confessions of a blueberry bandit

Getting Away from It All...

Thanks to abundant rain and sunshine, my peony is in full, breath-taking bloom...  The blossoms are so large and heavy that they are dragging on the ground.  And they smell absolutely heavenly...

See how it dwarfs my lobster-claw of a hand?

Andy & I have been immersed in a bit of sadness and stress recently, and we've decided to embark on a mini-getaway to Helen, Georgia.   It's a cute little alpine town surrounded by mountains and trees and waterfalls...  We'll only be gone a couple of days, but I'm hoping it will be relaxing and healing. 

I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend, too.  See you soon!

UPDATE!!!

Greetings, all!

First of all, I would like to thank all those lovely, thoughtful people who wished me a happy birthday!

Somehow I survived the Craftstravaganzaa, though I must admit that my sales were pretty disappointing.  The good news is that I had quite a few new items left over, and they have all been listed in my shop.  Finally, a proper update!!!

Olive

Apple

Sabina

Sunny

Etta

May Chickadee

A Good Hula Hoop is Hard to Find

Also some new cards and gift tags...

Whew, that was a lot of work!

I was able to spend some time in my garden, planting some new pretties and pulling a ridiculous amount of weeds (thank you to my mom for laboring with me on Mother's Day!)   I'll share some pictures as things start to grow.

Well, I'm off for a much-deserved nap.  I hope everyone has a lovely week!

♥

Thirty-Something...

Yesterday was my birthday, and I am now officially thirty-something...  Thirty-one, to be precise.  Andy & I celebrated with my family  (& my dear friend Anthropologie) Saturday and then had a quiet evening  at home with grilled-cheese sandwiches and Battlestar Galactica last night.  I'm pretty no-fuss when it comes to my own birthday...

And I finally finished my new painting:

A Good Hula Hoop is Hard to Find, acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 x 1.5"

I have loads and loads of work to accomplish this week...  And once the Craftstravaganzaa is over,  I'll be adding new items to my shop.  And working on a couple of custom orders and giving  my garden some much-needed TLC.  Sigh...

Thank you for all the recent  sweet comments that I have neglected to answer... I hope you know they mean a lot to me!

I hope everyone has a lovely Monday and a splendid week!

♥

Of business cards and sunshine...

I finally sat down and designed a business card recently.  My very first business card, if you can believe it!  The back side has polka-dots and all the necessary info...

I based it on this little ink drawing:

I've been working very hard to get ready for next weekend's  Craftstravaganzaa.   I needed to take a little break from all that sewing...

I'm going to spend the evening finishing up the painting I mentioned the other day.    I'll post some more progress later this weekend.

Have a lovely Friday!

- - ♥ - -

p.s.  Junebug is loooooving the warm sun this week.  She's feeling quite perky & confident again... so much that she brought a poor, unsuspecting chipmunk into the house this afternoon.  He managed to scurry away, but I think he's still hiding beneath my sofa...

Olive and her little yellow chickadee...

Hello! 

I have just a quick moment to give you a sneak-peak at someone who will be joining me next month at the Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa...  I'll be sharing a booth with my mom & my sister.  I have tons of work to do in preparation, but I'll be posting more progress every few days. 

See you soon!

p.s.  I promise to add new things to my shop soon!

Dancing with the White Rabbit...

(Sounds of suitcase unzipping...)  Greetings! 

I'm sorry to have disappeared down the rabbit hole for such a long time.  I have been ridiculously busy... settling back into life, learning to drive a stick-shift (attempting, rather), embarking on yet another business trip (this time beautiful, exotic Florida)...  re-resettling back into life.   Not to mention trying to stay crafty! 

I finally finished this sweet beret-clad birdie after many months of pushing it aside.  I'll be listing it in the shop this weekend.  (The flower is a removable brooch.)

I also have a new painting that is very near completion, but that will have to wait until another day. 

I haven't been able to dedicate much time to sorting through the hundreds of pictures from my adventures in Paris and New York City, but I'll go ahead and post a few.

My lovely cousin Kristina & her French love, Antoine...

The view out of Kristina's living room window...

My cousin lives on the edge of Montmartre (as seen in Amelie), down the hill from Sacre-Coeur...

Me, tired and sweaty after climbing all those steps...

And of course I had to ride the carousel...

Sacre-Coeur is beautiful at night (the view from a friend's window)...

