Garden Sweet Garden!

I'm sorry, but I must call out the slobs that we bought our house from 6 years ago. I remember when the hubby brought me to the house for the first time. I was skeptical (wouldn't you be?), but after I saw the character inside, I was hooked! Brick fireplace, 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, built in cabinets, granite countertops...1200 square feet (ouch). Anyway, those people made out like BANDITS. We're the suckers.

Anyway, I digress. There was not one SHRED of landscaping at our house. So after 6 years, a free landscape plan from my Landscape Architect friend, several thousands of dollars in hardscape and softscape, and several trips to Eastern Market and Bordine's, I think we're pretty much done now! Well, except for replacing two lavenders that bit the big one after this freakish winter-summer-winter.

New feet within my garden go,

New fingers stir the sod;

A troubadour upon the elm

Betrays the solitude.

New children play upon the green,

New weary sleep below;

And still the pensive spring returns,

And still the punctual snow!

~Emily Dickinson

Ben is the Devil Incarnate (& You Too, Jerry!!!!)

For the love of God, do NOT even taste this stuff. I think it has crack in it...

Berry Crazy & PRIZE FOR BEST IDEA!

I don't know if it's summer or what, but I'm totally into strawberries. I am really REALLY in love with My Paper Crane lately and especially these cute lil' guys. Second, I have decided I need some bins for any future craft shows I may do, and I like the idea of the wooden quart baskets that are primarily used for strawberries. My parents live in a farming town, so I'm going to see if Mom can score some from me. Lastly, I s'pose I liked my plain kraft shopping bags with my round Girl Land logo sticker alright for the Micetsy show, but I also like THESE shopping bags!!!


I also wanted to post a pic of the cute fat quarters for my Yo Yo Clown doll project that will not be coming to fruition. Anybody got any ideas? I'm thinking hair things for little girls and brooches made of yo yo's, and maybe some nightlights. How about you give me an idea, and the best suggestion gets a little gift from me!! Just leave a comment on this post before, sayyyyy...May 31 with your idea? Since I don't sew with a machine, my options are pretty limited, but a small amount of hand sewing is A-OK. If (when?) we get a bigger house, I vow (Aunt Judy) that I am going to take up sewing.

Off to watch the Lost Season Finale! Anyone else think that Kate is a huge beotch to Sawyer? I don't know what her prob is because he's way hotter than Jack. On that note...I'm audi 5.

MICE Craft Extravaganza Part Deux

What was I saying? Oh, sorry didn't post yesterday. Got lazy. And I'm getting overwhelmed! I'm working on a wholesale order for this company and maybe more. Whoo hoo! They ordered some door hangers and I promised delivery in July sometime. Plus, I also applied for the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. Dunno if I'll get in, but will need to make more stuff if I do. Good thing is that I have MUCH left over from Saturday.

I was all bummed that I felt too nerdy to take a picture of my table, but then I discovered that the NY Etsy girls had taken one and posted it on their Etsy Lab Blog! Yayyyyyy!!! That's my beady head peeking up over the green trinket box and blue pail. My (imaginary?) friend Kristin is behind the person in black. To my right is Katie aka RedThread DIY whose cute parents showed up and I think they brought her cookies too or something.

So the rest of my stash bought at the Micetsy show-- a HateMail card from Carol Lee Designs (not THIS exact one, but I like this one too), an aqua/red card from Christine Carol, an owl kitty toy from Design Chic, and a sweet bird necklace from Relishdress. Mr. Owl has already lost a wing in the line of duty. Damn cats.

Not to change the subject, but...had a big idea to try to make a Yo Yo Clown that went down the pooper today. What's a Yo Yo Clown? Here is a pic of a scary duo. Aren't these freaky cute? They'll haunt your dreams, but maybe in a good way? This is from an eBay listing, so I stole the pic (sorry). But please, someone BUY THEM! I can't justify, and they need a home.

For those as sew-illiterate as I am, a yo yo is a little gathered disc of fabric that makes up the arms, legs, and body of these dudes. Anywho, went to the quilt shop to buy a few fat quarters, came home and realized I'd be having to make like 70 yo yo's per doll. Uhhhh...so I'm going to just make some other stuff with yo yos. I'm sure I'll think of something. Ohhhh, the fat quarters are just loverly! I am going to have to post pics of those later this week.

