Sweet Pepita

That's Her Dad!

2012-02-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

We're all so proud. (That's my husband!)

Fugitive Landscapes is on display at Gormley Gallery through March 16, 2012. You must see the stereo views.

Sweet Hazelbean

2012-02-02T07:40:00.006-05:00

On her last day, I was reminded more of our first days together than any others. Just less fierce, less scary. She was a scrappy thing with a tiny body and big ears. She hated most everyone, but for some reason, she trusted me (which was ridiculous because I was not a cat lover).

I never had cats growing up and, if anything, I was kind of afraid of them. And if I was going to be afraid of any cat, it should have been Hazel. But I wasn't. We spent the next 15, almost 16, years together.

Rest in peace my relentless hunter, sweet beauty, gentle and loyal girl, my all around bad-ass. We miss you so much.

A One and a Two

2012-01-02T09:08:00.006-05:00

Bright and early on New Year's day, the door inched open just a hair. A tiny hand holding a tiny crocheted Nosferatu (or Nosferatooth as he's called here) wiggled into the room. "Happy New Year!" the little guy creaked. And then he disappeared. And so began 2012.

Nosferatu fits perfectly in my tiny girl's hand. She adores him even though she's a teensy bit afraid (he's not allowed upstairs at night. Instead he remains perched on the newel post. He protects us from ghosts and greets us first thing in the morning).

Amigurumi Astronaut by NeedleNoodles

This guy's got my eye, too. My grandfather worked many years for NASA, so I have a soft spot for space exploration. I couldn't find another Nosferatu on her site... We found him last year at Pile of Craft and saved him for months and months to give to Pepita for Christmas. He's pretty perfect.

Happy New Year!

Merry and Bright!

2011-12-22T12:14:00.003-05:00

I have a very long mental Christmas to-do list. Which guarantees a sort of bustling excitement... especially in the middle of the night when I realize I forgot something.

Well darn if that list didn't get even longer this morning when my husband sent me this link. All he wants for Christmas is a gingerbread Holga. Well then, I guess I should get busy.

Happy happy holidays and a peaceful new year to you all! We are so lucky and grateful for all your support!

Don't Forget the Teachers!

2011-12-09T11:06:00.002-05:00

Superlative Studies are ready to frame one of a kind 2-D works. A perfect gift for the teacher in your life. And they'll be on sale tomorrow only at GRUMP !

Gooder. Something was gooder... I don't remember what. "There's no such word," I told my daughter. "There's good, better, and best."
"And da bomb!" she corrected. True. Very true.

Holla!

2011-12-01T16:19:00.003-05:00

Don't forget! Saturday is Holiday Heap and Sunday is Out of Hand!

As always, we'll have TONS of great custom options for you! AND all show orders ship free and in time for the holidays! Hurray!

Monday! Monday!

2011-11-28T10:32:00.002-05:00

Are you a fan? There's a cyber Monday coupon code in it for you!

Happy Happy

2011-11-24T09:55:00.003-05:00

We keep teasing Pepita that we're having popcorn and jellybeans for dinner tonight. She's not having it. Her friends (and ours) are coming over. Every 5 minutes, she runs into the room and asks, "Is it time yet?" We are all pretty excited... and we have so much to be thankful for. I hope everyone has a warm and happy holiday! Peace!

Expect Color

2011-11-11T07:47:00.000-05:00

Because we love color. I know, who doesn't, right? We love the whole spectrum. My favorite is yellow... especially on tea cups. Pepita's favorite is pink, and maybe orange... which is funny because my favorite color combination is orange and pink. Well, more accurately, magenta.

We love calling colors by their specific names. A friend told me that my girl asked her for a balloon a while ago. She asked Pepita which color she'd like. "Pink," she replied. My friend handed her a pink balloon. "I also like fuchsia," she said, in an effort to score another balloon. Nice try, Pepita.

So, if you stop at our booth (#126) this Saturday at Handmade Arcade, you can expect to find awesome kids clothes in every color combination imaginable. I promise. And that is why I love my job.

Handmade Arcade For The Holidays
Saturday, November 12, 2011 • 11am - 7pm
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Summertime

2011-10-26T14:07:00.003-04:00

Nothing says Summertime in Baltimore like Artscape. I miss it already. (Hey! Can you spot our Dottie Dresses?)

Making Plans... Why Bother?

2011-10-17T08:37:00.009-04:00

As always, what we intend to do is rarely what actually happens. Why should it have been any different in New York?

My husband's plan for Saturday included some gallery hopping, lunch at his favorite little Italian place and some quality time at MoMA with his girl. And Ms. Pepita? She had her eye on the bouncy houses before they were even inflated. The two of them spent all of Saturday in Chelsea at PS11's Fall Festival. She bounced. She crafted. She lived it up.

And because my booth was directly in front of the inflatable bouncy paradise, I got to share some of that joy. Which I am so grateful for. I often feel like I miss out on a lot of family fun since so many of my weekends are spent working.

We did get to MoMA on Sunday. It was well worth the wait... for all of us. The video installations and the interactive exhibits were a ton of fun for the kids to explore. And my girl finally got to see a Monrdian in person. Two, actually.

Pepita had recently come home from school talking about the artist. My husband asked her about something cool she learned that day and she told him, "Ms. Prince taught us about Piet Mondrian (yes, she actually said Piet Mondrian). He passed away. You put the lines down and paint the squares!" I came into the room and, still in shock, my husband said, "Tell mommy what you just told me."

So she planned to sketch one at MOMA. With a blue crayon in hand she drew two long parallel lines. Another blue line intersected the others. She paused, looked up, and exclaimed, "Hey! Would anyone like to play Tic-Tac-Toe?" Another plan, thwarted.

Saturday!

2011-10-14T08:14:00.003-04:00

Sweet Pepita's headed to New York City!

Join us at The Annual Fall Crafts in Chelsea Festival this Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 10am - 5pm. Nearly 100 vendors will be lined up along West 21st St. between 8th and 9th Aves. in Chelsea. And the weather will surely be just lovely.

a small sampling of vendors

Is it Too Early?

2011-10-10T10:00:00.003-04:00

Can I start fretting over Halloween costumes yet? Can I tell you that Ms. Pepita has been telling me what she wants to be for Halloween every day for weeks now? And that each day it's something new? Oh boy.

I think we should go the scary route again. She had too much fun being Bride of Frankenstein last year. That costume was easy enough to pull together... A thrift store first communion dress, cuffs removed and arms split, hair spray, white poster paint and make up.

But I miss my little Max. My soft and cuddly little Wild Thing. I don't think I have it in me to sew up another little cozy suit. And I know I don't ever want to work with fake fur ever again (my studio looked like a bunch of Wookiees had a brawl. I am not even kidding).

