begins to behave itself, I'll be back with that apron tutorial.

I'd Rather Dance With You.

2008-04-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

This is an old song, but I love it so. This is probably my favorite music video OF ALL TIME and that is saying quite a lot. If you can watch this without smiling, you have no soul.

Opinions, Please!

2008-03-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

I have a deep love of the blog Making It Lovely. I pretty much want Nicole's house and everything in it. Seeing how Matt and I have decided to stay at our current place for another year, I am starting what I call The Great Redecorate of 2008. So, like Nicole, I present our plans for your consideration:

The background color is our paint choice. We are painting the little media alcove (which now houses our television and media equipment) and the wall behind the sofa.

1. This is our current dining room table, which is staying. The blue square behind it is the color of our new curtains (actually, I'm just dying old curtains) for the patio door.

2. These are our cheap-o IKEA dining room chairs (only $14.99 each!) which, in the interest of saving cash, will also stay. However, I want a color change. I will either paint them or sew fabric covers. Any recommendations?

3. This is our old television cabinet. It will now be placed in the far dining room wall in between two bookcases. We are covering the frosted glass doors with this funky paper from Paper Source. The paper is the inspiration for the color scheme.

4. Our two overflowing bookcases will be moved from the office into the dining room.

5. This Amy Butler fabric will be used for a new table runner and a little skirt on the bottom of the media alcove to hide all the cords.

6. Matt's birthday gift, this Keep Calm print, will be framed and matted (in white, as shown) and hung above #3 in between the bookcases. (I purchased my print from sfgirlbybay's etsy shop. I highly recommend her and her delightful blog.)

If I decide to sew covers for the chairs, I'll do it in a coordinating fabric from Amy Butler's new collection, possibly this one. Any suggestions about the overall design? My ears (and email inbox) are now open.

A New Bag for Spring?

2008-03-31T10:54:00.000-07:00

(Image courtesy of www.jcarolinecreative.com)

Spring has sprung, sort of, around these parts. How about whipping yourself up a new hobo bag from this pattern? My favorite part? The pattern prints on six 8.5" x 11" sheets that are then taped together. So, no trips to the copy shop!

Quilt Pictures

2008-03-27T14:48:00.001-07:00

These aren't the best pictures; I snapped them rather hurriedly this afternoon, while one of the apartment maintenance guys was walking by, likely thinking "Why is that crazy chick snapping pictures of some old fabric?" I think the color combinations on this are quite zany. I'm searching for a pic of my great-grandmother, Polly, to upload here so we can have sort of a portrait of the artist.

The block above is my favorite.

Legacy

2008-03-26T19:40:00.001-07:00

While visiting my parents for Easter this past weekend, my mom gave me two quilt tops pieced by my great grandmother. If I had to venture a guess, these quilts are at least 30 years old. My great-grandmother passed away in the early '90s. I have no recollection of her ever sewing when I knew her, but she did. She gave my mom the quilt tops, knowing that she sewed and hoping she could finish them. My mother, who doesn't sew much anymore, passed them onto me. When we arrived home, I sort of laid the quilts out and stared at them in awe. There is so much history there.

Sometimes, in between work and school and house stuff, I begin to wonder why I even try to squeeze out a moment here and a moment there to attempt my creative projects. But, when I see these quilts, I am reminded that I am a part of a larger craft legacy. One that includes talented women and men who take out time from their schedules to sand wood or sew purses or string beads. On a smaller scale, I am a part of a lineage of talented ladies in my own family. Women who raised children and cooked meals and hoarded scraps of fabrics and sewed quilts. Some out of necessity, I'm sure, and some because it was just a small, simple way of keeping their creative minds sharp.

And tomorrow I will photograph those amazing quilt tops and post pictures here. I've never tried making bias binding before, but I am going to make my own binding, and finish off the little works of art that my great-grandmother began so many years ago.

Getting Things Done

2008-03-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

I thought this might be a good fit for all of the workers/etsy-ians/parents/other things out there who have a lot on their plates. I have just started working from home in the past few months, and I am having a hard time organizing my time. (Not to mention trying to start that Etsy shop that has remained empty since it was created!) Hope these principals help others out. I will certainly be implementing them myself in the coming weeks!

