Cheshire Kat

Notice:

2011-11-14T11:48:00.006-06:00

All things bloggy are now on my newly designed website!
Thanks for stopping, but please come visit me there.

Our Handmade Wedding

2011-10-27T12:25:00.010-06:00

So here it is, the moment you have all been waiting for - Wedding Recap!

The traditional guest book was replaced by my Montgomery Ward Signature typewriter. A rummage sale find from my lovely bridesmaid Kym (who is also very good at making yarn pom poms!)

Programs - Made by me

My Veil - Made By Me

Blue Pearl Necklaces and Earrings - Made By Me

The Bridesmaids bouquets were put together by Meredith, Rachel, and I. Each was a single, very realistic looking, fake flower, wrapped in pale blue ribbon and I added little tags with their initials.

Boutonnieres/Corsages - I must have made about 20 different ones!

Bouquet & Cake - Made By Rachel Balk

Yes, I made my own confetti. Obviously I am crazy. Chris and I hand cut so many sheets of paper I almost had blisters from the scissors. In the end, it looked fabulous and was such a great way to recycle the scraps from my craft projects.

My Mother and Sister headed up the centerpiece making. We collected jars from food throughout the year, then wrapped them in yard. Meredith meticulously crafted the tissue paper pom poms and taught us her technique so we could help out. And I had tons of help from Kym and Bethany making yarn pom poms.

My Flower Girl pulled double duty and also carried the rings. I took an old copy of Heidi because it matched my color scheme so well, and cut out a hole inside for the rings to sit in. I also made her a tiny pearl necklace. And of course, I hand punched all of the paper flowers she scattered.

My Mother sewed the adorable aisle runners.

I just love this banner! I cut out the letters, painted them, and covered them in tiny clear marbles, which are a great alternative to glitter. It is going to hang over our bed at home.

We even got our guests into the spirit with a make your own favor table. Glass jars full of pretty sweets rested atop stacks of books, inviting guests to scoop them into neat little favor bags. My bridesmaids punched circles and strung them onto the bags, and yes, I hand stamped the design onto all of them. My flower girl's parents took charge of the pretzel dipping, which turned out beautiful and tasty!

For the kids, I sewed some very simple little coloring books together, and paired them with little tubes of colored pencils.

All of the photos you have seen were taken by my dear friend Kevin Sherman.

To view the rest of them here.

Hogwarts: A Honeymoon

2011-09-21T10:07:00.008-06:00

We went to Universal Studios Florida, and it was SO MUCH FUN!

Hogwarts!

Scary!

I pet this squirrel!

I put E.T. in his place once and for all!

If I could go back right now, I would!

Kat & Chris: The Wedding

2011-09-21T09:58:00.003-06:00

The Wedding is over, but there is still a trail of confetti through the house.

You can view some of the photos on Kevin Sherman's Blog. More to come!

Razzle Dazzle Rose

2011-07-18T21:40:00.003-06:00

I am quite wrapped up in wedding plans these days. What has been a long road to a red and aqua wedding is growing shorter all the time!

I have been doing a lot of the decor/floral/accessory stuff by hand. Here is a sneak peak!

(Camera Obscura)

Saturday Style Icon - Audrey Hepburn

2011-07-16T10:02:00.002-06:00

Always looking lovely.

My favorite Audrey movie is Charade. It's a fantastic murder mystery, co-starring Cary Grant and set in Paris. What more could you ask for?

It's a Small World

2011-06-24T20:49:00.006-06:00

I have been into creating miniature worlds these days. Gathering the supplies is half of the fun! I find glass containers & tiny animals at places like Goodwill, Ebay, or an Estate Sale. My sister threatens "If you bring home one more deer..." but I can't resist! Just look at the results:

One of the most helpful places for me has been Meyer-Imports.com. If you start browsing their store, I am sure you will recognize many of the elements of my small world!

Photos by Kevin Sherman

The Dad Life

2011-06-19T16:39:00.000-06:00

Happy Fathers Day!

Paint's Peeling

2011-06-15T15:31:00.002-06:00

This $2.99 Corner Shelf from Goodwill needed some help.

Primer is a good start.

How about Martha Stewart Nimbus Cloud paint?

3 Coats and:

Yes.

(Rilo Kiley)

Saturday Style Icon - Betty Draper

2011-06-11T10:02:00.004-06:00

Played by the fabulous January Jones. I would wear EVERY OUTFIT!

White Riot

2011-06-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

I am just starting to list some of my painted feathered friends in ye olde etsy shop!

Lots of white...

and a splash of color!

(the Clash)

Glittering Girl

2011-06-06T01:22:00.001-06:00

I bought two of these very lovely jars at an estate sale. They must be sugar shakers or something because there are lots of tiny holes in the top. They make a great jar for glitter!

I really want to get more, but don't know what they are called, or who made them. Can anyone help me out?

P.S. I bought this fabulous German glass glitter from Meyer Imports!
(The Who)

Typewriter, Tip, Tip, Tip

2011-06-05T09:26:00.003-06:00

My wonderful friend Kym found this for me at a church sale in Minnesota and brought it all the way back to me!

I just love it! This "portable" Montgomery Ward Signature 510 was originally purchased in 1966, and whoever owned it took very good care of it. The ribbon still works, so I was able to start playing right away. I have been on the lookout for a colored typewriter with carry case for a while now and this could not be more perfect! It has the original instruction manual, plus a pack of paper and some type lesson booklets from the 40s.

Chris and I are addressing all of our wedding invites on it.

I left it at his apartment and came back to discover a letter he typed to me still in the machine. Apparently he just can't get enough of the thing!

(Kisore Kumar & Asha Bhosle)

Saturday Style Icon - Rhoda Morgenstern

2011-06-04T09:45:00.000-06:00

Rhoda Morgenstern, played by Valerie Harper, was the best friend and neighbor to Mary in the Mary Tyler Moore show. What's not to love about Rhoda? She worked as a window display artist, had a funky apartment, great sense of humor, and an excellent wardrobe!

California Paradise

2011-05-12T09:13:00.000-06:00

Look what arrived from California yesterday!

It's my order from Meyer Imports! I am so excited! I have big plans for this stuff & I can't wait to show you what I do!

(The Runaways)

Wednesday's One Dollar Hollar

2011-05-11T12:17:00.003-06:00

I found this funky little family at an estate sale over the weekend.

It is a vintage party pick set. How fun! Bethany thinks it is just way too creepy, and will most likely come to life when I am sleeping. Pardon my pun, but I think it's a hoot! Also, I do plan to use it in my very woodsy dining room.

Crafternoon Delight

2011-05-09T12:26:00.007-06:00

Looking for something to do? Here is a project that you can start and finish in just an afternoon. I originally made this tutorial for Wild Olive.

Simple Succulent Terrarium Tutorial!

Supplies:

* Clear Glass container
* Rocks
* Dirt
* Sand/fine gravel
* Succulent

You can find most of these supplies at a dollar store. Walmart has some nice gravely sand with color and texture similar to a beach, for around $3 a bag. I buy my succulents at Home Depot. Individual ones only cost $2, so you can make one of these for under $10. Let’s get started!

