good gracious me

My guests are gone. My house is a wreck. And this is literally the first time I've rested in three days.

p.s. My washing machine broke at the worst time a washing machine could possibly break. Let's just say it involves poo-poo and a car seat cover and leave it at that.

the open sky project

Many months ago I was asked to be a part of something very exciting. It's taken lots of work and now I can finally make an announcement about it.

It all started as an idea of John Caplan. He had spent the day with his son discovering magic shops in NYC. These places were little gems of shops, sometimes hidden deep within secret buildings of the city. What struck John was the enthusiasm of these shopkeepers...the excitement of sharing their passion with others. John left thinking that his usual shopping experiences today significantly lacked that kind of connection. He immediately started dreaming of a way to re-create what he'd experienced that day.

What if he found other people who were as excited about their passions as those magic shopkeepers? And what if he asked those enthusiastic people to host a little shop in his project?

His team contacted me and asked if I would set up a shop that shared the craft supplies and other things that I love. I was immediately intrigued by this idea. I started making a wish list (that went on forever!) of all the things I love. That was so much fun! The team has been working hard to find as many of those as they could. It wasn't as easy as we'd hoped but we haven't given up. And we've discovered so many new things along the way to share.

Would you like to see? Click here.

We're steadily working to fill the shop with wonderful things so be sure to stop back by regularly. And we're going to add fun project ideas and other exciting stuff (including video!). Stay tuned.

In the meantime, enjoy FREE OVERNIGHT SHIPPING! today and tomorrow. Isn't that exciting?

Shop your passion!

house-work

I'm back from a wonderful crafting weekend at Charlotte's. We had such a wonderful time being spoiled with gourmet food prepared lovingly by her friend Suzanne and crafting elbow to elbow. It was perfect and we all agreed we'd come back again for the next event she plans. I hope you'll join us too...
My house is definitely a work-in-progress. I love it so much though and can't wait to jump on it again. But alas, I have to wait...

I've shifted gears to getting the house ready for our important house guests. I'm so excited and nervous and eager. More than anything I want them to feel comfortable and welcome and loved. I have to remember that maybe a stack of junk on the counter isn't as important as me feeling relaxed, rested and calm.

So while I'm running around cleaning up, Alfredo is adding his own touches to the decor...
Unfortunately, this little miss has a broken arm now. She's just not meant to be wrangling pigs...
not at her age.

Although I was disappointed I couldn't be sore with him. I had after all placed her well within his reach and had even photographed what he'd arranged. So how could I scold him when he came to me with one of her arms in his little hand saying "Amy, your little girl doesn't work anymore so we have to throw her away!"

Oh dear.

I hope you're having a marvelous Monday, my friends.

fierce lion/tiger

We're having a lot of fun with face paint this afternoon.

Alfredo went to the doctor today and got his flu shot. When he woke up from his nap, he needed a treat and the face paint seemed like just the thing. Can you believe how realistic his roar is?

pretty pumpkins

So, it's not like I don't have a million and one things to do to get ready for our guests next week. But last night I decided that I needed to make those pumpkins from Olive Juice's kit.



And I'm so glad I did.


Alfredo was my big helper, filling each empty pumpkin with beans. It's amazing how they came alive as they plumped up. We used 10 bags of beans for these 5 pumpkins. 4 of these are from the kit and one is made using a scrap of velveteen I found. And when I was at the pumpkin patch the other day, I looked down to see a whole bunch of pumpkin stems. I asked someone if I could have them and the look on her face was priceless. (Preserved stems came with the kit but I needed one more the extra that I made)

I relocated the Halloween tree and put these beauties in the wheelbarrow instead. Aren't they luscious?

Meanwhile, I better get cleaning. Can you spot the toy car under the sofa? They are everywhere!

halloween swap

I participated in a really fun swap...a vintage black and white themed halloween swap. And just wait until you see the fabulous treats we received. I didn't have a feather tree so I took some pussywillow branches in a bucket and put them in a wheelbarrow...very impromptu but I think it looks rather whimsical.
Here's the tiny ornament I made...after I received everyone's goodies I realized it was a bit too small...oh well.

