2010... ready, set, GO!

so, yeah. how are ya? long time, no write. I know.

Welcome to 2010, where it's really, really cold on the east coast, and this blog's writer (uh, me) gets a free pass for not writing hardly at all last year. With a promise to do better...

Hey, here's a fun idea... last year I posted a list of resolutions... wanna see how I did? Here goes:

Resolutions made in 2009 (comments in italics below)

• Spend my money locally, in independent shops, whenever possible.

I tried to do this, I really did. Unfortunately, my local stamping shop's owner and her husband moved to Idaho (White Swan Rubber Stamps). And the big box stores have been running great sales on yarn. Clearance yarn is a Siren's song that I can't resist. But I'm going to try again this year, and encourage you to do the same. All 3 of you who still read this.

• When it is not possible, support independent web merchants and Etsy shops.

Aha! This I DID do... shops like Ellen Hutson, eclectic Paperie, and All That Scraps got my business this year, as did You Can Make This, a place to buy and download all sorts of patterns from independent pattern designers.

This year I'm looking forward to Lauren Meader's new endeavor: My Time Made Easy and here's a little shout out to my friend Jen's little internet scrapbooking shop: Celestial Creations & Scrapbooking Supplies. Jen is awesome, an old friend from high school, and a fellow geologist. And, she's local to me, so that's like two birds, one stone. Or something less violent. Whatever.

• Farmer's Market, Farmer's Market, Farmer's Market.

I determined that the local "Farmer's Market" is less farmers and more crap for sale. BUT, I did find a one that I like: Newark Natural Foods Cooperative and will frequent them again this year.

• Play outside with the kids & dog more often. Even when it's cold. Even when I don't feel like it.

I got a new job in August, and while it's awesome, it's also in Philadelphia, requiring a long commute on a slow train. So I'm not home during daylight hours in the winter except on weekends. And even then, I've been lackluster at best. I'll add this to the top of this year's list.

• Wii Fit. Everyday. Even just a few minutes is better than nothing.

HA! HAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, not so much. But, I did BUY the Wii Fit Active game at Costco. Not that I opened it. But I might. Soon.

• Read more books. And not just popular chick-lit either. I have a house full of classics that need some attention.

I did this... mostly because of the long commute. I can highly recommend anything written by Malcolm Gladwell.

• Spend less time on the computer. My laptop with wireless internet connection has become WAY too familiar with my lap. I don't need to be constantly connected.

Uh, didn't do so well with this one. I spent a lot of time editing over at Craft Critique, and oy, Facebook... what an enjoyable time sink THAT is.

• Write more. I'm working on a book. There. I said it out loud.

Yeah. Right. I'll get right on that.

• Cull the clothes and other usable stuff that we don't use, and give it to those who WILL use it. Really. The house is pushing maximum density, and it makes everyone miserable.

This sort of happened... I got rid of a bunch of baby stuff, but there's A LOT more stuff that needs to go. Goodwill is not going to know what hit them.

• Keep the house company-ready to the point where I wouldn't be embarrassed if a friend stopped by and asked to use my bathroom.

Um. Ish? Maybe call ahead by 15 minutes or so if you really need to pee.

Looks like I've got my work cut out for me... check back tomorrow for my list for 2010... probably.

Copic markers are that damn good...

...so good that they can get me to come back from a blogging hiatus the likes the blogosphere has heretofore never seen. Or something. Anyway, Copic graciously provided me with some of their Ciao markers, and I had a fist-full already, and then I bought some more, and then I wrote this article for Craft Critique.

And in that article, (which you would know if you went there and read it) I said I would post the individual photos I took while doing the coloring for the card I made for my kid, Max.

Here's where I started. Well, not really. But the first couple of photos turned out like crap. Bear with me.






























The pictures speak a thousand words, which is good, because I'm tired from all this blogging already ;-)

The Stamping Scientist requires an intervention...

The sewing bug bit me hard. Worse (better?) it's a clothing altering bug, so I'm a frequent flyer at Goodwill, looking for stuff to turn into other stuff. Seriously. I'm a VIP member at Goodwill. They send me coupons and everything. Coupons at Goodwill. Bygones... I'm not too proud for 20% off!

Here's a shirt I got at Goodwill for $3.50 (minus 20%, so $2.80, no sales tax in Delaware):



Here's what I turned it into:



and the back:



also, how cute is my kid? I know... I'm stunned on a daily basis.

