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All of our bones made it back from Sayulita, safe and sound.

It has been a very slow reentry into the daily grind but I'm getting there.  Surprisingly, taking long runs in the cold, dark, wet rain has helped to loosen the heartache of leaving behind two glorious, hot, sun drenched, dry, bright and lovely weeks in Sayulita.  Who knew?!

As I get back to crafting and opening my Etsy shop, I will keep you posted on works in progress, shop updates, new finds, etc.  I will also be posting a lot of photos from our trip here so they don't get lost in the abyss and so that I have a record of our time and can remember what it was like, what we did, when, etc.  It's important to me to document it here as I do not keep family scrap books and I suck at printing pictures and filling up photo albums.  So bare with me.  I'll try to mix it up and I hope it doesn't get too boring!



Adios!

xoxooox

Jennette

Uwajimaya

Stopped at the Uwajimaya in Renton today after taking the boys to have lunch with their Great Grandma, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncle and cousins. 

I can hardly wait to show you what I found!

Moomin Candy!!!!

Y'all familiar with Mumintroll(Swedish spelling)?  Read much Tove Jansson?  She's a Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer.

I have been such a fan of Moomin for a few years now and it is not easy to find anything Moomin-ish, in stores here.  Uwajimaya has had the most offerings, besides online sources, that you can actually see, touch and feel.  I got candy, folks!  And it's good!

I figured these little tins will make great craft containers and I just love the Moomin stories and characters so even just to look at them makes me happy!  If you aren't familiar with Moomin, check out the comic strip and books.  If you like unusual, strange, interesting, funny, smart, weird stuff like I do, you'll LOVE the Moomins!

I also found some more new kitchen containers.  Look at what they say:

I just LOVE these!  Some of you may remember the ones I got over the summer:

I also found a few small ceramic containers that are so cute and useful:

Luckily (for my wallet's sake!), they did not have a Kinokuniya Book Store attached to this particular Uwajimaya so I didn't have to struggle with the do I buy it, don't I buy it, soul-splitting head-banter I always encounter upon trying to leave Kinokuniya without spending the mortgage money!  Oh, those Japanese sewing books!  They have me by the balls!  Love, love, love them!

Blessed Holidays Everyone!

Enjoy the season,

xoxox,

Jennette

New - Old Sweaters

So my Aunt Charlene saw my previous post about the Granted-type sweater I found at the Flea Market for $30.  It looks like this:

And it reminded her of the sweaters my Grandma knit (first photo, above)for her and my Uncle Steve, way back in the very early 70s, when Grandma was still working at Boeing and before my cousin Marci or I were born.  My aunt sent me an email a couple days ago and asked if I would want them, when we met at my Grandma's today for lunch, since she had had them in storage for many many years.  YES!  YES!  I want them!

August LOVES the sweater that fits him.  He says he feels like he should be wearing it on a college campus!  Can't you tell he thinks he looks good!  He does look good!

My Grandma knit them in wool and she even lined them!  They zip up and they don't have pockets but that's OK.

August is showing you the lining here.

So the other sweater fits me great but Gus is not thrilled that we have "matching" sweaters.  I told him that I wont wear mine when he wears his, but otherwise it's fair game!  Some day Jasper will fit into mine and then they can be matchy matchy brothers!

We LOVE our new - old sweaters!  Thanks Aunt Charlene and Uncle Steve!  Thank you Grandma for being a knitter back in the day!  I so adore having these family treasures and I love to use them!

Merry Yule and Blessed Solstice everyone!

xoxo

Jennette

 



Man Child

Hilarious man child, cracking me up!

xoxoxo

Jennette



Carpet Bag

Finally finished the carpet bag!

I found this rug piece in Tucson last spring and hauled it home with me.  I also found a full size rug, perfectly worn, that I hauled home too.  Thank you Southwest Airlines for letting us each check two bags for free!  I was able to bring home a massive ton of loot!  Anyhow, here is the rug piece, as found:

Here is the piece, as found, layed out on my floor.

Here is a closer-up detail.

I used dark brown linen, from an old dress, to line the inside side.  Its hard to see but I made a pocket too.

This photo shows how I just guesstimate about where and what size I want a messenger style bag to be.  I line the entire piece first then play with bag/flap size until it looks just right to me.  Then I pin in the side/strap piece.  This time I used the brown linen for one side of the strap and some army green linen from and old pair of shorts I picked up at the Lopez Transfer Station, Take It or Leave It, over the summer. 

Here is the strap before I began pinning it to the bag.

In these two photos I am trying to show the pinning of the strap to the bag in a way that you can see how I construct it.  But these photos don't do it justice.  I basically pin the bottom of the strap to what I want to be the bottom of the bag and then sew it up the sides to the top.  In this case, I made the strap too long so I need to go back and shorten it.

So with the carpet bag finished I can move on to other projects that have been left unfinished and half started.  Still working on my jacket from a vintage pattern.  Still working on a few other bags in progress.  Still have a few dolls being embroidered.  Still have mending and tweaking on several garments to finish.  Still, still, still.  And most of it will have to wait until I am back from vacation because that is fast approaching and I have many little ends to tie up before we fly off.  I plan to show you many of the finds I have discovered in the past couple weeks.  Stay tuned.  Normal programming will resume in the New Year. 

xoxox

Jennette



Turkey

Jasper embroidered his turkey design for his Grandma.  Every year he gives her some kind of turkey art project near Thanksgiving.  This year he decided to draw his own design and "sew" it on muslin for Grandma.

