carrie girl

love these.

i should be shopping for gifts for other people, but i can't stop buying things for myself. for instance, these lovely storage jars from fishs eddy. they're on sale for $18.96 for the whole set! i almost got the floral juice glasses, too, but i do know my limits...that, and i already have a set of juice glasses.

i also bought a swimsuit on bluefly which is weird because it is 10 degrees here in iowa, and i am so pale that i might blind innocent bystanders. i am 99% sure i'm going to take them up on their 60 day return policy, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

i'm sure everyone has read this article on etsy in the ny times already, but i thought i'd pass it along just in case. i admit that i am a fan of reading etsy's article quit your day job, and catch myself daydreaming about what my life might look like if i got to do carrie girl for a living, so this was a really interesting read.

wise old owls

oh yeah. those are definitely giant owl lights in my shopping cart. i nearly pushed over several people to get to these...my thrifting techniques may be unorthodox, but they work! the fluorescent lighting in the thrift store didn't make for good picture taking, but these are amazing. at the moment, i don't have an outdoor space and they are really, really big, so i'm not sure the apartment can handle them. they might need to hang out in the closet for the time being until i can properly display them. if only i had a giant christams tree, then i would use these as my christmas lights...maybe next year.

oh, hello friend

hop on over to oh, hello friend for a chance to win this penelope clutch and read a little interview with yours truly! 

shop update

the weather gods are smiling down on me because due to nearly a foot of snow, i've had the last two days of school off. i feel totally rested and ready to to tackle the huge job of handmade christmas gifts. i was also able to update my shop with some jewelry wallets and clutches.

while i was at renegade last weekend, ted sneaked over to the apartment and put up a tiny tree for me.  i didn't think i'd have time to get one, nor the energy for it, so it was a nice surprise. we're slowly working on things, but for now it is just nice to decorate the tree and share a big bottle of rogue hazelnut brown nectar.

it is nothing short of a miracle that i made it through work today. this last weekend was such a whirlwind, and the build up to it was crazy, but all the stress and broken needles and worrying was so worth it. renegade was a-ma-zing! i can't even begin to tell you how nervous i was--if you could have been inside my head this is what it would have sounded like...what if my booth looks bad? what if i can't work the credit card machine? what if nobody buys anything? what if? what if? what if? this is the carrie that my friend katy put up with for the first 30+ minutes of the day on saturday. she was the perfect helper--she kept me very sane and calm and reassured me that everything would be just fine. and it was.

this was the only decent picture i could get--we were set up in front of a window so it was super bright, which didn't make for good picture taking, but it was great for a cool breeze when the room was packed full of shoppers! i met some really amazing people (even a couple blog readers!) and got to chat with some really talented artists. all-in-all i had a really wonderful time---now i'm looking forward delicious indian food tonight and a very early bedtime!

*cough* *cough*

what better time is there to be hit with a raging case of bronchitis than the week before a huge craft fair, right? this week has been absolutely nuts. there has been sewing, gatorade drinking, napping, whining, freaking out, napping some more and a little more sewing. i didn't finish nearly enough inventory, but i have what i have and that will just have to be enough. on top of everything i'm ridiculously nervous about the whole thing, but i've got pandora set to motown christmas songs and i'm trying to remain calm.

if any of you readers are planning on attending renegade i'll be in room 200, so stop by and say hello--i'd love to meet you! 
 

mad about plaid

i was looking for something small and quick to make for renegade so that i'd have a range of price points. i found a quilt top that was made up of 4x4 wool and polyester plaid squares at the thrift store and bought it without knowing what i'd do with it...i really can't turn down that much plaid. i brought it out the other night and remembered i had a button maker so i thought i'd give it a go. while watching season 1 of felicity (total comfort tv) i cranked out over 30 of these. it was a bit of a challenge with the thicker fabric, but i think they'd look really great on a winter coat or bag.

moving right along

41 jewelry wallets finished! i think know i've reached my tiny pocket limit! i hope this is enough for renegade because i don't think i have it in me to make any more of the little guys. i'm moving on to clementines next.

i'm heading to kansas city on wednesday for a super quick thanksgiving trip. while eating leftovers and watching football i will be covering 400 buttons for thumbtacks. i ordered flat back buttons, so that should cut back on production time, but my fingers hurt just thinking about it!

i'm here--just buried under a pile of scraps and half-finished projects. this is going to be a crazy weekend of sewing and cutting and more sewing and more cutting. i honestly couldn't be happier!

 

i'm also loving this iphone app.

 

just because

my new "in between" coat. i've been searching for something heavier than a jacket but lighter than my down parka for those chilly days that don't require sub-zero outerwear. i found this coat over on ruche and absolutely love it.

i preordered this from cicada studio. i love this design, and can't wait to start 2010 off right with the perfect calendar.