tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62622211253193542752024-03-12T19:31:12.789-07:00Violette CrumbleCrafts I'm doing, sweets I'm baking, tales of motherhood, keeping away from the Joneses.Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-27306700492970300622009-03-31T09:44:00.000-07:002009-03-31T11:36:33.714-07:00Wedding pillow<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SdJIyAFYxCI/AAAAAAAABtw/9F_XNWUWqfs/s1600-h/AbbyPillowFront.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SdJIyAFYxCI/AAAAAAAABtw/9F_XNWUWqfs/s400/AbbyPillowFront.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319394133731230754" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>I made a (clearly very late) wedding gift for Abby and Chris, and I finally finished it and mailed it off. The first time I saw this old transfer (which I got from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytransfers/collections/72157615497319554/">Floresita's vintage transfers</a> on flickr) I immediately knew that I would use it for a Chris and Abby wedding pillow. They are both cat lovers who also have the best collection of antique everything. I used the coveted bird and wave fabric for the back:<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SdJJRfbaVQI/AAAAAAAABuA/CzFsr3r9upg/s1600-h/AbbyPillowBack+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SdJJRfbaVQI/AAAAAAAABuA/CzFsr3r9upg/s400/AbbyPillowBack+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319394674721051906" border="0" /></a> I think I have to use my last remnant of the bird/wave fabric for my very own pillow. I like using the black piping for the edges.<br /></div><br />And that is all I have to show for my crafty old self right now. As I recently mentioned we have had illness after illness around here in 2009 (nothing serious, and I am always thankful for that) and our latest bout has been with THE CHICKEN POX!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SdJJW-5itAI/AAAAAAAABuI/V2BWgna8Uq4/s1600-h/ChickenPox+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SdJJW-5itAI/AAAAAAAABuI/V2BWgna8Uq4/s400/ChickenPox+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319394769068274690" border="0" /></a> My poor little guy came down with the chicken pox in the middle of spring break, during a big annual music festival (South by Southwest). Needless to say, I did not get to see any bands. There was a fever, and a lot of waking up at night, and not a lot of sleep for mom or dad. I had intended on getting Harlan vaccinated just before kindergarten, but in a way I am relieved that he got the virus out of his system, since now he will not have to re-vaccinate himself every twelve years. I can not imagine very many grown men remembering to vaccinate themselves, and getting chicken pox as an adult is really horrendous. While Harlan was sick I heard from many friends who got the virus in their teens, their twenties, and even during law school finals! Lucky for us, there were enough parents around who wanted their toddlers to get the chicken pox too, and we were invited over to their homes. Harlan is such a social butterfly, and he hates being cooped up inside (no pun intended). I know some of you may be floored by the thought of intentionally getting your kids the chicken pox, but I can definitely see the benefit of it. I had it when I was thirteen, and let me tell you, I was way more miserable than Harlan was with it at three (which was really no walk in the park either).<br /><br />So, we are all in a period of relative wellness (I know it's just a matter of time before my allergies return. I just finished a second round of antibiotics for an ear infection) and I am trying to catch up on work. At the end of April I am going to be selling at the<a href="http://funkyfinds.us/springfling.html"> Funky Finds Spring Fling</a> in Fort Worth, so come check me out!<br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-10074619079045646962009-03-01T12:27:00.000-08:002009-03-05T11:56:06.659-08:00Stash Interview<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbARj305x6I/AAAAAAAABs4/YUDOSqS6M8U/s1600-h/stash1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbARj305x6I/AAAAAAAABs4/YUDOSqS6M8U/s400/stash1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309763268648748962" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I have really enjoyed reading the <a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/">sew mama sew</a> stash interviews from February. I might be a few days late, but no one can call me fat quarter short. I will now proceed to interview myself, and I will be very delighted by my own answers:<br /><br /><p><em>First of all, what do you usually sew?</em></p><p>Clothes for my son (mostly pants and shorts, but occasional jumpers), stuffed toys, clothes for myself, play matt/baby quilts, and children's clothing for <a href="http://www.roseandduke.com/">Rose & Duke</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAUR0rcjMI/AAAAAAAABto/1mdOw1dUEvw/s1600-h/stash4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAUR0rcjMI/AAAAAAAABto/1mdOw1dUEvw/s400/stash4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309766257101016258" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Scraps are kept in Ziplocks in an open toy trunk, on the floor of the closet.</span></span><br /></p> <p><em>When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don’t have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?)</em></p><p>When I buy for Rose & Duke appliques, I buy small quantities, maybe a yard. Very rarely do I buy less than a yard of something (unless it's from Japan and sold by the half-yard only). When I buy for Harlan I buy at least 1.5 yards, and when it's for myself, I buy 2 to 3 yards to make a shirt or skirt or even short dress.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQpuv1p1I/AAAAAAAABsg/6MsAYUweaNo/s1600-h/stash3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQpuv1p1I/AAAAAAAABsg/6MsAYUweaNo/s400/stash3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309762269779175250" border="0" /></a><br /></p> <p><em>SMS: Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?</em><br />I mostly am an impulse buyer. I frequently look at my favorite online stores and buy things when I see them and fear they may run out. I also have certain fabrics that I need, and I look for those as well. I am constantly searching for prints with small fruit on them, for the tree appliques that I make with screen-printed animals standing next to them. When I am back visiting NYC, I also stock up on items in the garment district that I know I will need for sewing for my family: linen, solids, wools, velors, etc.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQifZWRrI/AAAAAAAABsY/whrw7lpjBLo/s1600-h/stash2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQifZWRrI/AAAAAAAABsY/whrw7lpjBLo/s400/stash2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309762145399228082" border="0" /></a></p> <p><em>SMS: Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it?</em></p><p>I just started pre-washing. I used to never pre-wash anything, because it's such a hassle. Ironing is something I find loathsome, and can not figure out how to perfect. No matter how long I go back and forth over certain fabrics, the wrinkles don't come out. Steam or no steam. Or they come out, but then they come back. It makes me crazy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQJGvs-OI/AAAAAAAABsQ/G_VvMxf1xW4/s1600-h/rayon+triangles.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQJGvs-OI/AAAAAAAABsQ/G_VvMxf1xW4/s400/rayon+triangles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309761709285374178" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">These are some of my rayon triangles, cut from all the '40s dresses I used to wear in high school and college. Once the arm pits came apart, they became quilt material. I have yet to sew the quilt. Maybe that should be my goal for 2009.</span></span><br /></p> <p><em>SMS: Do you iron it?</em></p><p>See above.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQ4uFvewI/AAAAAAAABsw/mTUvIwc99ok/s1600-h/woods.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQ4uFvewI/AAAAAAAABsw/mTUvIwc99ok/s400/woods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309762527300647682" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is one of my favorites. Fans of Japanese prints will recognize it. I bought it a few years, and just bought more when I saw it available. I will probably hoard it for several years.</span></span><br /></p><p> <em>SMS: How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)</em><br />I have mostly cotton prints, and I sort by predominant color. I also have a stack of home dec. weight cottons, a stack of velor and cashmere/wools, and a stack of solids.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbASpwRsdOI/AAAAAAAABtY/OR3Z0jQANHQ/s1600-h/tinybrownflowers.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbASpwRsdOI/AAAAAAAABtY/OR3Z0jQANHQ/s400/tinybrownflowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309764469212869858" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is one of my favorite floral prints. It's from Japan, and I only have a small amount, but I plan to incorporate into a blouse somehow.</span></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><em>SMS: Do you have any special folding techniques?</em><br />Nope.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAP4IspQYI/AAAAAAAABsA/Sav6oFj7eKY/s1600-h/birds.jpg"><br /></a></p> <p><em>SMS: How do you store your fabric?</em><br />It's all in a closet in my son's room. I suppose that when we buy a house I will have a better solution, but for now it beats keeping it in boxes under the bed, which is what I used to do back in Brooklyn, when closet space was a super-precious comodity. I also have some in boxes, but that's mostly scraps and ongoing projects.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAP4IspQYI/AAAAAAAABsA/Sav6oFj7eKY/s1600-h/birds.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAP4IspQYI/AAAAAAAABsA/Sav6oFj7eKY/s400/birds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309761417751642498" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >I totally should have bought more than a yard of this Kokka print. I can not find more anywhere and I think it may one of the most perfect designs ever.</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em><br /></em></p> <p><em>SMS: What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?</em></p><p>When you see something you like that might not last in the stores for long, buy it. Make sure you have the solids that you work with frequently, and play with different brands of solids for different purposes, to see which ones you like the best.<br /></p><p><em>SMS: When do you say enough is enough?</em></p><p>When you run out of storage room!</p> <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbASDeEsG-I/AAAAAAAABtI/lVD3HBXPn_4/s1600-h/pink+feedsack.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbASDeEsG-I/AAAAAAAABtI/lVD3HBXPn_4/s400/pink+feedsack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309763811491453922" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is a scrap from an</span></span><a id="publishButton" class="cssButton" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="if (this.className.indexOf("ubtn-disabled") == -1) {var e = document['stuffform'].publish;(e.length) ? e[0].click() : e.click(); if (window.event) window.event.cancelBubble = true; return false;}" target=""><div class="cssButtonOuter"><div class="cssButtonMiddle"><div class="cssButtonInner">Publish Post</div></div></div></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> old feedsack that I cut and pinned to make into a blouse. I never sewed the blouse, and now that I've had a son and my ribcage has expanded, it will never fit me anyway. I recently noticed that some designer has reproduced this print exactly. Maybe Alexander Henry?</span></span><br /><em></em></p><p><em>SMS: What are some of your favourite stash-busting projects?</em></p><p>Quilts are the best way to cut down on the stash. I have yet to make any adult sized quilts, but I sure will be ready when the time comes.<br /><br /></p><em>SMS: What’s your definition of the perfect stash?</em><br />The inside of Purl Soho.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQAs5JE9I/AAAAAAAABsI/i8qooUyH1z4/s1600-h/cobwebs.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAQAs5JE9I/AAAAAAAABsI/i8qooUyH1z4/s400/cobwebs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309761564906689490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> This is an old feedsack. How can you beat cobwebs and yellow roses? What on earth should I cut into it for?</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAR3ukKb6I/AAAAAAAABtA/dqujZN-FwmI/s1600-h/tiny+kokka.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SbAR3ukKb6I/AAAAAAAABtA/dqujZN-FwmI/s400/tiny+kokka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309763609760001954" border="0" /></a> This one is blouse material. I think it is from Lecien. I bought it at <a href="http://www.brooklyngeneral.com/">Brooklyn General</a> a couple of years ago, while shopping with <a href="http://kimmymade.blogpsot.com/">Kimmy</a> one day.Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-89151734896818085252009-02-20T13:25:00.000-08:002009-02-20T14:11:12.051-08:00On the mendHave you heard the one about the disappearing blogger?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8kWhe1ADI/AAAAAAAABrI/yn_7Hvonk6w/s1600-h/BonjourParis.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8kWhe1ADI/AAAAAAAABrI/yn_7Hvonk6w/s400/BonjourParis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304998855429128242" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tea towel made as a surprise for a friend</span><br /></span><br />When it comes down to it, I really can not do it all. As much as I, and every other mother I know wants to, it's just not possible. So there are choices. And they need to be prioritized. When I began this blog I did so in the hopes that virtually keeping track of my projects would help me finish them, and help me stay in touch with other bloggers who enjoy making things, baking, and taking photos of their accomplishments.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8kfTbmWSI/AAAAAAAABrQ/gpGKZdkfG2s/s1600-h/Greenpants.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8kfTbmWSI/AAAAAAAABrQ/gpGKZdkfG2s/s400/Greenpants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304999006276311330" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pants made for Harlan this month. They were not intended to look like M.C. Hammer pants, but they kind of do.</span></span><br /><br />What turns out to be possible, is that I eek out precious bits of time to make things (without keeping track of anything,) I bake things constantly (despite theoretically being on the Weight Watchers points diet,) I sit down to read my favorite bloggers' blogs, and keep in touch with them through commenting on <span style="font-style: italic;">their</span> blogs, and I continue to take photos on a daily basis.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8klJ00iBI/AAAAAAAABrY/b77VNanFSeo/s1600-h/Greenpantspocket.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8klJ00iBI/AAAAAAAABrY/b77VNanFSeo/s400/Greenpantspocket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304999106776958994" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">detail of pocket. Train fabric from </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://alittlegoodness.etsy.com/">Leslie</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br /><br />When it comes down to my own blog, life seems to get in the way most of the time. Since moving to Austin a year and a half ago, I have not gone more then four weeks without any allergy symptoms. I do not mean a few sneezes and watery eyes either. We're talking sore throat, coughing that ends up in loud fits of gagging, partial to total loss of my voice, and completely blocked nasal passages that force me to sleep sitting up like the elephant man did (for some reason the one thing I always remember from the super tragic movie is that he had to sleep sitting up due to his messed up breathing issues). Do I sound like an old kvetcher, ready to move down to Boca yet (I wonder how the allergies are down there)? To add to all this glory, the state of being allergic so often has generally lowered my immune system and made me more vulnerable to infection. Since November, I have been fighting a sinus infection that has given me fever and chills, and body aches and exhaustion. It took me three months of living like this (with two brief periods of feeling well mixed in there) to finally stop and consider that maybe it wasn't just allergies that were bothering me. And now, on a ten-day course of antibiotics, I feel like a new woman. I am also seeing an allergist about taking weekly shots to stave off allergic reactions. I'm telling everyone this because I have basically been spending the last couple of months just going through the motions. There has not been enough time to get work done, let alone blog about what I am stitching while laying on the sofa with my eyes propped open. And now I feel that I am coming out of a tunnel and hopefully rejoining the land of the living.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8krW8ljEI/AAAAAAAABrg/_lkVcEgxuVg/s1600-h/Truckpants.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8krW8ljEI/AAAAAAAABrg/_lkVcEgxuVg/s400/Truckpants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304999213378407490" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Truck pants made for Harlan last month, using really expensive black stretch denim that I got in NYC to make a skirt for myself with. I have no idea why I blew it on these pants. I guess I didn't realize that one could not get similar fabric at local fabric chains like Jo-Ann's.</span></span><br /><br />Moving to Austin may have given me massive allergies that will require weekly shots for a very long time, but honestly I fucking love it here. Winter with the sun shining almost every day, and warm enough weather to play outside is really the antidote to a lot of things in my book.