The Party's Over ...

... It's time to call it a day
They've burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away ...

I remember my grandfather crooning whilst we un-decorated his Christmas tree when I was still a very small girl, and reaching into the branches he came out with a pair of white, sequined peacock ornaments that he decided I'd give a pretty decent home to.  At the time, I thought they were "amazing!" a little later on, I thought, "who just has white sequined peacocks on their Christmas tree ... other than Liberace, of course ..."  Then, naturally, time passed, and they were wrapped up, and packed away, and all but forgot until many years later when my mother spied a newly purchased, white, sequined peacock proudly displayed (would a peacock have it any other way?) on my tree, at which she exclaimed with surprise, "Just like Grandpa's!"


I knew I'd been busted.

But mostly, I knew then, exactly WHO just has white sequined peacocks on their Christmas tree ... other than Liberace, of course.  Perhaps those of us who firmly believe there is no such thing as "too much," or those who have tossed out the less-is-more attitude in order to subscribe to the more-is-more school of thought, or who simply still allow ourselves the delight of being silly in an all too cynical environment. 

I hope everyone was able to slow down, spend time with the people they love, and make wonderful memories to keep your hearts warm all throughout our new year!

So long, 2012, the party's over...

xoxo

It Started With a Whisper ...

...Well, more like a question anyway.  I was recently asked if I had any hats for guys available.  "Well, hmm ... kinda, I guess ..." I thought to myself as I hesitated to answer due to the last "discussion" I had about what men will, won't, prefer to, and refuse to wear.  I was admittedly timid to offer up a hint at what I've been playing around with lately, which is a hybrid of the Commando Camo Cowl I made for my (survivalist) brother, and the Grunge hats whose pattern I've been messing around with since last summer.  What's sprung up from these two lovebirds is a convertible 2-in-1 drawstring cowl that with the rip of a cord, and the pinch of a fastener becomes a hat!  I happen to think these are handy little dudes to have around for everything from a brisk hillside jaunt, to breezy beach combing ... anyone familiar with the PNW knows the bone-chilling draft that creeps in right under the collar and rattles all the way down your pant leg.  So far these seem to stand up to whatever conditions Western Washington can throw at 'em! 

I'm glad I took the leap with one of my fun (to the highest degree) customers into custom order territory, and will be offering these in Ye Olde Knitted Dry Goods Shoppe soon!

xoxo

Above All, Love ...

I believe what has happened in Connecticut is a symptom of a bigger problem, much larger than any one issue involved. Please send your love, and healing energy to the families whose lives have been forever changed, and community at large. While you're at it, tell your people you love them.

It's important.

And the PANTONE 2013 Color of the Year is ...

Emerald

RGB: 0, 155, 119  /  CMYK: 99, 0, 69, 0  /  Html value: 009B77  

More emerald goodness here.

Samhain, again ...

Apparently word didn't get out this year about me being a witch, and all ... I even parked my broom outside, but the neighborhood children could not be deterred (my candy stash has officially been ransacked).  Good thing I hid a couple pieces to savor as I type this now (always thinking ahead, this one is)!

I don't have any wonderful end-of-harvest tales to share ... Truthfully, after the Summer full of changes I've had, I haven't even caught up with Fall yet, and here we are staring down the barrel of winter already.  I always think this time of year is when people want to read about yummy, gourd-ish recipes, and delightful preserves garnished with photographs of beautiful settings, tablescapes, larders, and pantries stuffed full of a home-canned bounty amassed from our Summer gardens.  That's not going to happen ... along with all of the other blog-promises I've broken this year.  Why stop now?  Ok, that really wasn't the sentiment behind it all.  It just seems the internet presence is the first thing sacrificed when real life (yeah, that thing we do outside of pixels) gets real, and needs real attention. 

Hopefully, I'll get to hang out here a little bit more in the upcoming days, and make somewhat good on all of the intentions I had at the beginning of the year around this joint.  After all, you know what they say about good intentions ... gulp.

All You Need is Tea & Warm Socks ...

The mantra of Fall babies everywhere, I'm convinced.

Double rainbow just for me?!

And so, the witching hour is upon us!  Thirty-two years ago, on a blustery day not so unlike today, my mother was precisely that number in years, and preparing to share her world with me.   As I understand it, I was the most easygoing of all her births (no surprise there).  I was, however, going about things quite at my own leisure, and needed a little nudge (hmm, sounds about right).  Without much ado at all, it seems, I appeared, and said, "Here I am,"  and edged out my little spot in the universe.

And that's how I like to spend each birthday ... just edging out a little spot in the universe to enjoy, pausing long enough to be aware of how wonderful it really is to be here, and remind myself to stop taking things for granted.  This is the one day when the whole world stops (in my house anyway), and I just get to be.  I leave the swinging from chandeliers for the rest of the year.  Today is mine, all mine (and everyone else's, but who's counting?), but I won't be totally selfish, I hope you all enjoyed My day too!

Photo by: Xavier Brown

xoxo

Going Postal

Having one of those days?

You know, I thought I was just being paranoid before when I said my mailman hated me ...

After years of getting everyone else's mail in my mailbox BUT mine, having my packages returned without my knowledge (never mind overbearing office ladies holding them hostage!), and having my own letters returned to me claiming not enough postage I thought I'd seen it all, but this, while being a single, lonely little letter, is a new low.  This gem was post marked yesterday ... yes, you read that correctly, YESTERDAY.  I know ... I know!  I'm stunned too!  I thought, as I'm sure you're thinking as well, that it came directly out of a Civil War era soldier's breast pocket, but surprisingly enough that's not the case. 

Should I be concerned?  I see this person in an uncomfortable uniform doing a job that never ends -- no sense of satisfaction of a task completed -- a job well done, sitting before my mailbox wringing his hands (letter in his clutches) thinking about the fate soon to befall his LEAST favorite customer ... *gulp* ... me!!!  Ok, maybe I take it a little too far in my imagination, but I must say, it's getting more, and more difficult to not take this personally.

But, uhm ... you know, if I happen to go missing ... maybe start by looking in the backs of South Seattle area mail trucks, that is, if I'm not being held, and tortured in the sort facility!

Etsy-Etsy, Regretsy, banana-fana forgetsy, me-mi-Protesty ... Etsy!

Let's do Ebay!

Ok, let's not ...

You may remember an earlier post about a little dust-up concerning Etsy, and alleged resellers (like our old friend Ecologica Malibu) not only allowed, but featured, and most shockingly protected by the powers that be over at ye olde Etsy homestead by a quick shuffle of words, and notifying the Community that, you know, nothing's changed, y'all just misunderstood the entire time.

What is a reseller, you ask?  Well it used to be widely understood that a reseller would be a shop operating as the buyer of previously manufactured goods, and punting them as handmade solely by the shop owner on said shop's Etsy account -- a site made famous through the advertising prowess of its users (since the company began with a firm stance on non-promotion making it the responsibility of its users to spread the word, thus bringing traffic to the site as a whole), and its mission statement touting itself as "... the world’s handmade marketplace."