"Love the Process" - SaFire's Hooping Manifesto (Song: Taio Cruz - I Can...

Love this little video.. it's about learning and enjoying the process and not giving up too easily. Oh and hula hooping. But mostly it's about learning...and applies to just about everything!

Let's see...I can make it go around my waist...yea!!! :D

Gift Idea....Spineless Classics

Do you know a bookworm who is hard to shop for? Instead of a gift card at the bookstore, one of these might be the answer! I found these prints online at Spineless Classics, and I think they are such a neat idea. So I thought I'd share it with you. The entire text of the book is printed on heavy stock....and the print is readable with the naked eye.

This would be perfect for my Jane Austen-loving sister.

It's a little late for this Christmas, but it's an idea to keep in mind for future gifts. Another "why didn't I think of that?" idea!

Dot

Mostly, I'm posting this fantastic little piece so I can find it again later, but maybe you will like it as much as I do!

Lace Fence and Window Progress....

I'm not a big fan of chain link fencing, but the Lace Fence company has done some amazing things with it! Visit the gallery on their site. Some of it is too busy for my taste, but the simpler ones are quite beautiful. Apparently they can do any design you'd like with this technique.


While I've been off working on my car, Joe has been finishing up that window in the guest room. He managed to match the stain very well. I love how it turned out...now I guess I better put the hardware on it, and get back to painting that room!

On Saturday and Sunday, I knitted up this little guy during slow moments at the shop. I think he's downright cute, and I may make a few more and turn them into a mobile. It's the Frida the Fish Pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. Well, it sort of is that pattern....I hate knitting a bunch of little pieces and sewing them together, so I rewrote the pattern to be worked in the round. I think I got it pretty close. I'm making another one by my pattern, and if I have the bugs worked out of it, I'll put the pattern on here for free. Or if you like to do a lot of seaming, the original pattern is also free and can be found here on Lion Brand's website.

Check out the Etsy shop of Ted Schrey

The strangest things happen on the world wide web. Many moons ago, in college, I dated a very nice young man. Now we are friends again through the amazing web that is facebook. After many years in the corporate world, Ted is living on the Big Island of Hawaii and is making beautiful stained glass pieces. He has a new Etsy shop that he (unlike me!) is keeping stocked with wonderful artwork.


I love the use of copper in the stands and frames.



I think he has something at every price point too...so you can own a small Ted Schrey piece or very large complex pieces.

Here are a few hanging in a gallery in Hawaii.

I've never seen one of these pieces in person, but Ted is pretty particular, so I'm sure the craftsmanship is beautiful. The coral and watery glass in this one...perfect.

Ted is also a painter, writer, and furniture builder. Hopefully we will see some paintings on his site soon. If we are lucky he might even start a blog one day.

If you need something special, he does custom work as well. Click here to check out his latest work...

...undoubtedly inspired by the beauty he encounters every day.

A different kind of Christmas giving........and a request for party ideas!

Times are tight with lay-offs and all the talk of the economy. Some of that has already touched members of our extended family so we thought we might try something that will simplify our giving, and enhance it at the same time.

Normally we buy gifts for all the aunts, uncles and cousins. This year instead of having the usual gift exchange we are going to gather for a New Year's Eve celebration and bring contributions to throw into a common piggy bank. Other friends usually come for New Years and they will be welcome to add to the gift too if they wish. Then later in the evening we will have the kids count it and decide what kind of animals we can buy through Heifer International. Our town has a big First Night celebration and we thought the we could mail off our gift when we go uptown for the entertainment.

Not sure what Heifer is all about? From their website:

"Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. For more than 60 years, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. And since 1944, we have helped 48 million people through training in livestock development and livestock gifts that multiply.

Every gift of an animal provides direct benefits such as milk, eggs, wool, fertilizer, as well as indirect benefits that increase family incomes for better housing, nutrition, health care and school fees for children. Recipients “pass on the gift” of offspring of their cows, goats and other livestock to others in an ever-widening circle of hope.

Heifer currently works in more than 57 countries, including the U.S."

Now, I'd like to make this fun for the kids...especially the little ones who are still in grade school. If you have any ideas themed around farm animals, I'd love to hear them! Just leave me a comment with ideas or links to them. Thanks!

Fall Colors....leaves, paint, & yarn

We've got a nice indian summer going on here. After the dew dried, Joe made some progress on getting that last bit of the house painted.


Fall is looking so good this year. Last year we didn't have much color for some reason, but this year is wonderful. The sun was not even out from the clouds when I took this late this evening. I hope it's sunny tomorrow so I can get some pics.


Margaret at Fabrics & Fibers & Frills was kind enough to wind my yarn into balls for me....aren't they yummy?!


My socks are coming along due to my obsessive knitting. I've been working on them in every spare minute and staying up way, way too late listening to podcasts on CraftSanity. If you like to craft and listen at the same time you will love Jennifer's podcasts...she interviews successful craftspeople and learns the inside stuff you always wanted to ask your favorite indie crafters. I worked at the shop today, and anytime we didn't have customers I was listening and knitting. Soon I won't be able to do that since we will be madly working to transform the shop for Christmas.