In other sewing news, I found an awesome pattern at youcanmakethis.com that FINALLY allows me to use the trash bags full of decorator samples I got ($5 per BAG) when my local Interior Alternative moved to a new location. I actually bought three of her patterns, and love them all. I also love supporting independent pattern designers like Mary of Sweet Pea Totes.

Anyway, here's the front:



the back:



interior zip pocket:

(by the way, the pattern doesn't include the interior zip pocket, but I added one because I like practicing my zippers)

interior patch divided pocket



interior with Martha Stewart Living mag for scale. It's a roomy tote:



I haven't decided on the handles yet. Well, that's not entirely true. I did one set of handles and then LOST one of them SOMEWHERE in my craft room (actually, I think one of my gremlins snuck over from the playroom and made off with it), which was fine, because I didn't like them all that much anyway. But I'll figure it out.

This one is mine, but I'm planning on making more for my etsy shop. Every time I look at it I get happier!

Oh hey...

I won a yard of free fabric from Sew, Mama, Sew, the awesomest little fabric shop and blog in the whole wide internet. They have fabulous tutorials and a little forum for chatting and fab info too. And every week they give away fabric and other goodies.

Anyway, I won last week, and decided to place an order (I barely need an excuse at all anymore). It arrived today (totally fast!), and I'm just thrilled with it! Much love to Sew, Mama, Sew!

Sew I'm thinking...

maybe I ought to change the name of this blog to "Sewing Science" because that's all I seem to do anymore (or maybe I should say "seam to do" ha ha ha, I slay me).

Anyway, my friend Emilie sews (as well as being a scrapbooking goddess), and got me hooked on Presser Foot. They're having a shirt-dress sew-along based on this tutorial right 'chere.

I had an UGLY (but Lucky Brand, honest!) shirt of mine laying around, so I went to town. Actually, I went to my sewing room.

I started with this:

that's a lot of ugly in one place.

I wound up with this:



and a close-up of sorts:



I'll admit that I cheated on the belt... that's actually a stretchy headband I had that never fit my head. I have a weird head. And never throw anything away. The ugly shirt is WAY cuter as a Jenny dress, but then, anything's cuter with a little Jenny in it ;-)

I've been sewing purses. LOTS of purses. Good ones too. Good enough to sell. So I'm gonna. I'll be putting them up in my Etsy shop shortly (or, you know, whenever I get around to it. Or maybe never. Depends on my mood).

My grandmother's birthday is next week, so I'm bound to stamp something absolutely stunning soon. Really.

what's this then?

I received a package from PaperTrey Ink today with my "free" "gift with purchase" "anniversary" set. Here's the thing: I didn't realize that I had even bought 12 sets last year, as I had to put the kibash on spending hard last year, and PTI was on the cut list. So, I totally wasn't expecting it, and now I'm happy.

I guess I'm lucky, because there's a debate RAGING on SplitCoast about whether or not we earned the set, or if it's free, or if we paid for it, or what not, and WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO GET HERE?! and guess what. I never even participated in the in the drama (or, really, even knew about the drama), because I didn't think I was getting the set, and now I have the set, and I'm happy.

Happy is good. Happy has been hard for me lately. So I'm all for happy.

I'm so happy that I'll probably stamp something with it tonight. Maybe.

Go find something to make you happy.

tap, tap, tap... is this thing on?

Turns out that when you ignore something on the internet long enough, it still exists. Well, the blog anyway, I don't know if my readers will re-materialize!

So, nothing crafty to show you (although I've been busy, honest), but I wanted to document my family's baby bird rescue, and you all get to watch ;-)

Lexi, our dog, is an Australian Shepherd, and was bred to be a caretaker. She's super gentle with the kids, and has now been responsible for saving two baby animals in our yard. She's six kinds of awesome. Anyway, her latest rescue was this baby robin:



She found it in the yard, gave it a little nudge with her nose, and came to get me immediately (I guess she learned from the time she carried the baby rabbit to me and I was less than thrilled). She's so smart.

I put on my gloves and put it in a bucket before grabbing my camera and the kids.


Adults in the photo are slightly less haggard than they appear:



Thanks to the magic of Google, we determined that the best thing to do was to put it in a basket and hang it on the shady side of the tree. Luckily, I never throw ANYTHING away, and had an old plastic planter just hanging around (pun intended, lol). I added some rocks to the bottom to keep it stable, and put some grass clippings on top, to keep the bird snuggly.



My husband hung it from a reasonably high branch on the north side of the tree that we found the bird under. Hopefully Mama Robin will be back to reclaim our little buddy soon!