yesterdaydream

New In The Shop

2012-01-24T13:21:00.001-05:00

Added today! Two new Slithery Snakes. They feature bright, contrasting colors and safety eyes. They are ready to ship and safe for children of all ages.

New In The Shop

2011-12-14T11:04:00.004-05:00

I'm making a few more of these in different styles, but these are my first and I couldn't wait to show you! If you'd like a better look, please check them out here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88657561/needle-felted-flower-sprout-in-ceramic and here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88681496/needle-felted-cactus-in-ceramic-pot - they're pretty adorable!

Lovelies

2011-12-05T09:25:00.004-05:00

PegandAwl

andiespecialtysweets

estatehound

I remember growing up, my father would play the accordian most nights and I'd fall asleep to those gentle songs he'd fill the house with for hours at a time. Back then, I never knew how much I'd miss those times but think of them each time I see a lovely accordian. They always remind me of being a little girl and special times.

Above are some of my most recent favorites. Please take a moment in your holiday season this year to find some original items for gifts. Using reclaimed, vintage and handmade items is a great way to do so.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T21:01:00.003-05:00

Perfect French Toast

2011-11-06T12:15:00.003-05:00

PERFECT FRENCH TOAST

INGREDIENTS:

1 loaf challah bread (sliced)
4 eggs (beaten)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup orange juice
1 pat butter

In a mixing bowl, blend eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and orange juice.

In a large skillet or griddle, melt butter on medium heat. Gently dip both sides of each slice of bread and let excess egg mixture drip off. Place onto heated skillet and let cook until each side is toasted until crispy and brown. Transfer the French toast to a platter and serve.

This dish can be served with your favorite syrup, fruit salad or with eggs. It's perfect for breakfast or brunch.

SERVES: 4

enjoy, Christa

A Sky Full of Kindness

2011-11-03T14:04:00.002-04:00

"We're all the same people we were when we were children, we're just bigger and pretend that we're not." -Rob Ryan

Handmade Portraits: Rob Ryan from Etsy on Vimeo.

What could be a greater way to celebrate the world than acknowledging the beauty in the everyday?
Read the full Etsy blog post here: http://etsy.me/handmadeportraitsrobryan

I just adore his work and if you have a chance to check out his site, you can find it by clicking here: Rob Ryan

Fresh Off The Needles

2011-11-02T10:58:00.003-04:00

I've been lucky enough to be so busy with several custom orders. I made the above cowl by double-knitting this piece for Juliana. She mentioned she has an eggplant-colored coat and wanted this golden color to 'pop' against it. By double-knitting this, it gave the cowl a perfect weight and warmth. I'm so pleased she loves it so much. She has recently ordered a hat to match and I'll be making that later this week.

Karen ordered the Mistress Cowl in matte black and I'm very happy with the way it came out. She actually loved it so much, she ordered a second one for her niece! This piece is super soft and extremely vampy. It is meant to show a bit of the neck and you can wear it with the opening slightly to the side or in the front and the collar can be placed up or down for a dramatic effect.

...and just like that, Fall is here!

2011-10-08T14:15:00.001-04:00

It's been great to be back at home but it's amazing how after being away for a short time, there are so many changes noticed almost instantly after my return. The leaves are fading, the ground is damp and there has been a chill in the air. Just last night, I witnessed birds flying South! Beautiful as it may be, I'm not sure how ready I am to say goodbye to the gardens. In fact, they are in need of some care but the zinnias, marigolds and basil are still going pretty strong. I suppose harvesting the pumpkins should have been a queue: clean up the gardens and move on, get ready for the Fall Craft shows and hunker down, put on a scarf and have fun, enjoy the cool and bake something!

I've also started harvesting acorn tops. My pin oak in the front yard is producing substandard tops, so I find myself walking the dogs and collecting them from local woods. They're larger and prettier. There are a few scarves in the process of being knit and it's been fun choosing colors and fibers to make each of them special. I've been felting pincushions and keeping busy with a few special orders.

What is it like near you? Has Fall found you yet?

Ho-omeward Bound

2011-09-23T16:35:00.001-04:00

I'm currently in flight over the Rocky Mountains, on my way home. I've been in motion for over a week now, traveling to Seattle to visit my brother Sam. In addition to seeing him and seeing the sites in Seattle, we decided to take a 15+ hour drive to Oakland/San Francisco via Route 5 to meet Megan. She was the best hostess and gave me a fine tour of the entire Bay Area. Her sunny disposition is extremely contagious and it was nice to watch the interactions of their budding relationship. It's always nice to see people you care for so happy. I should also mention her giving us the most delicious granola and homemade pop tarts for our ride back! If you've never tasted either of them, you should order some now by going here: MargeBakery.com

The trip has been wonderful all-around and I feel I've experienced more than most people in the length of time I've been out west. Besides the much needed vacation and time with one of my favorite brothers, I've seen the Space Needle (from below as I'm terribly afraid of heights), Volunteer Park and its beautiful Conservatory, the Cobain house, Bruce Lee's grave, the Seattle Public Library, Public Market, Delancey, Skillet, May Thai, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Golden Gardens park, Elliott Bay Book Company, the first Starbucks, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Homeroom, Mount Shasta, Mount Hood, Portland, Stumptown Coffee, and more if you can believe that!

I cannot wait to get home to my Bruce and my pugs (Quasi & Lola).

Taking a trip...

2011-09-07T10:21:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! Starting tomorrow, the shop will be on vacation until September 26th. If there was something you have your heart set on, you may want to claim it now. Your order will ship ASAP.

