Horses

I was hankering for an easy little project to do with my batch of Fancy Felt, and I found this awesome Dala horse craftalong from the charming Carina's Craftblog. It's from way back in July, but I've never been especially timely.

In classic Polly fashion, I've already started my second horse without finishing the first one, pictured above. Why get satisfaction and a sense of completion when you can feel weird and unfulfilled? YEAH! 

You can finish or not finish all the Dala horses you want with the easy pattern linked above. It even looks cute without any embroidery on it. In other horse news, here's Patti Smith singing "Horses." Sometimes I worry that the older I get, the less excited I get about things, but this song/album/person is still incredibly powerful to me.

Dioramamama

I am really enjoying working on these. It does make a truly remarkable mess, though!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope that there is love in your life, be it between man, woman, cat, or doll!

NANCY

I may not have told you that Nancy Sinatra once touched my hand. It was incredible, as many events in 2004 were. I love that her strange career has lasted this long; her Twitter feed is great (she'll totally follow you back!) and she has an XM radio station that I like to listen to when I get to drive my parents' car. Way to stay in touch with the youths, N!

In other news, I'm a little peeved because I'm about two weeks late in finding out that Pulp is playing a single show in San Francisco. It's sold out, of course. They're playing a few more shows, but there's no way I'm going to Coachella (it's bad enough that I might be going to Burning Man this year...don't ask) so I guess I'll just have to wait until Jarvis Cocker serenades me at the gates of heaven. Watch Nancy and Jarvis shred it Sinatra-style on some tv show:

Well, dammit.

grammy chic from ChixyCoco

I did it again. I found the greatest thing in the universe. Today the greatest thing in the universe is this mint condition vintage sweater, discovered by the keen eye of UK Etsy seller Chixycoco. Top that, Anthropologie! Chixy's shop is filled with lots of other mid-century magics, but this really takes the cake.

I would never have the patience to do this, but if you happened to have a sweater that needed more flair, it looks like all you need to know is satin stitch and French knots to make this happen. Just throwing it out there.

Done and done!

Cat Head Cameos, by ME 

It's easy to make stuff, but it certainly is a slog to take pictures of it! Sheesh. I finally sucked it up and took a bunch of pictures of things I've made, so I'm slowly updating my Etsy shop with new thingies. Slow and steady wins the race?


Here's a little video gold from Dionne Warwick. The use of boring office chairs is really awesome, as well as her eye makeup.

Pop!

This is pretty much what it's like whenever I crack open a soda. I am glamorous all the time.

Socks

I have been trying to make socks for Peter for a few years now. Turns out, I'm impatient and socks are hard. Above is the current status. I also like to give Peter a "activity present" for Christmas, because not only is it fun, but I always get to go too. Score! More often than not I choose from the awesome menu of SF Sketchfest events. I went to theater school with some of the people who started Sketchfest, although I did not know them well (I was a awkward underling with limited confidence and these people had their s together) but I did have scene shop with the beautiful and funny Janet Varney, who once lent me a black skirt because I forgot mine. She was nice. Anyhoo.


We're going to see the Thrilling Adventure Hour, which sounds something like A Prairie Home Companion except not terrible. I like famous people and funny people, so I'm really excited to see Bruce McCullough of Kids in the Hall, Paget Brewster from the Conways' favorite crime procedural, Criminal Minds, and my long-time comedian crush, modern dandy Paul F. Tompkins. I can't wait to get fancy and enjoy the humors!

Patchwork Pretty

Oh, what! I want all of these brooches from Tasmanian (!) artist Shade of a Bonsai. 

Pretzels!

Craftcation!

Hey! I'm going to this! Mostly so I can hang out at Golf 'n Stuff, the freeway-side mini golf park my parents were often so kind as to take their children on our way to LA. 2012 is all about leaving the house and my comfort zone, and this conference seems ideal! Crystal? Haycox? Anyone? Come with me and we can walk back and forth in a hotel pool!

Color Crazy

This. Is. Special. From Boo and Boo Factory on Etsy. Dang.

Les Cailloux

While I prepare an epic post about the damn delightful Disney Family Museum, here's a little treat from Michel Gondry from the good ol' days, the 90's.

Yo, 2012!

pic from SuperRadNow

 Already 2012 is teaching me special lessons on coveting things beyond my grasp! Doggone you, Austin Cox aluminum chess set from 1962. It's not so amazing in this pic, but we saw one in person a few days ago at Moderne in Berkeley, a place I was always afraid to enter because it appeared to contain only expensive midcentury magic prizes for those in a higher tax bracket, and it was a real sight to behold.

Especially right after my trip to the Walt Disney Family Museum (much more on this later), its resemblance to the It's a Small World castle was obvious to me and even clear to Peter, who is ambivalent about Disney but excited about metalwork. Do I have $650 for a decorative chess set? No, I do not. This is why I need to become an art director on Mad Men. The real glory of this thing is the way it looks behind the blue plastic box.

Dolly!

Santa brought me this Spitfire Girl dolly for Christmas. I love her so much!

I also got this teapot. !!! I'm so glad that others are indulging my obsession, and I hope that this Russian doll trend lasts forever. Also, now I can have a tea party with my special pillow. More sugar, Natasha? Of course!

Christmas time is here

How did it come so quickly? I've been busy doing all the little IRL things that keep time passing so quickly, so here's a superblast of December hijinx. Merry Christmas and cozy times to everyone!

