South City Studio

Grateful

2011-11-24T17:42:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Right now I'm parked on the couch and the smell of turkey is floating in the air. We got a late start today and probably still have a couple hours to go before it's turkey-time. I started my day with my buddy Allison and a trip to the local Value Village where they were having a 1/2 off sale. Wahoo! Normally, I'm anti-shopping on holidays, but they promised that the people working volunteered, so I made an exception. (We zipped past Starbucks on the way and I really, really, wanted a delicious latte, but I remembered my friend Cat telling me about when she worked there and cried all the way to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas because she was forced to work. That stinks.)

Value Village is always a good time and Allison and I have much fun doing nothing at all. We perused the aisles, inspecting all the knick-nacks and vintage dishes. She scored a sweet set of vintage dishes and I practiced trying not to buy kitchen stuff. My kitchen is approximately the size of a small closet and I have an, unfortunate, deep and abiding love for all gadgets and appliances. I need to find my inner minimalist -- so far no luck. After gadgets we visited all the sad and lonely abandoned afghans and quilts. Ever since I started crocheting and realized how much time something like that actually takes, I can't help but want to buy every orphaned blanket I see. I was sincerely tempted by several well-worn blankies, but my fear of bed bugs won out. Every time I touch the bed linens in the thrift store I get the heebie jeebies. I've watched too many damned 20/20 exposes. In addition to my fear of sports, there is the fear of creepy crawlies. Oddly, this phobia does not extend itself to clothing which is also fabric, but somehow different. What can I say, I'm an odd duck. Both Allison and I picked up a few new goodies for our closets. I got a scrumptious green cardigan and a couple long sleeve t-shirts for hiking. Nothing beats a soft t-shirt and a cozy sweater. I was briefly tempted by a velour sweater because it reminded me of the footie pajamas I used to have as a kid, but I figured that probably wasn't the best reason to make a purchase. All in all, I spent a whole 6.50. I'm grateful for low prices that aren't the result of someone being exploited. Yay! I'm grateful for good friends, who make every day a little more delightful.

After shopping, I came home and hung out with my girl for a while. I am suddenly acutely aware that it won't be very long at all before she's off to college. Less than a year. The thought terrifies me and I hope she doesn't forget to call her mama every day. She might be getting grown up, but she's always going to be my baby! I'm so grateful to be her mama. She's a really awesome person and is so much fun to be with. I'm especially grateful for days like today when I get to soak up her laughter while she chats with her friends. She has always had the best laugh - hearty, full, and bubbly; it's completely contagious. I am so grateful that I have had the gift of being this awesome girl's mom.

The rest of the day has been business as usual, a little cleaning and a little reading. My trusty doggy bff has been by my side all day and my special-needs kitty, Mr. Wobbles, has been in my arms as much as possible. Right now, he's laying on the cushion behind me, with his paws on my shoulder. I swear he tries to spoon me like I'm his lady friend. Sometimes when I wake in the morning, he's next to me, with one arm stretched across my chest. Swear. I've got a few more fuzzballs in the house, but these two are my besties. Oh, and my chicken Rontaco, but she lives outside. She's a snuggler. I'm grateful for my pets today, who unceassingly give me love and affection and so much entertainment.

My mom has been working hard on the turkey, cornbread stuffing, and next on the hit list are the carbolicious mashed potatoes. I did a little chopping and dicing, but she did all the scary stuff (like take the neck and giblet pack out of the turkey) while I hid my eyes in the other room. Really, I'd rather not get too close to the bird either. Nice white slices on a plate, please so I can maintain my thinly-veiled delusion that all meat comes from a magical place having nothing to do with animals. I am grateful for my mother who has put up with my ridiculous ass for more than thirty eight years and is always such a sweet and thoughtful person.

Have a great holiday everybody, I hope that the turkey (or tofurkey) is perfect and you have a wonderful weekend where you don't have to get out of your pj's unless you want to.

XO,
Holly

P.S. I'm really grateful for Jeremy at the New Balance shoe store who helped me pick out new hiking boots and insoles so my feet won't hurt so dang bad when I hike. Apparently, I have been buying my shoes a whole size too small!

Clumsy, Happy Trails

2011-11-22T15:08:00.001-06:00

You would think since I'm sort of a clumsy chic, that I would avoid activities where the likelihood of injury is high, but as soon as the weather got cooler, all I could think about was hiking. What's even more strange about that is, historically speaking, I'm hardly athletic. I was ALWAYS picked last in gym class and I'm not even an iota resentful about it; I wouldn't have picked me either. I'm terrified of the ball and I hate running so much I hold my breath. Plus, all my brain seems to do in situations where I'm supposed to perform athletically is freak out and panic. I have the coordination of a drunken monkey and no depth perception. Don't get me wrong, I love the outdoors and do enjoy a leisurely hike, but lately my desire has been for something on the physically challenging end of the spectrum.

I considered just going solo and taking my trusty companion, Mackie the Wonder Dog, to keep me company. Then I wouldn't have to worry about people laughing and pointing, "look at chubby go!", and I could set the pace. However, since I am a klutz and the only thing he does on command is shake, I figured that plan would net me a night alone in the wilderness huddled with my dog, a broken ankle, and a lot of whimpering - me and him. Besides his lack of opposable thumbs and knowledge of first aid, he's a wuss. Frankly, so am I. Anyway, my fantasies of braving the wilderness with my favorite pooch were quickly dashed, so I did the slightly more sane thing and found a group of strangers on the internet to go with.

The destination was Mina Sauk Falls at Taum Sauk mountain. I've been there a couple times before and hiked the trail once several years ago. I remembered it being pretty rocky and a somewhat challenging hike, but nothing super hard. The thing is, apparently, my memory isn't the greatest. I read the description of the hike and when I stumbled across the part that said it was strenuous and challenging I assumed they were being a little overly dramatic. You know, liability and such.

I'm sure it's not a stretch to believe that I was wrong . Like, really wrong. Not only did I over-estimate my level of fitness, what I did not remember is that somehow the trail manages to be mostly uphill. I mean, at first, we went downhill. Kinda fast, really. I was trying to keep up with someone who was significantly taller (and longer legged) than me, which proved to be a mistake. I expended most of my energy early, so for the last 1/2 mile of the hike the only thing propelling me forward was pride. I briefly considered throwing myself on the path for a nice winded-hissy fit, but then I got scared that if I laid down, I might not be able to get back up. Cue the laughing and pointing. Then came the visions of being dragged out by my hair by tired and cranky hikers who hate me with the fire of a thousand suns. So, I hiked on. In fact, I not only kept going, I didn't die, and nobody had to carry me out!

Pardon the crappy cell phone pics, but this will give you an idea of the terrain. Note: It's uphill.

I'm not saying I emerged fresh-faced and glowing by any means. By the time I got off the trail, I had sweat through my t-shirt and my sweatshirt and my hair looked like rats had been galavanting around on top of my head all afternoon. Both my big toes are bruised from getting jammed inside my boots, I'm pretty sure one of my nails is going to fall off, and my right knee is pretty unhappy with me right now, but it's okay. I'll be right as rain in a day or two. This is going to sound kinda odd, but I actually had fun. There's something really satisfying about meeting a challenge, even if it's done without even an ounce of grace. Plus, the people were super nice and nobody laughed at me once. I liked it so much, I'm going again this Friday to a different trail.

In the summer, there's water in this part. Some of the hikers climbed down the rocks to explore.

This is me taking a break. I made this my FB profile pic briefly, but everyone kept telling me I looked angry. I wasn't angry, just a wee bit pooped!

Spectacular September

2011-09-13T23:20:00.000-05:00

This is my favorite time of year for so many reasons. I love hot weather. But even I grow weary of sweating and roasting in my own juices like a rotisserie chicken. It's always exciting when the temperature mercifully drops and things like apple picking and fall festivals are on the calendar. We turned off the a/c and flung the windows open and have been enjoying the breeze around here. Last weekend I took my daughter and her best friend to the cutest darn orchard I've ever seen, Mills Apple Orchard in Marine, Illinois.

We picked 18 lbs of scrumptious apples, half of which are now jarred up and living their newest life as spoon-licking-good applesauce. The recipe actually said apple butter, but since I'm eating it straight out of the jar, we're going to go with sauce. What really is the difference anyway?

The next couple weekends are going to be super duper busy. Saturday and Sunday I'll be vending at the Green Tree Festival in Kirkwood. This show has oodles and oodles of fun stuff for the whole family. It will be my first year there and I'm pretty darned excited. The following weekend, I'll be at the Strange Folk festival in O'Fallon, IL. This indie-style festival is tons of fun and has all sorts of things to do in addition to crafts, snacks, and live music. Check out the website for the full list of goodies. I hope to see you there!

Field Trip with Jane

2011-08-28T22:33:00.000-05:00

Today was a totally fabulous and fantastic day. For the first time in a very long time, I dusted off my camera and met up with my pal Jane to take some pictures. Jane is an amazing photographer and it was really fun to see her work. She's not even a little bit afraid to get dirty. I heart her. Oh and note how comfortably she goes all bendy - that's years of yoga, people. It's impressive stuff.

