Entre Nous.

Left Right Left

   

My favorite shoe store (Left Right Left) in Bellingham is having a spectacular 25% off April Fool's Day Sale on all in store and online orders placed this Saturday, April 1st.  Gretchen (a fellow art department grad from WWU) offers an array of shoes, books, and other accessories both at her store and on her web site.  If you don't live in the area do make a point of browsing Left Right Lefts website and see if anything strikes your fancy.  I have my eye on several pairs of shoes and a cupcake coin purse. 

 

One day only! All regular price items will be 25% off!

 

"This includes call-in, web and special orders placed and paid for that day. This won't be happening again until October, so get your booty in here and take advantage of the savings!  To receive sale prices that day online, just mention the sale in the comment box during checkout. We'll deduct 25% off your total before shipping when we run your card."

Le Sigh

Yesterday I finally received an order I had placed nearly a month ago.  I decided to have some labels made (for a current craft venture) through a company called Sterling Name Tape Company.  It took me quite a bit of time to come up with the right color scheme (rose background with black text) and the appropriate wording (Specially Handmade By Vanessa R***).  After all that decision making and long wait I was so thrilled when the package finally arrived.  Unfortunately to my HORROR they had misspelled my first name (it's VAnessa not VEnessa) and the color was so not "rose".   I looked at the time and it was well past 5:00pm on the East coast, so I called and left a haughty message explaining the situation.  Then this morning I got up extra early in hopes of actually speaking with a person.  They were very nice about the whole situation, in fact by the time I called they had already asked the plant to redo my labels.  But I'm just so tired of such incompetence when it comes to doing a job properly.

Sparkle and Shine

   

Last weekend I and a couple friends decided to spend a few hours painting pottery at CreativiTea, a pottery painting studio and tea bar.  I've always been a bit leery of those paint your own pottery studios that were rampant during the late 90's.  But I spotted a ceramic cupcake while passing by one day and just had to give pottery painting a chance.  We had such a fun time.  Today I went to pick up my finished glazed cupcake and it turned out smashing.

 

Speaking of cupcakes...

There's a new knitting book out called One Skein : 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet by Leigh Radford that features the sweetest little knit cupcakes.  The book is compiled of projects you can knit up (or crochet) using only one skein of yarn.  The cupcakes look so darling, I can't wait to give them a try.

 

 

And if you're in the mood for an actual cupcake I've located two recipes that sound delicious.  One recipe is from Paula Deen, for Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes.  The ease level of this recipe is beyond belief.  The second is Brownie Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting from Epicurios.  This one is a bit more time consuming but sounds just as delicious. 

Paging Bettie Fans!

Shakin’ her maracas on the cover of BUST's April/May issue is Gretchen Mol, star of the upcoming film, The Notorious Bettie Page (in theaters April 14th). Inside, she chats with the film’s director, Mary Harron, about her role as the OG pin-up queen.  On sale March 28th.

I shop therefore I am

   

I've been a fan of Subversive Cross Stitch for a while now.  Julie Jackson (founder of SCS) sells cross stitch kits which include fabric, thread, instructions and her unique patterns which sport such snarky messages as "bite me" or my fav. "irony is not dead".  I was delighted when I learned that Julie branched out from her kits and is now selling a book, a 2007 calendar, and a set of notecards.  You can purchase an advance copy of the book directly from Julie's website.  The book includes 33 patterns, that are mostly new and not available in the kits.  "In this wicked little book, Julie Jackson reinvents the age-old craft of cross-stitch, finally putting an end to all that saccharine sentimentalism and giving modern stitchers the chance to say what's really on their minds. Stitch up "Bitch in Kitchen" for a heartfelt housewarming gift. Spread cheer with the ever-festive "Bite Me". Or whip up "This Place Sucks" for a cherished co-worker. This fully illustrated book includes 33 of Jackson's best patterns and easy-to-follow directions. Jackson outlines the simple tools and techniques needed and even offers encouragement and tips on how to create one-of-a-kind revolutionary designs from craft-store patterns with subversive sentiments all your own."