urban-farmgirl

t.v. and remote

2011-12-17T20:05:00.001-05:00

t.v. and remote, a photo by urban farmgirl on Flickr.

finally, some new stuff!

2011-03-30T10:01:00.003-04:00

My latest creation...

A collaboration, actually. My handsome and talented husband and I are so pleased to introduce Miss Sadie Lou, born on March 23rd. We are all terrific, tired, and behind in our work! My apologies to everyone whose order may be delayed while I work through the blur of the first weeks of life with (gasp!) three kids!
xoxoxo
erinn

2011-03-11T06:59:00.004-05:00

Nature and machines

Two of my new designs are getting lots of attention on facebook, flickr and etsy these days... mr. robot

and this little thing I like to call "treee" for now...

I listed the robot on Etsy yesterday and have already sold three, a massive record for me.
Treee is not for sale yet, since this guy was a prototype and while I love the way he looks, he doesn't stand on his own, and his skinny trunk makes him an unlikely cuddler... I have to put some more thought into making him more functional in one way or another. But boy, do my flickr peeps love him! He even made it onto Cuteable today - gah!

What I really want to do though is thank my handsome and talented husband, Sam Simon.
I am beyond lucky to have an unbelievable photographer for a husband, and his photos of my work are at least 50% responsible for anyone ever buying anything I make. He knows how to make anything - alive or inanimate - look fantastic.
Check out his stuff... especially if you're in need of a photographer. He does amazing portraits, kids, families, weddings, sports, parties.... and he will make you look great!

www.samsimonimaging.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shmoolio/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Sam-Simon-Imaging/48508148684

and like him on facebook too!

2011-03-04T07:09:00.002-05:00

Pyon-Tauros ピョンタウロス a photo by knitting doll factory on Flickr.

I have been pretty devoted to my weekly horoscope as delivered by Rob Breszny of Free Will Astrology since I was in college (which was longer ago than I like to think about..). This week he really nailed it for me, especially since I read it almost directly after finding the work of this fellow fiber artist on flickr while eating my cereal yesterday morning. Here's what he had to say to us Geminis this week...

Legend has it that when Bob Dylan first heard the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, he only made it through the first few tunes. "Turn that s--- off!" he said. "It's too good!" He was afraid his own creative process might get intimidated, maybe even blocked, if he allowed himself to listen to the entire masterpiece. I suspect the exact opposite will be true for you in the coming weeks, Gemini. As you expose yourself to excellence in your chosen field, you'll feel a growing motivation to express excellence yourself. The inspiration that will be unleashed in you by your competitors will trump any of the potentially deflating effects of your professional jealousy.

This lady is excellent. I am inspired!

2011-02-27T20:37:00.005-05:00

Callie Callie Jump Jumps! (and Mr. Giant Jellyfish)

Eli with Mr. Giant, soon to be newest addition to my Etsy shop...

and some new design Callies with their namesake - Cal Leo, the original Callie Callie!

It was a productive weekend, and I'm feeling the design spark in a big way. I have a few more ideas I'm working into prototypes, hopefully some more pics sooooooon.... xoxo

2011-02-13T18:34:00.003-05:00

Oh, dear.

The holidays are long gone, so what's my excuse for being away for so long? I don't really have a good one, sadly. My loyal friends say that growing another human inside my body is excuse enough to slack on other responsibilities, but I don't really think it is. I have been crocheting though, as Spring 2011 will bring not just a new addition to our family, but the onset of another busy (I hope!) season of shows and the Art Market. I have to get my application in next week, so keep your fingers crossed for me.
I have a year-long plan mapped out for myself ( and my handsome husband too... if I can get him to cooperate :) and it all begins here. I was rejected by the Etsy Plush Team on my first application, and after a day of sulking I decided that they were right, and the time had come to step up my game. So I developed some new designs that I'm excited about, and have some more in the pipeline. Here's what I've been working on in between orders for the past few weeks...

2010-11-29T21:03:00.003-05:00

Me and the Media...

Well, the Women's Fest is over, and I am officially done for the season, except for the few special orders I took on for xmas - all of which I am genuinely excited to work on. The show was great. The jellies were super hot, and I got to spend some quality time with Jen Kahn, jeweler extraordinaire. Also got to catch up with Eva Solberger of Stuck in VT, who was there doing a piece on the show. But the craziest thing by far... our local tv station WCAX was there and decided to interview me. I was happy to do it, and assumed I would end up in the final bit for about five seconds but.... not exactly. Check it out.
http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=5333565&autostart=true

And here's a funny picture of me taken by my lovely friend Holly, also known as the Littlest Smitten...

2010-11-24T20:31:00.003-05:00

Jellyfish ATTACK!

Women's Festival of Crafts is this weekend at City Hall on Church St!!

And I will be there on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with these guys - small, medium, large and X-TRA large jellyfish! Come and get one for that special someone.
I'm also excited to announce that I am finally accepting credit cards via Propay - so bring your cash, checks, visa or mastercard and I will hook you up!
xoxoxox

2010-11-16T06:58:00.008-05:00

urban farmgirl love from Twist!!

Here are some great photos Rachel took at Twist this weekend. As you can see, many folks had a, uh, strong reaction to the giant jellyfish...

2010-11-15T17:57:00.004-05:00

Wow.

It's been a hell of a week!
Twist happened, and man was it great. I can't wait to do it again next year. What a well organized and excellently run show! Thank you so much Lexie Barnes and all of the organizers and staff.
I'd also like to thank my distinguished associate and great friend Rachel M. Hooper for being there with me. I couldn't have done it without her - from navigating an unfamiliar town and venue, to figuring out the parking situation, fetching me snacks, luring jellyfish lovers to my table and getting them to pose for photos, and covering my table while I took 1000 pee breaks, she did it all - including unjamming a stuck seat belt from the driver's side door jamb of my car.
Thanks baby!

As if that wasn't enough, my friend and neighbor the famous James Kochalka posted my Stuck in VT video on his super popular site American Elf. See it here.
It's in the sidebar on the right - along with his quick description of kicking my kiddo's tooth right out of his mouth on the playground after school the other day! (well, it was a very loose tooth, and it was an accident, but still!)

2010-11-11T18:49:00.002-05:00

We got Stuck in VT!

Thank you Eva Solberger for making us look so great. We had the best time filming this, and my boys feel like super stars! Off to Twist in the morning with my pal Rachel, wish me luck!
I'll post pics and an update when we get back!
xo

2010-10-24T15:12:00.002-04:00

big things in the works....

first of all, TWIST is coming up fast. If you're in the area do come by and get your holiday shop on. the vendor list looks amazing (including my VT homegirls recycle moe and mountain ash designs)
and the whole shebang sounds like a great party.

second,
I'm thinking very seriously about officially writing up a bunch of patterns for some of my designs, to be sold in a new etsy shop. I feel like I've just about reached my potential for production of actual pieces, but I still want to grow, so this seems like the only logical step.
what do you think?

2010-10-13T20:55:00.007-04:00

New stuff for Art Market 10/16

here are some new designs I've been working on over the summer, but am just getting around to photographing! The ice cream sandwiches were fun, but they're kind of out of season now...
much more timely are the skinny bunnies with scarves, don't you think?
then there are the weird cats, robotish guys with stubby arms (I'm thinking of redoing the arms actually) halloween ghosts, rainbows, clouds, and raindrops.
What do you think?

2010-10-12T07:22:00.004-04:00

Plush You!!

Well, as promised, here are the photos of both of my pieces for Plush You 2010 at Schmancy in Seattle. Thanks so much to Kristin Rask for organizing, curating and masterminding this amazing show! After the photos check the link to the Flickr group - the plush up in there is amazing!