MICE Craft Extravaganza Part Une

The Craft Extravaganza was yesterday, and it was great! I met some really great people and was told about the Detroit Urban Craft Fair on August 4, so I think I just may apply! How exciting. There was a steady stream of people. I sold like 15 things, so I was HAPPY with that. Should have made more of some things, less of others, but now I know.

Forgot to post this article from the Royal Oak Mirror last week! I was quoted and they showed a pic of one of my trinket boxes. I felt prettttty cool.

A hello to all my new friends (especially tablemates Chain Chain Chained & RedThreadDIY, Sparklepants, organizers Precious Pups and Design Chic and cool dude Kill Taupe), to my friend, Kristin, who helped me man my table in exchange for free sushi, and thanks to everyone who bought stuff and those who complimented my stuff and display. That was pretty dang awesome. Sigh.

Oh, and I will also post tomorrow about the SWEEEEEET stuff I bought. One of my faves is this little ditty from Citizen Jane (photo courtesy of her as well). No, model is not me (I wish I were that skinny).

A Graphic Designer I Am Not

So I was messing around with trying to come up with a male counterpart to my female silhouette logo. Here is what I came up with:

It just looks weird and creepy! Dave wanted to know why the boy rabbit was holding a basket. Sigh. It reminds me of Donnie Darko. I sorely need help. I'm in the midst of begging Rakel for some (hopefully inexpensive) help. Did you know that being a graphic designer is my most perfect job? Well, at the moment anyway. Goodbye, city planning, hellooooooo creating cool stuff! Just kiddin, Nik. After this experiment, I think I'd better stick to my day job anyway.

I Heart Anthropomorphic Woodland Animals (The Making of a Logo)

Dave just saw Inland Empire. He told me I'd like the scenes showing a rabbit family that reminded him of my logo. As one article put it, "a dark version of Goodnight Moon". I then read that David Lynch had made these online-only short films and thrown them into the movie for no apparent reason. I was a big Twin Peaks fan, so I can't wait to watch them all.

I think my love of anthropomorphic animals started with one of my favorite toys as a kid, The Woodseys. My parents still have the log and all the lil' squirrel guys and furniture too. Thus my love of enchanted woodland folk began!

A fellow Etsyer, Ingero, was kind enough to create my logo for me based on some ideas I gave her. Among my inspirations were Etsy faves The Black Apple, Magic Jelly, and Art & Ghosts. Basically I told Ingero "something creepy cute". All the while, I had this video in my head as well. Radiohead is one of my all-time favorite bands I do believe...and this video, the epitome of creepy cute: There There by Radiohead.

Mother's Day Booty

My second mother's day was very lovely! The hubby went way overboard with gifts and actually snuck out of the house under false pretense Saturday afternoon to shop. His story was that he was meeting his friend for a beer at the RO Brewery. He even went so far as to make up conversations when I asked about what his friend had to say. SNEAKY SNEAKY!

Now I'm screwed for Father's Day. I have a big act to follow. He bought me stationery (I can't have enough) and both Quinn and me aprons from Anthropologie, new pajamas, tulips from Westborn, and the Amy Winehouse cd! Goodness. Dig my apron's crazy owl print! So cute. I loved my card too-- right up my alley.

We had a wonderful time with my parents. Mom and I bought and planted some flowers. We grilled out and had strawberry shortcake. Then I took a nap after they went home. T'was the perfect day!

Cute Things on a Friday

Well, I'm no longer driving a hoopdie. For those of you who don't know, Q and I were off to start our day on Wednesday, walked into the garage, and found my Passat's backseat driver's side window shattered. What the fudge? Took til today to get the window in.

As I was driving from the collision shop to work this morning, I passed right by Anthropologie and lo and behold, there was an open parking spot right in front. It was a sign from God. So I stopped, I looked, I listened (they were playing the Amy Winehouse cd), and I bought just a little something. These cute salt & pepper shakers! Ryan asked, "Do they match anything?" and I said NO! That's what's so cool about Anthropologie-- they don't HAVE to match anything. The iridescent bunny I bought from Urban Outfitters last summer for a song.

