Fabric Art

[image from marthastewart.com}

This looks like such a fun and easy project. Now I just need to find my staple gun.

The artist is Anna Maria Horner and she just happens to have beautiful fabric and more fabric art on her site.

Good Eatin'

I'm sharing a couple tasty things I've made recently. These are not exactly good-looking photos, but they are the best I've got. Above is a salad with mixed greens, gorgonzola, raspberries, pears, pecans, and raspberry vinaigrette (huh, didn't know that spelling). Below is Orange Chicken with Potatoes from the January issue of Real Simple. I've been trying to use my slow cooker more often because it's easy, smells good all day, and yields lots of leftovers. I know I'll be ready for less-cooked food by spring, but we've got a few months of cold to go. Do you have any good recipes?

If you have an egg, apple or avocado slicer...

I spotted this banana slicer at the grocery store this evening.


This one actually looks better and more like a banana:



While I can appreciate the clever design concept, it would take more effort to clean this than it takes to use a knife and wash that. It would be great for kids who want to make themselves breakfast at 6 am!

new & improved

I started tweaking Nate's logo last night and I got sucked in until 4 am. I had never really refined the original one and it was bothering me for several reasons. The new version has smoother lines, but most importantly, it works at a much smaller size. I often find myself using just the type, but I think the whole thing will be more versatile now.

fd's Flickr Toys

Thanks to suffix.abuse, I went over to fd's Flickr Toys and made some cool stuff:

Soup for Me

[image from uncommongoods.com]

Before Christmas, I was eyeing this clever Soup and Sandwich Tray from Uncommon Goods. Yesterday, I was in the thrift store and they had just put out a a similar set of 2 yellow ones, but these were $3, not $30! And they are fun and yellow! I wasn't feeling well tonight, so I tested them out with chicken noodle soup and saltines and it almost made being sick sort of fun. The bowl has a little handle, so I am envisioning their future to include tea+scones or milk+cookies.

Things My Mom Made Me For Christmas, Part 2

These socks are keeping me toasty and I can't believe how perfectly they fit me!

Sometimes I can't resist grocery store flowers

It really makes it pop.

This is our super fun PSA Essentials embosser. It's not so fun after stamping 135 letters, but the effect is beautiful. PSA only sells through retailers, but many stationery stores I've been in carry them (and similar ink stamps). I also found some at Expressionary and you can even send in your own design at Wilshire Graphic Press. Now I wish I'd done that! You can get a simple return address type at The Printers Ink.

Sunny Winter Saturday

Things My Mom Made Me For Christmas, Part I

She knit me this fingerless mittens that match my coat. They may seem weird, but they are really great (when it's above 20˚) because you can still drive, dig around in your purse, shop, and talk on the phone without taking them off. Love them!

How about some paper to go with that pen?

[image from staples.com]

[image from russellandhazel.com]

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy2R57IFoWKfnYU7ZIr3zxGtmWaBkGMxTP62b-LfFzzo9iRoadADvuZvYNwnLuAWl4gu5_SFB1mdGG4Cm-hkZfxNdEe4nKpW-45ms7qTco7L00cbKEskSmsVYKZAMWudMh5ptmO3b5GU/s1600-h/levenger.JPG"> [image from levenger.com]

A fresh notebook is such a great feeling. I'm always on the lookout for something unique and these are three of my favorites. At the top, Ampad Gold Fibre® Retro Memo Book from Staples. Also available in a larger size. I love the ivory paper. {Edit: Panic! I just happened to be at Staples after posting this and they have redesigned the label on the front of these notebooks. It's really quite a shame. The fun typewriter font has been replaced by three random ones and in place of the crown logo there is something nasty with a star. If you want one of the old ones, I suggest you run right out and dig to the bottom of the pile like I did. : ) }

In the middle, Composition Book from Russell+Hazel that comes in 5 fun colors.

And lastly, the Notabilia Notebook Set from Levenger that is available in a ruled or grid style. I use the grid style for sketching out comps. If you are really swanky and have the means or the desire to spend $100 on a notebook, the version with the leather cover may be for you!

If you have a cool favorite, please share!

Oh! I keep forgetting to mention that you'll want to get in on the new year of joint photo blog 3191. Last year, these 2 women did a Year of Mornings (and now it's going to be a book) and this year they are doing A Year of Evenings. Their work is beautiful and soo well-coordinated, even though I'm pretty sure it's not planned at all.

Happiness!

Oh, I am so excited! This pen and I have a long history. I started using them in high school and we drifted along together in smooth writing bliss for several years. Then, without consulting me, Pilot decided to change the VBall into some fat, awkward unrecognizable incarnation of it's former beauty. Basically, it was horrible. BUT THEN. I move out East where it takes a few years to catch up (if ever) and I would randomly find them on clearance! I am down to one green, one purple, and one red, so today I ran a search online and there they were! Just sitting there. In a Staples warehouse. Waiting for my order. Why did I just think of this? The best part is that they have a new BeGreen pen that looks really similar that is 80% recycled. Thank you Pilot!

Wave Hello

My sister introduced me to The 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic blog. I especially enjoyed the Favorite Items of 2007 Post where I learned about the Neutrogena Wave. I love this product! It's very affordable and it only took a day to see positive results! My skin is smoother, softer and clearer.

Happy Birthday, Nate!

I bought this gift bag about 6 or 7 years ago at Papyrus. Because I thought it was so fabulous (and expensive) I decided that Nate and I must give each other birthday gifts in it every year. We've kept up so far, but I did have to add some new tissue paper this year.



Nate received a card from his uncle and inside was his actual birth announcement! I thought that was the coolest thing ever! People are more into scrapbooks now, but it kind of makes me want to hoard birth announcements and mail them back out in 30 years.

Primary Day

I'm looking forward to watching the results of the NH primary roll in tonight. We are about 2 miles away from being able to participate like 4 years ago, but I'll see what the Maine Caucus is all about in February.

Check out this slideshow where a dad managed to get his 5 month old daughter photographed with almost every candidate. It demonstrates just how accessible they have been around here for the past several months and his commentary is pretty funny. We only went to one event since they are usually very crowded and you have to stand around waiting for the candidate to show up. My photo is not uploading, but it's not that great. The highlight was when Nate gave Hillary a toothbrush and they chatted about healthcare.

I'm a sucker for anything with lots of compartments, but I was actually looking for something to put my makeup in when I found this organizer at Target. It makes sense that it would exist, but I'd never seen them before. It takes up a little space, but I figure it's probably better to store makeup in the dark, dry linen closet anyway.

Month-old News

So, I think I was the last one to hear that Blueprint Magazine is folding, but I'm going to cry about it anyway. I just picked up the final issue and will be looking forward to the special publications from them that Martha has promised. I still cannot believe that there wasn't a big enough market for it. We love the internet, but we love magazines too!

New Year, New Calendars!

My husband always uses a 2-year planner and it drives me crazy. I can barely hold out til October to get my hands on a new one. This year, my choice was this lime green one from Kinkos.


My favorite desk calendar is this letterpress & hand-painted beauty from ilee papergoods. You have to shop early snag one, but check out her shop for note cards.

The Gwen Frostic Mini Calendar has to be the best deal on the planet at just $3.00. These simple nature prints are available in cards, but I love the stickers the most.

Happy New Year

I took this photo on New Year's Day during the snow storm. I love how the snow clung to everything from trees to cattails for a few hours.