And here's the Flickr set!

2010-09-26T09:46:00.002-04:00

On this gray Sunday I have for you only....

Nigella
and my modest plan to make some soup, watch Fantastic Mr. Fox (again), finish all outstanding orders ( a pair of mini hippie boots and a set of two cupcakes) read about Nigella on the internet and hopefully find out when her new show is on that new food channel, and go for a walk. Maybe.

2010-09-18T10:59:00.003-04:00

Oooh! A Trio of Boys urban farmgirl review!

I want to give a big hug and thank you to Beth, the wonder behind the blog A Trio of Boys for this lovely review - xoxoxoxoxoxxo
Take a minute to look around her blog, lovely and entertaining.

This is the set I sent.... see it reviewed HERE

2010-09-16T16:53:00.003-04:00

Plush You! Here I Come...

I finished my pieces for Plush You Seattle - opening on October 8th at Schmancy - and sent them off the other day. I could not be more nervous. I hope someone likes them. Anyone. I'm happy with the way they came out, I just hope my stuff blends well with the rest of the show. It tends to feature some serious sewn plush with lots of crazy details, and my style is more classic, simple, bright amigurumi. No matter what happens, I'm so proud to be in the show, and thank Kristin Rask for including me. It's an honor, for serious.

Here's a sneak peak...

2010-09-03T18:23:00.002-04:00

I've been busy...

though not so much with the crocheting....
Yes, it's true, we are expecting baby #3 sometime in late March. I don't usually get into too much personal stuff here, but I figured this was big enough news to warrant a post. We are thrilled, excited, scared, freaked out, and seriously need to get busy. We need a bigger place, a bigger vehicle, and god knows what else. I have to get up into the attic and go through the baby gear and clothes and see what the situation is.... sometime. The crazy thing is, I don't really foresee a free moment for myself until January. That doesn't leave much preparation time! Thank heaven for my unbelievable husband, who has already been picking up some major slack while I run to the bathroom with my queasy self, or fall asleep on the couch at inopportune moments. With any luck I'll be past this rough part in another week or two, and I can get on with the fun part.

In urban farmgirl news... my donuts were in a new cute etsy treasury the other day called "If Dessert is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right!".
I wound up in an annual publication for Burlington college kids put out by our newspaper 7 Days called What's Good. There's a cupcake photo and a little write up. It hasn't been posted online yet but when I find it I'll post a link here so you can check it out. The best part is I'm right next to the write up about my friend Calvin of COOB Originals - Yippee!!

I'm working on my Plush You submission and promise to post pics when I'm done. I should also have some new pics of random stuff on Monday - since the husband and I both have the day off and should be visitor-free. Ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cones, dessert sets in bowls, skinny bunnies... we'll see what I can accomplish before first trimester fatigue overtakes me this weekend. Wish me luck!
xoxo
Erinn

2010-08-11T08:01:00.005-04:00

I've got news!

First, I'm so excited (and nervous) to tell you that, it's official. I'm going to be at
Twist 5 in Northampton MA November 12 and 13!!
ACK! My fellow Art Market pal and super gal Moe O'Hara, the genius behind Recycle Moe, has amazingly and graciously convinced a friend of hers to put both of us up nearby the venue, so that pretty much seals the deal. From what I hear, it is an excellent show and not to be missed.

Next, ( and only two weeks after Twist I might add) I'm doing the Women's Festival of Crafts in Burlington - yippee!! Megan/Sweet Basil Cards, I love you. I just can't say it enough.

AND.... keep an eye out in the next few weeks for an urban farmgirl feature/giveaway on the adorable blog A Trio of Boys. As a maker and mom of two boys I could not be more into this blog. Give it a look!

Stuffed Magazine submission is done and en route to Laguna Hills CA - wish the zombie cupcakes and mini desserts luck on their journey!!

Last but not least, I have formed my plan for Plush You Seattle, now I just need to get beyond the sketch phase.

Here I go!

2010-08-03T07:32:00.008-04:00

Summer in Burlington

A multi-room fort my husband built for the boys during a crazy week-long heat wave..

E and I celebrating his catch of one of the many hot dogs thrown into the stands at the Vermont Lake Monsters vs. the Staten Island Yankees. Yes, it was wrapped. Thank god.

The boys watch the warm up. E is ready with his glove should any more hot dogs fly...

A friend and I blow bubbles at a backyard barbecue...

and C tries to share...

and my handsome husband takes amazing pictures of sunsets over the lake, like this.

We have been busy up here in the northeast so far this summer, and the really crazy part is just beginning.
In the next few weeks I have to finish and send out my submissions for STUFFED magazine and PlushYou! Seattle, figure out if I can manage a piece for the South End Art Hop (sadly, I doubt it), keep up with the Artist Market, and find out if I got in to Twist this winter (and if so, figure out how to manage the vendor fee AND a hotel).
Then, and only then, I can go to the beach with my family!!
I think I can I think I can I think I can!!!!

In other news.. My cinnamon buns were featured on Cuteable.com a few weeks ago!!!

2010-07-13T15:07:00.007-04:00

I try to be a good blogger... but it's hard!

Well, hard for me anyway. But I'm vowing to begin a new creative phase...

one marked by less procrastination and more focus.
Just typing that sentence gives me deja vu.
So we'll see how it goes.

In the meantime, please enjoy these photos of some of this past week's work, getting ready for another Artist Market on Saturday.

xoxoxoxoxox
love and popsicles,
Erinn

2010-07-01T22:51:00.005-04:00

July 3rd Art Market (*for real this time!)

Top hat bears! color coordinated stuff! New jellyfish!
and it's actually supposed to be sunny!

getting ready for art market...

2010-06-25T20:46:00.001-04:00

getting ready for art market...
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

Sitting in the living room with Sam, watching Season 2 of True Blood on netflix, working my little fingers to the bone! Thank god for muddy waters, it's gonna be a late one. wish me luck tomorrow! I have some new stuff to try out... lucky cats, mini bears, new donuts with sprinkles and good old jellyfish with a new and improved design.

2010-06-09T16:21:00.004-04:00

what i do when i'm not crocheting...

Take a look at this lovely little article in the Burlington Free Press Hometown section about the Burlington Children's Space food program and me, the cooker of the food....

Meet Burlington Lunch Lady and blogger Erinn Simon...

if you're interested in my other blog i cordially invite you to take a look! Here!

Sir Creamcup dessert Midget REMIXED

2010-06-08T14:16:00.001-04:00

Sir Creamcup dessert Midget REMIXED
Originally uploaded by Dee87

KAWAII!!!!!!!!!!

2010-05-31T18:36:00.003-04:00

Holy Cow!

I am so crazy excited to tell you that urban farmgirl is going to represent at Plush You! Seattle in October at Schmancy!!
The show is a big huge deal (to me, and lots of other folks who make and love plush stuff) and has featured many an idol of mine in the past. I will give you more info on the line up and such as I get it. Right now I only know the dates - the opening is on October 8th and the show will stay up through the month with items for sale during and after.
I don't know yet if I'll make it out there or not, though my mom seems really jazzed on the idea of a Fall trip out west...