If you can’t do it outside, make sure you lay down some paper for easy clean up. Now it is time to layer your supplies. I bought 2 different sizes of rocks, so I started by putting a few large ones along the bottom,

and then a layer of the smaller ones.

At this point you should set your succulent in the container to determine the placement of your succulent so you can adjust your layers accordingly. Make sure that the roots have enough soil to cover them, but they don’t really need much since succulents thrive in a hot, dry environment.

Finally, you top it off with a layer of sand. You can put a few rocks on top for interest, or even a plastic animal or gnome.

Have fun making it your own!

A Lack Of Color

2011-05-04T07:13:00.002-06:00

I recently picked up some great owl figures. The little ones were only 50 cents at target, but the big one s my favorite. He was $2.99 at Goodwill. A steal! I knew they all needed a new coat of paint to lessen their lawn ornament appearance, so I decided to go with a crisp coat of white.

I think they came out lovely. The fin thing about white paint is that it can really help bring out the details. I began to notice little feather marks on the tiny owls that could not be seen when they were dark. It wasn't easy though. I must have done about seven coats!

(Death Cab For Cutie)

Going, Going, Gone

2011-04-01T08:11:00.002-06:00

I've been packing up a big box of goods to send off to the Foundrie!

And out the door it goes! If you are in the St. Louis area, you can visit the Foundrie at the Chesterfield Mall and browse through my items in person! The whole store will be filled with goods from many other talented crafters too!

(Stars)

Happy Birthday

2011-03-28T07:47:00.001-06:00

Thanks for all of the sweet birthday wishes everyone! It was a fantastic weekend. I watched The Fantastic Mr. Fox, one of my favorites, at some cake, opened some awesome gifts, and of course I had to go to an estate sale! Here's the recap:

My family gave me some fabulous nature themed stuff including squirrel and acorn salt and pepper shakers, and a tiny little owl that used to be my mom's when she was younger. Chris gave me this great sewing machine case.

Now I don't have to haul it around in it's original box! And when I get my new studio all set up, I can leave it out on a table looking cute! I kind of want to get a vinyl decal of a sewing machine or something related to go on the outside.

In thrifting news, the estate sale was great! I bought myself a shiny new kitchen toy:

Its a 325W Artisan Series Majestic Yellow, which has only been used twice!
The retail price of this beauty: $350
What did I pay? $165

It was a very happy birthday weekend.

(Sufjan Stevens)

Birthday!

2011-03-25T13:01:00.003-06:00

Hello Everyone! Today is my birthday, but I couldn't keep all the fun to myself. Hop over to Wild Olive and you could win this sweet little bamboo fawn necklace, made by yours truly.

But it doesn't stop there! From now until next Friday, all orders in my shop over $15 will receive free shipping. Enter code BIRTHDAY when you checkout.
Good luck!

London Calling

2011-03-23T10:03:00.001-06:00

I just ordered this amazing tablecloth on ebay!

It's a souvenir from London, circa 1950-something. I can't wait till it gets here!

(The Clash)

If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked A Cake

2011-03-15T18:42:00.005-06:00

For all of you lovers of baking, the whisk and rolling pin necklaces are now available!

(Gracie Fields)

Hunting

2011-03-13T19:47:00.000-06:00

It's been a very vintage weekend! We went to antique shops, thrift stores and even a flea market. Behold my treasure:

Beautiful isn't it? Let's take a closer look at some pieces.
I'm a sucker for pretty packaging. I just love the tiny needle and thread at the bottom of this label.

The tag at the antique shop said these were ornaments. I assume they clip onto the branches. The colors are so bright and fun!

Had to snatch up this cute little blue bird! SO sweet how he seems to be gesturing to the right. I am perplexed about this mushrooms though. I can't decide whether to paint them or leave the natural wood. I'm not the biggest fan of dark wood, but they were too fun to pass up! So, to paint, or not to paint? Let me know what you think.

Though slightly yellowed by age, this darling hanky captures several of Chicago's beautiful attractions. I assume it came from Marshall Fields since the clock is right in the center. Once it is pressed and cleaned I will have to look for a frame or something.

Tiny trees, pewter fox, owl charm, and circus elephant. Itty bitty adorable!

Sweet little glass. Apparently from the 60's, this glass is part of a series of 6. Each one is a different color (I already have the black one) and features different animals face to face with their toy counterparts.

That's all for now!

(Abandoned Pools)

Istanbul Not Constantinople

2011-03-06T16:35:00.004-06:00

My order of sterling silver necklace chain finally arrived from Istanbul! I have been a busy beaver assembling the necklaces all weekend. Here are a few:

(They Might Be Giants)

The Build Up

2011-03-01T17:53:00.006-06:00

Today is the day! I am kicking off the whole new collection of items in my etsy shop that I have been alluding to in my last several posts.

I will be listing new items all week long, but the fun does not stop there! I will also be returning to my regular updates every Monday. Neat-o right? I Hope to be listing my laser cut items soon, but I am still waiting for some jewelry supply shipments to arrive in the mail. I have several pairs of dangling earring made, but the rubber backs have not arrived yet. Here is a peek:

Stay tuned for more items, blog posts and giveaways!

(Kings Of Convenience)

The Melody of a Fallen Tree

2011-02-25T01:04:00.003-06:00

This week I was fortunate enough to spend some time with my dear friend Kym, a fellow lover of woodland things. She gave me the greatest gift - a bag of chopped up tree branches! Thanks Kym! I just went to town making some fun frames with them.

My mom and sister picked up the deer and mushroom for me at Mr. Thrifty. Too cute!

The frames will be hitting the virtual shelf in just 4 days!

(Windsor For The Derby)

While You're Waiting

2011-02-22T07:48:00.000-06:00

There is only 1 week left until the big shop update! Here are more exciting photos to tide you over!

I received my Ponoko order in the mail today!

(Alkaline Trio)

More Than This

2011-02-19T14:35:00.005-06:00

I am just bursting with excitement about the new things I have been working on!

Don't forget to check back March 1st for the official launch of my updated Etsy shop!

(The Cure)

Wednesday's One Dollar Hollar!

2011-02-16T14:12:00.005-06:00

Today's bargain is a triple deer dollar hollar!

I found this gorgeous large ceramic deer at Goodwill. He had quite a bit of Christmas clutter around his neck. I trashes the gaudy ribbons but kept the vintage berries, leaves and tiny pine cones to use elsewhere. I must say, he looks a million times better, and more sophisticated.

The tiny fawn is a Schleich figurine that I bought at Michael's with a 50% off coupon.

And last is the gem of the collection - a vintage Christmas deer. He's got red flocking, a bell around his neck, glittered antlers, adorable blue eyes, and all in the darling original packaging!

Hollar!

Valentine

2011-02-14T19:00:00.001-06:00

(Bobby Bare Jr.)

Keep Coming Back

2011-02-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

There are big things just around the corner for Cheshire Kat! Coming in March, I will be launching a brand new line of products!