I don't know... I could easily be won over by this kind of cute.

The Journey Home

2011-10-07T17:59:00.005-04:00

After school, after decompressing on the playground with friends (hers and mine) we make the last journey of the day together. I've come to really appreciate this time. And anyone who has relied on Baltimore City public transportation will tell you it does, indeed, take some time.

By bus...

... on foot

... and on scooter.

Sweet Lovable Annie

2011-10-05T13:05:00.002-04:00

A massive thank you to everyone who came out to Crafty Bastards despite the rain and the wind and the chilly, chilly air! My life would be so different if I didn't get to escape this tiny crowded studio and step out into the world. Wow! What a fantastic day. And we (well, Pepita) came home with some prizes to boot!

She came up running and squealing, "Look what Miss Jen gave me!!!" So proud of her Cotton Monster patch... and now another Annie in our lives (She has so many plushies named Annie... Annie, Annika, Cheeky and Pachysandra).

Ms. Pepita has been upset lately that she grew out of her camera shirt. We all have one (different cameras, mind you... we're not that dorky). I hope this Polaroid will suffice for now. Should I stitch 'Annie' on the Polaroid? That was my first instinct. She'll let me know what to do, I'm sure.

Pretty Please?

2011-09-19T09:28:00.003-04:00

Could I have your vote?

Thank you! xoxox

Oh Goody!

2011-09-15T11:47:00.002-04:00

Maybe you remember last year's Wild Thing goody monsters? Well, we wanted to keep the handmade party favor tradition going.This year's party favor is a Hello Kitty meets Yo Gabba Gabba mash-up. One day, I will have to tell Miss Pepita to choose one theme. Only one. But, this year, her dad and I made it happen.

Party in the Dark

2011-09-01T11:42:00.002-04:00

The power came back a couple days ago. There is still a massive amount of debris and trees and branches strewn about. But this is the first day that the relentless sound of chainsaws and sirens does not fill our house. And we are lucky.

We have good friends who brought good food and Pepita's bestest friends to our house for an impromptu birthday celebration. In the dark. It wasn't the party we had planned, but it is the one she will remember for a long, long time. This I know. We are so lucky.

Five

2011-08-30T07:53:00.000-04:00

I tell Pepita about that night five years ago. She loves the drama and the suspense. She loves that part when her daddy drops me off at the entrance to Johns Hopkins and yells in a panic, "You have to get an epidural! Don't forget to tell them you want an epidural!" because it hurt that bad.

Six centimeters. We waited till I was six centimeters to drive to the hospital. Seven, eight...

I tell her how just a couple hours later, our two favorite midwives began their shift. Sweet. Nice timing, Pepita! They shooed overzealous med students out of my personal space and were our most awesome advocates.

Her heart rate plummeted. She had to come out. The room was packed with people now. Vacuum extractor, forceps and scalpel. Thank God I had the epidural. I tell her, "They had to get you out of me, so they used this vacuum that should have stuck to the top of your head but you had too much hair so it didn't work!" and we laugh.

Nine. It was just after nine in the morning now. I heard, "She's beautiful!" I said, "I can't see her." There were too many people in the room. My midwife brought my girl to me. My baby.

My biggest girl.

We Want YOU!

2011-08-17T14:12:00.004-04:00

Sweet Pepita is looking for a Fall intern! We are seeking 1 awesome student interested in learning the ins and outs of running a small clothing company in exchange for college credit. This is an unpaid position. Experience with sewing knits is required.

So... what can you expect to learn here?
Production sewing
Fabric recycling
Marketing
Pricing
Customer service
Display

Please contact us for details and to set up an interview.

Crafty Bastard

2011-08-16T11:58:00.003-04:00

And Proud!

Will we see you at Crafty Bastards this year? I hope so. Trust me. You want to be there!

Sweet Home

2011-08-09T12:49:00.004-04:00

There's no place like home. But we did have a rockin good time.

At the Jelly Belly Factory. Again.

And experimenting with video at Zeum in San Francisco. I wish we could have spent more time there... especially in the Animators Studio where, in the last 10 minutes of the day, Pepita and I made a little stop motion video.

It feels so good to be back in Baltimore, though. I've missed you.

Take Good Care of this Bear

2011-07-21T14:37:00.003-04:00

I had every intention of letting this t-shirt go. Paddington Bear, boombox, Adidas... The trifecta of cool on one awesome tee. I can't remember where in the world I found it, but I knew it had to be reconstructed into kid-size.

I thought... if it doesn't sell, it's a sign that I should keep it for Pepita. Then I thought... I better put it away so it doesn't sell.

Artscape

2011-07-15T08:16:00.002-04:00

It's here! And I won't even jinx the predicted weather by telling you about lovely the breeze coming in through the window right now. Find us in the DIY section with lots of cool new tees and onesies as well as a sale rack with items up to 40% off! Holy cow, dudes!

Dates: July 15, 16 & 17, 2011
Hours: Friday: 12-10pm / Saturday: 12-10pm / Sunday: 12-8pm
Location: DIY section Mt. Royal Avenue (between Maryland Avenue and Charles Street)

Did You Know?

2011-06-29T10:59:00.003-04:00

You can find Spot-on, Dottie! dresses and Argyle tees at nest: natural elements selected thoughtfully! They have a great selection of colors and sizes in stock as well as an ever-growing organic baby and kids department!

This very sweet home goods store is part of the conscious corner in Clarksville, MD along with Roots Market, Bark and Great Sage. You could make a day of visiting these shops, not to mention eat a stellar vegan meal (like so good, no one has to know it's vegan).

It's Time

2011-06-24T22:30:00.005-04:00

Buy awesome work from awesome vendors, get your picture taken at the photo booth, eat grilled cheese, win an amazing raffle basket. All in one place. Oh, and did I mention that we'll have a sale rack with items up to 40% off? It's true.

Packing up Rainbows

2011-06-23T12:08:00.000-04:00

Argyle tees, hoodies, Dottie dresses and more in every color of the rainbow are on their way to Pile of Craft! Don't miss it this Saturday, June 25th at St. John's Church (2640 St. Paul St.). See you there!

Kale: It's What's For Dinner

2011-06-14T11:35:00.003-04:00

And lunch, and snack... I'm having a love affair with kale. We grow it and it's a CSA staple, so we always have it. Mmmmmmm kale. And you know what? We eat it all. Every last bite. Yes, it's that good.

Last night's dinner looked like this...

Best raw beet and kale salad:
Shred a big beet + bunch of kale in the Cuisinart.
Mix the juice of 1 lemon, 1/4c olive oil, 2-3T tahini, 2 cloves garlic minced + 1t salt.
Toss. That's it!

