Hey You! Sit down and Listen!

Over the last few years (specifically, the exact amount of time Tim and I have been together) I have found myself thrust into an environment that I would have never guessed I would be around, let alone a part of. I have always loved music, but I loved it for it's comforts, for it's familiar words and tunes, for it's reminder of love and family and car trips I might have otherwise forgotten.

I never felt that devoted to KNOWING music or knowing and hearing lots of bands. In fact, whenever I went to a concert I mostly just felt bored. I mean, really bored. Not necessarily because the music was bad, but something about that environment just couldn't capture me.

Well, needless to say I've had to get over a lot of that. There's a lot of waiting involved with being in a band. A lot of waiting and then hurrying up. It's taken me a while but I think I've finally learned that the secret to enjoying music and enjoying playing music and simply to allow yourself to enjoy it. So often, I get caught up in the hurried details of having to do this or that or forgetting something or thinking we forgot something, or forgetting the words or the keys or the chords.

This week we enjoyed a house show at our friend Jesse's house, featuring the extremely talented Chris Bell. There's just nothing like enjoying the music of your friends with your friends.

Last Breath of Summer

I think today is the day. It feels like it anyway. This afternoon I went outside to read and that's when I noticed it. The light had changed. It was warm but there was a strong breeze weaving through the overgrown grass of our front lawn.

I walked around. Sure enough, a spider clung to it's dare-devil web while light glinted off of the strands. Our garden stood, blooming and lush, almost bursting, but not quite. Objects stood transfixed by the warm light shining down on them. Even our cat was itching to get out and laze in the heat of it's rays.

What does it mean? Fall is coming. In fact, on the brink of already being here. It makes me want to stretch my muscles and yawn. It makes me want to smell grass and taste apples. It makes me long for picnic blankets, or just any blankets. I always forget how much the seasons affect my mood until one I actually enjoy rolls around. I actually feel relaxed. I actually feel ok about speeding tickets, and love drama, and longing for home, and wanting run away from home, and hating my job, and loving my other job.

So, I reccomend everyone take a moment and take a step outside they're house and just take one breath. Fall is here.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like . . .

Okay, in all honesty it looks nothing like Christmas. In fact, at the moment, it look s alot like April with all of the rain we've been getting. However, I've been told that this isn't so in other/most parts of the country. In fact, I hear it's rather chilly up there in the Northern regions of the country, and perhaps quite cold in other countries as well. Thus begins my yearly ritual known as the knitting season.

I just can't bring myself to knit during the warmer months, so during spring and summer I focus on other things like felt, which is also quite warm, but I don't make things to wear with it so it's okay.

Actually, this year it was a customer who reminded me to start knitting again, when she came back to purchase more hats and I only had one in the store.

So, for all of you folks who are gettin' cold, I'm looking out for you!

I Have a Dreamcast (And so Should You)

Okay, so there's no denying that me and most of the people I like are overwhelmingly nerdy, and I love that. Well, in order to confirm this nerdy-ness they decided to celebrate the underrated and underplayed gaming system, the Sega Dreamcast.

Tomorrow (9/9/09) is the 10th anniversary of the day the Dreamcast was released in the U.S. In celebration of this we're throwing a party and a show at Go Bar. There will, of course be birthday cake. There will be Dreamcast playing. There will be a raffle to win a Dreamcast. If you are a nerd, and I suspect you are, you should come down and celebrate with us. There will also be lots of good music, including songs about the Dreamcast and other awesome gaming systems.

If you do not come I will assume you are not a nerd and be very suspicious of you.

Animals say the Darndest Things

All of our temporary animals friends have gone to loving and more spacious homes now, which leaves me feeling a little lonesome for their contribution of a little additional daily cuteness. I guess that's part of the reason I started doing these drawings. Also I cribbed the idea from some awesome business cards from the folks over at Berkley Illustration who I met while visitng Portland. Don't worry, the drawings and words are all my own. I've been flipping through my big animal encyclopedia with my eyes closed and drawing whatever my finger lands on. I have to admit, I think these are pretty cute.


I have these and more for sale in my shop and some notecards and things are in the works for them as well.

Fuzz Part 3

Ok, she's definitely cuter than I thought she would be, and much tinier too!

Fuzz Part 2

So, you know about our new friend Rabbit (we haven't decided what to name it yet) but the cute animal finding and collecting doesn't end there.

I am in Portland visiting my friend Emily and apparently Tim is lonely without me because stray animals seem to sense this and flock to him. He called me last night to tell me that a kitten had come knocking/meowing at our door late last night, and when the door was opened he hopped over all the feet blocking the way and made himself at home. Our cat Rilke is going to be pissed. She had just come to accept and live with the rabbit, I don't know if she'll be able to handle another cat in her territory. We're going to try to find it a home because unfortunately we really can't keep this one.

