This Week's Poll...

I had so much fun with the last poll we did about James Bond that I am going to attempt to be fairly regular with making polls. I hope those of you who participated last time had as much fun as I did.

This week's poll is about travel. It was quite difficult to narrow down to just four cities. I decided to make them bustling cities and on different continents. I hope you will have time to vote for the one you would choose if you could only pick one. Have fun and at the end of the poll I will tell you which one I would choose. The poll is located on the righthand side of this blog. Thanks for playing!

One word answers...

I found this over at shana says, and like her, found the one word answers simple and appealing...

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your significant other? kitchen
3. Your hair? long
4. Your daughter? sweet
5. Your son? energetic
6. Your favorite thing? today
7. Your dream last night? sexy
8. Your favorite drink? coffee
9. Your goal? travel
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your fear? heights
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you’re not? cruel
15. Muffins? scones
16. One of your wish list items? time
17. Where you grew up? California
18. The last thing you did? lunch
19. What are you wearing? jeans
20. Your TV? TCM
21. Your pets? died
22. Your computer? HP
23. Your life? full
24. Your mood? hmmm…
25. Missing someone? Ardith
26. Your car? truck
27. Something you’re not wearing? bra
28. Favorite store? Tom’s
29. Your summer? sunny
30. Like(love) someone? definitely
31. Your favorite color? turquoise
32. Last time you laughed? today
33. Last time you cried? today
34. Who will repost this? Suz?

Wishing you happiness...

The holidays are upon us and on this Christmas Eve I want to wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons. May your New Year be filled with love, laughter, good health and prosperity.

I feel so fortunate this year for many reasons. I've made many new friends, a number of you I have never met in person, yet I feel you are dear friends. Isn't the internet amazing?

I want to share with you a photo that my young son took. I think it's enchanting and magical. Can you guess what the subject of this photo is?


One of each, please.....

Etsy has so many incredibly talented artists from the fashion world....Here are some samples of the creations I am absolutely longing to own.

Green Harris Tweed Coat by 13threads



First Night Bracelet by Leaves of Glass



Madame de la Lune by white apple



Stardust Yo-Yo Fascinator by cookoorikoo



Custom Long Patchwork Skirt by sohomade


~I really do desire one of each of these pieces. Can you blame me? There are numerous others that I adore and I'm sure I will be making many other posts with enchanting additions.
{Also, if you haven't already, don't forget to vote in this week's poll on the rightside sidebar!}

My slight obsession with James Bond

I thought it might be fun to start a little poll (located on the right sidebar of this blog) about delicious Bond...James Bond. Something trivial and slightly silly for a Friday. So if you would like to be a part of this little experiment, I would be most appreciative! On the last day of this poll, I will tell you who my favorite James is.

In the meantime, here are some little facts about James Bond.

~James is half Scottish (father) and half Swiss (mother).

~The Bond family motto is "Orbis non sufficit" ("The world is not enough").

~James had a successful naval career. He advanced to Commander James Bond.

~James prefers scrambled eggs and coffee.

~James shares the same habits as his creator, Ian Fleming; smoking, drinking, womanizing and wearing short-sleeved shirts.

~There have been 22 films made about James.

~Only 12 books were written about James by Ian Fleming. The remaining books and screenplays were written by various other authors and screenwriters.

The above photo was taken in 1899 of Sidney Reilly, known as The Ace of Spies. He was the first super-spy and believed to be the muse for Ian Fleming's James Bond character.

Well, there you have it. A few tasty tidbits. Please feel free to add your own, I will take great delight in reading them all!

Classic Movie Pick ~ "The Third Man"

I know I say this each time I chose a classic movie for this series, but truly, you must see "The Third Man". This amazing film is one of my very favorites. I never get tired of watching it or listening to its perfect sound track. I believe it has one of the best endings ever.

This 1949 film was written by Graham Greene, directed by Carol Reed and in beautiful black and white. It stars Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles. Now really, how can one go wrong with that excellent line-up? Joseph Cotton is irresistable and endearing, Alida Valli is beautiful and mesmerizing, and Orson Welles is, well, Orson Welles at his best. His first scene in this movie is one of the all-time great entrances. Also, the brilliant Trevor Howard is in this film.






The plot is mysterious and intriguing, but you won't get lost in the details. I don't want to give away the plot so the details are few. It's set in post-wwII Vienna, a pulp fiction writer comes to Vienna to see an old friend who has promised him a job, only to find his friend is dead. The more the writer looks into this death, the more corruption and mystery he uncovers. It's just such a satisfying story! I guarantee you will love it.

And the sound track is absolutely enchanting, all done with only one instrument. I hope you will take the time to enjoy this classic film. You will most definitely be smitten with it, just as I am. Here is a clip sure to motivate you into watching this gem.

Mr. Woods' Apple Orchard...

