Etsy Picks du Jour

I would love to use this little acorn from knitsteel in a handbag design - maybe work it into the closure in some way. Lots of possibilities for crafty-types.

I adore the unusual color combination of turquoise and olive on this silkscreened t-shirt by ahpeele.

And finally, to continue with the turquoise and olive, this cool pincushion from loosestring would make my studio a lot more happy.

*"I love poetry, and a glass of scotch. And of course, my friend Baxter."

This is Baxter. Yes, we named our dog after the dog in "Anchorman." Actually, I can blame my husband for that one. I wanted to call him Cosmo, but I lost. But, he really is a Baxter.

Baxter is a Westie, and is supposed to have pert, little ears that point straight up. But, his ears are large, and floppy, and we love him for it. Our entire family is completely and totally smitten with this little guy.

He is a perpetual motion machine, making it crazy-hard to get a picture of him. Most of our pictures of Baxter end up looking like this...

and this...

and especially this.

But every once in a while, we see his true "Baxterness", rather like a rubber band that has been stretched to its limit and is ready to snap off your fingers and fly across the room.

* Edited to add: The title of this post is a quote from Anchorman. I don't really like scotch.

Things that make you go "awwww....!!!"

Hilary at Wee Wonderfuls has been making and collecting and receiving the sweetest doll quilts to decorate her new baby's room, and finally, FINALLY she has posted pictures of the room.

So so sweet! The vintage mobile is heartbreakingly cute - make sure you see it!

Etsy Picks du Jour

When inspiration strikes, this completely cute pink tricycle notebook by mysweetloveablegoods is ready.

Super fun bags of crafty goodness for summer creativity by naughtysecretaryclub. Lots of different ones available in her shop!

Must. have. this. t-shirt. by moxiemadness.

Orange Cinnamon soap by supasoap. (she has coffee and cream soap, too!)

Fun and funky casual necklace by bluejeanbaby. (This would look awesome with my sewing machine t-shirt, don't you think?)

In my studio...

Here is one of my newest fabrics, and it is definitely a new favorite! The background color is a rich chocolate brown and the scroll-y pattern is in a creamy white. Sooo delicious! Right now, the wristlet and the makeup bag are available, but I hope to have headbands listed in the next couple of days.

A Productive Episode

Yesterday, while I sewed, I watched the Bravo TV Law & Order CI Marathon that they have every Sunday evening. I'm always amazed and amused at how Detective Goren can watch someone answer a few questions and magically, be able to pick up on clues that escape mortal men, such as whether the suspect was breastfed as a baby or if he got dumped by his 8th grade girlfriend. On one episode that I saw yesterday, he actually determined that a murder victim was a piano player by the state of his shoes and his fingernails.

For some reason, give me a good TV marathon of some sort - CSI, What Not To Wear, Planet Earth, Deadliest Catch, House - and I can "sew like the wind." My productivity seems to be in direct proportion to the length of, and my interest in the show at hand. And it doesn't matter if I have seen the shows 10 times before.

My FAVORITE show to sew to is Project Runway. Give me a good PR marathon on a Sunday and I'm in heaven. Unfortunately, Project Runway is between seasons right now. I am on high alert waiting for season 4. Tim Gunn, where are you? (One of the great regrets of my life is that I wasn't able to procure a Tim Gunn Bobblehead doll for my sewing studio when they were available.)

Do you think that my cable bill could be considered a business expense?

For your shopping convenience...

Modern Charm is now available at Circle Circle Dot Dot!