Kale! Get in my belly!

Superlative Study

2011-06-09T11:43:00.005-04:00

Gooder. Something was gooder... I don't remember what. "There's no such word," I told my daughter. "There's good, better, and best."

"And da bomb!" she corrected. True. Very true.

Required Reading

2011-06-03T15:08:00.005-04:00

Back in the Days documents the emerging Hip Hop scene from 1980-1989—before it became what is today’s multi-million-dollar multinational industry. Back in the days, gangs would battle not with guns, but by breakdancing. Back in the days, the streets—not corporate planning—set the standards for style. Back in the days, Jamel Shabazz was on the scene, photographing everyday people hangin’ in Harlem, kickin’ it in Queens, and cold chillin’ in Brooklyn.

Homegrown

2011-06-01T10:53:00.003-04:00

In August, maybe earlier, we'll have our work cut out for us. We go into storing mode. Storing for Winter, for cold Springs, for our own sanity. If the freezer isn't jam packed with peaches and tomatoes by the end of Summer, our hearts sink a little bit.

peach tree

We pick our own strawberries. It's a sprawling urban berry patch. And we'll get at least a couple pies worth, jam and daily fresh berries out of it. This year's been good for Strawberries. Last year's harvest was virtually devastated by slugs. There's very little (if any) slug damage this year (despite the acquisition of our newest pet slug: Sparkles. I guess Sparkles just keeps to the compost pile).

sugared strawberries for jam

homemade strawberry jam

The blueberries will be ripe in a month or so. Assuming Pepita doesn't scarf them down while they're still green. Girl's a berry eating machine, I tell you!

We eat homegrown Swiss chard and pasta for dinner and homegrown strawberry pie for breakfast. We've got homegrown peas and homegrown kale. I say our garden is delicious. Pepita says our garden is da bomb. Baltimore City, baby!

Secret Knowledge

2011-05-24T12:29:00.003-04:00

When did she learn how to do that? I turned around in the kitchen and stooped to tie Pepita's Adidas (she's proud of our thrift store score... and she's quite fond of Run DMC) but she had beat me to it. "Really? You did this? How long have you known how to tie your shoes?" I interrogate my four year old for a couple minutes and don't really get a solid answer.

And I remember when she was even younger, and she often surprised us with her secret knowledge. She takes her time learning new skills. She's a perfectionist. And then she springs it on us without any fanfare.

Pepita is modest. She leaves the shouting from the rooftops to her parents. Ohmygod! Look what she can do!!!

My Biggest Helper

2011-05-23T09:49:00.002-04:00

And champion of all things handmade. We had a beautiful day at Handmade Mart this weekend and we're looking forward to seeing everyone again at our next show in June... Pile of Craft!

Thank you everyone for stopping by! These last couple weeks have been a whirlwind for sure. But, you know, the absolute best kind of whirlwind.

Handmade Mart This Weekend!

2011-05-18T14:16:00.006-04:00

Its so good to be home after a whirlwind weekend in Philadelphia. Thank You everyone who stopped by! Now we're busy restocking for Handmade Mart which is this coming Sunday in Silver Spring. Have you been before? You should! There are some top-notch vendors to meet and support. Not to mention Pyramid Atlantic, where you can drop in on a workshop and make something yourself!

You can read our vendor profile and more. But, mostly, you should just come on out and see for yourself. It'll be beautiful and it's so worth it!

You Choose!

2011-05-06T16:03:00.004-04:00

We love custom... it's the best way to get exactly what you want! And we've been stocking up on materials so that you can choose from dozens upon dozens of recycled t-shirts just a waitin' to be reconstructed into an awesome kid's tee! Choose any size from 0-6 months through 5T.

Made to order tees are hand sewn from 100% organic cotton and recycled fabric. The fronts of all of our one of a kind tees come from recycled t-shirts. These are cut up and then reconstructed with the softest organic rib knit cotton around.

The problem with one of a kind is that, well, it's one of a kind. The most common question I get is, "Do you have this in any other sizes?" And, unfortunately, I won't. At least not that exact tee. These made to order tees are the solution. Here is the recycled tee. You tell me what size to cut and what color organic cotton you'd like me to combine it with!

We'll be in booth #109 at Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philly next weekend. And there is a whole lotta awesome in this studio that's Philly-bound... Dresses, new onesies, baby argyle... so good.

See you very soon!

Thank You Easter Bunny!

2011-04-27T16:35:00.003-04:00

Easter means Mary Sue Easter eggs, feeding giraffes (and apparently trying not to get eaten herself) and visiting Otto the baby Coquerel's sifaka. Otto's a kind of lemur from Madagascar and cute, cute, cute! So cute, in fact that Ms. Pepita would protest when we lingered too long at other exhibits, "I do appreciate the animals, but I really just wanna see the baby lemur!"

and finally...

Just Kidding!

2011-04-01T11:23:00.003-04:00

Batting for the Ladies...

2011-03-18T10:06:00.003-04:00

New fitted jerseys with 3/4 length sleeves. Made from lightweight organic cotton jersey and recycled sporty t-shirts, so they're just right for warmer weather. Hey battabattta!

How to Dance

2011-03-14T19:03:00.001-04:00

On the weekends, our park sings. The percussionists meet every Sunday in Druid Hill Park between the lake and the Zoo Mansion House and just play. They are incredible. And if you're lucky enough to live along the edge of the park, and your windows are open and the wind is just right, their music will fill your home.

But you can go and see for yourself, too. Oh, and how do you dance? You just got to feel it. And whipping your hair a little doesn't hurt.

Superman

2011-03-11T20:55:00.003-05:00

Tonight's dinner conversation somehow lead our four year old to ask the question, "Why doesn't Santa Claus just fly like Superman?" To which my husband replied, "I think Santa's only magic trick is making himself tiny." Yes, I know it's March.

Pepita believes in Santa. But what makes me really happy is that she also believes in Superman. I like that she must feel some comfort knowing there are superheroes fighting crime and saving folks from the likes of Lex Luther or the Penguin (I'm assuming that she believes Batman is real, too, of course).

And just this morning I was remembering a dream I had a long time ago. In the dream I could fly. It was amazing. I wanted to do it, and then I did it, just like that. I never had the dream again.

The world could sure use some superheroes right about now.

Just a Note (book)

2011-03-10T15:33:00.003-05:00

An awesome notebook.

Don't limit yourself to writing out your nagging to-do lists in this fine little notebook. Embellished with hand cut recycled fabric, these journals are a pleasure to fill with everything from your most intimate thoughts and your brilliant ideas to your wildest dreams! Everyone knows there's no sexier paper than Moleskine paper. Word.