Jasper drew his turkey on paper with pencil.  Then he traced it with a Sharpie so the lines were dark.  Then he taped the picture up on the window and then we taped the muslin piece over it.  I helped him with the tracing of the design onto the muslin with pencil.

Hard at work, concentrating.

The back side.

Jasper asked me to finish the edges for him.  He did not want it to have tabs or any particular way to hang.  He wanted his Grandma to lay it flat on the table for his other clay turkeys to sit on.  He signed the bottom corner with a Sharpie.

And the minute he was done:

he picked up his knitting!

Turkey!

xoxox

Jennette



Basket Liners

I made some basket liners for my friend Kathy last weekend.  She had this rolling market cart that folds flat and she had a large circular rolling basket that she wanted to use for laundry.  Unfortunately I forgot to take final photos so I only have a few of work in progress.

Here you can see the print on the fabric and the awesome green color on the wheel and spokes.  Kathy and I found a queen or king size Ralph Lauren sheet at Goodwill and that's what I used for one side on these liners.  The other side in unbleached muslin.

The liners are super easy to make.  You just measure all four sides of your basket and then add in an inch or so for a seam allowance.  You lay it out like a huge rectangle.  Then with right sides together you sew it like your making a pillow case and leaving an opening to turn it right sides out.  You do the same for the bottom piece and then you attach the sides to the bottom.  You can see above how I try to make the seam run down the center back.

I use sets of ties at the top to hold the liner secure to the top bar of the basket.  On this one I top stitched the ties to the sides of the fabric.  You can either have them pinned in and sewn in the seam or you can top stitch them on after you've turned it right side out.  Either way its cute and it works!

This is the large circular basket that Kathy will use for laundry.  She had originally just wanted it all muslin but I forgot and made one side with the RL sheet.  Here is where you won't see a photo of it complete but you get the idea.  You can see the bottom piece here.  Once I had the super long rectangle of fabric for the side complete I simply pinned it to the bottom circle and sewed it all together.  On this one I did pin in the sets of ties to the seam, sandwiched between the right sides, so when it was turned right side out, the ties were dangling from the top, every 6 inches or so, all the way around.  Easy pie!

Here is a view of the circular basket from the top.  What's nice is that these liners are reversible.  You can have either side showing, inside or outside.  They are also completely washable, durable and preshrunk so you can get a lot of use out of them.

I have several more market baskets I will be making liners for and selling at M&M.  I made a liner for one last spring and it sold the day I brought it in.  A lot of us use the market baskets at antique shows and flea markets to carry all our loot in and help keep our hands free for browsing.  They would also be handy at a park, the zoo, the beach, and at concerts or festivals.

I will let y'all know when I have some for sale.  I am not listing them in my Etsy shop since the pacakaging and shipping is not something I can take on at this time. I really do have at least 10 more market baskets in the basement so do let me know if you want one.  I will take custom orders.  Thanks!

xox

Jennette 

Winter Wonderland

As the snow started to fall at our house I couldn't resist getting out a few holiday ornaments to enjoy for the next few weeks.  I said I would resist since a surfing, snorkeling, birding, and yoga-filled 2 week holiday vacation is coming up.  I had told myself that I would not be putting out these decorations, that it wasn't needed and it would be nonsense to bother.  But I just can't help myself.  I love the winter holidays and I probably have enough decorations and holiday paraphernalia for two houses so I figure one litte holiday "alter" can't hurt!

Framed trees arranged on velvet made of vintage costume jewelry picked up at the thrift store many years ago for $2 each.

As you can see, I have quite the collection of holiday woodland folk!  When my Grandpa McAlpin died I inherited all his Christmas decorations.  I unearthed a large box full of the pinecone elfs.  Each one had a double and there were at least 10 sets.  Over the years I have gifted the duplicates to other family members and have continued to collect them for my family.  They hold books, lanterns, instruments, gifts and trees.  Right now I have about 40 different ones!

I have also been collecting vintage deer figures, little snowmen and other woodland creatures as well.  Most of these items are vintage "made in Japan" decorations.  To keep the creatures contained this year I used two matching tiered silver tray thingys, set on top of an antique pie safe, and displayed the deer and friends around them.  The plastic elfy gnome couple above watches over it all.

I love this photo.  It appears to be a Scandinavian Christmas pageant complete with snow, crowns, costume gowns and Father Christmas.  The back says "xmas 1916."

Leafless tree full of tiny vintage glass bulbs sitting on an antique plant stand between the dresser and the pie safe.  And the penguin is vintage chalkware.  The green tree a beeswax candle.

On the left is a photo of my dad around 1950.  On the right is a photo of Chad around 1979.

The grouping of pictures above contain images of the display on top of an antique dresser next to the pie safe and plant stand.  The two soft white Santa's are reproductions, not vintage, but all the feather angels and buildings are vintage made in Japan.

On Saturday I took the boys to Yulefest at The Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard to check out the festivities and celebrate our Danish heritage.  I am a Nielsen, after all.

Jasper with Santa at Yulefest.  I couldn't get August to be in the photo. Uggghhh....teenagers.

The Snow Queen, her sleigh and Reindeer.

