stuff n things

The newest batch of Fritters is done and slowly finding their way into my shop.
This is Corainne and her record player...I'm very pleased with her. I think it's the vintage material that I like so much about her and the fact that the record player came out well is also encouraging. Check out all the pics of her here.
My little reader! I shouldn't complain, but she really is obsessed with reading! Luckily she'll spend a good portion of her time looking at books on her own and not just if some one's reading to her.
I love that she loves to look at books, but if I read books to her all day long I'd never get anything done! Good thing for me I have most of them memorized and she'll sit next to me and look at the book while I recite the words.

Well, I'm off the the NEK this weekend. I need to get away for a bit and see some different scenery. I was thinking about it and this really will be the most time I've spent "home" in the last ten years. I don't have any big plans while there, but I'm psyched to drive around to all the old places I used to go to. At least it's a small getaway, and it'll give Walter some time to study for his NCLEX on Tuesday. So, yeah, everyone think happy thoughts for Walti on Tuesday while he's taking his test!

I don't plan to post again before I leave, so Happy Weekend everyone!

$1.82, thank you very much

I went to the ReStore today and got all this cool stuff for $1.82. How could I not be psyched, especially since I felt a little inspired by my purchase...the orangey-red is a piece of wool that's begging to be made into a funky Fritter.

I also couldn't resist the "button pins" ($.10). I've never seen those before...thought they were cool.

I wanted to include Peanut in this post because she so often gets overlooked. Not in a neglectful sort of way but in a posting sort of way. Peanut is going to the "spa" next week for a tummy tuck and tooth whitening, which is to say, she's getting fixed and her teeth cleaned. I'm a bit worried that she may never forgive me for dropping her off and allowing that to happen, but it's probably nothing a new toy couldn't fix (no pun intended).

Estella has a new love.
She's very taken with this keyboard. The best part seems to be that it plays a demo and she gets to dance along. She really is after her daddy's heart with her new keyboard obsession. You can practically see the pride in his face over her love of music!

I've been working on some more alien/bug Fritters. I may even manage a shop update at some point...or maybe not. Time will tell.

the artists and their work

If you can call us artists, that is...

My new desktop wallpaper...my artist and her master piece...

Which then moved on to the side table...

And just to prove I'm not a big liar...see, I have been working:

I'm fairly happy with them...it's always interesting to see how a new idea turns out.

Not much else has been going on around here. Walter continues to work all of the time and Estella and I try to entertain ourselves with out spending any money or going anywhere. We (and by "we", I mean "me") are in panic mode over the upcoming heating season. Our estimated winter heating bill is more than twice as much as last year! I guess us three ladies will be loading on the sweaters this winter!! I hate stressing about money, but it just seems to be one of those things that begs you to stress over it...however, it's only July, so I'll try to put the stress aside for another month or so.

On a brighter note, we actually had some family time today...we went to the Stowe Street Art Festival in Waterbury and walked around. Estella got a little painting for her room of a little pink elephant by Jess Graham . It's very cute, and besides, how could we refuse when she wouldn't stop making the elephant noise!? Then we went to the Waitsfield farmers market for lunch and hung out with some friends. We were very much like a normal family...too bad it's so rare! I guess it's all about enjoying the time when you do have it, right?

wish I had a good excuse

I wish I had a good excuse for my blogging absence...unfortunately it's because we've been sick! And I mean really sick! All three of us managed to get sick last week and it continues to linger this week, however, we are on our way back to healthiness!

Last week before the sickness attacked Walter and Estella, they went for a little hike in the woods...very cute. As I'm typing this, she's looking at the picture yelling, "daddydaddydaddydaddy..." Daddy is her new favorite person...every time she sees anything of his..."daddydaddydaddydaddy..." I guess that's what Daddy's are all about, especially for little girls!

I have found a site that goes quite nicely with my new obsession over Estella's food. I Love Obento is right up my alley and I intend to humiliate my child by packing her healthy, colorful lunches (when she goes to school) but for now I will continue to keep her plates pretty and colorful until she's old enough for a Bento box! At least in the Obento world there are lots of other moms that are equally as obsessed with their children's lunches...I'm in good company.

Walter has already informed me that he will not be asking me to make his lunches for him...especially if they involve shaped rice balls and fruit animals. I tried to convince him that the laptop lunches would be manly enough but I don't think he's going to go for it.

So, if any of you out there live near a Japantown (or maybe a Chinatown)and want to feed my obsession, Bento boxes and accessories would be the coolest present ever!!

As far as other craftiness...I'm trying a new pattern out...I'll post on that as soon as I'm done.

FYI

Just wanted to let you all know that you can now leave comments if you'd like! I finally realized that I had my settings all wrong...I'm a big stupid dummy head!

For those of you new to the blog world...click on the "comments" link at the bottom of the post and leave a message...happy commenting!

confessions of a compacting mama

Confession time...we're done with our compact! I'm happy to report that we did very well. Besides for items listed in my exemptions, we only had two mess ups (three if you agree with my brother, but I'll get to that later).
Walter bought a croquet set. We searched for a used set. I went to thrift stores, yard sales, used sporting goods stores...no luck. We purposely bought a nice set so that we'll be able to use it for many years. I know it's a mess up but it was a well thought out purchase which we've already gotten a ton of use out of. The second mess up was a set of sand tools for Estella. We purchased a set with a shovel, rake and hoe and she loves to play with it! She used it every day at the beach and now it's in her new sandbox. I feel that she'll be able to use it at least for a couple of summers. I was however able to find her a set of used sand pails...

The third mess up, if you agree with Mark, is that I upgraded our dish package, so that we can now obsessively watch Planet Green. I do realize that it was a purchase of something new, but I feel that it doesn't count because it's more of a service, not a new possession, and it doesn't creat any more waste...you be the judge.

That's it! We did really well. We've also decided to continue on the same path. We will continue to shop used, make presents, and cut down on our buying. We most likely will buy new items again but we're going to put a lot of thought into our purchases and buy quality items that will last longer, even if it means spending a bit more.


As promised, pics of my most recent Fritters! This is Little Red and Big Bad.
I'm super pleased with how they came out...they were a ton of work but the end product was well worth it, don't you think? I'm hoping to get them in the shop, along with the Fritter Family, tonight after Estella goes to bed. If not tonight, hopefully Monday! Check out all the pics in the link...and I hope you love 'em as much as I do.

Happy 4th of July!

more balance

I've received some positive feedback about Estella's last dinner, so I'm presenting you with today's lunch and dinner.

I guess my meals aren't so bad...she definitely eats better than I do! Oh and yes, it's always the same plate...plain, sectional and unbreakable

Walter in his uniform on his first day of work. Very spiffy, don't you think! He's awaiting his temporary license and then he's all set to start working for real.

Today we had a little family time and built Estella a sandbox!

I saw a sandbox in Domino and really liked the idea. I planned out a slightly smaller one for Estella and she's officially in love. We even put the casters on it so (in the future when we have an amazing deck system like in the magazine) we can push it around. We also added a top so that the neighborhood cats don't treat it like a giant litter box! It really came out well and we're all happy with the project...it did however turn into the most expensive sandbox in history(don't ask!).

I know I've been neglecting the Fritter side of things lately but I'm slowly chugging along. My latest brilliant idea got off to a not so brilliant start but I've pulled it back on track and I'm psyched about the half I've finished...it's a work in progress though so I'm not going to show pics until it's done.

I don't have time tonight but I intend to post soon about our two month compact which is officially over. I'll let you all know how we managed and if we faltered at all. Check back soon!