Crazy For Argyle

2011-03-05T21:18:00.003-05:00

Hey Boyfriend! sleeveless hoodies can be layered over a short or long-sleeve tee for a sweater vest kinda look, or worn alone. Like a muscle tee. Which is terribly cute, by the way. And t-shirts, too. A little bit punk, a little bit preppy, all Sweet Pepita.

Love, Love, Love

2011-02-14T08:55:00.000-05:00

Dumpling on a String

2011-02-13T12:27:00.002-05:00

She calls it Dumpling. A project Pepita and her dad started last week. I love that when she says she needs to glue pom-poms to napkins, my husband just gets her the materials she needs and lets her go at it. Girl's got a vision.

Ouch

2011-02-10T08:45:00.005-05:00

The doctor visit was an epic fail. We might even be blacklisted. I kicked the kitchen door bright and early last Monday morning. Should have stayed in bed, for sure. A trip to urgent care 2 days later confirmed that my toe was indeed broken. ugh. And I needed to see a specialist. Double ugh.

Double ugh because I knew that this was not how Pepita wanted to spend her afternoon. I mean, really, this was not how I wanted to spend my afternoon.

And so we went, and I talked it up the best I could. The doctor is an orthopedist! They might have a skeleton to look at! There will be x-rays! How cool is that?

There were no skeletons. We didn't get to see the insides of my foot clipped onto a light box on the wall. Instead, we got to wait and we got to make frantic calls to my primary care office because they didn't send the referral that the orthopedic practice needed to have in their hands before they would even be allowed to see me.

This sort of thing does not make for a happy 4 year old. I was lucky that the receptionists like children... even ones who like to test every boundary within their mental grasp. Even being armed with a hundred crayons and a big pad of paper didn't help matters. And I thought I came prepared. Ha!

I finally got to see the doctor. It was hard to concentrate on what he was telling me with Pepita jumping off stools, climbing around the trash, flicking the lights on and off, all the while screaming "I wanna go! I need a drink! I really want a treat. I want to go nowwww!" The doctor was not amused. I'm absolutely sure he was happy to see us leave.

So what I got from the visit was 1. Yes, my toe is broken and 2. It'll take 5-6 weeks to heal completely. It's Thursday today, right? So I've got 4 1/2 weeks to go... not that I'm counting or anything.

Next week will be better. I'm taking Pepita to a place where I know there will be skeletons. Dinosaur skeletons! Dude! We've already taken the virtual tour and I have to say, this might be the coolest museum ever. I hope miss Pepita thinks so. I'm sure she'll let me know either way.

Hey Boyfriend

2011-02-02T17:17:00.003-05:00

Revisiting an old favorite...

Super cute Nolan in our version of the sweater vest in 2009. photo by Tya Anthony

Alright, so it took me two years to get from there to here, but you gotta love the result, right?

I'm still gonna call them Hey Boyfriend! Even though girls can totally rock this look.

What Big Teeth

2011-01-28T13:42:00.002-05:00

I worry about shark attacks, but I loved making this custom skirt. Sharks in the water are scary. Sharks on fabric... awesome!

Oh No

2011-01-05T12:07:00.002-05:00

She didn't. She did. My four year old shred the front of one of her good as new hand-me-down shirts with a pair of paper scissors. Kid-friendly paper scissors.

I don't want to stifle her creativity. I can absolutely see how doing something like this just supports her desire to be a seamstress. She often asks at night before bedtime, "What's that called, again? A person who sews?"

But, see, this isn't the first time. And I'd like to take good care of these clothes so we can pass them along to the next kiddo. And it's not like I don't have piles of fabric that she can cut up and whip stitch back together again to her little heart's content. Agggghhh. We're both learning.

In the mean time, I 'fixed' the shirt. It used to look like this...

I figured I'd play up the ruffles, and miss Pepita requested some extra pink to go with the purple and now gray. I covered some stains while I was at it. Might as well.

Now it is an extra girlie ruffly explosion. Which is what she wanted. So that's good. Now, let's keep it in one piece, shall we?

Favorite Favorites

2011-01-01T10:28:00.005-05:00

Happy, Happy New Year to you! I love a new year. I love thinking about the good times of the past year and looking forward to a whole new year of favorite favorites...

Favorite (new to us) Books of 2010. There's a theme here.
Millions of Cats- Wanda Gag
Uncle Andy's Cats- James Warhola
It's a Secret- John Burningham

Evel Knievel battery powered toothbrush, circa 1975

Favorite Unexpected "Great. How do you explain that one" Surprise in a Museum
Meth Mouth at The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry. *sigh*

Favorite (new to Pepita) Songs of 2010
I Want Candy- Bow Wow Wow
All the songs from the Annie soundtrack. All of them.
Panama- Van Halen

Favorite Foods
Fruit
Cous-cous and soy beans
Biscuits
That is all

Here's to a safe and happy 2011 and eating a vegetable or two.

On the Look Out

2010-12-30T09:18:00.003-05:00

I've got to find one of these t-shirts to reconstruct for Pepita. Got to.

From For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas

Demanding both to shoot and process, Kodachrome rewarded generations of skilled users with a richness of color and a unique treatment of light that many photographers described as incomparable even as they shifted to digital cameras. “Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day,” Paul Simon sang in his 1973 hit “Kodachrome,” which carried the plea “Mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away.”

Handy Husband Christmas Elf

2010-12-28T11:26:00.004-05:00

Handmade presents are a given in this house. Pepita has come to expect them. This year, my husband was the one take the crafty route.

He got the idea from Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids, the Father's Day present I picked up for him at Red Tree. Turns out it was the best Father's Day present ever. This project took some serious dedication. If he would have made it in the Spring or Summer, it wouldn't have been quite so difficult. The week before Christmas, though... wow. Let me just say, we are so not Winter people. There's a reason Santa has an indoor workshop.

This is a teeny tiny print of a collage Pepita made in school. Her art is on the walls!

And a family portrait to boot. This is her house.

OK, so the doll house took the two of us well over the weekend's time the book suggested it would take one handy dad to finish it, and maybe we could have just bought something similar and personalized it, but it wouldn't be nearly as perfect or special. She really loves it. But most of all, Pepita will be so proud to tell her friends, "My Daddy made it".

Peeking

2010-12-19T08:44:00.001-05:00

Today we get a tree, decorate it and, most importantly, eat candy canes. My kind of day.

Hard Knock Life

2010-12-17T09:00:00.003-05:00

They must listen the the Annie soundtrack over and over and over and over at Pepita's school. She sings, "Toooooo-mar-oh! Tooooo-mar-oh!" at the top of her lungs in the shower each night. That one, and It's a Hard Knock Life.