2010-05-23T12:06:00.003-04:00

ART MARKET BABY

Yesterday was my first ever BCA Artist Market in downtown Burlington. I stayed up all night finishing pieces and packing the car and I was nervous as heck but I'm so happy to say that it was pretty smooth sailing. Everyone was super nice, especially Jeremy Ayers the site manager, and my neighbors Rebecca Macomber and Dan Siegel. I learned lots (like about the importance of clamps and shims when setting up outside), sold a bunch of stuff, and saw absolutely everyone I know. Of course Joann was there with her amazing set up, and she took all of these pics for me. Thanks dude! It was a great day and I can't wait to do it again in two weeks. Now please excuse me, I need to crochet or I'm never gonna be ready...

urban farmgirl

2010-05-10T22:54:00.001-04:00

urban farmgirl
Originally uploaded by subsixstudios

me!

2010-05-09T11:38:00.009-04:00

look who i got to meet...

queen city craft bazaar was so fun!!! I sold a bunch of stuff (people mainly went ape-cuss for the jellyfish, but the callie callies were popular too), saw soooooo many folks i love but never seem to run into often enough, and met some new freshies too. Like for example....

The adorable, genuine, and very sweet Calvin of COOB Originals
http://www.etsy.com/shop/cooboriginals

I bought one of these from him, in pink
And then there was....
The fantastic work of Robot Dinosaur
http://www.etsy.com/shop/robotdinosaur1

AND kooky Lauren presenting hi guys!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Farmgirl/42417853059?ref=ts#!/gargemelskeletor?v=photos&ref=ts

I don't think I could say enough about the coolness of hi guys - and Lauren's discussion here of the philosophy behind her work is my favorite thing I've read recently. Viva Vermont and her artists! I've said it before and I'll say it again... I LOVE MY HOME!

There was also my lady Allison of drawnonward designs, an original burlington craft mafia member - soooooooo great to see her again. It's been forever since she moved to NH. There is no one I'd rather be next to at a craft show, period.

Beth Robinson (thank you Kacey!!!) who I met briefly and whose dolls were absolutely insane in the best possible way...
and of course, Kacey of Subsixstudios, the event producer extraordinaire..her super hard work made the whole thing enjoyable and super smooth. Thanks Kacey!!
(and these are her flickr pictures of the bazaar I stole for this post :)
See the whole set here

Yeah Burlington! Art! Craft! People! Good vibes!

now back to the couch for me. It's mother's day.

2010-05-07T20:12:00.003-04:00

It's HERE

Queen City Craft baby. I'm gonna be up all night. Come see me tomorrow! The details once again:
Main St Landing
10-5
Free Parking
Totally Awesome
August First food

If you want zombie cupcakes get there early -I'm only bringing a few.
And if you bring me a cup of coffee I'll give you 10% off your purchase. Seriously.

See you there!
xoxoxo

2010-04-26T09:21:00.003-04:00

New Dudes!!

Babies, the procrastination bug, a real cold, and a trip to visit my parents in NY all coincided to create the perfect storm of zero crochet action for the better part of a week. I had nothing to share, no inspiration... feeling blah, etc. Then I managed to pull these three together, and the motor clicked back on...

before long I had this crew put together...inspired largely by my seemingly unending supply of weird new colors

Then I found HUGE packs of gorgeous translucent pastel seed beads at the dollar store and decided I needed sprinkle cupcakes to match all the donuts.
I'm not gonna lie, I do NOT enjoy sewing seed beads onto cupcakes. But DAMN they look cute. And I'm already getting a little faster, I think. So more to come. Sorry about all the caps, I'm feeling emphatic this morning.

Also, thanks to everyone following and/or commenting here.... I am just learning about comment moderation and promise to be better about checking for them and saying hi and finding out about you all! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxo
happy monday!
-erinn

Cupcake cutie

2010-04-26T07:50:00.001-04:00

Cupcake cutie
Originally uploaded by Oh Yeeeeah drink Kool Aid

little flickr find this morning, before i get to my real post....

2010-04-14T07:24:00.002-04:00

Queen City Craft Bazaar!!!

My friend Kacey of subsixstudios and Queen City Craft is putting on the Queen City Craft Bazaar on May 8th at Main St. Landing in Burlington and I was lucky/smart enough to snag a spot. I couldnt' resist, even though the Art Market begins just a few weeks after that. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say QCCB is the indie craft happening in Vermont, and I can't wait. The vendor list is crazy awesome, including lots of up-and-coming folks I can't wait to meet.
Kacey is doing a list of vendor spotlights on the QCC blog and I just happened to be the first one up the other day... you can see the post here
And of course, I'll see you there!

2010-04-09T16:19:00.004-04:00

Donuts!!
I got the most amazing gift last week from local artist and swell gal (and Eli's preschool Art Teacher - that's Burlington for ya') Jude Bond - a giant bag of yarn!
I was so excited I was late to work that day, I couldn't tear myself away from the ocean of yarn that spilled out of that bag when I got it home and tipped it out onto the living room floor. Weird awesome colors and strange, intermediate weights. I wanted to make multicolored anythings right away, and donuts I made.
The different weights made the finished sizes vary quite a bit, but I think that's part of the charm here.
Anyway, thank you Jude (more about Jude here btw)
A donut is coming to you....

babukatorium2019

2010-04-07T15:44:00.001-04:00

babukatorium2019
Originally uploaded by babukatorium

oh, i really need a whole entire other life to crochet..

2010-04-04T09:29:00.003-04:00

It's that special Sunday...

First of all though, because I didn't mention National Crochet Month even once in March, I will try to redeem myself with some helpful information...Upcoming fiber and needlework events!

Stitches South - Atlanta, GA - April 22 - 25

Maker Faire - San Mateo, CA - May 22 - 23 (Pictured left; join us for beginner knit & crochet lessons, as well as kids' crafts!)

Knit & Crochet Show - Manchester, NH - July 9 - 10 (Also join us for the CGOA's Professional Development Day on July 7!)

Stitches Midwest - Schaumburg, IL - August 19 - 22

I am thinking seriously about trying to make it to the Knit and Crochet show, totally in my neck of the woods.

And now, Easter junk.

The How-To
http://www.instructables.com/id/Easter-Peeps-Jousting/

And a classic...

And a little cute...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21598191@N06/2338543782/

2010-03-28T18:48:00.002-04:00

Success!!

Three things:

The Silent Auction was amazing - so much fun, lots of money raised, and crazy entertainment including a set from Butterfly Starpower...

Butterfly Starpower-Wheeler Gym- 3-27-10 from sam simon on Vimeo.

Sam had a dad's night out last night, and checked out our friend Micheal Heeney's group show

Entropic Restructed at the Borough Gallery Studio, then went to see Heloise and the Savior Faire at Parima. A glass of wine at the opening, and three pints later, our boy was in a bad way this morning. But it was worth it.

Lastly...
I GOT IN TO THE BCA ART MARKET FOR 2010!!!!
I'm so pumped.
Now we'll see this week if I have a spot in the Queen City Craft Bazaar in the beginning of May - So much to do.
Cuss.

2010-03-24T16:36:00.002-04:00

Heavy on the Sweet

It's the Silent Auction at the Integrated Arts Academy (Eli's school) this weekend, and I finally finished the set I promised I'd donate weeks ago. I am so happy with it. I never tried my own donut before, and I have to say I was confounded at first. It took a few frustrating tries to figure out the increase and decrease rate to get the shape to come out the way I wanted it, but now that I know I cannot wait to make more. There is something so lovely and comforting about those fat little inner tubes !! I am thrilled with my dollar store bags of puffy puff balls as well.
sigh.

2010-03-23T16:29:00.001-04:00

And would you look at this!!!?

http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2010/03/a-deer-in-legwarmers-adventures-in-yarn-bombing.html

jelly wheel

2010-03-19T15:13:00.001-04:00

jelly wheel
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

I've been busy ... obsessing about jellyfish.

Too Many Cephalopods...