I've sent some designs off to Ponoko that I am just giddy about! There will be new buttons, prints, and jewelry - all in spiffy new packaging to boot! I will even have a giveaway or two. And yes, there will be a whole slew of these embellished moss rocks like the one in the picture. Stay tuned to find out how you can get your hands on one.

(Marc Broussard)

Wednesday's One Dollar Hollar!

2011-02-02T08:21:00.002-06:00

I have been to a lot of thrift stores. While every one is different, there are some commonalities such as the dreaded grab bag. They take a plastic bag and pile a bunch of miscellaneous stuff into it so you can kind of see what is in there, but not very well, and you can't open it. If you see just one item you really want, you have to pay for the whole bag of junk, which is always over priced.

The word Michigan next to a beautiful picture of a robin caught my eye. The other items in the bag were, of course, not so great, and the price was $3.89. I knew from experience that that this store was a bit more laid back with their pricing, so I thought maybe they would be up for a negotiation. I took the bag to the front and explained that I really only wanted the one tea towel and asked if he would be able to sell it to me individually. He agreed, removed the item, and only charged me $1! I was amazed.

Hollar!

Wednesday's One Dollar Hollar!

2010-12-29T16:37:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, for one of my many part-time jobs I work @ Charlotte Russe. Well, we had this fun little holiday employee perk where we all texted the CR line and got a prize code response. My prize was to pick out any necklace I wanted for only $1.
I chose this one:

Original Price: $12.50

Holla!

Nature Anthem

2010-12-22T04:26:00.000-06:00

Our nature-inspired dining room is coming along nicely!

(Grandaddy)

Merry Christmas To You

2010-12-19T20:13:00.004-06:00

Chris and I finally got to put up the Christmas decorations we have been collecting. His new apartment got a healthy dose of holiday cheer!

(Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra)

Wednesday's One Dollar Hollar!

2010-12-15T19:26:00.004-06:00

Who doesn't love a good bargain? Meredith and I came up with a great idea for a new weekly blog posting idea called the One Dollar Hollar. I find so many amazing items for $1 on a regular basis, and now I am going to share them with you every Wednesday!

My first item up: Winter Boots

A truly unbelievable deal! I bought these over the summer at my neighbor's garage sale, brand new and in the original box! Now that the snow has arrived I am loving them for the faux fur lining & convenient zippers, but most of all they keep my feet dry! My last several pairs of $25+ boots ALL LEAKED! What's up with that?

HOLLA!

Holiday

2010-12-05T20:47:00.000-06:00

My little sister finally got to go to Renegade for the first time! It was the holiday fair, so we got to be indoors. Despite the snow storm we made it downtown and found great parking!

I never get tired of being in the Pulaski Park Field house. I love all the creaky old floorboards and amazing architectural details. It was built around 1912, so it has all kinds of unique fixtures and woodwork.

I bought some prints I've had my eye on for a while.

Feather Block print from One Canoe Two!

Illinois letterpress print from Paper Parasol Press!

I also sold a decent amount of my work. Yay!

(Madonna)

On The Table

2010-11-17T01:12:00.002-06:00

I got a booth at a local event called Bella Viaggio. It was very exciting to have a whole space just for my shop! I now have an even wider range of products and a uniform packaging design.

The room I was in had terrible lighting, since it is normally used for viewing movies and all the walls are black, but here are some shots of my table.

(A.C. Newman)

Hound Dog

2010-10-01T00:19:00.002-06:00

I have gotten a couple of dog sitting jobs lately, one taking care of this little cutie!

I wish I could spend all day playing with dogs. They are always happy to see you!

(Elvis)

Renegade

2010-09-13T23:19:00.001-06:00

Renegade was amazing! It has gotten so big that I couldn't even get through all of the booths on the first day! There was so much to do and see! I was absolutely in my element and loving every minute of it!

This Bubble Man character was circling the fair walking as if he were underwater.

I sold out of my Keep Calm and Call Your Mom prints. Time to make more!

(Abandoned Pools)

Back To The Middle

2010-09-07T18:03:00.003-06:00

I'm in love with this mid-century cabinet I scored at the Goodwill! Oh, the plans I have in store for this! I'm going to buy the super cute paper I've been drooling over to incorporate into it. I would looove to start on it now, but I am going to wait until Chris & I get an apartment to decide on a paint color.

While I am on that subject, I should announce that I have been hired at Charlotte Russe! Yay! Chris & I both work multiple jobs now, so we finally feel financially secure enough to move on with our wedding plans! Once we figure out a place we can secure a date and I can finally finish printing our invitations! Woot!

(Pink Spiders)

Scissor Runner

2010-08-21T14:43:00.005-06:00

I am so very excited about my new prints!

These prints measure 9.5" x 12.5" on 5 different colors of french paper, and the silver ink is metallic! They will be available soon for only $10, and yes you can PRE ORDER!

(Jenny and Johnny)

Scott Pilgrim

2010-08-21T14:33:00.004-06:00

I went in expecting to like this movie, but I actually really loved it.
The soundtrack is fantastic! Beck wrote the music played by Scott Pilgrim's band,
Sex Bob-omb.

(Plumtree)

Shop Around

2010-08-10T00:12:00.007-06:00

Just a few days after getting back from vacation with the fam, I hopped in a car with some friends to head back up to Michigan - again. It was fantastic! We went to some wine tastings, and hung out at the beach, Myla and I collected some sweet stones that had been polished by the water for her to make jewelry with. The power went out the next morning during a thunderstorm, so we headed home. It was still a great trip.

The final thing on my summer calendar of events was the North Halsted Market Days Concert this past Sunday. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were the headliners!!! Chris and I took my sister and her friend Claire with us for what turned out to be a mind blowing experience! The weather was so hot, and people were crammed together on top a ridiculous amount of litter, but that all seemed to fade away when they took the stage and began to play one of my all time favorite songs, Bad Reputation.

Fabulous!

I got all caught up on some photos now that I have batteries in my camera. Here is some of the great stuff I found in some thrift stores in Michigan.

You can never have too many fancy frames. I picked up some nice little ones AND a kit with molds and plaster so I can make my own! Yay! Adorable hand-painted owl. I could not resist his charm. The little framed bird is actually fabric in the middle, and made in Italy. Fancy! The dollhouse and picture holder will make for good product displays when I'm done with them.

Another suitcase. Yeah. I love them.

And for all of that I only spent about $10! I have a black belt in shopping.

(Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)

Holland

2010-07-29T18:46:00.003-06:00

If I could be on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, I would tell the world about the New Holland Brewing Company. This is the Tarheel BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich:

"Carolina style vinegar mustard mop with BBQ spices dress slow roasted pork on a bakery fresh bun with bread and butter pickles, horseradish mayo, and lettuce."

It absolutely blew me away. It was heavenly. And only $7.99!? Go there the first chance you get!! As you can guess by the title, they make a lot of their own beverages. They have one beer called Mad Hatter, which I was pretty excited about (even though I hate beer!)

I was sad to learn that Roxie's Vintage had closed, but there were still a lot of cute stores. There was a huge fair trade store where I got a beautiful necklace from India. We also loved the candy store. I got some pretty little chocolates to take to work.