We met in Soulard and headed over near the brewery to take some photos. One of my favorite things about being a shutter bug is that a camera provides a reason to connect with people I wouldn't otherwise. Within five minutes of popping off our lens caps, we had made a new friend. Meet Rockabilly Johnny. He drives this totally bitchin' vintage car, plays the stand up bass, and restores old cars for fun. He was kind enough to move his car to a more desirable location, model, and give us a tour of his shop. Viva la Johnny!

Johnny and his babies.

Baby got back.

After a quick tour of the shop, Jane and I meandered around the corner and met Larry, who was walking his three adorable pooches -- Dingo, Lulu, and their big beautiful black lab buddy. We made fast friends with this talented artist and he agreed to let us see his totally awesome studio. A short creepy elevator ride later (sorry Jane!) and we were 4 floors up. Larry has some kick ass stuff in his crib, including a mini circus tent!

Tiny Circus

Fantastic GIANT painting

Beautiful stairs that nearly caused a panic attack. SOOO STEEP!

What a fantastic photo adventure! We made two new friends and got some great shots. Hanging with Jane is so much fun. I can't wait to go play with her again. :)

Pintrest = Buffallo Chicken Pizza

2011-07-11T22:23:00.000-05:00

I have a confession. I'm totally addicted to Pintrest. If you haven't gotten yourself hooked yet, careful, be prepared to abandon sleep. Pintrest is a website that allows you to visually catalog things you see around the web, share your "pins" with others, as well as view and pin from others' boards. Besides the completely drool-worthy DIY pins, there is the never-ending food porn. OH.MY.GAWD. the fabulous recipes and impressive lick-the-screen photos are unbelievable. One I knew I had to make was the buffalo chicken pizza. I love hot wings, but eating chicken on the bone gives me the willies, so this is a great way to get the spicy chicken without the wing mess and the psychological freak out.

Spicy chicken and ooey gooey cheese -- mmmm. I had to do a little improvising though since I didn't have all the ingredients listed in the original recipe on hand. For instance, when I checked the expiration date on our ranch dressing we were past the recommended "use by" date by six months. Whoops. So, I used Caesar and a small packet of ranch from some fast food joint that was stuffed in the butter compartment. I'm not sure what the original is supposed to taste like, but ours turned out great.

Buffalo Chicken:

In a saute pan, cook 2 chicken breasts in a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Cool. Shred. Toss with buffalo sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Sauce:

3 TBSP Frank's Hot Sauce

2 TBSP butter

Melt butter in the microwave with the hot sauce for one minute. Stir.

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.

Pizza Ingredients:

1 thin crust prepared pizza shell

1/4 cup Caesar/ranch/blue cheese dressing

6 oz. Provel cheese

12 oz. buffalo chicken shredded

1/4 onion sliced

1/4 Parmesan cheese

Assemble the pizza in the following order: dressing spread evenly over crust, 1/2 provel cheese, buffalo chicken, sliced onions, remaining provel cheese, sprinkle with parmesan.

Next time I think I'm going to toss on some black olives and maybe some mushrooms. Let me know if you try it out or have your own version.

Bring the Heat!

2011-06-29T12:37:00.000-05:00

Nothing makes me happier than the feeling of the sun warming my skin and the smell of freshly cut grass. I love summer! One of my favorite parts of summer is all the outdoor shows and there are some awesome ones coming up this month. I hope to see you there.

Let Them Eat Art
Maplewood
Manchester between Sutton and Bellevue
Friday, July 8
6 p.m. - 11 p.m.
This super-fun festival combines all the greatest in local music, art, and street performance.
Bonus -- there's also a costume contest!

Soulard Market Park Arts and Crafts Fair
9th/Lafayette at Soulard Market Park
Saturday, July 9
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More than 50 artists join forces for this fabulous outdoor fair. Grab some veg at the market and get your crafty shopping done in one trip!

Eco Bloom

Tower Grove Park - Sons of Rest Pavilion near the Grand entrance

Saturday, July 16

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

http://ecobloomstl.com/

40 green-minded indie crafters unite for a green-a-palooza in Tower Grove Park.

Tower Grove Farmer's Market and Bazaar

Saturday, July 23
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
http://www.tgmarket.org/
This weekly market is pooch-friendly and features artisan and heirloom eats in addition to handmade crafts. Oh, and there's yoga at 9 for free.

Craft-O-Matic craft show in The Loop!

2011-05-26T01:04:00.001-05:00

Oh yeah, baby. It's almost time! Pinch your pennies and block out your calendar for Saturday, June 4 from 11 to 11. This is where the fun will be had.

Here's a little merchandise preview!

See you there!

Time Flies!

2011-04-19T23:07:00.000-05:00

Wowzers, time sure does fly. It's been three weeks since the last post! Since our last visit things have been a little nutty around here.

The chickens are growing like weeds!

Lupe's big girl feathers are coming in nicely!

The coop is nearly finished and painted a lovely barn red. The girls are going to love it. The ladies have been taking regular field trips to the yard and are loving getting to scratch in the dirt and eat bugs by the belly full. Their personalities are really starting to show and it's been a hoot watching them grow. Gram Pam has really developed a deep affection for our girls and talks to them all day long, then "puts them to bed" in their brooder box when it gets dark. "Okay ladies, it's time for bed! Everybody in the box!" Then she chases them around the outside pen trying to corral them. It's quite a sight. :)

This jerk right here has been getting 100% of my time lately.

My nemisis: Campylobacter

I spent five days and four nights at the hospital getting pumped full of antibiotics and fluids. Colitis caused by campylobacter, a gnarly bacteria that you don't want to tangle with, which totally kicked my butt. I'm home now and feeling much better, but I'm on day 11 of recovery and still not 100%. I had a check up today at the doc and she said it might be 2-3 more weeks before I'm back to normal with the help of lots of probiotics. *le sigh* Other than just feeling generally crappy, I've developed a blood clot at one of the IV sites, which is kind of a bummer and a little scary. Hopefully, if I am diligent and follow doctor's orders it will clear up ASAP. Cross your fingers for me!

In exciting news, Indie Craft Revolution is right around the corner -- April 30 & May 1. It's hard to believe that craft show season is about to launch and it's going to be a busy one. Since I've been house-bound I have found a little time in between naps to get my craft on. I've been working really hard on streamlining my product line and I'm excited to show it off. Maps are king! I've also decided to split off my pet stuff into its own line, called Mack & Wobbles (in honor of my favorite doggy and cat). I'm working on the logo now and doing a little product development. Look for new offerings at Craft-O-Matic in June.

The kids are eager for the school year to be over. The boy has 5 days left to graduation and the girl has 19. I'm really excited for them, it is going to be a fun summer. The girl got her first job at a local ice cream shop and has been enjoying making money and mixing chocolately goodness. The boy is job hunting, but has some exciting prospects of his own having just been accepted to play soccer for a local university. I am super proud of them both, they're awesome people and can't believe I'm old enough to have kids that drive cars and have jobs. Crazy. To add insult to injury a buddy of mine from high school told me today that our TWENTY YEAR reunion is coming. That cannot be possible, can it? I'm a whole 37! That's barely a grown up, right? Time really does fly.

Oh! Also, we had a squirrel visitor briefly.

Isn't he the cutest?

His name is Beemer and the kids rescued him from getting squashed in traffic like his mommy. He hung out with us and got fattened up on nuts for a couple weeks. He charmed our pants off, that little critter was so sweet and soft like a kitten. It was hard to let him go, but alas, it was time. Last Sunday, Beemer had his independence day. He hugged the boy, barked at the girl, chirped, and ran two stories up a big maple tree. We released him in the park near where the boy plays soccer, so hopefully, they will meet again.

Welp, it's time for this girl to get some shut-eye. I hope to see you all very soon. Happy Spring!

Employees and Craft Shows

2011-03-29T12:34:00.000-05:00

The chicks are here! I picked up the girls on Saturday from Duda-Lang Farms in House Springs from the lovely Sue Lang. I got three little cheepers and have been playing mother hen ever since. Temporarily, the little rascals are living indoors. I have their brooder box in the bathroom -- we like to keep it classy at the Schroeder Urban Farm. It's a necessity though, the weather has been cold and chilly lately. In fact, it was snowing like crazy on our way back from picking up the chicks. (Attn: Mother Nature -- It's SPRING! Please get with the program.) In a couple weeks, it will be warm enough to move the brooder box and the babies to the garage with their heat lamp. It should be interesting, they have already figured out how to fly, so keeping them in the brooder might be somewhat challenging! The coop is about halfway finished and if the weather will give me a break, I think I can finish it up in a day or two.

Hugs and peeps from the babies to my buddy, Janelle, who is the best baby chicken holder, ever. She was kind enough to accompany me to pick up the little stinkers and give them lots of love on their journey home.

Meet the latest additions to the family aka The Employees:

Rontaco

Maria

Lupe

The girls won't be doing much but being cute to earn their keep until the end of the summer, but by then they will begin to lay eggs. The word is that fresh eggs are tons better than store-bought and I'm looking forward to finding out. The employees should lay roughly 1 egg a day, so that's 21 eggs a week! This is excellent since we go through a metric ton of eggs every couple weeks.

In other news, the craft show schedule has been hammered out and there's lots of exciting stuff going on. First, I've spent the winter doing some planning and working on improving my brand. Expect to see a lot more maps this year!

