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Edited to add: there’s even more musings about dogs and dog pictures over at Erika’s blog. She’s still kinda new to the blog thing so give her a look see and check out mr. fuzzy pants. Plus she does etsy fridays!

Dear Michael Vic,

I really don’t care much now what you have to say. You are a man. You are a man who little kids look up to because you play a major sport, and you play it well enough for millions of dollars of endormensts to come your way. Perhaps you should have thought of this when you repeatedly denied having anything to do with the dog figthing/gambling ring, UNTIL 3 witnesses came forward to testify against you. You are not a man. You are a coward who gained nothing in the end from ruining animals lives and by making money from it. You always get what you put out there, Mr. Vic and i think the universe is trying to tell you something.

xoxox
jen

I really wish having to sit thru all the media PR crap with Michael Vic would just go away. If i see him trying to clean up his “image” one more time today i’m shoving a #2 DPN in my eye.
On a happier note:

Dear Oreo Cakesters,

Why oh why must you come TWO in a package and not individually wrapped? Ugh.
xoxoxo
jen

In the meantime to lighten the mood just go over and look at all the puppies over on Stacey’s blog On the needles. Everything will be better if you just keep looking at the puppies.

Posted by Jennifer on 08/28 at 06:51 AM ♥ Comments (11)

Etsy Friday and Other Stuffs and Things

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We’ve been getting pummeled over and over with some scarey storms. Meaning tornado siren type storms. I don’t know if any of it has made national news but chicago is a mess after yesterday’s afternoon storm hit, and we got it TWICE as if trees crushing cars wasn’t enough, we needed more. All is ok here.  I have for you all some more pictures of the hummingbirds and some wildlife fromt he backyard. Apparently they all ove to come out when it’s raining. First my camera does this weird mirco burst thing. I can’t figure it out, but i took one yesterday of the hummingbird. It is very weird, it shows allt he frames together and i can’t figure out how to break it. it’s large though.



Then i snapped two more that i thought were intresting cause i swear they are so fast my camera can’t even snap them in freeze frame





Then this little guy comes out





That’s allt he wildlife we’ve got int he backyard, now on to some etsy love. I’m sorry i didn’t get to it last friday but we had nasty storms last week that knocked the wind (and rain) out of my posting for that day. So to make up here you go:

Nathaniel got me two presents. I will get the second one this weekend...let’s hope it’s shiney and something from etsy! This was my first gift he gave me. Something from my favorites. A necklace from Local Library.



I really like her patches too. Lauren gave me one awhile back. I still need to sew it to something.
Next up is something goofy that i had hearted forever. Pop can jewelry. By Vintage Nouveau.



She sent along a little zipper pull/cell phone charm thing too



I know it’s corny, but i ♥ Dr. Pepper what can i say?

Next , it’s not esty, but handmade cuteness that kills. Amy from good to be girl, posted these up one day and i was like quick draw mcgraw.



So check her blog out and you can find some good stuff too

Now on to some esty love that will be going to all of you, well any of you who order from us that is.  I put up twonew project pouches and two new travel cases. We are so close to selling our 300th items. So special goodies will go to the person who buys them.

Now When you order from us we always attach a stitch marker to your bag. I’ve got a new shop to pimp to y’all. (her moo cards)



Cairi’s shop Middle Earth Yarns



These markers come all the way from the UK. And i think they are fun and will go great with some of those skull and tattoo fabrics. I am very happy to show off her cute markers to everyone. She also included a few yarn samples so make sure you checkout her yarns too!

Speaking of yarn. Nikki of Mamma Blue asked me if i’d send her cards.


SHe sent me some samples to send to y’all. She made me squee cause she sent piddleloop colors! (someday i will find a piddleloop colorway and it should look like this)





And look at her cards they are so CUTE.


I’m eyeing her shop for a colorway i thought was super pretty, so i hope i catch it! Now if we don’t get washed away i’ll be back next week. In the meantime this weekend i’m building an ark in addition to all the sewing i have to do. Have a good weekend everyone and please practice some handmade love and check out these etsy people!

Posted by Jennifer on 08/24 at 08:06 AM ♥ Comments (7)

A little of this and a little of that (big ass picture post ahead)

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Mostly WET and SOGGY. The weather has been a little nuts around here. Some really scarey storms came thru last week and the county had been declared a disaster area. Uprooted trees were everywhere. It has just continued to rain and rain and rain here. I’ve been up to a lot of stuff as usual around these parts. Let me show you.