From Barb

From Sarah

From Jenny

From Connie

From Crystal

From Natalea

From Heather

From Maija

From Michele

From Mel

Can you get over how fabulous these are? We keep going in there and visiting with them. So, look at me...I'm getting all spooky widdit.

new specs

I just picked up my new specs. Alfredo said "Now you look like Mrs. Powers!" I'm not sure what he meant by that. I think it's because the lady putting the glasses on my face said "Here you are, Mrs. Powers."

So here I am, Mrs. Powers...



I just found out last night that Alfredo's father, grandparents and uncle (who is only 3!) are coming to visit in just two short weeks. I have so much to do to get ready...first order of business is to get the guest room ready. It is in a sad state presently. Remember way back when I was cleaning, sorting, and stashing and trashing stuff from my craft studio? Well, I used the guest room as a dump. And I never really finished clearing it out. I was telling my friend Lorraine yesterday that there was all sorts of pretty debris left behind there and we decided that "Pretty Debris" would be a great title to a story or a blog.

Anyway, here's to cleaning up messes!

p.s. I should clarify that I really am Mrs. Powers...Amy Powers! It's just that he's never called me that, of course.

a splurge

While in LA last month, I splurged, rather impulsively, on these two appliqued and embroidered tea towels. I just fell head over heels for them. Maybe you can see why.



just look at that teacup perched on her bottom precariously...
and her painted toenail!
And I love this happy birthday girl...



It was definitely a splurge and I'm thinking they will be a waste as tea towels. Instead, I'm going to figure out a way to frame them. They make me so happy!

for hope

We just returned from Savannah for our friend Hope's wedding. It was so beautiful and special and we were so happy to be a part of her big day.

I didn't take any pictures...not one.

To make up for it, maybe I'll show you just a little of what I made Hope for her present. I haven't given it to her yet so I can't show more than this until I do.

It was a very, very long trip by car but Alfredo did surprisingly well. He did say "I tired of being in the car" about a thousand and one times but, really, what can you expect from a two year old. Next time, we'll definitely fly.

Today Rich is off and we're enjoying some nice family time. Well, at the time being, Alfredo is kind of bossing Rich around and Rich isn't liking it very much. I think we need to take a family walk. I'll try to post again tomorrow.

bug in a rug

It's a bit of a blustery day today.

So after I buckled him into the stroller for our daily take-a-nap walk, I looked at his short shirt sleeves and bare feet (he calls them "berry feet") and decided I needed to grab a blanket.

Now the problem with a blanket on a stroller, as some of you been-there-done-that moms will agree, is that the blanket will fall out or will be thrown out at some point of the trip. And it will get run over by the stroller.

I thought about this on my way to grab said blanket and I was struck with a brilliant idea....

a pillow sham.



His feet tuck nicely into the bottom flap and the top flap can be pulled up like a blanket. It's like a tiny sleeping bag but better.

Just look at that...

My little bug in a rug.

p.s. 3 posts in one day? What can I say? I'm on a roll.

I'll be there...

My friends Hope and Pam and I are hitting the road in a couple of weeks to go to see our friend Charlotte here.

Doesn't it sound like a wonderful time? Will you be there?

posh squash

Look at these scrumptious pumpkins that OliveJuice is offering as a kit! I snagged a kit for myself and I'm excited about whipping them up as soon as it arrives. Check them out here.

mrs. pennywhistle

Meet Mrs. Pennywhistle.
























And her dog, La Luna.



I bought this sweet little creature and her pet at Kim's Artistic Affaire's Vendor Soiree from Julie Haymaker Thompson.

She is one of my favorite things in the whole world. When I saw her, and especially when I discovered that she's a music box (the kind that you crank to operate), I had to have her. Actually, all I could think is that I wanted Alfredo to see her too.

And now she is one of his favorite things too. (He named the dog!)

mr. rhino

Note to self: Stop complaining about being too old and about things like necks hurting.