2010-03-14T16:08:00.001-04:00

Too Many Cephalopods...
Originally uploaded by hansigurumi

Oh you can never really have too many, can you?
Well, we keep getting rejected by vacation. Our second attempt was shut down this morning, at the ticket counter. Eli collapsed in tears on the floor of the terminal. It was a scene. In a truly panicked and cowardly move we got him out of there quickly with the promise of a whole bunch of candy from the drug store, where we'd have to stop on the way home anyway. so here I am at home, messing around with my long dormant Ravelry account and discovering amazing stuff, like the amazing Hansigurumi, while cal sleeps and the other guys play legos.
and there's no food in the house, what the heck are we gonna have for dinner?
sigh.

2010-03-13T13:59:00.006-05:00

projects, projects, and vacation (maybe)

I was supposed to be on a plane right now with my dudes, but jet blue apparently has other plans for us this week. Instead, we will fly out tomorrow morning and arrive in Ft. Myers around 6:30pm tomorrow night. My mom is PISSED that she bought Sunday afternoon tickets to the Sarasota Circus that won't be used. The worst part is that she and my stepdad were so mad they spent an hour and a half on the phone with jet blue last night and badgered them until, magically, they were told we could all get on a flight from Burlington at 11am today. But it was already 8pm, Cal was asleep, and since we had spent the day believing we weren't leaving until Sunday we hadn't packed a single thing, or done laundry, or bought snacks and q-tips and sunscreen and tampons and travel handi-wipes, or done the dishes, or prepared in any way for the trip. So there was no way we were getting all of that done and everyone out the door by 9am the next morning.
I felt like a total jerk telling my mom thanks but no thanks for winning back our vacation day, but...... wait a minute.
Why didn't they tell us about the 11am Saturday flight when they called Thursday night to tell us ours was cancelled?
oh, eff it.
in any case, I spent last night watching Inglourious Basterds with Sam and finishing up this motley crew...
a special gift for a birthday...

part of a birthday/St. Patrick's Day set for my brother (Patrick)

....and a jellyfish, included in the special order as a surprise. And because everyone else is making them ( or was a year or two ago) and I've always wanted to do one of my own. I really love the color, and am excited about the pink cheek technique I came up with. I really, really hate cutting out tiny pieces of felt and sewing just pretty much anything, so I couldn't be more pleased with myself.
Also want to give huge props to PlanetJune for her pug - I stared long and hard at it on flickr before starting this one, since I'd never made a dog before - let alone one as specialized as a pug - and had no idea where to start. She is the ami animal master as far as I'm concerned. Then I checked out her blog and learned the Invisible Decrease. People, this post is true. If you crochet it will change your life. Thank you June!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-09T17:53:00.002-05:00

Here's the latest chapter in the ongoing story of me and my odd experiences at Hannaford (or Hannafords, as we like to call it 'round here) supermarket.
I had to head to the mall yesterday to pick up a new electric skillet for the work kitchen so I decided to do the grocery shopping at the Hannafords out that way and encountered this phrase on the side of the bin for returning empty water cooler bottles.

It made me feel.... a little sad. But also smirkishly pleased at the thought of all the folks on their routine shopping trips confronted with a little bit of random existentialism.

So I made this guy.

2010-03-09T07:37:00.003-05:00

American Elf!

My neighbor ( and fellow PTO member) James Kochalka writes a diary comic strip you should read called American Elf.
He does lots of other creative things too, like have a band, make art, and write and illustrate kids books.
He is trying to put together a video game with Pixeljam called Glorkian Warrior through this thing called Kickstart Project. Basically you get an idea, then try to get people to donate to your project. My understanding is you have to specify how much money you plan to raise. If you reach your goal you get your money. If you don't, you don't.
He needed $10,000 and is like, so almost there!
If you have a few extra bones you should check out his site and consider throwing a couple his way. The game should be crazy fun.

2010-03-08T16:32:00.002-05:00

Brief interaction between me and my husband:

me: (listening to pandora) I love this song. I'm really into Grizzly Bear right now.

husband: Boys! Boys!!! Shhhh!! Keep it down! Mom's really INTO these guys. Ok?
(a moment passes, then he turns to me and says...)
I'm really into some cool band too, you know.

2010-03-08T15:45:00.003-05:00

custom orders and other stuff

I finally finished a mobile that was loooooong in the making - a special order from a lady friend (who is due any day now) back before Christmas. Shameful! But I'm pretty psyched with the finished product.

Ordinarily after that and a project on the scale of the zombie cupcakes ( ha ha) I would have been spent for the weekend, but on Saturday Sam took Eli to Smugglers Notch for the Molly Rowlee benefit for most of the day, and Cal took a two-and-a-half hour nap soooo...

mr. spring bunny came to be!

re-ment cake madness

2010-03-06T16:05:00.001-05:00

re-ment cake madness
Originally uploaded by Gigi & Big Red

i want to be a pastry chef

2010-03-06T11:11:00.002-05:00

They're coming for you!!!!!

I was so inspired by both Zombieland ( GOD I love Woody Harrelson) and Yummy Pancake's fantastic Zombee Mr. Toastee that I had to make some zombie cupcakes. I am in love with them and want to spend all day making them, but what I really must do is put Cal down for a nap and get the hell to work on all the orders I have backed up.
But... zombies!!

Sam did the set up and took the shots, of course.
Here's a link to Yummy Pancake's cool blog and lots more of her work.
http://yummypancake.blogspot.com/

2010-03-06T06:47:00.002-05:00

Cute Cupcakes All The Time!!!!!!!!!!

I woke up today to an Etsy message from these lovely folks at Cute Cupcakes All The Time... they blog about real, cute, delicious cupcakes but just recently discovered the world of amigurumi treats. Looks like the usual obsession has taken hold. Welcome friends! And thanks so much for including urban farmgirl cupcakes in your round-up. Cheers!

2010-03-04T14:45:00.001-05:00

holy cow

check this out.

http://www.sarahapplebaum.com/blog/

2010-03-02T13:20:00.004-05:00

some inspiration...

"'The sun is shining-the sun is shining. That is the Magic. The flowers are growing-the roots are stirring. That is the Magic. Being alive is the Magic-being strong is the Magic. The Magic is in me-the Magic is in me. It is in me-it is in me.'" - chanted by Colin in The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

i thank the lovely and talented Eva Solberger for posting that chestnut on the old facebook today.
also, here are the actual pics of my four (on the floor) projects from the month of February. The little purple bumpy tree will be in a show at the Rose St. Gallery around the corner from us.
I dropped of my thing today and was totally blown away by the space. I want to live there, now.

Yummy Pancake Schmancy Exclusive Plush - Zombee Toastees!!!

2010-03-01T18:56:00.001-05:00

Yummy Pancake Schmancy Exclusive Plush - Zombee Toastees!!!
Originally uploaded by Yummy Pancake

so fantastic! i love the eye usage, brilliant.

2010-02-28T18:53:00.005-05:00

done!

it happened. i finished all four projects SATURDAY NIGHT, one day early. From the looks of things on the photobucket upload site i was not the only person struggling to meet the deadline - some of the artist albums remain empty even tonight! but i am feeling really impressed with myself that i actually met this goal, time crunch and all.
as soon as i can figure out why blogger won't let me upload photos i'll show you. or you can check them out here on my flickr page...
what do you think?

also,

my hair is turning grey. is it "gray" or "grey"?

i can't face it! i've had the random strands here and there for years but now it's really happening all over. i'm only 34!! i bought a box of "gray solutions" by clairol last night. medium brown. oh lord.

burlington ArtPM challenge

2010-02-27T11:21:00.001-05:00

wip
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

i love a race against the clock!

wip

2010-02-27T11:20:00.001-05:00

wip
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

tree trunks in progress

oh wow

2010-02-25T21:08:00.001-05:00

oh wow
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

i didn't do this, but i wish i had, and I have a sneaking suspicion i know who might be behind it. i also feel the need to answer the call of this marvelous act of yarn tagging. I personally like "yarn bombing" but not everyone's into the bomb thing so we can go with "tag".
cheers to you, my sweet neighborhood tagger!