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8nDEi8III/AAAAAAAABrw/laLUjW0jXow/s1600-h/Annabellesitting+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8nDEi8III/AAAAAAAABrw/laLUjW0jXow/s400/Annabellesitting+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305001819779113090" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br />I recently just managed to get some of the <a href="http://www.roseandduke.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=7">vintage pillowcase dresses up in the shop</a>. It was not easy to get fantastic photos of the dresses due to their being white and flowing. I'm working on getting better shots, but for now, click on the photos and check out the detail shots which I think came out quite nicely with my macro lens. Also, check out the new <a href="http://www.roseandduke.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13">sleeper sets</a> and <a href="http://www.roseandduke.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14">romper dresses</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8nr8VaskI/AAAAAAAABr4/DT-oZYyEhy8/s1600-h/Annabelleinblue.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SZ8nr8VaskI/AAAAAAAABr4/DT-oZYyEhy8/s400/Annabelleinblue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305002521949549122" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.roseandduke.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4">Long-sleeved onesies</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> are still available for a couple more months too!</span></span>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-67282417502298473652009-01-05T17:32:00.001-08:002009-01-07T13:48:29.218-08:00Happy 2009!I hope everyone had a great holiday. I was absent from blogland as I was working on keeping my booth stocked at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar, and spending time with the fam. There were a lot of really fantastic artists at Blue Genie this year, and despite the current economy, sales were strong. <a href="http://www.roseandduke.com">Rose & Duke</a> sold a decent amount of items, but I was expecting to sell way more and so now I have a lot of stock to fill my site and some local shops. That is what I will be spending the next few weeks doing; photographing items, uploading them, and taking samples around. I am super bad about updating my webshop, and my 2009 resolution is to make time to keep it current.<br /><br />In crafty news, I had a fun time doing an ornament swap with some great bloggers. It was called the "Los Locos Calicos" swap, and I'll post a link to the flickr group as soon as more folks have uploaded their photos (hint hint ladies). I received the cutest ever <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/98894713@N00/3139321766/in/pool-loscalicoslocos">Christmas bunny pom pom ornament</a> from <a href="http://frizzillustration.blogspot.com/">Frizz</a>. It came inside a hand-pained wooden box which I now keep my barrettes in. I'm linking you to her photos of the critter, because she took really great ones. I ended up sending out two ornaments. The one that I made for the swap is this one:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SWK085aIANI/AAAAAAAABlk/4zvKs12YFEM/s1600-h/heart+ornament.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 359px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SWK085aIANI/AAAAAAAABlk/4zvKs12YFEM/s640/heart+ornament.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287987870781931730" border="0"></a> I hand embroidered sliver thread onto blue wool felt . It wasn't that easy to remove the stabilizer, let me tell you. <br /><br />I ended up making a batch of these birdie and vintage millinery flower ornaments. I had a box of vintage wooden thread spools in a drawer and the inspiration just hit me. I ended up including one in the swap.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SWK0yedVr1I/AAAAAAAABlc/A94CNeuANMQ/s1600-h/Birdie+ornaments.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SWK0yedVr1I/AAAAAAAABlc/A94CNeuANMQ/s640/Birdie+ornaments.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287987691748962130" border="0"></a> Sorry for the overexposed photo. My other 2009 resolution is to take better photos. I end up rushing a lot and the results are not always pretty.<br /><br />Guess what awesome thing happened chez Dunlap? Our ruby grapefruit tree gave us the sweetest grapefruit ever! A hail storm knocked off all but one, and here she is:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SWK1M9uC_sI/AAAAAAAABl0/n2FN1InGQlA/s1600-h/My1stGrapefruit.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 347px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SWK1M9uC_sI/AAAAAAAABl0/n2FN1InGQlA/s640/My1stGrapefruit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287988146817138370" border="0"></a><br /><br />We also had a Christmas visit from my mother, and she and Harlan made a gingerbread house together:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SWK1Gry7usI/AAAAAAAABls/u3mRJPaMnZQ/s1600-h/MimiHarlanXmas2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SWK1Gry7usI/AAAAAAAABls/u3mRJPaMnZQ/s640/MimiHarlanXmas2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287988038926580418" border="0"></a> Please note the Playmobil midevil guards out front. Somebody put them there to ensure that no one else tried to eat the house. This, after receiving the Jen Corace Illustrated <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hansel-Gretel-Cynthia-Rylant/dp/1423111869/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231364599&sr=8-1">Hansel and Gretel</a> from Sanata. It's the loveliest rendition of the story I have ever read.Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-40672243915410765652008-11-19T18:21:00.001-08:002009-01-07T13:46:57.265-08:003 is the magic numberOnce again I've been a bit scarce around blogland for the past month. After Maker Faire (which went really well by the way, see <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thesmallcatclub/2955079328/in/set-72157608180110641/">here</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thesmallcatclub/2954231437/in/set-72157608180110641/">here</a> for a couple of shots that are better than my own) we had Harlan's third birthday to celebrate, and then I dove right back into production mode for the upcoming <a href="http://www.bluegenieart.com/art_bazaar_event.html">Blue Genie Art Bazaar</a>, which is a three week long sale of items made by local artists.<br /><br />With less than twenty hours a week to devote to working, blogging is put on the back burner once again. Here are a few shots to keep all my dear readers in the loop!<br /><br />Harlan's third birthday on Nov. 1:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKHf7SbDI/AAAAAAAABj0/XmMfvlCAVgU/s1600-h/HarlanJessOnHarlans3rd.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKHf7SbDI/AAAAAAAABj0/XmMfvlCAVgU/s640/HarlanJessOnHarlans3rd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270559694108388402" border="0" /></a> I think this is my only photo pose. Every photo of me since Harlan was born looks exactly like this. Here is the birthday boy being asked to pose:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTYZAdvOqI/AAAAAAAABk0/CkINytxgV1k/s1600-h/HarlanOnHis3rdBday.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTYZAdvOqI/AAAAAAAABk0/CkINytxgV1k/s640/HarlanOnHis3rdBday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270575388063382178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had a little party for Harlan and some of his pals at a place filled with inflatable jumpy houses. Some of them were so large that they had slides and ladders (inflatable too) inside them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTJ5XepFeI/AAAAAAAABjk/Mp0NCtHAfXM/s1600-h/20081101-6563.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTJ5XepFeI/AAAAAAAABjk/Mp0NCtHAfXM/s640/20081101-6563.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270559451322586594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKBDNLgMI/AAAAAAAABjs/FqW1C-EmAjY/s1600-h/20081101-6511.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKBDNLgMI/AAAAAAAABjs/FqW1C-EmAjY/s400/20081101-6511.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270559583319589058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I updated my deer and tree applique designs. I'm now hand dying the blanks in vibrant, more "punchy" colors, that come out somewhat variegated. Instead of hand painting each shirt, Joe drew a deer that I'm silkscreening (and I added a small batch of a big bad wolf version). Silk screening goes a lot faster obviously, and it feels great to be able to produce the clothes a little faster than I was doing so before. Lastly, the tree appliques remain the same except that there is now only one tree per shirt.<br /><br />I am making most of the trees with my traditional ric-rack, and leaving some with raw edges for a more "manly" look for little boys who don't rock the ric-rack.<br /><br />This shirt is Kelley green, although it looks more yellow in the photo:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKV0r_QPI/AAAAAAAABkE/HAlg8dEhDeI/s1600-h/ApplesDeerGreenShirt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKV0r_QPI/AAAAAAAABkE/HAlg8dEhDeI/s640/ApplesDeerGreenShirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270559940199530738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These little romper/dresses are new too, and come in a variety of colors:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKeow75yI/AAAAAAAABkM/1VOh0T6unVk/s1600-h/BlueRedDeerDress.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKeow75yI/AAAAAAAABkM/1VOh0T6unVk/s640/BlueRedDeerDress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270560091617879842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also new are these sleeper sets. The hats will be sold with the nighties (don't these things remind you of Sweepea?)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKrAcBMsI/AAAAAAAABkc/eiEJmy8GV5g/s1600-h/PinkSleeperRed.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKrAcBMsI/AAAAAAAABkc/eiEJmy8GV5g/s640/PinkSleeperRed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270560304131027650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKyyZMinI/AAAAAAAABkk/lP7DhiK9kJM/s1600-h/SleeperDeerDropsYellow.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKyyZMinI/AAAAAAAABkk/lP7DhiK9kJM/s640/SleeperDeerDropsYellow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270560437800045170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTK72oY24I/AAAAAAAABks/3ZD9EhKJeYU/s1600-h/WolfGreenTreeBluOnes.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTK72oY24I/AAAAAAAABks/3ZD9EhKJeYU/s640/WolfGreenTreeBluOnes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270560593556331394" border="0" /></a> I really love the way blue dye came out, but it shows the most variegation of any of the colors I've tried so far. It's a bit trickier to work with and I had to scrap a pretty big batch of blanks unfortunately.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKkUU1sWI/AAAAAAAABkU/MCpj15YbpcM/s1600-h/DeerYellowOnesie.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SSTKkUU1sWI/AAAAAAAABkU/MCpj15YbpcM/s640/DeerYellowOnesie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270560189210538338" border="0" /></a> I'm hoping to put some of these in the shop, but that is pretty neglected these days as well. If you are interested in a particular size or design to purchase, feel free to e-mail me and I'll send it to you instead of putting in the upcoming Art Bazaar. I'm also making some great stockings with the woodgrain fabric, some Japanese import fabrics, and some linen ones with the deer. I hope to post again soon, but if not, please know that the comments you all leave and the e-mails you send really mean a lot to me.Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-56728673912196386562008-10-06T13:00:00.001-07:002008-10-06T13:23:00.577-07:00Sneak Peak #2Twenty two totally unique hand-embroidered dresses are ready to debut at the Maker Faire on October 18th. So far I have figured out how to make them in a few sizes ranging from 0-3 months to 4t. I choose the size the dress will end up being based on the embroidery and trim of the original pillowcase. Here is a sneak preview of a few of the dresses:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpuatn8yhI/AAAAAAAABIc/FC1E5DUEgeA/s1600-h/dress1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpuatn8yhI/AAAAAAAABIc/FC1E5DUEgeA/s640/dress1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254133320483916306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpuhUc7dhI/AAAAAAAABIk/rLcvQKvt1zg/s1600-h/dress1button.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpuhUc7dhI/AAAAAAAABIk/rLcvQKvt1zg/s640/dress1button.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254133433985889810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpunuOuq4I/AAAAAAAABIs/675JilubnDU/s1600-h/dress2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpunuOuq4I/AAAAAAAABIs/675JilubnDU/s640/dress2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254133543984868226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpwT_rJraI/AAAAAAAABJU/3cpIw5k2OA4/s1600-h/dress2button.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpwT_rJraI/AAAAAAAABJU/3cpIw5k2OA4/s400/dress2button.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254135404093353378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpu1eit2TI/AAAAAAAABI8/CoRMLIyuhtg/s1600-h/dress3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpu1eit2TI/AAAAAAAABI8/CoRMLIyuhtg/s640/dress3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254133780291901746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpu6rJ8YEI/AAAAAAAABJE/ejsbBh_peow/s1600-h/dress3button.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpu6rJ8YEI/AAAAAAAABJE/ejsbBh_peow/s640/dress3button.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254133869577003074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpvAPQLX7I/AAAAAAAABJM/iPEVwBeSVYE/s1600-h/dress4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOpvAPQLX7I/AAAAAAAABJM/iPEVwBeSVYE/s400/dress4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254133965166174130" border="0" /></a> So, it's not the easiest feat in the world to photograph some of the designs on these in a short amount of time (which is the only amount I seem to have for every task these days). I just realized that I chose two green and yellow dresses out of all the different color combinations. There are many different colors, believe you me!<br /><br />And now, if you are dying of suspense about who won the ticket drawing for the Maker Faire tickets, the winners are:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">shewolfnm: Two adult tickets and one child ticket<br /><br />and<br /><br />Solotko: One student ticket (can be used by a child)<br /><br />and<br /><br />Jen-uh-four: One student ticket (can be used by a child)<br /></div><br />Congratulations! The way I generated this drawing was by placing the names in two bowls. One bowl had the name and ticket request number of everyone who asked for adult tickets, and the other had the name and ticket request number of everyone who asked for children tickets. No one asked for student tickets, but the Maker Faire will admit children under 3 for free, so all other children are students right?<br /><br />Please feel free to stop by the Rose & Duke booth in the Bizarre Bazaar and say hello when you come to the fair.Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-55775235700457780652008-09-29T13:01:00.000-07:002008-10-06T13:20:31.568-07:00Maker Faire Ticket Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOE1GwH50uI/AAAAAAAABIU/Chere0fvjuI/s1600-h/IMG_6208.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOE1GwH50uI/AAAAAAAABIU/Chere0fvjuI/s400/IMG_6208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251537030604247778" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Extra! Extra! Get 'em while they're hot! If you are going to be in Austin on the weekend of October 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> and 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>, and you would like to go to the <a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/maker_faire/">Maker <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Faire</span></a>, I can help you with the cost of tickets, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">courtesy</span> of <a href="http://averagejanecrafter.blogspot.com/">Average Jane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Crafter</span></a>. The adult tickets cost $25 each, the student tickets cost $15 each, and the youth tickets cost $10 each. I have FIVE to give away (2 adult, 2 student, 1 youth). Please note that you must be an actual student or an actual youth to use the allocated tickets. In order to enter the drawing, please leave a comment by 1:00 PM CST, Monday, October 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span>. I will draw winners at that point and post the results. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The comment that you leave must include an e-mail address where I can find you (unless I can find your e-mail through your personal profile that you post with), what kind of tickets you want and how many, and one of two things (yes, there's a twist):</span> 1) A link to something handmade that is for sale that you would love to buy for yourself if you got some free money, or 2) A brief description of something you do to help other people or make the world a better place. I will choose three random winners. If the total amount of tickets requested by the three random winners leaves leftovers, I will draw names from posters requesting the type of tickets leftover. In other words, if, after choosing the three winners there is a youth ticket left, I will draw names from posters who requested a youth ticket. Good luck!<br /><br />In making news, I took a day off from working on items to sell, and made Harlan some muscle car shorts with<a href="http://www.superbuzzy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=88_95_97&products_id=3233&zenid=2599482220ed8c0e98ddb47694272aee"> this cool fabric</a>. He gasped when I showed them to him, but then I had to practically twist his arm to get him to try them on for a photo. He's very fickle these days.