In November, we went up to Oak Glen for a lovely Sunday. Oak Glen is an enchanting little village of apple orchards and quant shops and cafes. It's on the lower part of a mountain so they do get a bit of snow during the winter. A truly lovely site to behold is Oak Glen in the fall. The autumn leaves are brilliant and the smell of apples in the air is intoxicating.

We stopped at old Mr. Woods' Orchard for a box of Granny Smith and Arkansas Black apples. He was kind enough to let us take some pictures of his scenic, modest orchard. I think these photos turned out beautifully considering they were taken with the camara on my husband's phone.

At a later date, I will tell you his story of Omar Sharif, his 43-year-old horse. I think you will agree that his orchard is breathtaking and Mr. Woods himself is the most delightful man you could ever meet.








Ardith is gone...

I have been away for a time. My grandmother, Ardith, has been gravely ill. She passed away this week, on October 15th at 1:17 a.m. and I was at her side. I had been with her for the last week of her life, only leaving her hospital room to shower or grab a quick bite to eat. I'm so thankful to have had that time with her. She knew I was there and that brings me some peace.

I inherited her green eyes, her feet and her legs. She lived an exceptional life and someday soon I will share some of it with you. For now, I will leave you with a poem by Emily Dickinson...

If you were coming in the fall,
I'd brush the summer by
With half a smile and half a spurn,
As housewives do a fly.

If I could see you in a year,
I'd wind the months in balls,
And put them each in separate drawers,
Until their time befalls.

If only centuries delayed,
I'd count them on my hand,
Subtracting till my fingers dropped
Into Van Dieman's land.

If certain, when this life is out,
That yours and mine should be,
I'd toss it yonder like a rind,
And taste eternity.

But now, all ignorant of the length
Of time's uncertain wing,
It goads me, like a goblin bee,
That will not state its sting.

Heaven in a box...

I ask you...have you ever seen anything more delectable? Dark chocolate, cream filling and fresh raspberries. I'll leave it at that.



El Grande~The biggest cowl in this one-horse town...

El Grande has arrived in several color palettes at Fringe...




Mighty Mouse...

It was before 7 a.m. this morning when we discovered a tiny little mouse had taken a surprise swim in our pool. Although we didn't witness his miraculous swim to safety. His life raft was the pool cleaner tube. We found this itsy bitsy mighty mouse perched there, cleaning his little paws as if waiting patiently for one of us to arrive and rescue him from this unfortunate predicament, which we did. Although first my husband snapped a pic.

Once rescued, he sat among the plants to recover his land legs, and this was yet another photo opportunity for us. He is tiny, about an inch and a half (not including his very long tail). A cuter fellow and stronger swimmer you will never find and we were lucky enough to find him before disaster struck....our little Mighty Mouse.




The Sartorialist

Just yesterday, my brother, author of the beautiful new blog Brock Street, introduced me to a blog named The Sartorialist. All I can say is...perfection! What an inspiring and beautiful place to visit! Those of you who have visited my shop know that I am extremely interested in fashion and colors and textures so, needless to say, I'm in heaven when I go to this blog. You will become instantly hooked on it, as I have. I hope you will visit both of these blogs. Both created by men of fashion and design. Stay tuned for more in depth coverage of Brock Street....

hello, love....

This list is so special to me. It made the Etsy front page last night for three hours! Yippee! I missed the whole thing, but GetReadySetGo (a.k.a. Rachel and Rebecca) sent me a message to let me know. My lovely friend, Kateri of leavesofglass, sent me the full screenshot of this list. I snagged this treasury purely by accident, but with the theme of "rust" I had no trouble finding amazing pieces to fill it with. I hope you enjoy gazing at it as much as I do. Also, I hope you will visit all of these excellent shops. I've included the links to them all below.

From left to right, top to bottom, the sellers are;
12images; http://12images.etsy.com/
leavesofglass; http://leavesofglass.etsy.com/
propercandy; http://propercandy.etsy.com/
GetReadySetGo; http://getreadysetgo.etsy.com/
Daydreamers; http://daydreamers.etsy.com/
bonzie; http://bonzie.etsy.com/
janmoralesphoto; http://janmoralesphoto.etsy.com/
btaylorquilts; http://btaylorquilts.etsy.com/
sushipotparts; http://sushipotparts.etsy.com/
elmstudios; http://elmstudios.etsy.com/
bykali; http://bykali.etsy.com/
encantado; http://encantado.etsy.com/

Classic Movie Pick ~ "The Thin Man"

The movie I have chosen to be this week's pick is "The Thin Man". It is one of my top five all-time favorite movies. If you haven't seen this marvelous flick, please do take the time to watch it. The humor, the story, the fashion...all timeless and utterly delightful.

This film was made in 1934 and is directed by the marvelous and extremely talented W.S. Van Dyke, before the ratings committee took over movies. Starring two of my favorite actors, the debonair William Powell and spunky, lovely Myrna Loy. The chemistry between them explains why they made many, many films together. This film is a murder mystery and it's in beautiful black and white. I have included this movie clip from Turner Classic Movies for your viewing pleasure.