Here's what I have planned so far:

Maplewood-Richmond Heights Art Fair

Friday, April 29, 5-8:30

Indie Craft Revolution

This is a Craft Mafia show and will be held at the St. Louis Artists' Guild

Saturday, April 30, 10-5

Sunday, April 31, 10-4

Tower Grove Farmer's Market

Saturday, May 21, 8:30-12:30

Saturday, June 18, 8:30-12:30

Saturday, July 23, 8:30-12:30

Saturday, August 20, 8:30-12:30

Saturday, October 22, 8:30-12:30

Craft-O-Matic

This is an exciting new show hosted by the St. Louis Craft Mafia and is also a fundraiser for 10th Life Cats. It will be held at the Regional Arts Commission in the Delmar Loop

Saturday, June 4, 11-11

Soulard Market Park Arts & Craft Show

Saturday, May 14, 9-3

Saturday, June 11, 9-3

Saturday, July 9, 9-3

Saturday, August 13, 9-3

Farmer Holly and Thrifty Finds

2011-03-15T00:16:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last blogged. Let's catch up a little bit...

My other adventure Drop. Swap. Grow. consumed quite a bit of my crafty time recently, but of course my love of all things sticky, messy, and colorful runs deep -- fear not lovers of craft, I was merely on a brief hiatus. Drop. Swap. Grow.'s mission is to share seeds and knowledge and encourage sustainable practices. We had our first event, a spring seed swap and the turnout was fantastic. I'm so lucky to have wonderful friends who helped me pull it off! We got more than 200 kinds of veg seeds and dozens of other types of fruit, herbs, and flowers. About fifty people attended, which meant we had plenty of leftovers seed. The bulk of the leftovers were sent to become a new vegetable and herb garden installed by HopeBUILD a nonprofit in St. Louis that builds gardens in underserved areas. The excess flowers seeds are going to be distributed to anyone who asks for some and also to promote future swaps. Spreading the love around! The next swap will be to celebrate the bounty of our gardens and will be a fall harvest swap. Stay tuned!

I'm working hard on developing my yard into a little urban farm and this past weekend I got a bunch of seeds in dirt and logged all of my upcoming gardening duties. Today, while I was waiting for dinner to cook (more on that in a moment) I checked all my little seedling sweeties and gave them a spritz of water. We have over 100 varieties of plants going in the ground this year and almost half of them are being started in seed trays. It's chilly today, it actually SNOWED which is total b.s. if you ask me, but we've got a warming trend headed our way and I'm happy for me and my seeds that need heat to germinate.

When I got to work today my desk plant had sprouted a couple little babies over the weekend -- I love to watch things grow.

Chickens are moving in! Construction on the chicken coop begins this Thursday. The supplies are purchased and the builder has been bribed with the naming rights to one chicken and free eggs in the future. There will be three in total: Alice, Flo, and Rontaco. Alice and Flo of Mel's Diner of course. Rontaco is a long story that I'm not sure I totally understand, but hey, the lady builds, the lady gets to name a chicken!We may call her Ronnie for short when the lady isn't listening. The 2nd runners up for hen names are Laverne and Shirley. If Alice and Flo don't "feel" right for the chicks, then I'll go to plan B. They have breed names I can neither pronounce or spell, but colors I can - 1 black, 1 red, 1 black and white. To say we're excited about the upcoming chickens is an understatement. We can't wait!

Over the weekend we did some thrift shopping as a family. The whole lot of us hopped in to my Civic (Debbie Dawn) and headed across the river to Illinois to hit the shops in Belleville, which are wonderful and plentiful. I got a few new cute things, but my most impressive finds by include a vintage balance scale made in England with disc shaped weights (so cute), a giant water bath canner (only 8.99!), and a pressure cooker for (17.99). I've been wanting to give a pressure cooker a whirl since my friend Nupur told me she uses one. She's an amazing cook, go read her blog and drool. She's got an extensive archive and I can personally vouch for the cocoa brownie recipe -- when we had our charity knitting event, she brought some and I ate them until I was a little dizzy from my sugar high. Anyway, as excited as I am about the new gadget, I have to admit, the "pressure" part scares me a bit and I spent the first half of the cooking time debating whether or not I should get my safety goggles from the garage, just in case and the other half a little fearful of going in the kitchen at all.

It's all shiny and pretty, eh? The bobbly part on top is the scary part, that's
the valve that makes crazy noises and spits steam.

I decided that corned beef was a good test recipe, would be a tribute to all 1/10th of my Irish heritage and holiday appropriate with St. Pat's around the corner. Plus, it was on sale hella cheap, 2.99/lb!

I tossed it in to the cooker with 2 1/2 cups of water, 3 whole garlic cloves, and the seasoning packet it came with. I put it on the stove without the lid and got it started on high heat, once the water started to boil, I put the lid on and locked it. Within a couple minutes it started making hissing noises and shooting steam out. I let it make a racket for a few minutes, then lowered the heat a bit so it would still boil, but not completely burn off all the liquid. The instructions said that the bobbly thing would wobble, I can't say it ever did, but it did make a bunch of crazy noises. After about an hour, I turned it off and used a wooden spoon (per my pal Cat's suggestion) to tip the valve and release all the steam from the pot and eliminate the pressure. I was terrified I was going to screw it up and end up with a face full of steam, but I didn't even get injured a little bit! Yay!

I took the meat out with tongs and put it on a platter to rest while I cooked chunks of red potato, onion, and baby carrots in the pressure cooker. Instead of water, I used the drippings from the meat and about 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock (no beef in the pantry) to season the veg. Start to finish it was only about 10 minutes to heat up and cook. After that round, I rinsed the pan and tossed a couple ears of corn and a cup of water in the pan. It took less than ten minutes for that also. Everything turned out moisty, juicy and delicious!

The picture doesn't do it justice, the meat is fork-tender and lean.

SOOO yummy. The black spot is a browned bit of meat or potato skin. Nothing scary!

The dinner was a huge success, everyone ate it and liked it. I'll be using my scary pressure cooker more often in the future. Next up, beef roast. MMMM. Oh, and bonus, it only took an hour to cook a 4lb. corned beef versus 4+ hours in the oven. Neato!

Toodles for now. Next up crafty chat. I have my list of upcoming shows compiled and am sorting out some last-minute details, then I'll post.

Stay Crafty,

Holly

T-Shirt Rug Mini Tutorial and Canine Adventures

2011-02-05T20:35:00.001-06:00

Winter always inspires an extra helping of crafting. A couple weeks ago I saw a project in a book I checked out from the library, AlternaCrafts by Jessica Vitkus, that had a great little project for upcycled rug make from t-shirts. My friend Janelle came over for dinner last night and she was just the ~~sucker~~ girl I needed to help me get it started. The original project used burlap and a yarn needle, but I was afraid that I'd end up with a 1,987,999 stab marks, because I can't be trusted with sharp objects. So, I bought some no-slip stuff at the fabric store to use as a base (remember latch hook rugs?). Then I cut t-shirt scraps into 1" x 6" strips, yanked on them a bit to get them to curl and tied them on starting on the outside working my way in to the center. There's still a lot more to do, but we got a great start. (I'll have to invite Janelle over again soon!) When it's done it will be a colorful, floppy, soft texture and perfect for my cold toes early in the morning.

The studio has been crammed full of people and animals for days since the threat of the snowpocalypse. The kids had three snow days and I had two. I don't know about the rest of the people that live here, but me and the dog have been up to our eyeballs with cabin fever. So, today with a fresh blanket of snow on the ground and the sun shining bright, me and my favorite canine companion decided to take a stroll down the street to the big vacant lot where Mackie likes play.

Stay Crafty and Run Like the Wind!

P.S. I started a little seed swap project, Drop. Swap. Grow. if you're interested in swapping, visit the site for more info. www.dropswapgrow.com

Crafting with Purpose: Needles for Newborns

2011-01-24T05:34:00.000-06:00

Extra! Extra!

South City Studio and Paste are teaming up for the fourth installment of Needles for Newborns to benefit Children's hospital. The goodies we make keep little preemie babies toasty at Children's hospital. Mark your calendar, right now! February 19th, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

FAQ

It's a noble cause and all, but why should I waste a precious Saturday when my life is already so busy?

Babies. Teeny tiny babies who get chilly easily.
Crafting with purpose feels really good!
It's a super-duper fun time. We are a diverse bunch of really interesting people!
If you're rusty or just beginning, this is a great opportunity to pick up some skills. Sit near an experienced stitcher and watch 'em go. We're a generous bunch, you can ask questions, too.

Do I have to stay the whole time? Can I come late?
You don't have to stay the whole time by any means, drop in when it's convenient and stay for however long you'd like. Warning: You'll have such a good time, you won't want to go.

What should I bring?
A chair (just in case), a friend (if you can), a snack to share (we'll provide some snacks), and yarn/needles/hook.

Do I have to bring my own yarn? Can I buy yarn at Paste?
Most people bring their own or buy on arrival. We'll have some donated yarn up for grabs and there is a fantastic selection of really pretty yarn at very reasonable prices.

Can I donate yarn/supplies/food to the event?
Heck, yes! We love that and thanks in advance for being such a generous soul. Snuggles from the babies.

What kind of yarn is best for babies?
Babies have really sensitive skin, cotton or acrylic is best. No wool.

I can't come, can I drop of things I make on my own?
Of course! The babies don't mind one bit.

What are we going to make?
Hats, booties, and blankets.

