My Birthday Skirt

My Birthday Skirt, originally uploaded by Kristen Mary.

I made this robot skirt to match Ronan's robot pants! I made this a while ago but haven't had the occasion to wear it until now. Here are some Crafty Planet treats I picked up as a birthday present to myself!

1. Japanese Import robot fabric

2. Oliver + S boy pajama pattern

3. Ready Made Magazine

4. Amy Butler's book "Little Stitches for Little Ones"

5. Sublime Stitching embroidery pattern "The Black Apple" special artist's series

Viva la birthdays!

For the Love of Etsy - #10

This is a continuation of my "Best of Etsy" picks, as started earlier in the week. I can never get a treasury put together on the site, so this is the next best thing, I think!




#10 (again, in no particular order) "Pengcath"

9. Cathy Peng - Pengcath - I adore Cathy's illustration style. I already have a limited edition print in my bedroom, greeting cards, and stickers all over the place. I was even able to persuade her to make me a specialty calendar for my cubicle walls! And my wishlist is never ending. :-) I am looking forward to getting her sheep sleeping print for Ronan's bedroom.

Her subjects often include a cute and wiley black and white cat (as shown above) but she does commissioned portraits, painting, screen printing. Prints, originals, stationary, clothing, accessories. She does it all!

You can find her at Cathy's Sweet Shop on Etsy. www.pengcath.etsy.com

The End of an Era

On Tuesday we got the news that my Grandmother had died. This is my mother's mother and she lived in a nursing home in Wisconsin. It was not sudden, and not a surprise but sad nonetheless. This is the end of an era. She was an amazing woman. Blake, Ronan and I drove down from Minneapolis on Wednesday knowing that our planned vacation to South Dakota would resume when the funeral and services were over at the end of the week. The funeral was an occasion to see many family members that I don't see very often, and distant cousins of cousins from Chicago who's company I adore. It was an event of mixed emotions. Every time I would feel sad about losing Grandma, I couldn't help but think about how wonderful of a person she was and how lucky I am to have known her and how blessed I was to have been loved by her. And I would smile.

I will miss you Grandma O, one of my favorite people in the world.