2010-02-24T20:35:00.002-05:00

see that, over there on the right?

Underneath where it reads "Me and My Friends"?
erinnsimon.com, my big girl website, is now live (as they say).
I have to give huge thanks and love and yeahhh yip yippees to my handsome, talented, and generous with his time husband Sam Simon. Not only is he a kick-ass photographer, he is a better-than-ok web designer based on the un-effing-believable slickness of my site, which he put together single-handed while i whined over his shoulder.
Please take a look and tell me what you think. But only if you think it's the best thing ever.
just kidding.

project #1

2010-02-24T20:34:00.001-05:00

project #1
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

I admit, occasionally i have more enthusiasm than energy, or time, or sense of reality. i threw my name into the hat for this art project challenge and now we're in the final days and i'm nowhere near ready. i could just walk away, it's not a big deal really, but I SO want to pull it all together and bring it in under the wire. I even broke down and bought a new pair of red sneakers to help me sprint through all of this work i've taken on at once.
this one's going to be a giant toadstool. i think.

2010-02-20T23:35:00.003-05:00

Messin' around with ideas for a custom mobile
and a pair of pink and brown hippies

I know the butternut squash came out kind of penis-ish, but I love him anyway.

2010-02-17T20:49:00.004-05:00

Valentine
This past weekend we drove to rochester new york to visit family, and while there we checked out the Strong Museum of Play. Insane.
Sammy took this of one of the exhibits...
That's made of Legos.
I know!
You can see more here.

They also had a killer mini aquarium, which got me completely psyched for some reef work.

We listened to the new Vampire Weekend most of the way there and back, the kids are especially into this bit.
I finally delivered the last of the outstanding orders, and now I'm working on:
<3 A hat and boots set for a friend's new baby girl!
<3 A special order mobile with birds, mushrooms, flowers, and maybe apples, I'm not sure
<3 A moon
<3 The four art projects I need to complete within the next 10 days so I can be in the ArtPM Burlington show in March
<3 a special something for my dad's 60th (holy crap) birthday on the 28th.
A pretty healthy list. So what am I doing right now? Wrapping up in my blanket and watching olympics.

also, i'm developing an obsession with ali macgraw in the 70s.

2010-02-08T16:07:00.002-05:00

custom hippies

I hope she likes 'em!
Bad phone picture, sorry. But I am late with these and needed to get the image up asap. And you can see a bit of the kitchen collage in the background.

2010-02-06T12:31:00.003-05:00

I'm doing this!

ArtPMBTV.
It's a challenge kind of thing - make four pieces of art in February, show one at Rose St Gallery in March.
I'm doing trees, I figure it'll be a good way to keep my ass in gear.

come on cupcakes!

2010-02-06T12:06:00.001-05:00

come on cupcakes!
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

work with me.

it's piling up

2010-02-06T12:05:00.001-05:00

it's piling up
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

and taking over, again. i made a really good list last night though. it is by my side right now as i dive into this mess.

saturday morning

2010-02-06T12:04:00.001-05:00

saturday morning
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

coffee, i'm counting on you to get me through this day productively. don't let me curl up in some corner and konk out. don't let me down. i really need to work.

2010-02-06T12:03:00.004-05:00

special trip
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

Special Trip
to meet the on-call pediatrician first thing on this frigid saturday. little guy woke up an hour after going to sleep last night shouting in pain, and stayed awake until about 4 am. the ANGEL doc on call MET US AT THE CLOSED OFFICE THIS MORNING to see him, calm me down, and prescribe the pink stuff.
double ear infection - ouch. dr. knott - oh so nice. Thank you thank you thank you thank you!

2010-02-03T21:06:00.008-05:00

As it turns out, some people actually read this thing...

And I feel like an ass for just neglecting it for so long! I try to be good, but then I miss a day or two here and there, then a whole week goes by, then sometimes a month and...
you get the idea.
but my husband is kind of obsessive about google analytics, and yesterday after I requested that about 250 people on facebook become fans of urban farmgirl i got a whole mess of hits. so he started looking at my stats or whatever, and come to find out this blog actually has followers. From all over. In the past two months I have had visitors from all 50 states and a total of 83 countries! A-ma-zing.
So I decided to get back in the saddle right away and give ya'll a serious update. And the thing is, I kind of have a lot to talk about - finally.

Rachel and I are still "working" on the reef. And by "working" I mean sitting around in the night occasionally after our kids are asleep, drinking and talking about the reef. But that's about to change! We had a very productive dinner meeting just this evening and have formulated a plan to pull us through this thing and have it installation-ready for september.
I'm going to be busy between now and then too because, based on the popularity of the amigurumi at the WFOC back in november, I'm applying for a spot in the Art Market this year, so i'm going to need to (sigh) apply myself for the next several months to build up some inventory. I'm also shopping around for a local brick and mortar gig. I have my eye on a few places downtown. And there's the Bobbin of course...

I have lots of new stuff in the good old Etsy shop, which i'm actually working to promote, a little, and keep stocked with fresh trinkets.

plus I'm really amped to work on the forest. I just finished the prototype apple tree the other day and I have sketches for a bunch more...

And Sam is helping me with a new website to get my haphazard and far-flung internet presence into a manageable package - put a tent on the circus, so to speak.

I think that's everything. Except that I'm flattered and so inspired to know that someone, anywhere is into my little thing here. Thank you so much for reading this, whoever you are!

2010-02-02T18:05:00.002-05:00

more valentine junk

valentine set

2010-01-17T12:03:00.001-05:00

valentine set
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

tree and berries

2009-11-30T08:48:00.003-05:00

tree and berries
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

mr tree at the craft show with the last of the berries before they were snatched up...

women's festival of crafts!

2009-11-30T08:48:00.001-05:00

women's festival of crafts!
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

The Women's Festival of Crafts this weekend was my best show ever. I had a great time. Thanks so much to Megan Humphrey for organizing an awesome show ( again!) and Sarah O Green of Mountain Ash designs for being a great neighbor, and everyone who came and went bonkers for amigurumi! Yee ha!

2009-11-11T17:27:00.002-05:00

Amigurumi!

cupcake family

2009-10-21T05:28:00.001-04:00

cupcake family
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

More for the Women's Fest! Eli calls them the Mr. and Mrs. Blueberry and Lemon Blueberry.

shrooms

2009-10-15T20:53:00.001-04:00

shrooms
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

coming to the Women's Festival of Crafts - Thanksgiving weekend, be there.

2009-10-08T20:13:00.004-04:00

Women's Festival of Crafts!

I'm doing it again, with my own whole table this time! November 27-29th.
Here's a bit of what I plan to bring with me, so make sure to come by and do a little shopping. Or a lot. Of shopping.

2009-09-12T18:50:00.006-04:00

SEABA 2009 Art Hop

thanks for the photos to my handsome and amazing husband Sam, who had an exhibit of his own at the SEABA building..look!

2009-09-11T07:14:00.005-04:00

Bits and Pieces

Crochet Coral Reef and Forest details, Art Hop 2009
Keliher Samets Volk
Friday-Sunday Sept.11-13th

baby blanket

2009-07-19T23:05:00.001-04:00

baby blanket
Originally uploaded by urban farmgirl

i'm making a ton of these in cool colors for some fall shows.

