Bigger Better Fabric Store

While I love specialty and independent fabric stores, for staples Jo-ann's is the go-to place. The store in Eureka, California was so small and always out of products. Then I moved to Corvallis, Oregon and the store was even smaller! They have incredibly decrepit carpet and shelves and so little room. But the staff is always very nice there and mostly I get what I need.

I am very excited now that they are moving to a bigger, new store. I have great expectations (more cotton strap and cord colors please!) of a wonderful new store. I only wish that they would carry more items, especially more fabrics, made in the USA. But alas, there is very little cotton grown in the US any more (all the cotton fields have been taken over by corn) and very few mills. I looked for hours one day at fabrics and only found one denim that was made in the US. I do look forward to that grand opening at Jo-ann's in May!
Theresa, Ommama

Kitty Sweater Toys!

I made a few cute kitty toys awhile back but didn't have a kitty to test them on. In the past, I would have tried it out on Katina, Cerise's cat, but since Dexter, her dog, has a habit of swallowing toys, I can't give her anything that isn't bigger than she is. So when Kelly made a special order through my Etsy site for a cushion that her cats had torn up, I included the cat toy in with her order.

The toy is made of an old wool sweater cut up and sewn into a little sweater shape. It is filled with catnip and cut pieces of wool. It has now been thoroughly tested and approved by Alistair (pictured) and Emma. Look for these kitty toys available soon. Thanks for the testing, Kelly!
Theresa, Ommama

I recently got a special request through Etsy. A customer saw my meditation cushions and my mini-cushions and wondered if I could make her an even smaller cushion, a mini-zafu of sorts, for her singing bowl.
Kelly's cats liked her singing bowl cushion so much that they tore it up. So I went about making a very tiny zafu that is stuffed with buckwheat to hold a singing bowl. And it worked quite nicely! Kelly sent me a photo of it with her singing bowl. I included a toy for Kelly's cats. More on that later! Happy sitting!
Theresa, Ommama

Frustrations in Knitting

Knitting is relaxing. Knitting is relaxing. Knitting is relaxing. Wait. Did I just knit two together or did I skip that? ARRGGH. Okay, I admit that I do not practice much and unlike Cerise, I mostly knit on Tuesdays at the wine bar. So the last few nights I have sat myself down and knitted a few rows each evening. No music, no wine, no chit chat, just me and the yarn. Going slow, no distractions, one, two three, [I outta call my mom tomorrow] five, wait. ARRRGH.

Really, knitting is much better zen practice than sitting on a cushion. If you can clear your mind of all thought and just get into the rhythm, it's easy, right? Just like sitting on a cushion, it's all practice and patience.
Theresa, Ommama

Crafty Food and Table

As our dreary February rolled into a dreary March we looked forward to having some friends over to dinner in our new house. We are lucky to have a lot of daffodils in our area and the first to poke their little heads out are the tiny ones. They even survived the snow storm so I made them the center piece of my table. I borrowed a cute yellow vase from Cerise and got some bright yellow place mats. I served mango skewers (pictured) and curried vegetables. Though the curry was a little too hot, all in all it was a pretty table and a bright spot at the end of winter. And today the sun is shining! We got in a long walk and now off to sew!
Theresa, Ommama

New Studio

We are finally all settled in our new home and I had my first full day in a very long time of just sewing! I have a very spacious room and it is light and warm. I need to get another table to put my ironing board on and shelves for my fabric. All my fabric is now in totes and I waste a lot of time digging through them. The room needs some more decorations but for the most part I am all set. I expect to be very productive!

Friday Find: Artist Nicaeli

Our featured artist is one of my favorite! Nicaeli is on Etsy and I first came across her when I was living in humboldt County. I needed a new wallet and wanted something unique. I found her by searching "Shop local" on Etsy and realized she lived right in Arcata. I loved the products as she makes them from recylced leather. My wallet was bright green (my favorite color!).

As December neared this year, I thought I might want a new wallet as the old one was getting worn out. Cerise told me it was fine and I didn't need new one. What she really did is order a new (upcycled!) wallet from Nicaeli, Nicael Leistikow. I love it! I love that Nicael hand makes these and that she uses recycled leather. She also make handbags and accessories as well as beautiful masks. Check out her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicaeli and her blog at http://gurglythings.blogspot.com.
Thanks Nicael!

Weekend of School

I'm taking a really dumb class to complete my degree. Unfortunately it's sucking away my whole weekend and has consumed a good chunk of my week. I'll be back with something gun next week!

Happy Studying!

Cerise : )

Cerise is right about keeping stuff that might be a great craft project in the future. We just moved so we were culling stuff before moving and I am still doing so. I have collected match book covers (a neat necklace box, mini-shrine??) tons of scrap paper (home made cards maybe), bottle caps (magnets?) old jeans (placemats, bags?) lots of scrap fabric, old maps and so much more! While I kept a few things, I finally recycled things that I didn't have a project in mind for. We do live in a bigger house, so I can start collecting more stuff!
Theresa, Ommama

New Favorite Knit!

The Big Book of Knitted Monsters and MochiMochi knits are really awesome and keeping me well entertained. But there is a knitter out there who needs to get her own book published. While browsing newly posted Ravelry patterns the other night I came across Dawn Finney's Big Knitted Moon!!! Her other space and science knits already had me tickled pink but I almost jumped off my couch and ran around squealing when this massive moon came into view. The craters randomly dispersed, the adorable little eyes, the wonderful mooniness of this guy just makes him so wonderful. I haven't knit any of these wonderful amigurumis but they are definitely on my list to knit. These will make great classroom props when I'm a teacher!! Ms. Finney, get yourself published!

Happy Pattern Searching,

Cerise : )