Tim described him as being around a month old, and brown with dark markings. This is what I picture him to look like . . .


I'll post again with a real picture to show you how close I came. The cute animal saga continues . . .

Fuzz

As Tim was scooting home last night he glimpsed this adorable little rabbit on the side of the road. The poor dear seemed very lost and afraid. He was obviously abandoned by someone. I drove over with our cat carrier to pick up the little guy. He's now comfortably at home in our roommates bathroom (they're gone for the summer).

Tim and would like to keep him but we just don't think it's possible at the moment, so some friends of ours, with rabbits of their own, may be taking him. I just had to show this adorable little guy. He's so small!

Things and Other Things

Ok, so I've done about 3 billion things since the lasted time I posted. Mostly I've been rolling around the East coast up and down. Tim and I, posing as our band Captain #1 went on tour for a little over two weeks. It was my first real experince on a semi-long band outing and it went better than expected. Tim and I were still together when it was all over so I think that says something good about our relationship.

There are many stories to tell, but I most want to mention the one where we had to (got to?) hear a guy throw up on his girlfriend in bed. I don't think I need to say anything more than that. Also we had some great shows, and some horrible ones. After a venue in Detroit canceled the show on us after we had been there for an hour, my sister and her boyfriend Greg were forced to accompany us as we followed around some teenagers trying to save the show, and wondered whether one of their Moms was going to call the cops on us (Sorry, guys!).

After we got back from tour we drove down to Florida for Tim's birthday because you can get into Disneyworld for free. That was fun, although pretty expensive for me because I had to pay my way in. We actually went Disney Hollywood Studios, aka MGM. I secretly wanted to ride the Tower of Terror all day, but it was Tim's birthday so I followed his lead. At the ticket booth they gave him a birthday button with his name on it so every single Disney staffer that we passed yelled out, "Happy Birthday, Tim!" It was kind of awesome, and all but one seemed to really mean it. We also volunteered for one of those stunt shows where they blow up things and pour water on you.

This weekend is Athfest. We'll be playing at Nucci's space on Saturday night around 11!

This has been and will continue to be a very busy summer. July means a craft show in Asheville and then a trip to the west coast to visit Miss Emaline!

Crasftstravaganzaa 2009 (Spring Edition)

This past weekend was the annual Craftstravaganzaa Craft Fair in our lovely city. It took place downtown, where I shared a booth with my friend, fellow crafter, and bookstore coworker Christy Wooke. It was a two day event this year and although we got lashed by the rain pretty good on the first day, it ended up being a pretty successful and fun weekend.

I've been making some new wall art using embroidery hoops and they were a big hit! I really enjoy making them and got a few done while I was manning our booth at the craft fair. My pillows were also a favorite. All of this makes me very happy. I tend to doubt myself when it comes to new things it art and crafts.


Christy also did well with her adorable hand-drawn magnets and pins. Unfortunately her magnets were a little worse for wear after the hurricane conditions of the first day. On the second day we came equipped with shower curtains to put up around our tent but of course it didn't rain at all THAT day.

Our booth was right next to our friends Missy and Raoul so we got to chat with them all weekend. I managed to limit my purchases to one adorable stuffed elephant which I'm sure will feature heavily in some upcoming blogs. I'll keep him under wraps for now and just leave a hint: traveling circus. Now go and figure it out.

PS Happy 30th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Winter Clearance Sale!

Hello all!

Just wanted to drop a note to tell you that I'm having my annual winter sale over in my Etsy shop. This is the time of year when people are shucking off the vestiges of winter and donning flip flops and shorts. We're especially feeling the hit right now in Athens, where it has gone from a mild 65 degrees to a sweltering 90 in a matter of a few days.

Soooooo, I decided it would be the perfect time to start my clearance sale. I'm offering a 30% discount on most of my winter knitted items, and some of them were already VERY inexpensive. For example, this hat is now only $16.80 . . .

I mostly have scarves, and there are some very nice selections if I don't say so myself. This "Cosby Sweater Scarf is going for the low low price of $21! CRAZINESS! Ok, not craziness, but still a pretty good deal. So, if you're in the nirghborhood please stop by the shop to see if there's something you like, in or out of the sale section.

On another note, if anyone is going to be in Athens next weekend (May 2-3) I'm participating for the second year in Athens Indie Craftstravanganzaa, where I'll be selling my wares alongside my friend Chrsity, whose awesomely cute items you can also find on her Etsy shop, Wooke. The craft fair will be on Saturday from 11am to 7pm and on Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. It will be in the parking lot next to Agora and the Caledonia Lounge, behing the 40 Watt Club. Please stop by and buy something from somebody, even if it's not me!

Things I love!

