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Ears and Etsy Friday

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I couldn’t find Lucy Dog yesterday and found her in Zander’s room looking like this


I love it when she lays like this. Her ears just cascade down and you see how long they are and how long she is. What’s sillier is when she lays like this usually she starts to wag her long tail, TUMP THUMP!

Because I’m a strong believer in Karma. Must keep the good juju going. I will show you some etsy stuff i’ve picked up lately. It’s jewelry!

First there’s Nicole, from it’s your life. She is Canadian and has great intresting jewely and pouches. I contacted her about the sea horse necklace and she told me she was waiting on silver findings, but she’d list one for me. Kind of her. cause this is a very pretty and simple necklace.

Then I went to Pitchfork, and there was a crafts section. I LOVE glass pendants. Susan Schneider had some pretty pieces there. She has an etsy shop here. I think she is doing a lot of neighboorhood street festivlas in chicago right now and has taken her inventory out due to that.
But look at this pretty pendant.

I also ordered this little elephant pendant from Imogen. It is so tiny and cute, i want 5 more.

And last but not least. Erin will be openeing an etsy shop. She gave me these necklaces and cherry pendent at our party last week. Her stuff is always very pretty and i enjoy wearing her necklaces very much.

I can’t afford really expensive jewelry and wear alot of silver, but these are a few people i’ve picked some cute quality pieces from. I want to show you two other sellers. I have yet to order from but LOVE their stuff.
Far Afield Jewerly has BEAUTIFUL rings that i adore.

And Katheryn Reichert has really awesome stuff using letterforms. I’m dying to be able to affrd a personalized cuff with the phrase “Less is More” - Mies Van Der Rohe on it.

Also for good measure, Circular Accessories. I’m drooling over several of her t-shirts witht heir beautiful silkscreened designs. Love the fish, mantis and scissors. Someday when I have some cash i’m totally buying one of these...ok maybe 5.

Please check out one or two of these crafters, not only are they hardworking but they have some great affordable stuff. Keep that good juju going. Have a good weekend. I’ve got some sewing to do.
p.s. Wendy would like to say thanks to everyone who says congrqats on her new job!

Posted by Jennifer on 07/27 at 09:06 AM ♥ Comments (5)

Happy Things

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Mostly Happy things. Here’s some things making me happy the past two weeks.
One of our etsy customers, Alexis sent me feedback with this photo and a message saying “Look even the fish likes it!” This was seriously the number one thing that made my whole week. This single picture when i clicked on it. I love to see our stuff in other’s surroundings, but this just took the cake. Thanks so much Alexis for letting me use this great photo of Osiris the fish.



While driving home one night i saw this sign and thought WHUT?


Until i saw the other side


that place always had fun saying when i was growing up, but then they must have changed owners or something cause it said god bless america for 5 years. Left anf forgotten. But latley someone has messed with the sign.

Spending some much needed laughing time with good friends. We had a small Bon Voyage of sorts party for Erin. She is moving away from us. So it is kind of sad to think of her miles away, but we’ve all had such great times they easily out weigh any sadness. I’m so very glad i met you erin. You always made me laugh, rescued one too many knitted items and always always had fun.  So we had some good times at Pass Times and all drank some pints and such.
Just trying to touch Erin’s boobs one last time (yes inside joke sorry, but thanks to nate for all this time for the best joke ever)


We just needed some metal, where’s someone playing a flying V when you need them?


Me, Lesa, Erin


And Kayt with whom knows one of the members of Califone personally! jealous!

Wendy, the quiet member of your piddleloop sewing team, just landed herself a big bad new job! We are very very VERY proud of her. She will be an analytical chemist for the water company. Way to go wendy! we all knew you could do it!

I’ll be back with an etsy friday for y’all. In the meantime i hope there’s some great happy things in your week.

Posted by Jennifer on 07/25 at 12:44 PM ♥ Comments (8)

Friday Mish-Mash

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I wanted to post this huge all inclusive music post about Pitchfork music fest, but instead i’ll spare you the jen-didn’t-want-to-move-much-from-her-chair giant photo post. Instead i’ll give you a mish mash of stuff. Just stuff and things.

Things. Not happy about hearing how Robyn’s package was ripped open by customs. I’m afraid she didn’t get everything i packaged. Also upset she had to pay duty on it, even tho i’m making it gift. Is the post office lying to me? do i need to send the thugs? Or release the hounds! (Mr. Burns style?)

Etsy Stuff:


Robyn sent me some more markers i bought for the pouches and some more samples (you people who send extras are TOO KIND) Her etsy shop can be found here.


She sent along little tags with a cupon code so you can save when you purchase from her. I think you should not pass up on the deal if you need a little gift for someone or for that swap package!


Thank you Robyn, they are beautiful and will dress up the pouches. Also let me know dude, let me know if anything was missing or if they don’t reimburse you.