We hung our Danish flag garlands in the window, attaching them to our net collection.  Jasper wanted the Danish flag we bought for his room.  Some day we will travel to Aarhus, where our ancestors are from to visit and discover our roots.  We can't wait!

Is it trying to snow where you live?  Does it make you want to decorate for the holidays?  We usually have a big Winter Solstice celebration.  It will be strange to not have a tree and be in the tropics for Winter Solstice.  But I think I'll survive it.  Surfing on Solstice, Christmas and my Birthday will suffice!

xoxo

Jennette



Antique Show Loot

So I totally scored on this vintage, in perfect shape, Granted -ish sweater at the Swap Meet part of the sale on Saturday.  I had just read about Granted on the lovely Bliss and had told myself,

 "You like those!  You should keep your eyes peeled for one you like and that fits since they cost over $360.00, brand new!!  Yes, they look like your old blue one that has a big horn sheep on the back and says 'Alaska' but it never fit just right, a little too small, I guess.  So watch out for one that fits and that you like the design of, girl.  You know you can manifest this if you follow your heart and not your head!" 

Yep.  That's what I was saying to myself when I saw the Bliss post.  It is not, however,  what I was saying when I was done at the antique show and arguing with myself, in my own head, about whether I should go over to the flea market part or just leave since I wasn't feeling 100%.  Chad had encouraged me to take the time to myself so I finally argued myself into going over to the flea market and now I am so glad I did!  I followed my heart, the always wanting to see one more thing and find one more treasure heart.  And I did not follow my head, the you always gotta push it, squeeze in one more thing, never satisfied, head of mine.  Oh, that darn head of mine. 

The guy who had this was asking $35, I offered $25, we settled on $30.  I got it for $30!!!  Total score in my book!  It looks so similar to this one but I think mine is cooler with the trees and all!  Yay me!  But now Chad wants one so unless my manifestation mojo keeps a spark, I'll be forkin' over big bucks for his when he can finally decide which one he wants.  It is hard to choose so that's one more reason to accept what comes along your path and make it your own (although I would have picked the horses or the whale!).

So, I'll just start with all the stuff I scored at the flea market first.  I collect antler handled cutlery so when I saw this knife for $7 I scooped it up in a hurry.

This old Fisher Price Circus caravan will be remade into some fabulous upcycled project when I can get around to it. 

Cost: $10

Vintage photo and frame.  Bought for the frame.  Vintage frames are getting harder to come by.

Cost: $5

Gotta grab up the old tin types when you can find them.  And the weirder, stranger, and more unusual the better.  I use these in different collage and multi-media projects.  These are from the actual Antique Show, not the flea market.

Cost: $2 each

This little guy, reminding me of Jasper,

riding his polar bear with a basket on his back,

full of vintage wool felt flowers!

Will fit perfectly in here.

Another old rag doll boy.  Again, for in here!

Lately I have a hankerin' for all things "tiger eye."  These have already been turned into 'regular' earrings, for my pierced ears with sterling silver hardware(which is all my ear lobes can handle).

Velvet patchwork doll blanket.  Er...yeah....I still have the everything doll related fetish going.  When will it end?!

2 paint-by-number cat/kitten paintings for resale.  Any takers?!

A roll of vintage green ticking from the east coast.

This old flour bag from a Coville estate will be deconstructed, reconstructed and upcycled into an awesome cotton and leather bag!  TOTALLY gearing up for my Etsy shop to be stalked after vacation.  Just you watch!  And hold me to it, please!!!

Old black painted wooden hand held mirror.  It's a mirror thang.

Up next I will attempt to show you the AMAZING vintage clothes I got at the show from my friend Jane.  She has a lot of family on the east coast and she brings back van loads of stuff a few times a year after she attends auctions back there.  She had some sweet vintage clothing for me, at incredible prices, and I couldn't pass them up!

This sweet little red shift just needed a good wash and a little mending.

Pocket and trim detail.

Collar, trim, button and fabric detail.  Love.

A gorgeous cotton and lace Edwardian-type jackety-type thing that I will wear over t-shirts.  Love.

Cotton and linen wrap around dress.  Love.

And last but not least I must end with sharing photos of the superduper old quilt I got.  The colors!  Oh, the colors.  These photos do not do the colors justice.  The khaki color is truly green and the blue and red are so vibrant.  Stop by and see it sometime!  I have hung it over/above our bed since we have no headboard.  It's from The Carolina's and is old homespun wool that is falling apart in several places which is so endearing to me!  The backing is a pinstripe that I just love, almost enough to hang it the other way!  Check it:

So.  Does anyone know what this pattern is called?  I still need to research that.  And.  Can you even begin to imagine doing all that stitching by hand??!!!  OMG!  Makes my mind spin!

I gotta get a photo of it over my bed to show you.  I will wait for a nice day to get good light for the photo.  It's funny since I don't usually like things that are so geometric-like but it was really the colors in this quilt that stole my heart.  I walked around the antique show several times, going back to visit it, to see if it was still there, to discover if it was meant to be mine.  And it was.  It's mine.  And I love it!

Off to gulp down the banana, blueberry, peanut butter shake Chad just made me.  Yum!

xoxoxo

Jennette



PDX Loot

Found this little "Totoro" at Flora.

Blow up paper balls from Cargo.

Sweet little Hmong baby shoes and raspberry velvet box from Monticello.

Mushrooms and glass glitter bird from Cargo.  Little Doll, Demitasse box and candle holders from Monticello.

