r.i.p.

Today I'm mourning the loss of a companion of nearly 20 years. My Husqvarna Viking sewing machine, number 6020. After valiantly hemming countless pairs of jeans, hundreds of yards of quilter's cotton and slogging through more polar fleece than I care to think about, my trusty Swedish sidekick gave up the ghost sewing, of all things, a pot holder.


I rushed it to Adam, the sewing machine doc, with hopes of a quick lube job and tune up, maybe even a transplant, but I read the bad news on his face as he heaved it onto the counter. Adam delivered the bad news, then steered me over to the new Vikings, and demonstrated the wonders of modern sewing machine technology. He's shrewd, that Adam. He didn't show me the top of the line Vikings, on the contrary, he proffered an updated model with just enough improvements over my old friend to tempt me.



Automatic buttonholes! Built in needle threader! An up/down needle control! Variable speeds! I barely kept myself from swooning. When I saw the price for these perks, I reluctantly snapped out of his spell and got down to business. How much to fix it? ($260+) That's about half the price of a new machine.

I'm tempted, but thinking it over.

What do you think? Is it worth it? Am I a traitor?

no need to panic

The Summer Sale is coming up this Friday, and I'm trying not to panic. Somehow, I'd forgotten that all my signs were stolen during last December's sale. My hand-painted signs that I've had for years. Yikes.

I'm currently awaiting a call back from two sign companies for some quickie printed plastic ones. 

In the meantime, here are some images of work by the talented group of artists I have yet to list in the sidebar. (I AM NOT panicking!)

magic marble 8 ball, by Megan Klepp

Artist Megan Klepp makes amazing mosaics with found objects like bowling balls and marbles and tile. You can see more of her work and a schedule of classes at her website, TaDah!

chicken pendants by Papaver Jewelry

My friend Maggie Kearns over at Papaver Jewelry makes very cool accessories and ornaments and doodads from a variety of materials. Her newest work involves felting, and metal, but she also works with fused glass, bottlecaps and scrabble tiles. Maggie's also an urban farmer and a  blogger! You can read about her little homestead and all her livestock (chickens and ducks and dogs and cats and her boyfriend Brandon, and their new truck) here.

felted polka dot earrings by Papaver Jewelry

Ok, I've gotta go now before I hyperventilate... Stay tuned for more artists later!

summer sale!

Next weekend!