Lucky Day Give-Away Winner

We have a winner for the little plaid Mr Cottontail--Claire of comment number 36, please step forward to claim your prize (even if you did not leave your email address, as requested, ahem!). But I am happy to know Mr Cottontail will go to a home where a new baby is expected, and where the baby's mama is busy sewing lots of little clothes for it...how could Mr Cottontail be anything but perfectly content in such a home?

And thanks for all the comments about what you do and what you wish you could do better or at all. As for me, well, of course I love to sew, with reclaimed materials preferably (and I admit I love hand-sewing most because it is meditative--especially when you do it while watching MadMen). The list of things I wish I could do includes quilting (please, no questions about the quilt to be--still psyching myself up to begin it), crocheting, screen-printing, and sewing clothes for myself...the list could go on. I also wish I knew how to make full use of my camera...see, Mr Beeper bought me this very lovely camera a year or so ago as a gift, and I know how to use a mere fraction of its functionality. But I suppose these are all things to aspire to when the days comes that I might actually run out of other things to do? You know, when hell freezes over and pigs fly and stuff? Or maybe one day I will just burn out really hard on making toys and plushies and stuff and then turn to crocheting, never to be heard from again...

Whatever the case, Claire dear, please contact me with your email address and the blue plaid bunny is all yours. And thanks again to all of you for your comments...makes me want to create some sort of challenge around learning that new crafting technique you always wanted to learn...

Some Local Color

I just wanted to share some of the stuff around here giving me a little happy boost whenever I see it. It is all about color (a continuing ode to Beeper and his rainbow vomit coloring style). Like these melamine mixing bowls in a lovely nesting rainbow set. They are designed by Michael Graves for Target. And while I already own a couple of sets of ceramic mixing bowls I could not walk away without bringing them home to my kitchen. Bliss in a bowl (or 6).And this. Have you seen the lunch boxes by GoodByn? We bought one for Beeper earlier this year and I am grateful for it every single day that I pack it. There are so many reasons to love it: made from recycled materials, comes with 3 sheets of stickers so the kiddies can do it up in their own style (without the influence of any mainstream cartoon characters), bento-influenced with all of its little compartments, dishwasher-friendly, you do not need to use baggies or individually portioned items because each food item will stay contained in its own compartment, and it can be recycled when you are done with it. Go see the GoodByn site. Get your own--in fact, I am waiting for the adult version so I can have my own.

And this is Beeper's latest doodle face. It is a wizard. Ala Dumbledore, I think (or so I like to think since I have great affection for Dumbledore, like he is my favorite eccentric uncle or something). He happens to be holding 3 wands in each hand too, in case you did not notice.

And on an entirely separate side note--I wanted to share some info with all of you about the Rainbow Sunshine Plushie fiasco. Coincidentally, my brother-in-law happens to work in the US Patent Office--he is an uber-smart guy with a science-y PhD AND a law degree, for good measure. He actually reviews patents for his job. Naturally, I sent a little note his way when Taggie's attacked. And what I learned was that I actually was in violation of their patent. He said with the way it was written, what they had actually patented was specifically the use of folded ribbon. I know. He thought it was a little surprising too that there was a patent on that. He did say that if I had the inclination, I could set about trying to challenge their patent, and find some examples prior to the original patent date, showing that they were not the first to use ribbons in the way they do. Tempting--but not really. At this point, I could give a rip. I am just over it. And while I still think it is ridiculous, I have to admit that it has been a good lesson in patent law, but more valuably, it has taught me how supportive all of YOU are. I was truly wowed by the support so many of you showed to me over this crazy issue. And your own commitment to standing up to the man, when called upon. The comments you left made me smile, laugh and just feel downright warm because I knew I was not alone. So, thank you for all of that. Thanks for visiting, reading, and supporting. It is that sort of thing that makes all the time I spend on this blog worth it. I love you, man (big group hug vibe coming your way).

Doodle Face Something-or-Other...

What can I say about Beeper's latest Doodle Face? How about this: What the...? The kid has some imagination...is it a mutant giant attacking the kingdom? A bunny gone real, real bad? A spider scaling the castle walls? Who can say? Beeper would not divulge the answer to these burning questions and so I turn to you--what do you think it is? And yes, I have added some notes to the drawing for your comprehension(the temperamental artist was willing to divulge that much)--just in case it is not completely obvious to you what all is there.