Marion handwarmers

I am currently working on a pattern inspired by my grandmother-in-law Marion who passed away recently. She was basically as adorable and sweet as you can get. But a little sassy too, just the perfect amount. She will be missed dearly but I will always think of her whenever I see these.

I was able to finish the first one this weekend and I hope to offer the pattern for free after I am done (that is if I can actually WRITE a coherent pattern after I am done).

I'm using leftover Nashua and Malabrigo from other projects so these suckers promise to be warm.

time flies when you're a sleepy fox

I can't believe it is already Memorial Day and the summery days of June are around the corner. Where does the time go?

I also can't believe that this adorable sleepy foxy plush is on sale this weekend and no one has scooped him up! (from bibelotforest.etsy.com)

contest winner!

Is Mia!

Thanks everyone for participating, I will have another contest in the near future :)

(Mia, can you email me gerrijo@gmail.com with your pin choice and address?)

give.a.way!!

Hurray for give.a.ways!!

Just sign up to follow my blog between now and Friday the 8th and you will be entered to receive a free pin :)

Your choice - choose between the bunny or squirrel pin. Both are popular products and both have been featured on etsy's front page. Winner will be announced and contacted Monday.

Just use the handy "follow button" on the right and you'll be set :)

I will be the May featured artist at the Electric Fetus!

How exciting!

The Electric Fetus is featured me as their "Minneconomy" artist-o-the-month for all of May. They will offer 10% off all my work and on May 14th they will have a big hullabaloo with me doing in-store demos, live sets by locals bands, and free treats.

I'm super jazzed since I have only been selling to them for six weeks - hopefully this means my jewelry is selling like hot cakes :)

I am a tad nervous about doing the in-store demo. I've never been good at public speaking, even if the "public" part is a total of a five people. My face turns red, I get a little shake in my voice, and I seem to forget even what my own name is. I always wanted to join one of those "Toastmasters" groups but even the thought of practicing public speaking gives me weak knees.

Beaner Beanie

I don't know what possesses me sometimes. But I like to make winter hats and clothes just as summer approaches. Is it a psychological yearning for warm woolens and cozy knits that I know I won't need for the next five months? Who the heck knows.

But I acquired this cute sweater for 25 cents at the goodwill outlet. It was felted a bit and too small for me but I loved the stripes and colors. The beaner received a similar styled hat two years ago that she has unfortunately grown too big of a head for (All dem brains!). But it's so simple to make it's sick. Just sew a two squares of sweater together along three sides (best if you use the bottom of the sweater for the head opening for an instant trim). Take ribbon bits and tie around corners to make ears. And now 10 minutes later you have a cute hat!

Of course now she won't be able to wear it until forever (assuming there will be no freak snow storms in July, you never know with Minnesota).

New vintage shop!

Sound the horns and roll the drums, I've opened a new shop on etsy!

It's called apartment 1213 and will feature vintage clothes, shoes, and accessories as well as some original hand painted shoes I have been working on (like the ones above).

Be sure to visit :)

Holga fun!

I finally got a roll shot and developed with the holga that I bought last summer. I am now addicted!!

You can see my whole roll at my flickr page here (will navigate away from this page)

new beaner shirt

Hubby was tossing some old shirts that no longer fit him and in the spirit of upcycling, I quickly grabbed them away and began turning them into shirts for the beaner! I did a similar project last summer and it amazes me how quick it is to whip this up - maybe an hour?

Here is our little model doing her best Tyra (or something) &hearts

Bathroom window "treatment"

I saw this post a couple weeks ago on design sponge and inspiration struck! Our bathroom window basically is a peep show when we are in the shower - we live in an old apartment that has a free standing tub/shower*. To give us a little modesty but let nice, natural light in, I used the same technique with a paint pen and contact paper. I had fun just doodling and now it serves a good cause too (aka letting me bathe and see what I'm doing).

*don't worry, we weren't the neighborhood flashers - we have ugly mini blinds that cover the window but also cover all the light.