Portland and back, Part 1

Obviously, I had the best time last weekend in Portland. It was the perfect storm of crafty magic, old and new friends, and Christmas joy! I was there primarily to vend at the absolutely delightful show, Crafty Wonderland, but spent all my other hours in the company of the best people in the world.

My booth! 

 

My wonderful, wonderful booth neighbors, who could not have been nicer and more welcoming. Some people just radiate warmth and silliness, a combo I can always appreciate, but these people are rare. Janet Julian and Carye Bye, I miss you guys already!

Passed out on the Dr. Kildare pillow assigned to me by my gracious host.

All packed up. Pretty darn proud that I could do this with one suitcase.  

I didn't get out much at the craft fair, but I made it here. The sweet Vanessa of Wanderlust; why do I not live in this tiny palace? Portland makes me kind of crazy because, among other things, it's a bit easier to live your dream without breaking the bank. California is brutal in that regard, but I've made a lot of inroads this year in creating a life that works for me!

Presents!

Tiny goods made by me.

The talk of the show: I spotted this masterpiece while setting up and had to get a pic of it before the mayhem began. Incredible workmanship, and no, it's not for sale. 

 I got a nasty cold immediately upon my return to California, which is a fun trick my body likes to play whenever a stressful/superfun period of life ends. So I've been chillin' with some Constant Comment and enjoying some much-needed quiet time at home. More Portland adventures to come (including the most epic party of all time. A taste: clown paintings, burl sculptures, and native wisdom!)

Only 600 miles away!

Yesterday one of my favorite customers at Modern Mouse (and a Pollyannacowgirl fan, so nice!) came in with this shirt on. I almost punched her in the face with excitement. Turns out Disneyland made this shirt for the 45th anniversary of It's a Small World, and of course, you can only get it at Disneyland. This means only one thing: time for a little trip!

While I was researching the probability of procuring this shirt, I found a lot of other incredible Mary Blair stuff created in 2011. This bracelet? Amazing. Also expensive and probably long sold out, so that actually helps my covetous little heart.

pic from Disney Food Blog (yes, it exists!)

This teapot also poses no threat as its purchase would violate my "no more glassware" rule. The resident dishwasher already suffers enough from my ten thousand kooooky tea cups and their slightly less numerous teapot companions. However, temptation is strong. It's been about three years since I've been to the Happiest Place on Earth; is there a Groupon for the entrance fee yet?

CCA Holiday Fair, SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY!

This is where I'll be hawking my wares on Saturday! Come to California College of the Arts' millionth annual Holiday Fair and you'll find some incredible art and lots of funny art students being really art-studenty. It's great. It'll be nice and cold, there will be cider and coffee, there might be homemade tamales, and the CCA Oakland campus is so cozy.

 I like to think that every dollar I make at this show (which I've been doing for the past 6 years!) makes a wee dent into my massive student loan debt incurred by my two lovely years studying at CCA, but really, the earnings will probably go to deep-dish pizza and pipe cleaners (my life is weird). Ever since I started applying to grad schools in the winter of 2004, I considered the MFA experience as giving a really huge gift to myself, equivalent to buying an Escalade. But honestly, it was also an investment that helped give me the confidence that's turned me into a writer that sometimes gets paid the big bucks to write about the things I love. Yay!

Heart it!

This video is possibly the cutest thing ever made. So simple! Hot lady + hearts + striped shirt = magic!

ME WANT FOOOD

The finest snack available! Pic from Club Trader Joe's.

I like the holidays because they put peppermint on all the foods! These TJ's pretzels are on the top of my pepperminted list; they are obscenely good. Like the best kettle corn, the sweet/salty mix is perfect. I also like the chocolate-peppermint covered Joe-Joe's, but they're a little rich for everyday consumption.

Thanksgiving phone

I finally got me one of them newfangled iPhones! It's pretty incredible. Now I know why everyone can't put theirs down. I am still working out the kinks and finding my favorite Hipstagramomatic settings, of course! So tell me, people of the future: what apps do I simply need to have?

Made with Love by Hannah...for MEEE!

I've been wanting this skirt for many Christmases now. However, there is something wrong with my brain. In my warped mind, it is acceptable to purchase thousands of tiny treats that end up costing a ton in the long run, but I can rarely bring myself to spend over $40 on anything (excepting bills, student loan payments, and therapy). It is a pretty dumb system, granted, as it doesn't actually save me any money, but keeps me from actually getting what I want most of the time. Money! Whaddya gonna do?

Anyway, I finally buckled down after being in love with this gingerbread skirt from Made With Love by Hannah for ages. (It wasn't even expensive , esp. considering that it's handmade by a magical lady who lives in a gnome house, it's just that I am insane.) It's going to be my costume for the five craft fairs I'm doing this winter! Business tip: I find that customers seem to like a dressed-up vendor, and I always sell more when I wear my cowboy hat. I think that the gingerbread cowgirl combination is going to rock worlds (most of all, my own.) I can't wait!

Another hot holiday tip; Christmas music starts on KOIT this Friday. KOIT is the greatest soft-hits channel that has ever existed and their mix of Christmas music is super-traditional and awesome for the purist. It begins!

Oh no they didn't

from Fabricworm

I don't know anything about this Hoodie fabric line except that they want me to spend money that I do not have on fabric that is too good to ever use.