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Handmade Monday Edition

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I’ve recently received some great handmade gifts and wanted to share of links with you.

First if you haven’t heard of Jelby run over to Cary’s shop now and pick up some great felted and embroidered stitch markers for yourself, for friends, or for someone having a rough week.

Here’s some examples of sets i have bought from Cary recently.

Yes that is a holder with a Martini on it to hold little olive stitch markers! I tld you she was clever!

and when i saw her hearts in Feb for Valentines day i wanted to regress back to 5th grade and draw hearts all over my notebook and wear lisa frank shirts with unicorns on them.

and if hearts or martini’s aren’t your sort of thing she embroiders SHEEP! What knitter doesn’t like sheep!?



You really should run over to her shop and pick up yourself a set..she’s got 2 sets of sheep hanging out in there now and you don’t have to wait!

She’s also rather kind and made me a special freebie marker with my order and it’s super duper special to me. It’s an OBAMA ‘08 marker. I can’t tell you how awesome Cary is at really making you smile when you order from her!

I have a really special friend. Her name is Joy and I’ve known her for a really long time. SHe is the only friend I knit for holidays and her birthday. SHe takes great pride in wearing and enjoying the things i’ve knit up for her. We recently FINALLY after loads of sickness, and her campainging for Obama. She gave me a lot of handmade items this year and i wanted to share just two that i thought you might enjoy. They are unique.

This postage stamp bracelet from Fox Glove Accessories

She has them by color and Joy got me one in my favorite color orange! This is just so light and unique and fun. I really thought this was a super cool idea.

She also got me a yarn ball silkscreened on glass pendant. from Kiku.

So if you need some gifts, or apick me up for yourself or a friend who could use one, check these sellers out and spread some handmade joy out there!

Posted by Jennifer on 03/31 at 08:46 AM ♥ Comments (7)

Stuff and things

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It’s always stuff and things. Sorry i haven’t posted. I think it’s been over a month. What’s been going on you say? Flu, colds, and more of the flu. When you have a 5 yr old getting shuttled from pre-school to my house to wendy’s house it means this crap never leaves. It just cycles and cycles. I had a cold or two and the zombie flu, and wendy keeps catching colds and now has a fever/intestional thing. I just keep straying lysol and hoping for the best over here.

I feel like since winter won’t let up it’s grip (there’s another inch of snow and ice on the ground today) I haven’t done much. I feel like the rest of the country is going outside and enjoying some nice weather and we’ve been left in the snow.

Will someone please explain to me why people who don’t like Obama or Clinton want to vote for Mccain. Well if they don’t like Mccain and think he’s too old and don’t even know any of his platforms? I keep hearing Well i want to make my vote count. I hate tot ell you this but your vote would really count then if you didn’t vote. Yet my mom insists that 26% of the country (including her) feel this way. Someone please feel free to explain to me why this makes sense, even if it is only to you?

Nat took a picture of me that i like. I will share it with you.

Usually i look like i was smcked int he face with a board. Or making goofy faces like:

or

ok enough of nat’s weird pictures of me. I want to thank Saira, Jo, and Cary for sending me packets of crap candy and trinkets and baubles. They rule. Oh and tea in these cute tins.

I also want to thank Erin and her daughter Jessica of My dorky Best Friend for making me a Faux Braille shirt. I bet none of you know what my awesome shirt says?


ok ok erin assures me it says LOVED. How sweet is that? Speaking of Erin..her and Kristen were in town. We briefly met up on tuesday nite for a little catching up and knitting, with johnny and lesa.
here’s lesa modeling her pretty yoke on her Grimace sweater she made.


and erin knitting something on long needles



and kristen and johnny

and Jessica and erin again



I really miss the two girls and enjoy catching up with them when they are in town. Plus everyone gave me nice warm hugs. It felt so nice, or maybe i was just in need of good friend hugs.