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOE06sjx9NI/AAAAAAAABIM/OiaiDo0Ecww/s1600-h/With+Car+Shorts+on+Tryke.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SOE06sjx9NI/AAAAAAAABIM/OiaiDo0Ecww/s640/With+Car+Shorts+on+Tryke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251536823489000658" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.roseandduke.com/">Rose & Duke</a> got a mention this week on the <a href="http://www.wickedlychic.com/">Wickedly Chic blog</a>, thanks ladies!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR E-MAIL IN YOUR COMMENT, IF YOUR PROFILE DOES NOT INCLUDE IT! I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS ALREADY WITH NO MEANS OF CONTACT.</span><br /></div></div>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-87605549985140095452008-09-24T13:32:00.001-07:002008-09-24T13:41:18.829-07:00Almost Famous<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SNqkE6JMpJI/AAAAAAAABIE/3FkKNth4dbw/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SNqkE6JMpJI/AAAAAAAABIE/3FkKNth4dbw/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249688719888000146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Rachel Hobson of<a href="http://averagejanecrafter.blogspot.com/"> Average Jane Crafter</a> <a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/09/jessica_dunlap_of_rose.html">interviewed me for her column on Craft Magazine's website</a>. Thanks so much Rachel, you rock!<br /><br />The dress is a sample that I made recently, but there should be about twenty unique dresses in time for the <a href="http://makerfaire.com/">Bizarre Bazzar at Maker's Faire</a>. Each dress is made from a vintage hand-embroidered pillowcase, and is fastened with vintage buttons. This is my first step away from hand embroidering items myself, and moving into producting garments that can be made faster, but are still special and different from other items usually found in children's clothing stores. As many of you have probably figured out by this point, hand embroidering isn't exactly fast, and therefore is not very cost-productive. I hope the dresses are a hit!Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-43666562316283786882008-09-16T18:57:00.000-07:002008-09-16T18:59:41.278-07:00DRUMROLL AGAIN!<a href="http://kimmymade.blogspot.com">Kim</a> kindly declined an apron. Her comment on my post was not an entry into the draw :)<br /><br />The actual winner is now......<br /><br /><a href="http://brookowens.blogspot.com/">Brook</a>!<br /><br />Brook's blog has some fantastic embroidery on it lately. I know she will look super hot in her new apron. Congratulations mama!Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-22840248000849916512008-09-16T17:49:00.001-07:002008-09-16T17:54:23.701-07:00DRUMROLL PLEASE!And the winner of the vintage chicken scratch apron giveaway is......<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://kimmymade.blogspot.com">KIM!</a><br />Kim, you didn't mention in your post which apron you want. I will e-mail you and find out.<br />There will be lots more similar giveaways in the future. I'm telling y'all that Austin is a treasure trove of inexpensive vintage goodness. I have to say that it was really a pleasure to get comments from people I never heard from before in addition to those whom I know. I am not that great at always responding to comments, but I sure do love getting them, and also discovering some great new blogs from commenters.<br /><br />Sorry, but there are no photos in my post for the first time. I'm scrambling to work on clothing-making whenever I get the chance and the camera is sitting in its drawer. More exciting posts next week!Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-12485778870184193692008-09-09T13:11:00.000-07:002008-09-09T14:50:11.106-07:00Vintage Chicken Scratch Apron Giveaway!Last weekend while doing some vintage-goodness shopping, I came across these two old aprons with chicken scratch embroidery on them, and could not resist. Once I got home, I remembered that I don't even wear aprons very often, and I knew that one of these lovelies deserved a home with someone who could really appreciate it. Since chicken scratch is all the rage in crafty blogland these days, I just know there is someone out there reading this who will want one of these aprons. Leave a comment saying which apron you want (I only will give away one) before next Tuesday, and a week from today I'll have Harlan draw a name at random from a hat. Be sure and comment with a way that I can contact you via e-mail should you win :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbvgkhRwaI/AAAAAAAABH8/KU-SXyqPv5o/s1600-h/BlueCSApron.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbvgkhRwaI/AAAAAAAABH8/KU-SXyqPv5o/s400/BlueCSApron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244142158957625762" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbubiAE-EI/AAAAAAAABH0/p0_up6SlXyY/s1600-h/BlueCSApron.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.blogger.com/s400/BlueCSApron.jpg%22" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244140972870531138" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbalTMNgeI/AAAAAAAABG8/G40yfx8LEXk/s1600-h/RoseGingApron.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbalTMNgeI/AAAAAAAABG8/G40yfx8LEXk/s640/RoseGingApron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244119150461026786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbafAiOwHI/AAAAAAAABG0/kCfV0-xqpnQ/s1600-h/RoseApronDetail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbafAiOwHI/AAAAAAAABG0/kCfV0-xqpnQ/s640/RoseApronDetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244119042373894258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another cute mid-century kid's chair was scored here in the great state of Texas:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbfKs0AVoI/AAAAAAAABHs/WdHekbQceKc/s1600-h/LittleBlueChair.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbfKs0AVoI/AAAAAAAABHs/WdHekbQceKc/s640/LittleBlueChair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244124191040493186" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div><br />Also in crafty goodness news: New curtains for Harlan's closet, sewn from Ikea fabric (forgive the lousy photo).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbawlwJb6I/AAAAAAAABHE/huSXz6VIBgc/s1600-h/BubsCurtains.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbawlwJb6I/AAAAAAAABHE/huSXz6VIBgc/s640/BubsCurtains.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244119344422154146" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A plain denim skirt made from the Sew What! Skirts book that I bought a loooong time ago. Yes, it's another photo that doesn't do the subject justice. The skirt came out really cute, but no one is around to help me take a photo right now, so it's just me, the bathroom, and the lack of tri-pod.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMba4Rzzw6I/AAAAAAAABHM/y8XpydcaZUA/s1600-h/DenimSkirt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMba4Rzzw6I/AAAAAAAABHM/y8XpydcaZUA/s640/DenimSkirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244119476507755426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Going in the mail tonight is a wedding gift for some friends who got married back in June. I actually had completed the pillow on time, but I was waiting for the second piece of the gift to become finished (it's something Joe made) before mailing it. I hope the recipients are not reading this before they get the pillow. If so, sorry it's so late! The fabric in the background is the same fabric I used to back the pillow with.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbb58RkK-I/AAAAAAAABHc/G7bW-LIVyI8/s1600-h/WeddingPillow1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbb58RkK-I/AAAAAAAABHc/G7bW-LIVyI8/s640/WeddingPillow1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244120604598348770" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />French knot details on bride-kitty's dress:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbeHIpUArI/AAAAAAAABHk/GoNZCYt1oy8/s1600-h/FrKnots.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbeHIpUArI/AAAAAAAABHk/GoNZCYt1oy8/s640/FrKnots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244123030280733362" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Some vintage 40's rayon crepe fabric that I'm going to make my next super lightweight TX style skirt with:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbbbeHkDEI/AAAAAAAABHU/VbnI6CIspbs/s1600-h/VintageRayon.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SMbbbeHkDEI/AAAAAAAABHU/VbnI6CIspbs/s640/VintageRayon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244120081107258434" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I'm a little unsure of how it will look once it's on me. It may too shear, and too unflattering, but I'm going to finally take the plunge and cut it up. I've had it sitting around since I got in Portland way back in the day.<br /></div></div></div></div>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-43281282970286794412008-09-02T07:52:00.000-07:002008-09-02T13:11:26.883-07:00Ladies, check their shoes FIRST!!!OK blogland friends, I have been sitting on this juicy story for a couple of months now, and I can't keep it to myself any longer. To those of you ladies who are single, and to all of us who remember being single, what is one of the first things you check out when you meet a man you might be interested in? It's the shoes, right? He might be cute, but if he's just wearing jeans and a t-shirt or some other nondescript outfit, it's always necessary to see the shoes so that you know if he's going go home and put The Clash on his stereo, if he's more of a Dave Matthews kind of guy. Yes, there are other kinds of guys too, but I find that most young men fall into one of these two basic categories. Well, today I have to tell you all that a good friend of mine was out on the town a couple of months ago, and she definitely went a little too far "into her cups" as they say in the south. She brought home a gentleman whom she had met several times before, and the next morning, she saw <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_sprint.cfm">HIS SHOES</a> for the first time. Can you imagine the horror? That's all I'm going to say here my friends. I should warn any of you at work that when I sent the link to those shoes to a couple of girlfriends at work, they laughed so hard and so loud, that they had to share the shoes with everyone else in their offices.<br /><br />In news from my home front, there has been a bunch of hand-embroidering going on for the upcoming <a href="http://makerfaire.com/">Maker's Faire</a> in October. We also celebrated Joe's birthday this weekend, with a surprise (that I arranged) visit from Joe's best buddy Neilson.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SL1TbJ7_KoI/AAAAAAAABGE/p1ldVkN7xAY/s1600-h/IMG_3285.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SL1TbJ7_KoI/AAAAAAAABGE/p1ldVkN7xAY/s400/IMG_3285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241437267318221442" border="0" /></a> Luckily Neilson enjoys good food, and so we spent the weekend doing the local gastronomic tour. First stop was at Torchy's Taco truck which recently merged with another truck called Shuggies (I think) in a larger space. Joe ordered the chicken fried BLT from Shuggies, and it was phenomenal. Cushioned in between a squooshy hoagie roll was lettuce, tomato, some green chilies, mayonnaise, and several pieces of bacon that have been fried in fried chicken batter. The bacon tasted totally crispy and surprisingly light.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SL1TqNh657I/AAAAAAAABGM/q6HposPTBQ4/s1600-h/IMG_3286.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SL1TqNh657I/AAAAAAAABGM/q6HposPTBQ4/s400/IMG_3286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241437525980669874" border="0" /></a> We also got to sample some tasty jalapeno hush puppies. Oh yea. Of course some tacos were part of the meal as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SL1T6fIKhkI/AAAAAAAABGU/hm35cb3EOpM/s1600-h/IMG_3287.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SL1T6fIKhkI/AAAAAAAABGU/hm35cb3EOpM/s400/IMG_3287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241437805582386754" border="0" /></a> I'm pretty sure this is the barbacoa taco with queso fresco, cilantro, avocado, and lime.<br /><br />I baked a chocolate cake for Joe's birthday and got lots of help from Harlan, who is recently really into helping me bake. Any time he hears the Kitchen Aid mixer going and he's not already helping, he comse running in with his stool and slides it up to couter to help.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SL1UHoSK9DI/AAAAAAAABGc/oymZdDKZ4Cs/s1600-h/IMG_3301.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SL1UHoSK9DI/AAAAAAAABGc/oymZdDKZ4Cs/s400/IMG_3301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241438031378576434" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-4158472452529835562008-08-23T12:31:00.000-07:002008-08-23T13:03:00.863-07:00I've Been a Bad Bad BloggerLast post June 1st? Eek, the summer went so fast. A month-long trip to NYC and having Joe home with us here the rest of time made the days just fly by. The only items I made over the past couple of months were a ton of shirts for <a href="http://www.partsandlabour.com/">Parts & Labour</a> on S. Congress. They're a really interesting boutique that only sells locally made items. I've also had a bunch of custom orders that I have worked on in place of updating my long-neglected blog. The only thing I made for myself this summer was this skirt:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBmRfqKk1I/AAAAAAAABFQ/S59SuchLksk/s1600-h/RicRackSkirt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBmRfqKk1I/AAAAAAAABFQ/S59SuchLksk/s400/RicRackSkirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237798817374049106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, do you like those shoes? I put them on for the photo because they were the last <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">extravagant</span> purchase I made before quitting my last full time job. Remember that scene in Sex in the City (the series, not the film) when Carrie realized that all the money she spent on shoes could have been used for the down payment on an apartment? I think that that might be a semi-universal epiphany (and by semi-universal I mean professional urban single women obviously). I like to remember the days when no one had heard of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Suze</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Orman</span>, and it was perfectly reasonable to blow money at Barney's and on cocktails instead of using it to pay off credit cards and save for the day when one might actually have a child and have no use whatsoever for 3" red suede platform shoes that were handmade by some little white-haired shoe-master in Italy.<br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBmdEDNTrI/AAAAAAAABFY/oceuMK7RRW0/s1600-h/RicRackSkirtDetail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBmdEDNTrI/AAAAAAAABFY/oceuMK7RRW0/s400/RicRackSkirtDetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237799016121323186" border="0" /></a> But back to the skirt. Does it look vaguely familiar? That might be because originally it was a sun dress that I was working on. I could never figure out how to line up the bodice with the skirt, and so the bodice that I sewed a few months back is now being scrapped. At least I got one cute new thing to wear out of it. *Note to self- always make a muslin version of any new pattern before using the good stuff.<br /><br />Of course there have been about a hundred things that I have been meaning to blog about, but I have come to realize that a more realistic approach for me will be to post about one thing each week. That's my "new year's resolution" for this upcoming school year (yes, I still think of time in terms of school years. I suppose that I will think of time this way for a long time with a teacher husband and a child). Here are some snapshots from our summer:<br /><br />Dreamy days at the beach:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBnsGaGg1I/AAAAAAAABFk/wCfKqd_DlUY/s1600-h/DSC01154.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBnsGaGg1I/AAAAAAAABFk/wCfKqd_DlUY/s400/DSC01154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237800373963883346" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />A boy and his love for baby lions (t-shirt made with transfer paper and access to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">flickr</span>) and old tractors:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBnwWkS11I/AAAAAAAABFs/ViTXlHWHA-c/s1600-h/DSC01191.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBnwWkS11I/AAAAAAAABFs/ViTXlHWHA-c/s400/DSC01191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237800447021078354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A visit from Joe's mom, and a dinner out at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Biergarten</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Wahlburg</span>:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBn1oxUThI/AAAAAAAABF0/Fq2jnnAxQJo/s1600-h/DSC01197.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBn1oxUThI/AAAAAAAABF0/Fq2jnnAxQJo/s400/DSC01197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237800537806884370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Look! He's a little boy already:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBp7FHZUvI/AAAAAAAABF8/sXDzfib5opY/s1600-h/DSC_0035.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SLBp7FHZUvI/AAAAAAAABF8/sXDzfib5opY/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237802830338282226" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-9347141129871150062008-06-01T18:09:00.000-07:002008-06-01T19:39:05.248-07:00Me me me and more about meHere is my flickr mosaic created for <a href="http://spiralling.typepad.com/spiralling/">Spiralling</a>'s game. I'm determined to win.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SENI3P6u6fI/AAAAAAAABE4/jnVoVCO_2k4/s1600-h/mosaic5180955.