the mascara effect

My mother believes that a little mascara can cure anything.

Stomach flu? "Put on a little mascara honey, you'll feel a lot better."

Broken heart? "Oh go fix up a little with some mascara and things will seem better."

Nine months pregnant with three chins and cankles? "If you put on a little mascara and run a brush through your hair you'd feel more like going out."

My mother truly thinks that mascara is the cure-all. And I have come to love that about her. It's one of the little idiosyncrasies that makes her my mom.

I'm telling you this to make a point. And the point is this: a little cuteness never hurt anybody.

Spark is happening. This weekend.  I've been working like a mad dog. My eyes are boggled and my fingers are sore.  I think I'm ready.

It's been a long haul, but I'm lucky in that I get to work in my studio which is filled with everything I love.  Cuteness abounds.

Not too long ago I bought a little needle holder from My Friend Amy to keep track of all the wicked sharp needles that have made my fingers so very sore.  I named her Lucy. She has red hair and green eyes and she likes peter pan collars. She's a mini me and she makes my sore fingers feel just a little bit better looking at her.

The Amy behind My Friend Amy is a girl who left a corporate job to spend more time with her family. My kind of gal. She makes all sorts of fun little do-dads but needle keepers and tinker spool dolls are her specialty. The fun thing about these little dolls is that you can use them for so many things. They can hold needles, pencil lead, pills, beads, toothpicks or just about any tiny thing you need to keep track of in your purse.

Amy is giving away one of her needle keeper dolls right here on Suaviloquy. See the photo above? That's the cutie up for grabs. If you would like to enter to win you must leave a comment. I want to hear what you do to make life just a little easier to take when the chips are down.

And please click on over to Amy's shop. It's a charming little place to visit, and you might just find your mini me.

P.S. Did you notice that Lucy is yet again, another wooden doll? I just. can't. help. myself.

P.P.S. I'm going off the grid for the rest of the week. I'll miss you all like mad, but this girl's taking her show on the road. I will return and report next Monday with all the Spark details and the lucky, lucky winner of the needle keeper.

sidebar flare- you need it

Okay girls.

There are still some registrations slots left for Spark. Why? I haven't a clue. I mean, who wouldn't want to come?

Seriously.

So.

Put this little gem on your blog sidebar, link it to http://www.sparktheevent.com/, and you will be entered to win the earrings above.

They are some of my favorites you know, these earrings.

Also, if you come to your senses and sign up to come to Spark, you will get a second entry.

Earrings plus Spark?

Fabulous.

Leave me a comment on this post letting me know that you linked up and if you are registered to come to Spark. I will announce the winner on Halloween!

bon voyage!

gabrielle kai

Well.

Evidently the Earth has been turning after all. Here we are, our bags are packed, we're ready to catch a jet plane to meet our daughter.

I feel as if I'm standing on a ship deck, setting sail for a great adventure. I'm waving goodbye to all my arts and crafts for a while. I'm waving goodbye to sleep. I'm throwing kisses to afternoon runs on the beach and long showers. And I'm wearing a really good hat.

Goodbye old life. We may meet again somewhere down the road.





And I will be a bit clandestine for a while. You may not see a new post until I have have fully recovered from the ugly cry and snapped some really great pics of my little birdie.




BUT.




I'm not leaving you high and dry. No, no. That's not my style.




I'm giving you a chance to win these precious little crib shoes which were recently featured in Parent Magazine, made by Laurie Minick of Old School Acres. Laurie is a retired reporter who lives on a farm in Iowa with her two daughters, her farrier (horseshoer) husband, 13 horses, 2 dogs and a bunch of cats. These little shoes are only available through The Baby Gardner.



I bought Amelie her own pair. They are so sweet they make my hair curl.






To win the shoes, you must leave a comment guessing how much Amelie is going to weigh. If there is a tie, I will put your names in a hat, or bowl or maybe call in a witchdoctor to read some chicken bones.