Sometimes i will be sewing and go to step on the pedal and step into something warm and fuzzy instead. Samuel likes to lay by my serging pedal.

I do have some photos from our weekend-o-music
how about the guy from deerhunter opening sunday in PEARLS! (His interview in pitchfork was so good folks, he said the stage was hot and he was without shoes. He was going to run off and get them but they didn’t MATCH his dress. He’d rather suffer, fashion over function!)


I went to try to see fujiya and miyagi and gave up when the levels of the stage 3 area were at trampling on people and suffocating, so i left. I came back and saw Nat made a friend.


Someone who was a friend of a friend brought this pink flamingo to give to Yoko Ono. Um. okay. But it was sitting in my chair next to nat, like he made a new friend while watching the Battles set.
Speaking of nat, i had Jessica take pictures of us
Saturday:


Sunday




My friend Jessica and her boyfriend Cooper


Some Sea & Cake was playing


Jessica and Cooper were making faces




Then Jessica proclaimed stephen Malkmus to be the most beautiful man ever and says he’s modeled in Prada Ads.


If any of you have ever attened something in Chicago you’ve probably heard this man.


That’s Tim the owner of the Hideout. Some people from out of town find him a little annoying, but he is just the best at introducing anything. He is a very nice guy and we once saw him in Joann’s buying tons of velvety fabric.

Nat’s camera wasn’t allowed in for being called “professional” on friday nite so i put mine in the car too. Nat did snap a few with his iphone though.




Speaking of iphone, i was calling nat all weekend on my CARDBOARD iphone and wondering why he never answered


So now some dog stuff i’ll close out with pictures of samuel. Usually she is busy tracking near the shed but i caught her laying in the sun the other day.

We got some good news. We got into Chicago’s renegade craft fair. So we need to make our booth fee, and buy some new fabrics for y’all, so please come check out our project pouches and travel case sets so we can afford to sell in September!

Posted by Jennifer on 07/20 at 09:02 AM ♥ Comments (6)

3 Parts Amy, one part Etsy, a product review, and a dash of nephews and basset

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I want to give major props for Yeehaw Amy. I’m calling her yeehaw amy cause there’s too many of you on the internet named amy! Have to keep you all straight. Anyways this amy lives in the land of yeehaw (texas) and thanks to her uploading a video for the magic cast on..i am now able to actually start a toe up sock. Altho i have no picture for you because i’m waiting for smaller 2.75mm needles to arrive from knit picks to re-cast on for it. So thank you Amy! You totally rock. And i suck because i haven’t sent out your package yet, SAD FACE. :(

Second Amy. Y’all familiar with Amy of Amyville Amy? I’ve been enamoured by her talent for all things cute and tiny and made of clay for what seems like years now. Despite the fact that she’s a Boilermaker (i let that slide) she’s always up to something that ends up beyond rad. (yes i still say rad) Every once in a while i receive a rad box in the mail from her and a few months later i return the favor. I find this type of swapping to be very fun. She has one upped herself this time. She sent me a little orange package with a special little Orange friend. Meet Clementine. I’ve been alling her Clemmie.



And she also sent these



Do you remember friendship pins? I think just about anyone over the age of 30 should. I promptly put them on my new and nekkid chucks



Does anyone remember if you are supposed to wear them any particular shoe right or left? Or if it doesn’t matter? I think i am going to make some of these up and throw them in the packages i have left to send out, simply for no other reason than they are fun. My sister even took one to put on her work shoes.

Third Amy. Amy is of purplepinkandorange fame. I saw her for the july 3rd city of chicago fireworks, and taste of chicago. When i arrived back from eating my Eli’s cheesecake i found her and a little present on my totebag. She knows the way to a girls heart is with chicken poop (and other handmade lip balms)


She also made me a pretty necklace in my favorite color, what else but orange.


I love it very much. I have been wearing it non-stop since she gave it to me. I think that takes care of all THREE Amy’s. Thank you to each and every one of you.

Now 2 quick etsy posts of love
my love for meg of twisted yarn never ceases. I didn’t get any of the collaboration yarn but i did get some Giles and Sherwood. I also got a mini skein of a mystery color. I suppose i should ask her what it is. I can never get enough of her yarn and am very proud to have her as a collaborator. Her use of color and blending is amazing. You should watch cause she’s updating today.


Yes i make bags, but when Lesa brought hers to our knit night i promptly went to White Willow’s shop and ordered one for myself. I love anything that is Mexican Folk Art inspired especially Luchadores and Day of the Day imagery. This bag is great and is holding my green sock.


I am awaiting some stitch markers from Wee Ones of the Piddleloop Hounds! I told her no hurray ont hem tho so i will post them when i hear they are ready! yay!
Next i wanted to pass on a few things i’ve tried recently and liked. Product reviews if you will.