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SENI3P6u6fI/AAAAAAAABE4/jnVoVCO_2k4/s400/mosaic5180955.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207085708173306354" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/chrisdotson/208236734/">Jessica Simpson</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/roboppy/92941928/"> Dark Bordeaux</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tootdood/696624472/">Leg it</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/lyptonvillage/467953641/">Tiffany Blue Washers</a>, 5. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/annedehaas/456593349/">Bad liver and a broken heart</a>, 6. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/lickylickywombatpoke/577755444/">mr. imagination's bottlecaps (149)</a>, 7. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/konaboy/124262198/">Overhead</a>, 8. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jon77/84316182/">Box of Macarons</a>, 9. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/paco_calvino/510980270/">Today menu: Colorful fruit</a>, 10. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/good_day/450356635/">Love and affection</a>, 11. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/66164549@N00/542696674/">Lazy Cow - Flatford, Dedham, Essex, England - Sunday June 10th 2007 - Highest Explore position - #1 on June 14 2007.WOW!!.:O):O):O)</a>, 12. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/stecklerboswell/2421441167/">Rose, Duke & Hayden</a><br /><br />The way the game works is that you answer the following questions (I put my answers after the questions below) and then you type each key word into the search engine on flickr and choose one of the photos from the first page that comes up. I made the mosaic over at fds flickr toys.<br /><span style="line-height: 12px;font-size:10;" ><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: normal;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The Questions:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />1. What is your first name? - </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Jessica</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong style="font-family: arial;"></strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">2. What is your favorite food? - </span><strong style="font-family: arial;">See's Candy</strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">3. What high school did you go to? - </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >St. Ann's</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">4. What is your favorite color? - </span><strong style="font-family: arial;">Tiffany blue</strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">5. Who is your celebrity crush? - </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Tom Waits </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong style="font-family: arial;"></strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">6. Favorite drink? - </span><strong style="font-family: arial;">Lime Ricky</strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">7. Dream vacation? - </span><strong style="font-family: arial;">Hawaii</strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">8. Favorite dessert? - </span><strong style="font-family: arial;">French macaroons</strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">9. What did you want to be when you grow up? - </span><strong style="font-family: arial;">A writer</strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">10. What do you love most in life? - </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Love and affection</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong style="font-family: arial;"></strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">11. One Word to describe you. - </span><strong style="font-family: arial;">Curious</strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">12. Looked up my flickr name and found something about me: </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I wasn't too sure what this one meant so I typed Violette Crumble into flickr and got a great shot of Hayden wearing a Rose & Duke shirt.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Harlan was home from school all of last week and I have to say the poor guy had a rough few days. One evening he burned his fingers on the stove top (I gave up on locking him outside the kitchen gate while I cook because I couldn't take the shrieking). The next night we set up his much anticipated big boy bed. Like an idiot I didn't put a guard rail on its side, but set up some sheepskins on the floor next to the bed instead. Well, insomnia struck me that night and I ended up taking a big dose of anti-anxiety pills to knock myself up. I awoke to the sound of my poor guy screaming, and wandered deliriously into his room to find Joe holding him, blood everywhere.<br /><br />Somehow Harlan fell out of bed with his blanket wrapped around his legs. We figure he stood up on the sheepskins and then face planted onto the wooden floor, smashing open his lip and busting his nose. The swelling is finally going down, but in the photos below you can see his fat lip and his slightly Joan Riversesque swelling around the nose and under the eyes.<br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SENMFf6u6hI/AAAAAAAABFI/O6BlMwMNSfk/s1600-h/OtisHarlanZoo1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SENMFf6u6hI/AAAAAAAABFI/O6BlMwMNSfk/s400/OtisHarlanZoo1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207089251521325586" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SENL3P6u6gI/AAAAAAAABFA/yeVeHBegzI4/s1600-h/HarlanMamaZoo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SENL3P6u6gI/AAAAAAAABFA/yeVeHBegzI4/s400/HarlanMamaZoo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207089006708189698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I can not take credit for these great photos. They were taken at the zoo by new favorite Austinite <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/djmark1972/2541623803/">Mark</a>. The picture of me tells me that my hair is indeed pretty bright in the sunlight. I think that I'm going to mix my current red dye with some dark brown and see where that takes me, despite the fact that Joe's students all really love my hair color (another sign that it might be time to tone it down a bit). I'm also stuck in the place where my hair is no longer a cute Katie Holmes bob, nor is it the standard Jessica long hair that only gets cut every ten years. I'm at a crossroads people. Either it's getting cut again or it's not getting cut for ten more years. I'm leaning towards cutting it one more time in the next couple of weeks only because I want to look good at Mike & Desiree's wedding in NYC at the end of the month (for some reason it's more important to look good at weddings even if they aren't one's own, right?) I'm also planning on magically fitting myself into a dress I got at Anthropologie while I was pregnant. Do you think I'm kidding that I bought shit I couldn't fit into when I was pregnant? I'm not. I was lucky enough to not have to wear maternity bottoms the whole pregnancy because Harlan planted himself pretty high up in my ribcage. For this reason I was certain that as soon as he came out I'd be back in a size 6 or 8. No one told me that the ribcage might not go back. I was prepared for my shoes not to fit any longer (the majority still do). I was prepared for crazy stretch marks (didn't get a single one although there are some crazy spider veins on my back and today one showed up on my shin. If only they'd showed up on my elbow in the shape of a cobweb. And while we're on that subject I recently saw a guy with the spiderweb elbow tattoo that was in the shape of Texas. I'll have to do a whole separate post about Texans' love for everything Texas.) However, the ribcage expansion I was not prepared for. I'm still going to stuff myself into the unworn fancy dress however, and I think I may be able to do it by just moving the buttons over. No one will know, right?Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-52369137685065269762008-05-26T13:47:00.001-07:002008-05-26T14:53:10.261-07:00HotSo it's been hovering around 100 degrees here lately and I'm trying to embrace it as best as one can. Maybe if I pretend I'm one of those people who loves intense heat, I will actually become one. In the mean time, I had my bread party last weekend. Some friends came over and brought different items baked from the bread book. I made the almond bostock which is basically rolls of brioche with almond paste swirled inside them, along with orange flavor and grated orange peel and almonds on top. It was maybe one of the best things I've ever eaten, especially since we had it while it was still warm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsiDtTy91I/AAAAAAAABCo/UHgkxGlqqbc/s1600-h/AlmondBostok2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsiDtTy91I/AAAAAAAABCo/UHgkxGlqqbc/s400/AlmondBostok2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204791241454319442" border="0" /></a> I also baked two plain loaves of brioche, and I just ate a slice of one with some Nutella and sliced banana on top. I guess the diet is officially off.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDso_dTy-BI/AAAAAAAABEI/FbBsQwjMHAk/s1600-h/Brioches.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDso_dTy-BI/AAAAAAAABEI/FbBsQwjMHAk/s400/Brioches.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204798865021270034" border="0" /></a><br />Katie made two focaccia, one plain and one with thin onions and salt. I could eat it all day long basically (with almond bostock breaks in between).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoMNTy97I/AAAAAAAABDY/_8Ap1-sruIU/s1600-h/Onion+Foccaccia.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoMNTy97I/AAAAAAAABDY/_8Ap1-sruIU/s400/Onion+Foccaccia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204797984552974258" border="0" /></a> Harlan actually went up to this first and clamped his teeth around the edge of it. As Katie put it, "it got the toddler seal of approval." Kelly brought some pecan cinnamon rolls and they didn't exactly taste like crap either:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoQ9Ty98I/AAAAAAAABDg/W7U18M1IyIg/s1600-h/Pecan+Buns.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoQ9Ty98I/AAAAAAAABDg/W7U18M1IyIg/s400/Pecan+Buns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204798066157352898" border="0" /></a> Let me tell you, all that was left of these was a few pecans and some crust. Dr. Ruth made the light bran, and I have to say I think I may switch to this loaf for a while (I've been making the light wheat each week for sandwiches, but this one has a bit more heft to it):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoCdTy95I/AAAAAAAABDI/KQIHu1inPN0/s1600-h/LightBran.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoCdTy95I/AAAAAAAABDI/KQIHu1inPN0/s400/LightBran.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204797817049249682" border="0" /></a> Jenifer made an awesome cheese ball with some fresh feta from a local organic farm. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsn9tTy94I/AAAAAAAABDA/L8L0O-9E1q8/s1600-h/CheeseBall.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsn9tTy94I/AAAAAAAABDA/L8L0O-9E1q8/s400/CheeseBall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204797735444871042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In crafty news, I made a cupcake for Mae's birthday <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoHtTy96I/AAAAAAAABDQ/PmXW3zET4lU/s1600-h/Maes+Cupcake.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoHtTy96I/AAAAAAAABDQ/PmXW3zET4lU/s400/Maes+Cupcake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204797907243562914" border="0" /></a> The pattern is from <a href="http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2007/08/14/bake-me-a-cake/">here</a>.<br />We finally got some wicker chairs and a table from Ikea for our balcony, and I made a couple of seat cushions for the chairs. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsiZdTy92I/AAAAAAAABCw/nDqISQRj08c/s1600-h/AppleCushin.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsiZdTy92I/AAAAAAAABCw/nDqISQRj08c/s400/AppleCushin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204791615116474210" border="0" /></a> I've also been working on a sun dress with some of my coveted Folklore fabric. Here's the top of it shown upside down: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoaNTy9-I/AAAAAAAABDw/hQCXS6jwWr4/s1600-h/Sundress+TopWIP.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoaNTy9-I/AAAAAAAABDw/hQCXS6jwWr4/s400/Sundress+TopWIP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204798225071142882" border="0" /></a> Like the ric-rack around the top of the bodice? I'm going to add some to the hem as well. There is one big problem however. I cut my fabric and patterns super carefully, and sewed every single seam with the same seam allowance, but that shit just doesn't line up properly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoftTy9_I/AAAAAAAABD4/6lA3sgqXDFg/s1600-h/SundressWaistWIP.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoftTy9_I/AAAAAAAABD4/6lA3sgqXDFg/s400/SundressWaistWIP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204798319560423410" border="0" /></a> Notice how the vertical seams don't line up? I kind of tried it on and it seems like it should work out to fit O.K. if I go ahead and insert the zipper, but I feel like I'll know that I screwed it up. However, if I rip it up and take in the couple of inches along the front of the skirt then the floral pattern won't line up. I am stumped.<br /><br />In<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12069420"> shop news</a> I'm adding a banana cowboy on a green background. He's kind of always been everyone's favorite and I think the green makes him look extra special.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsigtTy93I/AAAAAAAABC4/lTMAYpl-wYE/s1600-h/BanCowboyGreenDetail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsigtTy93I/AAAAAAAABC4/lTMAYpl-wYE/s400/BanCowboyGreenDetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204791739670525810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A few nights ago we went out to a <a href="http://www.walburgrestaurant.com/">biergarten in the middle of nowhere</a> and it was super awesome. Even though I'm not a big beer drinker, they did have the Widmier Heffewiesen that I always liked back in Portland, and a polka band really hit the spot. To make things even better there was a plethora of Texas glamour grandmas getting their groove on on the dance floor. There was one super old guy in a full-on Tyrolean outfit and I kept hoping he would ask me to dance, but all the old biddies kept getting to him first. Check him out in the left corner:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoldTy-AI/AAAAAAAABEA/8LRbswlxiYQ/s1600-h/Swingin+Grandma.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsoldTy-AI/AAAAAAAABEA/8LRbswlxiYQ/s400/Swingin+Grandma.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204798418344671234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsvZNTy-CI/AAAAAAAABEQ/_AHti43NNj8/s1600-h/Lederhosen.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SDsvZNTy-CI/AAAAAAAABEQ/_AHti43NNj8/s400/Lederhosen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204805904472668194" border="0" /></a>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-24650641576979464572008-05-16T12:55:00.000-07:002008-05-16T13:43:58.994-07:00More Bees & Bread<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3wTjQ-pPI/AAAAAAAABB4/SkcYEc_TZiA/s1600-h/DahilaNJessica.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3wTjQ-pPI/AAAAAAAABB4/SkcYEc_TZiA/s400/DahilaNJessica.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201077363357426930" border="0" /></a><br /></div>This Saturday my high school class is having its 20th reunion (thank you to the lady from the park who acted shocked when I told her and said I looked 29. I guess the face lift really paid off) and I'm sad to say I won't be there. Yes, I'm one of the few people out there who loved her high school. I had dedicated and interesting teachers, and really cool friends. I should mention here that I didn't go to public school. My school is a pretty well-known private Brooklyn school that does things like have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertolt_Brecht">Bertolt Brech</a>t Day, where we ate German food and performed his plays. We had a smoking lounge too, and you were allowed to smoke in front of the school, but if you were in 7th grade, you had to go around the corner to smoke so no one would see you (the school goes k-12). Mike Diamond from the Beastie Boys was a senior when I was in 8th grade and he would throw french fries at us eighth graders who dared to try and smoke in front of the front door with the seniors. It was good times all around, and I hope to make the next reunion.<br /><br />Yes, more sporadic posting I'm afraid. I've been working on designing the new Rose & Duke line (entirely sewn from scratch children's clothing, that won't be sewn entirely by me for once) and researching manufacturers. Aside from that, there's been a little more stitching going on for Abby:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3xOzQ-pRI/AAAAAAAABCI/z6p6M5rcBgQ/s1600-h/BeTidyTowl.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3xOzQ-pRI/AAAAAAAABCI/z6p6M5rcBgQ/s400/BeTidyTowl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201078381264676114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3xJjQ-pQI/AAAAAAAABCA/AXmdZbDMBuU/s1600-h/BeTidyDetail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3xJjQ-pQI/AAAAAAAABCA/AXmdZbDMBuU/s400/BeTidyDetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201078291070362882" border="0" /></a><br />I bought the blank tea towel fabric from <a href="http://www.reprodepot.com/">reprodepot</a>, and sewed some ric-rack along the bottom edges. I also got some great amigurumi patterns from a new friend over at Ravelry (I sent her a really good Japanese pattern book for her to copy from in exchange for the patterns she designed and sent me copies of). I made a marshmellow man and a sour apple.