First I want to thank Hannah & Joff. They don’t have a blog, but she lives in the UK and she knits up a storm. Her and I did a english tea swap on our own a while back. She up and sends me another gift.
I forgot the sushi bandaids in this picture! Yarn! A notebook! Oolong Tea! a cd of Joffs band!


can you see my favorite part of this package? Joff (her fabulous boyfriend who used to live in chiago) drew me my VERY OWN LUCY DOG on this notebook!!!!! SQUEEEE!


thank you hannah and joff! This whole little package was so very sweet of you. And i just love the time you took Joff to draw a Basset hound even though i know they are shaped like barrels and aren’t easy to draw. THANK YOU!

Next, we rode our bikes on saturday IN THE RAIN


5 miles down the lakeshore to the bend in the lake just before the oak street beach


to watch some of the Chicago Air and Water show...now what is this you say?


my camera didn’t want to focus on it, no wonder they say it disappears on radar! It’s the oddly square or bat-signalesque Stealth Bomber. This thing was impressive as it flew toward you it was so flat my camera wouldn’t focus. neato


then we caught the Thunderbirds, who this year had not one but TWO WOMEN PILOTS. go girls.


they were so fast by the time i’d see them they were gone and hard to shoot


So this week i’m busting a sewing groove for Renegade Craft Fair see


We also made this for our neighbor who just got back from Memphis for the 30th anniversary of the king’s death


I hope she’ll like it!
And last but not least more things that fly…
I’ve been stalking three of these little guys


they make me tired just watching them eat

Edited: to add one more picture of the little guys

Posted by Jennifer on 08/21 at 09:46 AM ♥ Comments (15)

Holy Fabrics Batman! And taking a 4 yr old zipper shopping

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First of all this is what ensues when you take a 4 yr old to Vogue Fabrics to do bulk zipper shopping. Courtsey of Uncle Nat using his iphone

the i’ll look innocent after 45 secons i’ll say HURRY UP JEEEEEN!



or i’ll just act like a muppet when uncle nat takes out his iphone




After 5 min, ARE WE DONE YET?



this ensues for half an hour.



So anyways, I wanted to thank you all for your support again. With a rash of orders in the shop we’ve been able to take care of craft fair fee’s, rental fee’s, and buy new supplies. oh yes. that means NEW FABRICS for y’all.

I wanted to take a minute to say some thing sabout our fabrics. You may notice we don’t buy all Amy butler, or heather bailey, or whoever just because they are cool. We tend to buy what reflects our personalities. So if you look over the fabrics in our shop you can see a pretty clear distinction as to what wendy likes to pick out and whai pick out. We pretty much just go on what we like, and what we feel show off our fun sister sewing team spirit and fun personalites. Another important thing about our fabric choices is, we buy 85% of our fabrics locally at a few shops owned by women, in our community. This way we enjoy the patronage we get from knowing the store owner/employee’s and have our money filtered back into our local community. I also enjoy knowing that both of these businesses are SMALL and owned by WOMEN. Women who rock. The other 15% of our fabrics we buy from etsy to again filter our money into the crafting community.  There’s a lot to be said about building a patronage with someone too. You get friendly chats, curosity of what you are making, extra yardage sometimes, or the end of the bolt for no charge. In this day and age in online everything, i value our patronages with several shop owners.
That said, check out what will be filtering down into project pouches sometime in the future, from fabric stash on etsy



from various shops

And we have more of the day of the dead fabric in the large glittery skulls coming, and we have loteria fabric as well.
We can still take custom orders, since stuff filtering into the shop will be slow until after Sept 16th (renegade) is over. So if you are intrested in something, you can drop us a line and see if we can work it out.
Also Wolly Bully’s Jenny sent me some little tiny yarn samples with her cards. So very nice of her. So some of y’all will get her little samples! yum!

I’ve enjoyed chatting with a lot you, and appreciate everyone’s hellos. Try to stay cool today!

Posted by Jennifer on 08/13 at 11:43 AM ♥ Comments (11)

Etsy Friday and Girls who rock

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Since I haven’t been doing much other than freelance work, watching Zander, and sewing. I haven’t had much to say. Perhaps feeling sluggish from our 95 degree days with 100% humidity. I don’t know. Nonetheless, thank you for your well wishes on five awesome years. I think even nat is suprised some of you said congrats. :D heh.
Not much going down over here. Although we are starting to prepare for craft show season. Mostly because we leave to go to Vegas a week ahead of renegade and arrive back the night before the one day we will do. EVERYTHING has to be done before we leave and hauled up to chicago. oh my.
I also wanted to say thanks to Stacey. I’ve read her blog daily for years. I don’t think i ever commented. I just didn’t feel like i needed to, i was her partner for the stitch marker swap we did years ago, but anyways i just love her posts with her neice. So stacey thank you for being excited enough about your custom order with us to blog about it. We are thrilled that you love it as much as you do.