(Sufjan Stevens)

Just Like the Movies

2010-07-28T19:55:00.001-06:00

Things were very lively in Traverse City because their film festival was going on. All of the windows had movie themed displays. This one impressed me the most.
Dinner at the Blue Tractor was great!

The food at Poppycock's was fantastic, but I forgot to take pictures. Thanks for the recommendation Sarah! We ate some fantastic food at Cousin Jenny's.

They make authentic British Pasties. YUM!

Scored some sweet deals on super cute chocolates at a candy store that was going out of business.

Sarah also suggested we visit The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. It used to be a mental hospital, so cool!

Such a fun town!

(Regina Spektor)

Cotton Crush

2010-07-27T19:42:00.000-06:00

Big Rapids!

Meet Wesley:
He is a cute little bunny,
very friendly,
and quite photogenic.

Alex and I had a great time sitting in the yard while Wesley posed for us to draw his portrait.

(Kevin Devine)

Say Yes! To M!Ch!Gan!

2010-07-24T21:03:00.000-06:00

I'm on vacation with my family in Michigan!
We're on our way to Big Rapids to visit all our friends there. Can't wait to see them!

What's one of the best parts of a road trip? Cracker Barrel! We used to have one not 5 minutes from our house, and we were there almost every week. Then it closed and we still mourn the loss. Whenever we have to drive a long distance we simply must stop for a meal there. Meredith made an amazing discovery in their store:

HAD to buy some! I must say though, they are just not as good as the original. While you still get the same experience of popping chunks of sugar into your mouth and picking paper bits out of your teeth, the flavor is not the same. I think they tried to be too literal with the colors and flavors, and the effort to keep them apart. I always loved how the colors ran together in a sort of gradient, and the flavors would combine as well.

You just can't top a classic, but I would still give these 4 stars.

(Sufjan Stevens)

Walkin' After Midnight

2010-07-10T16:24:00.001-06:00

We recently had a little intruder in our basement, very early in the morning.

This is quite honestly the cutest mouse I have even seen. It took some doing, but Meredith was able to capture the tiny beast. You see, she was only about in inch long, not including her tail.

The poor girl tried to cling to the container for safety.

She was so frightened, that when we released her she just burrowed under some blades of grass and sat there letting us pet her. She just didn't know what to do. So sweet!

(Madeleine Peyroux)

Monday Monday

2010-07-05T16:44:00.000-06:00

I am on a little break from my regular Monday shop updates for inventory and a photo shoot. I can't wait to get it all done!

(The Mamas and the Papas)

Fun, Fun, Fun

2010-06-24T12:20:00.004-06:00

Went to Ikea with Christopher today!

I was looking at the catalog again since the discovery of the tabletop in my last post, and saw some things that I definitely had to go check out!

This rolling flat file turned out to be a perfect storage solution for my artwork and supplies! The only problem is that I filled it so quickly and still have plenty more to put away. I don't really have the space for another one right now, but I hope to get one eventually.

I also bought some succulent plants. I have become obsessed with these lately, since they seem to be very resilient, and I have a black thumb. They are so cheap at Ikea, and they have a lot of different varieties. I also found a simple wooden planter in the as-is section for $2.

(The Beach Boys)

On The Table

2010-06-22T13:15:00.011-06:00

Here is my latest dumpster dive:

While collecting scraps for 4th of July float building, Ben pointed out that one of them looked like an Ikea tabletop. I noted that it seemed to just need some new legs attached, so he suggested that I take it. I looked it up on the Ikea site and found this:

It is the same color and dimensions, but appears to be twice as thick as the one I found online. Although mine is a bit beaten up, this a still a $120 tabletop. For those who don't know, Ikea has a lovely setup in the "workspace" section, where you pick your table top, then pick your legs. (That is where I got my Drafting/light box table that I am so in love with.) I am not sure if I want to touch it up, or repaint it completely. I don't really have a place to put anymore large furniture right now anyway, so this may be put to the side for a bit.

Oh the things people throw away... It is great to be next to a college campus for that reason. When people have to load up a car and drive far away, they tend to leave a lot of nice things behind for lack of space. Not to mention the cast offs that come from when different departments move or re-model! A couple years back the Education department moved to a new building and I found this beautiful treasure by the dumpster:

(Picture coming soon! I promise!)

It was still there at night so I decided to take it, which turned out to be a huge struggle, mostly for Chris and Nate who were sweet enough to help me out. It is made of metal and glass, so it was super heavy, and did not fit in my little car. Since it was night I didn't see that each section actually comes apart when you remove the screws... oops! At least it will be easy to move later on.

I can't believe someone didn't want these! Their loss is my gain!

(A.C. Newman)

Monday Monday

2010-06-21T22:09:00.008-06:00

My dad (and camera!) are back from China! Just in time for the Monday update.

1)Flapper Girl Feather Hair Clip
2)Swallows necklace (on an aged gold chain) - coming soon!
3/4)A vast assortment of keychains

Now for some sneak peeks on what is around the corner:
I have been gathering miscellaneous pieces of paper and cutting up discarded library books to get ready to bind into some up-cycled notebooks. They will mostly be 5.5"x8.5" - a perfect size to carry around. Not much to look at yet, but I will post pics later.

I am very excited about this new t-shirt design. It will be a must for architecture enthusiasts and Chicago lovers both!

**Projects mentioned in Monday, Monday posts may not be available in the shop yet, but pre-order is available, as well as custom orders!**

(The Mamas and the Papas)

Song For My Father

2010-06-20T14:47:00.000-06:00

Happy Father's Day dad! It's good to have you home!

We went and saw Toy Story 3 and it utterly blew me away. I absolutely loved every last second of it!

Classic Cinemas has it in normal vision if you are like me and hate the 3D craze.

(Horace Silver)

Monday Monday

2010-06-14T21:03:00.002-06:00

I don't have a new picture of my project board this week because my camera is in China (I loaned it to my dad for his trip) and my sister's camera is broken. I am going to try to get my hands on a camera tomorrow, so be sure to check back!

I have added things to the shop though!

(The Mamas and the Papas)

Martha My Dear

2010-06-12T13:30:00.002-06:00

I am a HUGE fan of Martha Stewart. They have must have quite a team of designers, because everything is adorable. The sneaky brand seems to be popping up in all sorts of places these days, but I am partial to what can be found at Michael's. I rarely pay full price for anything there because there is always a coupon for at least 40% off. I lucked out and got some 50% off coupons too, so I stocked up on some great new tools!

Lovely new colors of heat embossing powder.

This circle cutter is going to help so much when it comes to making buttons!

And this funny looking contraption is a scoring board!

Fabulous!

(The Beatles)

Here it Goes Again

2010-06-09T19:13:00.003-06:00

It has been awful weather here lately. Remember a few posts back when I mentioned the lone tree trunk left from our large tree? It fell over yesterday. My sister called my dad just after lunch to report that the power was out and she had heard the tree falling.

It landed in our neighbors yard, ripping out all of the surrounding electrical wires and breaking the telephone pole in two on its way down.

