She Wants Pinking Shears?

A friendly reminder for those of you with 'significant others'. Though it may feel like she wants this:


she may simply want this:



(Or possibly just a new pair of these:Just a suggestion, Keith.)


Happy weekend, lovelies.   tIO x

A Verse

Oh where, oh where has the Optimist gone?
Oh where, oh where can she be?
- With her bangs cut short and her skirt so long -
Oh where, oh where can she be?

(I found her over at Betsy's house
Trading books on Nancy Lancaster.
Then she sat back down to read "Papers and Paints"
And ponder the cracks in her plaster.)


I haven't done the three things I'd hoped to do in January: 1. paint the insides of the bookcases this color 2. unclutter the boys' clothes closets and bins, and 3. organize my fabrics (ostensibly to make room for more). I have done these three things however: 1. read seven books, including this one 2. made this (several times), and 3. watched the boys learn this. I am also thoroughly enjoying this and our new post-supper ritual of this.

January was a toasty and fun month. Here's to a hale-and-hearty February, which is also known as 'Solmonath', 'Kale-monath', 'Hornung', and, my personal favorite, 'Helmikuu'.



Today's conundrum: Who better to portray 'Dory' than Ellen Degeneres?
Future conundrum: In July, is Boston hotter than New York?

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!   tIO x

Knee-deep in Stockings

Last night, The Grey Colt hosted its annual 'stocking competition' to a packed house of artisans, raffle-hopefuls, and various and sundry community notables:
    
Snap of my entry this year: (a chalkcloth, white-polka-dot-on-red oilcloth, and tartan ribbon stocking that, were I to make this again, would be pieced-together on the wrong sides and have the edges pinked)

Supplies via OilclothAddict

Wine was poured, hors d'oeuvres were passed, and a merry time was had by all!

Look for updates throughout the week as the voting continues. TTFN! tIO x

Banner Day! with ModernJune

Oh, happy day! It's banner day again! And I am so excited to feature a long-time Etsy 'favorite shop': ModernJune. The festivities begin at this kitschy site banner:



What a great start, right? But the cute doesn't stop there. Owner/blogger/tweeter/homeschooler and all-around cool SAHM, Virginian Kelly McCants has been sewing for 20+ years and selling on Etsy since 2006 "as a simple creative outlet for a semi-desperate housewife." Indeed! Kelly sews the things that we all use - or need to use - everyday: aprons, chalkmats, tablecloths, pillows, splat mats, and totes. And her banners - from celebratory to the 'happy holiday' varieties - are sweet and sturdy, made from oilcloth to "brave summer showers" or maybe even wisps of winter whiteness! Have a gander:

      
Aren't they wonderful?

In fact, as soon as I post this, I'm packing up the laptop and turning to my sewing machine. Guess who just got a package of oilcloth from Kelly? *grins sheepishly* Time to make the oilcloth stocking for the stocking competition at the Grey Colt! Wish me luck! (Or if you're in town on 2 December, stop by the shop. Katie Coulton and her crew always host a wonderful event for charity.)

TTFN, lovelies! And make it a banner day! tIO x

PS  Want more of Kelly and ModernJune? Find her here: http://modernjune.com/ and at her Etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/modernjune and blogging here: http://modernjune.blogspot.com/ and here: http://oilclothaddict.blogspot.com/ and on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Modern-June/119464333979 and on twitter here: @modernjune. (She knows her social media!)

Banner Day! with nestables

As I was scouring sites and shops for banners this week, an odd thing happened: I couldn't find any that caught my eye. I was a bit perplexed. Usually, too many things catch my eye. "I must be ill," I thought. With 'the flu' running rampant, it wouldn't be a stretch. So I carried on, as all mommies (and bloggers) do.

This morning, I circled-back to Etsy. It usually takes me awhile to peruse the amazing offerings - because so many things catch my eye. Within minutes, however, this wonderful shop popped into view:

Let's start with that wonderful shop banner; it had me at 'hello'!

Open since March 2009, nestables isn't just a shop full of banners and bunting. There are lovely pillow covers, linen napkins, and even custom orders on offer.

And everything looks beautifully made!

Take a gander:

       


Simple but gorgeous. Plus, it's another 'local-to-me', and you know how I feel about that.

Regardless where you live, however, with its fresh fabrics, eye-for-detail, and tasteful style, nestables is the perfect shop to find some feathers for your own nest.

I'm off to 'fluff-and-fold'! Remember to make it a banner day!

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!