R.I.P. DOMINO

I am so sad...first Blueprint and now Domino....

20% Off Coupon - M&J Trimming

M&J is offering a discount to new online customers. An excerpt (with coupon code) from this morning's e-newsletter below:

"Sharing is caring. Share your favorite shopping destination and this special promotion with your friends and family. With coupon code First09, first time customers receive 20% off their entire purchase. This offer excludes Swarovski™ rhinestone flatbacks & hotfix. This is a limited time promotion."

"Become A Fan" of Aretha's Hat

Right now I am laughing so hard because I just joined the group on Facebook called "Aretha Franklin's Inaguration Hat" along with 68,828 other people. I don't know what is better--all the "fan" photos or the fact that Mr. Song Millinery is getting some great publicity out of the deal. Anyways--this laugh was a good one and made my night!

Katherine Chiu

I enjoyed linking to the website of artist Katherine Chiu today from my Daily Candy Los Angeles email. I like her fun and informal spin on family portraits...

Learning Illustrator

This is what I made today. Maybe tomorrow I'll color it?

Inauguration Day

I'm breaking my own rules and blogging political today—but whatever your political leanings and feelings, I'm sure you'll enjoy these:

Make your own Shepard Fairey Obama-style design at Obamicon.Me.

The latest from Ben & Jerry's. Found via Small Expectations and Twitter.

And, of course, Michelle Obama's inauguration outfit slideshow (this one is for Aamie!)

Eichler Homes

This weekend I've been having fun checking out Eichler Homes online--like this "Atomic Ranch". We live very near to some of the SoCal neighborhoods and I love driving through them. I'm thinking I need to head to the library next:

• Atomic Ranch, Michelle Gringeri-Brown
  
• Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream,Paul Adamson
  
• Forgotten Modern, Alan Hess
  
• Mid-Century Modern, Bradley Quinn
• Modern Retro, Neil Bingham

Orla Kiely for Target

I can't wait for the first week of February! More information about Target's new line from Orla Kiely at Apartment Therapy.

P.S. Just got the new Boden catalog too--fun to know about the connection. And, I agree--this house is wonderful.

Under Pressure

We were delighted to receive this clever package for Christmas in true, TK style. Under Pressure is about cooking sous vide. I loved how the book was cryo'd rather than wrapped, and topped off with a stress ball with the book title inscribed on it. (finesse!)

This book is for chefs, but also for any interested reader. There are some very simple recipes included, as well as more advanced. Most importantly, this cookbook documents a very important movement in cuisine, and I love the blurb on the back from Harold McGee:

"It's fitting that the first book to present the sous vide methods to English-speaking cooks come from TK, one of the most creative and admired chefs of his generation. No one is in a better position to show that, far from being some high-tech fad, sous vide is a lasting contribution to fine cooking."

Rested.

I had a really good weekend. How was yours?

Granny Squaring with Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton in my Lantern Moon Knitting Basket
under a Pendleton Woolen Blanket equals weekend happiness!

Drinking tea. Laughing with my husband. Reading. Hanging out with friends. Wearing socks my grandma made me. Taking naps. Getting the hang of making Granny Squares... kind of. Riding my bike. Finding Melissa and falling in love. Doing Yoga. Things like that...

Giving Handmade

my favorite holiday decor... mirror flake snowflakes & silk satin chartreuse ribbon over antique tea cups is such a winning combination, don't you think so too?

I really enjoyed making our gifts for the holidays this year (maybe saying I enjoyed giving the gifts would be more appropriate)... It was really nice though because Brett and I spent Christmas sans family so it was kind of a way to feel connected nonetheless or something. Maybe more than actually making the gifts, I enjoyed searching my favorite blogs and resources for handmade ideas--and thanks for all of your encouragement along the way!

Because I love to show and tell, here are a few of my favorite givings of 2009:

Meeting Totes for my niece & nephew
(out of Val's new Urban Flannel which is such a joy to play with!)

Project Bags

leather ipod and iphone cases for the dudes

Tote Bags

Some good books...

I've been enjoying leafing through some of my favorite craft books. Saw this when I was down at Courtney's last week and I think it is next on my want list, having received this from my Mama for Christmas.

I think my personal library's top pick is Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts, a must for anyone's craft library. A variety of great gifts, ranging from simple to complex. Remember it from here? This little pachy is one of my most recent creations from it.

Another favorite resource is Rowan's Winter Gifts. I've only made the flower brooches pictured above but have plans for most of the other patterns. Especially these. Love making and giving things!