And Then It Was November!

Pumpkin Boots for my new niece or nephew!

Howdy Do Bloglandeers,

Today I found myself doing some holiday craft supply and birthday gift shopping, and just ACCOSTED by carols in every shop. Certainly, as I buy the bottle brush mini trees and the tag paper  cones, I am thinking "Holiday", but the music just about freaked me out.
Really? Already? Not even a mix? 
And playing in every store.
So now, I guess it's just all Holiday from now... until January. No wonder people get so stressed out this time of year. I love carols, but I need moderation.

To be fair it, wasn't just the ever so slightly premature jing- jing- jingling that un-nerved me. It also may had something to do with the fact that normally, by now, I am well on my way with my Handmade Holidays: projects picked, lists made, and even a portion of the sewing/creating completed. This November 1st, I don't think I have done item one. I don't even have a plan. I have an inspiration board on Pintrest, but it's whimsical, not practical (which made it much more fun to make... by the way).

I expect lots of blogs are probably all geared up with a full schedule of tutorial goody goodness, adorable pdf printable checklists, and all manner of comfort and joy, but I think I'll just be documenting my strategies and plans as I fully punt my way through the next two months. I need to find awesome fast, fun gifts to make, I need to find time for me and my family to celebrate and socialize and I want to leave stress at the doorstep.

My other goals are that I want to do is get back on the blogwagon AND focus on the holiday at hand...
So, I plan to blog every day in November about something I am grateful for...
(as well as the progress and process of the Handmade Holidaze Unprepared.)

A Full Month of Thanksgiving.

November 1st: 

I am grateful (and excited) that my sister invited me to be there when she has her baby.

I think this is going to be fun.
Anyone want to join me?
It's easy.
We all have so much to be thankful for.

Thankfully yours,

Betty

a little Spring inspiration...

 

1. Felix again!, 2. Frida Barbie, 3. Crochet Mini Pink Mushroom House Sculpture, 4. Catstache, 5. felt bunny, 6. Two Face Doll in a Jar (#4), 7. "fly home now", 8. Just off Rose Street, 9. IMG_4766, 10. DSCN2817, 11. Untitled, 12. g is for green. Explore F.P. :), 13. 69 of 365, 14. face, 15. WP #027, 16. me as a peacock

I'm looking forward to my April. My Niece's Birthday. My Custom Easter Basket job. The blooming. The spring sewing to refresh my wardrobe.  The Gardening... even the spring cleaning. 

Okay, I'm looking a bit more forward to the clean house than I am the cleaning process itself.

But I think I love you, April.

Ps. The Chick 'N Carts are in my etsy shop. Free Shipping. Happy Spring.

It Was A Very Hairy Holiday

I made a different needle felted mustache for everyone in the family. (I got the idea from a zillion different folks on the internet. Thanks!!) The Mustaches all had names. Smiley Joe, Mister Wispy, Ultimate Barbershop, Santa Has a Harley, Standard Cop in blonde, Western,  Fireman in Pink. The Pushbroom, The GrinchManChu, and Ultimate Viking featuring braids.

And My Family Wore Them.And we got Pictures.

I Love These Guys!

PS: absolutely zero wrapping on Christmas Eve. Yes, It felt Very Good.

What to Do with Your Weekend Flotsam and Jetsom

(please click to enlarge.. bigger is better for these!)

These pieces are by a local Santa Cruz artist, Rocky Wagers from a show he had at the Felix Kulpa gallery where my son used to take guitar lessons. (We miss our guitar teacher, Isaac. We hope he comes back to town. If anyone is nearby, and has a recommendation for another guitar teacher.. we are interested!)

The artist owns one of the local Antique Stuff stores, "Mr. Goodies"(my personal fave), so presumably has access to a lot of super fabulous semi-broken random articles, which he puts together in amusing ways.

This one is called the Garden Party. I must have the invitation around here somewhere. They look like my friends!

Anyway, they reminded me of the impending Spooky Holiday and I though you might enjoy.







I leave you with this..
Maybe, if properly sorted, there is no real trash after all.


Now off I go to play in San Francisco with my son, all freshly 12 years old.
Hurray.

And Up Came her Head and it was Tuesday Already.

Tuesday! (email me, Tuesday! .. Blogger is providing me zero info on you, mystery lady.)
You are the shoe winner! (Just to clarify: I bought them (the only pair, on sale) hoping my feet would suddenly be smaller and it sadly never happened.. And they were never ever worn.. But hurrah for a second chance!)

Kirsten Schueler will also get a present because she has the same birthday as my son..
She was the first to comment ... And I like that about her.

Well, I spent the weekend with a bit of a migraine on Saturday (indulged much? hmmm..) and the last crafty thing I did was make some "slightly bigger than change purses" from the photo tutorial on Practically Necessary by Kerry.






Not only is Kerry just a real fashionable member of the New Vintage Wardrobe crew.. in her bike riding apron ensembles.. She makes the cutest hats anywhere too. Another birthday treat for me? Stay tuned on that one for sure!

The pouches are a really great way for me to make something cool and practical with some of my Handprinted Fabric Swap fabric that I got from Micha over at Baking with Medusa. I am making cool pouches to hold a little bit of embroidery gear or a tiny felt animal that needs hand-stitching.( I like to have a porta-craft or two at the ready, as I am spending a great deal of time in the offices of expensive dental professionals these days. My darling son gets his braces on in 7 days...... duh da duh! Just 3 days before HIS birthday.. wah wah wah.)

