carrie girl

a whole year?!

i started this little blog exactly one year ago today. i thought a lot about what i'd like to write on this occasion, and had started a few sentences, but promptly erased them because they were a bit too corny.  i guess all i can say is thank you--i'm a lucky girl to have this community.

in honor of my one year of blogging, and to say thank you for all your support and inspiration, i'm doing a little giveaway.  because i'm out of town until mid-august, the winners won't receive the packages until that time, but that just gives me more time to make them that much better!  so here goes--just leave a comment, just to say hi or maybe tell me one thing you'd like to see more of, or some sage crafting/blogging advice i can take with me into my next 365 days.  on tuesday, july 8th, i'll pick two names out of a jar, and send those lucky readers a vintage goodness/handmade by me package.  i'm thinking two of these little deer need new homes...

thanks again for a wonderful first year!

flour

since i've been mulling over the idea of trying to sew up a few dresses, i've been looking around for some inspiration.  i stumbled upon flour clothing and was totally blown away by the amazing style this woman has.  her designs are exactly how i'd love to dress every day of my life, and exactly how i'd love to dress my kids (if i had any.) the first link is her new blog, but her old one has some really  beautiful clothes for adults.  i am truly inspired to dust off my sewing machine, and truly intimidated at the same time!

sunny

it snowed yesterday---actual flakes fell from the sky, but mother nature seems to be back on track today with sunny skies and a high of 52.  let's hope she can keep it together.

i realized my last post about actual sewing was back on april 5th.  has it been that long? i've been pretty focused on my gocco and the computer, so i guess something had to give.  i think my creative interests go in waves...right now it's screen printing, next month it will be something else (hopefully back to sewing!)

these beautiful beads are from a great etsy store called atomic veggie. 

colonel mustard

this is my new favorite color--i mean, green will always be my favorite favorite color, but mustard yellow has been on the brain lately.  this particular yarn will become viking braids for one of the half dozen projects i have strewn about my studio. i'm finding that carving out some crafting time in the evenings this week is going to be difficult.  i signed up for a class at the local community college to really learn how to use adobe illustrator, so that lasts from 5:30-9:30. my first class is tomorrow night which means i'm going to miss out on watching the pennsylvania returns. BUT, it is a class on the computer which means i'll have internet access and, in turn, access to a myriad of political websites so as not to miss all the pundit banter. in truth, i'm just really ready for this to be over...is there a light at the end of this tunnel?

i've decided to have my first sale in the ye olde vintage shoppe.  if you've been eyeing anything in the shop, now is your chance to snatch it up for 30% off through april 27th!  all you have to do is enter the discount code, COLONELMUSTARD, into your 'notes to seller' box.

here's more details about how it's going to work...

1. first add an item from my shop to your cart and start the check out process.
2. enter the code in the 'notes to seller' and the email address where the revised invoice should be sent.
3. complete the order but do NOT go to paypal to pay.
4. you will receive a revised invoice, and a link to complete payment, via email reflecting the 30% off.

crazy for pyrex

since i've started going to thrift stores pretty much every week and selling the things that i find, i have really cut back on the amount of items that i keep for myself.  i think, in part, starting my vintage store was a way for me to recycle some of the really amazing things that i've had on a shelf or in my cabinets and give them a new life in another space.  while i have definitely cut back on my vintage intake, i haven't totally kicked the "keep if for myself" habit when it comes to pyrex.  man, i love this stuff.  i bought my first dish (the olive green one in the top left corner) just because i needed a caserole dish and liked the color. i really loved it, and started keeping an eye out for new colors or shapes when i went thrifting.  right now, i have about 9 pieces all in different colors and shapes, and there's definitely more to be found.  i use the smaller ones to hold crafting supplies on my shelf, and the others for general kitchen purposes.   i fantasize about one day having a beautiful kitchen filled with colorful pyrex and the ability to whip up gourmet meals in an instant...in my pyrex.

scandinavian fever

i. love. this. book.

i ordered it on a whim on ebay, and totally forgot about it until i got back from brooklyn. when i walked onto the porch there it was, patiently waiting for me on my doormat.  don't you love when you forget you ordered something? it almost feels like you've surprised yourself with a gift.  it also probably means that you're ordering too much online, and you need to cut back.

since picking up some vintage nordic-like ribbon at a thrift store a couple months ago, i have been hooked on all things scandinavian. vikings, fjords, jens lekman, oh my! if i could knit, i'd knit one of these.  i'm thinking i might need to bust out the gocco for a little nordic themed printing.