I'll be in Seattle visiting my little brother Sam for a very much needed vacation but will be updating my blog during this time. We always have fun and it's going to be great to see his side of the world. I'm looking forward to being in the Northwest and experiencing all it has to offer; it's all so exciting!

We've been getting ready for our Fall shows, making new hats, creatures and tons of fingerless mitts in many colors. They're perfect for texting and a busy life while keeping you toasty.

See you soon!

Fall Is Around The Corner!

2011-08-24T11:59:00.001-04:00

Starting to gear up for Fall and the colors it will bring. We're planning several local craft shows during this time and will be posting the dates on facebook soon. If you're not a facebook-er and prefer to sign up for our rare email updates, that is awesome too. We have been working on bringing you new creatures, dolls, hats, fingerless mitts and more and are excited to see you at these events.

At The Farmer's Market

2011-08-21T10:53:00.000-04:00

We went to our local Farmer's Market today to see what's out there and mostly just to walk it. It's fun listening to the different people, music and comments people make in this type of place. At one point, we went from hearing Lady GaGa to The Bobbettes. One guy went walking away singing "...Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee...." In these places, I love people the most. Everyone is looking for a deal and bargain; it's raw and true.

I was hoping to find fabric or something useful or special enough to give new life to. In the end, I walked out with two sets of vintage knitting needles, an old blue Ball jar, some doilies and a skirt. That will have to do.

Do you know of a great market where there is old (or new) textiles or fabrics? Where do you like to go?

New In The Shop

2011-08-19T14:42:00.001-04:00

There are several sets of Eco Spa Scrubbies in the shop! Most people ask "What are they for?" and I'm pleased to explain:

Everyone washes their face and these are perfect for anyone. Use them instead of cotton balls for makeup removal, for acne scrubs, lathering soap or face creams.

-provide natural gentle exfoliation
-perfect for makeup removable
-machine washable
-reusable
-eco-friendly

They will arrive to you bound as shown with a tag, making them perfect for for giving as a personal gift for any college student, new mom, bridal shower, cosmetic party favor, camper, vegan, stocking-stuffers, etc. -you can even get a set for yourself!

Summer Lovin'

2011-08-11T10:37:00.001-04:00

This summer has been hot and this summer has been long. Oh, wait. It's only half over so far and this is a good thing because I have a ton of knitting to do.

The last week has been perfect as far as figuring out which gifts I'll be knitting for my loved ones and I've been lucky enough to be keeping busy with custom orders too. It's also been perfect for designing some new and exciting pieces for the fall shows and we're starting to get those set up. I'll be posting dates soon on the facebook page and the site.

My garden has been growing in leaps and bounds and at this point, it's hardly containable. Turns out the cucumber seeds ordered from burpee were packaged incorrectly and where I planned cucumbers, there is the most beautiful pumpkin vine curlicue-ing around almost everything. In the morning, there are gorgeous huge yellow star-shaped flowers blanketing the large leaves.

If all of these bloom, everyone I know will receive pumpkins this year! It's the first time I've ever grown pumpkins. My garden is not very large and I usually plant bush cucumbers and bush beans to consolidate my space. These may even choke out my peppers and it's grown out of the garden and across the lawn too.

The tomatoes are doing well! These are from this morning and I have to go back out later to finish picking. I used some last night to make a fresh bruschetta-style salad to toss into cheese tortellini. Is there anything better than fresh tomatoes? Yes, possibly the fresh basil. Mixing the two together is delicious!

Lovelies

2011-07-20T07:23:00.002-04:00

earthseawarrior

mwest0425

andiespecialtysweets

These are a few of my most recent favorites. They can all be found on etsy and the links are below each image. Please take a moment and check out their lovely shops. Thanks for supporting handmade.

New In The Shop

2011-07-12T20:11:00.002-04:00

Meet Timony! He's a sweet mouse whose favorite color is yellow. He comes with his own mini denim messenger bag and scarf. The scarf does fold up and fit into the bag for easy traveling and his bag has a vintage brass button. He prefers his scarf on so he has space in his bag to collect lentils.

I had to take a break from knitting for the day and decided to switch gears a bit. A little while later, this little guy was born. His little bag and scarf were the perfect finishing touches and made him seem complete.

For more information, please click here.

*UPDATE* Timony has moved to Australia :)

ravelry

2011-07-09T21:31:00.002-04:00

Slate did a really interesting article about why facebook can't match ravelry, the social network for knitters and crocheters alike. I've been using ravelry for several years now and never truly knew about Casey and Jessica Forbes. As it turns out, they're a married couple from Boston who work as a team with only two other people to run the site. They rely heavily on volunteer editors and a strict code of etiquette from its users. I thought it was an interesting read and maybe you'll enjoy it too. My ravelry handle is yesterdaydream so say hello if you stop by, okay?

(via)

Morning Blackberries

2011-07-07T07:26:00.000-04:00

Good morning! My blackberries have been taking their sweet time this summer and they're finally beginning to ripen. It's great to be able to walk out back and grab a few fresh berries to enjoy with my breakfast. What is difficult to show you here with this photo is their size; each berry is approximately 2 inches across!

Do you have a great recipe including blackberries?

On The Needles...

2011-07-05T19:07:00.001-04:00

Today was perfect for focusing on this slouchy hat I'm making for my friend Amy. It's made using Knit Pick's Dishie cotton yarn and coming along pretty nicely. It's perfect for those late nights at the lake or beach where you want to just throw a hat on and go. She chose the color of coffee and I think it will look fantastic on her.

