I made this book a couple years ago for my daughters birthday, but I love it so and it was such an undertaking, it seems a shame to only have one copy made.

All the illustrations were handmade the old fashioned way, and then I used a high resolution scanner to import the images into Photoshop and turn them into pages. Then the whole thing went to Blurb, where I made it into a book. The result is a really cool hybrid of unique handmade art and really slick professional printing. Each copy you order is made specially for you, which gives it a nice gifty kind of feeling, even if you are buying it for yourself!

Here is a preview courtesy of Blurb.com. The resolution is not fantastic, but you get the idea. If you enjoy the few pages shown below, please click over and see more!

Three Sudanese Swans by Lauren Adams | Make Your Own Book

Big, Bold and Cheery.

I'm getting better at freehand quilting, but it still gives me the sweats!

The wave/fish hook pattern I free hand quilted reminds me of New Zealand. A little piece of the old country.

The back, with a teeny little zigzag, just for fun

Cap sleeve dresses, hipster pants, soft jersey hooded cardigans, sunny sun dresses and simple skirts. All made to fit for a long time, be super comfortable, and be as adorable and unique as your little ones.

The Line Up

Little Hipsters in Hipster Caps

The wonderful thing about diving headlong into a project that you know nothing about is that it allows you to do things that you would never do if you knew better. Like backing a twin size quilt with chenille.

This quilt is heavenly soft, and so warm. When I gave it to my daughter she said “It feels like I’m wrapped in mama love!” and you just can’t beat that as a response to a handmade gift. But man, getting that beast through my machine took some serious work.

See the Chenille? So cozy, so very hard to sew.

I based this quilt on one I saw in a tutorial at U-createcrafts. It seemed do-able, but I didn’t read the fine print, I just charged ahead. It began as a way to use up all the random fat quarters and fabric pieces I had lying around. Which I did, and then as it morphed from baby size quilt to twin bed size quilt, I ended up needing more fabric, and ended up with more scraps. Arg. However, a mama love quilt was born, and I am pretty happy about that.

*Deep Breath*

I will be there selling my new baby and art quilts, my baby and toddler clothes and hats, and assorted hand sewn gifts.

I am working on getting some better photos to share. I was hoping to get some really nice shots of the kids playing outside in the clothes and such, but the sun wont cooperate. If you are living in the Pacific Northwest this spring you know what I am talking about. The weather is dismal. I can only hope this means we are in for a stunning summer. I said stunning! (shakes fist at sky). Anyway, all weather related neurosis aside, I should soon post some photos of all the stuff I’ve been whipping up these last few months.

In the meantime, please be content in sharing my ridiculous joy over my new craft geek purchase. Behold:

Ooooh I can feel the tidieness start to set in!

I know its just a thread holder/bobbin rack thing, but I have ridiculous expectations for this thing. As I typed this I also realized I just outed myself as a huge imposter. I am not a seamstress, I don’t even know the name of the thread rack thingy!). And yet, I am hopeful. This rack may be the start of great things for me. I might even know where to find things in all my mess. I may not have to discard half my thread after all the ends get tangled together in the drawer and I give up disentangling them and just cut them all off in one big thwack.  I’ll let you know if it works.

The Sunny Day Quilt

Back of the Sunny Day quilt

City Night Quilt

Back of the City Night Quilt

Jalisco Quilt

BAck of the Jalisco Quilt

Autumn Window Quilt

Back of the Autumn Window Quilt

Sidewalk Quilt

Sidewalk Quilt Back, close up.

Summer Windows Quilt, my first sold!

These quilts, except for the Summer Windows quilt (which is sold, yay!) are part of my growing stockpile as I prepare for the summer markets.

So here is the beginning list for 2011. I will update each season, as crops rotate through their cycles. Keep your fingers crossed.