Now, I did see at 1 am this week Robyn, who launched Robyn’s Nest this past weekend, said i was a ROCKIN’ GIRL BLOGGER. YAY! Altho when i just re-read that sentance it made me think of that awful but hard not to watch trainwreck of a show, Rock of Love. Why-oh-why Brett will you NOT take off the hats or bandannas? hee hee.
I feel good, I rock. Now this will be hard. I think a lot of people rock. A lot of people rock hard. So this will be tough to narrow it down to FIVE. But here goes:

1. Kayt - You rock because you personally know a member of Califone. I wish i had an Uncle Benny. And she makes me laugh pretty hard, and reminds me i shouldn’t be on a computer between the hours of 12am-3am.

2. Amy from the land of YEE-HAW you rock for so many reasons, too many to name. I’m so glad you’re a night owl.
3. Lesa - You rock because well for 100’s of reason’s. But well you’ve seen Johnny Cash live, gotta give you that.
4.  Carol rocks in so many ways it’s not even funny. Arrow rocks too.
5.  Amy rocks. Amy has always rocked, even tho i question her taste in music when she’s making all those cute little things! (cd swap circa 2005)
honorary rockers cause i imagine these girls to rock very hard
1. LALA because she lets me call her that. She’s rocks.
2. Nell cause she rocks some tasty beer.
3.  Stevie rocks, very much so. So does poor Elmo who has to wear the cone. (click the link)

Ok i know i broke the “rules” but i suppose that’s what people who rock do, we are rule breakers by nature. Anyways those are some girls i wanted to give shout outs to to say Y0- YOU ROCK!

now on to some etsy friday.

First up. Jillian of Wee Ones. Way back in May i asked her if she’d like to do the Piddleloop Hounds for me. I was in no hurry and she could take her time. Altho once they were done i couldn’t wait to get them! Jillian charges too little for her work. She even will put the little details that you request in there. I told her i wanted lucy dog’s white ink stain on the back of her neck in there, and that both dogs wear thick leather collars with their inital hanging off. Sure enough she captured those details and she was great to work with.

How about some yarn. From Melanie over at Lotus Yarns? How about this pretty colorway called Amber. Mmmmm pretty.

How about a loom woven bracelet! JD Star has a million choices awaiting you. I think i want 5 more. A new way to wear fiber.

Kayt made these earrings and I snatched them up before they even made their way on to etsy. I normally can’t wear those fish hok earrlings, they are so large and i have attached earlobes. But these, these are TINY (even tho they look huge int he picture) and barely there, but so pretty! She has other colors listed right now.


And Keys and Memories did this custom order for me. I’m a type nerd by nature i like letters. And i like the shape of letters. Anyways, she has great typewriter key jewelry at affordable prices and will whip you up anything you want for a custom order.

That’s all of the etsy love for now. I want to show you i am indeed knitting, for good measure. Here’s a monkey sock in koigu. I’m calling this color SKITTLES. Well because it looks like orange, lime, and lemon skittles.


Also I made a bag for myself FINALLY. Thanks to Amy from the land of yee-haw, she sent me a yard of that loteria fabric a while ago for a just because gift. I made her a project pouch and matching 4 x 6 when i made mine. Hopefully she’ll show us all soon. Y’all have a good weekend and stay cool.

Posted by Jennifer on 08/10 at 01:19 PM ♥ Comments (11)

My weekend and Five Years

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My weekend. Oh where, oh where did you go weekend? You went by too fast.


What is Jen doing? Why making more buttons and promos of course.


thanks to everyone who dropped by the shop, who ordered, and sent hellos and little notes. That was very kind of y’all.


I also wanted to thank Aija. She had placed a custom order with us and look at what she up and did Friday. A nice feature on our custom order we did for her. We’re glad she was so pleased.  If anyone is intrested we also nabbed 4 yards of the loteria fabric off etsy this weekend. The fabric is available for custom orders, and will eventually show up in the shop, somewhere down the line.

Zander’s Daddy started school a few weekends ago. Zander came to hang with us in chicago while daddy was in class one saturday. (I know this is from a few weekends ago but i just got nat to get them off his iphone!)






And nothing like getting a push from Uncle Nat

And sometime this week, five years ago, I had met Nathaniel. The boy who likes the color brown too much. Only wears stripey socks, frowns in every picture. Hates my ballet flats.


Here’s to five years with the most quiet, creative, and who would have known funny boy i’ve met ever. May we have many more years worth of pictures with you frowning.


Nat and his new bike




and i still love you even though you made me come outside to stand in the alley watching you mess with your bike.

Posted by Jennifer on 08/01 at 07:41 AM ♥ Comments (10)

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)