But back to Micha. She has a new blog project that I just LOVE. Handmade Family. Check it out. I am tearing through the old photos to find something to send her. I must have a zillion things, back from mom and grandma's crafty days of yore.

And speaking of love.. Meet Milo.





We got him from the "pound" on Sunday. Critters aren't "presents" so I won't call him that.. but I have to say this wild little guy makes every morning a party... so hence, another celebratory event in our Birthday Season.
He flung himself at the bars of his little cage and begged us to please pick him. He was very convincing. And we are all head over heels with Captain Charisma.

OOH.. More give aways coming up:
A fantastic handblown glass cocktail ring by artist Karen Carston.. runs really big. size 8, I think.
Photos coming soon.

Back to Life.. Back to Reality...

Yesterday was the first day back to school.

Yesterday I accomplished:

Deep cleaning my bedroom to get ready for a photo shoot in there.
That included scrubbing the floors. Hands and Knees style.

I canned 5 quarts of whole peeled tomatoes, my first batch, ever




I made a pillow cover and valence for my son's room out of thrifted mod animal fabric.




I worked on my next outfit for New Vintage

I started on and nearly finished a collage for my bedroom.



I finally got some overdue mail out.

I signed up for the "organic veggie box"

I filled out a ton of stuff for school

I worked on my next video


I am so relieved it is "Back to School"..
I feel like my old self again.

It's All Fair...

Here is a mosaic of my happy Handmade Parade love.

I got the house needle book from carolyn of laughingduck
And the wee Bear is from missy ballance ( The creature lovin the bear is from Ardent Curse. I got him awhile back. Love him too.
And the pattern lady cards from claire of little lovelies

It was a great day and I am glad I am going to get to see some of my new friends again when I go to the the Maker Faire this weekend.

Click To Play

I really can't recommend this fair enough. My son wants us to get there before it opens so we can be first in line "to do everything", and we aren't to leave until they kick us out.. Last year he said this Faire is better than Disneyland. Check Out Bre Pettis on this video. I met him taping my upcoming Egg Art Episode of CraftLab CraftLab with Austin Craft Mafia's Jennifer Perkins, last fall. (Bre is techno super crafty . Boy craft. Lovin' that.)



I was in the Bazaar Bizarre Crafts show at the Maker Faire last year, but I was sooo busy sewing up New Vintage clothes this year I let that application deadline sneak by me.

I was so sad ( It was my favorite event of the Whole Year last year) until I realized that I will be able to run around the whole Faire unfettered this time.. Ya- Hooooooo!!! There are all these craft and hack workshops and demos and creative wildness everywhere... and last year I was relatively "booth bound". Not This Year. I am going to try everything!


I am also getting ready for next month, when the fair's Just Keeep Coming!!!!

I am going to be participating in C is 4Craft here in Beeeeauuutiful Santa Cruz. Ya'll should come down for the weekend. Craft Faire, Boardwalk. You'd just love it. I am very much looking forward to their list of participants and will share when I get it.


Meanwhile.. Hey, will I see you at the Maker Faire?

Livin' The Dream

Okay.. so Yesterday I had a perfect day.
I met with a lady about a custom necklace ( pretty lovely way to start the day)..
Then I treated myself to a GorillaPod on my way to have a full throttle Jam Packed Adventure with the dazzling and wickedly funny Sonya of Knit Sonya and her son, Cyrus.

We met at Tail of the Yak.


I induged in Embroidered Ribbon and Japanese Fruit Beetle Shells.. What I really wanted was the stuffed Emu. While we were there we actually met Anandamayi Arnold, the lady who makes the crepe paper "surprise" gifts that you might see in the current issue of Mary Englebreit magazine this month.

Next, we went Ici ... It is just around the corner. The shop is a visual as well as a gastronomical feast.



I got a caramel and chocolate cone, Sonya got a honey lavander and our wee companion enjoyed straight up chocolate in the dish.. the ice cream was Great But The Cones Were Perfect. When Sonya asked if we could take pictures the owner said"Please just write nice things on your Blog.."

Oh jeez... are we that obvious?



But really she was so very nice, and so were the treats.
It was not a big surprise when we saw Anandamayi there as well.

Into the car and off to Stone Mountain Fabric Stone Mountain Fabric store which blew my mind in all the right ways. I loved it! I was controlling myself this time and bought stuff for a project that I have coming up...




But next time i will bring a big list and all my allowance because I fell in love about 30 times in there.

The last stop before I had to tear off for home and my darling boy was The Center for Creative Reuse. Hello? Score!


I love Berkeland..( It is in the block where one city becomes the other I think.) What could be better? Crazy bins of stuff to sift through and then Gems... absolute GEMS!!!!







And who should we run into but Anandamayi! She said, "Did you go to Poppy Fabric?" "No, Stone Mountain.." Apparently she usually goes to Stone Mountain.. But Poppy was having a big sale. ( Wha?)
Okay? that was pretty funny. I guess the creative shopping circuit was successfully completed.

Thanks Sonya! Great Day.. But now back to reality!!!


And btw: the egg class was good and kinda crazy... and mostly really fun. Very Small group which worked out perfectly.
I will be posting pictures of that tomorrow with the "Non Denominational Spring Egg and Rabbit Decor" shots from our culturally mixed cabin in the redwoods.. ( My Dear Boy Jake says he is "half Jewish- half vegetarian...")

Yup, a B'lated Happy Passover to ya! (No, Not a Fan of the Gefilte Fish. I 'm definitely more of the chocolate bunny type..)