I got nat to chop off all his uneven hair. It’s really a ploy so i can see and kiss his eyebrows easier..but nonetheless he always looks good with his short hair. Eben if he’s telling me that he is out of salsa and i should really DO something about it.

i’ll close with a blurry picture of us and you can see his short hair…

Posted by Jennifer on 03/28 at 07:22 AM ♥ Comments (15)

Etsy Friday

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I haven’t done one in a long while. Sorry. Just busy busy like worker bees. I wanted to thank everyone who participated in our update yesterday and made the Pedigree Adoption Fund drive from our bags a success! Lucy Dog is very proud of all of you. If she could she would shake and give you all a slobber shower in total Lucy Dog fashion.

first up i have a very funny shirt. I think most of you will understand why i had to have it. I first saw redpaperrecord at Holiday Renegade in Dec. She didn’t have the size i needed in a women’s shirt. But she messaged me the minute she did, like a month later. I’m suprised she remembered me. Here is my AWESOME shirt. In a terrrible bathroom mirror shot. I also included two so you can totally see my chococat shower cap in the background.

So how about some new stitch marker people! Stitch marker people you say? For those who don’t know, as one of the small details i like to include with our bags is a small stitch marker on each bag with the business card attached so you know where you can buy some just like it. I BUY these to promote people i like. Some people are really excited about it and some like to even add extras in which is always graciously accepted. I find it fun and yet functional to offer this to our bags. Plus it dresses them up a bit.



how about these pretty little metal ones from Redpanada





then there’s these cute little ones from Yarn Pig/ Bea Binney






and last there’s some cookies by Kish Crafts

So some of you know i am a graphic designer when i am not sewing. You can see some patterns i’ve layed out for people here.

One of the patterns went on sale in etsy.  Side on Mitts pattern and The Mitts Kit are available in Cairi’s shop. She not only designed some interesting mitts you knit sideways, but she dyes lovely squishy yarn that is worth every penny.

I also got some beautiful jewelry from Mark Poulin/marmar. I have loved his jewelry from seeing it in Hazel a boutique by Nat’s. Then it was all over when i found him on etsy. Nat got me the dog and kitty metal pendants. I purchased the reversable one in the middle.

I also got some jewelry from Nat for xmas and my b-day. From Katheyn Reichart. I love her custom stuff very much. The ring says live dangerously cause i never make a grocery list, nor did i own a knit picks dpn gauge but owned their dpns that were like 2mm, 2.25mm, 2.5mm,2.75mm and they’d all get mixed up. haha
Thanks Lesa for that xmas gift by the way.





Ok so go out and hunt yourself down some great etsy stuff!!

Posted by Jennifer on 02/15 at 09:40 AM ♥ Comments (17)

Happy Valentine’s Day

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Happy Valentine’s Day.

This would be my valentine, Nathaniel. He is the best boyfriend in the whole wide world. He is wearing his crown on Christmas Day. and we’re being silly. But I just wanted to say I Love You (a lot more than some) and I will just keep letting it slide that you do this face in every single picture ever taken of us.

Posted by Jennifer on 02/14 at 12:52 PM ♥ Comments (11)

Piddleloop Sewing Team Valentines Day Extravaganza

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We are having an update tomorrow, Feb. 14th, at 3pm central time. We took every bit of the lucy dog fabric we had left and made bags out of it. We also have japanese fabric wiener doggies in the city and paw prints. These bags that are all about dogs will be listed as 5$ more. We are making a Donation to the Pedigree Adoption Drive. (I’d link but their site is down for updating you can google it for now) During the Westminister dog show, they stated they were matching dollar for dollar the amount raised for adopting dogs. Lucy dog our basset hound is adopted into our loving home, from a breed specific rescue. We really just wanted to do something good for dogs left behind, or surrendered out there. So for every dog bag sold tomorrow, 5$ will be donated. I am keeping one of the Lucy Dog bags and I am making a donation as well. If anyone wants to participate in our donation drive please contact me and i will send you the paypal address to make your donation to, and i will add it into our lump sum.

We have other bags that are for the cat people out there like this cute Meow bag:



Or this Japanese fabric Hedge Hog Bag



We’ll have project bags too

We also have new stitch marker people that will be featured on our bags this update. I will be trying to do an etsy friday to share them with you. See you at 3pm CST tomorrow. Be there or be square.

Posted by Jennifer on 02/14 at 12:54 AM ♥ Comments (8)

beagles!

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Uno the 15 inch Beagle won the Best In Show! 1st time in the 132 year history the beagle won a best in show at Westminister! Samuel would like to say thanks to hounds everywhere for kicking ass. She’s glad the slobbery basset hound was paid no attention this go around!

