A List for Santa XOXO

People say I’m hard to shop for. They’re right! Usually if I see something I want I either buy it right then, or go home trying to figure out how to make it myself. Here’s a handy dandy, hopefully helpful, list for all those red hatted, white bearded folks out there scratching their heads about what to get me this year. Maybe you’ll see something that needs to be put on YOUR list to Santa, too!

Twig Branch Bobby Hairpins – Silver, Bronze, or Gold – $27.50 by Woodland Belle. I like the mix and match option.

I love Kelim Pottery‘s dishware, but this bluegreen bowl in particular. $38

I love this Fiji Mermaid Print from Portland local Emily Martin. $16

This recycled glass banner is great from Ta Dah PDX. Just what a person needs to catch every little bit of sunshine from a Portland winter. $38

This mustard yellow beanie made by Humphrey’s Handmade is such a great color and looks like it would actually fit my head. $24.50

I actually love the red and peach mittens more, but the yellow ones would match the hat better. Hard to decide. All the mittens at Unlimited Craftworks are adorable. $32

I have wanted one of these glamorous headbands from Giant Dwarf for over a year now. Please Santa! $40

This black leather obi belt is great. I have way too many brown belts! I Love Leather Belts $40

So that’s the list for now. Hope you’re listening Santa! Ho Ho Ho!

Pillow Talk

I finished all my pillows and actually sold two at the craft fair last weekend which was pretty exciting! I figured I’d post the finished products and their stories here for you guys to read. Please excuse the poor quality photos!

Pillow number 1 – SOLD!

Bianca is a dental hygentist just out of school. She loves making smiles brighter and always carries dental floss in her dress pocket. One day she hopes to have children so she can collect all their milk teeth in a little jar.

Pillow number 2 – $45

Hewbert is a railway attendent. In thirty years of work, he has never lost a single piece of luggage. Hewbert’s favorite part of his day is when he gets to call, “All Aboard!”

Pillow number 3 – $45

Jacque is a true Jack of all trades. Currently he is an apartment manager in a artist’s coop in Paris. With his paint splattered pants and his hip hairdo he fits right in.

Pillow number 4 – $40

Milkman Mike delivers organic, locally farmed cow’s and goat’s milk in a picturesque village in Vermont. Kid’s love the musical sound of the glass milk bottles clinking as Mike deposits them on the stoop.

Pillow number 5  -  $60

Savannah is home from her busy day as bank manager and is currently reading  Great Expectations to her twins, Tom and Sarah. She is looking forward to a nice cup of sassafras tea on the veranda before a late supper.

 

Pillow number 6 – $30

George is a second generation grocer in his family’s store, the Daily Diamond. Tuesday’s Special of the Day is on gorgonzola! Buy 2 get one free! George has a recipe for tomato basil and gorgonzola soup he’s anxious to try.

 

Pillow number 7 – $35

Lucetta is a voice for hire. She does mostly jingles and radio bits, but is starting to feel caged into a career that she’s afraid is going no where. Lucetta dreams of traveling to far away places, but currently resides in the cramped turret on her Aunt’s palatial estate in Hollywood, California.

Pillow number 8 – SOLD!

Peter is a reluctant butcher. Unfortunately his family never understood his passion for design or women’s shoes. Now he is forced to stretch his talent by producing lavish meat displays in his father’s shop. Poor Peter.

Pillow number 9 – $40

Fabio is a candy maker and pastry chef. He has loved sweets since he was a little boy in Italy and was always getting under foot in his Nona’s chocolate shop. Now, Fabio’s sweets are in high demand in all the right circles. While he loves his job, he still misses the sound of his Nona’s singing and the lulling sound of the sea.

 

 

I was featured!

Ohdeedoh featured Quinby’s birthday party in their Best Kids Parties section of their site today. Such sweet news for a cold, rainy day. Ah… I’m missing July!

House, Sweet, House

It’s been awhile, but I’m finally doing another craft show. This Saturday from 9-3 is the Ardenwald Winter Wonderland Holiday Bazaar at Ardenwald Elementary School, 8950 SE 36th Ave in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Bianca the Dental Hygentist

My friend Jenn and I are going to share a table. We decided to make pillows just for this show. She’s doing some really pretty pillows using Pendleton Wool scraps and embroidery and I am selling these “house” pillows. I’ve got 4 sewn and stuffed so far and am hoping to have 5 more done by Saturday. Each one in the series is numbered and has a custom written story about the person pictured on the pillow.

Hewbert the Railway Attendent

I’ll also be selling my reusable, fabric sandwich bags and a few odds and ends from my summer and previous fall kid’s clothing line. Jenn will have some knitted items and a few paintings from her shop.

Jaques of All Trades

 

If you’re local, we’d love to have you come check us out! It’s for a good cause and will be a good opportunity to get a special discount. If you are a dedicated reader and you come out to the show, find me and say the secret password “Gobble Gobble” and I’ll take %10 off your total.

Milkman Mike

On the handprinted fabric swap news, I’ve sent mine out and am still waiting to receive fabric from one more swapee. As soon as I’ve gotten the last piece of fabric I’ll post another update.

 

Hope to see you at Ardenwald!

Handprinted Fabric Swap update –

This is my first fat quarter that I made. The eggs and starfish represent the beautiful setting from our Orcas Island trip this past summer. The green eggs were PZ’s favorite and she kept checking the chicken coops over and over to see if they had laid any more. One day we got 12! Poor Hubs doesn’t even like eggs, but he still helped her scramble them up for a late night snack.

The second print is based on these really beautiful, fat purple starfish we found in the little cove that nestled up to the farm we were staying at. I like how the white starfish look almost like lace. There was another family staying at the farm while we were there, and it was actually their 4 year old boy who first spotted these elusive buddies.

The first picture is of the sample fabric I made. I like it though so will probably make a pillow or something out of it. The second is supposed to represent the cove this time. I was happy with how the water came out. This is my first time carving rubber stamps and I’m really enjoying it! I think I may have found a new medium.

Here are pictures of the two fabrics I’ve received so far.

The first, coincidently, is a whale print done by Rachael of imagine gnats and sent to me from her home in Ohio. Thanks Rachael! I really love it and the pop of color is so fun!

This one is more of a botanical theme sent to me all the way from Japan by Riyo of Talk to the Sun. Thanks Riyo! It’s so pretty and I love that you used the double gauze cotton!

Such talented women! I hope everyone likes the fabric I made. Thanks Leslie for this great opportunity. It’s been really fun!