The fire department came to monitor the situation for safety purposes while everyone waited for ComEd to mosey over. They sent one guy with a chain saw. That's it! Well, clearly he couldn't handle it, so he sat in his truck for 2o minutes, then left, not telling us anything! My father called ComEd again and they said they were going to have to send several trucks, and they might have the power back on by 11pm. Eventually a crew from a tree removal service came out and did some work then left. Shortly after, we got to watch this guy unload a new telephone pole. It was like those claw arcade games!

It was a long time before ComEd finally came back. They had to drive their truck through our rain-soaked yard, and surprise surprise, it got stuck (coming and going.) They were able to have the power on by 9:00pm, which is better than 11 I guess, but it is just a temporary fix. We still have all of the tree remains, (it's "not their job" to get rid of it, jest move it out of their way) our lawn is shredded, and the new telephone pole remains where the delivery guy set it. They didn't come back at all today. Who knows when we will be seeing them again.

(OK GO)

Monday Monday

2010-06-07T19:43:00.006-06:00

I've got big plans for my small business this summer. Starting this month, every Monday there will be a shop update. How exciting!

I will be sure to post a current picture of my New Project Board every Monday so you can see what is being added to the shop and get a sneak peak at what is just around the corner!

Here is this week's:

1) Heat embossed 4 bar Matryoshka Notecard set
2) Oh Deer! Hand embroidered cards (Coming Soon)
2) Squirrel gift tag set w/ heat embossed tails (Coming Soon)
4) Little Red Riding Hood gift tag (Coming Soon)

Is your favorite item not in our shop yet? Request an e-mail alert in the comments!

(The Mamas and the Papas)

You've Got A Friend In Me

2010-06-05T15:36:00.002-06:00

Who is excited for toy story three!?!

I can hardly wait! There are so many cute new characters, but I'm most interested in this one:

ADORABLE!

(Randy Newman)

Blue Monday

2010-05-31T19:45:00.004-06:00

I can't wait to show you how I transformed these:

The organizer was Free, a cast off from the office.
I paid $4 for 1 can of light blue spray paint.
$2.50 @ Habitat for Humanitie's ReStore for the peg board, and I still have half the sheet leftover.
I found a fancy frame for $3.99 @ Goodwill (still has the original price sticker for $73.99)
Various pegboard hooks totaled about $10.

And Voila! Two awesome organizers.

Fabulous! I am a big fan of peg board. I think it has so many possibilities! I've got a few more project ideas for it and would love to hear some of the way you use it, so leave a comment!

**Tip: NEVER try cutting pegboard without power tools!**

(New Order)

Happy Birthday

2010-05-20T23:39:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday Chris!

We had a super-duper fun-filled day! A few weeks back I won some gift cards at a school event: $30 Olive Garden and $10 Baskin Robbins. Today we cashed in on that. We had a delicious lunch at Olive Garden, then took some cake and fabulous Baskin Robbins ice cream with us to the bowling alley.

There were many different bowling techniques

but here was mine

Yes, I did achieve several strikes when using this move.

(Sufjan Stevens)

The Melody Of A Fallen Tree

2010-05-16T17:10:00.004-06:00

Today another part of the dead tree in our backyard fell over, causing a small electrical fire, and ripping out part of a power line that sent out gunshot-esque boom that drew neighbors out of their houses (not to mention cut out the power.)

I went outside to work on a project, and not not a moment too soon it seems. Not 5 minutes after I got outside, I heard a strange creaking and rushing of wind. I turned around and watched in horror as a tree toppled over toward my house! Luckily, it was too short to reach the house. I ran inside to get my parents, and when I came back out there was smoke everywhere! The fire put itself out as quickly as it began, and my dad called the fire department. The firemen were very nice, and they stayed with us until Com Ed arrived (though they took there sweet time getting to us!)

This tree originally had about three trunks, and has been dead since we moved in. Funny thing is, a few years back Com Ed had to come out to take care of one of the trunks that had fallen. It didn't cause as much damage the first time, but my dad suggested they take the rest of it out. They said "Oh no. It's fine to leave it." Once again, they did not want to mes with the rest of the tree, so we still have one large dead tree trunk out back, right next to the power lines.

(Windsor For The Derby)

Basement Parties

2010-05-10T23:56:00.000-06:00

The decor at the House Cafe in Dekalb, IL could be described as a Moroccan family's basement after during Christmas. This was the setting for the recent Matt Pond PA concert I attended with Meredith and Chris.

It was absolutely a fabulous show, but also strange. I saw Matt Pond PA about 4 years ago, but these people before me on the stage were completely knew except for Matt. Also, there was no cellist! This was not the band I knew, but they played one heck of a show to say the least.

(Matt Pond PA)

You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby

2010-05-09T11:36:00.000-06:00

Happy Mother's Day!

And for those recent or soon to be moms I will be adding these to the shop very soon!

They are printed on stardream quartz paper source 5"x5" flat cards.

The baby boy version is yet to be printed, so check back!

(Bobby Darin)

Tiny Birds

2010-05-02T21:18:00.000-06:00

Since getting my new laptop in March, I have been carrying it around in it's original box whilst I searched for the perfect bag for it. Then I found this on Modcloth.com

I absolutely am loving it! It is adorable and durable. And unlike many other bags made with cute fabric, this had a coating on it so it stays nice and clean!

JoAnn has all of their vinyl wall decals 70% off, so this cute pink frame cost less than $1.

I also bought this:

for about $6.

No place to put it yet though.

(Yo La Tengo)

Graduate

2010-05-01T20:21:00.000-06:00

Graduation! I am so glad to be done with school!

At the last minute, our president had to go to a funeral and my dad ended up carrying out most of the program. My dad had already been planning to give me my diploma, but this way he was able to give all of my friends theirs as well.

(Third Eye Blind)

Go Daddy-O

2010-04-27T14:30:00.000-06:00

Barb got our friends together to have a party for my dad, to how how much they appreciate all he has done for them over our time at Judson. They fondly refer to him as Dr. Dad (a term that originated from Adam I believe.) They even made a card and gave it to our lunch lady for other students to sign.

Rachel looked very festive.

(Big Bad Voodoo Daddy)

Year of the Cat

2010-04-24T13:39:00.003-06:00

I recently kept seeing this cat in our yard for a couple of days, but didn't think much of it. I just thought it was annoying and shooed it away before the dogs saw it.

I had also briefly heard muffled noises sounding like baby animals, but dismissed it as an overly hopeful misinterpretation of nothing at all since I generally go baby animal crazy in the spring.

Then suddenly last night I was outside and heard the noise again, and upon further investigation into a window well, found this:

FIVE newborn kittens! They were so beautiful! All squirmy and mewing like crazy! Their eyes were still closed! I was worried because their was no mamma there to keep them warm, and the temperature had significantly dropped due to an oncoming thunderstorm, but eventually she came back. The next morning I went to check on them and there were only 3 left! The mamma had decided to move them (hopefully to her home with an owner!) I figured that this was my chance to hold them. I discovered that they still had their umbilical cords attatched, so they had to be very very new little things! They cuddled up to my sister and I, blindly squirming in search of milk and mewing as loud as their tiny lungs would allow.