2009-07-06T08:44:00.005-04:00

it's all coming together, maybe

A long time ago I wrote a little bit about the Institute for Figuring and the insane work they've done with Hyperbolic Crochet, namely the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef.
I was into it then, but kind of put it on the back burner of my brain for a while.
Friends, I must tell you that over the past year or so the idea has come to a slow boil for me, and unexpectedly taken over my life.
It's kind of what I'm doing now, in general.
My great friend Rachel is responsible for the resurgence, as she is working on crocheting the Lorenz Manifold as a semester-long project at Goddard. I watched her hyperbolic models take form for a few weeks and listened to her talk about her project, and eventually I had to try and make one of the suckers.
A few days later this dude emerged from my hook

It's been pretty much non-stop since then.
Needless to say, Rachel and I are planning the Burlington Reef, which I have already made not small progress on

even as other installations are forming in my head.

The bad news? I need a studio, like now.

2009-05-27T08:33:00.003-04:00

May I?

Where is poko now?

It's a rainy May day and I'm home with husband and Cal. Eli is at school and the gnomes and the worms are out and about. Thinking about making a bunch of cupcakes (the yarn kind) and maybe a squirrel so Rachel and I can get started on our woodland homes for crochet animals.

The project list is growing again, but what will I do about all my jobs?

I need a time-stretcher. Or a prioritizer. And a big bag full of money.

If you can help with any of those things please get in touch with me right away, and as Cal would say, Have good day!

Treehouse!

2009-04-24T22:48:00.001-04:00

Originally uploaded by rkeys23_2

I want to live in a tree.

2009-04-23T22:14:00.006-04:00

like a mixtape

noah's ark

wild things

amelie

van homan

chan

2009-03-02T09:14:00.003-05:00

What you're looking for is looking for you too

So after diving into my gemini-ness last night I sleep, then wake and stumble across this awesome piece by Paige Rien on hipmama excerpted here:

This is certainly the Gemini in me -- at once in rapture with two lives -- two options and two choices -- when you can really only have one at a time. This latest run in with the need/fulfillment assertion about working women, left me clenching my teeth. In a total projective non-sequitur I responded, "I think I'm a better mother when I do what I love." It was defensive and laced with the antagonism I'd swallowed all the previous times I'd heard this opinion. Am I a better mother? I guess my ideal -- of the war-time mother -- of the woman tethered to home and children and her kitchen, is not really what I want -- especially if the way to have it is to give up my creative work. On the flip-side I have colleagues and friends and peers, all lovely mothers, who appear to me to be supremely confident and content in their modern full-time-nanny-aided choices. They trust that their children will be OK, that their work really is important, that they can work by day and mother by night, or vice-versa, as the job might be. I don't have this confidence. I still battle each side -- not enough to quit my job, obviously. Not enough to hire a full-time nanny. Not enough to make more space on either side of my life. So I remain, often squished by both as they clash and conflict for each of my 24 daily hours

2009-03-01T18:44:00.002-05:00

Miss me?

I've been missing you too. I've been busy, obviously, just like everyone else. But to be completely honest I haven't been posting much because I haven't been crafting much. I have been working on other projects - some for money and some just for fun, but all very time consuming. I just filled a few random orders for crochet bunny stuff and it definitely felt good to get the hook in hand again, but my heart is elsewhere at the moment.
However, I have been collecting little things here and there to share on this old thing. Like, for example... this.
Go and find out everything about your birthday, it's fun.
And in case you're curious, here's what I found out about June 14, 1975.

14 June 1975

Your date of conception was on or about 21 September 1974 which was a Saturday.

You were born on a Saturday
under the astrological sign Gemini.
Your Life path number is 6.

Your fortune cookie reads:
Love always and deeply.

Life Path Compatibility:
You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 3, 6 & 9.
You should get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 2, 4, 8, 11 & 22.
You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 1, 5 & 7.

The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2442577.5.
The golden number for 1975 is 19.
The epact number for 1975 is 17.
The year 1975 was not a leap year.

Your birthday falls into the Chinese year beginning 2/11/1975 and ending 1/30/1976.
You were born in the Chinese year of the Rabbit.

Your Native American Zodiac sign is Elk; your plant is Mullein.

You were born in the Egyptian month of Mesore, the fourth month of the season of Shomu (Harvest).

Your date of birth on the Hebrew calendar is 5 Tammuz 5735.
Or if you were born after sundown then the date is 6 Tammuz 5735.

The Mayan Calendar long count date of your birthday is 12.18.1.16.13 which is
12 baktun 18 katun 1 tun 16 uinal 13 kin

The Hijra (Islamic Calendar) date of your birth is Saturday, 4 Jumadiyu'th-Thani 1395 (1395-6-4).

The date of Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 30 March 1975.
The date of Orthodox Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 4 May 1975.
The date of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) on your birth year was Wednesday 12 February 1975.
The date of Whitsun (Pentecost Sunday) in the year of your birth was Sunday 18 May 1975.
The date of Whisuntide in the year of your birth was Sunday 25 May 1975.
The date of Rosh Hashanah in the year of your birth was Saturday, 6 September 1975.
The date of Passover in the year of your birth was Thursday, 27 March 1975.
The date of Mardi Gras on your birth year was Tuesday 11 February 1975.

As of 3/1/2009 5:40:23 PM EST
You are 33 years old.
You are 405 months old.
You are 1,760 weeks old.
You are 12,314 days old.
You are 295,553 hours old.
You are 17,733,220 minutes old.
You are 1,063,993,223 seconds old.

Celebrities who share your birthday:

Daryl Sabara (1992)	Lucy Hale (1989)	Steffi Graf (1969)
Yasmine Bleeth (1968)	Boy George (1961)	Donald Trump (1946)
Jerzy Kosinski (1933)	Marla Gibbs (1931)	Pierre Salinger (1925)
Burl Ives (1909)	Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811)

Top songs of 1975

Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain & Tennille	Fly, Robin, Fly by Silver Convention
Island Girl by Elton John	He Don't Love You by Tony Orlando & Dawn
Bad Blood by Neil Sedaka	Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell
Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John	That's the Way (I Like It) by KC & the Sunshine Band
Jive Talkin' by Bee Gees	Fame by David Bowie

Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 4.81956947162427 years old. (You're still chasing cats!)

Your lucky day is Wednesday.
Your lucky number is 5.
Your ruling planet(s) is Mercury.
Your lucky dates are 5th, 14th, 23rd.
Your opposition sign is Sagittarious.
Your opposition number(s) is 3.

Today is not one of your lucky days!

There are 105 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 34 candles.

Those 34 candles produce 34 BTUs,
or 8,568 calories of heat (that's only 8.5680 food Calories!) .
You can boil 3.89 US ounces of water with that many candles.

In 1975 there were approximately 3.1 million births in the US.
In 1975 the US population was approximately 203,302,031 people, 57.4 persons per square mile.
In 1975 in the US there were approximately 2,152,662 marriages (10.1%) and 1,036,000 divorces (4.9%)
In 1975 in the US there were approximately 1,921,000 deaths (9.5 per 1000)
In the US a new person is born approximately every 8 seconds.
In the US one person dies approximately every 12 seconds.

In 1975 the population of Australia was approximately 13,968,881.
In 1975 there were approximately 233,012 births in Australia.
In 1975 in Australia there were approximately 103,973 marriages and 24,307 divorces.
In 1975 in Australia there were approximately 109,021 deaths.

