[ a rather random but colorful ad from 1947--just to add some visual pizazz to this post! ]

A few little mentions ’round the web of the blog have been popping up lately! I’m always tickled when this blog is featured and thought I’d share a few with you… (Hopefully this won’t seem like a totally narcissistic ploy–I’m not one to pat myself on the back about things, but thought you all might be interested in the blogs I’m mentioned on as well!)

Lastly, I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been commenting lately! It’s been a real treat to read your thoughts, observations and suggestions–especially on sewing and inspiration posts. This is a large part of the reason I blog–not just to share what I like, but also to gain ideas and feedback from others. Two eyes are always better than one, right? Maybe it’s a bit selfish of me, but I must admit that interacting with so many talented, observant ladies and gents has been so much fun and brought so much richness to my creative life. Thank you!

[ please click for the sources of these lovely images! ]

Hello, everyone! How has your weekend been? We swapped our outdoor plans for stayin’ cool in the air conditioning, as it got brutally hot yesterday (and I just don’t do well in the heat all day!). Instead I have been spending my weekend in some creative pursuits–namely taking apart a straw hat to salvage the straw braid. Remember my resolution for 2010 to learn hat making? I’m finally starting to get into gear with that, and am slowly acquiring all the tools necessary for making myself a little straw hat (I’m coveting one of those small, early 40s “tilt” hats!). Hopefully more about this in the coming weeks–I want to document the process thoroughly. But for now, I’ve still got my nose buried in books (namely From the Neck Up by Denise Dreher and several of the millinery books available online here) and going through all my inspiration images to decide on the style!

[ some things I've been "hearting" lately! ]

If you happen to be already following my Tumblr blog, you may have noticed an uptick in activity lately. I have been trying to be better about shoving a bunch of images (usually vintage fashion or classic film stars) in the queue every week–it’s slowly becoming a habit. But one of the reasons I’ve started to post a bit more consistently* is because I really enjoy the visual aspect of Tumblr. I’m one of those people that learns most easily by seeing–things click a lot faster if there are pictures, and I have always deeply enjoyed looking at interesting images. Tumblr fits quite neatly in my need for a little visual thrill to get the imagination going, plus it allows me to create a constantly evolving “mood board” and keep track of things I find that inspire me. Problem is not spending too much time browsing all the interesting bits and pieces I stumble across!

*I have probably totally jinxed myself! I’ll probably fall off the face of the Tumblr universe next week… lol.

If you have a Tumblr, please feel free to link to it in the comments–I’d love to see!

p.s. My apologies that posts have been so brief/sporadic the past couple weeks. With my sister visiting, we’ve been up to other things, and so my writing time has been limited. I’m also working on a new (and hopefully improved!) “blog schedule”, so things should be back to normal (with more sewing/creativity post) in the next couple weeks!

[ image from here. ]

When I’m curled up in front of my sewing machine for a few hours, I often listen to music. But sometimes I get a little bored, and wish to engage my mind a bit more. One solution would be books on cd, but another (more recent discovery) is the world of podcasts with a decided creative flair. I have only just started to explore the vast array of podcasts available through iTunes, but they have been such a fun way to learn new techniques, generate ideas, or listen to interviews with some of my favorite crafty authors! I thought I would share my favorite listens with you all; they’re perfect for putting on while crafting, doing housework, or during a quiet evening when you don’t feel quite like having the television on…

Do you have any favorite podcasts (of the creative or not variety) or web-radio shows that you enjoy listening to? Please share!

Anyway, enough rambling! Be sure to check it out and add me as a contact if you’re over there!