Gradually, the mom moved all of the babies, but I took a little video first:

(Al Stewart)

Golden Years

2010-04-18T05:20:00.005-06:00

Mom and I went to a fabulous exhibit at the Lake County Discovery Museum. It featured a selection of original artwork used in the Little Golden Book series. My favorite work was by Richard Scary, particularly the ones for I Am A Bunny. The detail was unbelievable! Every tiny hair on the rabbit looked as if he had used one single bristle to paint it. The museum even had a huge children's activity room based on the exhibit.

Little Golden Books were actually made in Chris's hometown, Racine, WI. Next time we go there I hope to pay visit to the Racine Heritage Museum to see what else they have in their collection.

(David Bowie)

You Don't Know What You've Got

2010-04-17T21:19:00.005-06:00

The DIY Trunk Show/Chicago Craft Mafia hosted their second annual craft supply sale today. It gives vendors a chance to clean out their extra stuff and buyers get to score some quality stuff for cheap.

I made out like a bandit!

The couple that runs one of my favorite craft vendors, Qylaar, was there. I am always drooling over their fabrics and today they had stacks of it! I snagged a few cute Japanese prints for a steal, but the major bargain of the day was their felt.

I bought these two large grocery bags of felt, plus a bag of miscellaneous scraps for a grand total of $5!

The lady from Chronic Babe was seated at the booth next to them and her jaw dropped when she heard me asking them about it.

I met so many nice people. It was a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.

(Joan Jett and The Blackhearts)

Dearest

2010-04-11T04:39:00.002-06:00

I just finished this very dear little deer card. It is all hand embroidered onto a lovely textured turquoise A2 card. I will be making more of these for sure, and stocking them in the shop as soon as I can!

(Buddy Holly)

The Lobster Quadrille

2010-04-06T04:14:00.003-06:00

I never took the time to post my review of the new Alice In Wonderland movie! How could I forget?

I have seen it twice now, and both times in 3D. This is strange for me because I really do not like 3D movies. Much of the time it seems like they just want to see how much stuff they can throw out at the audience, which makes my heart rate jump in the worst way, and after a while my eyes hurt. Point being - this movie really didn't do that. I highly recommend seeing it in 3D while it is in the theater. Falling down the rabbit hole was spectacular. But by far, the one thing that makes the 3D all worthwhile is the Cheshire Cat.

He slowly and gracefully floats out into the audience, so delicately that you would swear he was real. It absolutely blew me away.

My one complaint: Cut the dance scenes. Seriously.

GO! Before it is too late!

(Franz Ferdinand)

The Price Of Spring

2010-04-05T12:40:00.001-06:00

You know I love an after holiday sale, especially at Target!

Here are my 50% off bargain buys:

These fantastic votives were $6.50. I love that they don't scream Easter, so I can use them whenever I want!

I got this adorable Easter egg mini wreath for $5.

It has that great clear, flaky glitter, so you get the sparkle, but it's more subtle.

(Matt pond PA)

Very Good Advice

2010-03-29T12:02:00.000-06:00

A while back someone at work gave me a barnes and noble giftcard as a thank you for all the work I put into a project for them. How sweet is that!? Well, I finally ordered these beauties:

Craft Inc. Business Planner

The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line

I am so excited! The first one is journal style, with tons of pages and pockets to fill! I hope that together the two will help me to improve and expand my business!

(Robert Smith)

I'm A Cuckoo

2010-03-26T23:17:00.000-06:00

I got so many wonderful gifts for my birthday!

My family gave me these earrings

and this adorable Chicago compass.

Plus lots of shopping of course! (More to come about that!)

(Belle & Sebastian)

Three Dog Dash

2010-03-25T14:58:00.000-06:00

Today is my Birthday!

Hopefully ALL of you have seen Up (and if not, you need to go rent it right now!) By far, the best part of the movie is Dug the dog.

The DVD has a featurette called Dug's Special Mission in which Dug keeps saying "Today is my BIRTHDAY!" I can't find any online clips from that, but here is a lovely scene from the movie:

(Michael Giacchino)

Start The Commotion

2010-03-23T18:27:00.002-06:00

My mom just told me about this fantastic new web show called the DIY Dish. It is so cute! There are only two episodes so far, but they have had some really great sponsors so far, and their projects are super cute!

Here is the first episode:

They are even giving tons of stuff away, such as a Jenome sewing or embroidery machine! Go check it out!

(Wiseguys Feat. Greg Nice)

The Show

2010-03-20T16:55:00.001-06:00

Here is the info from my senior show postcards:

(Lenka)

Hound Dog

2010-02-23T16:34:00.004-06:00

More Puppy Pictures!

June:

Henry:

(Elvis Presley/The Jordanaires)

Can't Help Faling In Love

2010-02-21T23:16:00.001-06:00

It has been a while since we had to say goodbye to our dear friend Murphy and our house just seems so lonely without a dog trotting around. We knew we wanted to adopt, and we wanted a younger dog who was housebroken, not a puppy!

Then yesterday we went to an adoption event at Petco because they said there would be cocker spaniels from a rescue organization. Inevitably, all of the dogs up for adoption were puppies. And there he was- a liver and white cocker spaniel with the saddest face you've ever seen. Though he was not very large, he seemed to awkwardly tower over all of the much younger puppies.

Our spaniel loving family was enamored.

We came to find out that this sweet little boy had a sister who had to stay home because she wasn't feeling too well. We had to meet her, so we went back to Petco this morning. The pair was even more irresistible than we could have imagined.

So we took them both home!

This is Henry:

And this is June:

They love each other very much.

And so do we! They were born on October 28, 2009, so they are just little things.

(We are still a little unsure of their names, so feel free to give us your opinion!)

(Elvis Presley/The Jordanaires)

The Way You Wear Your Head

2010-02-20T23:16:00.001-06:00

Only 13 days to go!

Alice in Wonderland Exclusive Clip - Clothe This Girl

Trailer Park Movies | MySpace Video

(Nada Surf)

Plenty Of Paper

2010-02-18T00:08:00.000-06:00

I don't think I have taken the time to rave about how much I love the French Paper Company. Last semester one of the first things I asked Angee was what kind of paper she recommended for printmaking. She said that they mostly order from French Paper. I looked into it, and it was as if the heavens had opened up! They are such a fantastic company! Not only do they have great paper, ideal for silkscreen, but they also have fantastic designers. On top of all of that is the French Paper Run of the Mill Club. You buy their paper, then send them back a sample of whatever you used it for and they will send you back a box of free stuff! I have done this three times now, and this is what I ended up with from my last exchange:

A card game, notebooks, buttons, and magnets. If you go here you can see some better photos of the stuff, as well as some of their other promotions.

They also just posted this video!

French Mill Tour from French Paper on Vimeo.

(Eisley)

Valentine

2010-02-14T23:56:00.004-06:00

I saw this recipe in the latest issue of ReadyMade and HAD to make it.

Christopher and I had a double date dinner with the dynamic duo of Adam and Nancy, so I thought I would try it.