The weather was pretty much like this the whole time I was in Paris (except colder and rainier)...

Yep, there it is...  I have been to Paris twice and still haven't managed to climb the Eiffel Tower...

I love this green tile in the train station...

The Colonnes de Buren in the courtyard of the Palais Royale.  They made me think of concentration camps and prisoners...

Shocking proof that it's ok to drink wine at work in France...

My first-ever (and hopefully last) flaming shot.  Consumed on my last night in Paris...

My BFF Kasia pushing the giant Alamo Cube in the East Village (New York)...

And getting a bit personal with the Mad Hatter in Central Park...

And that's me dancing with the White Rabbit...

And, finally, back home to my beautiful oak tree (and my sweet Andy, and my sweet Junebug)...

Sigh...  My travels were an amazing growing experience.  Scary at times, but amazing.  It might sound silly, but I am tremendously proud of myself for making it through my solo adventure.  I will try to post some more photos in the near future.  Now I'm off to enjoy the beautiful day and maybe even finish that painting.  I promise not to be so scarce from now on! 

Have a lovely weekend!

Jetsetter...

Well, I'm back from my adventures in Paris and New York!  I had a lovely, lovely time in both cities.   I have pictures and stories galore, which I promise to post very soon.  Tonight I am settling back in my nest with a very happy Junebug (who, incidentally, melted in my arms upon my return). 

(Apparently I like to close my eyes when visiting exciting places...)

See you soon!

Au Revoir...

Well, the tearful moment has finally arrived to say goodbye to my sweet Andy & my sweet Junebug and all of my sweet readers!  I have a long and grueling journey ahead of me, but tomorrow I will wake in Paris!!! 

Andy is embarking on a very exciting tour of his own next week... This means we will be apart for a solid month, save a brief rendezvous in New York to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary.  This might explain all the tears a bit...  Anyway, please take a look at Andy's tour dates, because he just might be appearing in your city soon!  He puts on a very funny and entertaining show, I promise!

I'll be back Sunday March 30 and  reopening the shop Monday, March 31st.   I may try to pop in for a quick hello every so often if I can.   I hope you all enjoy the rest of your March!  Wish me luck!

xoxo

p.s.  Sniff...

My Cherry Amour...

It may have been 72 degrees outside yesterday, but there's talk of snow tomorrow!  Cherry and her sweet little bluebird friend are ready with their matching scarves!  I will be listing them in the shop in just a moment...

This will most likely be the last morsel of progress before I leave for Paris.  As excited as I am, I've been having all sorts of anxiety-laden dreams about being mute and invisible, usually startled to find myself in places I never meant to find...  But it will all be OK!  Somehow I will pack my suitcase and navigate my way through airports and take my first solo taxi ride in a foreign country...  And then I will laugh at myself for being so neurotic about it all while I consume large amounts of fancy wine and cheese.

I want to share a recent addition to my little art collection, a painting by my friend Rizzie Gallego:

Little Boobies, painting on wood panel

I took one look at the tiny bunny slippers and the painting's name itself, and I knew it was meant to be!  (I'll let you deduce why I like the name so much...)  That Rizzie is a talented gal.

Well, I'm off to trade my paltry American dollars for some Euros.  It's going to hurt just a little bit.  I'll try to post again before I leave.  Have a lovely weekend!!!

Ruby, Ruby, when will you be mine?

This is Ruby and her beloved snake .  Ruby is quite the talented snake charmer...  Watch out, she just might charm her way into your heart! 

In light of being utterly overwhelmed at the moment, I will not be having a fancy-shmancy shop update.  But I will be listing Ruby in the shop this afternoon!  (I told you it wouldn't happen...)

My desperate hope is to complete one more softie to add to the shop tomorrow afternoon.   I've given it quite a bit of thought, and I think it will be best to close my shop while I'm off adventuring.   I am leaving for my big trip in exactly one week!!!  I'll be closing up shop Tuesday, March 11th and re-opening Monday, March 31st.  My shipping cut-off will be Tuesday the 11th.   

Speaking of March 11th...  I think everyone in the world knows at this point that Emily is going to be on the Martha Stewart show next week!!!  You should be sure to watch it if you can.  I think I'm going to have a little viewing party at my house that afternoon (and then make my guests help me pack my suitcase!)

I would like to thank all the lovely people who wrote kind words of advice about Single White Feline...  Junebug is a bit depressed, but she greatly appreciates the support.  I think it's going to be a long battle, but she'll be OK in the end.  Junebug's a tough little gal.

