Day 5 Da Vinci Mode Challenge

Well, we are going strong with our 365 day challenge and have made it to DAY 5!

Da Vinci Mode 365 Challenge

I am starting a new challenge with a group of friends I met on facebook - we just finished our 30 day challenge to create something every day and post about it - whether its a studio organization, a new project idea you started, or actual items you made - its all about having fun and creating every day. The first group started out as a 30 day challenge and some of us wanted to keep going - so we did!

Our group can be found on facebook and is described below:

"We are a fierce group of individuals seeking to live more creatively on a daily basis using Leonardo Da Vinci as our role model. We vow to hold each other accountable, to inspire and to push ourselves in new creative directions."

See you there!

Spring is Finally Here!

This past month in northern Virginia we have had some pretty crappy weather days - but what a wonderful few days/weekend we are having! My plants are thriving and my cat Dahlia loves sunning herself on the window sill! As the weather gets nice, I am starting to make some things for myself in between sewing for markets - I am hoping to make at least one new thing for myself per week so check back for pics!

The Reston Market - Coming Soon!

Hi all - just a reminder that market at Lake Anne in Reston, VA will be starting the first weekend in May! The adjacent farmer's market will begin the 2nd week so come on out for a beautiful day of great vendors - hope to see you there!

And for those of you who are not in the northern Virginia area, there is a great site to locate farmer's markets close to where you live - Local Harvest - they have info on local CSA as well - check it out!

Another Etsy Favorite

Hi everyone - today's post is about one of my favorite shops on etsy - Skin Journey. I discovered this great shop last summer and have been buying my facial care products there ever since. Mika of Skin Journey recently revamped her line and it is even more fabulous than before! I use the facial cleanser and creams, and I love, love, love her facial scrub.


Skin Journey also offers an array of delicious smelling whipped body emulsions, a fab foot cream and scrub, and the best lip balm every - I buy these for gifts and get raves every time - try one for yourself!

City Paper's Best of DC 2009

Congratulations to Beth Baldwin of tigerflight for winning top honors as best local crafter and tinaseamonster who came in second....and guess who came in third - oblinaknit - that's me!!!! My sincere thanks to everyone who voted - I truly am honored that I placed in the top 3!

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated - DC rocks!

Congratulations Julia !

Julia was the winner of one of my Botanica Totes via The Wickedly Chic Sunday Night Giveaway. You can sign up for emails and receive future giveaway info at Wickedly Chic.

Congratulations Julia - your new tote is on the way to you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

oblinaknit is offering 17% off all items (not including shipping) in my shop in honor of today - just put "leprechaun' in your etsy checkout notes and I will send a revised invoice. if you want to go ahead and pay, I am happy to refund the 17% to your PayPal account

have a wonderful day!

This offer ends at midnight PST (that's 6AM Wednesday for us folks on the east coast!)

Emerald City - Here I Come!

I have been adding to my wire wrapping skills and came across a wonderful seller/shop that is one of my newest favs on etsy - solivio. Not only does she offer great tutorials on more detailed wire-wrapping, she has some fabulous semi-precious beads! Her other site - make101 - has additional tutorials and a wealth of information for jewelery designers.

These are the emerald earrings I made using the techniques from one of her tutorials - I think I will be keeping these all for myself!

It's here, it's here!!!!!!

Okay - maybe it's the coffee I have been drinking ALL DAY, but I am very excited to announce the first of my patterns available for sale in my etsy shop! I managed to get the PayPal widget onto this blog as well so people can purchase the pattern directly from here if they would like - the widget adds some time to the page loading - anyone have any thoughts?

The pattern is for my Sniffle Travel Tissue Holder and it would not have been possible without the graphics help of my friend from etsy - flashwithclass - she is the best and the first person I go to when I need banners, ad logos, web design help - absolutely wonderful to work with!

This is the first in a new line of patterns I am working on - it is perfect for beginners with a basic knowledge of sewing. You will need to know how to straight stitch and zig-zag stitch with your machine in order to complete the project.

This pattern can be a jumping off point for your creativity. You are welcome to make the tissue holders and sell them online and at craft shows. I encourage you to add your own embellishment to the pattern - there are all kinds of great trims and buttons out there!

The Sniffle pattern makes use of smaller pieces of fabric - you just need two (2) pieces of cotton fabric that are at least 7 x 7" (to lay out the pattern template), along with scissors, pins, thread, 1/2" double-fold bias tape, an iron and a sewing machine and you are good to go.