Penelope

2008-03-09T20:00:00.001-07:00

I put a lot of faith in movie reviews, perhaps too much. This is why Penelope was such a charming surprise, because the reviews were just ho hum. However, I had the pleasure of seeing this today and I loved it. In fact, I loved it so much I just might go see it again. I think one of the reasons I loved it so much was the delightful sets and costuming. Visually, the movie was charming and reminded me quite a bit of another fave, Amelie. (Did anyone else get that impression?) All of this to say, go see the movie, and I think you'll fall under its spell as well.

Fierce.

2008-03-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I totally wanted Jillian to win, and I thought Rami's collection was the best. BUT, Christian totally endeared himself to me on the finale. He was human and cute and totally dear. And, I totally doubt that he was as excited about that Saturn as he pretended to be. And did you see that Elizabeth "Showgirls" Berkley is hosting a new show on Bravo? I don't think television needs yet another dance competition, but maybe I'm wrong.

Unfortunate.

2008-02-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

I have gotten very flustered lately, and it seems the creating time is the first thing to go. I remember in college, my professors repeatedly drilled into our heads to SET A SCHEDULE! The muse, they argued, would show up regularly. My poetry professor in particular (check out that alliteration!) really emphasized taking a moment to read a poem and record my thoughts on life at the same time each day. If only for ten minutes. I am trying to get into the schedule of writing again, but also time to create. My background on the laptop is the above image and every time I turn it on, I feel guilty. My paintbrushes are dry, the sewing machine is in its case and my crafty supplies haven't been used since I started school. Any advice on scraping out the time to create?

Are you this crazy, too?

2008-02-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

There are so many blogs out there that I just totally love and that I check all the time. So many, in fact, that I forget that I don't actually know these people. They aren't my friends. I can't call them. We don't meet for lunch. Sometimes I just have to remind myself of that.

Sister, I Apologize.

2008-02-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

For a long time I made fun of my sister because she would purchase baby things whenever she saw something she really loved. I should note that my sister did not have a baby at the time. She is now the proud mama of an adorable one-year old, but she stashed stuff for a good three years before she was preggers. I thought this was a really strange habit.

But then I saw this adorable night light at Target (part of the new Dwell Studio for Target line). At it was so cute and gender-neutral and full of polka-dotty goodness. Best of all, it was only $6.99. So I purchased it to match the adorable nursery set I will one day sew for my future son or daughter. And I am not ashamed to also mention that Matt and I are not planning on babies for at least another four years. So I suppose I should call my sister and apologize. But instead, I will keep it a secret. And only you, dear blog readers, will ever know.

Inspiration.

2008-02-04T18:34:00.000-08:00

I have just discovered The Paper Studio. Maybe everyone else has already heard of this, and I am the last one to know, but they have some beautiful paper and a fun blog. But the best part? These great video demonstrations on a variety of techniques and projects. Perfect for a paper junkie like me.

Speaking of paper, Design*Sponge has just introduced me to the very talented Mia Pearlman. Check out her incredible cut paper sculptures. I would love the chance to get to see these in person.

Easiest Craft Ever

2008-01-28T15:08:00.000-08:00

Careful, the craft you're about to enjoy is extremely easy.

Tired of throwing away those cardboard cup wrappers from Starbucks, or your independent coffee shop of choice? This wrap is ridiculously easy, uses recycled materials and is super cute to boot. Simply trace a cardboard wrapper onto the cuff of a wool sweater from Goodwill that has been felted. (Instructions for felting can be found here.) To ensure that the top didn't fray, I ran a bead of fray check around the edge.

That apron tutorial I promised is on its way!

Today.

2008-01-26T17:22:00.001-08:00

I am finally trying to craft things with felted sweaters after being inspired by her for quite some time. I'll be back with pictures. And, a tea towel apron tutorial!

Denial.