Will you have patterns?
Yep, we'll have some. Please feel free to bring your favorite. There are scads for free on the internet if you don't have a favorite yet, just Google it -- free pattern knit crochet preemie baby. BAM! Zillions.

How big should a preemie hat be?
A very wise NICU worker told me think plum, tennis ball, orange. Yes, THAT tiny! Some of the preemie babies only weigh a couple pounds, so they're gosh darn tiny.

Is this a kid-friendly event?
It breaks my heart to say this because we love the little people, but not really. A) A bunch of ladies cackling and stitching is pretty boring for the kiddos. B) The conversation tends to lean PG-13 and some of the adults like to consume adult-beverages. As a rule of thumb, I'd say it's probably too "educational" for anyone younger than 14.

I'm a dude, can I come?
Yes, please join us! Disclaimer: If you're planning to shop the crowd for single ladies, may I suggest match.com?

Do I need to RSVP?
Probably not. If you are planning to bring a bus load of people, then, yes please, let's talk. Otherwise, no worries, just show up. Early and late tend to be the least busy times, mid-afternoon is the busiest.

Snow Day

2011-01-20T21:31:00.004-06:00

If you're here in the Lou, I don't have to tell you that it's brrrrrr chilly and everything in sight is covered in fluffy white stuff. In my part of town, we got somewhere between six and eight inches depending on where you measure.

After checking in on a bit of work stuff, I spent the rest of the day sewing and knitting. I'm working on a new cowl right now using a pattern I found on Cornflower Blue's blog. She has great patterns that are in plain English; there's nothing worse than loving a project but being totally unable to understand the cryptic instruction. I'm doing a bright turquoise bulky yarn and only 30 stitches instead of 40. It's really coming along nicely. I can't wait to get it finished.

In between craft projects I took a short break to get bundled up and take a peek on the happenings in my backyard. Normally, the yard is bursting at the seams with all sorts of greenery, even in the winter months. Today, it was piled high with a thick blanket of snow. Mackie the Wonder Dog was pretty excited that I was going to hang out with him in his backyard and did a happy dance when he saw me slip on my yellow rubber boots. He really, really, likes to run around in circles and practice his herding skills when he has a visitor to corral. I love it when his nose is sprinkled with snow. So cute.

2011 is going to be awesome! LOTS of exciting things are going in the craftyverse. I can't spill the beans just yet, but I promise, I will -- soon.

Until then, be safe, stay warm, and keep it crafty.

Winter Stitching and OMG, Heyyyy from the Ranch

2011-01-09T23:28:00.000-06:00

Cold weather makes me want to stay in my flannel jammies all day and knit, which is exactly what I've been doing, too -- every chance I get. Right now, I've got quite a few projects in the works:

I just started a crocheted baby blanket for my friend's new baby. This project gave me an excuse to learn the bobble stitch. Thanks, Blackwood Cottage for the easy-to-read instructions and cute pattern.

This afternoon I finished this cute little knitted hat with a crocheted embellishment for the same friend.

The boy is getting this waffle stitch scarf in his favorite color. It's made with Cascade 220 wool yarn and should keep him nice and toasty.

The girl is getting this lavender scarf in yummy alpaca yarn. SUPER soft and cozy. If you have wool allergies, I highly recommend alpaca, it's just as warm as wool, but it's hypoallergenic and won't make you all itchy scratchy.

Lastly, for myself, I just started to knit a hat in this scrumptious grey heathered alpaca. Being the big-headed gal that I am, hats are always hard to find that don't make me feel like my skull is being smashed, so a custom hat is my saving grace. Thank goodness for my pal, Janelle, who helped me get going with circular needles.

What sort of projects do you have in the works? Do you have a favorite yarn? I get all my yarn at Paste in Soulard. Paste has a really nice selection of good quality yarn at reasonable prices. It's my favorite supply shop and I teach classes there. :) If you're in the neighborhood or looking for an excuse for a field trip, scoot over to Paste, pet the alpaca yarn and ooh and ahhh over all the nifty handmade goodies in the shop!

Just in case you haven't seen a picture of a cute animal today, let me help you out. These pretty mini-horses were resting at the ranch when I did my ranch girl volunteer gig this weekend. Don't they have fun hair? I bet when no one is around, they chatter in valley girl voices and do lots of hair flips.

Like OMG, heyyyyy from the ranch!

Twenty-Eleven

2011-01-01T19:58:00.000-06:00

Like everybody else, the new year provides a time to reflect on the year past and a time to look forward to the year ahead. Instead of doing a list of resolutions, I decided that this year, I would take a business approach and do some strategic planning instead. I don't know why, but that sounds more palatable to me for some reason. Perhaps, the bad taste in my mouth for "resolutions" is the result of a lifetime of abandoned ones that make me leery. I like to plan. Planning, I can do.

First, a review. I've thought long and hard about the previous twelve months and I think the greatest area for improvement is in time management. I don't have much of it to spare, so I need to be sure I invest wisely. Work, school, and family take up a considerable chunk, but I must also make time to relax and recharge my batteries, too. I spent entirely too much time exhausted in 2010.

This year, I plan to take better care of myself -- mind, body, and spirit. A little bit of advance planning will go a long way in all these categories. I don't need any drastic revisions, but a few hours invested here and there in meal planning, exercise, and a little more sleep will make improve things significantly. It certainly can't hurt to try.

The past couple years have been an incredible learning experience with my little business. I have learned a ton. In the past couple months, I have been doing some research, product development, tests and trials and I have some exciting ideas that I will share as they develop over the coming year. Expect to see a lot more maps. :) I also plan to put more effort in to my Etsy shop this year. It's been sparsely stocked for months and it's high time I filled it up. Thank you so much to all of you who have supported me, I'm pretty sure I have the best customers, ever!

I hope your first day of the new year has been a exactly what you hoped for and more. Blessings and good wishes to you all in 2011!

Adventures in Ranching and SuperJam

2010-12-30T00:20:00.007-06:00

Yesterday, I had pretty much the best day ever. I spent the day volunteering at the Long Meadow Rescue Ranch run by the Humane Society in Union, Missouri.

There were horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cows, ducks, guinea fowl, donkeys and a llama named Mama. For an animal-lover like me, it was hog heaven.

After my orientation I got busy cleaning the stalls with the staff. My first visit was with a super cute white mini-horse that loved to scratch his hiney on my big bucket. It made cleaning, um, challenging. Next, it was feeding time in the outside pens for a handsome pygmy goat named Fonzie and his pal Ralph, a big beautiful white horse named Annie, and some sweet, sweet, sheep. After that, I spent some time in Miss Kitti's stall. Miss Kitti is a very curious and beautifully majestic quarter horse. However, getting her to move around the stall so I could clean was only slightly easier than moving a school bus with my bare hands. I don't often feel small, but next to Miss Kitti and friends, I feel pint-sized. She was HUGE and every time I got her to skooch five feet away, she'd come right back like a boomerang and put her big velvety horse nose right in my face, "Whatcha doing? Huh? Can I see? Please!" If Miss Kitti could fit in my Honda, I'm pretty sure she would love to go for a ride and hang her head out the window, mane blowing in the wind. Cleaning stalls and feeding is back-breaking work (hats off to the awesome and totally bad-ass staff!), but it's a small price to pay for the opportunity to spend time up close and personal with some truly amazing creatures.

Meet Duncan. Isn't he handsome? He's a real sweetie, too. Rub his neck, he likes that.

I didn't catch this little guy's name, but he cracked me up. Nosy, nosy, piggy. I bent down to take his picture and he ran over to check out my lens.

This guy was one of my favorites. I heart donkeys. He likes it when you scratch behind his ears and has the sweetest, shyest way about him.

This big dude weighs over 1,000 lbs! His name is Norton. We made a giant bed of hay for him to snuggle up in for the night. For all of his snorting and slopping noises, he's a surprisingly dainty eater when it's all said and done. It only takes a couple scoops a day of piggy kibble to maintain his slender figure.

After we cleaned the stables, fed and watered the animals and took horses out to the pasture for exercise, we took a spin in the big truck to close gates and check on the grazing cattle and horses enjoying the fields.

Heyyyyy...

Moo.

By the time the day was done, I was totally exhausted, covered in poo and sawdust up to my knees, I had fistfulls of hay in my hair and I'm pretty sure I smelled like a goat, but I was grinning ear to ear. SO MUCH FUN!

On my way home, I had to make a quick pit stop to take a few pictures of my friend Jeff's band, SuperJam. Barn to studio, baby, that's how I roll. Anyhoo, I'm really pleased with the results and they're a great bunch of guys to work with -- they didn't complain about the smell, even once. If you're in the Lou, you definitely have to check them out. All the cool kids are doing it.

Eric, Dave F., Joe, Jeff, Dave A.

To: Dr. E and Mama Judy. Thank You.

2010-12-18T22:49:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about the people in my life who inspire me. Particularly the ones that went out of their way to be kind to a kid with who thinks entirely too much for her own good and needs to talk it all out sometimes. A kid that hasn't always been and probably never will be, problem-free. I'm blessed to have two mentors. Ladies I've known collectively for over twenty years. I might not always see them often, but they are in my thoughts almost daily and never cease to inspire me, make me laugh, lift me up, and challenge me to be my best self.

First up, Dr. E. Isn't she regal and beautiful? Look at that smile!