Before Baking:

After Baking:

And I can never say this, so I must take the opportunity to brag that mine looked prettier than in the magazine. Nothing burned, AND it tasted great. It was so good that I plan on making it again.

(Bobby Bare Jr.)

Don't Come Around Here No More

2010-02-05T15:55:00.002-06:00

My friend Deanna, a theater major, is putting on a production of Alice in Wonderland at our school! I was so excited when I heard about it that I immediately volunteered my services and created this poster for her:

I can't wait to see it! Just for fun, I thought I would also post one of my favorite music videos:

Don't forget that the new Tim Burton & Disney movie opens in theaters March 5! Apparently there is a touring exhibit that was recently in San Diego for the Comic Con.

I hope it comes to Chicago!

(Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

Holiday

2010-01-21T10:02:00.006-06:00

Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day!

May yours be Merry and Bright!

(Madonna)

Bette Davis Eyes

2010-01-08T12:15:00.005-06:00

Monday night I added a new little critter to our household. I am very excited to introduce Bette Davis!

Uncanny resemblance right? For anyone who isn't familiar with the original Bette (especially people from my generation) you should check her out.

Now, I have owned MANY small animals in my life, but I have never had one who would fall asleep in my arms like this little lady.

ADORABLE! Like any other ham, she loves to run in her wheel all night long. It's a good thing I am a heavy sleeper, so it doesn't bother me. She is still a bit nervous and jumpy at times, but hopefully she will get used to it here and calm down a little. I am not sure how old she is, but she only weighs 3.4 ounces and her fur is so soft! Needless to say, I am having so much fun with her!

(Kim Carnes)

Moma, You Been On My Mind

2009-12-31T01:07:00.003-06:00

I am excited to announce that I have started a new blog! I am starting a new project, which hopefully will develop into my senior project this semester. I call it Tell Me About Your Mother

Last spring in my history of design class we talked about changing roles of women over time in relation to the design of household objects. It really got me thinking about the way that woman's roles seem to have come full circle. Liberated women have returned to domestic hobbies like sewing and baking, while juggling careers and families. With that whole concept in the back of my mind, I made another realization this semester. Although both of my parents have encouraged my artistic nature my whole life, my mother has always been the more hands on one. She taught me to knit, sew, cross stitch, etc. She is always eager to try making things ourselves instead of buying them.

As I started to link the two together and thought about the long history of mothers passing down things to their children, but it seems this tradition may have gotten lost somewhere along the line. I would really like to hear from other people's moms; anecdotes, recipes, advice, photos, whatever! Then I can take those contributions and incorporate them into my project.

Just leave a comment on my other blog, or send me an e-mail to participate. You can find the link to it here, or over on the left side at the top. I can't wait to hear from you!

(Bob Dylan)

Spectacular Views

2009-12-26T18:39:00.004-06:00

The semester drew to a close and now I have moved back home to my family. Moving out was so bitter-sweet. I did not want to leave Chicago, but I am glad to be out of that silly apartment building and back to having have all of my stuff in one place! Re-adjusting to the lack of lights and noise outside my window has been difficult, especially at night, but I generally manage to sleep through anything.

How could I not miss that view?

(Rilo Kiley)

Work

2009-12-06T21:36:00.002-06:00

Wow. What a CrAzY weekend! Somehow everything ended up getting piled into it. Friday we had "the Hashbrown" and I ended up being at Spudnik for 14 hours straight. Angee bought me dinner because she is a great boss! I didn't mind working overtime, but i didn't get home until around one, and then we had Renegade the next day (which was Fantastic!) I made about $40, and spent most of it there.

I wish I could show you pictures of the cards I bought from A Favorite Design, but she does not have them on her site. They have some ink and some blind embossing, which is hard to capture in a photo. They are from her series of typography humor.

The other card I got is from Elevated Press. I was so excited because it looked like the Salem North Star dishes that I have, which I told the lady and she said that those dishes were her inspiration for the series!

Aaaand they had a free photo booth there all weekend long!

(Jimmy Eat World)

Thanks

2009-11-30T20:22:00.005-06:00

Thanksgiving was fantastic! I had time to recover from what I am pretty sure was the Swine flu. (Fun!) And my family got to come and visit me in Chicago. We ate lunch at Orange which is the home of Frushi!

Then I took them to Posh and Paper Source. It was a great way to kick off the break.

My last day is December 11. TOO SOON!

(Kevin Devine)

Do It Yourself

2009-11-23T11:41:00.004-06:00

On Saturday I went to the DIY Trunk Show and it was a blast! Of course, I wanted to buy so much stuff, but here is what I actually ended up with:

I could not resist this little print from Octophant.us because of the toaster.

I got quite a bargain at Mother of Hermes Press. She had a $1 bargain bin of cards, and a whole pile of gift tags to choose from that were free with purchase! I picked out a five pack of this gorgeous orange lady. (All of it is letterpress)

Paper Parasol has so many fantastic designs! I bought several of these cards, which are also letterpress.

She is having an art giveaway this week! Look!

And of course, there was a cornucopia of free stuff to be had!

Some of the items came from a table where they had free stuff but you had to let them record you telling a story in order to get it. I picked up a sketchbook made of recycled materials, and this funny book with diagrams of sleeping positions and what they say about a person.

But the crown jewel of my free goods is this Leave it to Beaver button.

The show takes place every year in the Pulaski Park field house, which is also where the Holiday Renegade Craft Fair takes place. It is just around the corner and I can't wait!

(Uniting Nations)

Long Time Coming

2009-11-10T16:11:00.004-06:00

I have not been a diligent blogger while since I came to Chicago. My schedule is just so crazy that I forget to stop and update. On top of that, I never remember to bring my camera with me to take pictures. I guess for some of the more interesting things it wouldn't matter anyway because cameras are not allowed inside. So I have grabbed several images online to recap some of our exciting events. Every week I go to a different event for my Arts and the City class, then we write a reflection and discuss it the following week in class. It is so much fun, but it sure keeps me busy and worn out! Over the last month we went to the Joffrey Ballet performance of Othello.

The next week we went to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Just in time for Halloween we were off to the MCA to see the Hypocrites theater group performing their Frankenstein. It was Amazing!

The woman in the bottom picture came in for a Q & A with our whole class. I was very excited because this was one of my favorite events we have gone to. We were not in seats like at a normal theater. We were walking around on the stage with the performers. If they pointed to you it meant to get out of the way so that they could get through. It made everyone become part of the performance.

(Delays)

It Takes Two

2009-10-25T11:28:00.004-06:00

I am very excited to say that two years ago today Christopher and I went out on our first date. Chris came to Chicago to celebrate and surprisingly the weather was great! It has been nothing but cold and rainy lately, but today the sun was out and we didn't even need a coat or umbrella. We headed over to the Lincoln Park Farm-in-the-zoo. We were disappointed to find that none of their petting facilities were being run, and all we could do was look at the animals from afar. Maybe they are paranoid about swine flu.

Chris was shocked to see rabbits that were larger than his pet cats. If I wasn't allergic to them, I would love to have a huge (litter trained) bunny hopping around my apartment. We spent most of our time watching chicks. There were two that had just hatched, and then a cage full of the ones that were several days old. The most entertaining moment was when a tiny bug crawled along the outside bottom edge of the cage and several chicks dove for it. They were loudly chirping and shoving one another aside while frantically pecking at the glass trying to get the bug. It was hysterical!