2008-01-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

I am totally in denial about the end of Blueprint. I was quite shocked when I discovered it was going away, actually, because I had heard nothing but praise regarding the magazine. The crafty/artsty/design-y blogs I frequent were equally raving over its content and design. I even renewed my subscription and bought my sister one for Christmas. (BTW, is anyone else out there looking for a refund? Because I certainly am.)

Anyhoo, I recieved my last copy a few weeks ago and left it lying on the kitchen table, unopened, because I couldn't bear to face my last issue. And I finally read it, and it was just as lovely as ever, and now I am sad. Oh dear Martha, I am a twentysomething that loves paper magazines! I just can't see how this loveliness is going to be recreated on screen. Rest in Peace, dear Blueprint. Your back issues (I was there from the start!) will now be lovingly filed away.

Color Lovin'

2008-01-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

I got a new Pottery Barn catalog in the mail a few days ago, and I am seriously loving the new colorful look. Seriously good stuff. (Seriously out of my budget as well.) I sometimes rip pages out of catalogs for inspirations, but I found that in this case, I just kept the whole catalog. I've been lusting after this table for the past year or so, but I have neither the space nor the money. Oh to have a studio!

My husband and I spent a chunk of the day rearranging my art supplies closer to the dining room, which is my usual workspace. It made a big difference, though some of the supplies are still spread among various rooms. Overall, it made my space more usable, which is always a good thing.

Beret Update

2007-12-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

Remember when I told you that I was on a search for the perfect beret? I found it at CraftyOma's etsy site. The beret fits perfectly and is soft and lovely. I just had to post a quick link to her lovely wares.

I suck.

2007-12-16T16:07:00.001-08:00

Two whole months without a post? Really? So, when I jumped on the whole crafty blog train, I had grand visions of just how easy keeping this thing updated would be. But, in between settling into Charlotte, traveling back and forth to PA so many times, starting a business (not the etsy one, which hasn't actually happened yet, but another) meeting people, etc. etc. I've let things go. And I apologize. So here are a bunch of things I've been up to lately.I've actually starting scrapbooking my wedding pictures. I thought I wouldn't do this, since I have a beautiful leather album from the incredible Leslie of Sullivan Studios, but I have found that I would like to do something else that includes my invitation, all the projects I did, the way I felt, and all of that. So, I'm trying to remember what I felt 18 months ago. That pic above? I was feeling blissful. Matt and I had just been announced at the reception to Beautiful Day by U2 (I love me some U2) and I was quite giddy. So there.This is Peanut from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts (see review below) and his matching quilt. A gift for my beloved niece's first birthday. Peanut was a little hard for me. In fact, this is Peanut #2 because #1 had a dimple-y back and a small inexplicable hole beneath his trunk. Peanut was the source of many bad words from me and Peanut #1 was thrown across the room. But he ended up so darling that I forgive him for all the trouble he caused around here.
Did you know that Hallmark has a 2007 sewing ornament? Quite appropriate to commemorate The Year in Which I Rediscovered Sewing. Thanks, husband!And here is some Christmas crafting. Well the top isn't so much crafty as it is good eats. Chocolate Covered Pretzels. Sweet, salty and delish. Need I say more? I made a bunch of these for the couples in my small group at church. I packaged them in the most adorable (sorry, no pics) little red felt buckets from the dollar spot at Target. (I love me some Target dollar spot goodness!) The purse is a gift for a special someone that I just love (I love both the purse and the person). Seriously considered keeping this for myself. Both the outside and inside fabrics are Amy Butler and the pattern is from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing Book. (Which rocks.) The original pattern called for a velvet ribbon bow, but I think the grosgrain looks quite sweet with that fabric. Seriously, I love this bag. (By the way, these pictures are seriously blurry when you zoom in.)

And seriously, I will try to post more often.

Fall is Here!

2007-10-14T18:09:00.001-07:00

And I made some mini cupcakes to celebrate!

