It's Bound To Melt Your Heart

My tales...my adventures...
They aren't the same without people.
I don't really have adventures on my own. I worry sometimes that I should.

Still, I'm forever grateful for the people who are willing to go on adventures with me.
I'm grateful to the people that endure my weirdness with their patience.
I'm thankful for the ones that know that I'm difficult, special, over the top, nervous, ridiculous, hilarious, sensitive, jumbled, and human.

Because I am human. Painfully so.

Steph goes with me for pho.
We eat and laugh - a lot of laughter!

Spencer shares bottles of wine with me and drives me around playing me Skinny Puppy records and having the best conversations about sexism and racism in science fiction.

Jen Wood crafts with me and lets me talk incessantly.
She worries, frets, over thinks just like me. We get to talk about it to each other.

Maura and I talk...about everything.
Then we eat Mexican food.
Then we eat ice cream, watch a movie, and Maura falls asleep on my bed drooling on my pillow and snoring and then wakes up and asks me what happened in the movie.

She's a beam of sunlight in my life!

Chris and Meg make me dinners, bring me cabinets, include me, and, whether they know it or not, they support me when they're not really doing anything.
Just knowing they are there makes me feel better!

Korah! What a doll, right?
She's growing up to be such a prize...(not that she wasn't before, believe you me!)
She told me she climbed to the top of the rope in gym class, that she runs faster than everyone else, and she knows a ton about Pocahontas.

I taught her to finger knit today and I'm thrilled at how seriously she took it!

Shelly is so fundamentally good, it's almost dumb.
She wants good things for people. She's a good friend. She works hard, loves her family, she's the hippie mama exception to the rule!

She's also totally prego with her third baby...A baby I got to feel kick today!
I can't wait to see this baby! I'm so excited for her family!

I spend a lot of time with people doing phenomenal things...
This is just the tip of the iceberg, quite honestly.

I just wanted to say that I'm grateful.
It's important to make sure people know.

Where'd The Cheese Go?

Hey, go check out the Denver Craft Ninjas' blog!
We made stretched mozzarella and had one hell of a time!

Favorites Wednesday!

So, I often get wooed by craftin' endeavors...
The allure of mastering a craft is something that I can easily get cracked out about and then become obsessively fixated with getting my hands on every book and tool...and for long (or short) stretches, I do nothing but that craft.

Right now, it's embroidery.
Plain and simple, I'm into it. I'm hooked.

And nobody helps to get you off the ground, stitchwise, better than Jenny Hart.
She's gone and made the world of embroidery a less intimidating, prudish, matronly place! Instead, she insists that the embroiderer own her work and not be ashamed about messy knots in the back of your project. She encourages budding stitchers to use subversive patterns and use flashy floss - and somehow, she has managed to make embroidery a thrill!

What's better is that Jenny's Sublime Stitching website is super helpful and supportive of amateur and master stitchers and she updates her blog with pictures of the work she's doing (which is inspiring and empowering), the work of others, and how embroidery and stitching fits into the world of art, craft, and how it's constantly redefining itself.

Never has embroidery seemed more tangible, friendly, and available - even to those that don't think they have a shred of talent.

Honestly, I've been visiting both of Jenny's blogs on a daily basis for encouragement and inspiration and if you've ever had an interest in learning about embroidery or if you admire the work of artist stitchers...then check out her sites!

I've got so many plans for future stitch projects!
Give me embroidery or give me death!

It's A Race, A Race For Rats, A Race For Rats To Die

Lately, the weekends are all that I look forward to.
I spend my time really playing up my domestic side.
I'm blocking the world out...with baking.

This is the New York Times Speedy No-Knead Bread recipe.

You should make it!
It's crazy easy and there's NOTHING like a loaf of fresh, warm bread sitting on your counter all day long!
Seriously, in this picture, you can see where I HAD to slice some of the end off because I couldn't wait to eat it...

I did a little running around, but I always find that my heart is at home.