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3xUjQ-pSI/AAAAAAAABCQ/CC8gZ35G_U4/s1600-h/CupcakeMan1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3xUjQ-pSI/AAAAAAAABCQ/CC8gZ35G_U4/s400/CupcakeMan1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201078480048923938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3xcDQ-pTI/AAAAAAAABCY/f8t-aWOPbso/s1600-h/SourApple.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3xcDQ-pTI/AAAAAAAABCY/f8t-aWOPbso/s400/SourApple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201078608897942834" border="0" /></a><br /></div> The apple is missing his leaf and the marshmellow man is supposed to be a cupcake, but I think he looks more like a toasted marshmellow instead. He reminds me of the marshmellow man that I got as a gift when I bought something from Chet and Dot.<br /><br />MY OVEN SUCKS. I have a thermometer in there, and sometimes you have to turn the heat to 550 to get it to reach 450 and sometimes you have to set it at 420 to get to 450. There's no telling what will happen once you put the bread inside. In addition, my dough rising is pretty incosistant as well. I don't know if it's the crazy Texas weather which changes so quickly, or if something else is going on, but half the time the dough is nice and wet and it rises perfectly and looks like this<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3pcjQ-pJI/AAAAAAAABBI/2SVYFCbRjFs/s1600-h/GoodDough.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3pcjQ-pJI/AAAAAAAABBI/2SVYFCbRjFs/s400/GoodDough.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201069821394855058" border="0" /></a> and when it comes out this wet and flat on top, the bread comes out like this <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3prTQ-pKI/AAAAAAAABBQ/djgH6BV3yEg/s1600-h/NiceLoaf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3prTQ-pKI/AAAAAAAABBQ/djgH6BV3yEg/s400/NiceLoaf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201070074797925538" border="0" /></a> This is the light wheat bread by the way. I've also tried the olive bread <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3p2TQ-pLI/AAAAAAAABBY/kMoHmpAL-Yk/s1600-h/OliveBread.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3p2TQ-pLI/AAAAAAAABBY/kMoHmpAL-Yk/s400/OliveBread.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201070263776486578" border="0" /></a> and my favorite, the Chris Kimball (of Cook's Illustrated) sandwhich bread:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3qGjQ-pMI/AAAAAAAABBg/nHIKY8dMrBw/s1600-h/SandwichLoaf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3qGjQ-pMI/AAAAAAAABBg/nHIKY8dMrBw/s400/SandwichLoaf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201070542949360834" border="0" /></a><br />This is super tasty, but like all the other loaves- not very tall. I have no idea how to get a taller loaf so that one can eat a more normal-sized sandwich.<br />I also got a wild hare and tried my hand at homemade orecchiette (which is a bitch to remember how to spell) because the recipe in the recent Italian issue of Gourmet sounded sooo easy. While it wasn't necessarily difficult at all, it took forever. I spent half of a nap (Harlan's nap) cutting and pressing each little piece together. It tasted really nice with some Romano cheese, chopped parsley, and oven roasted tomatoes from the Whole Foods olive bar. The texture of the orecchiette was soft but not sticky or slimy. I think however, that I will continue to buy it from now on instead. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3rjzQ-pNI/AAAAAAAABBo/ldrWlCFMIbE/s1600-h/LittleEars2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SC3rjzQ-pNI/AAAAAAAABBo/ldrWlCFMIbE/s400/LittleEars2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201072144972162258" border="0" /></a>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-31212916177093951662008-04-19T11:39:00.000-07:002008-04-19T13:01:19.952-07:005 Minute a Day Bread, Take 1Have I mentioned that I'm trying to do everything in my power to both save money on food and eat organically and locally when possible? <span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, you and every other whitey out there</span> you are probably thinking. (O.K. Not <span style="font-style: italic;">every whitey out there,</span> if you caught the Oprah episode this week about the families who waste tremendous amounts of everything possible. Family #1 who sounded suspiciously from Long Island threw out $700 of food a month because they don't save anything once the bag/box is open). <br /><br />With the rise in prices of food and the current concern about wasting fuel by buying stuff flown in from all over the world, I'm doing what I can. If I can buy as much as possible organically and in bulk, and then make things myself like bread, desserts, and almost all of our meals, then I'm accomplishing two out of three. I also joined a <a href="http://www.greengatefarms.com">local CSA</a>, which is a chemical-free farm that customers pay a bulk sum to at the beginning of each season. Customers then go to the farm each week and pick up two giant bags of produce. At my CSA the cost breaks down to $25 a week, which for that amount of organic food is pretty darn good. Another great perk to the whole thing is getting lots of varitiy of produce that are not found in any supermarkets. If you want more tips on how to eat healthy for cheap, check out <a href="http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301054&highlight=organic+healthy">this long but very informative thread</a> on a cloth diapering board I frequent (the third post down turned me on to the CSA and making everything from scratch using bulk organics).<br /><br /><br />At the same time I decided to make everything from scratch, I kept reading all the hoopla in blogland and message board land. I jumped on the bandwagon and bought the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Artisan-Bread-Five-Minutes-Revolutionizes/dp/0312362919">Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day</a>. For those of you unfamiliar with it, the authors of the book developed recipes and a method for baking different types of bread made from a dough that only takes fifteen minutes to make, requires no kneading, and remains in the fridge all week. Each time you want bread you cut a 1 pound hunk off the dough and quickly shape it, let it sit out for an hour and a half, and then bake it for thirty minutes.<br /><br />Required equipment includes an oven thermometer, a baking stone, a <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/335760/index.cfm?clg=45&bnrid=3180501&cm_ven=FRO&cm_cat=Shopping&cm_pla=ctlsptpiz&cm_ite=Pizza%20Peel">pizza peel</a>, and something large to store the dough in. I asked a group of women on a local mothering message board (several of them are on the bread bandwagon already) what pieces of equipment I can do without, since I did not want to have to invest quite so much money in something that may not even work out. I got some great tips from them that I will now share with you lucky readers:<br /><br />1. Don't blow $30 on a baking stone. Instead, go to Home Depot and pick up a giant terracotta (untreated) tile for $1.30. Here's mine with some awesome lemon-poppy scones on them (the breakfast of the week that was actually the breakfast of three days):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo89oNSTtI/AAAAAAAAA-w/2SLIPxMSVyo/s1600-h/DSC00967.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo89oNSTtI/AAAAAAAAA-w/2SLIPxMSVyo/s400/DSC00967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191028549960748754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2. Oven thermometers are really inexpensive at Target, as compared to Williams-Sonoma.<br /><br />3. The book requires you to fill a broiler pan with water and keep it in the oven during baking, to release steam. Instead of ruining a pan and fussing with all the water, buy a brick and soak it in water for a while before putting it in the preheating oven. The brick will release an even amount of steam and you don't have to worry about any accidents with the water.<br /><br />I actually did not buy a brick yet because we had to hussle out of Home Depot when I was buying the terracotta tile (two year old wanting to run through aisles instead of staying in cart), but I did buy a great pizza peel and dough scraper at good old Williams-Sonoma. I hit up Target and got my oven thermometer (by the way have you seen the amazing Dwell Baby for Target line? I just bought <a href="http://www.target.com/DwellStudio-Target-Kimono-Creeper-Bib/dp/B000XSC04I/qid=1208632417/ref=br_1_1/602-5471701-5307010?ie=UTF8&node=393203011&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=393203011&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=1">this</a> and <a href="http://www.target.com/DWELL-LAYETTE-PINK-KIMONO-SLEEPER/dp/B000XQ5QAU/qid=1208632417/ref=br_1_4/602-5471701-5307010?ie=UTF8&node=393203011&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=393203011&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=1">this</a> and <a href="http://www.target.com/DwellStudio-Target-Apples-Blanket-Pink/dp/B000XQ9QBA/qid=1208632417/ref=br_1_8/602-5471701-5307010?ie=UTF8&node=393203011&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=393203011&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=1">this</a> for a few baby showers coming up to go with the requisite <a href="http://www.roseandduke.com/">Rose & Duke</a> apparel) and went to work. The first thing I noticed about my super-lame electric oven is that it is off by ten degrees. For the temp. to be 450 I ended up setting it to 460. I went to work and heated my water for the dough to 100 degrees (measured on the candy thermometer). I added the yeast and salt and flour, stirred, and let it rise. Here is how it looked:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9CYNSTuI/AAAAAAAAA-4/v-AV_tkhWDw/s1600-h/DSC00971.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9CYNSTuI/AAAAAAAAA-4/v-AV_tkhWDw/s400/DSC00971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191028631565127394" border="0" /></a> This doesn't look like it rose very much at all does it? It didn't. I refrigerated the bread, took it out the next day, let it rise again, and formed my loaves:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9WYNSTxI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/GY-LdwAGHfM/s1600-h/DSC00983.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9WYNSTxI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/GY-LdwAGHfM/s400/DSC00983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191028975162511122" border="0" /></a> These loaves are over one pound, because I wanted larger loaves. Unfortunately I forgot to add baking time and took them out when the tops were only slightly browned. The insides were raw.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9rINST0I/AAAAAAAAA_o/McbJk9w5Nno/s1600-h/DSC00986.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9rINST0I/AAAAAAAAA_o/McbJk9w5Nno/s400/DSC00986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029331644796738" border="0" /></a> I baked a little longer and voila:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9lYNSTzI/AAAAAAAAA_g/5ElmpPoi5Uw/s1600-h/DSC00985.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9lYNSTzI/AAAAAAAAA_g/5ElmpPoi5Uw/s400/DSC00985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029232860548914" border="0" /></a> Two large loaves of bread that were extremely dense and required a lot of jaw-work to get down the throat. Not really what I was hoping for. I dumped the remaining dough and started over, this time heating the water to a little over 100 degrees, and decreasing the amount of flour by 1/4 cup (as recommended by the book if the dough was too dry the first time ,which this one certainly was). I got a nice, sticky dough:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9x4NST1I/AAAAAAAAA_w/5Y6EqkQ90aw/s1600-h/DSC00988.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9x4NST1I/AAAAAAAAA_w/5Y6EqkQ90aw/s400/DSC00988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029447608913746" border="0" /></a> When it rose it really took off too:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo92YNST2I/AAAAAAAAA_4/PnIYLmXkPIE/s1600-h/DSC00989.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo92YNST2I/AAAAAAAAA_4/PnIYLmXkPIE/s400/DSC00989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029524918325090" border="0" /></a> I have no idea why the photo won't remain vertical by the way- it's something with blogger, sorry folks.<br /><br />This time I weighed exactly one pound of dough before baking.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9-YNST3I/AAAAAAAABAA/Lw4x4uNpFFM/s1600-h/DSC00991.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9-YNST3I/AAAAAAAABAA/Lw4x4uNpFFM/s400/DSC00991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029662357278578" border="0" /></a><br />The loaf seemed pretty flat when rising on the pizza peel before baking, and it did come out more like a ciabatta than I had hoped for. Unfortunately, I was baking the bread at the same time I was cooking dinner, and I had to set the oven to 550 degrees to get the thermometer inside to read 450. WTF? My guess is that when the stove top ranges are on, the oven just can't get quite as hot. The other consequence of the oven being wacky is that my tile broke in two. I bought another one, but if this one breaks too then I may have to give in and buy an official baking stone.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo-EYNST4I/AAAAAAAABAI/F_sxxvul3TQ/s1600-h/DSC00993.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo-EYNST4I/AAAAAAAABAI/F_sxxvul3TQ/s400/DSC00993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029765436493698" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo-JYNST5I/AAAAAAAABAQ/59DCVOYJl6M/s1600-h/DSC00994.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo-JYNST5I/AAAAAAAABAQ/59DCVOYJl6M/s400/DSC00994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029851335839634" border="0" /> </a><br />As you can see it's not the tallest loaf of bread in the world, but the texture inside was just perfect, with a moist and dense crumb, and a crunchy crust.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SApHY4NST-I/AAAAAAAABA4/q3efmMT9p-k/s1600-h/DSC00995.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SApHY4NST-I/AAAAAAAABA4/q3efmMT9p-k/s400/DSC00995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191040013228462050" border="0" /></a> As you can also see we ate our first good loaf of homemade bread with Nutella. Dinner had already ended at this point, so what choice did we have? Next I'm going to try the light wheat recipe and use a loaf pan. Hopefully the loaf pan shape will make the bread more user-friendly for us, since we a sandwich eating family.<br /><br />Here are a few shots from the CSA we go to. The lovely farm-maiden is holding a bouquet of garlic blossoms. The stalks are really sweet and delicious in a stir-fry. I used some last week in a greens and feta pie as well. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9eoNSTyI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/JYI2fdWHSiY/s1600-h/DSC00979.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9eoNSTyI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/JYI2fdWHSiY/s400/DSC00979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029116896431906" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9HYNSTvI/AAAAAAAAA_A/9VGUTEaYmis/s1600-h/DSC00975.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo9HYNSTvI/AAAAAAAAA_A/9VGUTEaYmis/s400/DSC00975.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191028717464473330" border="0" /></a> The farm property is fairly large for an urban farm, and the owner's eight year old son has been kind enough to take Harlan and me on a couple of tours. We got to play with chickens, see the tiny airplane in its hangar behind the crops, giant water drums, a koi fish pond, and several houses on the property that are made completely from native and found objects. The houses are also totally sustainable and I'm looking forward to a tour of them given by an adult at a cocktail party/ property tour they provide once a month. Photos will come. The eight year old also told us where to steer clear from hornets nest, snake-filled areas, fire ant communities, and other country things that reinforced that I would not ever do well living "off the grid" unless it was in a space community on bug and snake-free planet.<br /><br />This is Harlan playing in a wagon at the farm. It's a funny photo of him, but I'm using it to show off his Obama Baby t-shirt, made by my friend Kim and available at her wonderful store <a href="http://www.sidepony.com/">Sidepony</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SApJ0oNST_I/AAAAAAAABBA/IZBt-hcQD3c/s1600-h/DSC00978.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SApJ0oNST_I/AAAAAAAABBA/IZBt-hcQD3c/s400/DSC00978.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191042688993087474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The rest of this post is totally unrelated items, starting with some lovely Jello desserts brought to a party recently.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo844NSTsI/AAAAAAAAA-o/1E85Dcxi0dY/s1600-h/DSC00965.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo844NSTsI/AAAAAAAAA-o/1E85Dcxi0dY/s400/DSC00965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191028468356370114" border="0" /></a> Anyone know any good Jello recipes? I'm thinking this may be the only way I'll be able to eat dessert and lose weight. I'm looking for recipes using gelatin and fruit, not actual Jello by the way. This one had seltzer in it which gave the Jello a really nice texture. Also there was hibiscus involved somehow.<br /><br />Here are Harlan and me on a little hike we like to take. Wild Basin's a nice place to go hiking except for the fact that Harlan ends up wanting to be carried quite a lot.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo-RYNST6I/AAAAAAAABAY/46UluilzSJM/s1600-h/HarlanMamaWB.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo-RYNST6I/AAAAAAAABAY/46UluilzSJM/s400/HarlanMamaWB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191029988774793122" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo8roNSTqI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/HRFon5iG7Zc/s1600-h/DSC00946.