I met her when she was the interim dean of the evening college at the university I attended. I stopped by campus for advising and she was the lucky duck who received me that day. Initially, I was intimidated, her office was filled with all sorts of interesting objects and she commands a room. At that point, I don't think I'd ever met a dean and I had no idea what that meant, but I knew I didn't want to piss her off. She was authoritative, but very warm. She must have smelled doubt on me, because mid-appointment she looked me in the eye, paused, and told me in no uncertain terms, that I could do, "it" -- get a degree. And then another one after that, if I wanted it bad enough. She made me feel smart. She shared her journey and her confidence with me. Her story is one of tenacity, hard work, and determination. She told me to keep in touch, because I might need a letter of recommendation some day. I couldn't believe that this woman, who had just met me, would not only take her time to share herself with me, but also extended the offer in to the future.

I'm no dummy, I took her up on her offer! Over the next few years, I visited with Dr. E many times. I took every single one of her classes that I could -- she's a cultural anthropologist specializing in the study of Africa. We spent a semester together, doing an independent study and it turned out to be the most exciting and engaging course experience I've had yet. She didn't want me to just read, she wanted me to analyze and chew on the readings. We'd spend an hour or so each week talking about what I read, what it meant in the world, and what it meant to me. She taught me to think big. To consider being an agent for change where I saw a need for improvement. She didn't just talk about it either, in the time I've known her, she has done incredible things personally and professionally. Once, she offered to babysit my girl so I could go to class. That's HUGE for a single-mom with less than two nickels to rub together. She has done pro-bono work assisting asylum-seeking women who are trying to protect themselves and their daughters from FGM (female genital mutilation). She's canvassed her neighborhood to encourage people to vote. She mentors. She teaches. She's a published author and coveted speaker. She wears a dozen hats on campus.at any given time. She's a single-mom to two lovely daughters. She has a fantastic sense of humor and a laugh that is so sincere and so genuine it's impossible not to join in the fun. She is kind and gracious, always.

About six years ago, I had a bad car accident and broke both my legs. Dr. E hand-delivered my medical leave paperwork so I wouldn't have to come to campus when I was all banged up. My house is forty minutes away from campus and no where near hers. She's listened to my struggles and celebrated my successes. She is always a source of light and inspiration.

Many times, when I have felt like quitting, I have thought of Dr. E. Thought about how much she has invested in me and that she believed in me -- if she could do it, I could, too. This past summer, I applied and was accepted to graduate school. Dr. E wrote one of my letters of recommendation, as promised so many years ago.

Much love Dr. E, much love. Thank you for ALL that you do, for me, for all your students at school and in life.

Then there's this lady, she's cute huh? She's exactly as fiesty as she looks, too. Her name is Judy and she's my other mother.

Once upon a time, in an industrial park, I worked in a building that peddled promotional marketing products and Judy worked there, too. She was an inventory buyer and I was her assistant. She used to get mad at me for bothering her too much during the day and would shoo me back to my desk. She was jovial and sometimes grumpy and absolutely, positively irresistible.

Back then, I smoked, and Judy and I would take breaks together. Sometimes, she's break in to song; she loved to sing. Her passion made up for the wobbly notes in spades. She cussed like a sailor and told dirty jokes. At the same time, she could switch gears, jump in to any conversation and hold her own and then some on what seemed like any topic from classic literature to statistics.

I found her fascinating and drove her absolutely crazy, but she loved me anyway. I was the punk kid that followed her around, tugging on her coat sleeve. Every once in a while she'd give me "the look", the one where I knew she wanted me to stop asking questions or rambling and practice being quiet. The look your mom gives you when she wants you to shut up.

She been a tireless cheerleader in my efforts to go to school and I'm pretty sure threatened to kick my ass if I didn't finish. She taught me practical things like how to open a 401k and how to forecast inventory trends. She has always, always said, "You can do it, kid!"

Over the years our friendship and fondness grew. I came to know all the players in her family and learned about her history, which has had no shortage of challenges. Her joy, even in difficulty was inspiring. I also learned that Judy is an extremely generous spirit and has many, many times, quietly and humbly, offered her assistance to friends and family in need. Her humility and thoughtfulness is heart-warming.

In 2003, Judy started feeling sick a lot. She was having a hard time staying awake during the day and her voice was taking vacations without her permission...

It was the big C.

Cancer.

Cancer of the vocal chords.

SHIT!

The tumor in her throat was the source of the gravely sounds and why sometimes her voice just disappeared. Forced in to early retirement, Judy had her surgery and started her radiation treatments. It was hard. Really hard. By that time, Judy and I were spending a lot of time together outside of work and had become pretty close. Her daughter lived a good distance away and often couldn't get in to the city and her son was out-of-state. Her best friend, Michael, and I spent a lot of time at the hospital with her during those days. With all the pain (which was significant) and all the challenges that are a part of the process, she always remained hopeful. She never lost her sense of humor. She never, ever, gave up.

Those days with Judy changed me. I recall sitting with her and her daughter at the emergency room, she was so frail and barely breathing, I didn't know whether to pray for her to live or die. I'd never seen anyone suffer like she did. I couldn't imagine a way out of it, but her will was stronger than her body and with sheer determination and the help of some amazing doctors, she got better.

She helped me learn that it's truly an honor to be with someone when they are sick. That it's okay to look death square in the face and put one foot in front of the other and hope for the best. To be afraid and proceed anyway. Judy, taught me what courage looks like. For a girl who spent most of her life secretly terrified of death and illness, it was perhaps my greatest life lesson thus far.

She was doing fabulously for quite some time. The trach tube was out, she had her strength back and then some and her enthusiasm was contagious. She's been brought back from the dead! It was a miracle to witness and I learned to experience joy in a new way. Every time I saw her doing so well, my heart would swell.

Then, the cancer came back.

This time, her vocal chords could not be saved. The singing, cussing, joke-telling lady, would have no voice. N o v o i c e.

The thought overwhelmed me so much that I could not choke back the tears. She said it would be okay. She showed me courage, again. There was a small chance that she could learn to talk with a prosthetic piece and lots of speech therapy, but no promises were made.

Clearly, they didn't know who they were dealing with. She made up her mind and that was that -- she would talk and in the mean time she'd write notes on a dry erase board and use the dirty-word flash cards Michael made. Treatment was very difficult. At one point, she had to go on a feeding tube because the swelling in her throat was so significant she could no longer swallow. A nurse started coming to the house regularly, then she became so weak she had to stay in a skilled nursing facility for a time. The trach tube was back, but now it was the permanent kind. Recovery has been slow and it's not really done yet. Yet, she persists.

True to her word, she talks. In fact, I saw her yesterday. She's been at home for quite a while now. No nurses. No feeding tubes. It's not easy for her, but she keeps trying anyway. Now, almost 70, things are harder than they were when she was a spring chicken. No field trips in cold weather - it's too hard to breathe and she's on a nebulizer, but like always, her body might be frail, but inside is a tiger -- Judy is a bad ass. Sharp as a tack, she does her crossword daily and is as funny as ever. Even with intermittent coughing and a voice that comes and goes (who knew my lip-reading skills would be so handy!), she still nearly makes me pee my pants with laughter. We have a Scrabble date, where she will crush me to bits, in about a week. She says we're going to go out to eat first before she kicks my ass. :) But the thing that impresses me the most, and always will is her heart. In all of her own suffering, she still thinks of others. She's not been feeling too swell lately and was bummed because she hadn't gotten her Christmas cards in the mail yet. She's old school, she always sends cards. Wonderful, funny, cards that always make me smile.

Yesterday, after a long overdue visit she said a bunch of stuff that made me cry (in a good way) and then wrapped it up with, "We need each other kid." She's right, we do. I'm really not sure what it is that I bring to the table for her, but I know my side is piled high with love and lessons from her.

Today, I am grateful for my mentors, Dr. E and Judy. You have touched me with your kindness, inspired me with your strength, and have brought immeasurable joy to my life.

Thank you, for everything.
XOXO

If I Had $500 to Blow on Books

2010-12-08T09:47:00.000-06:00

I'd get every single one of these for my craft library + 1 about NPR, because I heart them, too. Chronicle books is having a crazy contest and the lucky blog winner gets their list of books they post on their blog. Genius promotional idea if you ask me. I'm generally not the lottery-winning sort, but I figure, hey, if all I have to do is share my craft porn list with y'all and there is a teeny weeny scant chance I could win this giant pile, I'm giving it a shot. Any of you kids have any of these books? Anything you'd recommend or skip?

Oh and if the universe smiles on me and I win, if you've commented on my post, you win the big pile, too. Neat huh? http://www.chroniclebooks.com/happyhaulidays/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Text_Link&utm_campaign=haul_111110

Crossing my fingers, eyes, and toes.

Product(s)		Price	Comments
	Appliqué Your Way	$19.95
	Artful Jewelry	$19.99
	Cake Pops by Bakerella	$19.95
	Craft Inc. Business Planner	$16.95
	Daily Doodle: 2011 Daily Calendar	$12.99
	French General: Handmade Soirées	$29.95
	French General: Home Sewn	$24.95
	French General: Treasured Notions	$24.95
	Hot Type	$14.95
	Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts! Lacy Crochet!	$14.95
	Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Fuzzy Felted Friends	$14.95
	Lace Knitting to Go	$16.95
	Lotta Jansdotter's Handmade Living	$29.95
	Lotta Prints	$19.95
	Lotta's Printing Studio	$19.95
	Paper + Craft	$19.95
	Reprodepot Pattern Book: Flora	$24.95
	Reprodepot Pattern Book: Folk	$24.95
	Stencil 101 Journal	$12.95
	The Guerilla Art Kit	$19.95
	The Handy Book of Artistic Printing	$40.00
	This Is NPR	$29.95
	Whip Up Mini Quilts	$24.95
Total:			$498.98

Old is New!

