Summertime in the Studio

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

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.