I am so lucky to have to only explain poverty to my 4 year old, I know.

We weren't poverty stricken growing up. We had a house and modern conveniences, a yard big enough to grow our own food, access to good free education, hand-me-downs-a-plenty... the basics. We got new stuff, too, on special occasions. Of course we'd get teased that we only ever wore new clothes after, say, Christmas, but we're adults now and (hopefully) we all know that having all the basics and then some is a sweet deal. Everyone should have access to these things.

My husband and I still live very modestly. We share a car and we grow a lot of our own fruits and veggies. We live in a very small house, but we're surrounded by great neighbors who look after us like family. They treat us like family, and Pepita knows no different. I would never want to leave this neighborhood. It would break my heart.

We have so much. We have beautiful pets and we have time. Time to spend with each other playing games and reading stories and being silly. We have nonsense time. There is no greater luxury than nonsense time.

And that's the difference. That's what my brother and I didn't have.

Pepita wants to hear stories about when I was a little girl. It's so hard to remember... and most of my memories revolve around food... my favorites, the (at times) lack of anything but flour, and the everyday staples of my childhood.

Marshmallows. I tell her about Girl Scouts and roasting marshmallows. S'mores. Hot chocolate. Straight out of the bag. Mmmmmmmm marshmallows.

I remember my brother and I tearing into packs of Oodles of Noodles after school and then eating them raw because we were too hungry (or lazy) to cook them. I remember, when she worked a lot of overtime, my mom would make an enormous vat of Spanish rice and keep it in the fridge for us to heat up for dinner. I would grate cheddar cheese on top before I stuck it in the microwave.

I remember once, searching for change under the seats and in all the crevices of the car because we didn't have enough to pay for the groceries. The grocer told my mom not to worry, that she could bring it another time. If there's one thing my mom knows how to do, it's worry.

"But, see, the grocer was kind", I tell my daughter. And I want her to grow up to be kind, too. And I want her to have more than enough nonsense time to roast the crap outta marshmallows.

HoHoHo

2010-12-15T09:51:00.002-05:00

The first trip downtown turned into a visit to tell Santa that we'll be back tomorrow. We got there twenty minutes after he left for the day. Man's gotta feed some reindeer, boss some elves... you know, the usual. *sigh* Yeah, that was awesome. Note to self: Check Santa's hours next year.

Second time was the charm. Thankthelord. And Santa and Mrs. Claus remembered Ms. Pepita. I think this is her 3rd visit now. I know she remembered them. And the folks that came in after us had been coming to see that particular Santa for years now, too. We're not the only family that loves Harborplace Santa!

Anyway, we'll see you again in 2011. Before 7pm.

Toast

2010-12-12T09:47:00.005-05:00

A line in one of Pepita's bedtime songs is, "Leave the sunshine out, and drink a toast to never..." and she nearly always interjects, "You can't drink toast, mama!"

I've been wanting to get her this book that I remember reading when I was little called The King Who Rained. I don't remember it clearing anything up for me so much as I remember it confirming my confusion of our language. I remember how the illustrations seemed plucked from the ridiculous images in my head.

I think she's ready to be completely baffled. And I think she'll love it.

Just Wow

2010-12-06T22:49:00.008-05:00

I know we've already shouted this from the rooftops, but I thought once more couldn't hurt...

Charm City Craft Mafia's annual Holiday Heap raffle raised $859 for Heart's Place Shelter! Thank you, thank you and thank you all so very much for coming out to support our hard working craft community, our artists and our makers. But thank you most of all for your generosity and your kindness.

And, thanks to your Sweet Pepita purchases, we're sending a nice check to Heart's Place Shelter this week, too! So, thank you again. We are truly grateful.

Learning to Read Music is Fun

2010-12-01T12:27:00.003-05:00

Pepita keeps mixing up George Michael and Michael Jackson. So we watched this last night in an effort to clear things up and we were both cracking up. And we all know that 4 year olds know what is and what is not funny.

Also, just so we're clear, this 4 year old will learn the difference between the King of Pop and, well, George Michael.

Every Ticket Helps

2010-11-29T09:00:00.001-05:00

For the past four years, St John’s United Methodist church has graciously hosted each incredible show the Charm City Craft Mafia has organized. But the church has been host to a much greater mission for more than twenty years now.

During the blustery cold December of 1987, in response to a news broadcast highlighting lack of available shelter for the homeless, Carol and Rich Berman approached their church's congregation at St. John's United Methodist Church with the idea of opening an emergency homeless shelter.

The vision was to improve the well-being of the community as a whole, and to help break the cycle of homelessness by providing quality, compassionate service to people in need.

In January of 1988, Heart's Place Shelter opened its doors in the basement of St John's church, providing shelter, clothing and food for men, women, children, and families.

...it continues today.

Heart’s Place Shelter provides much more than the basic necessities to men and women and families in need. They work to create plans for each individual to gain independence and become healthy and self-sufficient. They provide three meals a day, laundry services, hot showers and safety.

You can help Heart’s Place Shelter this holiday season by purchasing a raffle ticket (or three!) at Holiday Heap this Saturday, December 4th 2010 at St. John’s church. One lucky person will win a HUGE basket filled with a collection of handmade goods from members of the Charm City Craft mafia as well as from many of our super talented vendors! Think Biggs and Featherbelle, 2hawks2fishes, Namoo, Found Studio, the littlest bean and so many more!

All money raised from the raffle will be donated to Heart’s Place, and the more money we can raise, the more people they can help.

Sweet Pepita will be donating 5% of sales from Holiday Heap to Heart's Place Shelter. You can feel good about your purchases!

Holiday Heap is this Saturady, December 4, 2010 from 10am to 5pm at 2640 St Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21218, inside St John's Church.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T09:52:00.002-05:00

Sit and relax and enjoy. We are so very lucky and we are so so grateful. Happy Thanksgiving!

The King

2010-11-17T22:15:00.003-05:00

The plaster craft bust lived with us for years. It drove me crazy from the start. We needed a bust of Elvis like we needed fifteen extra pounds or one more thing to add to the 'to do' list.

A couple months ago, we found the King a new home. Or at least a transitional home. Maybe he's in your home now. I guess I kinda miss it. Or at least I miss complaining about it.

So I stocked my shop up with some Elvis tees. And in plenty of time for the annual Night of 100 Elvises, should you and your baby be attending...

Decor Galore This Weekend!

2010-11-10T09:05:00.003-05:00

Our first show of the season and what a great cause!

The Junior League of Baltimore is a volunteer organization for women interested in making a positive impact in their communities. Since 1912, the Junior League of Baltimore has been a driving force behind many of the initiatives and institutions that make our community strong.