2010-11-21T22:40:00.000-06:00

I confess, I've been a blogging and Etsy shop slacker. I finally got a few things photographed and in the shop. I know this sounds like it should be easy, but somehow it seemed harder than quadratic equations. Mostly because I'm never home when natural light is available for shooting pics. I'm hoping to add a bunch more items over the next week since I'm on VACATION! I'll be sunning myself in the dining room via the window and noshing on no-name snacks at the Schroeder chalet in St. Lou. I'm actually pretty excited, there will be turkey on Thursday (thank you Mr. Turkey!) and my pal, Janelle, has promised me homemade cupcakes this week. Yes people, I get excited about food that's baked in an oven. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everybody, may your gravy bowl never be empty and your list of thanks be lengthy!

Artropy and Mixed Media Goodness

2010-11-02T23:40:00.001-05:00

In case I haven't told you five times already, Artropy is THIS Thursday at Sqwires-The Annex in the wonderful and historic Lafayette Square neighborhood. www.sqwires.com. There will be live music, the restaurant will be open, and the drinks will be flowing at the bar. Kick back and relax and take a bite out your holiday shopping.

I am debuting my new line of mixed media jewelry pieces - layers of color and texture on upcycled paper that I transformed into wearable art. In addition to being totally unique, it's bold without being gaudy, featherweight, and super comfortable. I've been wearing a pair of earrings from the collection all week and I have gotten a lot of really positive feedback. Here's a sneak peak of a pair of earrings from the collection. I hope you like them!

Thrifty Recycling Bin Art

2010-10-12T19:47:00.004-05:00

My new bff, Kendall Kindle, and I have been spending a lot of time together lately. Sometimes we study. Sometimes we play word games. Sometimes he tells me a story. I was feeling a bit guilty though because my poor fella didn't have any clothes and there's a chill in the air -- he was all nekkid and exposed to the elements. After checking around the internet for prices on outfits for my dude, I nearly had a heart attack. Fifty bucks for a quarter yard of fabric? No way. With all the furry mouths to feed around here, there's no room in the budget for that kind of silliness.

Anyhoo, I recently took an online painting course with Alisa Burke that taught us nifty stuff like how to upcycle materials from our recycling bin trash and transform it into art. Surely I could jazz up something for Kendall for free. Nobody said art can't be practical. I needed something that was padded to protect my new friend, something that would keep him from getting scratched and bruised in my bag of ~~very important stuff~~ crap that I haul around most days. On my first trip to the recycling bin I hit the jackpot. One slightly used padded envelope cut to size + a couple blobs of paint + a few Sharpie scribbles later = new shirt for Kendall.

Okay, so maybe it's more mumu. Kendall doesn't mind, he's secure in his manhood. To make it a bit sturdier and safe from the inevitable spalshes of coffee and lunch shrapnel it will endure, I gave it a nice layer of clear packing tape for durability. Voila! $0 dollars and one less item to haul to the recycling bin.

Veronica is Moving to Spain. Fantastic-o!

2010-09-22T02:48:00.002-05:00

A lovely couple from Spain have decided to adopt my favorite brunette, Veronica!!! Veronica has been packing furiously and busy with errands and such. She got her passport, three new books, and an English to Spanish dictionary for the plane ride. She is super excited to meet her new family and explore Spain. Right now, she's in the other room mumbling to herself and practicing her Spanish. "Donde esta biblioteca?"

Bon Voyage, Veronica! We'll miss you lots.

Mixed Media: Art Casserole

2010-09-15T11:37:00.001-05:00

Lately, I've had an itch to scratch. That itch involves making big messes of the studio with paint, glitter, pastels, ink, gesso, paper, and glue. Everything but the kitchen sink. Layers, layers, layers, layers. Layers upon layers. Soooo, satisfying. I'll be framing these for Strange Folk where they'll make their debut. Maybe by then, all the dried paint and ink will have washed off. Maybe.

"Cream of the Crop", 5 x 7 on Gesso Board

"European Dream", 5 x7 on Gesso Board

"Graffiti Love", 5 x 5 on Canvas Board

"Fiesta Rose", 8 x 10 on Gesso Board

"Violet No. 1", 5x5 Canvas Board

Strange Folk

2010-09-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

Goody goody gum drops! It's that time of year again -- time for the totally tubular, simply fantastic, Strange Folk Festival! I'll be sweatin' to the oldies in the studio crafting my little heart out in prep for the big weekend. I have a few new tricks up my sleeve and I can't wait to debut the goods at the show. Yipee! I hope to see you all there.

Community Park

O'Fallon, IL

September 25 & 26

FREE admission

Blog Addict

2010-07-19T19:08:00.001-05:00

I'm a blog addict. I heart blogs. A zillion of them. Thank God and all that is holy that each one isn't updated daily or I'd never sleep. Wanna see what I read? Here's the GIANT list of arts and crafts blogs that feed my brain.

Did I miss a good one? Please, if I did, turn me on. Mamma needs a fix.

My absolute favorite? So glad you asked. Dottie Angel. That girl melts my heart. Her pictures are so yummy I could eat them. I love the way she mixes new and old, colorful and subdued, and it always looks crisp, tidy and fabulous. I'm also smitten with her pup who is often nearby in photos.

2nd runner up? Really, it's probably a tie. Color Me Katie. This girl radiates nothing but positive energy. Her photography is amazing and pure inspiration. This is a lady who loves life and isn't afraid to show it. She also has the 2nd cutest cat, Moo. Mr. Wobbles is still first. Duh.

Tutorial: Rice Pack + Bonus Pix of Cute Campground Critters

2010-07-02T08:49:00.001-05:00

Rice packs are da bomb. We fight over them at my house. They are SUPER easy to make. If you buy them at a body shop or a salon you'll pay an arm and leg for them. That's just silly because they are a quick project and you can make them with fabric you have lying around, a retired towel/washcloth, cut up an old shirt or just snap up a fat quarter on your next trip to the fabric store.

I have several of these in various sizes. They reside in the freezer next to the vegetable medley nobody eats, but we insist on keeping. They are great for aches and pains and are heaven on a hot day if you need to cool down quick. Post-lawn mowing, I whine about my lack of a gardner, the heat, and sometimes I grunt and cuss. Straight to the freezer I go. All is well within a few short minutes and I return to my usual perky self. I also love to take a quickie rest with one across my face covering my irritated eyes when my allergies are kicking.

If you need heated relief you can pop them in the microwave and heat them up. I start with a minute and keep adding time in 15 second chunks. I know 15 seconds doesn't sound like much, but it is. Move in slow before you snatch it up and give it a little poke to test the temp. And for cripes sake, if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot to put anywhere else on your person. (***If you are a dummy and cook yours for 10 minutes and get burned, I am not responsible for your tom foolery. Heat them up at your own risk). Keep in mind too that microwaves vary in wattage, and mine isn't super-powered, so if yours is fancy and can boil water in an instant, maybe start small with 30 seconds and add on from there.

Stuff you need:

100% Cotton fabric

Thread

White Rice

Scissors

Ruler or something to measure with

Sewing machine

Disclaimer: If you're one of those people who loves precision and can't imagine sewing without a pattern, just stop now and look away, this tutorial is going to hurt your feelers, I'm a "wing it" gal and my methods for measuring will make you even crazier.

First, determine the size you want to make. I don't normally use a pattern for this and will just approximate the size I need. Usually, I do something really scientific like measure my face with whatever is handy - a pencil, a book, my hand, then I lay the object on my fabric to get the width. Essentially you'll be making a rectangle that is the width you want plus an inch for seam allowance. So if my face is 8 1/2" from temple to temple, then I want it 9 1/2" wide.

Use your handy-dandy measuring tool (or measuring tape) and determine the height. I want my rice pouch to be about 3" tall, so I'll double the height (since I need the height for front and back) and add 1/2" for seam allowance. Lookie, I'm using a measuring tape! That's just for show. I don't really do that.

The piece of fabric I want to cut is going to be about 9 1/2" wide and 6 1/2" tall. Once it's cut, I'll fold it in half, right sides together to sew leaving a 1" opening on one end. On the open end, fold back the end of the fabric 1/2" before sewing. Iron if you must or finger press then flip it so it's right-side out. Easy-peasy.

I cut this fabric with pinking shears, which is probably not necessary, but was the closest pair of scissors to where I was sitting. I also used a zig zag stitch, which I don't really have any explanation for, other than I think it looks cute. A straight stitch is just fine. Clip your corners.

Now, grab a funnel or make a paper cone and pour the rice in to your pouch. You'll want to put enough in to give it some weight, but not fill it so full that it's completely taut and brick-like. Think of it like a pillow, do you want it soft or firm? Something in the middle? Again, I use very scientific methods to make this determination...I pour some rice in, pinch the opening closed and lay it on my face. Lather, rinse, repeat until you like the way it feels.