On the way back we saw two kids who were dressed up for Halloween (not sure why so early.) The little girl was completely decked out as Alice! Blue dress with card suit trim, black and white striped tights, long blond wig, black bow - so adorable. And to make it even better, the man standing next to her was holding a baby dressed as the Cheshire cat! She had a purple and pink striped body suit with a furry tail and ears, with whiskers drawn on her face. I was so excited.

Then we took a walk to an adorable little store called P.O.S.H. They had tons of Jadeite dishes for sale, but the only piece I could really afford was this adorable salt cellar. (That link will show you to the product page, but they don't have pictures of mine.)

We exchanged gifts, which is always a very exciting event. I went back to Sucker's Candy, a place we had once visited on valentines day and picked out an assortment of candies. Then I was off to the Bleeding Heart Bakery to pick up a chocolate on top of chocolate cupcake, which I forgot to take a picture of, sorry! Christopher got me some things I have had my eye on from Bake It Pretty.

Mint flavored chocolate melts (which are just the color of Jadeite!) and a vintage button mold to mold the chocolates. I can't wait to get started using it!

Chris made pancakes around lunch time and a delicious stir fry meal for dinner. I was definitely spoiled by him. I can't wait to see what the next two years, and all the years after that will hold for us.

(Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston)

Going to The Zoo

2009-10-12T14:45:00.009-06:00

Happy Memorial Day!

Kymberly and I had the day off so we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It was so much fun! Immediately I thought of Raffi and started singing "We're going to the zoo zoo zoo, how about you you you?" as we waited for the bus.

One benefit of the weather getting colder is that the zoo is far less crowded than it is during the summer. Everything was so peaceful there.

There were bunnies everywhere! Watching the animals not in cages can be just as entertaining.

Ahhh. It was quite a relaxing day in the monkey house.

Beaver slowly makes progress in his escape plot.

We shared a moment.

I will never get tired of going to the zoo. There is something that is just so special about it. Next time, we are going to visit the petting zoo!

(Raffi)

The Modern Things

2009-10-07T15:14:00.005-06:00

Finally I have visited the modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago! I always feel weird talking pictures in there so I don't really have any of my own to post. That one is from their website.

I would have loved to spend more time there. It was really strange because I am not used to it now. I have gone to the Art Institute so many times in my life, especially frequent in college, so I had become so familiar with where everything was. I could go on autopilot when I got there, and I felt comfortable. Now that the new wing is open, I don't know where anything is anymore, and there are many new things to see. Don't get me wrong, I think that it is great, but I just didn't like that I spent more time than usual trying to figure out where I was and where other things were.

(Björk)

Clone High

2009-10-05T14:23:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday Weasel!

Today is my little sister Meredith's 16th Birthday!

Anyone wondering why I call her weasel?

Recently Christopher discovered a very strange thing online:

It is from a website full of cartoon stereotypes, however, it looks shockingly identical to Meredith. I wish I could find some photos to put on here so you could see the resemblance, but it really is scary.

(Abandoned Pools)

Reject

2009-10-02T23:53:00.000-06:00

There was much rejoicing today at Spudnik as we heard the news that Chicago is out of the running for the Olympics.

A few weeks ago Kym and I watched a documentary about the Chicago Worlds Fair, and how the buildings were made mostly for appearance, and cost a lot to build. After the fair ended, most things fell into disrepair and ruin. As we watched I could not help but picture the same aftermath for the Olympics. Not to mention that Chicago has already gone through so much gentrification, and the Olympics would undoubtedly create more of the same. I have wanted to get the opportunity to live here for so long, and after this semester I really hope to be able to come back. Had Chicago gotten the Olympics, I do not think there would be any possibility for me to stay here. The cost of living would skyrocket, and the crowds would be unbearable.

(Green Day)

China Girl

2009-09-29T15:35:00.004-06:00

Today I went on an epic adventure to Chinatown. I don't think I posted photos of these before, but when I was in San Fransisco I found these amazing cookies at a grocery store in Japantown.

Seriously, this is the coolest candy ever. Well, I finally found them after much searching in the Chinatown mall, and bought several boxes. I am planning to use them as cupcake toppers. I will post pictures when that happens.

When I found the tree stumps, this box also caught my eye.

I had to buy it, and I sure am glad I did. They are delicious!

I did not explore that much of Chinatown, but it seemed pretty dirty and run down. I think I prefer the one in San Francisco, but I will go back and look around more another time.

I went to Goodwill’s website and used their store locator and saw that one of the locations was close to where I was going to be shopping today, but when I got there it turned out to be their corporate office – no store. Then later when I was finished with the other shopping I had planned, I set out to find the Goodwill store. As I was strolling along and snacking on Goldfish crackers I passed a panhandler. I waved to him in a way, which said I acknowledge you, but I won’t be giving you any money. Then he somewhat interested said “Ohhh… fish…” and as I offered them to him he extended his cup and I poured some into it. It was a pleasant exchange, probably the best I have had; it put me in a very good mood. I never know how to deal with panhandlers. I usually walk by, maybe saying hello and smiling, but sometimes I feel guilty that I smile even though I’m not giving them anything. It just makes me so nervous because you never know the situation and where the money will go. (Plus, I rarely carry any cash with me anyway.) It is a lot easier though now that I live here, and see which people are at those same spots each day. It gets easier to tell who is genuine.

I realized that I really didn’t know much about the location of Goodwill, and it would involve more walking than I really wanted to do after a long day, so I hopped onto a bus heading home. A lady sitting across from me complimented my engagement ring and that struck up a great conversation. She wanted to know all about it and took notes on her phone to go to Etsy.com and look for Danielle Maveal. The conversation continued and we talked about public transportation and cars, the pros and cons of each depending on city or suburban dwelling. As she got up to leave she said it was nice to have met and talked. I agreed. I am glad I tried to find Goodwill, and it did not matter one bit that I never made it because I had two very good interactions with people I may never have seen otherwise.

*Lazy moment: I did not my own photos for this entry. Each one links back to where I found it.*

(David Bowie)

Fun, Fun, Fun

2009-09-20T07:02:00.003-06:00

I don't normally work on Sundays, but today there was a class for screenpriting on Tee shirts and I was really interested in it. Angee said that I can take a day off later in exchange, so it will all work out great. The class was taught by Megan Klāwitter, another Spudnik printmaker. We encouraged people to work in pairs to make things go smoother, which really worked out well. They all got along so well, and finished their projects hours before we had anticipated. Look at all that teamwork happening!

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of all the finished shirts together. They were all great though, so you will just have to take my word for it.

It was interesting to be on the other side of a printmaking class. It was weird because I am not the teacher type, but it is so different outside of the collegiate pressure. I got to watch everyone making work and hover around the room without having to worry about my own project. People were there because they really wanted to learn, not just to comlplete any credit. It just makes the mood so much lighter.

(The Beach Boys)