This little glass eyed green velvet pixie is my most favorite item from Monticello.

Velvet hangers,

white leather gloves,

and my next favorite thing from Monticello, a canvas newspaper bag for The Journal, Portland, Oregon.  I will deconstruct this and remake it into a bag for myself.

I have a project in the works with a bunch of white leather gloves so i will show you when its underway and happenin'.

Velour vest purchased at Magpie Vintage in Portland.  I also got an awesome blue, what I like to call "70's airline blue," leather mini skirt that will get made into a bag.  I will show it to you when it's being transformed.

These are some of the items I bought in Portland but not at Little Winter.  I keep forgetting to take a photo of the crystal necklace I got from Mossiere.  I did not spend nearly as much time shopping on this trip to pdx as I normally do so I don't have as much to show.  Although all combined, I probably did come close to my normal haul with all the loot from the handmade market as well.  I didn't really buy anything to resell this time, which is OK, since I still have plenty of stuff in the garage and basement to sell. 

I did go to the Monroe Antique Show and Sale at the fairgrounds over this past weekend so I will have photos of loot to show you from there.  I scored on an amazing quilt that I will hang on the wall over my bed.  And Jane sold me 4 vintage clothing pieces that are to die for and were so inexpensive!  And I almost didn't go!  You just never know what little treasures you'll find.

Happy Monday everyone,

xoxox

Jennette

Little Winter & The Ace Hotel

We are back from The Little Winter Handmade Market in Portland.

It was a fantastic Market and a fabulous weekend with the Crafty Aunties and Friends!

We stayed at my favorite, The Ace Hotel.  Every room in the Ace is decorated differently.  Chad and I have never stayed in the same room twice.  Above you can see the movie poster that was in our room this time.  Let me see if I got a good picture of Suze and Anna's room:

It's a bit dark but this is a wall in their room.  Tiffany's room had an owl painted on it with some poetry.  It's fun to see all the various decoration and detail.  I wonder what room we'll have next time?

This is the image on all of the wool blankets covering the beds in The Ace.  You can buy a wool blanket in the lobby, along with t-shirts, stickers, and duffel bags.  There is a hip NW vibe that is carried throughout the entire hotel and it helps define The Ace as a boutique hotel.  Stay here if you ever have the chance!

"The Bad Girls"

Our group included the three of us above: Dianah, Me, and Natasha - all there with no children.  And it included a few friends who had their less than one year old nursing babies with them: Suze, Anna and Tiffany.  Some of us had more freedom to roam, explore, and stay up too late watching live music each night so Anna's husband Greg deemed us, "The Bad Girls!"  Next year I think we will all be in the Bad Girls category, but this year it was Dianah, Natasha and I.  Sweet Katie hung out with the mamas and skipped Bad Girls status for this trip!

Two Bad Girls going to get their PDX on!

This is Tony and Shannon playing at The White Eagle.  We saw them Friday night after a little snafoo in arriving at our intended destination on time!  Thankfully we got to see the end of their set and it was super great!  I love seeing friends rock their skills and talents!  It's awesome!

On Saturday night we saw Y La Bamba open for the Yard Dogs Road Show.  Their sound was beautiful and haunting.  Chad and I had got to see them open for Breathe Owl Breathe at The Woods, the last time we were in Portland, so I was happy to get to see them again.

These two pictures are from The Yard Dogs Road Show!  It was super fun!  The Yard Dogs are a combination of circus sideshow, burlesque, cabaret, vaudevillian, awesomeness!  They were so entertaining again this time and I liked it even better than the first time I saw them with Chad at The Doug Fir Lounge. 

Now for some Little Winter goodness! 

These little wooden house structures with air plants are by My House Party.  Natasha bought a few of these. 

I couldn't resist and had to buy three prints from Kiki & Polly.  I loved every single one of them but had to narrow it down to three since I bought more art from other vendors too.  I have had my eye on The Night Swim for some time now.  And when I saw the girls pulling their bows back to launch arrows at the target, well, I couldn't resist! 

This print is from Amanda Blake.  I would practically kill or die to have one of her original paintings!  It was SO HARD to choose just one print from her.  I am considering commissioning her to paint a portrait of my boys for their birthdays this year.  Her work is magical, fantastic, and whimsical.  I want every single one of her paintings!

These are the Shanna Murray cups I bought for Chad and I.

And these are the illustrated wall and window decals I bought from her.  The cups are a collaboration with Pigeon Toe Ceramics and they are so sweet.  They have ones that say, "optimist" on the outside with a line half way up on the inside that says "half full."   They have others that say Hello Friend and Welcome Home.  I was so happy to meet Shanna in person.  She is a sweetheart and it was hard to pick just two decals.  I will put the fawn in the Fireball and the You Are My Sunshine one in the front door.  Love her work!

These two cards and cut-out animals are from Oh My Cavalier by Julianna Swaney.  Her artwork is wonderful and again, so hard to choose just one print.  So I bought a few smaller items from her since I had already bought the other prints.  If you have a chance to look up her work, you will be happy you did!

So, needless to say, we had a grand time in Portland.  The Little Winter Handmade Market was phenomenal and The Ace, as usual, was glorious to stay at.  I hope they have Little Winter again next year!  I will be there with bells on and a wad of cash in my pocket!