The Junior League of Baltimore's Décor Galore

Sip, Savor, and Shop Preview

Friday, November 12th from 6pm to 10pm.

$15 The first 100 shoppers through the door will received a VIP swag bag.

Décor Galore

Saturday, November 13th from 9am to 4pm

Free

Sewing lesson #1

2010-11-03T09:45:00.004-04:00

I'm teaching Pepita to sew. It's actually more like needlepoint, though, I guess. Or some free-form cross stitch. We tried our hand at weaving potholders over the weekend, and while she really loved hooking her loops across the loom, she couldn't quite grasp the coordination of weaving them through. Her pot holder is very post-modern. A beautiful, non-functional sea scape that will fall apart if you look at it funny.

The needlepoint project, though (the sewing, as she calls it) is going better than I ever could have imagined. We picked out a heart shaped plastic canvas and a rainbow pack of embroidery floss. The plastic canvas has generous holes and is stiff, so I thought it would be easier for her to learn on than say felt or a woven cloth .

The first night we sat on the couch for a full hour! The next morning, the first thing Pepita asked to do was sew. We've been at it every night. I only gave her a couple rules... she has to keep the back of the piece clean and she has to fix her own mistakes.

She's doing an amazing job. Do you see that pink spiral? She's doing this all by herself. She's four. I am quite proud.

Get Cozy

2010-10-29T13:02:00.004-04:00

We whipped up a free recycled fabric scarf tutorial for the Fall issue of Joie Magazine. Consider it an early Christmas present! Go check out the magazine (it's beautiful!) and give the scarf a try. The tutorial is ideal for beginning sewers with a conventional (i.e. plain-old) sewing machine. Trust me... you can do this. Enjoy! And please send us images of your finished work! We'd love to post your creations!

Joie is an online magazine published by the lovely Jen Wallace of Indie Fixx. What an honor it is for us to have contributed to such an awesome magazine! Thank you!

Hustle and Sew

2010-09-23T08:40:00.002-04:00

So, Crafty Bastards is like 9 days away. It's the greatest indie craft show on Earth. And we will be there with all sorts of newness (along side our classic Sweet Pepita, of course)!

Visit our vendor profile and please vote for Sweet Pepita for this year's Craftiest Bastard! Thank you!!!

We Are Family

2010-09-07T09:15:00.002-04:00

There's been very little time to write this Summer... what with balancing work and birthday rumpusing and the day to day care of our pets and garden and home and now more pets.

A quick birthday weekend at the beach resulted in the adoption of not one, but two new little friends. Pepita calls them her baby brother and baby sister. She tells anyone who will listen about them, and her dad and I need to explain that I didn't really just have two new babies. As far as my girl's concerned, if you live in this house, whatever species you are, you're related.

Pepita stood at the base of their new digs cooing,"Look at Vernesta's cute little eyes! They're so cuddly!" Moving them from their boardwalk cage into this fancy new habitat made all the difference in the world I think. They are social little buggers. Vernesta's definitely the alpha crab here, but Hendrick is slowly coming around.

Welcome home Vernesta and Hendrick.

All is Love

2010-08-23T09:29:00.007-04:00

I asked Pepita if she wanted to do anything special for her birthday party. She told me, "I want to have a rumpus." And so she did. It was wild, too.

First, there were favors. I saw a Wild Thing cardboard tube puppet tutorial here...

My army of goodie monsters. They're filled with candy!

Then, there were the cupcakes. I think I made between 40 and 50 cupcakes so that all the friends and their parents could have one, but Jakey the dog promptly ate like 10 of them. Bad boy.

But most importantly, there were friends. Lots and lots and lots of friends. Pepita was in Heaven. It's exactly what she wanted. Thank you so much for making my girl feel so special and so so loved.

Planning a Rumpus

2010-08-16T09:26:00.005-04:00

It's no secret that Pepita's all time favorite story is Where the Wild Things Are. She knows it by heart. We took her to see the movie last year and she fell in love. Her yellow walls are plastered with movie stills of Max and Carol and KW... all of her favorites. She wears her Max Halloween costume for fun. In the Summer. She's very serious about her Wild Things.

So of course we're now knee deep in planning a 4th birthday rumpus with all of her friends.

custom buttons from purebuttons.com

Pepita is so excited. Her friends are so excited. I've formed 20 goody monsters and there's still 10 to go. Then they'll be filled with candy and painted. We thought this would be safer than 2 dozen kids whacking at a piñata with sticks. I'm sure I'll think the goody monsters are a great idea once they're all finished.

Pepita as Max 2009

Four. She'll be four. My baby. *sigh*

DIY Show and Tell

2010-08-05T09:01:00.000-04:00

We want to see your awesome creations!

What are you sewing up with your Sew Sweet Pepita Kits? How are you dotting your duds?

Show off what you can do with your Sew Sweet Pepita kits and iron-on patches by sending your photos to sweetpepitaclothing@yahoo.com and we'll post them up on our site!

Stealing Time

2010-08-03T20:48:00.003-04:00

We were looking at pictures taken not 6 months ago. It's really unbelievable how quickly my girl is growing up. She looked like a baby 6 months ago. Geez.

February 2010

So we've been taking time here and there off to spend with this girl. This big kid girl.

July 2010

We took Friday off and headed north with friends to Dutch Wonderland, this kiddie theme park in Pennsylvania. Pepita had the best time ever. Rides and a kiddie water park and cotton candy and face painting. What more could a big kid want?

I made the mistake of picking her up early from school today thinking we'd make home grown peach smoothies and take a nice walk with Jakey. And we did. It's just that she would have rather stayed at school. With her friends. *sigh* I am already so not cool.

2010-07-27T09:23:00.004-04:00

More tops. More skirts. More clothing for adults. Coming very soon...

Catching Up

2010-07-20T11:15:00.002-04:00

With sleep, with fluids, with quiet after Artscape. Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by! Thank you to all of my fantastic customers, BEST and Craft Mafia peeps, and all my friends who came out for moral support over the weekend. This hot, hot weekend. We are so lucky! We would not have made it through without you! Thank you.

Pepita after Artscape

We're all just a little wilted now. OK, back to operation rehydration...

Artscape Weekend!

2010-07-15T13:40:00.002-04:00

It's here again. And I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone out and about in our thick Baltimore Summer! There is so much good happening at Artscape this year... you might need to come a couple days to see it all. We are partial to the Midway and the DIY section (we'll be in booth C 28 on Charles St.) but the Artist Market, the Family Art Park and the *ahem* really awesome Lebanese food (I hope they'll be there again this year!) are not to be missed either!