Fregley

2011-07-05T14:09:00.000-04:00

I can finally share Fregley with you! He was made especially for my partner Haley (The Zen of Making) and created entirely of cotton. He was my first creature to feature a cable running up his left side. I can imagine this technique being used in a few different ways and I'm already putting it to use on a new little monster in the studio now. I'm so pleased he made her happy and I know he excited to learn he was moving to Brooklyn.

Thanks again to the Handmade Gift Exchange sponsored by Craftaholics Anonymous.

Handmade Gift Exchange - Sunflower Brooch from Haley!

2011-07-05T13:45:00.000-04:00

My last post before this included a photo of a sunflower in my garden and then I received this lovely sunflower brooch from Haley at The Zen of Making blog! Thank you Haley for somehow reading my mind and making me such a perfect and beautiful gift. How much fun is this? I can pin it to my bag or a cardigan. Rarely, do I spend time to make things for myself. Haley's site is quickly becoming one of those where there is always something refreshing and fun waiting to enchant you.

A special "thank you" to Linda at Craftaholics Anonymous for organizing the entire Handmade Gift Exchange and making it so fun and inspiring! Not only do I have a super creative new friend, but I'm looking forward to next year's exchange too.

Fantasia Sunflower

2011-06-30T17:03:00.001-04:00

Today was the perfect day for finishing up what felt like a million tiny things. It was exciting to mail out my gift for the Handmade Gift Exchange and the anticipation of having it be received is making me anxious. Nothing like waiting until the very last minute to get it shipped. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone sent and received too! Mostly, I hope it's loved.

After that, took some time in the garden. Sure, it needs to be weeded and the tomatoes need to be guided through the cages a bit, but when you step back and realize it's all you and your work that made such beautiful things flourish, it's pretty rewarding. This week will be perfect for drying some thyme and oregano.

I hope you have a lovely Independence Day weekend. I'm looking forward to friends/family, watermelon, fireflies and fireworks. What are you looking forward to?

Hollyhocks!

2011-06-09T15:11:00.002-04:00

Each year the hollyhocks multiply and multiply in the garden outside my bedroom window. I find them so lovely and beautiful in the way they open one by one. Early in the Spring, I staggered the way they're planted to space them nicely and give them enough space to delight me for years to come. Maybe I should find another color to mix within? Any suggestions?

Handmade Gift Exchange

2011-06-07T17:32:00.001-04:00

After hearing about it via Liz Noonan a few days ago, I signed up to participate in Craftaholics anonymous' Handmade Gift Exchange. It's my first time participating in it and I've been paired up with Haley who is the brains behind The Zen of Making blog. It's twice as lovely to be partnered up with someone so inspiring and creative and I'm looking forward to surprising her.

Baby Driver

2011-05-28T19:04:00.002-04:00

As I felt them surround us with their sweet gentle faces, I realized summer is here and look forward to seeing them again soon. I was thrilled to share them with my nephew. His excitement mirrored my own.

Solar Sewing

2011-05-19T08:20:00.000-04:00

I found this video via etsy and thought it was pretty cool. I've recently purchased the Doodle-Stitching book and envy the technique. Artist P.Nosa is behind this video and there are many videos on his site. Have a look and tell me what you think.

Poppied

2011-05-13T17:58:00.000-04:00

I nurture my poppy plant all year long. It's growing larger and larger each year and blooms more and more too. The flowers now reach my waist and though I've tried unsuccessfully to start another from this beauty, I've not had luck. I'm still happy with this one Jurassic sized specimen.

I find the poppy to be stunning and showy. I hope to make some progress this weekend with the gathering of old things for a yard sale I've been procrastinating with, but I wanted to share these photos with you and wish you a lovely weekend. What are you doing for fun today? What are your wishes for the upcoming summer?

New In The Shop

2011-05-04T14:19:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to share with you new of the new monsters in the shop. Above is Verdasco and below is Sheena. They're both pretty cool, but Sheena insists she is cooler. Verdasco enjoys playing tennis and eating biscuits.

Rainy Day

2011-05-04T13:59:00.000-04:00

Happy to see the pines and evergreens start their new growth. I believe we all have some room for it.

Got Owls?

2011-04-30T19:23:00.001-04:00

There are a few owls in the shop right now! They are perfectly stitched and looking for new homes. They are a hoot to have around and each has huge safety eyes too! Do you know someone who would love to have one? Have a look here.

Alexa Meade

2011-04-13T19:42:00.000-04:00

Alexa Meade uses acrylic paint applied directly onto her subjects. Sometimes, she also paints an entire vignette around them, making your perception of the real and painted blurry. She is a 24-year-old artist from Washington, D.C. who compresses a 3D concept into a 2D plane. I am in awe and amazed by her work. It's bright and bold!

(via)

Our First Spring Show!

2011-04-10T15:01:00.000-04:00

Reminder!
We will be at the Spring Craft Show & Bake Sale in Florence, NJ. There will be many vendors showcased and we're pleased to be one of them. The show will be held April 16th between 9am and 3pm and there will be refreshments sold, egg decorating (plastic eggs & stickers) and the Easter Bunny will be making an appearance too!

We are all ready for Spring and are proud to introduce some new items such as dolls, creatures, gift sets, purses, egg-shaped bags and much more. Hope to see you there and we'd love for you stop stop in and say hello.

The address of this event is: American Legion Post 194, Broad & 6th Streets, Florence, NJ 08518 and if further information is needed, please email Christa.

Also, we are on facebook and twitter where you can keep in touch as well as see our new items (we post special discounts there too).

Springing Ahead!