But I have to say, as grand and glorious as it all was, it didn't come close to being as awesome as the time I spent there with my friends!  Lovely markets, swanky hotels, and delicious foodie food aside, the best best part was being with my friends.  I wish I could organize a trip like this once a month!  I adore each and every one of the amazing women who came along on this adventure with me.  I cherish their friendships, find their individual talents amazing, and am honored they choose me to grow roots with.  They took time from their busy lives as mamas and wives to connect, bond and deepen our relationships.  I love you Suze, Natasha, Dianah, Tiffany, Anna and Katie(and Koa, Nev, and Deva!)!!!  I hope this was the first in many many trips we get to take together!  You are all my sunshines!

xoxox

Jennette 

 



PDX

Hasn't it been so nice out?!

It's November, people!

Wow!

Just poppin' in to say have a great little weekend!  I am headed down to Portland with the Crafty Aunties and Friends.  Staying at my favorite boutique hotel, The Ace, as usual.  And attending The Little Winter handmade craft market at The Ace's conference space, The Cleaners.

Going to see Tony play Friday night and will get to see The Yard Dogs Road Show in pdx, again, on Saturday night!  Lots of shopping and eating foodie food in between.  I will take lots of pictures and show you around pdx next week!

xoxox

jennette



Lucha Libre & KEXP Dance Party

The Wizard, Nacho Libre and The Butterfly Fairy!

Here is the costumed crew, in Ballard, during the KEXP dance party at The Tractor.  After brunch at Hatties Hat, we wondered up to Cupcake Royale for free baby cakes, live music and a stop at La Tienda to buy this years skeletal figure for our Dia de los Muertos alter.

Here is the Lucha Libre figure we picked out.  It was a toss up between him and the strong man holding the barbell!

Here is the unembellished Nacho Libre mask. I couldn't leave it as-is.  It needed embellishment!  So I traced the red part, made a pattern, and cut out red felt to overlay.

Once I had this cut out, I used bright yellow embroidery thread to stitch the red felt to the mask, trying to make it look like the mask in the movie, Nacho Libre.

The mask, after embellishment.  See?  Much better!

Chad, I mean Nacho, with the mask on!

A view with the cape on.  The "cape" is actually a skirt of quilted blue corduroy on the "right" side and red satin on the "inside."  Reversed with the red side out made for the perfect Nacho cape and the contrasting blue matched perfectly as well. 

Long live Nacho Libre!

The KEXP kids dance party that we took Jasper and his friend Rowan to was super fun!  Here is my wizard and our friend the butterfly fairy eating their first Cupcake Royale baby cake of the day, waiting in line to get in to dance!

It was a bit difficult to get a good photo of all the cool decorations around the Tractor.  The Adventure School had provided all the decorations and art activities and they did a great job!

Spooky paper plate and corn kernel noisemaker!

Look at this little garden gnome!!!  His handmade/homemade costume was one of the best there!  Loved it!

Brunch at Hatties was delicious and fun.  We played hangman and tic-tac-toe while we waited.  It was fun people watching since so many folks were dressed up!

The Wizard and the Butterfly Fairy, skipping and running through the Ballard Farmers Market.  It was such a gorgeous day in Seattle and we were happy to have a chance to be outdoors in between "sets" at the Tractor.  We made our way toward the live music in front of Cupcake Royale and La Tienda.

The Wizard attempting to stop traffic with his magic wand!

Music to eat your cupcakes by and purchase your Dia de los Muertos accessories too!  Lovely!

Back at The Tractor for more dancing and activities.  The kids decided to try the spin art since there was no line.  This was a very cool set up!  When the girl on the bicycle peddled, the disk inside the tray attached to the back, spun, and then the kids dripped paint in to make spin art!  Did you ever do this as a kid, perhaps at the fair?!  I have never seen this done with a bicycle before!  So cool!

Jasper's Spin Art.

So, we had a great Halloween!  Hope you all had a safe and sane weekend.  Ours was busy, full and satisfying.  After the dance party we grabbed the teenager and went to Rowan's house for dinner and trick-or-treating.  Chad wore the Nacho costume and got lots of laughs and comments for it.  He was even given a full size candy bar for his efforts!  Lucky Nacho! 

Now on to celebrate El Dia de los Muertos tomorrow night before the Head and the Heart show!  Tomorrow is our 13th annual Tamale Making Day.   We try to make enough to freeze a lot so we have them to eat on our major holidays or other seasonal celebrations.  We will feast on them tomorrow night and make a dish for our beloved dead as an offering.  I think venison and bacon tamales are on the menu for this year!  November 2nd is always fun but emotional, and well worth it over here!  I hope you find a few moments to think of your beloved dead and send them a peaceful prayer.  Blessed be and a festive Dia de los Muertos to you and yours! 

xoxoxo

Jennette

Happy Anniversary Chad!

Someday, many years from now, we'll look back on this crazy time in our life together and wonder how we did it all... and then, those ordinary, everyday moments that we often take for granted will shimmer like stars as we recount them...  I'll sit close beside you, you'll take my hand in yours.  We'll look at each other and say: "I'd do it all again... and I wouldn't change a thing."

There is no one I would rather go through life with than you.

I love you to the universe and back,

xox-

Jennette



El Dia de los Muertos

We are getting ready to celebrate our loved ones who have passed and welcome the souls of our dead.

We are not afraid of the spirits of the dead.