Well, the rest of the week is looking pretty hectic (working and agonizing over whether or not to vacuum-pack my clothes and preparing for Andy's birthday...).  I'm off to make a revised to-do list and breathe into a paper bag for a little while.  I should hopefully be back tomorrow with another new softie.  Have a lovely Wednesday!

Single. White. Feline.

Have you ever had a nemesis?  Not just for fun, but a real nemesis?

Junebug & I currently share a Nemesis with a capital N, otherwise known as Single White Feline.  This cat is the absolute bane of our existence.  For months this furry little sociopath has been taunting and bullying Junebug on a daily basis.  SWF has claimed our yard, our porch, our windowsills.  When I try to chase her away, she rolls seductively on my feet and stares triumphantly at Junebug.    SWF has even fashioned herself to look remarkably similar to Junebug... I've mistaken SWF for Junebug on many occasions (usually doing something bad, like running into the street).  Here's my sweet Junebug on the left, Single White Feline on the right:

Poor Junebug is a nervous wreck, and she has been to the vet twice with various wounds.  I have tried squirting, yelling, stomping, even keeping Junebug indoors.  Yesterday SWF finally went too far...  It was a refreshingly breezy afternoon, so I had the doors propped open for a little fresh air (old windows painted shut).  I walked into the living room and did a double-take as I saw not one, but TWO cats staring back at me!  Single White Feline just waltzed right into my house and proceeded to pick a fight on my rug!  I chased her away, but she just returned later in the evening and again this morning, and again this afternoon...  Junebug is growing more and more reluctant to go outside and enjoy the sunshine, and I am at my wit's end...

So what do we do about this cat?  Maybe I need to rent Single White Female and watch the ending... I'm pretty sure it involved someone falling out a window or being stabbed with a kitchen knife.  Sigh... 

No cheap impostor could ever replace Junebug in my heart or Andy's, for that matter.

I'm really going to miss my two loves while I'm off adventuring.

Which brings me to... Reluctant Progress Note #?:

I am leaving for Paris in exactly two weeks!  I have been rather preoccupied obsessing over all the tiny details and arrangements.  Unfortunately I've had to postpone my anti-update, but I am hoping, hoping to have some new softies ready by the end of the week.  Here's a sneak-peak at some new friends who are nearly finished (hopefully there will be more):

I will post again as soon as they are ready for the shop!

As usual I have loads of work waiting for me.  I would appreciate any advice on how to (humanely) get rid of a feline stalker.  I hope everyone is having a lovely week!  I'll leave you with a little hint of Spring...

Make My Day...

Hello!
I hope everyone survived Valentine's Day.  I spent a very non-romantic (but still lovely) afternoon in the warm sunshine with my sister and her two munchkins (my hubby had to work).  I had forgotten how fun it is to run and play with complete abandon... It was definitely the highlight of an otherwise crummy week.  I've had a terrible case of feeling-under-the-weather-blues the last several days, but I think I'll survive!

I shouldn't say the whole week was crummy, because I got to help a certain someone celebrate her 25th birthday!  I made this little embroidery piece for the special occasion:

I think it was a hit.  I had to fight myself to keep it simple, and in the end I felt so liberated!  I am definitely planning to make some more simple embroideries in the near future.

Speaking of making things...   I still have a stack of future-softies sitting in my studio.  I have the whole day off, and I'm planning to spend every moment I can sewing.  The softies have been selling the second I list them in the shop, so I might schedule a planned and previously-announced ____(insert word for " shop update").  I kinda hate to jump on the update bandwagon, but the softies are in such great demand!  I will make some sort of announcement once I figure out all the details (and an alternate way to phrase "shop update").  I wish I could promise all sorts of wonderful things like all the disciplined, productive ladies out there who have proper (frequent) updates, but I think we all know that's not going to happen!  Let's hope for 2 or 3 new softies, and maybe an embroidery.  Maybe.

Well, all that felt isn't going to sew itself... I guess I better get crackin'.  Enjoy your Monday!

- - - ♥ - - -

p.s.  A very heartfelt thanks to Lori Marie for giving me a "make my day award" last week...  Likewise, I'm sure!  I think I'm supposed to pass it on to others, so I hereby award each and every one of you who read my blog and send me so many nice comments!  You all make my day! 

Paris, je t'aime...