I've been knitting...

And have picked up some books recently and am excited about holing up and reading them...
Sadly, I am currently reading like 7 books - it will take some time to get it together.

Embroidery is pretty awesome too!
It's patient work and nobody needs a lesson in patience more than me.

For my bread, I made this AMAZING tomato concoction!
It's tomatoes (grated), garlic, olive oil, and salt and pepper...
I made mine so garlicky that it gave me a headache, but it was so good...I couldn't help but eat it all. (Email me or leave a message in the comments if you want the real deal recipe.)

It's been like spring here...again...

I'm not really into it.

But I'm trying to take each day as it comes and try not to think too much about snow days and crock pot cooking.

I shouldn't have even been wearing a sweater on Sunday.
My friend Carrie says, "It's better in a sweater" and it's something I wholeheartedly agree with.

I did brunch with Meg and we caught up...
She and her husband Chris are buying a house! Send them good vibes!

Sometimes it's hard to summon the energy to get up and be a part of something - the city, your friends, the world, your family...
But I find that if you try - it's surprisingly easier than you'd imagined and makes you feel better.
You don't have to shine alone.

Denver Craft Ninjas! It's Official!

The AMAZING Andrew Robbins, long time friend and insanely talented artist, let me sweet talk him into doing a logo for our craftin' out crew...
I couldn't be more excited about how it turned out or appreciate more his talent and willingness to indulge me!

This sweet lookin' logo is just the beginning and solidifies our presence as a craftin' crew to be reckoned with!

Please click on the link to Andy's website above and hire him to do something amazing for you!
OR buy some of his beautiful art pieces and tell your friends about him!

Also, check out the Craftin' Out link to the left in the coming days for pics from our stitch & bitch!
xox

See And Be Seen

I know, I know...
I've been dreadful in updating.

I've been preoccupied with thoughts and the subtle changing of the seasons.
My heart has been finding new places to hang out.
That's okay, right?

I rode the bus in Denver for the first time with MB.
I'm all about Pub Trans.
I think we make it look pretty good actually...

Sometimes this city feels small and unbelievably homey...
And sometimes you drive out of the beating heart of my hood and see the limbs, arms and legs, spanning vast.
It seems different out there.

So, that's what I've been doing...
Oh, and Baby S taught me how to do some book binding.
Artisan crafts are right up my alley...

What have you been doing?

With My Idle Hands There’s Nothing I Can Do, But Be The Devil’s Plaything, Baby

While it was hailing like crazy and luxury car owners were taking refuge under drive thru windows at banks around the city...

I was doing this...
Having sewing notions around me is sort of thrilling. I love the word "notions".

And this was the result!
A CREATURE!

A strange stuffed creature from this amazing book called Stray Sock Sewing
There's more to come...they're too cute not to crank out!

Also, if you get a chance, look into this because it's one of my lingering obsessions.
SISTER WHO -SACRED CLOWN!

Be Creative!

So, I've been yearning, for a while, to see Faythe Levine's movie 'Handmade Nation'.
It's a documentary about the three E's of DIY culture - Excitement, Energy, and Enthusiasm!

People have always been crafting...it's just never been as celebrated and valued as it is now!

So, I snuck out to the Mayan on Broadway to see the show. I love the Mayan!
There's lots of magic in there!

Guess who I wrangled into attending with me?

MIRIAM! She's always ready and willing to jump into adventures with me!
How can anyone not love that about her!?

So, here's the deal: GO SEE THIS MOVIE!
If you have a chance to see it in a theater and contribute to your community, DO IT!
However, if you can't see it at your local cinema - rent this sucker!

Watching this film will make you want to craft...it will make you want to be a part of a talented and creative community of people that gravitate toward one another BECAUSE of a shared interest in creating!

You won't regret it! There is humor and humanity in this wonderful, lovely film!
And check out and support your own DIY community in your town or city...
Also, have a look at Faythe's blog HERE and her movie's website HERE!