At this time of year the veil between the worlds is very thin.

 The dead are our friends and family, our ancestors, who gave us life.

We call them our "beloved dead."

This is a photo of Bob, Chad's dad, holding August when Gus was a couple days old.  This photo is always on our Day of the Dead alter.  We miss you Papa Bob!

Here are the skeleton figures I made, about ten years ago, of my Grandma and Grandpa Nielsen.  We have photos all over the alter of them too.

We try to collect one figure each year, to add to our alter.  We try to find ones that represent us or our deceased. Kirsten gave me the pregnant woman with the heart on her belly, when I was pregnant with Jasper and I bought us the man and woman pushing baby in a pram when I was pregnant with him. 

Birth and death are two sides of the same thing.  Death is a natural part of life.  Death is a gift of change and growth.  Birth and death are both times of new beginnings.

I made this melon-holding skeleton figure many years ago.  I fancy it to be myself.  I hope to have melon wherever I go!

Hunters, healers and helpers.  These remind us that our lives are gifts given to us by other living beings.  Because all food is a gift of a life, it is sacred.  We treat food with respect and leave offerings, ofrendas, of our deceased's favorites on the alter during this time.

Masculine energy. 

Feminine energy!

These are our sugar skulls from last year.  For the past few years I have been taking the kids to the big Dia de Muertos celebration at Seattle Center, where we made these.  They have great art activities, food, dancing, face painting, etc.  This years Mexican rememberance to remember our departed will be held Oct. 30 and 31.  Get there if you can!  It's free and fantastic!

This nun Catrina and her sister witch(below) were purchased in Nogales when my dad took me there during my first visit to his condo in Tucson.  We crossed the border to buy booze, smokes, trinkets and to feast at La Roca.  I scored on these tall, delicate ceramic figures and carried them all the way home to Seattle in my arms!

It's hard to see but she has an owl sitting on her shoulder.  The paper marigold flower she is holding is one that we made last year at the Seattle Center celebration.  And the pumpkin at her feet is one I needle felted a couple years ago.

Celebrating the Day of the Dead is a joyous occassion, not morbid.  We have a feast on All Souls Day, Nov. 2, and we tell stories of our beloved dead.  We laugh and we cry when we recount the good things we miss about the people we loved.  It's good for my kids to hear the stories and see us honoring our elders who have gone ahead and remembering the young ones who went too soon. 

We have many pictures of my cousin Michael who died in a head on collision car accident in 2003.  He was a radiant young man, full of life,happy and charismatic.  He loved to ride motorcross and he was good at it.  We miss him.

We have many photos of Chad's dad, Papa Bob, who left this world in 2000.  It took me a while too not be angry at him for leaving us but now I am able to celebrate him and tell my children about what a eccentric, crazy, pagan lovin, hippie he was!  We actually still see him, quite often, in the flight of an eagle, when the warm sun kisses our cheeks, in the babbling of a river.  We still miss him though.

We have many photos of my grandparents.  Both Gma and Gpa Nielsen, my dad's parents, and Gpa McAlpin, my mom's dad.  My kids like to hear stories I recount to them of growing up surrounded by my loving grandparents.  I spent time every month with my dad's folks and it's one reason I am no longer sad my parents were divorced.  If they hadn't been, I would not have spent a weekend every month with my dad, at my grandparents.  I cherish that time I had with them.  And my Gpa McAlpin always let me pick out horses for him to bet on at Long Acres.  My kids think this is so funny!

And we honor all our greats, and great greats, etc.  Our grandparents parents, and so on.  We put out all the photos we have and talk about how it might have been for them.  We wonder and we speculate.  We laugh with a bit of awe and feel blessed for what we have.  We love one another and remind each other that we have it so so good.  We celebrate and rejoice.  Life is good and we honor our beloved dead.  Rest in Peace, loved ones,

R.I.P.

xoxox

Jennette 



The Walrus and The Carpenter

Postcard from The Walrus and The Carpenter, Ballard.

You know how when a new idea or suggestion comes at you from three or more different angles and you have to realize that is a thing that must be attended to or must happen?  That was this restaurant for me.  Serendipity has a fun way of getting you to where you need to be!  I had read a review of this restaurant, had also been told by lovely Daisy to check it out, and  a waitress at Boat Street Cafe had told Dianah and I about it when we had our Tuesday champagne brunch there last week, and boy-howdy!, how glad I am for listening ears and reading eyes because this was a dang good meal!

OK, this will tell you something about me.  I didn't end up getting any photos of our food, but I did, of course, get a photo of my drink!  The Porch Swing!  So. darn. good. Big, tall, cold and refreshing, the thinly sliced tart apple slices were delicious in the end. It's making my mouth water just to think of it!

The cozy Walrus is lovely and just right.  We had an amazing hostess and our waiter was very well educated about the oysters and food. Oh yeah!  This is an oyster bar/restaurant! 

Since walrus doesn't take reservations we were trying to get there as close to opening as possible, to not have to wait forever.  We got there right after they opened at 4 but our friends weren't meeting us until 5:30.  We asked the hostess if she could put us on the list and she said she would if we called back, instead of showing up to wait, at 5:15.  So we took off to go thrift the Goodwill and instead of calling, just got back there about 5:15 on a Saturday evening.  Well, it was packed, and there was a wait list, and a line.  But the generous hostess knew we needed a 4 top and she gave us the next one that came available after a 5 minute wait, and even though our friends weren't there yet!  I thought it was so fabulous and and sweet of her!  It gave us time to sit with our backs against the wall and really check the place out.  It was bustling, loud and cheery.  Just perfect!