Greetings on this lovely Monday!

I have some very exciting news to share... I am going to Paris!!! It's official, the tickets are booked!  Technically it is a business trip, but I'm sure there will be time for fun and exploring.  I will finally get to meet my coworkers and have picnic lunches on the canal and...   I will be there for about 12 days in March, and then my plan is spend a few days working on a secret project with my BFF in New York.  I am giddy and scared all at once.   Watch out, I just might wet my pants.

I have been to Paris before -- I spent part of a summer there eight years ago.  It was under really terrible circumstances (traveling with boyfriend who had just "dumped" me, for lack of a better term...).  As you might imagine,  I am very happy to be able to give Paris another go!  Of course now there are a million details to figure out, plus a desperate attempt to expand my French beyond toddler level...

Well, I'm off for now.  I'll be back very soon with a new softie or two!

Bon lundi!

I'm Just Mad About Saffron...

...And Saffron's just mad about her tiny chickadee!  They are both in my shop.

Although I am not, in any way, looking forward to hot weather, I am longing for springtime colors.  Maybe that explains Saffron's sunny yellow, and also these recent (guilty) splurges:

My much-coveted and obscenely pricey pillow from Anthropologie...

And my new red mary-janes...

I have had lots of requests for softies lately, and I promise I am working on several!  They are painstakingly time-consuming (and I do have a full-time day job).  But I'm trying to add at least one new cutie each week.  It's the best I can do for now!  Here is proof that I am making progress:

Since the weather has been a bit nicer lately, Andy & I have made a new habit of walking to our local video store (rather than driving).  To make the long and not so scenic walk more interesting, we take turns being blind-- in other words, walking as long as we can with our eyes closed and not peeking at all!  It is so amazing to take in the sounds and smells and try to guage distance... and it is a pretty great exercise in trust.  I think we're both addicted to these walks and have, thus, come up with a million excuses to rent movies!  Next time you're out with a friend, you should give it a try.  Really.

Well, I'm off to take care of all that business waiting for me...  Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesdays and Cybele

I love you, computer.  Just trust in my love, and everything will be ok...

As you can see, Andy & I have resolved our computer issues, at least for the time being.  Hooray!

And I can finally introduce you to Cybele and her tiny goose!

She is named after one of my very favorite films, Sundays and Cybele (Les Dimanches de Ville d'Avray).  She is nearly finished, and I just couldn't wait to share her.  I think, this time around, I am going to attach a tiny piece of velcro to the goose's belly so that she can perch wherever she likes!   ***UPDATE:  The velcro didn't quite work out, so Cybele's tiny goose is permanently attached to her arm

I will be listing Cybele in my shop shortly.  They're in the shop!

I am working on some other friends of the plush sort, but they probably won't be finished until sometime next week.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

In the mean time, I would like to take a moment to promote a few crafty ladies who are relatively new to Etsy:

1- My friend Rizzie's shop, Made by Rizzie...  Rizzie makes super-cute, amazingly crafted vinyl bags, drawings, and even customized shrinky-dink portraits.  Pictured here, Fat Reggie Tote, Shrinky Dink Portrait, and Mexican Wrastlin Sasquatch Friend:

2- My mom's shop, Sendai Jewelry Designs...  My mom works with polymer clays and precious metal clays to create her own jewelry pieces, and she has also started making really cool purses out of vintage fabric and neckties, as well as some super-quirky drawings.   Pictured here, Valentine Necklace, Apple Turquoise Brown Tote, and Windy Day with Lion Print:

3- My sister Lori's shop, Cherry Matador... Lori makes really lovely earrings, necklaces,  and other jewelry, among other things.  Pictured here: Moonbeam Earrings, Dragons Flight Deluxe, and Enchanting Blue Blossoms:

Creative people of the world, unite and take over!!!

Well, I'm off to attach some velcro.  Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, and be creative!

Computers of the world, why do you hate me?

Hello.  (If you & I were interacting in the real world, that would have been a bit of a grumbly, forlorn hello...)

In a past life I must have committed some terrible atrocity against Technology...  Andy & I are, once again, having some computer problems.  Why, oh why, did I let myself become so dependent on technology? 

Despite the fact that I am so abhorred by my computer, I wanted to keep up my posting momentum.  I'm working on a couple of new friends who will hopefully be finished in the next couple of days.  I will share pictures as soon as I can.   Meanwhile, I'm off to make a very passionate plea to the gods of technology to forgive whatever is causing this run of terrible luck with electronics...

