The Shindig is Almost Here!

I am so excited about this! Arts and crafts, vintage, music, food and beer?! What a great afternoon! I've been working really hard to have some new beachy, summery pendants and a few more wall hangings made with children's book illustrations. So cute! Come and see them for yourself! For more info go to http://mischiefmakers816.blogspot.com/.

Earth Day

I set up my wares last week at the Earth Day Festival in Center City Park, sponsored by Sustainable Greensboro. What a great time! I met lots of new friends, caught up with lots of old friends, and enjoyed a snack from Zen Cat Bakery (best brownie ever!) and my favorite Tea Hugger beverage. Good day! I hope everyone had a great and green week last week!

Ode to Spring

There's something about this time of year that makes me want to live more simply.

That makes me want to wear holey jeans and rubber garden shoes as a daily uniform.

That makes me want to hang the clothes on the line intead of throwing them in the dryer.


That makes me want to plant more vegetables (peas, onions and garlic).

That makes me want to play in the dirt (Beulah taking a dust bath),


look at the flowers (didn't intend on getting azaleas at the Farmer's Market this morning but have you ever seen such a deep red on one?),



and feed the birds (the house finch Ella's babies in the vine on our front porch - I'm really going to miss them when they all fly away).

That makes me want to spend more time in the kitchen making homemade cookies, pizza, and coleslaw (thanks to our friends who surprised us with a present of cabbage!).

How has spring fever got you?

Happy Easter!

These are the new babies! No, I didn't plan on getting chicks for Easter. Our silkie started sitting a few weeks ago and stopped laying. Adam tried to bar her from her nest to trick her out of it but she wouldn't stop. Okay, we're down one hen, maybe we should let her experience motherhood. My chicken mentor, John, brought me some fertilized eggs last week to give to her to sit on. That same day she stopped sitting and has lost all interest apparently. So yesterday we drove to the Southern States a couple towns over and got these two chicks. We had to get two because there were two different kinds of chicks, however, we didn't see the flaw in that reasoning when we changed our minds and got the last two Rhode Island Reds. We're actually hoping one's a rooster this time but I have a feeling that will just lead to two hens!

The First Friday Indie Market was great! I love meeting all the great new people and catching up with ones I've met before. It feels like a party! This was my first market sporting my new banner made by Red Canary. Mama and I added the border. Still needs a little work but I'm really excited to have it up!

It's That Time Again!

Come out and see me and a whole lot of other local artists! You won't be disappointed - it's my favorite place to shop! That's this Friday!

Welcome Spring!

I think it kind of snuck up on me this year. I always know that January and February are going to be rough months for me so this year I told myself to stay busy and don't think about it. And then I look up and wow! We've been very busy getting ready for a new season. The warm season veggies have been planted under the grow light in the dining room. We pulled up the last of the fall carrots in order to plant our peas, onions and garlic. We also have broccoli, potatoes, and brussel sprouts planted. We hit the farmer's market this morning and I bought a few artichoke plants to try (again). In fact, that was the only green I bought. In a room full of vegetables I pick out baklava, baked goods (I think I'm in love with a French woman) and dog treats for my doggie-nephew. I'm pleased. I've yet to hit that spring garden panic that usually comes every year when I have fifty pages of a to-do list. I'm actually feeling pretty zen even though it's gardening season, my first craft show is next Friday, and I'm getting the spring cleaning itch for the inside of the house. Let's hope it lasts!
In chicken news, the girls got a new run built for them a few weeks ago so now they have their own yard. We kind of hated to do it but they were destroying the garden and leaving the whole yard a mess, not mention a couple of escape attempts (well, one succeeded, right?). We spend a lot of time sitting outdoors when it's warm and figure they can have field trips outside of the run on those days. The silkie has decided that she wants to sit. We weren't planning on any chicks until we went to the feed and seed today and saw the babies. Now we're thinking about it. It just might be easier than trying to trick her off her nest!

I'm In Love!

After the excitement of my article coming out yesterday in the News and Record Go Triad, I decided to celebrate with a little shopping. I went to visit my Indie Market friend, Susan, at her shop Wild N' Crazy Vintage. Okay, I was also procrastinating on the piles of work to do, but it's Friday night, right? Anyway, I LOVE this store! Why am I collecting vintage patterns to sew when I can go there and find the greatest dresses? After having Susan take no less than ten to the dressing room for me, I finally picked out these four (I was cheering when one didn't fit because they were all so beautiful, I needed something else to make up my mind).
I love the girl scoutish look of this one. I wish I could find that Etsy seller again who made the scout badges for grown ups!I love the big buttons on this one. It's easy, breezy and I can't wait to wear to the beach!
This one is a little dressier but oh, that blue!
I'm not usually a "pink" girl but this rose color with the tan is really nice. I think it'll work for multiple seasons. However, I think it's the lines of the dress that really get me.
And can you tell what season I was dreaming of while shopping? I'll give you a hint. They're all short sleeved.