Dreamland

Two new stamps in the shop.

I've updated two of the business stamps in the shop:

Business 1-line Stamp

Business 2-line Stamp

Happy Blogiversary!

Free shipping today at lettergirl, to celebrate my 4th blogiversary.  Use code HAPPY when you check out.  Four years, 676 posts, and so many new friends...thank you for sticking with me!

New in the shop.

Meet Colette.  She's new this week at lettergirl and available in both self-inking and red rubber.  She adds a little something extra to your everyday tasks with a whimsical combination of upper and lowercase letters.  At this rate, I may just get those new quotations listed tomorrow!  (If I'm not exhausted from the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games, that is....)

Catching up. And smiling.

All week I've been missing my blog, but also knowing that it would be nearly impossible to write without whining.  It's been that kind of week.  So here are a few things that have made me smile:

*Over this holiday season, I will have made close to 400 stamps.  As I'm writing them, I can't help but imagine how the stamp will be used, how the recipient's eyes will light up.  And nothing beats seeing the husband using the stamp.  Thanks for sharing this photo, Kim (and all the way from Portugal!).

*Feedback on etsy:  Gina (lettergirl) is the best! I gave her LENGTHY and undoubtedly annoying instructions for a custom wedding stamp and she nailed it on the first try (which I then had her change a few times because I couldn't make up my mind and she was super nice about it). Would recommend (and have) to anyone!  Thank you, Maryann!

*Finishing holiday card orders for Teresa, Karen, Katie, Kris and Natalie.  Hoping to share some of those next week....

*Online shopping:

 

Holiday shopping.

Print from designbirdie

Skincare by Anna Dvorak

Zipper pouch by MontclairMade

New Alabama Chanin tableware by Heath Ceramics

Log Cabin Tote by 464Handmade

Hello Washington!

In today's Washington Post.

Winners.

With 33 responses to this week's giveaway, I thought it would be fitting to draw 3 winners instead of 2:

Madelia:

WOW! I would love to win oe of these qoute packets. My favorite fall food is Arroz con pollo caldo (chicken and rice soup. It makes you feel all warm and cozy.

Erin:

My favourite fall food is soup. All kinds of soup. But especially butternut squash. Or leek & potato. Mmmmm....

Lanie:

I love absolutely anything with pumpkin in it, but my favorite is pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! :)

Winners, please send me your mailing address:  lettergirl66 {at} gmail {dot} com.

I wish I could send a card to each of you!  So many yummy fall foods:  soups, stews, chili, apples, sweet potatoes, squash. I am always looking for new recipes so feel free to share!  Here is one I posted a few years ago that I still love at this time of year:  Baked Risotto with Butternut Squash and Prosciutto.

Next week I am looking forward to sharing some books that have inspired me lately, and a few more pages from my A to Z journal.  (I'm in the home stretch!)

New: 2012 Calendar.

New in the shop:  a handlettered desktop calendar for 2012!  Each 4x6 card features a quotation embellished by hand with watercolor and/or glitter.  And when the  month is over, you can reuse the card:  send it as a postcard, trim it down to fit a square frame, or attach it to a handmade greeting card or scrapbook page.  I've made a limited run of 50 and will be selling them this weekend at Rachel's Holiday Boutique...when they're gone, they're gone.  I hope I remember to save one for my own desk!

Two upcoming events.

I'd like to share a couple of local events that are just around the corner.

On Saturday,October 29th, I'll be hosting a free Stitching Bee at Sewtropolis in south Minneapolis, from 9:30-11:30.  You can see some of my stitching projects in person, and pick up a kit ($5) to sew your own reverse applique scarf. 

On Saturday, November 12th, I'll be a vendor at Rachel's Holiday Boutique, also in south Minneapolis, from 10am to 4pm.

All the sales at this event benefit the Michelle Project.  I'm keeping my eye on a headband from Urban Halo and some organic skincare from the lovely Anna Dvorak.  I'm super excited to be in the company of so many amazing women.  Last year we had a whopper of an early-season snowstorm on the day of the sale, so I hope to see twice as many of you this year!

A to Z + new stamps in the shop.

My creative habit:  Creative projects always seem to me like a balancing act between a rut and a groove.  I hesitated with creating this A to Z project as more of a traditional scrapbook (with photos) or an all-out art journal with something different on every page.  I found the balance by trying out several ideas and ultimately going with what felt right.  (This looks like me.) 

With my stitching projects of the last few years, I was starting to feel like I was in a rut, like my work was derivative of Alabama Chanin to the point that my own unique vision was getting buried.  At the same time, I felt like I was in a groove, that hand-stitching was the perfect technique for me.  Over the summer I tried a number of other techniques and in the end, I missed the hand-stitching.  So here I am, diligently trying to make my hand-stitched pieces my own, trying to achieve a balance between a rut and a groove by staying true to myself.

Yesterday I added a few stamps to the shop, including two holiday favorites from last year:

Holiday Birds

Holiday Vine

Snowflake Monogram

Stars

Jen