You can also find when it will be playing next on TCM, if you wish to see it.



I hope you will let me know if you see this perfect movie. I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.


Featured in MODISH ~ Yippee!

As part of Jena's "How to be a Crafty Marketer" series... If you would like to read the feature, please visit Modish Biz Tips.



What a complete thrill and honor it is for me to find that I have been featured in the fabulous MODISH Biz Tips blog! For those of you who aren't familiar with this incredible site, please take the time to check it out for excellent business advice (link provided above). One of the most important points Jena made in the segment is this;
Don't create based on trends, what you "think" will sell or what you've seen others do before. Keep your integrity and personality in everything you make, and you'll easily create a "look", "style" or niche that customers will come to rely upon you for.
You have the ability to make something that no one else has made before. Do it! Don't create based on trends, what you "think" will sell or what you've seen others do before. Keep your integrity and personality in everything you make, and you'll easily create a "look", "style" or niche that customers will come to rely upon you for.

You have the ability to make something that no one else has made before. Do it!
Jena also is the creator of MODISH is a blog dedicated to "crafting a handmade life". It's filled with beautiful creations, fashion, home decor, and everything you could ever want to add to your wish list.

Nature ~ Through the eyes of my 11-year-old son...

This summer, my husband and young son went fishing at a local state park which has a beautiful lake. While there, my son took some nature pictures which I think are completely beautiful. Okay, I may be a wee bit biased, but truly, they are inspiring to me. I thought I'd share them with you and hopefully, you will feel inspired too.

See if you can find the bumblebee in the second photo...












Welcome to my studio...

These pictures of my studio are somewhat deceiving. I must admit I straightened it up a bit before snapping pictures. There is usually a tad more clutter (an understatement, especially during the holiday season) on the flat surfaces of my studio space, but I wanted to share this space with you. I spend a great deal of time in this area of my home. I really do love it. My talented husband made that desk for me, it's so special to me. It is wonderful to have a space in my home that is just for me. I can't help but feel happy when I'm in here. It's mine, all mine! (rubs hands together in a fiendish manner)

I hope all of you are able to find a little (or big) space in your home where you can create, or read, or have a moment to yourself for whatever you desire. It can be used as a space to recharge, reconnect with yourself, get the creative juices flowing, or pamper yourself.





Classic Movie Pick ~ "Notorious"

Welcome to the first installment of my classic movie picks! My favorite movie genre is most definitely the classics and I thought it would be fun to start a little series of recommendations for my blog visitors. If you aren't familiar with the classics, I hope you will give them a try. There's nothing like a beautifully directed and acted black and white film. I guarantee you will get hooked!







"Notorious" is one of my very favorite movies. I've watched it more times than I can say. This film was made in 1946, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant and Claude Rains. Cary is at his sexist in this film and Ingrid is gorgeous and irresistable. When you add longing and desire to a mix of foreign intrigue and danger you have a four star movie. Oh yes, one mustn't forget the breathtaking fashion in this film as well...

I hope you will put aside some time to watch this movie which, in my opinion, is as good as it gets. If you do, let me know how you like it.

You can look for the next showing of this film on Turner Classic Movies at http://www.tcm.com/


Featured Etsy Shop ~ Paperhill

Vintage Wallpaper Flocked Notecards
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12632339


Paperhill is a shop that has many fabulous creations. The artist responsible for this gorgeous shop is Susan and she is a dear friend of mine as well as an exceptional artist. One example of the delights found at Paperhill are the charming vintage wallpaper flocked notecards listed in her shop. She specializes in making vintage modern.

I am featuring two of her incredible bridal pieces, Simple Elegance wrist corsage and Romantic Ring Bearer Pillow. Both pieces are inspirational, romantic and beautifully made with the finest materials. I hope you all will visit Susan at http://www.paperhill.etsy.com/.



Romantic Ring Bearer Pillow
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13496545


Simple Elegance Corsage http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13823835

I'm Back...



Well, my friends, it's been awhile since I've posted in my sad little neglected blog. I must admit that having a blog and keeping up with it is not my strong point. However, I have renewed determination and will try very hard to stay current starting today!

I am honored and thrilled to announce my feature in Knitscene Magazine's Fall 2008 Edition. I felt it was the perfect way to get things rolling....

Fringe in the News


Since I began Fringe in 2007, I have been honored and amazed by the incredible press Fringe has received. It is a dream come true to know that my work, which I love so much, is appreciated in this way. It is so very rewarding as an artist. Below is a list of some of the press I have received.


In October of 2009, the Nerves of Steel Cowl was featured on The Today Show.



In October, November and December of 2009, three of my creations were featured on The Uniform Project. Included were The Wallflower Brooch and the El Grande Cowl.



My work and an interview was featured in the Fall 2008 edition of Knitscene Magazine.



In February 2008, the Smooth Talk Cowl was featured on The Martha Stewart Show.


In addition, I have been honored to be featured in many exceptional blogs. Each and every one of these features is a complete thrill as well as an honor.