"What The Heck Is a Sexy Man Quilt!?"

WIP - 3 Little Pigs Quilt
Originally uploaded by Starlit Nest

That was the funniest quote of the day. Click on the image to read all about it on my flickr.

Oh, and this is my WIP - the first of many storybook log cabins to come!

Like I Needed More Paper Goods!

I found a VERY dangerous store on Friday... Paper Source - yes, I've stayed away as long as I could after seeing their catalog at a friend's house. I discovered an enormous world of fantastic, amazing, incredible crafting supplies, and just about every 5 seconds I was saying, "OOOHHH!!" or "OMG!!!" and the temptation to spend money was too great for my (weak) willpower. But hey, I didn't have to pay sales tax because fortunately I carry my resale certificate with me. So that justified my buying a scroll stamp (lovely indeed). This image shows some envelopes I made with my new templates and paper, and some new stamps, but not nearly everything I bought. It's all a tax write off, so it's OK!! I'm already planning what I'm going to buy next time I go in that place.

Purchases not shown in the image: stamp carving kit, sets of scalloped and pinked note cards, 7 envelope templates, and 5 rubber stamps (you can see the "Merci" and border stamps I used on the note cards though).

Playing Around on Photoshop

I'm trying to teach myself some graphic design techniques. I've never used the tutorials on photoshop or illustrator, and I was *this* close to taking a class at my community college this Spring, but figured i'd cut class to go the beach or something like that, so I decided to keep the tuition money and try to teach myself. This is my first shot. I think it turned out pretty well, don't you? :)

My Next Quilt! Hot Pink and Orange...

My Next Quilt! Hot Pink and Orange...
Originally uploaded by Starlit Nest

I am so attracted to hot pink and orange right now. Not colors I've ever been THAT into - oh yeah, except that they were my wedding colors, what am I thinking! Maybe I'll make a quilt to commemorate my 5th wedding anniversary! I should be able to have it done by June! I've been wanting to do a log cabin with some REALLY TRULY extraordinarily fabulous center square. HMMM... any ideas? If anyone's seen anything that would go great with these fabrics let me know. It has to be REALLY different, not just something every fabric shop on Etsy is selling. I love Japanese kawaii, so it could be something like that.
thanks!

New Fabric!

New Bolts
Originally uploaded by Starlit Nest

These are some of the new fabrics I just ordered and more are on their way! They're not all listed in the shop yet... I have 20 orders to catch up on from the weekend, and 20 bibs to finish for a wholesale order. We went to see Swan Lake in SF on Saturday and had dinner with my good friend Sara on Sunday. We had a great time, stayed at our friends' apartment while they are on a 6 week trip in South America. They have a flat in probably one of the most convenient parts of the city, walking distance to Market st., the Opera House, lots of great restaurants and shops, and natural foods market. And literally just off the freeway. My friend Sandy asked if I brought my Blythe, which to me is a perfectly good question, but to someone like my husband... that would have been another story. Anyway, now it's "back to reality", trying to get motivated to finish a bunch of work that needs finishing before I can play with these fabrics!

My Workspace

Isn't it just wonderful to read Marth Stewart Living, or visit people's blogs (like Heather Bailey and Anna Maria Horner) to see these beautiful craft spaces, so organized, so pretty, not a speck of dust? Well I have been organizing my workspace for years it seems. I'm always moving one group of things to another area, telling myself: "AH, NOW I'll be able to WORK! NOW I have everything I need, nice and accessible for all my projects." YEAH right. That only lasts about a day, sometimes even less than that. Well I thought I'd show a photo of my work table the other night when I was making Blythe clothes, sipping on a yummy cocktail. Ah, the life. Nothing makes me happier. It's a mess, and that's ok. I just have to be ok with it, or it will drive me crazy.

Anybody have any organizational solutions for tiny little pieces of trim and the like?

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Welcome to my world...

Center and Far Left: a new camera that was bought for my husband for Valentine's day, but I have a feeling I'll be using it more than he will. It's a Diana F+ and I absolutely love the way it takes pictures. There's an entire community of people who are in love with this camera, a replica of a 1974 Japanese camera that didn't do very well on the market. In the 90's some people in Europe rediscovered it and remade it. What was once worth about a dollar is now $50 or so, but it comes with a pretty cool hardcover book. Lomography I think is what one calls this style of photography. They have a website I have not checked out yet.

Far Right: My favorite author is Haruki Murakami, although this is not one of my favorite books of his. My very favorite is Kafka on the Shore. This guy can WRITE! Wow, what an imagination, and I love the way he writes about parallel realities, and the thin veil between the worlds. It's not creepy writing, but very moody and surreal. Love it. I would love to meet him. He has a HUGE following - he's like a cult hero and people really get obsessed with him so he has to keep his whereabouts a secret at all times. Imagine begin that famous. Not for me. Be sure to check out his super cool website.

Back: All my watercolor supplies! YES! I am going to make it happen. NO more procrastinating. I love to paint, and I'm GOING to paint!

Now here is a photo of our breakfast...



...or at least the last bit of it. Husband Divine made me Quinoa Banana Walnut Pancakes! They were awesome! I woke up this morning thinking about the quinoa waffles I'd had in SF at the Samovar Tea House last time we were up there and then I thought, hey, why not put it in pancake batter, and he did! We had them with organic vanilla yogurt and real maple syrup... they were the best pancakes ever. And with my husband's famous espresso drinks, really truly I was in heaven.