two straight lines

Some Trouble with the Law

Well, we had an officer stop by here on Friday.  And, well he was here Saturday and Sunday too.  Lots of ticket writing (sleeping too much, not playing enough) and some very official whistle blowing.  This was a gift for our first day of potty training- a $10 policeman costume from Target.  This costume is ridiculously cheap, but I sort of liked the idea of the top being a backwards vest with velcro closures.   All of the details are appliqued on.  This seems like it would be a great way to make a bunch of toddler dress-up outfits.  A fireman has already been requested.

And on another note, because the extreme lack of craftiness around here is getting rather embarrassing, I  thought I'd reveal a little something- like my friend Molly did.  I am also pregnant.  10 weeks and counting.  Send some positive thoughts my way...I had a miscarriage last January, so I need all the good vibes I can get.  Now to go lay on the couch...

Shop Locally

I've been lucky enough to run across some really fun indie crafters in the Ann Arbor/ Detroit area recently and wanted to mention them here so that you all can check them out.  Unbeknownst to me, there is a pretty thriving craft movement right here in the Mitten State.  I discovered it right about the time we decided to stay here in Michigan, so it made it a whole lot easier knowing I wasn't the only crazy crafty type in these parts (said with a nice midwestern twang).

My most recent discovery is a pair of girls just a few miles from my home, in Belleville MI (them, not me).  Amanda and Cortney call themselves Dang Argyle, and they have an Etsy shop where I just purchased the lovely pouch pictured above (which I LOVE).  The pouch arrived here the very next day, how's that for a crafty fix?!  Check out their wristlets- how cute.

Also, I attended the Shadow Art Fair in Ypsilanti, Michigan recently and saw a few great crafters there.  Molly Mast, who I gather is rather well known around here sews adorable purses, totes, clothing and other items.  I am still day-dreaming about a tote that I saw there and didn't buy.  Maybe I should give ole Molly a call.  Her website lists items for sale, but I don't think she's stocked for a while, so check out her journal for a better idea of her charming goods.  I think the tote I want is pictured in the upper left hand corner of the top photo, the yellow and gray striped one, but you can't see the asian fish that is appliqued on the front.

Also, there were some really great toys called Lullaboos at the fair.  The pictures really don't do them justice.  They were so sweet and really soft.  I think they may have been cashmere, and I really don't know how they were made, whether they are custom knit, or whether they were made out of socks.   But each one had a really unique personality, and I thought they would make a great part of a baby gift.  Heck, I wanted one for me.

I'm still busy cleaning out and nesting.  I had a great time at my family reunion last weekend, and then some of my family came to visit this weekend, which was really fun and relaxing.  It is so great to see your family get to know and love your child the way that you do.

On a few random notes-- it seems a lot of us are constantly fighting a battle against too much stuff in our lives, and I thought these bhappybags that swissmiss pointed out last week are just great.  I am constantly trying to find new homes for bags that shops give me for purchases, and I am resolving to cut back on this wastefulness.  Has anyone seen a great pattern for this style of bag?  I must confess that I would love some in a khaki linen.  (OK, how boring am I?)

A few more random notes- I noticed recently that Denyse Schmidt is carrying her own fabric on her website, and I'd always love to see an artist get a bigger piece of the pie.  Also, I would bet that she will keep a decent stock of them since she has a vested interest.  I've noticed a lot of the other online fabric shops have run short on some of the most popular patterns.

And finally, Danny Seo has changed the format of his blog to include a lot more fun decorating and crafting ideas, so check it out.

Maybe I'll get motivated in the next few days and you'll actually see some crafting around here! 

Wiry Terrier Patchwork

A new kind of patchwork, immediate gratification.  Our new playroom rug arrived today, and I quickly assembled it during Elliot's nap.  No pattern, just a random assortment of neutrals and greens in a style called Housepet.  Sort of feels like your walking on a wiry terrier.  I ordered too much, but math has never been my strong point.  The cot has also arrived and is waiting for its cover.  More as it progresses.

Botanicals Part II

Sorry I have been such a slacker lately.  I've been busy with non-crafty things-- still decorating-- and then we were out of town for the weekend, and now I'm a little under the weather.  I just wanted to get back to you all with a few more thoughts about botanical imagery.  The above picture is from an old (don't have it handy for a date) Martha Stewart Living, and it is the only picture I have ever, or probably ever will cut out of my collection of her magazines.  I tried my own version of it a few years back, and although I love the MSL version so much better, I did like the way mine turned out. 

I literally dragged this from the basement for this photo.  I would like to rework it in the future by finding a frame with some depth and printing the leaves on old book pages for some added dimension.   Some words of advice to anyone who may try this-- it is pretty easy to do and would be suitable for older kids.  You really only need two pieces of glass, two brayers, and the paper-- and of course the leaves!  But my very best tip is-- make all of your prints on white office paper, then scan them and print them on pretty paper.  This saves you from wasting tons of the more expensive papers because many of your prints will be not-so-great and you probably won't use them.  And you can have your scans forever if you ever want to print tham again.  In fact, when I get a chance I'll drag my old G3 up from the basement to transfer some files over and I'll share these old ones with all of you.  Look for those in the next few weeks.

Manic Decorating

(photo from Blueprint Summer 2006)

Every once and a while I go through a phase where I feel like any day the decorating police are going to show up and say, "what the heck have you been doing all this time?", so I really must get all of my decorating projects finished ASAP, preferably this weekend.  The past week has been one of these times.  Unfortunately there has been much thinking, very little doing.  First, we traveled for a few days, then relaxed the weekend away, and now Elliot is refusing to take naps again (except today-- hooray!), so I have gotten nothing accomplished.  I have had time to gather some ideas though...

Do you have one of those binders filled with pages you've torn from magazines dreaming of rooms you will create someday?  If not, you really must start one TODAY.  It is such a great thing to have when trying to make decorating decisions, furniture purchases, etc., because although you may not even know it consciously, you probably have a fairly defined style.  When looking through mine over the past few days, I have found it rather comical to see common threads among hundreds of pictures.  These books help you avoid the trap of buying trendy items rather than those you'll love for the long haul.

For me, it is spare clean spaces, neutral backgrounds, lots of khaki, white and black with touches of greens thrown in (and the necessary contrast of red or orange), and finally, botanical imagery is a major inspiration of mine.  I love graphic images and collections of quirky objects, sort of like the Joseph Cornell artwork I mentioned last week.  Rocks, eggs, nests...you would think from these interests that I would have actually enjoyed some of those science classes I had to take way back in my school days.

I am re-working my family and toy rooms, which adjoin each other.  All of the main furniture pieces will stay, because I start with neutrals (yay for khaki!) and can change out soft furnishings as I feel like it.  I'm going to try and create a shady feel to my family room with greens and blues, and will continue the look into the toy room, since they are really one big space.  I have been wanting a window seat/reading nook for Elliot, and today I remembered the article from a recent Martha Stewart about slipcovering a camp cot, so $69.99 later (with free shipping) our hardwood camp cot is on its way.  Bamboo blind samples and rug samples  for the toy room have been ordered, and now, I just have to find some fun fabrics.  Over time I would like to make some simple Denyse Schmidt inspired pillows and throws (like those picture in Blueprint above), so I need to sort through some Kona solids and order some of those.  But I'd also love to get my hands on some vintage botanical prints like these from the March 2006 Martha Stewart Living.

and this crewel fabric from Metropolitan Home May/June 2001 is pretty amazing...

Here's a fun fabric find on a recent thrifting trip that may be of some inspiration--

If anyone has any great sources for vintage botanical fabrics-- please let me know...