feeling is mutual-- the blog!

11/24/2006

Someday the above cathedral window quilt will be adorning our bed. Cool eh? Chris' mom intended the quilt to be our wedding present but it's turning into more of a first anniversary present.
Neither Chris nor I knew much about quilting when she first made her generous quilting offer so we unknowingly requested one of the most tricky and time consuming quilts out there. I'm sure she was thinking we would choose a nice wedding ring or sawtooth star pattern but nooooooo... we just had to be difficult. All her extra effort has been worth it though (to me at least!). The quilt looks fantastic and I'm completely in love with it. I can't wait till we take full custody of it and can put these short holiday visits behind us.

Chris' parents also offered us his grandmother's wrought iron bed. It had a nasty run in with some glittery copper car paint, but once we have it sandblasted it will look awesome with the cathedral window quilt. It's also missing its bedknobs and my search for an online bedknob retailer isn't bearing much fruit. Anyone know where we can find some?

Labels: craft, quilt

posted at 6:19 PM

3 comments

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

Fun new things for kids & christmas courtesy ofbuyolympia.com!
Little Who mixed media cards. Sarah Utter onesies and kids tees. Nikki McClure note pads and baby journal. Shoes by See Kai Run.

Labels: buyolympia.com, design, gifts, indie shops, shopping

posted at 9:53 AM

0 comments

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

11/21/2006

Sneak preview of my ornaments for the Holiday Ornament Swap. A little gocco on some felt.

Labels: christmas, craft, design, gocco, holiday, holiday ornament swap

posted at 11:53 PM

0 comments

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

How's about some Denyse Schmidt action?

A new scarf... just in time for more 70 degree weather. Made from thrifted wool coats, jackets and fancy pants in polyester. Also strips of Supper Buzzy's "Modern Asian Stripe" cotton fabric.

Labels: craft, denyse scmidt, quilt, scarf, sewing

posted at 10:35 PM

0 comments

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

11/13/2006

I ordered Denyse Schmidt's Quilts book a month or so ago and ever since I've been into the art of quiltmaking. I have a bad habit of "faking" when I teach myself a new craft and thus my technique is... well... less than polished. So I wanted to do this quilting thing right from the very beginning, before I ingrained terrible technique into my head. My good intentions were stymied when I found out that every class in Shawnee is wrapping up and I have to wait till January for a new schedule. Don't they understand that my quilt phase could be over by then!? I don't have that much time!!
So once again I'm on my own with only Denyse Schmidt and the internets to guide me.

Over the weekend I finished up the ubiquitous, yet wholly unnecessary, sewing machine cover. I can't believe I made it this far in life without one! I cut the pattern from the ugly plastic cover that originally came with the machine and loosely followed the instructions for Denyse's oven mitt. I have a lot to learn but, for a first attempt at quilting, it's not too shabby.

If you're in the Shawnee area and wouldn't mind adopting a novice quilter to mold and shape into batted greatness,please let me know!

Labels: craft, quilt, sewing

posted at 9:55 AM

8 comments

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

11/09/2006

(via cnn.com)
I absolutely adore the awkwardness of this picture... looks like the courtin' of the democrats has officially begun. I can almost hear Pelosi's nervous sympathy giggle and I love Bush's schmoozy expression. Maybe Pelosi is trying to decide how long that joke about drapery is supposed to be funny.

Labels: cnn pics, politics

posted at 11:08 AM

7 comments

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

(via decor8)
Arjen Veenman is a dutch designer with a dutch website that I can't read at all. So, I can tell you nothing about this bookcase except that it's made from a discarded piano. And that I want it very much. It gives me the urge to wander back alleys searching for long lost pianos... Doesn't seem to be that likely in these here parts which is probably good for everyone involved (especially the dutch).

Labels: design, shopping

posted at 9:58 AM

1 comments

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

11/08/2006

Yet another variation on the flower broach. I may be living under a giant rock that's shaped like Oklahoma, but I'd like to think that I've seen a few things in my day... and these broaches by Kate Cusack are the first I've seen using zippers. Pretty cool, uncommon goods. Pretty cool.

Labels: design, gifts, shopping

posted at 3:48 PM

2 comments

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

What a beautiful day! It may be November but the sun is shinning, the grass is green, it's 80 degrees outside and the world is smiling!

Ever since I started caring about such things, Election Days always put me in knots and every single one has been a disappointment. But not this one! Rumsfeld was just icing on the yummiest cake ever (not that gross crisco frosting either.... the good stuff!). I don't even mind that my candidate lost since everything else went so well.

Let me tell you, there's nothing more depressing than a watch party for a losing candidate. I hate to see a grown man cry but, luckily, Chris and I left dinner on the stove so we had an excuse to leave early. I was going to play the hand shaking game before I left but skipped it since I thought it would seem like I was cutting out because we were on the losing team. Also, I didn't want them to retract all the wonderful things they said about me before the numbers started to come in!

I loved working in politics though, and I hope I have the opportunity to help other campaigns in the future. But only campaigns that don't have a vindictive old man running sabotage with dirty ad shenanigans (Just a tip for those with a future in politics, especially in Pottawatomie County– When you fire the guy who writes your ad copy, make sure you do so without bruising his pride. If you tick him off, his negative ad backlash will be quick and brutal).

Labels: life, oklahoma, politics

posted at 3:15 PM

0 comments

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

11/07/2006

Have I mentioned that I love Pink Loves Brown? No?! Well... what have I been doing all this time?!
Pink Loves Brown is the web-child of Nicole Balch ("former face-painter, window-dresser, and dinosaur muralist" according to the site) and is the place for personalized paper good awesomeness.
My love for this site is healthy and natural and, don't worry, Nicole's been warned about me... she even sent me a lollipop... I think she might like me back!
Back when I was on The Knot I used to recommend her site to the point that the other Knotties began to suspect I was on her payroll. Her personlaized stationary and bookplates are the perfect gift for bridesmaids and hostesses. AWESOME! So there, now it's out there... and I feel so much better.

Have you voted yet?! DO IT!

Labels: design, gifts, indie shops, pink loves brown, shopping

posted at 5:20 PM

0 comments

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

Pamela Barsky at See Jane Work!

File Folders$7.50
Old School Journals$13
Travel log $30

Labels: design, gifts, see jane work, shopping

posted at 10:44 AM

0 comments

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

11/06/2006

This year, our trick-or-treater count went up in quality if not quantity.
Who needs hordes of greedy masses... all I need is one little boy in cargo pants filled with fortunes. He dug in his pocket for the perfect slip of paper, rejecting two before finally handing me the worthy fortune. He was so proud of himself, despite the frustrated glances from his chaperone sisters. My fortune is now proudly displayed on the fridge.