Once you've put in the magical amount of rice in your pouch, hand stitch the opening closed with a needle and thread. If you want it pretty, use my favorite, the invisible stitch to close. Thanks Taffy Talk for making a tutorial on this stitch so I don't have to. http://quilttaffy.blogspot.com/2008/07/invisible-closing-seam-tutorial.html

All done! Now go put that baby in the freezer, then give it a test run in a couple hours. You'll be hooked. Which means you should either a) make a bunch more for everyone in the family to enjoy or b) hide it behind the vegetable medley where no one will find it.

Also, just because it's fun, here's a couple pictures of one of the raccoons that heisted about $20 worth of groceries from our most recent camping trip. We're no longer speaking.

*Note - raccoons have dexterous and nimble little hands, are MUCH stronger than they look, and they work well as a team. Zippers and velcro are NOT a challenge. If you have a soft-sided cooler like me, just put that bad boy in the car. If you have a hard one, same thing or bungee the dang thing shut - unless you want raccoons to steal your food. I hear that campground raccoons have seminars on the off-season. Day 1 - opening lids. Day 2 - velcro. Day 3 - zippers. Day 4 - teamwork. Day 5 - How to eat enormous quantities of food and not barf.

Since my raccoon love was squashed, I needed a new crush. Meet Phillip. I loves him. His groundhog fatty booty wiggles when he runs. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.

Happy 4th of July everybody and have a wonderful, SAFE, weekend!

Summertime in the Studio

2010-06-25T10:47:00.007-05:00

Hi kids! It's been busy at the studio these days. Last week was the Soulard Market Park Arts & Crafts fair as well as my television debut on Fox. Autographs anyone? :)

I was actually petrified. The task was to go promote the show on behalf of Paste and I was elected from the 3 organizers because I was the least likely to throw up on t.v. Katie got a funny color just talking about it, then Bobbi cheated and had a motorcycle accident (she's ok!) and got banged up pretty good. So, there ya go. That's my secret for how to get on t.v.!

The peeps at Fox were super nice. A cutie-patootie intern was assigned to keep me company when I arrived and helped me get set up. I was really glad to have someone to chat with and stuff to arrange so I could forget that I was about to be on live t.v. My primary goals included: say something about the fair, don't pass out, and don't cuss. I had a brief moment a few seconds before we went on air that I felt a little shaky and woozy, but I managed to stay upright the whole time. I just got to see the segment for the first time yesterday and overall I was pleased, but standing next to Teresa Woodard, the world's tiniest newscaster ever, made me look a bit like a tubby amazon. She's pocket-sized and positively adorable. Her side-kick Andy Banker was very nice and quite the goofball. They did a great job making me feel comfortable when I wanted to run for the hills! Thanks Fox 2 for a great opportunity to promote the fair, it was a total success!

This weekend I'll be at Tower Grove Farmer's Market from 8:30 - 12:30 with my trusty sidekicks, Bobbi of DownZipper and Rachel of Sew Good & Trendy. Hope to see you there!

Craft Hope - Gulf Oil Spill

2010-06-15T12:50:00.004-05:00

I love animals and the thought of them suffering in the mucky waters created by the oil spill is almost too much for this delicate flower to bear.

Fortunately, Craft Hope has sprung in to action and gives us crafty folks with a soft spot for critters a way to help.

"For Project 8 we will be partnering with The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, theAudubon Nature Institute, and the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge to assist them in their efforts in caring for and cleaning oiled marine mammals, mostly dolphins, other marine mammals, birds, and sea turtles."

"This is a photo of the oil covered turtles when The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies rescues them. So heartbreaking. Underneath the turtles are the towels used to transport the turtles and you can see they are incredibly dirty. Do not worry about the appearances of your towels and rags. They do not have to be pretty, they are saving the lives of dolphins and turtles and appearances do not matter."

If you visit the Craft Hope website you will find instructions for sending handmade washcloths and hand towels (preferably cotton). Handmade can be as simple as cotton sheeting cut in to 10 x 10 squares. I have a bunch of cotton t-shirts in my upcycling pile that I plan to cut up and send in addition to whatever else I can craft up in the near future. Please visit the Craft Hope website to learn more about this wonderful project.

The cuteness, I can't stand it!

2010-06-11T10:35:00.005-05:00

I found a new (to me) tool online at www.bighugelabs.com that makes cute photo mosaics of flickr images. Here's one I made of some of my vintage finds. Isn't it nifty? They have a bunch of other tools I want to try out too. I'll keep you posted ;)

Vintage-palooza!

2010-06-09T23:45:00.007-05:00

Here's a sneak peak at what's headed to my Etsy shop. Except maybe that pink vase...

Mascots

2010-06-04T00:29:00.014-05:00

If you aren't already aware, the studio is chock full of fuzzy mascots.

Mackie, my Border Collie mix, is a wonderful companion with the sweetest disposition imaginable. Theoretically, being a herding breed he's a high-energy doggy. It's hard to tell though. Mostly he naps, changing locations every hour or so. I suppose he's just conserving energy since he's an avid fan of car rides and if he sees a leash there is much rejoycing. He's an excellent supervisor and will appoint himself anytime a task needs to be completed. His post is usually on top of my feet if I'm sitting or there's food involved.

Bad Cat is the youngest in the crew. Being a barn cat rescue, his hunter instincts are top-notch and keeping him contained in the house is impossible. He spends most of his time slinking around the garden chasing bugs, but once in a while, the scent of baby bunnies lures him away. Hence, the name Bad Cat. Sorry bunnies! Fortunately, he doesn't seem to want to hurt them, just relocate them to our yard. I don't think they appreciate it one bit though.

Bad Cat's time indoors is usually spent in a window watching the birds or napping on the back of the couch. He's a pretty kitty, but he's not really in to socializing and he'll let you know by giving you a swat once he's decided you've pet him quite enough. Petting is a privilege, duh!

Then, there's Mr. Wobbles. He's by far the most vocal and the biggest pain in the butt. It's hard to get too peeved since he's 100% lover, but man, is he ever bossy. The other day, I was having a little chat with Wobbles, mostly about how it's HOT and a fuzzy cat perched on my shoulder like a bluebird is a little suffocating in the summer heat. He disagreed and muttered something about being the one with fur. When I mentioned that his constant kneading was a little uncomfortable, again, he muttered something under his breath. This time I think I heard wussy. Mr. Wobbles gets away with murder mostly because he's extra-special, with only 3 teeth, a wicked lisp (think Sylvester) and the complete inability to walk a straight line; he has a rough go of things, although he doesn't seem to notice.

In general, Mr. Wobbles does all the normal cat stuff, except he can't get up on the counters and grace is something that eludes him always. He chases bugs, plays with crinkly paper, loves to be hugged like a teddy bear (so much that his motorboat purr triples with a gentle squeeze), and nobody loves to eat more than Wobbles. In fact, if you're within a mile radius of his food dish he'll start meowing at the top of his lungs for a refill, "Hey, lady! Top off my food would ya? Lady! HEY, FOOD LADY! HEY! HEY! HEY! REFILL PLEASE! CAN I GET SOME SERVICE OVER HERE?"

Subtle? Not so much. Almost as subtle as when he decides he wants to be held so you can pet him. Sometimes there's a flying leap involved -- a straight jump in the air, arms outstretched like Superman as he flings himself forward in hopes he lands where he wants. No worries, if he's close, he'll just stick his claws out and hook in to whatever he can grab. Something in your hands? On your lap? Not his concern.

As you can see, it can be quite a challenge to get anything done around here, between the demands for food, bunny rescue missions and petting, it's a miracle anything gets done at all!

My Vintage Addiction

2010-06-01T13:16:00.003-05:00

Thanks a heap for the feature!

Summer is here!

2010-05-25T12:16:00.009-05:00

Well, at least in my book anyway. The skies are bright blue and the clouds are poofy. FINALLY, we are getting a break from the rain. I've got some really exciting stuff going on in the few weeks too.

Tower Grove Farmer's Market - 5/29/10

This weekend is my market day with Bobbi of DownZipper. Sharing with Bobbi is always a good time, she always has great snacks and she makes me giggle like I'm still in middle school. Her stuff is not to be missed either, Bobbi makes the cutest and most wonderfully colorful kids stuff around as well as some lovely stuff like doggie head embroidered tea towels for the grown-up folks. I'm fully stocked and ready to go with lots of new jewelry designs, dog collars and market totes. Be sure to stop by our tent and say hi!

I can't decide what I love best about the market - the delish veggies, the parade of adorable babies, the fabulous pups that help their people shop or the handmade goodness. Tough call really. They are all pretty awesome! If you aren't familiar with the area, the market is behind the playground in the very center of the park. For a detailed map, visit the market website www.tgmarket.org. Oh! If you are a yogi in the making or want to give yoga a try, there are free yoga classes at 9 right next to the market. Kinda makes me want to get all stretchy.

Green with Indie Craft Show - 6/5/10 - Webster University's Grant Gym

This green-themed craft show will feature vendors who sell vintage goods, upcycle, recycle and repurpose to make handmade morsels of wonderful. I don't normally get an opportunity to flaunt my vintage stock in person (I mostly sell it in my Etsy shop), so I'm pretty excited to bring it out. Among the stash I have some Donna Reed-esque everyday dresses, brooches, kitchy floral tumblers and a stack of fabulous grape hardsided suitcases for sale in addition to my usual handmade fare. The show is being hosted by my crafty family, The Craft Mafia, with many of my artistically inclined relatives in attendance in addition to lots of other talented folks. We've got a website up and running with all the details including handy maps and a list of vendors.