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo8roNSTqI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/HRFon5iG7Zc/s400/DSC00946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191028240723103394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo8m4NSTpI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/xJzCJobbbdY/s1600-h/DSC00945.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo8m4NSTpI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/xJzCJobbbdY/s400/DSC00945.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191028159118724754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Harlan and his friend Sol, walking up the steps together, holding hands all the way:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo8yYNSTrI/AAAAAAAAA-g/AbdIpoUtPS4/s1600-h/DSC00953.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/SAo8yYNSTrI/AAAAAAAAA-g/AbdIpoUtPS4/s400/DSC00953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191028356687220402" border="0" /></a> <br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I feel like this photo should be made into an inspirational poster. Perhaps it could say, "<span style="font-style: italic;">You can always make it to the top when you help someone.</span>" Or, "<span style="font-style: italic;">A friend with a hand, is high in demand.</span>" O.k. What about, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Four legs good, two legs bad</span>." The possibilities are endless!<br /></div></div></div></div>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-27449195726861406612008-04-09T12:59:00.001-07:002008-04-09T13:24:38.502-07:00Abby Don't LookI know this is lame, but I'm posting a photo of a birthday/housewarming gift before I mail it. So, Abby stop looking (or else look if you want to know what is coming your way soon). Here is what I made last week. With help from the <a href="http://flickr.com/people/mytransfers/">Goddess of Vintage Embroidery Patterns</a>, I was lucky enough to score a set of the busy bees transfers. There is a tee towel with an additional busy bee coming next, but I couldn't wait to show this one off. I used some Japanese bee fabric to contrast with the plain muslin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_0gXma5vNI/AAAAAAAAA-A/QBvxBa2A6y4/s1600-h/BeeWare.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_0gXma5vNI/AAAAAAAAA-A/QBvxBa2A6y4/s400/BeeWare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187337935623142610" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_0gfGa5vOI/AAAAAAAAA-I/YOHzfrM6gFQ/s1600-h/Beewareback.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_0gfGa5vOI/AAAAAAAAA-I/YOHzfrM6gFQ/s400/Beewareback.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187338064472161506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bathroom #1 is complete and I need to figure out a way to photograph a very tiny room in order to show it off. Bathroom #2 is on hold as my contractor called this morning (the day bathroom #2 was supposed to be demolished) to tell me he has a hernia on his leg (?) and he would like to start the bathroom next week. I don't know what to expect, but I sure am happy to have at least one excellent place to bathe.<br /><br />Rose & Duke got a <a href="http://www.celebritybabyclothes.com/2008/04/baby-apparel-thats-sweet-but-not-too-sweet/">good review this week</a> on the celebrity baby clothes blog.<br /><br />Breakfast of the week:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_0gQma5vMI/AAAAAAAAA94/6qbyzUayjD0/s1600-h/BananaBread.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_0gQma5vMI/AAAAAAAAA94/6qbyzUayjD0/s400/BananaBread.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187337815364058306" border="0" /></a> This oat bran banana bread is some seriously good shit. Let me tell you, if you like banana bread, this is the way to go. Take your old bananas and follow <a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,174,153182-233202,00.html">this recipe</a>. However, and this is important, substitute raisins for dried cherries, and be sure to dump in a good amount of the secret ingredient <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garam_masala">garam marsala</a>.<br />My friend Jen. W. back in Brooklyn taught me this tip, and I must say that garam marsala in oat bran banana bread is to regular banana bread as watching regular t.v. is to watching t.v. with Tivo: Once you've had the new version, you're never going back.<br /><br />P.S. Austinites: Did you know that a loaf of banana bread costs $12 at Texas French Bread? Are they F'ing kidding me? I don't even think that the obnoxiously overpriced Dean & Deluca in SoHo charges that much. If this kind of price inflation is a result of New Yorkers moving to town, I humbly apologize, and offer you my secret banana bread recipe as a peace offering.Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-62084695648761125822008-03-23T11:51:00.000-07:002008-03-30T17:24:09.346-07:00Doin' my HomeworkBetween South by Southwest, old friends and family in town, and the bathroom renovations, it's a miracle I have accomplished anything above and beyond keeping my hair clean and my kitchen clean. I eek in time when I can these days, and my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Superbuzzy</span> stash is finally going to good use.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R-anFZ2-1kI/AAAAAAAAA8o/IbL72U7kHRs/s1600-h/chair.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R-anFZ2-1kI/AAAAAAAAA8o/IbL72U7kHRs/s400/chair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181012132619015746" border="0" /></a> We bought this rocker at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ikea</span> when we first moved to Austin. When we got home, there were no cushions included. I am not sure if we got ripped off or not, but I ended up buying some foam at a local upholstery store, and making my own covers for Harlan's very own rocking and reading chair. I used a cotton/linen blend on the back of the chair, and the sides of the bottom. I also used a green <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kona</span> cotton, some of the Joel Dewberry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">faux</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bois</span> print, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Superbuzzy</span> trees. My brand new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Janome</span> machine came in super handy and I decided to trip out my pillow with this stitch along the borders of the fabrics:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R-am652-1jI/AAAAAAAAA8g/ICFAxCdf0cM/s1600-h/pillowstitchdetail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R-am652-1jI/AAAAAAAAA8g/ICFAxCdf0cM/s400/pillowstitchdetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181011952230389298" border="0" /></a> Fancy, don't you think?<br />I also finally got around to buying a new foam seat for my mid-century love seat, and I covered it with some velvet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Crypton</span> fabric, and of course added some pillows made with Japanese fabric from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Superbuzzy</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R-anNZ2-1lI/AAAAAAAAA8w/5YF4CMGj_oA/s1600-h/sofa.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R-anNZ2-1lI/AAAAAAAAA8w/5YF4CMGj_oA/s400/sofa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181012270057969234" border="0" /></a><br />The blue leather ottoman is from <a href="http://www.johnderian.com/">John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Derian</span></a> in NY. It's one of my favorite stores of all time. In fact, I would be perfectly happy if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Anthropolgie</span> would move in next door, and <a href="http://www.thecitybakery.com/">City Bakery</a> would move in on the other side. They could knock down all the walls, and I would move in and only let in my friends, people who promised to take in and care for stray animals, orphans from Africa and any eastern block country. O.K. you can also come into my store-house if you give me personal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Pilates</span> lessons each day with your <a href="http://www.comfortchannel.com/prod.itml/icOid/9423?ovchn=FRO&ovcpn=Fitness+and+Exercise&ovcrn=9423&ovtac=CMP&CS_003=2362526&CS_010=9423">expensive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Pilates</span> machine.</a><br /><br />Those pillows on the sofa are also from my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Superbuzzy</span> stash, and I must admit that I sewed them a couple of months ago but forgot to post them. Here are details of all the pillows.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AiGp2-1mI/AAAAAAAAA84/EwdG8LLyD04/s1600-h/HorseChickPillow.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AiGp2-1mI/AAAAAAAAA84/EwdG8LLyD04/s400/HorseChickPillow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183680668814464610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AidJ2-1qI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/8eEaGEHvVkQ/s1600-h/PearPillow.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AidJ2-1qI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/8eEaGEHvVkQ/s400/PearPillow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183681055361521314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_Aikp2-1rI/AAAAAAAAA9g/NJm241MYWr4/s1600-h/TreesPillow.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_Aikp2-1rI/AAAAAAAAA9g/NJm241MYWr4/s400/TreesPillow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183681184210540210" border="0" /></a><br />Here is a sneak peak of bathroom number one which is just about finished. The tiles are by Cocktail and the color is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Mojito</span>. They are made from recycled glass and they are super light and remind me of the ocean. I'm going to make both bathrooms pretty much the same, and my theme (yes, I'm giving my bathrooms a theme) is of course, <span style="font-style: italic;">the sea</span> (or if you want it make it sound really fancy, let's call it <span style="font-style: italic;">la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">mer</span></span>).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AiXJ2-1pI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/EWzEZSqhl8A/s1600-h/NewShower.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AiXJ2-1pI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/EWzEZSqhl8A/s400/NewShower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183680952282306194" border="0" /></a><br />I've been slowly making more items for <a href="http://www.roseandduke.com">Rose & Duke</a>, including more of the tree applique with painted deer shirts, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">onesies</span>, and pants. I will be adding them to the shop tonight or tomorrow. I decided to stop hand painting the deer and go with using freezer stenciling them for now, since it's a little more crisp looking and leaves less room for error. A few of the hand-painted ones were not what I was hoping for and so I'll be adding them to a new SALE section of the site. I've also started sewing together the long-awaited waterproof play mats. These are great looking quilts with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">PUL</span> waterproof backs. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">PUL</span> is the same fabric used in some cloth diaper covers to prevent liquid from getting to the other side of the cloth. The idea of the waterproof play mats is that they can be used with young babies whose diapers often leak (and who often puke all over the place unexpectedly). This way, mothers can protect their floors, beds, couches, and those of people whom they visit with baby in tow. The play mats are also perfect to bring to a park where grass may be wet from morning dew or rain. I hope these are a hit. Here is the first one I've put together:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_Aiq52-1sI/AAAAAAAAA9o/AqPeTTs8s-k/s1600-h/WetMat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_Aiq52-1sI/AAAAAAAAA9o/AqPeTTs8s-k/s400/WetMat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183681291584722626" border="0" /></a> As you can imagine it will be a challenge to photograph these since they are quite large. I'm probably going to make them in a large size and a small size, so that customers can have options.<br /><br />As many of you know, I love to bake, and each week I make a batch of muffins, scones, or something else both tasty and full of fiber for us to grab in the morning and eat as we scurry out the door. I realized that if I at least post the <span style="font-style: italic;">breakfast of the week </span>each week, along with accompanying recipe, that I'll be forcing myself to check in here four times a month. I think this is a must as I tend to get distracted easily and forget to post on a regular basis. This week's breakfast is a mixed-berry lemon muffin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AiMp2-1nI/AAAAAAAAA9A/hMC4xWVHm7Q/s1600-h/MixedBerryMuffins.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AiMp2-1nI/AAAAAAAAA9A/hMC4xWVHm7Q/s400/MixedBerryMuffins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183680771893679730" border="0" /></a> The special ingredient is a Meyer lemon <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AiQp2-1oI/AAAAAAAAA9I/sV1gQdQGfk8/s1600-h/MeyerLemon.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_AiQp2-1oI/AAAAAAAAA9I/sV1gQdQGfk8/s400/MeyerLemon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183680840613156482" border="0" /></a> which have been in the supermarkets around town this week. For those who have never had one before, those suckers are super sweet and delicious. I also made a big batch of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">vinaigrette</span> with a few of them for salads.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mixed Berry Meyer-Lemon Muffins:</span><br />2 sticks unsalted butter<br />1 cup sugar<br />Mix in mixer for about five minutes until light and fluffy. Add a swig of vanilla, and then slowly add four eggs, one at a time, being sure to mix well after each addition. Meanwhile, have four cups of well-mixed grains. I vary what I use here, and this week I used 1 cup of white flour, 1 cup of oat bran, almost 2 cups of stone ground whole wheat flour, and a dollop of ground flax seeds and wheat germ. Total grains should be 4 cups. Add to this 1/2 tsp. salt and 4 tsp. baking powder. Mix well. Grate the skin of an organic lemon (non-organic lemon skins are supposedly pretty chemical-laden) and add this to the grains. Have a cup of buttermilk set aside, and squeeze half a lemon into it. With the mixer on, alternate pouring in some flour with some buttermilk, ending with buttermilk. Add three cups of mixed frozen (or any kind of) berries. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.<br />Last but not least, I'm excited to have joined <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Ravelry</span></a>, the knit and crochet community. I first heard about over at <a href="http://www.futuregirl.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Futuregirl's</span> blog</a>, and boy am I psyched to get back into my projects. If any of you are on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Ravelry</span>, please look me up (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">VioletteCrumble</span>) and make me your friend! You know I love this web-community jazz.<br /><br />Also, I need your opinion on something. Should I cover the rest of my mid-century sofa in the same pumpkin fabric that I just made a new seat in. I love the funky pattern of the original fabric, but I'm not sure if it's just too many crazy things going on at once. I am slowly learning how make my surroundings a bit more minimal looking. What say thee? Yea or nay?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_Ap2p2-1tI/AAAAAAAAA9w/YrNtugCJi3g/s1600-h/SofaPattern.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R_Ap2p2-1tI/AAAAAAAAA9w/YrNtugCJi3g/s400/SofaPattern.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183689190029579986" border="0" /></a>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-91485889257479492042008-03-03T12:38:00.000-08:002008-03-03T12:51:43.614-08:00Second post in two days!I forgot to do self-promotion last night.<br /><br />This past week, Rose & Duke was featured on the blog <a href="http://cuteable.com/rose-and-duke/1638">Cuteable</a>:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8xiGq3xdDI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/ZpakUfoVn3o/s1600-h/Cuteable.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8xiGq3xdDI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/ZpakUfoVn3o/s400/Cuteable.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173617938668811314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was also asked to participate in <a href="http://funkyfinds.blogspot.com/">Funky Finds</a>' March Giveaway of handmade baby items. One lucky winner will receive a Rose & Duke gift certificate for any shirt or onesise.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8xkUa3xdEI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/zvfnKOYNAO0/s1600-h/Rose+%26+Duke+GIft+Cert.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8xkUa3xdEI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/zvfnKOYNAO0/s400/Rose+%26+Duke+GIft+Cert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173620373915268162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Be sure and enter the contest :)<br /></div></div></div></div>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-7428056361792395742008-03-02T19:12:00.001-08:002008-03-02T19:49:54.924-08:00Picopter Pants and other talesNow that life is falling into place a bit, I am returning to doing things that I enjoy, such as working on projects planned for before we moved to Austin.