ta da! green bags for the troops

Remember awhile back when I promised everyone the BEST picture they had ever seen? Yeah, I know it was awhile ago but whatever. You are still here and for that patience you are about to be grandly rewarded. First, you must suffer through a story.

A few months back, three of us crafsters got together to mass-produce some of the famous green bag lunch bags.

And you know, we ate pizza and sipped margaritas. Most importantly, we finished five lunch bags that were simple (one might even say... camoflaged?) on the outside

But a bit more "colorful" once opened...

And then these bags were filled up with goodies (by the Best Army Girlfriend ever) and sent on a long journey.

Without further ado, I present to you a most MAGNFICENT picture of my little lunch bags in the hands of some brave men in a faraway land:

Isn't it glorious!?!? Little green bags, cheering up (hopefully) some very good-natured soliders that were kind enough to pose for a picture. Several pictures, in fact. See below, green bags in the Army (+ 1 Army Girlfriend, aka Ms. Sarah). The lucky beau is the gentleman in the top two pics, middle + right.

I think this is a nice way to wrap up 2007.

to all a good night

Photos of my Handmade Holidays are posted on flickr (earrings, journals, coasters, etc.)

This was a power drill, yoga, antiqued, snowshoe, sewing, jewelry sort of Christmas. I got everything a girl could ask for and more + time spent with my favorite people.

In other news...

I've crafted a lunch bag for a very patient girl, this time using yet another set of measurements to produce this medium sized tote. I used heavy-weight natural canvas and an Amy Butler print (Clay Geisha Fans from her Lotus collection) for the accent pocket.

And, in a brilliant flash of crocheted frenzy I came up with this easy peasy beer cozy! Below, original pattern made for the Bird's birthday. Others were forced on the boy, the sister and the roommates.

xmas07

A glimpse into the seasonal crafting/baking of 2007:

cozy ipod (+ ears)

Keepin' warm for the winter.

(Original design, made to fit iPod Classic 2007. Yet another project using my favorite Amy Butler Lotus- Morning Glory print. Lined with solid cotton.)

(Crocheted winter headband made with hand-me-down navy yarn. Awkward angle, no?)

holiday ornament swap 2007

Finished! With the help of a small snowstorm to free up my evening, I started and finished my handmade ornaments for The Second Annual Holiday Ornament Swap. Wonky little trees with wonky little decorations. I am now permanently hunched over with claws for hands due to the small detailing and handsewing and turning-inside-out-what-it-too-small-to-turn-inside-out and getting those corners just right. 9-fold.

Has everyone noticed my recent abuse of photo collages? It's like the third or fourth time I've posted one on flickr it in the past few weeks. But it saves you the trouble of looking through too many pictures and it lets me share just a few more mundane images with you all. So really, you are the lucky ones. Happy Holidays.

You can check out other ornaments in this world-wide swap at the flickr group here. Please also consider this evidence that swapping handmade ornaments to anonymous bloggers is actually supercool & hip.

Not OK.

Oh no! Blueprint magazine is no more :( 

Check out the news here. And from the press release...

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. today announced strategic plans for two of its publications for 2008. Going forward, the company will produce Blueprint as focused special interest issues within the home category, which it will introduce to brides-to-be through its established Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. Bluelines, the Blueprint blog, will continue and the company anticipates growing Blueprint digital content across its websites. Blueprint magazine will discontinue publishing on a stand-alone basis after the January/February 2008 issue.

“We are constantly evaluating the best ways to position and grow our brands. Weddings and Blueprint appeal to women at a similar life stage and we believe this strategy will allow us to better leverage the synergistic relationship between the two publications," said Susan Lyne, President and CEO of MSLO. “By publishing Blueprint in a special interest format, we can provide newlyweds with useful ideas and inspiration for their homes; and advertisers with a targeted platform to reach this highly desirable consumer.”

This can't be! Blueprint was named one of the hottest launches of the year by the Media Industry Newsletter and was a gold- and silver-medal winner at the Society of Publication Designer's 42nd Annual Magazine Design Competition. Plus, I really liked it. Goodness, what terrible news. And for the record, while weddings and Blueprint may appeal to a similar population, you cannot expect all women in their 20s and 30s to be reading wedding magazines. Sometimes we like to read other stuff. I know, sounds bizarre, but we aren't all wedding-crazed.

hannukah, chanukkah, chanukah, hanukah, hannukkah, channukkah

Baby's (my) 1st Hannukah Party was lovely and filled with all the potato latkes, dreidels, blue & white sugar cookies and wine that a goyum girl like myself could want. Celebrating the Festival of Lights with friends was a rockin' addition to my usual holiday festivities-- although my small Charlie Brown Christmas tree still snuck in among the Hanukkah garland and menorahs. And when I say garland, I may be referring to a string of construction paper links, 3D menorahs and dreidels. Or maybe I'm referencing the glittery, sparkely, extravagent variety. Both were present.

Just a few more pesky tasks separate me from making all the ornaments, cards, gifts and succulent sugary sweets that the Season calls for.

fa la la la la blah

I am a little bit ANXIOUS for the semester to end and the fun to begin:

And yes, these things are fun. Not lame. Fun.

(All photos from Martha.)