On the left: Angels on Bare Skin by Lush...Middle: Trader Joes Cream Shave in honey mango.....Right: Dream Cream Lotion by Lush
I used to date Shawn who lived in Canada for a very long time. When we’d go to Toronto I’d go into Lush. I used to get their wake up shower gel that smelled like citrus and this clay wash called amgels on bare skin. I still love this stuff and now you can buy lush online and in the States. I don’t use a lot of LUsh’s stuff but i do like a few things. The Trader Joe’s cream shave is EXCELLENT.The honey smells so good, leaves my legs soft as a baby’s butt, and doesn’t test on animals. Give them a try someday.

I’m going with Nat to The Pitchfork Music Fest this whole weekend. Starting Friday night i’ll see sonic youth play their whole daydream nation album. I’ll see de la soul, iron and wine, and other bands i can’t wait to see all weekend long. I hope y’all have a good weekend, so i will leave you with some nephew and basset hound shots of Lucy dog. We were hanging in the grass today since it was so cool out.

Posted by Jennifer on 07/12 at 11:14 AM ♥ Comments (7)

Stitch Marker Love

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I wanted to showcase some more etsy love. The etsy love i have for several people who dress up our bags. You know we’ve been making these things for 2 years now and one of the little creative details is that i like to give you a stitch marker with your bag. One that can be thrown inside once you get it to keep handly whenever you may need one.


So i tend to buy from 3 people exclusive to etsy.


They are always kind (too kind) enough to include cards and usually extra stitch markers along with what i order for the bags.
Recent pile from Kimberly over at dragonlady designs


Recent pile from Aija over at Zero


So awhile back robyn asked what the heck do her stitch markers look like when you send them out? so without further wait i present to you....the little details that dress up our bags.
a whack of bags

my last marker sample from Robyn from graphicdesignchick


one of Aija’s markers from Zero


and one of kimberly’s markers from dragon lady designs

i am currently working on returning the love of promos to all of these people.


The button maker lives up at nat’s, so i can only make them on weekends. I also handcut and stamp our cards so this takes me awhile, but the piddleloop sewing team will be sending each and all of these three promos as well.


They are not only great people, but have great quality workwomanship. When you need a little something extra for a SP or a package i urge you to throw 5$ at one of these people!

Posted by Jennifer on 07/05 at 11:23 AM ♥ Comments (5)

Spreading the Etsy love

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There’s some people out there calling for some etsy love to be spread around. I will certainly do that! I’m just dropping in to say check out etsy.com for loads of awesome gift ideas. There is so much talent out there. Our shop is there, and in turn i buy a load of stuff from here. So without further waiting…

First up my favorite thing to find for other people. CARDS! We all know my love for the chicken butts over at youngandwithit But i found out a person who i’ve known online for quite some time...was selling her illustrations! Enter Designs By Cam. Cam draws these and prints them out for you, but look out she’s getting a gocco! Her cards are large and very pretty. They feature her hand drawn designs and if there’s something you see in her sold gallery she will get it to you in a jiffy. I really love to include handmade cards in my swap packages. Thanks for perking up my packages Cam. Please check out her shop. And if you live in the chicago area come september, when renegade craft fair strikes, her stuff will be in our booth! yay!

Next up a few items that came all the way from Israel. Three Green Apples is a sewing queen. She has great graphic stuff. I also collect Monorkuro Boo Pigs, if i can find them, which isn’t easy. So when i saw she had fabric featureing them. I snapped up a few items.

two keyfobs and a 7 x 6 zippered pouch


love them.

Now for your YARN pleasure: how about Lovesticks She has stripey yarns. And i bought this little set for fun cause my favorite color is orange. She dyed up the heel/toe yarn to match for me. Her yan is very soft and very pretty. Knits up great...and STRIPEY.

I also found a set of cute dpn holders from Lunastrixe Her shop called 3 owls knitting has some cute practical things.
I picked up some dog dpn holders...love them!

Those are some of my purchases, but don’t forget i purchase from dragonladydesigns and Zero to dress up your pouches. Kimberly and Aija are ALWAYS pleasant and add extra markers as samples in with what i buy for your pouches. I do this basically only to advertise other crafters. So please do not ignore their business cards! Check them out.

I leave you with my sewing from the weekend. I finished all of these and am working on a pile of dpn sock needle wallets. Just want to get rid of the small bits f fabric i have left on my sewing table.
the pouches all lined up




and a little peek at something i have to get ready to send out tomorrow. I hope this friend will like this present i’ve been working hard on!

i’m driving to chicago tomorrow for our annual sit on the blanket, sweat to death, and eat eli’s cheesecake, for the fireworks. So i’ll see y’all after the holiday. Also wishing all of my canadian readers a belated happy canada day.

Edited to add: holy crap. Did you guys see that. Eli’s cheesecake wants me to eat them so bad they left 2 comments. BUT NO COUPON. :(
Anyways, i’ll be heading to the taste of chicago and the fireworks now. y’all have an awesome holiday.

Posted by Jennifer on 07/02 at 01:31 PM ♥ Comments (10)