Sewing Machine repair victory!

I have resolved to follow through with and finish projects as a new mantra, starting with the mess of half finished avalanche that is my work table (top as well as underneath)

I present to you: Pat's new (to him) sewing machine!


Pat has easily waited over a year for me to find and fix him and working sewing machine from my land of misfit toys. This kenmore is a workhorse! (as most of them are, very easily fixed these guys are so if you find them out and about give them a test and snatch them up) All this model needed was a thorough cleaning, oiling on all of the joints, a replacement bobbin case and light bulb, and tightening up the presser foot.

Success! Now onto the other four...

(in my defense I have already eliminated a fifth machine from my capabilities for repair)

Happy Valentine's Day 2011! Spreading the local love with local gift giving

I planned ahead this year with a sneak attack and had valentines waiting at home for my Jay as soon as we got home from our Valentine's trip to Nashville!




Lots of wonderful goodies were packed inside including:

Handmade Blueberry Syrup from Serenity Gardens found via the Beehive Atlanta:


A delightful brass addition to our ever-growing bottle cap opener collection from Authentique and a delicious chocolate from Cacao Atlanta (we had already eaten the other one by the time this photo was taken... :



And last but not least a heartfelt notion from Pancake and Franks from San Francisco (also courtesy of Authentique) Stay tuned for the envelope lining tutorial that took this sweet valentine to the next level!

holiday product excitement!

It looks like the General Hangtags (available at shopscad Atlanta and shopSCAD Savannah) found the attentions of the one and only Grace Bonney! She also bought the lovely work of the ever-talented Katie Runnels!

I am so flattered that in a store as full of wonderful items as shopSCAD always is, that my little ribbons caught her eye in the veritable sea of beautiful gifts.

self: Extend arm out and over left shoulder, and pat.

ATL HOLD IT DOWN

Pardon my blurry photos, c'moooonnnn verizon iphone!

Had an awesome time at Ice Atlanta today!

Not only did i get the foam hand of my atlanta memorabilia dreams for a mere 5 bucks, but i bought a fantastic bath tub necklace from my good buddy Cuyler (which Jay has already dubbed the William Howard taft necklace), got some griswold family Christmas gift tags from Concrete Lace, and caught up with sweet Marji from Pony Up! vintage.

Light up your handwriting

Attention art and design school graduates: don't throw away your old light box.

I have been learning a lot about letter writing and paper crafts since taking a (great) job with a local paper crafts store here in Atlanta last march. One of the things I have been fascinated with is correspondence and the art of calligraphy.

Now--real talk--I am by no means a calligrapher.
My handwriting isn't even "nice," in fact I should probably work on it.

I have learned a few tricks of the trade from talking with talented calligraphers of atlanta when they drop by the shop and one of the general themes is that it doesn't really come naturally to write perfectly! They use tools just like any other crafts person--one of such tools is a lightbox.

If you are lucky enough to have one of these old gems lying around getting dusty why not put it to good use for your letter writing or even your holiday correspondence?

It's simple:
1: slap down some lined paper
2. place your (unlined) note carefully on top and instantly have 50% improvement in your handwriting.

You'll surprise yourself! And maybe even the person you haven't talked to in a few years on the receiving end of your polite gesture.

Found this one in the phone awhile back: a friend of ours let us try on the elephant costume that their performance troupe was preparing for the east atlanta strut parade this year! awesome.

this HAS to be the world's most perfect swimsuit. Challenge to duplicate this suit by summer 2011, ACCEPTED.