2011-04-04T22:53:00.001-04:00

I can't help but to be excited about Spring being here. My seedlings are inches high, my gardens are in the process of being cleaned up and I even noticed my little robin coming home to check out her empty nest. I posted some photos of her beautiful blue eggs last year. Inspired by her and also by having the honor of watching her tiny fledglings take off each year, I've created a small nest with removable eggs. It's in the shop and I plan on making a few more of these for the shop in the next week, so check back.

What inspires you most in the Spring?

New In The Shop

2011-03-21T10:21:00.000-04:00

I was inspired to make a needle felted monster for my little niece who just turned seven. She will love him so much (he's the purple guy on the right). During the process of creating him from a puff of wool, I fell in love with the technique and created a few more. Murray is the guy on the left with the three eyes and three legs. Vitelli is the blue guy and those are his records which fit into a pocket on his back. George is the red orange guy holding a purple flower.

Each of these little colorful characters stands between 6-7 inches tall and can be found in the shop.

Inside Out

2011-03-08T13:14:00.000-05:00

"I wish for you to stand up for what you care about by participating in a global art project, and together we'll turn the world...INSIDE OUT." -JR

Can art change the world? Yes! Have a look at the 2011 TED Prize winner's wish here:

from TED.com:

Working anonymously, pasting his giant images on buildings, trains, bridges, the often-guerrilla artist JR forces us to see each other. Traveling to distant, often dangerous places -- the slums of Kenya, the favelas of Brazil -- he infiltrates communities, befriending inhabitants and recruiting them as models and collaborators. He gets in his subjects’ faces with a 28mm wide-angle lens, resulting in portraits that are unguarded, funny, soulful, real, that capture the spirits of individuals who normally go unseen. The blown-up images pasted on urban surfaces – the sides of buildings, bridges, trains, buses, on rooftops -- confront and engage audiences where they least expect it. Images of Parisian thugs are pasted up in bourgeois neighborhoods; photos of Israelis and Palestinians are posted together on both sides of the walls that separate them.

JR's most recent project, "Women Are Heroes," depicts women "dealing with the effects of war, poverty, violence, and oppression” from Rio de Janeiro, Phnom Penh, Delhi and several African cities. And his TED Prize wish opens an even wider lens on the world -- asking us all to turn the world inside out. Visit insideoutproject.net ...

"I would like to bring art to improbable places, create projects so huge with the community that they are forced to ask themselves questions."

JR, Beaux Arts Magazine

Matthew Cusick

2011-03-06T13:53:00.000-05:00

Matthew Cusick was born in New York City in 1970 and graduated from The Cooper Union with a BFA in 1993. His work has been exhibited internationally since 1996.

Cusick lets his work be guided by his various materials: maps, atlases, encyclopedias and school textbooks. “I like to catalog, archive, and arrange information and then dismantle, manipulate, and reconfigure it. I use maps as a surrogate for paint and as a way to expand the limits of representational painting. Through a process of cutting up and reassembling fragments of maps from different places and times, I am attempting a more complete representation of an existence, one that incorporates the geographical and historical timelines of that existence within the matrix of its image.”

lil fish studios

2011-03-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

Look what the mail brought today! 2lb of unsorted vintage buttons from lil fish studios. She's had give-aways and listed these bags before, but they were always sold out by the time I got to them. This time, when I saw her post on twitter, I jumped at the chance and I'm not disappointed in the least. There are some real beauties here. I am full of ideas and excited to create things just for certain buttons. If you have a moment to check out her etsy shop, please do.. She does fine work and ships quickly too.

The Boxy Lady

2011-02-24T10:45:00.001-05:00

The Boxy Lady is one of four structures Derek Diedricksen built on the property of his Stoughton, MA home. It's extremely small, portable and can possibly be used to help the homeless. Each is mostly made from scavenged materials such as pallets, discarded kitchen cabinets, storm windows, etc. and cost less than $200 on average.

via

Shhhh, I'm pretending it's Spring.

2011-02-24T10:10:00.000-05:00

Knit For Needs

2011-02-22T07:41:00.000-05:00

There are so many blogs, but not as many doing such a fine job as Knit For Needs.

They collect more than just knitwear! If you'd prefer to crochet something, that is welcomed too! They collect and donate any and all hand knit/crochet items directly to people in need across the U.S.

From their site:

"Blankets, hats, mittens, scarves, socks, slippers, toys... anything you'd like to donate, even if it is just one item, would be much appreciated by someone in need! If you do not knit/crochet and would like to support our cause, we will accept yarn and monetary donations that would be used to make more items to donate as well as for shipping costs."

Just this past December, when Atlanta, GA was bombarded by storms, the founder and her daughter personally handed out hats, mittens and scarves via Rescue Atlanta. There is a facebook group dedicated to this wonderful cause here. For the address and other information, please be sure to check out the Knit For Needs blog.

I'm starting a hat for them today!

Be Linen

2011-02-19T13:27:00.000-05:00

I've been falling more and more in love with linen lately. The way it falls, the softness and the beauty of linen stuns me. I found this lovely short film about linen and wanted to share it with you.

Esther Hörchner

2011-02-12T10:45:00.001-05:00

Esther Hörchner is an illustrator who has created a tea set with a sense of humor titled Naked Girls Tea Set. I love that the lady in the cup has left her underwear and shoes on the spoon and saucer. Wonderful stuff by Esther Hörchner who by the way is a fabulous illustrator, more of that on her website here. Imagine the conversations this set would start!

Meemer!