Your birthstone is Alexandrite

The Mystical properties of Alexandrite

Alexandrite can assist one in centering the self, reinforcing self-esteem, and augmenting ones ability to experience joy.

Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)

Pearl, Moonstone, Opal

Your birth tree is

Fig Tree, the Sensibility
Very strong, a bit self-willed, independent, does not allow contradiction or arguments, loves life, its family, children and animals, a bit of a butterfly, good sense of humour, likes idleness and laziness, of practical talent and intelligence.

There are 299 days till Christmas 2009!
There are 312 days till Orthodox Christmas!

The moon's phase on the day you were
born was waxing crescent.

The most interesting finding here for me... my older son happens to be a Sagittarius, my "opposition" sign. Yikes!

2009-01-24T21:21:00.003-05:00

Eli's lego star wars creations

Eli's lego star wars creations

2009-01-24T21:18:00.005-05:00

Consider yourself Tagged
If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged. I had a blast doing this, even if you don't plan to post it anywhere, do it anyway. It's an interesting exercise. notice how you edit yourself. What things do you consider putting on your list, but reject? And why?
Anyway...here's the deal.
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

Here's me...
1. Since she was the person to tag me with this, I'll make this #1...Desi (Fargnoli) Zuhone was secretly my idol in junior high. We didn't really even know each other, but I was a real goody goody (at least at that point in life ..) and she was always getting in trouble, or into fights, and she got detention alot. But she had this really happy, kind smile, and she seemed so... nice! I remember being in gym class one day hearing someone tell a story about how Desi had to run from the police after getting in a fight after school one day.. who knows if it was true but I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard.Now it appears she's a lovely mom with a beautiful little boy. Desi, if you read this I hope you don't mind, believe me it's a compliment!

2. My best friend is Theresa Gasior, we have been best friends since kindergarten, 28 years.

3. My parents divorced when I was 9, they've both since remarried and I love both of my stepparents, but I am still sad about it.

4. I cannot wake up in the morning without coffee. I cannot get through the afternoon without coffee.

5. I have had a journal at all times since I was 13. I still have almost all of them, there are dozens. If I know you you are almost certainly mentioned somewhere in at least one of them.

6. I took ballet classes from the time I was 4 until I graduated from high school and was in the Nutcracker at the Forum in Binghamton 5 times.

7. When I was 15 I saw a gutted deer my grandfather had shot at deer camp hanging from a tree in my backyard. I became a vegetarian that day, and remained one for 5 years.

8. In my life, I'm most proud of my two beautiful, smart, funny,strong and sensitive boys.

9. I want to have one more baby. I would love a girl, but I know in my heart that if I do have another it will be another boy, and that would be great too.

10. On a weekend night ( or any night, really) there is no place I'd rather be than hanging out at home with my husband. He makes me laugh all the time.

11. I didn't have a wedding. My husband and I were married by a 70 year old justice of the peace named Gloria, in her backyard in Burlington. It was just her, us, and a cat. It was perfect.

11. I don't play any instruments but I wish I'd been in a band at some point in my life.

12. I LOVE music and my favorite place to listen to it is in the car while driving.

13. I'm a terrible driver. Just ask my husband.

14. I lived in NYC for three years and never experienced any kind of scary situation. Right after I moved home to Endicott I was chased and grabbed by a bad guy right on my own street! Riverview Drive by U-E high school. The guy grabbled on to the backpack I was wearing and I wiggled out of it and screamed so loud he ran away. The police found him down by the river and arrested him.

15.I love vampire stories and yep, I'm on the last book of the Twilight series right now.

16. Though I consider myself a Vermonter, and live deep within the Red Sox Nation, I LOVE the Yankees with all my heart and will never, ever, root for the Red Sox. Blue Bombers forever.

17. I have only one sibling, my younger brother Patrick. He lives far away from me now, and I'm always trying to convince him to move to Vermont. I miss him all the time.

18. I make collages with magazine pictures. It's kind of a weird obsession. I just did one for inspiration on the wall in the corner of our kitchen.

19. I don't like talking on the phone, I almost never know where my cell phone is, and I almost never return calls. It's terrible, and my friends sometimes hate me for it.

20. I know this really great guy called Colin Clary, he's a super musician with a bunch of bands, and he once wrote songs for all his friends for Christmas. Mine was called "Erinn Greene you get so emotional". It was a really great present.

21. Like my dad, I cry at the end of almost all movies, whether they are happy or sad.

22. I hope to one day write a screenplay with my super talented friend Dave Z called Christmas Reefer, based on the time my brother brought a joint to Christmas Eve dinner at our parent's house ( he really did)

23. I have climbed all 46 mountains that are over 4000 ft high in the Adirondacks, thanks to my dad who is an amazing climber. Thanks to him, I found out how much I love wild outdoor spaces.

24. I plan to write a book before I turn 40.

25. I could probably keep typing stuff about myself all day.

2009-01-06T15:53:00.001-05:00

and one more...

Write "Christmas Reefer" screenplay with Dave Z, based on the true story of the time my brother brought a joint to Christmas Eve dinner.

2009-01-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

2009 Resolutions baby!

1. Collaborate on amigurumi photo book with Sam.
2. Come up with cute stuff for Spring and Summer, and not let my hooks rust over between March and August.
3. Breathe, nice and slowly. Deliberately. All day.
4. Hug my kids alot.
5. Go on dates with my handsome husband.
6. Have a kick-ass garden.
6. Think. Act.

2009-01-04T17:09:00.005-05:00

future projects

I love futuregirl because every time I check out her blogI find something that gets me totally pumped to crochet. In fact, I kind of don't read it too often because it's fun to save it for days when I'm trying to pull myself out of a slump, tackle the mounting projects people are waiting for (family members, sure, but they have both paid me already and the projects aren't small - a fancy baby sweater for my mom, 13 beanies in Duke and UNC colors for my brother, some squirrels for Rachel with the awesome yarn she brought me the other day) and get the juices flowing again. It's been a rough holiday season for Sam and I, and we are really trying to definitively close the door on 2008 and get with the ass-kicking for 2009. So where am I, you ask? What am I doing? I'm screwing around on the internet of course! But wait. While looking over my link list I decided it was a perfect day to visit futuregirl, and I was so right. Because as usual, she was on to something magical.
From Crochet Today! I give you.....
Knotty Pillows! Amazing right? the pattern is by Allison of Pepperberry Crochet
and I shall add them to the list of things I'm dying to make when I finish everything I have to make. Which of course I love doing too so, lucky me eh?

2008-12-31T13:13:00.002-05:00

Join the fight to save Handmade Toys!!

Please visit the Handmade Toy Alliance to learn all about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, and the ( one would hope) unintended consequences it could have for thousands of independent makers of children's items.
Then, if you are so inclined, sign the petition, or contact your representatives to let them know you're worried about how this Act will affect these craftspeople, and the families who support them because they provide safe, well-made alternatives to mass produced goods.
Here's a great video made by the wonderful folks at Etsy, featuring a mom and Etsy artist who fears she would be unable to continue her work under the new testing required by the CPSIA. Please take a minute to watch, and support crafters for kids!

2008-12-21T17:47:00.003-05:00

Happy Hannukah! Happy Solstice!

I wish I had found this at nova naturals in time to get it for my boys. It's a fire cave block set. Awesome right?