I have too much trouble trying to think of things to write about that will be interesting so this post will just be about objects and things that I like.


This seller is really awesome! Not only has she been kind enough to feature my own shop in some of her superb treasuries, but her jewelry is just gorgeous and very affordable! She also has Surprise items that you can buy if you're more adventurous. I'll definitely be partaking in that. It reminds me of buying those brown paper bags at the toy store for a dollar and hoping you'd get something good, but not really caring because half the fun was in the mystery. You can find her stuff at her shop on Etsy, called 3dots.



Okay, I'm not usually a big fan of the pink, though I admit that it definitely has its merits, including looking like some delicious cupcake frosting in this big, cute bag from Morelle.


Um, can you say cute? If not, this brooch pretty much spells it out for you. Check out these Craftyfolk on Etsy.



Let's face it, pillows are nice to lay on so why not get one that's also nice to look at. If you're in the market check out Olive's shop.

I just wanted a short refreshing post so I hope you liked what you saw. If so, please take a look at these creative people and buy something from them.

A Parade of Creatures

Recently I've been exploring a new craft; embroidery. I've always kind of thought of this as an old lady craft until I picked up a book called "Doodle-Stitching" which made it look very fun and cute. Sooooo . . . . I went out and bought my first embroidery hoop ( a cheap wooden one) and then soon went out and bought my second embroidery hoop(a much better, plastic one) and began stitching away. So far I only know how to do one real stitch but it seems to be working for my current purposes.

I've been working my way back and forth through my encyclopedia of animals trying to capture the ones that are both embroidery friendly and cute. My first attempts were an owl, a fox, and a narwhal. Yes, I said it, a narwhal. I'm going to reveal my stupidity here, but until about a year ago I thought narwhals were mythological creatures akin to a unicorn or a hobbit, but they're real. This fact blew my mind. It would seriously be like if someone told you that of course unicorns are real, haven't you ever watched the Discovery Channel?! I just had to try my hand at creating one of these guys and embroidering him on a pillow seemed the most practical way.

We're also preparing for an upcoming tour of our band, Captain #1. We'll be traveling up the East Coast and then toward Michigan where my sister lives. Tim's an old hand at this tramping around the country thing, while I'm relatively new to it. I am looking forward to seeing new places.

Well, that's all for now. I'm going back to eating popcorn and watching bad TV.

The Long Wait Part 2

So, you don't have to tell me that it's been a ridiculously long time since I updated my blog, though some of you already have. The good news is that when I wait this long I usually have more to say and more pictures to show you. I'll start with the more recent . . .

This past Sunday we awoke (in the early afternoon) to find gobs of snow on the ground and still more spilling from the sky. A week earlier we were in Detroit for my lovely sister's birthday and saw snow there, but any snow at all is a rare sight in Georgia and this was a positive blanket. Being from the Midwest (El Kansas, to be precise) I've seen my share of snow, but Tim (the bf) and basically everyone I know down here is from the South. Tim didn't get to see snow until he was 17! He just kept walking around saying, "This is blowing my mind!" To the left you'll see the slightly retarded but endearingly lovable snowman we made.

All in all, I'd say we got about a foot of snow. In the north this wouldn't be such a great big deal and people would pretty much go about their normal lives. But this is the South, meaning two things: 1) No snow plows or salt trucks, and 2) No one realizes the importance of cutting down dead trees. We were most effected by the latter, as our street became strewn with fallen limbs, and one especially monstrous tree that fell across the entire road and took out the electricity on our block. We survived by candlelight for about 36 hours until about midnight on the second day, when I had just finished a candlelit shower (luckily our hot water heater is gas) and flipped the wall switch out of habit, only to find that our electricity had miraculously been restored. I definitely don't think I could have survived before the late 1800s without complaining a lot.

Though the snow was a bit inconvenient, I think overall it was a nice change from the routine.

In other news, I have been a total bum about my Etsy shop which I guess isn't really news so much as lack of news. I have all these new ideas for really cute pillows with some embroidery, but I can't get myself motivated. So, I've decided that today is the day. I finally posted my first new item in a while. It's a cute lacy little scarf. I love this goldish mustard color a lot. I think because it looks kind of vintage. Also, it makes me want to wear shirts with poofy sleeves. Don't ask me why. This me trying to look all fashion-y and stuff. That's not what I really look like though.

Tomorrow we'll be heading down to Florida for the Harvest of Hope Music Festival. We'll only be spectating, not participating so hopefully it will be a stress-free weekend with some good music. We'll also be camping which is always both fun and irritating. Like I said, I like modern conveniences. I like to think I can be a little rough and tumble when I need to be though.

Thanks to anyone who has been willing to wait for months to read a new blog post. I hope you weren't holding your breath.


This is our cat Rilke, looking positively pissed that we've decided to let here experience snow.