<br /><br />Case in point: I bought some helicopter fabric from Superbuzzy (do I even need to link it anymore?) back in August to make curtains for Harlan's room. It turns out that the blinds in there don't offend me as much as I originally thought they would, and the kid is totally, completely, obsessed with what he calls "piecopters". There are quite a bit of piecopters flying around Austin for some reason. We have even seen two of them make landings on near by hospital roofs (there are about a trillion hospitals here for some reason. They all have special purposes too, like the heart hospital, the children's hospital, the eye hospital, the trauma hospital, the big toe hospital, and the eyebrow hospital). I broke out the fabric and made Bub some pants that he refuses to take off:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ttP63xc7I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/acr6RY6FKDU/s1600-h/PiCopterPantsBub.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ttP63xc7I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/acr6RY6FKDU/s400/PiCopterPantsBub.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173348717233796018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ttJq3xc6I/AAAAAAAAA7I/USsUpbT5xrk/s1600-h/PiCopterPants.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ttJq3xc6I/AAAAAAAAA7I/USsUpbT5xrk/s400/PiCopterPants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173348609859613602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I also recently bought him some frog rain boots at Target which he is quite fond of wearing:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ts963xc5I/AAAAAAAAA7A/ARp3Clc5Vv8/s1600-h/FrogBoots.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ts963xc5I/AAAAAAAAA7A/ARp3Clc5Vv8/s400/FrogBoots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173348407996150674" border="0" /></a> This is the outfit he picked out today to wear to Ikea. We went there to pick out new bathroom supplies because we are finally getting the bathrooms renovated, hooray! I will post before and after photos when the work is finished. The bathrooms are way too gross now to simply post before photos. Seriously. If you thought our balcony looked like Sanford and Son's, you don't even want to know what's in the loos.<br /><br />Harlan's latest obsession besides piecopters are pillow houses. We discovered pillow houses last week over at chez Ellen & Brennan. Their sons pull all the pillows from the house together and dump them across the living room floor. They then proceed to throw themselves on top of the pillows and one another. For, like, hours. It seems to never get old. They like to be buried in piles of pillows and pretend to be chickens coming out of the eggs too. That's good times. Here they all are at Harlan's first pillow house:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ttYq3xc8I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/98ex7lueHKE/s1600-h/PillowHouse1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ttYq3xc8I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/98ex7lueHKE/s400/PillowHouse1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173348867557651394" border="0" /></a><br />And here is Harlan at home with his own pillow house. Please note the pillow I made from Superbuzzy fabric!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tst63xc3I/AAAAAAAAA6w/ijG19YBVaPw/s1600-h/BubsPillowHouse.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tst63xc3I/AAAAAAAAA6w/ijG19YBVaPw/s400/BubsPillowHouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173348133118243698" border="0" /></a> Doesn't he look just like a newborn chick?<br /><br />Here are the guys at a trip to the zoo last week:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ts0q3xc4I/AAAAAAAAA64/IvBAf3Jve2Y/s1600-h/DadBubZoo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8ts0q3xc4I/AAAAAAAAA64/IvBAf3Jve2Y/s400/DadBubZoo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173348249082360706" border="0" /></a> And here is a lousy shot of an amazing band called the <a href="http://www.quebesistersband.com/quebe-sisters-cd.php">Quebe Sisters.</a> You can listen on that link.<br />They are a family with three sisters who all won Texas fiddle contests (one is the national champ as well) and they sing the loveliest harmonies I have heard in years. Plus, you really can't beat triple fiddle.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tte63xc9I/AAAAAAAAA7g/u1NpfWQEXNY/s1600-h/QUebeSisters.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tte63xc9I/AAAAAAAAA7g/u1NpfWQEXNY/s400/QUebeSisters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173348974931833810" border="0" /></a> If you're wondering how we got to see a band play, just notice the playscape (that's 2008 speak for "jungle gym") structure behind the tent. The local fancy supermarket has a restaurant and a huge deck and playground (with a heart hospital right on the other side! And the hospital that Ladybird Johnson died in, one block away) attached to it. On the weekends they have bands play for free outdoors so that suckers like us with kids can pretend we still have social lives. I don't want to make all of you who are freezing feel jealous, but it does feel pretty awesome to spend a winter evening sitting outdoors in a light dress and watch the sun set while drinking a margarita and listening to a kick-ass live band play. Did I mention the playscape behind the tent where Harlan is happy to run amok for two hours?<br /><br /><br />And now, I am introducing my new blog collection of local bumper stickers. Here are the best of the past week.<br /><br />Irony and humor:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tyWa3xc-I/AAAAAAAAA7o/Z9aJEqseXGE/s1600-h/DSC00893.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tyWa3xc-I/AAAAAAAAA7o/Z9aJEqseXGE/s400/DSC00893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173354326461084642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Scaring you away from hell with the threat of an angry and wrathful God:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tyaK3xc_I/AAAAAAAAA7w/Xa4cA0HDlss/s1600-h/DSC00894.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tyaK3xc_I/AAAAAAAAA7w/Xa4cA0HDlss/s400/DSC00894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173354390885594098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That's right sistah:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tykK3xdBI/AAAAAAAAA8A/6KbPzV7cWlU/s1600-h/DSC00912.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tykK3xdBI/AAAAAAAAA8A/6KbPzV7cWlU/s400/DSC00912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173354562684285970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Whatever it takes to keep you away from the devil:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tygK3xdAI/AAAAAAAAA74/2JkRVe-V9i0/s1600-h/DSC00910.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R8tygK3xdAI/AAAAAAAAA74/2JkRVe-V9i0/s400/DSC00910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173354493964809218" border="0" /></a>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-76525139187587268732008-02-15T12:50:00.000-08:002008-02-15T14:08:57.443-08:00Drumroll please....<a href="http://www.roseandduke.com/">Rose & Duke</a> is open for business!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8s6mu_bI/AAAAAAAAA6o/loMKEWfEmeM/s1600-h/RoseDuke.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8s6mu_bI/AAAAAAAAA6o/loMKEWfEmeM/s400/RoseDuke.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167313996053675442" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I love the way the site turned out, and I have more products that I'll be adding to the site when they're ready.<br /><br />Today I was thrilled to see that Rose & Duke got a mention on my favorite blog about web shops for kid's stuff: <a href="http://bkids.typepad.com/">Bloesem kids</a>.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8Uqmu_YI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/j2mUJv3XwFE/s1600-h/Bloesem.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8Uqmu_YI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/j2mUJv3XwFE/s400/Bloesem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167313579441847682" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I must warn you to hide your wallet before checking her site out. Every store she highlights sells the loveliest handmade items for children. It's addictive for shopaholics like myself.<br /><br />In mail news January was a pretty exciting month over here. I won a contest on <a href="http://chetanddot.blogspot.com/">Chet & Dot's blog</a> and check out the booty I received from Jenn:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8O6mu_XI/AAAAAAAAA6I/t8aTDRBxZ2Y/s1600-h/Chetanddotgoodies.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8O6mu_XI/AAAAAAAAA6I/t8aTDRBxZ2Y/s400/Chetanddotgoodies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167313480657599858" border="0" /></a> That's right gals! I got a free Chet and Dot drawstring bag, a kleenex pack holder, a scalloped-edge wallet, a mini spool of twine, a bookmark, and my favorite, a tiny penguin ornament. I tell you it was better than Ed McMahon showing up at my door with balloons.<br /><br />But wait, there's more! Last month I fell in love with a new blog, <a href="http://elsita.typepad.com/elsita/">Elsa Mora</a>. I found Elsita through the <a href="http://flickr.com/groups/embroideredstuff/">flickr embroidery group</a>, but she also makes spectacular <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9522362">porcelain sculptures</a>, detailed dresses, jewelry, and prints. Anyhow, Elsa highlighted one of the prints she made on her blog (it's called <span style="font-style: italic;">Motivations</span>) and I commented that I wanted to purchase it when it went into her etsy shop.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8kamu_aI/AAAAAAAAA6g/e1n2NjUAkgY/s1600-h/motivations.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8kamu_aI/AAAAAAAAA6g/e1n2NjUAkgY/s400/motivations.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167313850024787362" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Instead of putting it in the shop she sent it to me! I got it to frame and give to Joe for his classroom, although I'm looking forward to the summer when I get to have it back.<br /><br />Lastly, I had pretty much given up hope of ever receiving my swap package from the <a href="http://montessoribyhand.blogspot.com/">Montessori by Hand</a> holiday traditions swap. I sent my package out on the mid-December deadline, and when mine hadn't arrived before I left town for the holidays, I wrote to my swap partner. She had apparently accidentally sent my package to the wrong address and it was returned to her. Anyhow, it finally made it to me in late January and inside were some recipes, some truffles, and this adorable acorn hat family. Emily also included an envelope with some other acorn hats so that I could make my own. I have to admit these were worth the wait!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8Y6mu_ZI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/zcld2wzzF2s/s1600-h/acornpeeps.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R7X8Y6mu_ZI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/zcld2wzzF2s/s400/acornpeeps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167313652456291730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And here's another reason for a drum roll, after staying home with Harlan full-time since he was born I've finally gone back to work part-time. Now that Harlan has acclimated to Montessori school, I'm going to work at my own school each morning. I'm tutoring junior high students at a near by public school in a rural area that I had never been to before. It's only fifteen minutes away from my central Austin neighborhood, but you would never know you were right next to a city based on all the fields that stretch to the horizon. The weird thing is that it's kind of a rural ghetto. There may be expansive fields on either side of the two-lane road, but every few fields there is one filled with something like a row of pink dumpsters, a gentleman's club, or a cluster of mobile homes with cardboard window coverings (and yes, they are occupied). I'll have to start taking some pictures to add to the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/flickr.com/groups/ruraldecay/">rural decay flickr group</a>. There are some truly spectacular shots in this group, like <a href="http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=2165573486&size=large">this one</a>, and <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22224776@N08/2135635613/in/pool-ruraldecay">this one</a>, and <a href="http://www.bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=2261674414&size=large">this one</a>.<br /><br />It feels good to be back at work, not just because it gets me out of the house, but because as some of you may know I was suffering from stomach issues and ensuing panic attacks when I was in graduate school (and pregnant with Harlan). I was tutoring at a public school back in NYC at the time and it became physically impossible for me to continue the work I was doing as well as attending my classes. I could not get on a subway. I was positive I was going to need a bathroom or that there would be a bomb on the train, or that there would be a bomb scare and the train would stop and I would need a bathroom and not be able to get to one. I could not stop thinking about the people who were on the subway both during 9-11 and during the blackout a couple of summers later when subway riders were trapped for hours. It was a very rough period in my life, both because of the physical and emotional issues I was having, and because of how difficult it was for me to get those around me to understand that I was in a legitimate crisis and not able to control what was happening to my body. While panic attacks are common, people who have never had one can't really grasp how terrifying they are, and how much they can limit one's ability to function. In my personal situation, the panic attacks were a direct result of the stomach issues I was having during my pregnancy, and once Harlan was born, the fear of having more panic attacks did not help my stomach functionality return to normal. It became a case of the chicken and the egg whenever I had to give up control and get on a subway or bus or in a car, and I retreated into a safe and wonderful world in Fort Greene where I was lucky enough to be able to surround myself with compassionate and intelligent mama friends. For Harlan's first year I was never alone, and I never had to explain to anyone why I couldn't get on a subway and come meet them. I was also lucky enough to have Joe support me and believe that I would get better. He never pressured me to get on a subway that I couldn't get on, or to "try this or try that" as many other well-intentioned loved ones suggested.<br /><br />I was not a stranger to the world of panic attacks when I became pregnant with Harlan. Back when I graduated college and began my first job teaching at a school for children with emotional and learning disabilities, I experienced panic attacks for the first time. This first time too, stomach issues were involved, as was the fear of getting on public transportation. The school was two very long bus-rides away from my house and I was lucky enough to have a best friend who drove me to work at the crack of dawn each morning, even though she had no reason to be up that early. Our friendship ended years later, but I will always be thankful for her help during my first crisis. I suppose I have been very lucky during both periods in my life when I was full panic-crisis-mode. If I had had to experience either time without such wonderful friends and loved ones, I'm not sure I would have made it through to the other side. Anyhow, the point of my divulging all of this personal information to the world is that my being able to take myself to work each morning means that it's finally over, and that I'm officially back in the world of the fully-functioning. For the most part I kept my crisis to myself, because it was difficult to explain and also because it was shameful. In retrospect I can't understand why I felt ashamed except that I was afraid of being judged. I suppose I'm not anymore.<br /></div></div>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-43290133106904321632008-01-20T12:46:00.000-08:002008-01-20T13:11:11.740-08:00Greetings earthlings<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O08Q8sEBI/AAAAAAAAA54/fg-OeqbUdZQ/s1600-h/2008card.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O08Q8sEBI/AAAAAAAAA54/fg-OeqbUdZQ/s400/2008card.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157664945704013842" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br />Yes, it has been a long time since I posted an entry here. The explanation for my absence is that we took a long vacation back to NYC for Christmas and then down to Florida for Harlan to meet my 95 year old grandparents.<br /><br />Since our return I have made a new year's resolution to get my time management under control, and to prioritize what I spend my non-Harlan time doing. This blog has been bumped down a notch, along with reading my favorite blogs, because right now I am under a deadline for the launching of the new Rose & Duke site and so I'm spending whatever time I have working on samples of the 2008 designs to photograph. I also made it a new year's resolution to make more time to work on personal craft projects for my home and my family. It seems like I used to spend a ton of free time making cute outfits for Harlan and other nifty creations, but sadly that free time got all eaten up by work obligations, and suddenly what began as a fun way to make money without leaving the house became a very full time job. I am going to try and find balance this year my friends.<br /><br />Without further ado I present the highlights of the past month:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O0bA8sD-I/AAAAAAAAA5g/GAe6ZVoMexM/s1600-h/BubonXmas.