See you on the other side of life.

call me mother teresa

Well the days continue to drag by at an excruciating pace. I'm in serious need of a distraction.

James M. Barrie once said, "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves."

This got me thinking about this post and about the huge lollipop I have right now and how I really do want to share it. I don't know, call me Mother Teresa, but I really want to share my joy, even if it is to preoccupy me a little. So I thought I'd spread a little sweetness, a little sunshine if you will, to you readers and have a few give aways this week.



Don't you just love how I draw myself with super skinny legs and massive eyelashes? This is the artist privilege.

Ashley and Andy have four, that's right, four Ando and Friends tees for me to give away. The pink and black are size medium. The cream and red are small. Please leave one comment saying which t-shirt you would like.


And listen darlings, if you don't win, don't despair. You can always click on over to the shop and buy one. Also, if you didn't read yesterday's post, that was a very foolish mistake on your part and you should scroll down and read it immediately.

Everyone must enter. No lurkers please. I need all the distraction I can get.

sugar and spice

My mom circa 1950 and her little cousin, Paulette. Evidently, sharing did not come naturally to her.

A toddling little girl is a centre of common feeling which makes the most dissimilar people understand each other.
-- George Eliot

Little girl stuff makes me melt. Seriously. Melt.

I bought this handmade jacket on Etsy a little while ago. It is made from a vintage table cloth.

My mother-in-law knitted this sweet little sweater for me from a Hadley Fierlinger pattern. She used the softest Debbie Bliss casmerino yarn. I just need a little pixie to put it on.

If you are so blessed to have a little girl patting around in your house, you must, must, must click over to Mountain Aven Baby and have a look around. I meet Blair through Etsy and everything she makes is absolutely adorable for girls and boys.

Blair is giving away a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner who leaves a comment. She is also having a big sale! Go! Go now and have a look!

And everyone knows a cute outfit requires cute bows to go with it. So. . .

Let me just introduce you to the maven o' cute hair babbles, Amy. Amy owns and runs Flowerzinherhair.com. Here's what she had to say about her work:

"I love the business aspect as well as creating things. So when I started making bows, and headbands, it became a great outlet for both my business side and my creative side. I have been making bows and selling them for about 3 years.

I bought flowerzinherhair.com at the beginning of this year from a remarkable woman that I was able to spend a lot of time with. She taught me some valuable things from her style of bow making and the technical aspects of running a website. I was able to merge her ideas with my own and create a website that I am really proud of, and more than anything, I absolutely love love love what I do."

Amy is also offering a $25 gift certificate and 10% off to Suaviloquy readers. Her bows are very affordable and I swear she has a billion different styles. Check out her site.

You know the drill- leave a comment and be in the drawing for both gift certificates. One comment per person please. No sneaky stuff. I know all the tricks. I've tried them myself.

I'll announce the winner on Monday!

because sally tomato said so

I can't believe that I've been at this for an entire year. I've written so much, given a fair amount of things away and complained a little. Here's to many more years of having my own daily soap box.

Do you have a favorite Suaviloquy post? I'd like to know which one it is. Leave it in the comments.

"I've got to do something about the way I look. I mean
a girl just can't go to Sing Sing with a green face." -Holly
Golightly

I mentioned not to long ago that I had found some ear plugs. I didn't want any old ugly orange ones like Sugar Daddy used to wear in law school. A girl like me needs fashion.

So I turned to the Queen of Fashion herself. Holly Golightly.

She never steers me wrong. I found the sweetest little tassel ear plugs around. And girls, they were only $6. You must check out JenGen's little shop on the web. Sally Tomato gives it two thumbs up.

I've been wearing them around annoying the living daylights out of my family. When they ask me to do something I just point to the tassels and mouth "I CAN'T HEAR YOU" and give a shrug.