In the Works

2010-07-07T08:34:00.003-04:00

I've been working hard on expanding our DIY line of products for 2010! The kits have been flying off the shelves, so next on my agenda is to start up a Sew Sweet Pepita Flickr group so everyone can show off their creations. I can't wait to see what you all have been up to!

In the mean time check out our Spot-on, Dottie! Iron-on patches...

Think pillows, diaper bags, aprons, jumpers, jean skirts, table cloths, the works! You can see what my friend Stephanie did with hers here... Now go and get you dots on!

Thank You!

2010-06-29T15:52:00.003-04:00

Thank you so much! Pile of Craft was just awesome. And at 5, we still had enough energy to pop into the photo booth for impromptu family portraits!

Hope you had as much fun as we did! And thank you again... I'm pretty sure my customers are the nicest people around!

Pile of Craft!!!

2010-06-23T08:26:00.002-04:00

Is this Saturday! Wooohooo! Are you ready? Oh, we are so ready!

Because this year, not only will there be awesome vendors selling their latest designs, we'll have this super cool photobooth for you and you and you! And did I mention that the craftiest folks around will be selling their latest, greatest goods? Be the first to try out our new DIY kits.... Iron-on Dottie Patches! So fun. So easy. So awesome.

Oh, We Can Party!

2010-06-21T09:12:00.004-04:00

And we really needed to party. Luckily for Baltimore, we have BEST and Charm City Craft Mafia who really know how to make it happen! The Etsy Craft Party in Roosevelt Park this past Friday was a HUGE success! Thank you so much to everyone who busted their butts to organize the fun!

We even had flamingos to decorate and cut out!

This is what pure party joy looks like. Yup.

Keeper

2010-06-18T15:35:00.002-04:00

Every now and again, I make a dress I just can't sell. This one's a keeper. I'll never lose track of Pepita in these colors! Her father agrees. Done.

Now to convince her to wear something that's neither pink nor purple...

In Progress...

2010-06-11T14:05:00.001-04:00

A sneak peek of a custom skirt. Almost there... best skirt panels ever!

Up Close

2010-06-10T17:36:00.002-04:00

Pepita has inherited one of the oldest digital cameras known to man. It's a tank. I imagine she'll have her own titles to give to these portraits... I gave it my best shot. She's very serious, you see.

Dolly

My Sister Hazel

My Strawberries, Not Your Strawberries

This is Where Carol Lives

Mis-ter-Sea-gold

My Mommy

Painting the Roses

2010-06-03T11:19:00.002-04:00

I'm still thinking about our trip to Philly last month. Maybe it's time for an honest to goodness vacation. Not a working vacation, but a real one. One that lasts more than 2 days.

One of the most awesome things about Philadelphia is the Please Touch Museum. And with a Port Discovery membership, you get in free! Man, a membership so, so worth it!

Oh, and the Alice in Wonderland exhibit is fantastic. And if you know the story front and back like someone I know, it's that much better. Pepita is all about Alice in Wonderland.

Pinwheels and Zizzors

2010-06-01T10:35:00.004-04:00

This is just a little peek at the fun we had this weekend... Here's hoping everyone's Memorial Day holiday was filled with new 'zizzors' and homemade pinwheels.

P.S. Pepita gets so many compliments on her Obama vs. Zombies t-shirt whenever she wears it... You can get one, too from tinaseamonster!

The Challenge

2010-05-26T11:03:00.003-04:00

Today is day 3 of my self imposed List Once a Day on Etsy Challenge and because I have a thing about the number 3 (they're really just incomplete 8's, aren't they?) I thought I'd switch it up and list two new pieces.

Of course, the work I chose to photograph was a perfect mother/daughter set. What is it with coordinating pieces that makes me so happy? Did you know our entire family has coordinating camera tees? Maybe that's too much information...

Ummmmm

2010-05-25T08:48:00.003-04:00

This is really cool. I'm not even a Star Wars Fan and I love them. Oh, man, what if they start making Wild Thing cookie cutters, too? *gasp* So cool!

Star Wars cookie cutters for sale at Williams-Sonoma

Pepita Scissor Hands

2010-05-24T11:13:00.003-04:00

She's a wild free spirit of a three year old most days. She runs, she jumps and she totally rocks down. Actually, it's really hard to keep her still. Unless you give her a pair of scissors.

We've upgraded from pink plastic safety 'scissors' (and I use that word loosely because scissors usually cut paper pretty easily) to a child's size pair of real, functioning scissors.

I don't know why we haven't introduced her to Matisse yet. It seems so obvious. And we do wonder if her admiration of our artist friend who intricately cuts paper hasn't made an impression on her. She was so young when we took her to see his work, but I really do think she remembers. She remembers everything.

Beautiful

2010-05-17T12:54:00.002-04:00

Everything was beautiful. We couldn't have asked for a nicer weekend. And even though the wind always gets me at set up (let's just say I could build a rockin' sail boat), we made it through and enjoyed our new display (sans dressing room).

Pepita moving her very first craft show chair into position. It says Love to Sparkle. How could we not get it for her?

Working with my new display... I like the openness and the boutique feeling. It's starting to feel like a real space...

ooooooh. and check out my sweet new signs! Godfrey's so impressed with my mad paper cutting skills. Juliet from The Broken Plate and I are thinking about getting craft show husband medals made up for our rock star helpers. Seriously. Between set-up, break-down and Pepita wrangling, he had his work cut out for him!

oh, girl! My biggest trooper. It was a long weekend (and not without its time outs) but she had an amazing time overall. She always does in Philadelphia. We can't wait to go back!

Road Trip!

2010-05-12T21:09:00.002-04:00

Come see us in Philadelphia at Art Star Craft Bazaar this Saturday and Sunday! Try our new Spot-on, Dottie skirts on for size, take one home or custom order your favorite colors! So excited. See you soon!

There May be Pirates!

2010-05-04T07:34:00.003-04:00

Squid pirates! Maybe.

You can count on there being lots of cool work to choose from. And with Mother's Day just around the corner, the timing to get out and about is pretty much perfect.

This year's Squidfire Art Mart will be held this Saturday, May 8th from 11am to 6pm in the heart of Fells Point at the Broadway Square 801 South Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231! It'll be so much fun!

Ahhh! I Joined the Craft Corps!

2010-04-27T21:07:00.003-04:00

Craft Corps is a collection of stories from artists and crafters from all over the country. It's like Story Corps, but for craft. The book is available on Amazon now! Yeah! Go get it!

Stylin'!

2010-04-25T11:20:00.003-04:00

We finally did it. Her first hair cut. And she's not even a little bit bummed that she bears no resemblance to either Catherine Keener nor a transformer.