2008-12-21T09:57:00.003-05:00

Christmas cardinals

My Nana loved cardinals. Or one particular cardinal, at least. A home made bird feeder sat in the big pine tree right outside her kitchen window. My Pop built it, it was three pieces of wood nailed together in the shape of a house. There was some kind of stand too, nailed to the tree beneath the little roof, and Nana always had a pie pan full of birdseed resting on it. She waged an epic battle against the neighborhood squirrels. They were constantly climbing the tree trunk , sitting their butts down in the pan and eating all the birdseed. She complained about them endlessly. She would bang on the window and yell, once she even opened it and shot the poor squirrel who had the bad luck to be in the pan at the time with hot water from the sink sprayer. Looking back on it now, it’s amazing she wasn’t attacked by one of them. The funniest part was that she was convinced it was just one squirrel, the same one always, doing all the damage. She even had a name for him, but I don’t remember it now.
Whenever the squirrels were away the feeder did actually attract birds. There were little wrens. She had a whole imagined backstory for a family of blue jays. And there was a truly gorgeous cardinal who visited all the time. She called him Randolph. Year after year he was there. She knew everything about him.

A few days after Nana died I was at work taking orders for Christmas presents over the phone. People were grouchy, and I was grouchy. And sad.
I asked the next caller how I could help her and a breathless and bitchy voice asked me why she couldn’t find item 37-587 in the catalog. I looked it up and found a woven basket meant to hang on your door in place of a wreath, that held a bunch of pine boughs and baby’s breath and something red, and several of these clip-on red cardinal ornaments. It was no longer available. At first I actually looked forward to telling the woman this as I was kind of annoyed by her tone, like this basket was the most important thing in the universe and I personally, was somehow responsible for it’s disappearance.
“I’m sorry“, I told her flatly, “that’s no longer available“. There was a pause, then she sighed and muttered
“Well, shit“. She sounded so genuinely disappointed I felt bad for taking pleasure in giving her the bad news, and decided to investigate a little further. I asked her to hold on, checked through some old sku’s and found the basket’s number from the year before and typed it in. Of course it worked.

“Hey” I said, “you’re not gonna believe this but I found some. They aren’t advertised, but we can fill the order, the grower still has them.”
“You’re kidding!” She said.
“Erinn, you are the greatest, you have no idea. This has a great story behind it. A week before Christmas last year our daughter - she’s one of five kids- was in a terrible car accident in Chicago. She was in bad shape, and of course we flew there to be with her. My husband ordered this from you all and we put it up in her hospital room and it just really brightened the mood. My mother had died just a few months earlier, and we had this joke between the kids and I, that their grandma had turned into a cardinal when she died, because she loved them so much. So every time we saw one, real or a picture or whatever, we would say ‘Hi Nana!” So my daughter was so happy to have the cardinals, it was like having her Nana close again, especially since it was our first Christmas without her. So anyway, the best part was all of her brothers and sisters managed to get there too, so we had Christmas all together in the hospital, and since there was no tree this crazy cardinal basket was the center of it all. So this year, all I wanted to do was get six of them, so each of the kids could have one in their home, just like us. And you found them! You have made our Christmas my dear!”
“Oh it wasn’t hard!“ I said, embarrassed. “Really, anyone could have found them, but I’m so glad for you.” I managed not to cry until she hung up, thank god.

Anyway, I don’t think my Nan turned into a cardinal when she died. But I think she would have loved this story. So I found a bunch of those clip-on cardinal tree ornaments and mailed them to my mom and her sisters. Since my family can't be together this year, I wanted us all to have something to connect us, and to celebrate our great old Nan on our first Christmas without her.

Happy Holidays, and lots of love to you.

2008-12-15T08:22:00.006-05:00

I didn't want this to happen.

But it has.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

At the urging of several friends and strangers, I read the stupid book. I bought the paperback as a present to myself after the craft show a few weeks ago. I imagined I'd like it, because I'm a Buffy girl, and dig the vampire thing ( I have heard Anne Rice read in person and have a signed copy of one of her books) and am just a general sucker (sorry) for a good love story fraught with obstacles, peril, and parents who just don't understand.
I laughed through the first few chapters at the clunky, heavy handed writing. I told my dad I was inspired once and for all to write a novel, because if this thing could not only get published, but capture the hearts of millions, I could probably at least sell a few books. And then, suddenly.... I was hooked. Stephanie Meyer worked her evil magic on me. I couldn't put it down. I was daydreaming about Edward Cullen. I was looking up fan sites on the internet while I was supposed to be working. I was wishing for a vampire boyfriend.
During one of those internet perusals I stumbled across this hilarious blog post by miss britt, whom I will be revisiting, which pretty much sums up the phenomenon I too have now experienced.
Read it here
So Ms. Meyer, I guess I owe you an apology. Well, sort of. I think your technique is a little corny, but your story and characters are ridiculously, um, absorbing. So much so that I'm actually writing this post in an effort to free myself from the mania long enough to focus on the 2nd job interview I have at 1pm, for which I have not yet remotely prepared.
Wish me luck.

Oh and please enjoy the little video. He really is a treat isn't he? And the accent? My goodness.

2008-12-15T07:55:00.004-05:00

Foxes in winter

In honor of this very strange dream I had a few nights ago and, coincidentally, this wicked cool treasury I stumbled across on Etsy while eating scrambled eggs with Cal this morning...
Here.

2008-12-12T11:31:00.001-05:00

Stuck in Vermont!

Finally, on this very snowy Vermont morning, here's the great Stuck in VT vlog Eva made about the Buy Handmade event at the Bobbin this past Sunday, enjoy!

2008-12-10T18:32:00.002-05:00

It's a Treasury Baby!
There's nothing like a little Etsy love to brighten up the holiday season...
Who's booties are those in the top row you ask? Why urban-farmgirl's of course. Thank you sarah ryan studio for including me! Her shop is unbelievably great, go see!

2008-12-10T09:40:00.004-05:00

Mr. Gingerbread!!

I'm really proud of this guy, I think he came out so cute, and Sam took these awesome shots of course. I'm rushing to finish some orders so I can make more to put on everyone's christmas presents.

Look at this pear! Look at it!

2008-12-09T17:01:00.001-05:00

pear small
Originally uploaded by AmigurumiGirl

super cute right? but wait, just wait until I show you mr. gingerbread man. That I made. Just wait!
Oh rats.
I've really gone totally off the amigurumi rocker. I can't concentrate on anything else. But can't you see why? As my friend Rachel asked, "don't you just want to stuff them in your mouth?"
KAWAII!!

2008-12-09T07:23:00.006-05:00

New stuff
The Bobbin on Sunday was so much fun! I got to hang out and crochet all afternoon with the fabulous ladies of the Old North End (and beyond). I met Eva Solberger and was totally starstruck since I was and still am a huge fan of the Deadbeat Club and even talked to her a little about urban-farmgirl and Queen City Craft. I'm so happy for Rachel and Gyllian, the place was packed and everyone had a great time.Eva posted a bunch of photos here. Cheers!

I finally finished the special order cotton bunny hat.

I'm pretty happy with it, and I loved working with the organic cotton, it just feels nice on my fingers. I'm posting it in my shop as soon as I'm done here.
Cal is throwing pieces of toast with peanut butter on them at me as I type, so I need to hurry, but I also want to show off this set I made for another newborn special order

We were rushing to get the photo because the boys were converging on us in a menacing way for afternoon snack, but you get the idea. I'm so into curly-qs right now.

I have also finished my first amigurumi design, a chunky little gingerbread man, whom I will post some pics of as soon as husband gets home and drinks some coffee...

Also, it's snowing like a mother outside right now! Wooooooo winter!!
xoxo

2008-12-07T13:15:00.003-05:00

Buy Handmade for the Holidays!!
The Bobbin is the place to be today from 2-6 for a Holiday handmade and Local First fun fest. I'm going, and I hope I see you there!