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O0bA8sD-I/AAAAAAAAA5g/GAe6ZVoMexM/s400/BubonXmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157664374473363426" border="0" /></a> Harlan enjoyed opening a ton of Christmas gifts at his grandma "Mimi's" apartment. It was so bittersweet to be home (Joe wonders how long it will be until we call Texas "home") and see all our family and friends. We miss everyone a lot but at the same time our peers with toddlers are stressing about finding places to live where a second child could fit, and getting their toddlers into pre-school. As many of you may know the pre-school scene in NYC is super competitive and expensive. These are two adjectives I'm not so thrilled with, and our trip basically reaffirmed that we made the right move to Austin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O0oA8sEAI/AAAAAAAAA5w/mmi6nY77INM/s1600-h/FLAonXmas.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O0oA8sEAI/AAAAAAAAA5w/mmi6nY77INM/s400/FLAonXmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157664597811662850" border="0" /></a> Our trip to Flordia was ironically freezing cold. The local news seemed to have around the clock coverage of the local citrus growers and how they were trying to salvage their crops. Harlan enjoyed meeting his great grandparents, but let's just say they had forgotten how two year olds act and seemed to think that I had let a wild gorilla loose in their condo. Above is a photo of a house that had a crocheted gaslight cap. I really wanted to get up on the lawn and get a close up shot for the blog, but I was too chicken to get out of the car with my camera. There were a LOT of crocheted gaslight caps, all in green, white, and red for the holiday season (or because everyone in Florida is Italian, but I tend to think the holidays had more to do with it).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O0jA8sD_I/AAAAAAAAA5o/ZOqj4l7PRYM/s1600-h/HonJackalope.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O0jA8sD_I/AAAAAAAAA5o/ZOqj4l7PRYM/s400/HonJackalope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157664511912316914" border="0" /></a> This photos was taken at a recent turkey fry potluck party that my friends Kevin and <a href="http://jnadesigns.com/">Jenifer</a> hosted at their home here in Austin. The Jackalope that Harlan is posing on was made by Kevin at his amazing business <a href="http://www.bluegenieart.com/">Blue Genie Art</a>. By the way, if you have never tasted a deep-fried turkey before you are seriously missing out. I went to the party thinking it would taste just like turkey except with a fried skin on the outside. Instead it turns out that frying a turkey seals in all the juices and flavors that end up pouring out of the meat when you bake it in an oven. D-licious. Below is a shot of Kevin deep frying some Twinkies. I didn't try these, but I heard they were pretty F'ing good too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O3rA8sECI/AAAAAAAAA6A/3OwSu0h5xVc/s1600-h/KevinFrying.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R5O3rA8sECI/AAAAAAAAA6A/3OwSu0h5xVc/s400/KevinFrying.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157667947886153762" border="0" /></a>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-45134074077958729532007-12-15T19:49:00.000-08:002007-12-15T20:49:04.032-08:00What's old is newI went to hock my wears on S. Congress today in the Guerro's outdoor area, along with my friend Jody who also sells hand embroidered and appliqued children's clothes. Unfortunately, today was one of the only super cold and windy days in Austin this year. The winds were so strong that our entire tables and garment racks kept dumping over, so we packed up and decided to have a mamas' day out. Luckily for each of us we sold a couple of items in the short time we were there, covering the cost of the spot, and we scored a free make-up day next Saturday!<br /><br />After a tasty lunch and couple of drinks we checked out the new old-fashioned candy store and ice cream fountain shop: Big Top. I've been watching them decorate the shop with giant circus posters for a while now, anticipating their grand opening:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SiGg8sD5I/AAAAAAAAA44/_aOO18zj08E/s1600-h/Posters.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SiGg8sD5I/AAAAAAAAA44/_aOO18zj08E/s400/Posters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144414907171344274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sgpg8sDpI/AAAAAAAAA24/snsKM4tL3uE/s1600-h/BigTopInside.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sgpg8sDpI/AAAAAAAAA24/snsKM4tL3uE/s400/BigTopInside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144413309443509906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sgvw8sDqI/AAAAAAAAA3A/1Lci3xnfWHQ/s1600-h/CandyCounter.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sgvw8sDqI/AAAAAAAAA3A/1Lci3xnfWHQ/s400/CandyCounter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144413416817692322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sg1Q8sDrI/AAAAAAAAA3I/EeHrjtVZRA4/s1600-h/Candywall2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sg1Q8sDrI/AAAAAAAAA3I/EeHrjtVZRA4/s400/Candywall2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144413511306972850" border="0" /></a><br />There were wall to wall candies- the hard to find kind that you thought you would never see again!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2ShEQ8sDuI/AAAAAAAAA3g/4pQ8d7h5onM/s1600-h/FrenchChew.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2ShEQ8sDuI/AAAAAAAAA3g/4pQ8d7h5onM/s400/FrenchChew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144413769005010658" border="0" /></a><br />The ones that immediately grabbed me were these chocolaty morsels, filled with liquid marshmellow:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SiaQ8sD8I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/86FCdOZpGO4/s1600-h/Valomilk.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SiaQ8sD8I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/86FCdOZpGO4/s400/Valomilk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144415246473760706" border="0" /></a><br />Because the store just opened I knew that whatever I bought would be super fresh and I was not disappointed one bit. This Valomilk melted in my mouth, and the chocolate was surprisingly good quality. As soon as I saw these maple peanut balls in the bulk bins I knew I was a gonner:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sh3Q8sD2I/AAAAAAAAA4g/iB5s0QrUqQU/s1600-h/MapleNutBalls.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sh3Q8sD2I/AAAAAAAAA4g/iB5s0QrUqQU/s400/MapleNutBalls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144414645178339170" border="0" /></a><br />What they lack in aesthetic value they more than make up for in taste and texture. Again, they were super fresh tasting. "Num num num" as Harlan would say (and as he did say when he got hold of the bag I left on the counter). Less appealing for taste value, but more appealing for <span style="font-style: italic;">ha ha</span> value were these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2ShPA8sDwI/AAAAAAAAA3w/tN63CubBJVE/s1600-h/GummyBacon.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2ShPA8sDwI/AAAAAAAAA3w/tN63CubBJVE/s400/GummyBacon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144413953688604418" border="0" /></a><br />I also picked up some cinnamon toothpicks for my mom since we'll be seeing her up in NYC very soon:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SiVA8sD7I/AAAAAAAAA5I/MZYC8GrDz3s/s1600-h/Toothpicks.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SiVA8sD7I/AAAAAAAAA5I/MZYC8GrDz3s/s400/Toothpicks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144415156279447474" border="0" /></a><br />Last week I received a surprise book from a secret friend of mine who works at Conde Nast and always hooks me up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SlGQ8sD9I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/Pf-e6qGjcUw/s1600-h/51Nq2dHvWpL._AA240_.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SlGQ8sD9I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/Pf-e6qGjcUw/s400/51Nq2dHvWpL._AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144418201411260370" border="0" /></a> The new Son of Stitch 'N Bitch book by Debbie Stroller. The patterns were overwhelmingly cool and very clever. My favorites include the Lucha Libre ski masks:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Shvw8sD1I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/tghkkLqZyOo/s1600-h/LuchaLibreMask.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Shvw8sD1I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/tghkkLqZyOo/s400/LuchaLibreMask.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144414516329320274" border="0" /></a><br />The High Fidelity sweater (look- the pattern across the chest looks like 45 rpm records):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2ShXw8sDyI/AAAAAAAAA4A/y_WdNHYipwk/s1600-h/HighFidelitySweater.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2ShXw8sDyI/AAAAAAAAA4A/y_WdNHYipwk/s400/HighFidelitySweater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144414104012459810" border="0" /></a><br />Joe wants me to make him this hat:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2ShTw8sDxI/AAAAAAAAA34/f93plTV6KKI/s1600-h/HalfPipeHat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2ShTw8sDxI/AAAAAAAAA34/f93plTV6KKI/s400/HalfPipeHat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144414035292983058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I guess I'll have to add it to my super long To Do list. Luckily I'll be able to get at that list soon. I've begun the Rose & Duke 2008 collection and have decided that once they're up and the site is launched (early Feb.) I'm going to relax and only fill web orders until the summer at which point I'll begin producing for next year's Christmas fair season. I seem to have spent all my "free" time over the past year working on embroideries and other business related stuff and suddenly I have no time to make anything for myself or my family. Suddenly it's no longer fun, and surprisingly unprofitable for the amount of effort involved. I may keep up with one retail store in Brooklyn and one here, but otherwise I would rather try to concentrate on the Christmas season when I can do what I've been doing on a more frequent level (I missed the deadlines to apply to a bunch of good craft fairs here this past season) and on web orders. This way I'll get all the profit myself and will also be able to make the whole thing more of a part time venture than it has been so far. I want to keep it fun! That said, here is a sneak peak of some of what I'm making for next year. A few of the designs are expanded and more detailed versions of the appliques I made at the beginning of last summer (<a href="http://violettecrumble.blogspot.com/2007/05/tips-of-trade.html">see some old pears here</a>.) These old applique designs were the first to sell at Stitch and the most fun (and least time consuming) to create. Bingo!<br />Happy Cherry Hoodie:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sg5g8sDsI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/4qWcSk9HhfA/s1600-h/CherriesHoodie.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sg5g8sDsI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/4qWcSk9HhfA/s400/CherriesHoodie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144413584321416898" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Flan Onesie:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sg-w8sDtI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/H318p5fkw3g/s1600-h/FlanFace.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sg-w8sDtI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/H318p5fkw3g/s400/FlanFace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144413674515730130" border="0" /></a><br />Happy peach face shirt:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sh8g8sD3I/AAAAAAAAA4o/tVZOSmStCQQ/s1600-h/PeachFace.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2Sh8g8sD3I/AAAAAAAAA4o/tVZOSmStCQQ/s400/PeachFace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144414735372652402" border="0" /></a><br />A pair of pears:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SiAw8sD4I/AAAAAAAAA4w/MWK7OrcgH1I/s1600-h/Pears.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R2SiAw8sD4I/AAAAAAAAA4w/MWK7OrcgH1I/s400/Pears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144414808387096450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have a few more in the works as well, mostly inspired by Japanese sweets that show up in my craft books or on bento boxes or Decole goodies. I've seen a couple of crafters out there make really great stuffed versions of these sweets. Check out <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/cutiepoo/sets/72057594055534987/">Cutseypoo and her egg tarts</a>, <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/sherrysherry/sets/72157600466412956/">Cocokoala</a>'s needle felted critters, <a href="http://www.shelikescute.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=68&zenid=99270d500023ed950e9d6d0f298fd971">She Like's Cute's softie pins</a>. I can't get enough. What did old people do before the internets showed up? I feel like when Joe and I one day tell Harlan tales of how we grew up with telephones that were attached to walls and no internet, that he will think of these stories the same way we thought of the ones our parents told of growing up sitting around a radio on a Saturday night, and what they watched the first time they saw a television. Joe recently had such a conversation with one of his classes of high school seniors. A particularly funny student asked him if they had cars when he was a kid, or they had dirt. Perhaps I should call Bill Cosby and tell him this "kids are funny" anecdote. Perhaps he's already reading it.Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6262221125319354275.post-25222413219481249152007-12-09T15:20:00.000-08:002007-12-09T16:39:01.012-08:00Holiday Secrets Revealed!Warning: If you are involved in a holiday ornament swap with me- do not scroll down unless you want to ruin your surprise.<br /><br />This week I completed my 9 ornaments for one swap and sent them out. Here they are posing for you before I wraped 'em up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x4kZjT1iI/AAAAAAAAA2E/30ZdTeO7nls/s1600-h/DeerOrnaments.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x4kZjT1iI/AAAAAAAAA2E/30ZdTeO7nls/s400/DeerOrnaments.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142117441279874594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some of you <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/">MSL</a> readers may recognize the deer. Some of you <a href="http://www.superbuzzy.com/">Superbuzzy</a> fans may recognize the background fabric. I bought it to make Harlan a Christmas pillow and duvet top with.<br /><br />This next ornament is going out to <a href="http://claredujour.blogspot.com/">Emily</a>, my swap partner for the Holiday Traditions swap (see sidebar for more info). I got the embroidery pattern from <a href="http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/">Hilary</a> and can't wait to make more of these for myself and others for next year. I promise not to mess up the mouse head again. The sides of the ornament are hand stitched with vintage silver thread. You can't tell in the photo, but it really pulls the whole thing together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x4x5jT1kI/AAAAAAAAA2U/tif0SkIYokE/s1600-h/MouseHouseOrnament.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x4x5jT1kI/AAAAAAAAA2U/tif0SkIYokE/s400/MouseHouseOrnament.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142117673208108610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In other holiday surprise news, my good pal since high school Lindsay gave birth to her second daughter, Tatiana. I'm posting this photo of Tatiana and older sister Natalia mostly for friends and family of mine who have known Lindsay all these years, although who doesn't enjoy seeing snuggly baby photos?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x43JjT1lI/AAAAAAAAA2c/cYAKPfPAFgI/s1600-h/Natalia%2BTatiana.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x43JjT1lI/AAAAAAAAA2c/cYAKPfPAFgI/s400/Natalia%2BTatiana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142117763402421842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x6j5jT1nI/AAAAAAAAA2s/QpBDYMvqZfg/s1600-h/Tatiana+Face.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x6j5jT1nI/AAAAAAAAA2s/QpBDYMvqZfg/s400/Tatiana+Face.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142119631713195634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In yet EVEN MORE holiday surprise news, I keep forgetting to tell everyone that I chopped all the old hair off the noggin a couple of months ago. I came across a recent photos of <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06/katiehairRET_450x300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html%3Fin_article_id%3D52848%26in_page_id%3D7&h=300&w=450&sz=33&hl=en&start=6&sig2=JqjpphPOJgiOFMa3cdd8bw&um=1&tbnid=jknL-MEhUU7U3M:&tbnh=85&tbnw=127&eid=Q3xcR5HeBoG-igGA_tX6Bg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkatie%2Bholmes%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN">Katie Holmes whose new haircut is supposed to be a rip off of Posh Spice</a> (it's not even close in my opinion) and said to myself, <span style="font-style: italic;">Now that I can live with</span>. I'm going to be really pissed if they print a photo of me saying I am also trying to rip off Posh because anyone can see right here that it's actually Katie whom I'm biting. I brought the photo in to Stacie (my friend and resident hair cutter) and as usual she gave me exactly what I asked for. Here are photos of me and Harlan taken earlier today at the park:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x4rJjT1jI/AAAAAAAAA2M/E7F2UNElngw/s1600-h/CentralMkt12907.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x4rJjT1jI/AAAAAAAAA2M/E7F2UNElngw/s400/CentralMkt12907.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142117557243991602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x485jT1mI/AAAAAAAAA2k/I2rLg-qc6kA/s1600-h/SideViewNewHair.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_OuVSn_JFIR0/R1x485jT1mI/AAAAAAAAA2k/I2rLg-qc6kA/s400/SideViewNewHair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142117862186669666" border="0" /></a>Violette Crumblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625846501660563959noreply@blogger.com12