Here is a hard to see photo of the menu.  Between Chad, Tony, Daisy and I we devoured a dozen oysters and bread and butter.  T had smoked trout, lentils, walnuts, creme fraiche and pickled red onions.  D had grilled pork sausage, caramelized brussel sprouts and aioli.  C had serrano jamon, pear, and pistachio & mint relish.  I had the framani salami, pearl onions and pickled chantrelles.  Oh, and Chad and Tony both had a bowl of billy's tomato soup with basil and cream.  Chad is still talking about the soup!  Everyone thought their food was delicious.  I especially loved the pickled chantrelles and Chad's pistachio and mint relish.  Yum!

Here is a list of the oysters we tried.  I could have sat there for a very, very long time, eating oysters and having drinks.  I actually cant wait to go back, just to do this very thing!  The Shig oysters were my favorite.  Meaty and briny but sweet too.  The tumbled shells of the Shig oyster were like no other oysters shells I had seen around these parts.  They were smooth and didn't have bumpy barnacles on them.  The oysters are served with champagne mignonette, horseradish and lemon but I didn't use any of that.  Normally I would have squeezed a ton of lemon juice on but I wanted to taste the real deal, unaltered.  And I am glad I did.  The oysters didn't need a thing!  So. Good.

The Walrus and The Carpenter was started by Renee Erickson, of Boat Street Cafe fame, and her partners.  Thus the waitress at Boat Street telling us about Walrus.  Walrus is in the newly renovated Kolstrand building on the south end of Ballard Avenue.  The building is gorgeous.  It also houses a very cool bike store and Staple and Fancy, which I will be trying this Saturday for our anniversary. I will leave you with a few photos of the building and in case you couldn't tell, you should get down to south Ballard ave a.s.a.p. and check out the food.  You wont be sorry!

 

Go eat some oysters!

xoxo

Jennette



Map Cradle & Mother Blessing

Finished Baby D's cradle for one of Maurisa's Mother Blessing gifts!

I hosted a Mother Blessing for my dear friend Maurisa on Saturday.  Her son will be born in mid November so it was time to help her prepare.  I found this BIG pine wood cradle at a consignment store after being tipped off by Suze.  When I finally got over to check it out it was marked half off!  Is it tacky to say I only paid $15!  Well, sorry if it is, I just can't help admitting the amazing deal it was!

Knowing what Maurisa and Mike's rebuilt house looks like, I didn't want to leave this as a light pine cradle so at first I thought I was going to stain it with Fiddle head Fern colored stain.  It was a disaster!

It's hard to tell here but the stain just made the cradle look dingy and dirty.  It was streaky and sticky since I didn't sand first(my fault).  But it gave me the excuse to go with the idea I had originally of decoupaging the entire thing with vintage maps.  I had maps left over after covering the wall here, so I figured this was a great way to use them up, spruce up the cradle, and make a unique gift.  Plus, Maurisa and Mike have been world travelers and avid hikers so the country maps and national parks maps made sense.

Here is a process shot.  I did use border paste to adhere the maps to the cradle, just like I did there.  And I started with the bottom, worked my way up the sides to the interior, did the inside ends and left the outside ends for last.  It was easy, meditative, and fun!

I had originally intended to also paste cutout ship pictures on the maps.  After I found a 1960's era National Geographic on ships I was all set.  I cut out a bunch of the images and was all ready but then just felt like the cradle was busy enough as is.  I didn't think it needed more.  It was already perfect!

Here is the bedding that Natasha and I made for the cradle.  I wish I would have gotten a better picture of the awesome vintage kids fabric I found a couple weeks ago that we used for one side the coverlet and for the case for the mattress.  We used organic cotton batting, a layer of felted wool and a layer of puddle pad to insert into the mattress case.  

I have a thing I do for the coverlets at Mother Blessings when I host them.  You make the coverlet and then you "quilt" it by threading wool yarn or ribbon at various points around the coverlet, to hold all the layers together.  You don't tie the yarn right away but rather you leave them untied to do a sweet ritual at the Blessing.  You pass the coverlet around and you speak to a quality you see in yourself that you value and you would wish for the baby to possess.  As you state your aptitude you tie this desire into the quilt with the yarn ends and two square knots.  It's really sweet and is a very nice but simple ritual that lasts and lasts.  I think Maurisa really enjoyed the process and the entire cradle package!

Here is a basket full of the sandalwood candles I sent home with everyone so they could light one when they hear Maurisa is in labor or anytime they want to concentrate spiritual energy her way.  The tag said:

One last part I will share with you is the invite I made for the Blessing.  I made this stamp a while ago and used it to stamp various thin and delicate, almost tissue paper like, plant paper.

Then I glued the delicate papers to plain cards and made an insert for the Blessing info.

Voila!

In other news, I have a ton of crafting and sewing to catch up on!  Working on a "carpet" bag, a coat for myself, and more repurposed leather bags.  Also, I got to eat at The Walrus and The Carpenter in Ballard on Saturday night with Chad, Tony and Daisy and I will hopefully have a Jennette's Restaurant Review for you tomorrow.  All I can say now is, Get there as Soon as you Possibly Can!