2011-02-08T23:17:00.000-05:00

Meet Meemer. He listens to your secrets and never speaks a word. His soft red body is so squishy and flops when tossed upon a chair. He is super special and I can't wait for him to find a great home. Hopefully, he'll find someone who loves him as much as I do.

He was also featured last month in my Underneath it All post. He was the one with the purple heart carefully stitched below his hand knit skin. His over-sized blue eyes make him really hard to resist.

New In The Shop

2011-02-03T21:26:00.000-05:00

Randolph is a Piney. He enjoys strolls through the Pine Barrens. He collects moss and pine cones when no one is looking and appreciates the beauty of the woods.

He loves to cuddle and keeps warm with the handknit sweater I made custom for him from merino wool. Randolph stands at 11 inches, making him perfect for smaller hands. He is entirely handstitched from a repurposed wool, cashmere and angora blend. His features are stitched with cotton thread.

Never Before

2011-01-23T14:39:00.001-05:00

Never before have I seen a miniature orchid until last week. All of a sudden, I had to have it.

Sure I've had several orchids. They always look healthy and then it happens. The first leaf drops, then the second and so on. I water/lightly feed them once per month and spritz them with water and supply them carefully with filtered light. Simply put, they hate me and I'm not sure why. I nurture them and tell them how beautiful they are. Some have even never bloomed again, but seem to be happy, growing new leaves.

All this talk about orchids is making me want to watch Adaptation again. If only I could master the keeping of these delicate beauties. I know several people who have given up on them and I have an adopted one here now. This little miniature orchid amazes me and I'm going to carefully primp and try my best to keep it happy and healthy. If you have any advice on the care of orchids, I'd welcome it.

Nestrest

2011-01-17T17:32:00.000-05:00

I need one of these! They look so relaxing and inviting. Can you imagine an afternoon nap in one of these? They're designed by Daniel Pouzet and Fred Frety for DEDON. Well done!

Underneath it All

2011-01-17T13:57:00.001-05:00

If you ever wonder what is on the inside of my dolls/creatures, besides time and love, I can assure you each of them has a hand-stitched cotton tubing inside. It takes time, but I want to make sure my creations are super durable and hold up to play and your little one's curiosity. These two new dolls even have little hearts. No one will ever see that, but it's there, lovingly sewn underneath it all.

Ai Weiwei, Artist

2011-01-12T20:39:00.002-05:00

The Chinese Government has destroyed the studio of Ai Weiwei, a protean artist who is one of the most outspoken critics of the Chinese Communist Party. Even though he said officials told him that the demolition would not take place until after the first day of the Year of the Rabbit (which falls on February 3rd) he was shocked to discover that workers had begun knocking it down today.

Sad news. They also knocked down a neighboring studio he had designed for a friend. Mr. Ai's studio was to be used as an education center and a site for artists in residence.

Weiwei compares the seeds in his current installation at the Tate Modern to Twitter "...a vast sea of ideas and communication contributed by individual people." Weiwei had the seeds made in the southern Chinese city of Jingdezhen. Each of the 100 million seeds was molded, fired, and painted with three or four individual brush strokes, often by women taking the objects home to work on them. One thousand six hundred people were involved in the process.

Although the installation was intended to be interactive and in the fist few days of the show people were allowed to walk on them and pick up the seeds, this has resulted in the release of dust from the individual "grains" rubbing together. The dust could "be damaging to health following repeated inhalation over a long period of time." Visitors are now limited to looking at the installation from behind a barrier and they are not happy. I personally would assume the entire 'feeling of the installation would be pointless without having the interaction with the piece.

New In The Shop

2011-01-11T12:47:00.000-05:00

I listed this sweet pair of baby mittens in the shop today. They keep selling out and I'm trying to keep up. Each pair is different and the colors are so bright and happy.

New In The Shop

2011-01-06T12:53:00.000-05:00

This super sweet pair of fingerless mitts were created from a vintage wool sweater and now have a new useful life ahead. I love the shade of green and the hand stitched flowers really give them a lovely touch. More photos and info is here.

Goodbye Sam

2010-12-31T12:59:00.001-05:00

I'm happy we were able to spend some much needed family time together before he had to travel north to reunite with his newest loved one. The late night board games were memorable and I'm already looking forward to my trip out west.

To You and Yours...

2010-12-23T13:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays!

Baby Mittens

2010-12-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

I've been knitting up some baby mittens, both for the shop and also some custom pairs. They're made from superwash merino, which makes them machine washable and super convenient. I plan on making more during and after the Christmas holiday and will definitely be adding more soon. They're stripy, super adorable, soft and made especially to keep the tiniest hands warm with style.

I should also mention my facebook page here too. I'm not sure I have, but there is one for yesterdaydream and it's a nice way to here from you and also for us to keep up with each other. Please say hello if you stop in because I'd love that.

My Most Recent Creations

2010-12-14T14:51:00.001-05:00

They're cousins and they were custom orders for a friends' nieces. Both Sharon (pink) and Lucinda (purple) come with their matching companion pocket dolls. I had so much fun creating each of them and trying hard to make them coordinate in some ways while giving each of them some individualized touches so they'll have some spunk too. What do you think?

It's A Start

2010-12-04T18:57:00.000-05:00

Still getting setup for the Christmas holiday here. It's too easy to feel overwhelmed and I'm trying to keep it all together. So much to do and so little time.

Julia Randall

2010-11-28T22:08:00.001-05:00

Decoy 1

Lick Line 20

Bubblehead

Julia Randall is a Connecticut-based artist whose drawings are actually accumulations of many fine layers of color upon color with the white of the paper showing through, which creates the dimensionality. Each of the above pieces are colored pencil on paper. The mouths are isolated within the space and make the viewer feel voyeuristic while allowing our brains to make unconscious assumptions about what we see.

