etsy junkie

Some of my new favorite things. Oh the world of handmade items is so hot sometimes.

plural

I was posting my new lavender sachets in my etsy shop when I discovered a new word. VAGINAE. I went to write the plural version of vagina (vaginas) and a red line popped up under it alerting me that I'm a hot mess.

Let me back up a moment to say that I have an automatic spell check function on for two reasons. First, because I can't spell for my life. And secondly, because I never learned to type properly so I look at the keyboard. This is sad, mostly because I'm an English teacher, but also because I write, a lot. The one redeeming thing here is that I do look up a lot of words and look into ways to prevent myself from immense embarrassment (hence the automatic spell check function).

As it turns out, vaginas and vaginae are both accepted plural versions of the word vagina. I also recently discovered that octopuses, octopi, and octopodes are all good too! I guess I should give myself a little more credit and have less faith in the dotted red line.

lots of latkas

Here's another installment in the cooking with my mother series.  She made me latkas, then she went to New York and made them at my sister's apartment, and then she went to Toronto and made them for my youngest sister.  Three cities!  It's like she went on a latka tour.  Gotta love that.

just a few yards

I'm sewing like a madwoman. I made two yoga bags, finished a clutch, and whipped up a day bag. Everything is coming out nicely, but I'm still being a lazy perfectionist. I know what I want things to look like. I know how they should be. But I hate ripping seams, so I'll just finish something with the mistake and make a new one right after. My first attempt at a yoga mat bag is a perfect example of this.

I messed up more parts that I'd like to admit, but I was too lazy to pull seams and do them over. I put the strap on backwards, the bottom circle didn't fit the main part of the bag properly, the stitching at some parts just looks plain jacked up. But I figured out all the kinks, and decided to make the next one perfect. I'll keep this first attempt, with all the "character," for myself and the other ones can go to new homes.

My new day bag is awesome. It has flying octopuses on it. There's nothing like flying octopuses to brighten my day.

And lastly I've made about a million little lavender sachets. These go on hangers, in drawers, or in your car to make it smell nice for a while. And they're pretty. Some have eyes on them, some are just stitched abstractly, and others have vag designs on them.

I'm making journals and some cookies, and some fun little holiday items. I'll post some of this new stuff on etsy, and some of it will come with me to the traveling wares shows.

it's that time of the year

I'm busy gearing up for the Traveling Wares shows at Sugar Mom's (Dec. 13th, 1-6PM), Dirty Franks (Dec. 14th, 2-7PM), and Tattooed Mom (Dec. 21st, 1-6PM).

Traveling Wares is celebrating it's 15th birthday this holiday season. There will be handmade goods made by local designers--jewelry, art, clothing, accessories, pottery, paper crafts, ceramics, and more. By "more" I mean I'm making new items and considering whipping up a couple batches of holiday koco-inspired cookies just for the event.

addition to the collection

I saw a post somewhere on the internet, a call for art, through the mail. This person would mail you a piece of art if you mailed him something interesting. I love mail, so I sent him a nipple. He responded with a picture and an email saying, "You sent the perfect 3rd nipple for me. The color is a bit off, but it matches perfectly, as both of mine are pierced." He also sent me a letter with lots of goodies, including a picture of some otters and some other random stuff. This is what makes life feel like life. He actually wrote on the back of the photo, "Yay otters!" I want more mail like this, all the time. If you want a handmade fiber nipple of your own, and you're willing to send fun artsy items in return, let me know.
For more pictures from the nipple collection/archive check the flickr set.

Grand Slam

Best Content Winner: Ted Passon

This reminds me of the pedicure I got one day in Bangkok, with my friend Vivian, at a place that may or may not have also have been a brothel. They certainly weren't very good at pedicures...