And for mine and Chad's anniversary this coming weekend we got a late reservation at Staple and Fancy for Saturday night.  SO EXCITED!  I LOVE FOOD!  GOOD FOOD!  So I will have a review for it next week as well.

The cold/flu bug that's going around these parts is trying desperately to catch me and its getting a hold.  I can feel the aching rundown sore throat thing starting so if I don't post everyday, you'll know why. Garlic and elder have become my soul mates! Wish me luck!

xoxox

Jennette



Witch of the Woods

Found this awesome and strange painting down at M & M a couple weeks ago.  It's like it was meant for me.  I asked how come nobody told me it was there when I discovered it and they said something to the effect of, "Oh, its been around here for a while now.  We didn't know you would love it and we kinda forgot about it anyhow."  Just goes to show ya that you never know what you'll find when you are on the hunt for treasure!

Here is a close-up of the girl being blown away.  I love the dark feeling of this painting.  It seems so Autumnal and appropriate right now.  She is holding a stick or broom in her hand.  The sky looks dark and ominous.  It looks to be signed on the front bottom right corner:

J P Walsh.....

What!!?  So I'm looking over the back of the painting.  I'm admiring the use of old wood to make the frame the canvas is stretched over.  The wood appears to be from an old crate or sign because there are painted letters that look like advertising on some of it.  Looking closer I find old hand writing and the words: Witch of the Woods!  Total Score, People!  I have no idea who this artist is or even how old this is but I LOVE IT!

I am working up to painting a few walls in my house in the coming weeks.  I know exactly what I want to do but haven't had time yet to execute it.  But once it's done I will be rehanging a lot of the art in my house.  I hope to show you before and after pictures.   

I'm off to practice my Nacho Libre monologue for Miscast!  Don't miss out on the fun!  Monday October 25, Conor Byrne Pub in Ballard, 7:30, $10, all proceeds to benefit New Amerikan Theatre's production of Stings Like Acid.

Be there or be square!

xoxox

Jennette



Placemat and Snack Bags

Here is Jasper working on his lunch placemat for school.

This year the teachers at Jasper's school requested that each child bring a cloth napkin or placemat to use for setting out their lunch on each day.  A placemat helps define their space so they aren't sprawled out all over and it makes messes easier to clean up as well.

Jasper got it in his mind to make his own placemat.

He has been wanting to sew on my machine for a while now and this seemed like the perfect starter project since it was pretty much a few straight lines.

Here he is turning the placemat right sides out, after leaving a small opening to pull the fabric through.  We applied fusible interfacing to the wrong side of both pieces of fabric to give it some structure and heft.

Here Jasper is pushing the corners out, really well, before he finishes it by top stitching.  He choose the fabrics to go with his lunch cooler and the messenger bag I made him last school year.

Messenger bag with underwater shipwreck sea print.

Finishing the topstitching on his matching placemat.

Voila!

The red and white checked fabric came from a HUGE Ikea duvet cover.  Jasper loves to have picnics and this fabric reminded him of picnic fabric so he wanted it for one side of his placemat.  I used both fabrics plus an apple print one to make him some fabric snack bags:

These snacks bags are so super easy to make and they are so handy to have around.  I did line mine, just to give them a little more structure but you don't have to and most tutorials out there don't call for them to be lined.  I didn't use a tutorial, I just winged it, but I know Amy has a video one that is pretty good.

Jasper has been packing all his bulk snacks and cut apples and carrot sticks in these.  We haven't even had to wash them yet but we will when they need it.  I love having these to use over and over instead of plastic baggies that just get thrown away every time. 

In other news: I have been rearranging my studio and thus, the house, so things are in a bit of disarray here at the moment.  But I was inspired to move my sewing desk in front of the big picture window for both more light and a great view for this coming winter.  Also, I had to make room to bring in my potted banana tree, potted fig tree and potted blood orange tree.  I am determined to help them live through the winter this time!  I am loving how all this rearranging is coming along so I will try to share some photos with you soon.  I am also preparing to host Maurisa's Mother Blessing this coming Saturday so I will be busy, busy all week.  I may not have a post every week day, this week, but I will try to be in touch!

It's almost hump day!

Hooray!

xoxoxo

Jennette



Vintage Altered Halloween Portraits!

Last year at this time we decorated, altered, embellished and otherwise upcycled these cool old vintage photo portraits we had in the basement.  I had been collecting these for a while and had not taken them down to the antique mall yet.  And I had seen a similar project that inspired me to dig these out and get to work!

This was a family art project.  We got out paper, glue sticks, tape, etc. and our creative juices began to flow!  Forgive me now if these are offensive to you.  Just look away!  But this is my families idea of scary.  Boo!

I can't remember who made which one and most were collaborative anyhow.

Most of the colored paper is applied with just a tiny dab of glue stick so it can be removed later, if need be, and it wont damage the portraits anymore than they already are damaged.

We hang these around the house using big vintage paper clip type holders that are hung on a tack.  Or, I have a handful of vintage clipboards that can hang on a tack while the portrait is clipped to the board.

Freaky Baby!

So, be sure to send me a link of your altered photo portraits if you get inspired to make some yourself!  I'd love to see what creativeness people can come up with!  These would be fun to do at other holidays too, like bunny ears at Ostara. 

Make Art, Create, be Creative!

xoxox

Jennette