She's just beautiful.

Big

2010-04-23T09:04:00.002-04:00

She likes her hair to be big and strong. And you know it is. And it always will be strong... but, perhaps, a little less big. Maybe. We'll see what the kiddie stylist comes up with.

We have a date today. Lunch, 1st haircut, dessert. Just me and my girl. I'm trying to get her psyched up for the haircut. Pepita's been talking about how she wants her hair cut to look like Max's mom (Catherine Keener). And then this morning, she decided her new cut should make her look like a transformer.

Right, well, we'll see. I'm so nervous. This kid loves her hair.

We Love You World!

2010-04-22T11:14:00.004-04:00

Of course, we try to live every day as if it were earth day. We take responsibility for the impact that our lives and our businesses have on our planet and, on a smaller scale, our community.

Sweet Corsage Necklace from ElisaShereJewelry

We know what we can do, the steps we can take, the choices we can make. I remember, when I was pregnant, my eco-awareness exploding. It was overwhelming. We've made small changes, manageable changes, and we do what we can. We try not to beat ourselves up too much. We try.

RECYCLIMAL ReBeena made from RECLAIMED Knitwear from GreenStarStudio

My top 3 favorite resources for living green easily...

1. Hand-me-downs, thrift stores and consignment shops

Man oh man do kids go through things. Clothes, toys, and enough plastic crap to build a tower to the moon. People often ask me which thrift stares are my favorites and I always say, "All of them". I go to all of them. We gladly take hand-me-downs and repair damaged clothing. This leaves us with enough cash to buy her the things we want to buy her instead of the things we have to buy her. We are proud that handmade clothes, accessories, art and plush fill our daughter's life. She knows exactly who made what and can pick out certain local artists' work in any medium from across the room.

2. Mill Valley Garden Center

I cannot say enough good things about our CSA. Vegetarians and omnivores alike can benefit from joining and taking home a share. It's delicious, and our family has absolutely saved money since participating. I am embarrassed to say that I had no idea what good butter tasted like until I took home a container from Trickling Springs Creamery as a part of our weekly share. Amazing. Local food, dairy in glass containers (bonus!) And supporting a great local business to boot feels (and tastes) great.

Men's Reusable Sandwich Baggie from GlowGirl16

3. Local bath and body products

With Biggs & Featherbelle just down the street and Spa Therapy Works off the beltway, there really is no reason to go far for your beauty products. I'm proud to say that we've used only locally made body soaps in our house for well over a year now. This year, I've even made the switch to facial soap and facial cream. I'm totally hooked. And my skin looks great, if I don't say so myself!

Dead Sea Black Mud Deep Cleansing Facial Soap from SpaTherapyWorks

Feel good about what you can do this Earth day and know that every little bit makes a difference. We are so powerful!

Spring!

2010-04-17T11:09:00.002-04:00

Bada Bing!

We're busy putting the finishing touches on our newest styles, packing up and heading down 95. See you in Richmond!

What's Your Favorite Mom Getting?

2010-04-14T12:05:00.005-04:00

Does the mama in your life have cool old t-shirts that she's never gonna wear again? Raid her closet and turn those old clothes into awesome tees for her favorite little ones! Contact us for more details. Mother's day is just around the corner!

Sick Day

2010-04-12T10:31:00.002-04:00

I knew she wasn't feeling well when she asked to go back to bed. My girl is not a late sleeper. She's barely a sleeper at all, as a matter of fact.

She rested her head and asked me to read (with what little voice I have left) a tiny book of game instructions in French (no, I don't speak French) and fell fast asleep on the couch in a matter of minutes. I want my allergy and germ-free Pepita back. Actually, we could use a round of miraculous healing all around.

Hello Spring

2010-04-09T16:08:00.001-04:00

More Spring tunics. I love them so...

The Day After Easter

2010-04-05T12:32:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone's Easter was as much fun as Pepita's. And that everyone's sugar crash was more soft landing than full blown crash.

My girl was way more excited to see the Easter bunny than he was to see her. She doesn't give up, though. She got enough high fives and hugs and Chocolate-covered Easter snuggles to get her through to next year. I hope.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T09:18:00.002-04:00

I just labeled some photos 'Easter 2010' and, suddenly, it felt like the future is here. Although, by the looks of it, it seems that not too much has changed. I mean, replace the basket with a plastic Dora bucket from last Easter, fill it with goodies, and it pretty much has the same effect.

The only difference is the hunt, which we'll save for later (in someone else's back yard). And let's face it, there's something to be said about not losing track of where that last hard-boiled egg is hidden and discovering it a week later by following the stink.

Dora will have another good run and then she'll reappear again about this time next year. In the mean time we'll savor the day and try not to eat too much candy. Happy Easter!

All Recycled

2010-03-31T13:57:00.003-04:00

One of a kind tunics are an easy Spring choice. Add leggings and you have instant cute. And not at all fussy. No, you can totally rock out on the playground in these, baby!

Time's a Wastin'. Hurry! Hurry!

2010-03-30T12:59:00.003-04:00

Only a few more days to apply to Pile of Craft, the Charm City Craft Mafia's annual juried Spring craft fair, featuring handmade and original items from 40+ talented artists from all over the country. Apparel, ceramics, handbags, jewelry, fine art, scuplture, homegoods and more - made by hand, sold by the artists themselves!

Want to be a vendor? You can APPLY HERE. Applications to Pile Of Craft 2010 are open until April 2 at midnight, and we will be announcing the accepted vendors by April 9th. The application is straightforward, and if you already have images, or a website, shouldn't take you more than a few minutes. It's just $10 to apply, and then $75 to be a vendor if accepted to the fair.

Good luck and thank you so much to everyone who's already applied! We're so excited for this year's fair!!

Lunch Boxing

2010-03-28T23:23:00.004-04:00

Lunch box shopping, picking the perfect lunchbox, I'm spending too much time on this decision. What Pepita wants is a Pink Panther lunchbox. She's dead set on it. I give her 3 choices, and she chooses Pink Panther every time. I say "That's not an option," and she says "Hmmmm. let me think about it. I want a Pink Panther one."

Will we choose Hello Kitty?

Or, the obvious choice, Alice in Wonderland?

She's been re-using a brown bag with handles, a small shopping bag for over a year now. We've only had to replace it maybe twice. I'm not sure why we're torturing ourselves over a meal that probably doesn't even get eaten. It almost seems like a cruel joke to open a sweet new box only to find the same fruit and sandwich and applesauce inside.

Or will a new box make the contents sweeter? See, that's what I'm banking on.

Especially if she gets this one. How could she not eat anything that comes out of a My Little Pony lunchbox?