Have you seen this?

2010-11-18T23:44:00.000-05:00

Fitzsu is offering made to order Poultry Domes for both chicken or turkey. A new, untypical glass collection designed by Fabrica for Secondome.

Objects used in the past, such as cake or roast covers, are reinvented in both their use and their shape. The past and the future blend in these innovatively-shaped creations: the future lies in the ideas and sketches of Fabrica’s young designers, while the past is represented both by the choice of the material (glass) and by relying on the art of skilled glass-makers. The piece above was designed by Ben Cabelli (Israel). A collection revisiting daily use objects in an ironic and unconventional way and transforming them into top design pieces.

No Place To Fall

2010-11-15T10:15:00.001-05:00

Lately, I've been so busy with the shop and the recent shows. No matter how hard I've tried to switch gears and focus more on the clay and sculptures, there is some drying time with that and I find myself diving back into my vast collection of fibrous materials. In the end, I'm trying to push away the scattered feeling and to help do that, I've been listening to this and maybe you'll enjoy it too.

Fall Colors

2010-11-06T11:15:00.002-04:00

We've been having some really beautiful days here in New Jersey. The chilly weather came on pretty quickly this year and everyone is saying how cold and crazy this upcoming Winter will be already. Personally, I'm looking forward to snow and having my little house filled with the smells of holiday baking and the sounds of music brought in by family who is mostly so far away. Sure I like birds chirping and warm days too, but the feeling the chill brings with it can be equally as comforting.

REcreate by Katie Thompson

2010-11-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

The inspiration behind Recreate was Katie Thompson's passion and flair for transforming the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Located in South Africa, Katie never works within established stylistic boundaries. She creates an eclectic combination of styles, materials and finishes; this skill highlights her passion and her ability to find the intrinsic beauty and new, hidden purpose in the old, discarded items she chooses for her pieces.

A hoarder of all things useless, impractical, broken, colorful and shiny; Katie’s designs show tell tale signs of her Dadaist leanings. By nature an extremely energetic, bubbly and creative individual, Katie’s energy filters through to her work and into her pieces and the lives of her clients.

Mehmet Ali Uysal

2010-10-29T11:17:00.001-04:00

This installation created by Mehmet Ali Uysal is displayed at the Chaudfontaine Park in Belgium. Thanks to my brother Sam for sharing this installation with me.

Lovelies

2010-10-27T18:59:00.001-04:00

lookinglasshouse

monkeysalwayslook

jlwoodturning

Some of the recent things I've fallen in love with. Maybe you will too.

The Devil Hat

2010-10-23T11:01:00.000-04:00

I've been making a few of these hats and will introduce them October 30th at our next craft fair. The show is at a local high school and their mascot is a devil. For more information, feel free to email me.

The Girlfriend Scarf

2010-10-19T08:05:00.001-04:00

Sophistication and classic design make this the perfect gift for your girlfriend (or yourself, I won't tell). The Girlfriend Scarf was created with a luscious textured shell pattern using a high end yarn in shades of pinks, taupe and sage green. It looks even more beautiful in person and makes a perfect gift because you don't have to worry about size with this piece. Find out more here.

Vintage Marguerite

2010-10-17T21:16:00.002-04:00

So, my lovely mother showed me the most beautiful hand crocheted bedspread made by my great grandmother who passed when I was a young girl. It is so detailed and weighs a ton. To imagine the time this piece took is simply daunting to me.

I looked for it on ravelry and learned the vintage pattern's name is Marguerite and although there are some people charging on other sites, I was able to find a pdf link to the entire Priscilla Crochet Book Bedspreads free (page 33). I believe the original book was 25 cents and published in 1914, though my grandmother would have created her's a bit later. The techniques shown in this book are brilliant and invaluable.

I'm happy my mother shared this piece with me as it has allowed me to know more about a women I barely remember and imagine the time and love she put into this wonderful piece. The bobbles and perfect stitching is most amazing.

What stories from long ago have been shared with you?

New In The Shop

2010-10-08T12:25:00.002-04:00

I've added a new hat to the shop and I'll make it especially for you in any size. See more about it here. It is even more adorable in person.

Undressing My Mother

2010-10-04T10:48:00.001-04:00

Undressing My Mother - My brother sent this to me this morning. It's so lovely and stirring he said. He's right.

Happy it's Fall

2010-09-27T10:22:00.000-04:00

Charlotte Mann

2010-09-27T08:39:00.001-04:00

Charlotte Mann's trompe l'oeil style walls and floors are an inspiration.

Charlotte is a British artist known for her wall drawings and drawn room installations. These densely detailed 1:1 scale drawings of rooms in rooms are invariably made with thick black marker pen on a white ground. The images above are from work she did in Milan, Italy at the Fontana shop. Her perspective is amazing.

How fantastic would this idea be for a backdrop pin a portrait?

A Look at Smithville

2010-09-26T15:49:00.006-04:00

This dollhouse opens in the front and was owned by the grandchildren of Hezekiah Smith. He had more than 40 patents for many different inventions and improvements. He also invented the Star Bicycle, seen below.

He was quite eccentric and provocative for his time and his life story is one of betrayal, love and fury. He trained his pet moose (above) to pull a cart and also had a small zoo on the property. His mansion is a lovely place to visit and the grounds surrounding the estate are breathtakingly beautiful. More information on Hezekiah Smith may be found here and here. I also have many other photos of the property in my flickr.

