casapinka

Decoylab

I really like these clocks from Decoylab. I like how she mixes modern materials with wood. I wish I knew how to do things like this. Right now I'm knitting a baby blanket with owls on it. I just finished a terrible blanket with lots of cats. I'll have to write the pattern up since some people will like it but it's difficult when you don't want your own design on your website! That's the artistic life, I guess...for every good design, there is a stinker or two or three. Accepting this and carrying on is most of the battle!

Margaret Owen paints a snow globe

Last Christmas Juniorette made this glittery bird snow globe. For some reason Margaret of Permanent Magenta decided to paint it. I think it's so pretty! Margaret is becoming a bit of a Wunderkind. She's featured in this month's Romantic Homes magazine, where Elyse of Tinkered Treasures wrote an article about her. She has numerous shows lined up and is off on Friday to teach watercolor painting at Maryam of Marrakesh's Peacock Pavilions in Morocco. 

 I'm so excited for her - she's like the jet-setting artist who paints beautiful things that I always wanted to be. I'm kind of in awe of her! She's going to boil me an egg later this morning and maybe she'll have a zit or dirty hair so the awe will come down a notch and we can talk about normal things. I fear I'll be trailing her around like a puppy dog, my knitting dragging behind.  Anthropologie, I want Margaret's art on your plates! And all of you guys might want to buy a Margaret original before she becomes untouchable! 

Cat coat

Working on a simple project with Jun'ette. Scrap fabric and hearts with stabilizer inside. To be connected together haphazardly into a rug for her doll or something. The poor cat might end up with a new coat.

 

Yarnbombed Bike

I just wanted to show you what people in February do -- when they don't live in Rhode Island. Greedy for Colour, who lives in New Zealand (where I was an exchange student when I was 16) did this to her bike. Yeah, I remember running around on the Opunake beach in February back in the day. Our house was right across from the water and our bedroom had great exit ability when everyone was tucked in. Nobody had a bike this terrific, though!

Today I like

This terrarium pendant light from Anthropologie. If we EVER get a house (so tired of looking) it would be a fun thing to have.

And this Eiffel Tower snow globe ring from Divine Sweetness' Etsy shop. It's quiet, wet, snowy here today. Not much to report. Junior seems to have a permanent bald spot where he got staples this winter but apparently he has three girlfriends at school so it's not hurting him. Plus one of them likes Power Rangers. I embarrassed him for the first time ever by telling him (in front of the girls) that now he'll have to really learn to put the toilet seat down. I thought I was giving him sound advice but now I understand it should have been in private. I didn't realize anything embarrassed the kid who often wears two pairs of underwear to school because he thinks it's cool.

Selina Lake

Signed copies of Selina Lake's new book Homespun Style are now available on Etsy. Husband and I looked at a house last week with a backyard area just like the one on top. It's a slight possibility - I'm hopeful. Have  great Monday, everyone.

Orla Kiely Patterns

The other day, I looked down at my bed and liked all the patterns and colors, so I took a picture. The Orla box was from here.  I keep my inspiration journal things in it, like double stick tape, scissors and gel markers. We're getting ready to go for a family breakfast now. Junior is already throwing a hissy because he's wearing these and Husband said Absolutely Not and I'm tucked away trying to avoid the argument. Shhh: I'm the one who told him he could wear them in the first place. I'm going to be busted any second now. 

Lie Back and Think of Canada

I couldn't possible write a post yesterday, as after all the consternation of two days ago, in the middle of it all, the "fire cleanup people" almost made me move to Canada. Yesterday was spent talking myself down and ensuring I didn't emigrate.  You remember the Fire of December, yes? Well, they are finally doing the cleanup and restoring and while Junior was yakking his brains out they decided to  to shut off our water. Barfing kid - no water - sleep deprived, wild-eyed mother - bad combination. I won't comment further as I've decided to be a lady today. 

What always amazes me is how during calamitous times at Casapinka, stuff gets knit. Husband forbids me to put this bumper sticker on my car but I think other knitters can relate. Don't think of denying it! All is well with Junior now. He and his sister are back yelling "Duh!" at the end of every answer to a simple question (anyone hate that as much as I do?)  Anyway, here is this baby dress for a 1 year old that knit itself while I was thinking of Canada. Perhaps that's what I'll call it.  It's so boring and dumb looking  I want to cry, though. It needs something. Here's what's been suggested and please pipe in: a bow, a heart, some ric rac, an Easter Bunny, a pocket with a heart, two pockets with hearts,  and an embroidered heart tatoo on the butt that says "Mom." 

Junior Sells Out

I'm phoning it in today, folks. For the third week in a row Junior has some malady. He was sick all day and night. I finally bit an adult anti-nausea pill in half and managed to get it down his gullet at 3am. The last place I wanted to end up was the ER for IV hydration. The pill did nothing - he couldn't hold it down. I tried it again this morning and it worked better. It's a bit touch and go. Husband, are you having FUN in VEGAS?

Awake at 5am (memories of breast feeding come to mind - those days when it was easier to roll over and feed the kid while still sleeping, only this time I was holding a bright pink bowl under Junior while trying to make him sit up) I stumbled downstairs to make coffee and the machine broke. BROKE! Then the cat wouldn't shut up because she had no litter. Meow! Meow! Meow! She's an indoor cat but I'm ashamed to say i almost tossed her out the front door with a "Figure it out! Find some dirt or something!"

So, covered with the noxious scent of Junior, sleep deprived and in caffeine withdrawal, with a cat screaming for more litter, and a massive headache, I started to knit a new blanket. 

Neckties from Me and Matilda's Etsy Store 

Fernando Voken Togni

I love graphic designer Fernando Voken Togni. Husband is gone for the week so I thought I'd remind him of our engagement in Paris by posting this. Oh, and I just realized that it's Valentine's Day and I'll spend it watching black and white Dennis the Menace reruns while eating pizza in bed with the kidoodles. I also want to  gently correct him on something quite important. When we saw that stacked washer and dryer while house hunting this week, he clearly stage whispered  to our realtor, "At least she can't wallpaper these!" So, allow me to introduce what will be happening during you next absence (once we actually have a washer and drier.) Have a lovely time at your "crappy little hotel" in Vegas  - I know, I know, you're in meetings all day and night and not whiskey tasting with the boys til 4am. You don't have to tell me again!   Happy VD, honey! P.S. Look between your pink and light blue shirts in the big suitcase.

Addendum: 2 hours after writing this, Junior ralphed all over the back seat of my car on the way to school. This kid really gets sick a lot. That'll teach me to joke about washers and dryers. Luckily I texted Permanent Magenta and asked if she could, "Pleeeeeease  pick up this bag of rinsed out clothes and wash them for me!" That was after the 45 minutes it took to clean out the car. Happy Valentine's Day, once again, honey. Remember, it's spelled T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. and I'm sure there's one in Vegas.