Fruits

• Honeycrisp Apple
• Lapin Cherry
• Rainier Cherry
• 2 Blueberry Bushes
• 4 Evergreen Huckleberries
• Wild Plum
• Raspberry patch (maybe 8 canes?)
• Wild Blackberries
• Strawberries (assorted, maybe 10 plants)
• Rhubarb
• Red Currant

Veggies

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Magenta Cauliflower
• Fava beans
• Indian Runner Beans
• Bush Beans
• Snow Peas
• Sugar Snap Peas
• English Shelling Peas
• Nantes Carrots
• Beets
• Early Italian Garlic
• Late Italian Garlic
• Overwintering Onions
• Scallions
• Bushy Cucumbers
• Mexican Miniature Gherkins
• Buttercup Squash
• Kabocha Squash
• Brussel Sprouts
• Kale
• Tatsoi
• Lambsquarters
• Radishes
• Arugula
• Wild Lettuce
• Dandelions
• Red Peppers
• Jalapeno Peppers
• Tomatos (4 Varieties)
• Artichokes
• Potatoes
• Romain Lettuce
• Bingo Dry Shelling Beans

Herbs and Medicinals

• Basil
• Catnip
• Sage
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Garden Sorrel
• French Sorrel
• Mexican Tarragon
• Anise Hyssop
• Chamomile
• Mullein
• Comfrey
• Lavender
• Lovage
• Valerian
• Kentucky Mint
• Spearmint
• Lemon Balm
• Apple Mint
• Chervil
• Lemon Verbena
• Sweet Bay
• Calendula
• Borage
• Golden Comfrey
• Bee Balm
• Curry
• Epazote
• Pineapple Sage
• Ginger Mint
• Feverfew
• Fennel
• Dill
• Chives
• Oregano
• Plantain
• Chickweed
• Stevia
• “Sweet Annie” Artemesia

Edible Flowers

• Nasturtiums
• Viola
• Geraniums
• Dandelion
• Marigold

Not to be outdone or forgotten, our three hens, Frances, Edith and Tilly are providing us about 14 eggs a week. Lovely Ladies that they are.

But there is some hope.

Bush Beans

Raspberries, pending

The Pea Tipi

Fava Blossom

Apple Blossom

The Cold Beds

The Hopeful Chicken

Potted

No, my not stinking is a much more grounded in reality, verified by those around me kind of not stinking. Even after trenching 50 feet of chicken run fencing I didn’t smell. Not even a little, not even with my nose right in there. And as an extra super bonus, I have applied nothing to my body that is toxic, or couldn’t be pronounced. I am a fan of my breasts, and I’d like to keep them. I’d also like you to keep yours, so I am posting this deodorant recipe. Like all great things, I can take zero credit for it. The recipe I found at angrychicken.typepad.com (thank you Amy,so very much for figuring this out)  After 12 years of trying various Evil Amplifiers (that would be those all natural deoderants that you put on in the morning smelling fresh as roses and by midday you smell like a New Mexican truck driver coming of a six day Amphetamine bender. And all you did was sit as your computer.) I can’t believe how simple the solution truly is.

So enough already, here is the recipe. I have adjusted it slightly from the original to keep a little softer in my cold, cold bathroom.

Home Made Deodorant

3 Tablespoons shea butter
3 Tablespoons baking soda
2 Tablespoons corn starch
2 Tablespoons cocoa butter
1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil (or use two gelcaps, puncture and squeeze out the oil)

Essential Oil (I find 20-30 drops, but go slowly and add scent to your preference)

2 tbl Aloe Vera gel

I don’t own a microwave, so I melt the butter down chocolate style in a hot water bath, then stir in the baking soda, cornstarch and aloe. When it is smooth and mixed I stir in my essential oils, five drops or so at a time. Then I pour it into whatever container I am using and let it come to room temperature. You can store it in the refrigerator if you want to keep it longer, but I haven’t had any trouble with this spoiling after its mixed.

Some ideas for application are:

Keep it in a jar and scoop out a pea size amount to rub into each armpit.

Pour into an empty, cleaned deoderant container. Then you can simply apply it like you are used to doing with those chemical sticks.

Pour into ice cube or popsicle molds. You can keep one in your bathroom and the others in a baggie in the fridge for when they’re needed.

I like the jar method, because I don’t have any old deoderant containers lying around, and I didn’t want to invest in buying new plastic dispensers.And I just don’t mind scooping it out and rubbing it on with my fingers.

The only drawback to this recipe is that these ingredients can get really pricey. I suggest going in with friends and buying bulk from somewhere like mountainroseherbs.com or going to my etsy site duckyluck.etsy.com. If there’s no deoderant listed the day you visit, just send me a convo and I’ll get you hooked up quick smart!

]]> http://duckyluck.com/2010/05/24/how-not-to-stink-and-still-stick-it-to-the-man/feed/ 0