See Dot Run

2010-09-21T23:01:00.002-04:00

I'm not a fan of CGI and special effects that require them, but usually catch myself fascinated by old-school animation and good ol' camera trickery instead. Maybe that is why I love this little (literally) stop-motion animation and should also mention "Dot" broke the Guinness World Record for Smallest stop-motion animation character in a film.

Dot wakes up in a world that seems to be unraveling. Fleeing an encroaching wave of loose threads, Dot, a girl who is just 9 millimeters tall, runs across coins, pins, nuts and bolts and jumps on a bumblebee to fly away. Finally she saves herself by knitting the threads into a sleeping bag.

Mountain Man

2010-09-17T12:39:00.001-04:00

I fell instantly in love with Mountain Man's Song "How'm I Doin'" a few days ago while listening to this mix. Today, I found their site and the video above. I hope you fall too.

Damien Jurado

2010-09-13T10:45:00.004-04:00

There is a site aptly named The Canal Sessions and it is a project by producer Maarten Besseling and music journalist Matthijs van der Ven who both live in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Their most recent offering includes of one of my favorite musicians, Damien Jurado.

Damien was an artist before he was ever a musician and didn't learn to play guitar until he was 20 when he began by making homemade tapes using found sound and field recording techniques. His music is both heartbreakingly beautiful, captivating and has a quality unlike any music, making it feel as tho it's always been there. The stories they tell are personal and vivid.

The Canal Sessions features three videos in all and includes many photographs of the session. Please have a look at the entire performance here.

Cooper: Photographer Cat

2010-09-13T09:33:00.000-04:00

The photo above was taken by a cat named Cooper. That's right. One day per week, his people fasten a lightweight digital camera to Cooper's collar, which snaps a new photo every 2 minutes. He had his own exhibition and is easily the most talented cat photographer I've seen. Cooper himself is quite a handsome fella too. The site features a gallery of photos, a cat cam feed, videos and news.

Escif

2010-09-01T18:27:00.001-04:00

My cousin Jasmine sent me a link for the artist Escif who apparently does some really eye-catching street paintings. It's pretty difficult to find too much information, but more can be found on Escif's Flickr and here too.

No Hole In My Head

2010-08-31T12:07:00.001-04:00

Frozen for Winter

2010-08-27T13:55:00.000-04:00

wash and uncap

boil just long enough to easily remove skins

set on a plate, tops down and slide the skins off

halve and cool

Adding a sprig of fresh basil before freezing locks in a fresh flavor. I use Big Mama Plum tomatoes and usually start them as seeds myself in recycled newspaper pots I also make. They are meaty and enormous and make beautiful sauces. There are minimal seeds in this type of tomato, so there's no need to remove the seeds, unless you really want to.

Today, I skinned and halved one bushel and expect to have another before the season it finished. Happy gardening!

Anastassia Eilas

2010-08-26T22:53:00.002-04:00

Anastassia Eilas is making art in the least likely of places, inside of toilet paper rolls. Using paper that is similar to the roll itself, she gives the illusion that the scenes taking place inside of the rolls are actually part of the roll themselves. The detail and depth of each little piece is pretty amazing, especially considering the scale. She claims it only takes her an hour to complete one, which is also pretty impressive.

Lovelies

2010-08-26T10:11:00.000-04:00

TheMeasure

sewlola

GarterLady

Ruffles are so timeless and beautiful. I have found the few featured here to be breathtaking uses of the technique. So feminine and rich, with subtle hints of blues.

Scrumptious Bobbles

2010-08-24T21:36:00.001-04:00

This beautiful piece can be worn up or down. It's so soft, warm and squishy; you're going to love it. For more details, please take a look here.

We will be adding several new items to kick off the Fall line, so please be sure to check back for those.

New In The Shop

2010-08-22T15:32:00.000-04:00

Introducing the Mistress Cowl. It's made to draw attention to your personal beauty while keeping you warm with this incredibly soft wool blend. More information on this piece may be found here.

By Your Side

2010-08-22T09:46:00.002-04:00

Beachwood Sparks' "By Your Side" was in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and I've had it stuck in my head ever since seeing it last Thursday.The movie was cool, the soundtrack is fun and Michael Cera has mastered awkwardness like I've never seen before.

It was a NYT Critics' Pick:

"There are some movies about youth that just make you feel old, even if you aren’t."Scott Pilgrim vs. The World," based on a series of sprightly graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley, has the opposite effect. Its speedy, funny, happy-sad spirit is so infectious that the movie makes you feel at home in its world even if the landscape is, at first glance, unfamiliar." -A. O. Scott

Splink is a Cyclops

2010-08-21T11:04:00.000-04:00

Splink is new in the shop this week. He was so much fun to create and he is ready to ship now.

Vintage Find

2010-08-21T10:58:00.001-04:00

A fabulously worn and organic looking raffia fedora is new in the shop today. This piece has great character. I bought it from the UK. Perfect for summer days in the sun.

Introducing Dagmar

2010-08-14T17:42:00.001-04:00

I made him a skullcap that has a tiny loop closure to open and close the strap during play. He he so squishy and bright. Dagmar is perfectly fine standing or sitting, but tends to prefer sitting and flopping.

Sebastiaan Bremer

2010-08-10T16:11:00.000-04:00

Sebastiaan Bremer is a Dutch Artist who lives and works in New York. He turns found and snapped photographs of himself, friends and family into a dusty poetic braille made up of text, personal symbols and ghostly shapes that, when integrated with their complex grounds, disappear again, buried in a sea of suspended dots. By slowly and laboriously painting on top of quickly taken snapshots, Bremer slows down time to render a hauntingly beautiful interior landscape.