You know me. I can't keep something this good all to myself. I have to share the love. I have five, yes five pairs of ear tassels in varying designs to give away. Leave a message and you will be in the drawing. And don't forget to tell me if you have a favorite post from 2008 if you had one. I will pick a winner on Wednesday. If you aren't lucky enough to win a pair, for heaven's sake, go to the website and buy some. They are only $6!

P.S. If you don't know who Sally Tomato is, I don't know why you are still reading this post. Go rent the movie already!

dangling the carrot

I think we all know that I am not above bribing people to get them to do what I want. To coax all you lurkers out, (I know you are still out there, I even know where you live- well, generally). I offer you a little bribe that you will hopefully be unable to resist.

My good friend Wendy has started a business selling hats. Evidently, hats are the chic accessory these days. I'm not in my twenties anymore so I can't be expected to know what is hot in modern society, but I have friends. I have friends who keep up with trends and they fill me in. In this way, I am really in the loop and super hip.



Any lurker who is willing to reveal themselves by leaving a comment will be in the drawing for this darling little jockey cap donated by Wendy of Swanki Hats. I chose to give away the blue one because that is the one I liked the best. If you aren't so much of a blue gal, click on over to Swanki Hats and order it in another color.

Survivor man just bought me a knit cap for Christmas, but if he hadn't, I'd be ordering up one of these. I guess I could always have two caps, but I think I might feel a little ridiculous, you know, with the weather being 85 degrees and all.

Okay kids, comment away. I'll use my random number picker to select a winner on Friday.

P.S. Check out Swanki Hats list of shows. There will be a party in my area next Wednesday. If you live close, stop on by.

spots of fashion

When I joined Etsy a year and a half ago I became an addict. There are so many great things for sale. A person can spend hours just browsing the virtual marketplace wonderland that is Etsy. One of my very first purchases was from Dragonflies.

Leslie is one of the many many women on Etsy who have taken a very simple idea and turned it into a profitable business. She sells magnets. However, I think they are more than magnets. They are little spots of fashion on my otherwise dull wall. They are the spice in my space.

Dragonflies magnets make a great stocking stuffer at only $5-7. They would also be a great little gift for a co-worker or teacher. Click on over to Leslie's shop and see what she has to offer. Then come on back and leave a comment to be in the drawing for this free set of magnets! The winner will be announced on Thursday morning.

Leave a comment and win these magnets!

calling in a favor

Copy and paste this code to put a Suaviloquy button on your site.

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Okay guys, I've been doing giveaways every Tuesday and Friday for two months now and I'm calling in a favor.

For this giveaway, you are going to have to do a little work. To enter the drawing to win a custom cuff or a pair of sapphire earrings you must post the Suaviloquy graphic with a link on you blog. That's it. Just give a little shout out for yours truly and you're in like Flynn. Oh, and you will need to leave a comment here with the link to your blog so I know who you are.


I will be closing comments for this contest on November 21st. The winner will be announced on Dec. 15th. If you don't make it in for this contest, don't despair. I will be running another similar contest on the 28th of November.


And now to the prizes. . .



The first prize is a custom cuff. I will work with you to create a cuff that says what you want and fits how you want. You can change colors, closures and metals. This fabulous prize (imagine an announcer's voice) is valued at $50.


The second prize is a pair of hand forged Secondsister sapphire earrings. Are the sapphires real? Why yes they are. Thank you for asking. They are 1 1/2" long. Worth $75.



Which one will you choose?

enigma

Kids are such an enigma to me.

I'll say to Thom, "Hey come eat this homemade dinner I spent the afternoon making for you."

And he says, "No."

I'll say, "Thom, are you ready to crawl into your bed. I just washed the sheets today and they smell great."

He says, "No."

I say, "Okay it's time to be calm. Come here and I'll tickle your back and play with your hair while you watch your favorite T.V. show."

He pulls a face and runs away.

I say, "Come upstairs! I have a nice warm bubble bath waiting for you!"

He says "Not now Mom."

What is wrong with this child? He rejects everything wonderful in life. Well, he doesn't turn down sweets. We have that in common. But really, why do we adults have to force our kids to do the things we personally love to do?

