Beadside Myself - Just lovely

This is one of those occasions when I take the time to share someone whose work I actually posess/adore/get compliments on (pick your positive adjective) - Beadside myself. Of all the things you might see and think 'tarabu would like that' dragonflies and purple things are going to be near the top of that list, and she made me an adorable purple dragonfly beaded pendant, just because that was what I wanted! She also made me a lovely blue and clear floating bead necklace, that I wear whenever I can remember to, which is often enough to surprise me.

Some of her current collection can seen below, each image linking to the item's description:



She ships to Canada and the UK, and is quite flexible for custom work (hence, my dragonfly!)

You like me, you really like me!

I have 99 hearts on my Etsy! How did this happen?

You like me, you really like me!
(well, some of you do, anyway)

Huzzah!

CubistLiterature - Tongue-in-Cheek Chic

JenMenkhaus - Littlest Bean - Big Bold Color

Because sometimes, you want something bright, something bold, something outrageous. and it should small, portable, and possibly a hair accessory. Whatever it is, JenMenkhaus' Littlest Bean has you covered.

Okay, I have finally found joy on the YouTube, thanks very much to Leslie and the Lys.




Oh, and did I mention they're coming to OttoBar next month. I'm totally not joking. Tax Day I know where I'll be.


P.S. Look at me, all skilled with the interwebs, embedded a video and such. *sniff* I'm so proud.

JennyJen42

JennyJen42 may not be the the answer to life, the universe and everything, but her shop is definitely the answer for fun accessories. Totes, aprons, throw pillows, whatever the occasion she has something for the fashionable chick in your life.

. . . . speaking of chicks, some fabulous fun applique!

I feel I ought to remind everyone out there that Mother's Day is coming, and that you should offer your mother some token of love. I know, she will understand that the economy's in the tank and maybe you're not working, but she will also remember all the times she went without so that you could have soccer cleats or piano lessons or what-have-you in your youth. Maybe it's time for you to go buy a bag of dried beans and a few pounds of plain frozen vegetables and put that Dunkin' Donuts or Subway snack money towards showing your mom some love.

I'm just sayin.'

So if you would like to send your mother (who loves you, even if you aren't as successful as your cousin Richard) something that will last for years instead of a $30 bouquet of flowers that will last a week, if you're lucky, check out JennyJen42.

These items all fulfill my goal that gifts should be attractive, appropriate and useful. Score!

ATC Swap! a tropical treat

So I mentioned a very short time ago that StephG at d'arte board is presenting an ATC swap. Having been totally uninspired with all the random things I sketched (including a cartoon pig, a very good thought bubble (leading from nowhere) and a rather dour skull and pair of cutlasses) I put away my pens and pencils and turned to my sewing machine.

This is partly the fault of Erin Wilson, who I met the weekend before last at the ACC in Baltimore and who made pieced quilt blocks of 2" square look so simple. It turns out the back of my head has been doodling with fabric ever since!

The result is this, my first fabric Trading Card:

The front is pieced with orange dots on yellow, two ranks of fuscia hibiscus, two ranks of orange hibiscus on brown that are not shown to full advantage, and the files are green palm fronds.

The back is my favourite macaw print, with a blue and gold macaw taking center stage. I 'signed' it with a chain-stitch 't' in the lower right. I know it looks kind of like the dancing dandelions from the Nutcracker Suite portion of 'Fantasia' but that's because my cursive embroidery is not so hot. It's lined with a medium-weight interfacing to give it some body.

Thanks to this exercise I am now, finally, smitten with piecing and will be making a dozen more!

Huzzah!