Surprises Make Me Happy!

2010-08-05T13:46:00.000-04:00

Her little girl hasn't seen her yet,but I'm anxious to surprise her this weekend! Wonder what she will name her.

Habit

2010-08-02T09:42:00.005-04:00

July 21st: I leaned on the silo for a sandwich and a book, happy no one noticed.

The habit blog was kind and generous enough to open their blog to its readers for the entire month of July and I was fortunate enough to have one of my photos chosen from the flickr pool and have it included on the site.

As a daily reader of this blog, I have to admit what an honor it was to visit the blog that day and find my own photograph amongst such beautiful and sentimental entries. Thank you very much to the blog for both wholeheartedly sharing with us and in turn, allowing us into share our worlds with your readers.

The habit blog is one of the most inspiring sites on the internet daily.

Mila's Daydreams

2010-07-30T11:17:00.001-04:00

Adele has the most fascinating maternity leave hobby. While her baby daughter Mila is taking her nap, she creates scene around her and takes quick snap photos.

(Thanks to Joanna Goddard.)

No Longer Empty

2010-07-30T10:56:00.002-04:00

With so many yellow wood frame houses that were used as military housing, churches, a fort and even a castle from a time so long ago, Governor's island is currently home to installations by over a dozen artists inside the houses of Colonel Row. No Longer Empty is participating in the Governor's Island Summer Festival and is open Fridays thru Sunday's until October 10th.

Visitors feel this sense of dislocation from the moment they step off of the ferry after just a few minutes ride. The selection of artists and artistic interventions in all media, are intended to address this sense of displacement while exploring notions of memory, residual entities of the past and transitions between worlds.

Porter Hovey

2010-07-29T11:54:00.001-04:00

Port Hovey's Polaroid Blog is full of exciting and interesting Polaroids from all over the world. You should really take a look here.

Joana Vasconcelos

2010-07-28T08:50:00.001-04:00

Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos currently has an exhibition taking place in London's Haunch of Vension titled "I Will Survive" that embraces the vintage art of Macramé, crafts and folk art. She incorporates objects from daily life into expansive assemblages combined with the use of old style craft techniques. Her witty and sometimes provocative work is inspired by everyday life and imagination focusing on the politics of gender, national identity and class.

Thanks to my brother for telling me about this.

Organic Chicken Sauteed in a Peach Balsamic Reduction Sauce with Crimini Mushrooms

2010-07-25T19:55:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite dinners and my friend Garrett recently asked for it, so since it's all typed out, please feel free to enjoy it :)

ORGANIC CHICKEN SAUTEED IN A PEACH BALSAMIC REDUCTION SAUCE WITH CRIMINI MUSHROOMS

INGREDIENTS:

salt & pepper
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
8 skinless, boneless organic chicken thighs
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 orange marmalade (can sub. peach or apricot preserves)
2 tbsp butter
1 medium onion, sliced or diced
1 handful of crimini mushrooms, halved
3 cups arugula or baby spinach (optional)

In a large skillet, heat the extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the onion and lightly sauté. Season the chicken with salt & pepper and add to the skillet. Sauté the chicken until crispy and brown, 8-10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter.

Whisk the balsamic vinegar and marmalade into skillet, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Lower the heat and simmer for 1 minute, adding butter and mushrooms at this time. Return the chicken to the pan and coat with the sauce. Remove the pan from the heat and if you'd like to add baby spinach or arugula, you can do so at this time.

This dish can be served with pasta, rice, potatoes or salad. My favorite is with a sweet potato.

SERVES: 4

enjoy, Christa

Rivane Neuenschwander

2010-07-24T19:45:00.001-04:00

There is currently an exhibition at the New Museum by Brazilian artist Rivane Neuenschwander titled A Day Like Any Other. The concept amazes me. Visitors are invited to select ribbons printed with a wish to tie around their wrists. When the ribbon falls off, tradition has it that one's wish will be fulfilled. Visitors may write another wish and place it in the empty hole. Your wish may be added here.

Introducing Willa

2010-07-19T12:38:00.001-04:00

Willa will be in the shop soon. She likes to dance and is looking forward to many adventures! Find out her details here.

New In The Shop

2010-07-17T00:01:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to announce another handmade folk art doll! His name is Toby and as I said earlier, he is a bit shy. Have a look at him here because he's looking for a fun home.

beached

2010-07-09T10:34:00.000-04:00

Introducing Toby

2010-07-06T18:35:00.000-04:00

He will be in the shop shortly. He's a bit shy but cannot wait to meet you.

New In The Shop

2010-07-04T17:23:00.003-04:00

He needs a friend.

Walter is eco-friendly, hand knit from fine wool, stuffed with fleece and cotton, patched with a reclaimed cotton sweater, looks lovingly at you with his safety eyes and he has a cotton hand stitched soul.

He loves to cuddle and his button jointed arms help him hug back. Walter sits or stands and keeps warm with a hand knit cabled Mushishi ogre hat.

Walter is 12 inches from the tip of his warm hat to his feet when he's standing.

Most of all, he wants to be hugged and loved. He's looking for a forever home.

Walter is new, never played with and READY TO SHIP. I'll gladly ship international, so please send me a note for accurate shipping rates. You will receive this exact one-of-a-kind doll. Buy it for yourself or someone you love.

All of my items are created in a smoke-free environment! Find Walter here.

All Of A Sudden

2010-07-03T12:19:00.001-04:00

all of a sudden, he was looking back at me with the same level of curiosity