I'm the last one on the train

2007-10-07T14:39:00.001-07:00

I know pretty much everyone in the blog world has already gushed over these two, but I have just finished admiring Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts, as well as Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing. I was completely blown away by both. Karol's down-to-earth writing style (which I've long admired at her blog) combined with detailed descriptions and illustrations makes BTRS a great read for seamstresses of any skill level. I have a habit of reading crafty-type books and skimming over the front sections, because I just assume it's stuff I already know. However, since I've recently returned to my sewing roots, I was pleased with and greatly appreciated Karol's first three sections. (To give you an idea of how thoroughly Karol explains sewing techniques and basics, the actual projects do not begin until page 49.) The book is delightfully written and the projects are great, even for more advanced sewers.

Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts presents a variety of projects, thoughtfully arranged by the time it should take to complete them. (Thank God for the person that suggested this arrangement!) I appreciated Hoverson's explanation of quilting techniques, especially since the projects in her book will be my first foray into quilting. While aimed at a more experienced sewer than BTRS, Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts is filled with accessible projects for the beginner who can then advance onto more complicated ones, like the color wheel quilt pictured above. (Which I am dying to make, by the way. FYI- Hoverson's shop, Purl Patchwork, is offering a color wheel fabric bundle which would make this quilt's construction much less stressful!) The book also includes a huge sheet of all the pattern pieces for the projects, which makes their construction so much easier. (Really. Enlarging and reproducing patterns is such a pain!)

If in need of a little crafty pick-me-up, you can't go wrong with either of these great books. Both would be great for handmade inspiration for the upcoming holidays as well.

Torture

2007-09-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

Oh Anthropologie, why do you torture me so? Why are your outfits so beautiful, yet so expensive? Why can't I find something this dang cute in my price range?

(Sorry for yet another post related to clothing. I'm purging my closet of all the too-small Levis from high school that I could never fit into ever again. And I want to replace them with beautiful things from Anthropologie. I have Anthropologie taste on a Target budget.)

Searching for a Perfect Beret

2007-09-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

Such a silly topic for a post, I know, but there has been just the slightest twinge of a chill in the air when I take the dog out in the morning. And that little chill gives me hope that is does get cold here in the Carolinas, and perhaps people do have need of a slouchy beret to grace their chilly little heads. I want this one, but then I feel like I should buy the matching scarf, and that is more than I wanted to spend. I want a wool beret and a great big mug of warm chai tea. Of course, I could always run to Starbucks now, but I want the tea and the beret to be necessary. I want to see my breath in the air. What is the average fall temperature in North Carolina?

If You've Ever Wondered What A Poomba Berry Looks Like

2007-08-28T19:12:00.001-07:00

Here is my pin cushion rendering.

Craft the Vote!

2007-08-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

Please take the time to check out this hilarious Slate slideshow. The homeland security quilt and the gun cozy are just too funny.
(Image courtesy of Jessica Vitkus via Slate.com)

Cupcake Lovin'

2007-08-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

If you love cupcakes as much as I do, you'll want to visit Martha Stewart's site with this darling slide show of cupcake designs. I love cupcakes. They are super easy to make, too much fun to decorate and a breeze to serve. I served mini cupcakes at a lunch this weekend with a little swirl of chocolate frosting piped onto each. They were adorable!

Daily Inspirations . . .

2007-08-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

A great CD,
A beautiful mirror,

And these are gorgeous!

23 things to do before I turn 24

2007-08-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

1. Buy a townhouse
2. Get adjusted to my new city
3. Read the Bible more
4. Make new friends in Charlotte
5. Post regularly on this blog
6. Go to Tennessee
7. Get my etsy store up and running
8. Do more scrapbooking layouts
9. Learn to sew
10. Paint more
11. Be more dedicated in my 9-5
12. Let my husband know how much I love him EVERY day
13. Make handmade Christmas gifts
14. Get a new hairstyle
15. Exercise more
16. Take a yoga class
17. Save for a big trip to *somewhere*
18. Call my gram more
19. Call my sister more
20. Learn how to make more complicated recipes
21. Take a cake decorating class
22. Make Becca and Travis a very special handmade wedding gift (whatever that may be!)
23. Learn to accept myself the way I am and not be so stinking hard on myself.