Posted by Jennifer on 02/12 at 10:52 PM ♥ Comments (9)

The time has come

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The time has come to be united for progress.

Posted by Jennifer on 02/05 at 11:42 PM ♥ Comments (7)

Again the fish says it all

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Thanks to Alexis and Osiris this was such a great thing to see today on my birthday....

I especially love how he drew the little fish and cake on the sign.

So jen what’s up besides yer birthday?

Sewing. Lots and lots of sewing. Goal for an update on Friday. I think i can do it.

Posted by Jennifer on 01/16 at 06:55 PM ♥ Comments (29)

Even more of the east coast, as if you couldn’t get enough

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So continuing my big ass photo posts from hell™, i’ve got another long one. So where was I before, oh yes...we went to NYC. We then went into Philly for some zipper shopping and cheesesteak eating. And some walking around. Nothing spookier than philly’s ancient gravestones. There’s some good type around here too.





I really ♥ WaWa’s. I’m jealous you east coast people have them. You can buy Philly soft pretzels and Herr’s salt and pepper chips. mmmm.

caught nat



I saw some interesting bathroom graffiti



and we stopped at Rittenhouse Square for some annual pictures









me kissing the cold cold stone frog



i saw this dog



Then came xmas day



nat’s grandmother and him on the sun porch



we went to nat’s aunt’s house for a formal dinner and enjoyed chatting to his cousin’s boyfriend, who was from Scotland. We then went to his grandma’s for a white elephant xmas.

In which you could receive something like his sister did



or something you aren’t so sure of cause it’s wrapped all funny



or it’s just plain scarey (or not there was moonshine jelly in that crazy box)



there’s also traditional presents that were passed around thru the years, but it seems only one is left. Tim, nat’s brother got the cork.



here’s a close up of it, you put your name and date you received it



we then had cookies and pie all made from scratch by nat’s mom, check out my spread



Wow i didn’t know it was so long. I think i shall stop again and do a part three of the yarn ho’s xmas party and our little new year’s eve of gambling with zander in a day or so. Until then, for those of you who enjoy the big ass photo posts from hell™, enjoy!

Posted by Jennifer on 01/09 at 12:07 AM ♥ Comments (11)

Xmas vacation part one

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oh it has been good to get away. To close up the shop and pack up the bags and get out of dodge for awhile. So back in december right before we left for the east coast zander had his very first pre-school singing program. Even Uncle Nat came out from Chicago for the event.



you gotta love my sister for dressing him in blue. In a sea of red we could find him. Look carefully he’s singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.


The next day at 10am our flight left chicago without a hitch and we soon landed in Philly. To stay at Nat’s parent’s house, which is in South New Jersey just outside of Philly. There’s a lot of cats around in this house. I think there’s 4 or 5. Mr. Hairpiece



Puff


and little Crazy (i think her real name is Yushi) She was just a kitten when is aw her last. She’s real scared of people, but cause she’s so cute i had nat’s sister drag her out for a shot or two.


Meet Skoshie the dog


Nat slept and watched the Flyers play the Sabres Hockey games.


his mom made these


and i have a FO, it’s Foliage. Knit in Malabrigio worsted for a close friend for xmas.



nat tried to choose a record to listen to, do you see what a challenge it can be with his dad’s choices?


So we went to NYC rather than trying to pick just one record to play.

Jen & Nat 34th Street December 21 2007


some NYC type for you


mmmmm NY style pizza our favorite


mmmm helvetica


hey look near 34th street i saw a post office on wheels



the empire state buliding



mmm another reason i love the east coast knish and soft pretzels


i bought us some hats with earflaps from a street vendor


some lights in Bryant Park



and our annual tradition. EVERY TIME we go to NYC i do one of those myspace mode (hold the camera out take your picture) style shots of nat and i, in front of the ornaments in the fountain at Rockafeller center. Altho doing myspace-mode poses problems from time to time



nat!


we made our way to the tree, which was way crowded

and we did myspace-mode again for the snowflakes on Saks.



next time i post i’ll show you some philly and xmas pictures..i figured this big ass photo post was long enough. But i will leave you with my most favorite building of all.

Chrysler Dec 2007

Posted by Jennifer on 01/04 at 03:24 PM ♥ Comments (17)