I also received my I See France necklace from Regina today. She's a fellow Micetsyer. Brass and gold are normally not my bag-- I'm a white gold/silver girl, but for this necklace I made an exception. You can see why! It's so adorable. Oh, how I do love Paris! And now I love my Paris necklace.

One last cutie pie thing-- my co-worker dug this book out that was her (grown) daughter's favorite book. Very sweet illustrations. Her daughter felt the need to draw in it quite extensively. Just a sign that it was very loved!!!!

TGIF! Can't wait to sleep in tomorrow! And Mom and Dad are coming Sunday for Mother's Day and we are going to Royal Oak in Bloom. Should be a fun weekend. My second mother's day-- how fun!

The Crafties Are Coming, The Crafties Are Coming!

I cannot WAIT! Oh, the anticipation. Plus, we have a nice sized ad on Page 9 of the Home Universe section of the Metro Times thanks to Danielle and Heidi.

Speaking of 93.9 The River, I am listening to it right now, and I am never turning the channel. When did they stop playing easy listening??? I'm out of the loop. They are playing my Amy Winehouse song right now. I've heard it a zillion times before, but I never get sick of it. Other songs I never get tired of: Smile by Lily Allen, Wake Up by Arcade Fire and Phantom Limb by The Shins!

Flea Market Finds!

The flea market was insane! It was so huge. There was everything from fake Coach bags to tools to jadite bowls to old school Strawberry Shortcake TV trays (that I used to have!). I was there for 2.5 hours and I only saw my friend ONCE. I didn't even linger at tables-- I was on a mission. And it still took me that long.

So here are my finds. Three planters (a cat from Japan, a treestump with deer, and a plain turquoise), a bunch of retro wrapping paper (my favorite find!), some kid's books, a linen with an embroidered owl that says "Tuesday" on it, a rubber stamp of a bunny in a dress, and a cool framed fabric picture with silhouette of a little boy (my other favorite).

Here are some of the other things I've been working on for the craft show too. My favorite are these mushroom earrings. Ryan helped me name them-- Aural Fixations. Ha! I love it. He had another name, but I nixed it as it was a bit pervy (use your imagination). I made single magnets as part of my promo packs with the same mushroom but made these into earrings. I bought the plain butterfly backs, but the earrings are a little heavy, so I need to get the disc ones. I also like these strawberry push pins. They were made from some scanned fabric scraps my mom gave me. Besides more trinket boxes, placemats, gift tags and dioramas, I also made these cool paperweights! They were made from vintage birth announcement cards. How scary are they? I love them. I made them with either blue or pink felt backs.

Now trying to recuperate before the new week begins. I hate Sundays. Although comparatively, today wasn't bad!

Like a Bowl of Cherries!

So Karen met me at work to drop off the super cute smocked cherry top and polka dot ruffled capris for Miss Q. I can't wait for her to wear it! I am thinking I might ask her to make a matching pair of panties too so she could wear it as a sunsuit (is that a dated term or what?).

On a crafty note, my neighbor, Lindsay, was so nice to come over and help me make my swag bag promos for the upcoming Micetsy show. We made glass bead magnets with my card in little cellophane bags (thanks, Jessie) with a coupon sticker and coordinating ribbon on the back! You like? I was pretty happy with how they turned out. The mushroom is part of my logo. I am also making earrings out of them for the show!

Now they're all packed up and ready to deliver to Danielle tomorrow. Yay.

This weekend, some fun stuff planned. Saturday, Amy and Amelia Q and I will walk downtown Royal Oak since it's supposed to be nice. Sunday I'm meeting my friend, Dave, at unnamed downriver speedway (yeesh) for their bi-annual flea market/antique show. He says it's good 'un although I'm a bit skeptical. He's been scouting for me a wee bit although he cannot part with any of the things he buys. He "loans" them to me. From a Fort Wayne flea market a few weeks back, he got some kid's playing cards (he collects them), some books, a piece of linen fabric with dancing teapots, glasses, and sugar bowl on it, and my favorite, a whole bag of clown head cupcake toppers probably from the 60s. I'm like, "What are you going to do with a bag of clown heads?" and he's like, "But they're so f'ing cool!" and I could not dispute...could notttt dispute. Will report later on the downriver adventure...