Over the years we have created little enticements. We turn pancakes into happy faces with blueberry eyes and banana smiles. We tell bedtime stories again and again until the words come automatically. We coerce and manipulate and bargain until we get our kids to do the very thing that we ourselves are dying to do. It has been this way for ages. I can't see it changing anytime soon.

Here's a perfectly wonderful little enticement to get your kids in the bath.

Catherine of Washable Art has been creating soap in her kitchen for some years now. This is what she says about her work:

My love of geometrical symmetry, natural asymmetry, color, and edible, delicious things is demonstrated in soap, and you'll find extreme care in the details. Many, if not most of the plant materials I use are grown locally, organically, and sustainably; you'll find natural pigments and dyes, fair-trade ingredients (when they can't be had out of my own garden), and recycled material packaging whenever practical. I love what I do, I know you will, too, and I look forward to sending something wonderful to you!

I highly recommend stopping by Catherine's shop. Her soaps make really great stocking stuffers and they are all reasonably priced. Her shipping costs are very low for both domestic and international.

Catherine has donated a set of her Bathtub Architect soaps for today's giveaway. She sent along an extra set for the boy and I can't wait to put them in his Christmas stocking!

If you would like to enter the drawing, just leave a comment! International readers are always welcome to enter a Suaviloquy giveaway.

the winner

The winner of the mini quilt is "Pecos Blue". Congratulations! Please contact me with your shipping information!

piece by piece

From the manner in which a woman draws her thread at every stitch of her needlework, any other woman can surmise her thoughts. ~Honore de Balzac

What is it about quilts that so completely and utterly fascinates me? The concept itself seems a little silly. Cut fabric apart just to sew it back together again. Hummm.

After some consideration I've come to the conclusion that it all comes down to tradition. I'm a bit of a tradition junkie and quilts are just about as American as it comes. There is some small business about people quilting as early as the 15th century, but it wasn't the patchwork we all know and love. Quilts were an integral part of the Civil war and the Underground Railroad and their popularity has never died.

I've tried my hand at quilting several times with mixed results. I'm not giving up though. I have some great fabric and a few ideas that have been clanking around in my head. Maybe the cold weather will nag at me just enough to do something about it.

Until then, I give you Monaleisa.

First and foremost, Leisa Wuthrich is an artist and an art teacher. For her, the magic of quilting is in the colors and design of the textiles. Leisa's eye for bold block color really sucks me in. I like to think of her work more as abstract fine art than traditional quilting. Although, you wouldn't have to ask me twice to cuddle up in one of her pieces. I simply love I idea of being wrapped up in art!

Leisa is also a contributor to Camp Creek Press which promotes learning through art. Check it out.

Okay, now for the good stuff (a-hem, the free stuff)!!! Leisa is graciously giving away this funky mini quilt! To be in the drawing, just leave a comment. The winner will be announced Monday morning.

Until then,

take it easy.

ye grand bambino giveaway

The winner of today's drawing will receive a binki keeper from lillitutu, a set of pee pee tee pees from Hush and a mini plush blanket from Quilt Baby! I will be choosing a winner on Thursday morning. Just leave a comment.

I am simply in love with lillitutu's products. She has a great eye for color and fabric combinations. This is what she had to say about her work:

Sewing is my creative outlet and I truly love it. My love of
sewing comes from my mother. She smocked most of my dresses when I was growing up and I still have them all. She taught me to cross-stitch at 5 and I made my first items of clothing at age 8: a ballet skirt out of a sheer scarf and satin ribbon and the ugliest blue jean skirt you've ever seen. These days I put a lot of effort into finding the perfect fabrics and then crafting the perfect item just for you.

Hannah Cardwell of Hush Boutique is a stay-at-home mom and super sewer! She creates a handful of fab product for baby that are totally unique and modern. I wish I had had a set of her pee pee tee pees when the boy was little. We had more than our fair share of showers.