Soulard Market Park Arts & Crafts Fair - 6/19/10 - Lafayette & 9th

The dynamic duo of South City Studio and DownZipper will be reunited again. Who knows what sort of shenanigans will ensue? This one is going to be an absolute blast! There will be tasty treats, beer on tap for the thirsty crowd, oodles and oodles of handmade crafts, make and takes for the kiddos and live music. This is a family-friendly good time. The fair is sponsored by Paste, The Soulard Business Association and The St. Louis Craft Mafia - super powers of fun, innovation and craftyness who are joining forces for the second time to bring you a fabulous event in a series of three summer shows. Vendors will include folks from ShowMe Etsy and The St. Louis Craft Mafia as well as lots of other talented local artists and crafters from Missouri and Illinois. *Bonus, you get two-for-one-fun because not only will the fair be going on, but the Soulard Farmer's Market is right next door so you can grab some fresh fruit and veggies on the way out. Five servings a day ya know. That's thirty-five a week per family member. Yipes. Don't forget your granny cart.

Soulard Art Market - Photography Invitational II

2010-05-10T15:13:00.004-05:00

Yeehaw! This friday is the opening for the Photography Invitational II, a show with a big bunch of photographers, including silly 'ol me and my Craft Mafia pal, Jane Linders.

Here's the big list:

- Ariana Bauer
- Hilary Hitchcock
- Bob Crowe
- Jane Linders
- Thomas Shepherd
- Scott Ernst
- Greg Kluempers
- Tony Schanuel
- Mark Fisher
- Greg Barth
- Jennifer Roberts
- Laura Filiatreau
- Holly Schroeder
- Melissa Schramm
- Ferd

Admission is free and so are the drinks. Nice, huh? Hope to see you there!

Opening Reception:
Friday, May 14, 2010 - 7 to 10 pm
Exhibition: Through Friday, June 4, 2010

French Flea Market

2010-04-24T00:10:00.005-05:00

Bonjour! Tomorrow is the French Flea Market hosted by the Map Room. I'm crossing my fingers for clear skies, this is sure to be a great show.

I'll be there repping the studio and my favorite craft store, Paste. Right next to my booth (and keeping me entertained with witty banter) will be my best crafty bud, Bobbi of DownZipper. She makes the cutest darn stuff you've ever seen! I'm currently coveting a small pouch with a organ-grinding monkey. I mean really, who doesn't need one of those!

There will be bunches of other vendors too, everything from stuff that smells delish to handmade beads and baubles. So start practicing your French accent now and pop in tomorrow for what's sure to be a great time!

Hope to see you there!

2010-04-16T15:10:00.003-05:00

Where I'll be this weekend, Saturday, April 17, 10 - 3:30.

Artropy

SqWires - The Annex

1415 S. 18th Street

St. Louis, MO 63104

Where I'll be next weekend, Saturday, April 24, 9-5.

The Map Room

1901 Withnell Avenue

St. Louis, MO

It's Spring! It's Spring!

2010-03-31T16:11:00.004-05:00

Grab your picnic blanket and cop a squat in the grass - it's spring!

(all images are copyrighted by South City Studio/Holly Schroeder, please ask before you swipe!)

Soulard Market Park Arts & Crafts Fair

2010-03-23T11:00:00.004-05:00

I'm super duper excited about this new series of shows that will be held in the Soulard Market Park right next to the historic Soulard Farmer's Market. The show is sponsored by the Soulard Business Association, The St. Louis Craft Mafia and Paste. (If you're interested in participating, there's still time to apply, just visit the Paste website for the application information.) This is going to be a great show with tons of indie artists and crafters, live music and tasty treats.

I'll be there all three dates:

May 15

June 19

July 17

Stay tuned for more info...

Supporting Handmade!

2010-03-11T10:39:00.011-06:00

It's always such an honor to make it on someone's blog. Thanks so much Paige for helping promote our upcoming show this weekend, Indie Craft Revolution, and for supporting me (see my St. Louis necklace - wee!) and my crafty peeps. Muahhh!

Paige is a fiber artist that makes super duper cute stuff and her prices are oh so reasonable. Go check out her Etsy shop! I'm currently coveting the purple spring wildflowers scarf. Don't forget to give her some love on her blog too!

I hope to see all you crafty lovers this weekend. I'm so excited about this show I could burst. I'm taking the day off from my regular gig as Administrator Extraordinaire to do some last minute tagging and get ready for the big show.

I'll be on the second floor sharing a gallery with some of my favorite Mafia pals:

April "The Tater" Tate - Miss Lemon, sweeter than pie, visionary and head cheese in charge of the Craft Mafia. Crafter of fabulous upcycled goods.

Karen Miller - C. Bunny Binx, keeper of wit and sculptor of fantastic pint-sized critters in ceramic and paper clay.

Allison Rabbit - Squaresville, master of sarcasm, sewist supreme, digger of dirt, grower of pretty things and teacher of tweens.

Courtney Chesley - Twisted, wire twisting fireball, blogger, giggle box and mama to a Clifford-sized pooch.

Laurene Franco - Superchick Studios, bean counter, super chick and plushie mastermind.

Cara McKinlay - Mermaid Garden Party, bundle of joy, graphic artist and maker of chic geek paper goods.

This is a show not to be missed...hope to see you there!

Join the Revolution! Indie Craft Revolution

2010-02-26T13:30:00.005-06:00

Three cheers for the indie craft scene! Just say no to geese in clothes, crocheted doll head toilet paper cozies and plastic flower arrangements. Join the Revolution and support crafts with some attitude!

The next big show is only a couple weeks away and I'm totally flippin' excited. Right about now is when I start to panic and craft around-the-clock. So, if you see me on the street and my hands are covered in glue, there are stray threads clinging to my shirt and splatters of paint in my hair - you'll know why.

Indie Craft Revolution will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 13 & 14 at the St. Louis Artists' Guild in Clayton. Located in Oak Knoll park near the corner of Big Bend & Clayton, it's central to darn near everything. If you make it, please come by my booth and say hi! I'll have a special treat for anyone who mentions my blog :)

Brand Spankin' New Year!

2010-01-13T10:48:00.003-06:00

Hey kids, I'm back after a much needed winter hiatus. My batteries needed some serious recharging after a busy, busy holiday show season. I had an absolute blast, from start to finish, but boy oh boy was I exhausted! I had 9 days of vacation that I used mostly sleeping and laying around doing nothing. I did clean behind the refrigerator and scrub down the kitchen, but that was about the extent of my accomplishments other than sleeping until eleven every day.

My downtime has been so good I'm actually finding it hard to get motivated again. Alas, there are many projects to do, so it's time to get crackin'. I have lots of fresh product and project ideas for the new year and will post pics as I complete them.

I hope everyone's year is off to a fabulous start. Toodles for now!

High on Crafts

2009-12-07T12:12:00.004-06:00

I am high on crafts and positively worn out. What a great weekend with some of my favorite people on the planet. Crafty kids, y'all rock my socks off! Artropy was such a blast and I got to see some of my favorite customers and catch up with my Show Me Etsy girls. Renee and I even squeezed in a little dancin'. Sunday I did my shift at Big Ass and had a freaking fantastic time. Thanks a heap to the Big Ass crew for all your hard work and to The Mafia Family for being my favorite relatives and 100% hysterical.

I'll be taking a smidge of break and catching up on some family time with the kiddo (Senorita Cranky Pants) who is feeling oh-so-poopy from being sick. We both have been battling some sort of germie crud for the last week. I'm feeling a bit better, but my Boo isn't improving much. She's going to get some face time with the doc today and hopefully a big fat bottle of antibiotics.

I'm sure she's not too sick to put together a whopper Christmas list. I'll be hitting the dreaded mall soon. It seems that teenagers don't appreciate handmade the way I do. I'm hoping for a 100% handmade holiday and she's hoping for a 100% all designer label bash. We might have to split the difference.

So, I've been thinking...I do a lot of crafty projects and I'm pretty good with a camera, I could probably throw up a tutorial now and again. Any special requests?

I hope you are all having a FANTASTIC holiday season and get to squeeze some R&R in soon if you haven't already. Big giant bear hugs to you all!

Double Fun!

2009-12-01T21:35:00.006-06:00

This weekend is going to be double fun and a great chance to get some of my handmade holiday shopping out of the way.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday (12/4-6) is the Big Ass Indie Art and Craft Show at Mad Art gallery. With nearly 100 vendors represented this boutique style show is top-notch shopping.

On Saturday, right around the corner, Show Me Etsy is hosting Artropy at Off Broadway. This one day show runs from 10 -4. This is a traditional trunk show featuring vendors who also have Etsy shops. There will tons of great buys including everything from Bella Luna's handmade soap to Sew, Good & Trendy's eco-conscious handbags.

I have a booth at Artropy and will have lots of goodies at Big Ass as well. I will have dog collars, jewelry, holiday accessories and lots more. If you have a chance to make it, be sure to stop by and say hi!

Giveaway!

2009-11-25T15:09:00.004-06:00

Hey, check it out! I'm the featured artist on Dandy Giveaway. Go check out Tara's cool website

and you can play for a chance to win this fused glass necklace made by little 'ol me!