Cross your fingers for me!  (My toes are crossed so that I can type...)  And, of course, have a lovely weekend!

Clementine Loves Valentines

I'm very pleased to introduce you to Clementine! I've been working on her all week, and she is finally ready for her debut.

She made this sweet little heart garland just for you! Really!!! She's in my shop, undoubtedly glittering some hearts and eating all the cookies.

I am sitting by my window watching snowflakes (snowflakes!) fall and immediately melt as they hit the ground...  and wishing for some cookies of my own.   I haven't seen proper snow in a very long time, and I'm hoping it will start to accumulate.  It is the perfect day to curl up with Junebug and a good book, but sadly I have too much work to do.  So I'm off, but I will be back soon with some more plushies.   

Have a lovely weekend!

Valentine Cupcakes

Hello on this (for me) chilly and gloomy Wednesday!

I was digging through my studio this morning and found several leftover pink gocco'd cupcakes!  I thought they were all long gone!  These are single (cut-out) cupcakes.  They would be sweet additions to any valentine!  They are now listed (in very limited quantity) in my shop.

I am hoping to make time for some other Valentine goodies... perhaps some more cards, maybe a plushie or two.  Maybe I'll even gocco another batch of cupcakes.  As always I am quite busy, so we'll see what happens. 

I'll be back soon!

Stay warm!

xoxo

p.s.  Wow, I misspelled "cupcake"  not once, but twice...  You cannot imagine the utter depth of my shame!

A much-deserved break...

Greetings all!

I have been very busy (working on a custom order and trying to design Valentines and swimming and repairing the fence and raking up several years' worth of leaves...)  but I paused long enough to have dinner and 'ritas with Andy at our favorite Mexican restaurant.  And, of course, to squeeze in blog-post #2 before the week ends!

I wanted to share something(s) very tiny and sweet that I recently found on Etsy:

Letter pressed "Pocket Pictures" by Sprout Head

I haven't decided where to hang them yet, but for now they are living on my shelf of treasured items:

While we're on the subject of new things... Junebug very thoughtfully went shopping and bought this clock for Andy for Christmas:

And my new Rocket Dogs ( to replace the once-black-now-green stinky pair with worn-out velcro that I've been wearing for 3 years)... No, they're not at all sexy, but I think I love them:

I've been working very hard to stick to my New Year's resolutions, especially silent resolution #1: get in shape.  Yesterday I went swimming at my local YMCA for the first time in ages.  I used to go 4 or 5 times a week, once upon a time.  Despite my achy muscles, it was absolutely heavenly!  I should mention that I am actually a terrible swimmer -- I know only one "stroke" which is my own made-up version of the breast stroke.  I wear a pink latex swim cap and probably appear to be mentally challenged, but that doesn't stop me!  I love the sensation of weightlessness in the cool aqua water, the wall of sunlit windows at the rear of the room, the pink-and-white candy stripes of the lane dividers...  Not to mention the feeling of absolute well-being after swimming 32 laps!  I think I'll be seeing much more of the pool in the days to come.

Well, Andy & I are off to visit our friends and once-bandmates, Derek and Emily.  I'll leave you with a picture of the most squeezable feline in the world (this was an amazingly beautiful photo op before she moved...).

Have a lovely weekend!

Rule Breaker

Valentine Beastie, embroidery, 4" diameter (now in the shop)

Well, what started as a simple embroidery project turned into something a bit more complicated and time-consuming...  But could I have done it any other way? 

It's funny, for being such a neurotically meticulous person, I have a real problem with sticking to the rules.  I hate, hate, hate following instructions or patterns and have, therefore, never learned to embroider "properly."  The same goes for sewing, painting, pretty much anything crafty or creative.  But that doesn't stop me from agonizing over each and every step!

Sadly, I did not follow the instructions on my bottle of fabric dye either, and as a result this little piece looks a bit more antiqued than I had anticipated.  I think it's growing on me, though...

I want to thank everyone for the sweet comments about what could be considered rather sad New Year's resolutions!  I'm glad to know I'm not the only one out there who struggles so much with productivity.  I'm proud to say that, so far, I have actually stuck to my own self-prescribed rules!  Hooray!  Let's just hope I don't fall off the wagon!

I'm off to work, but I promise to post again before the week ends.  Have a lovely Wednesday!