Head on over to her shop. She has some products that would make a great gift for the new baby in your life.

Jesseca Bellemare started Quilt Baby in April 2006 with the intention of working from home in order to be with her children while also fulfilling her own creative needs. With her love for modern textiles and her husband Anthony's background in marketing and design, they joined together to develop a line of simple, modern, and functional baby products.

Quiltbaby's products really are chic and unique. You simply must go to the shop and check out the wall art! It is very affordable and perfect for a nursery.

Good luck everyone! I am really wishing that I was the one needing these products, but hey, at least I can spoil other peoples children if not my own.

many hours, one ambien and a lost wallet later. . .

Talk about better living through pharmicals! Don't get me wrong. I'm not a fanatic pill popper. But I'd just like to take a moment and sing a small opera in praise of Ambien. I took one tiny little white pill and sleep away 10 hours of my flight.

If only my good luck had lasted.

I lost my wallet today in a taxi, I think, I'm a little fuzzy about the brain. We were amongst the hustle and bustle and trying desperately to find a taxi driver that spoke even a semblance of English and somewhere in the mix I lost my bag. Money, credit card, drivers licence and two apples that an irate vendor made me buy after I accidentally knocked them off her cart.

There is nothing like running the streets in downtown Bangkok in the pouring rain trying look in every fuschia taxi that goes by in case you see your bag.

I finally gave up and headed back to my hotel. I got a fabulous meal and a foot and neck massage after I bummed some cash off a friend. Maybe tomorrow I'll sort this whole thing out. Right now I'm too tired.

Maybe you'll have better luck than me. Here is the giveaway for today. I'm not entirely sure when I'll pick the winner. I'm flyin' by the seat of my pants these days.

Leave a comment and be in the drawing to win this One Lucky Baby minky quilt!

One Lucky Baby was started in 2004 by a mother who was looking for original accessories for her own children. Fun, colorful prints and soft plush fabrics make One Lucky Baby products cozy and stylish. Each item is handcrafted for durability and years of love.

Click on over to the shop and take a look at all the funky blanket and bibs. They would make a perfect Christmas gift for the wee one on your list!

i've become the stalker i always wanted to be

I don't even remember how I ran across Danita on the internet. It was a little while ago and since then, I have become somewhat of a stalker. I just can't get enough of Danita's art. I haunt her blog daily just to see what new and wonderful things she may be working on. I particularly love her Fridas. Here's a hint for all my peeps out there: if you are looking for the perfect gift for me for Christmas, look no further. (I don't know why I just used the word "peeps". I really have no idea what it means, but saying it makes me feel like I have tons of friends.)

Danita has talent seeping out of her every pore. Not only does she paint she also makes:

Keepsake Boxes

Art Dolls

Collage Cuties

Jewelry!

And. . .

Holiday Art

Danita is a self taught mixed media artist who uses an alchemist's treasure of materials and techniques to create pieces that freeze little moments in her character's lives. Sometimes her little people escape their paintings and enter our world in the form of fabric dolls. She defines herself as a night owl, animal lover and a paper addict. If you'd like to know more about her work, drop by her Etsy store at etsy.danitaart.com and her blog at http://www.danitaart.com/

I'm thinking of starting a Danita Stalker club on Facebook that you may consider joining.

So all you peeps (there I go again) know that each time I feature an artist, I also do a giveaway. Today you get to actually choose your prize. Have a look at all the art prints you see here and in her shop and leave a comment saying which print you would love to win. I am going to be a little MIA for the next couple of days as I will be sequestered on a airplane and schlepping my suitcases around airports. Hopefully, on Friday, in between seeing the sights of Bangkok I can pop in and announce a winner. Until then, good luck! I'm off to Thailand!

a. Swimming
b. Dandelion

c. Night Gown
d. Moon Keeper

a. Angel of the Broken Hearts

b. Unicycle Girl

c. Little Red Riding Hood