Our cozy little muse.

The cozies all started with LFM friend Natasha, who has left the fair Midwest to kick it in L.A. Before I could manage to make her, her very own complimentary coffee cozy, she managed to buy one!


And now, I've got proof that she's actually using it! Most people think they're purely for protecting your hands from the scalding hot coffee baristas everywhere serve each day. But Natasha's not those people (not always, anyway).

Natasha's a smart lady, and she knows how to keep her Bud cold when she's outside whooping it up at yet another music festival. Check it out! (Though due to her I-will-not-drop-this-delicious-Budweiser death grip, visibility is limited....).

Thanks, Prada!

Continuing to blow my mind.

It's no surprise, but I've long been a fan of the work of my friends. They each are talented and seem to create these amazing things, whether it's a piece of clothing, original wrapping paper, or an amazing salad.

One of them is Jay. If you read my blogs ever, you've likely read her name. She's the friend who taught me how to knit and helped me set up my very own Etsy shop. Quite frankly, she's responsible for opening a whole new world to me and has helped me embrace my inner hippie, something I still only reluctantly admit.

But, I'm not here to talk about me. I'm here to talk about Jay, and all of the wonderful things she makes.

When we first became friends, she had the hippie market cornered. You name it. Patchwork -- the whole nine yards. Those pieces were and are quality, perfectly-constructed works of art. But I'm happy to see the ways her clothing, color schemes and endless ideas have evolved over the years.



She screenprints using all kinds of images, including those of her backyard leaves and ferns and the bamboo that grows in her front yard. She also comes up with the most amazing appliques.

I'm not here to try to get her sales because, frankly, she's often juggling two or three custom orders in addition to posting everything from skirts and dresses to purses and bags on her Website Jennifer Joy Creative and/or her Etsy shop of the same name.

I don't think I have to say much, as the images speak will speak for themselves. I have been sporting one of her cowl neck shirts and her sturdy, amazing, screen-printed bag hasn't left my side since its arrival three weeks ago.



She has this amazing ability to put something together in a way that seems effortless but continues to amaze me.

And, when she tires of her basement sewing sweatshop, she takes her spinning wheel and a pile of bamboo (or other) fiber that she has dyed outside in the sun and spins for a while, coming up with the most amazing yarns.

Do I hope you'll buy something of hers? Of course. You should. They're adorable, quality, handmade art that can specifically be tailored to fit your body.

But really, I just wanted to show off my friend's amazing stuff.

Some of her skirts:






Some of her bags and coin purses:








And let us not forget her handspun, hand dyed yarn:






So, if you feel like it you should kill two birds with one stone -- buy yourself an amazing one-of-a-kind piece and support the business of a stay at home mama. You won't be sorry.

I'm back!

It's been a long few weeks of no knitting and it's good to be back!

Though I STILL haven't finished Cousin Ryan's custom dyed and knitted Irish colors scarf, I decided I had to make a least a couple of small things for my Etsy shop.

In the week before I moved I sold 2 or 3 of my cozies, so I decided to replenish them. That, and they're relatively quick projects, so I would get that instant gratification I needed after too long of a break from knitting.

I'm happy with what I came up with:




After I FINALLY get my first paycheck this week, I'll set off in search of the perfect yarn for a custom blanket for my friend Joy, who requested one weeks and weeks ago. Fortunately, Baby Lili isn't due to arrive until June so I have a little time.

Just wanted to post something because I finally have something to post. Expect more soon!