collecting

Aren't these great? I got them at the Postcard and Ephemera show I went to on Sunday. They were little cards that came in Red Rose Tea in 1960. They are very small. The colors are so great. I love the colors in the old printed stuff. See more of my haul over here. Some items will end up on The Cedar Chest soon.

craft and design blog rant

I am sort of obsessed with craft and design blogs. I go through stages with them, some I will love for a while and then I am no longer interested. Some I love, but then they stop posting as much, so I lose interest and some I actually don't love, in fact they get on my nerves, but for some reason I need to keep checking in. It's a sickness.

Here are some things that get on my nerves about craft and design blogs:

1. When all they do is post things to buy and these things to buy are ridiculously expensive. It makes me think that the blog is just a marketing tool and they are getting some money for each post. And if I know this isn't true, it bothers me just as much, because the relentless "wants posts" are just feeding into this idea that we all "deserve" to be rich and get these things (which is why so many people are in deep debt). I would love it if some people posted what they really buy, instead of what they are wishing for. I can appreciate design and beauty for just the sake of it, too, but sometimes it gets to be too much of just plain consumerism.

2. The well-off unemployed crafty woman with the beautiful and perfectly clean house and a great view. Okay, yes, I admit it, I am jealous. Absolutely. But, still, it seems a little easier to be able to bake elaborate desserts and sew beautiful things when you are doing so for fun and not to make a living. I admit that if I lived in some of these house with some of these views I would be struck by the beauty everyday and want to post it as well. In fact, I live in a place not so much like that and I still am. However, as I have said before I would really like to see some blogs by women who work full time and still find some time to craft. I want to see messy craft rooms and resourceful/reused craft supplies instead of a stack of new imported fabrics.

3. When craft blogs become blogs filled with pics of their kids. Yeah, kids are cute, and I like seeing them with things the blogger crafted, but sometimes the blog becomes pics of the kids constantly or it becomes a pregnancy blog. That is when I take it off the list

So, I know this may seem harsh. And I know people can do whatever they want with their blog. And I am also aware that I have never seen a post like this on any blog, but I decided to write it all down today because I wanted to let you know about the blogs that I always love.

I keep a list on the side bar of this blog of the most recent sites I have bookmarked. But, I don't have a list of the ones I always look at and consistently like, mainly because they are listed on so many other blogs. I figure I don't need to repeat them. But, here are some of my all time favorites. I would say most of these are my favorites because they are consistent, beautiful and they often provide me with really good information/links.

1. Cozy Little Whimsy Nook
2. Happy Mundane
3. How about Orange
4. Knick Knacks and Ric Rac
5. Thimble
6. Cathy of California


How about you? What is your favorite? What makes you take a blog off your list?

working

The plans I had for this afternoon were canceled, so I took the chance to work on my new issue of current resident. I want to get it done before the end of the month. Because, once May hits I really need to get to work on the new issue of Figure 8. The zine symposium continues to always be my deadline (and thank god for it, otherwise, I don't know if I would finish anything!), and this year it is August 23rd and 24th.

So, this is a shot of my space when I am working on my zine; coaxing stories from houses, inspecting photographs, reading stories outloud, making little edits. I don't really question the story that comes to me too much. Some are better than others, but they don't really feel like something I can abandon. Once they come to me, once I hear the voice and the first couple of lines it all spills out and there it is. I make little edits, clarifying things, fixing punctuation, but most of it is exactly how it came to me.

notions

I spent some time this evening going through my sewing basket. I found a few things to put in The Cedar Chest while I organized it.

I love these old button packages and needle cases. The needle case at top is from a savings and loan. I found it in my grandmother's stuff many years ago and I still use them. I don't remember where I got the rest, maybe also from my grandma. There is something so beautiful about that one in the middle, the clear buttons barely hanging on and the title at the top says simply "Latest Style"

paper love

I have been going thorough collage materials today. I went through a box of stuff I haven't looked in for a few years. In it was this picture I had taken out of National Geographic. I love this illustration. It is hard to reproduce here, but it is all so dark and blue green and it holds some sort of Disneyland-like fascination for me. I have no idea what I could do with it, but for now I will just put on my magnetic board.

I am planning to create some vintage paper packs. There will be lots of cool stuff in them, but having the time and table space to go through, separate and photograph all the stuff will take some time, so stay tuned.

In the stuff I went through today I found these vintage Western Union Telegram forms I have had for a long time. I have always loved them. Since I have a color printer now I can use them to make up cards! So, now in the shop you can get some cards or flats with this neat vintage find. Perfect for someone going on a voyage.

i'm feeling nautical lately

There are some new nautical themed items in the shop now. Soon I will have some ship-themed art for your walls.

spring green

I haven't posted an Etsy finds post in a while. So, in honor of spring I thought I would post some finds with my fave color combo green and yellow.

Yesterday it poured rain most of the day, today it was mostly clear. There are some daffodil bulbs in my garden, but they have yet to even show a bud. I have seen daffodils all over town, though. My hydrangea plant that I pruned is popping out new sweet green leaves.

Spring in the Northwest is like this, one really nice day and then rain and more rain. I don't mind. That is what spring should be. I don't understand the people who think Spring means sun right away. I grew up in Southern California where it is sunny all the time. I used to read "April Showers bring May Flowers" and wondered why it didn't rain in April and what's the deal with the flowers. They are always around, not just in May.

Well, I am sort of rambling, so here is some yellow and green goodness from Etsy. Happy Spring!

banner from cozyblue


Spring in a can from dandeedesigns


From burstofhappiness

Fabric belt from traceybelt

ahoy!

I have been goccoing today. I am working on some nautical themed items. Of course, I am watching The Ghost and Mrs Muir for inspiration. One of my most favorite films of all time. I am hoping to have some of these up in the shop by next week. Stay tuned.

decorating for the economically challenged

Last week I went to the Goodwill bins. I didn't get too much. But, I did pick up a wooden crate that looked brand new. It probably came with some Harry and David pears in it or something. Even though I didn't know what I would do with it, I bought it. I have a weakness for boxes and it remind me fondly of the decorating of my youth.

When I was a kid my Mom would get wine a couple times a year at the Santa Barbara Winery. The wine would come in these nice wood boxes that I would stack in all different ways in my room. They worked like bookcases and little tables. It was real cozy and I always liked the way it looked.

When I was in my twenties I would get old crates and hang them on the wall for a cheap shelf. It worked out good. So, the other day I took the wooden crate box I bought and put it up on my wall, just to see how it looked. I liked it. It isn't fancy or stylish or anything. But, it makes me happy. I guess I haven't change much.

truth blogging

I visit many craft blogs. Sometimes, they get overwhelming. Many of the women who keep them seem to have perfect lives, beautiful houses, large yards, plenty of time to craft, plenty of money to buy fabrics and gorgeous little things. I know it can't always be like this, but I also know that not working full time and having a large living space helps tremendously.

I have often said that I want to see a post from the person who doesn't get to craft in the middle of the day while drinking tea and looking out over her property. I want to see posts from people who work full time, who squeeze in crafts and projects with little time and little money. I want to see a decorating post from people with small spaces and renters. People like me.

So, just now while I was cleaning up I decided to show you the truth of my "desk" in my craft den. No perfectly cropped pics to show just a bit. The whole truth. Well, mostly. I had already moved some things, so it is slightly picked up.