Happy Saturday! Another cardinalhouse milestone!

Yea! Happy dance! On the front page twice in one week & officially over 700 shops hearts! Thanks so very much.

Big thanks to taylorseclectic & justCHARMING for featuring my items in their treasuries!

♥-Kat.

Spring cleaning: sale coming!

 

Rosa Necklace from cardinalhouse  

Okay, guys. It's time. I didn't get around to doing a sale for my 1-yr anniversary on Etsy, or my b-day (earlier in Feb). Now I'm going to make up for that. I started marking down items this week, but I will be marking down the rest of the items at least 15% (stuff that's been in the store since last fall or earlier).

I was chatting with another seller & during those chats, I realized that I want to be much more aggressive in what I started earlier this week. Sure, I'm going through my reclaimed office fabric...but lately I've brought more home from work. I'm heading backwards at the moment. Nicht gut. Even packing a stuffed plastic grocery bag's worth into my son's backpack everyday doesn't seem to be making much of a dent. Hah! And trust me, while his teacher said she can take as much as I can give, that will change soon! I overwhelmed his teacher last year, eventually. 

So, I will be working on mark downs this weekend.  If you see something in the shop & I haven't marked it down, please let me know!   cardinal_house [at] comcast [dot] net

Happy Weekend! 

♥-Kat.

Tunes for Tuesday: The Camaros

 

The Camaros were brought to my attention from a friend. Okay, so they're not for everyone. Immediately I think of the movie Cry Baby, and then bits of older country. Back about 7 years ago, I used to work in a frame shop while in college. When a certain coworker & I worked Friday evenings we'd listen the True Gold segment on a local radio station. So every Friday night, we'd rock out & sing (somewhat badly ;] ) to golden oldie country classics. Good times!

Enjoy!

♥-Kat.

Because you'd rather be... sewing: couture lingerie

 

Picture from Threads magazine online post here

While I was going through the March 2010 issue of W magazine, I noticed that there was a ton of clothing emphasizing sheer fabrics & laces. I've been working on some new ideas for my shop & researched some millinery & lingerie techniques. During my research, I came across this article from Threads magazine. It gives a great overview on working with delicate fabrics & laces. See the article here.  If you sew apparel, Threads and Altered Couture are really great magazines from the Stampington & Company collection.

Sunday Treats: Freshly squeezed orange juice. Yum!

 

The sniffles are going around here at the house. I decided to finish off the extra oranges & treat us with fresh orange juice. Unfortunately, it's not something I take the time to do too often these days because it's time  consuming & costly. After 30 minutes (even with a juicer) & 7 oranges later, well, you see the results above. But don't get me wrong, it is quite the divine result. There is nothing quite like  freshly squeezed juice, and I'm not just saying that because of the effort!

When I was a little girl, I remember simply sticking a straw in an orange & enjoying it in my grandmother's garden. But this morning was still too chilly for lounging outside for long, so I enjoyed mine inside scrambled egg whites & wheat toast.

Enjoy your day!

♥-Kat.

Sock monkey mania...they're back like you wouldn't believe!

1. Greeting card by eurolenscape

2. Pincushions by hoffeeandanuffin 

3. Cuff links by TrixieAndBeever 

4. Sock monkey pirate print by PlushBot 

5. Vintage sock monkey from ZenHen 

6. Fondant cupcake topper by TwoSugarBabies 

7. Shoveling the Driveway photocard by sockmonkeycards

8. Mini quilt by MamaMelLoves 

9. Sock monkey hat by theheadsaid
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inspired by:

 

My friend gave me (for Alex, she says!)  this sock monkey bookmark. Isn't it adorable?! It's not too functional as a bookmark, but it's still great. I believe she got it from Borders or Barnes & Noble, but it's by the Applause division of Russ (they're not on their websites, I checked).

Have Fun!

♥-Kat.

Studious Reflection: Mary, Mary, How does my garden grow?

 

I managed to sew up a ton of flowers today (& a few last night). Quite an accomplishment for me lately (you know, above & beyond work-work, household chores & errands, family stuff...). It was over due. Since December, I've really only made a handful of new items so I'm quite proud. These guys are going to be same kind of necklaces or magnets as before because afterward, I want to focus on some different designs that have sat in my sketch book for a while now.

 

Yesterday at the office, I spent all day in the fabric library. We're re-organizing & doing some spring cleaning. Good news-bad news, that meant that I brought home a LOT of fabric books/hang sets that were duplicates or discontinued, etc. 

 

A lot, huh?! The bag on the left had a number of fabric hang sets, too. I need more fabric like I need the flu. So I am determined to make an actual dent in my fabric supply!

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2.20.10/ update at the shop: I just finished marking over 20 items on sale for 20% (or more) off! Find them here.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

♥-Kat.

Book Nook: I, Alex Cross

 

I, Alex Cross is the latest of the series by James Patterson. If you've somehow never heard of the series, perhaps you've seen the movies based on the first two books in it: Along Came A Spider & Kiss the Girls. Morgan Freeman plays the series namesake, Alex Cross (& I love Morgan Freeman..fabulous actor). And if that still doesn't help, Patterson's Alex Cross is a respected detective in the D.C. area that is constantly thrust into heavy-duty murder cases often involving political scandal. 

The latest book doesn't swerve from the typical formula. Alex's birthday celebrations are interrupted by a phone call notifying him about the murder of a loved one. 

(Note: I read a lot of horror-ish type books...& this murder procedure happens throughout the book. While it doesn't go into serious detail, I still cringed & was glad that I wasn't eating at the time.)

As Alex investigates, he discovers that this is involved with someone high up in the government food chain somehow . Way high up. As in, let's try to cover this up so the public doesn't hear about it--high-up. 

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♥-Kat.

Friday Feature: Southeastern Beard & Moustache Championships

 

Picture by BadJon Photography found here 

Last Saturday night, the 1st Annual Southeastern Beard & Moustache Championships was held in West Ashley, SC (Charleston) at the Tin Roof. The competition last benefited Lowcountry Women With Wings, "which provides education and support services to women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and their families". My friend at work had this pulled up at the office this morning, & I can't think of a better day than to have started off my Friday! Seriously, this guy above is my new hero!

Apparently, Holy City Beard & Moustache Society is not alone. It's a local chapter of Beard Team USA

and there are worldwide competitions! How fun is that!! 

Check out the original story here from Charleston magazine. See the rest of the FABULOUS red carpet photos by BadJon Photography here.

Good times!

♥-Kat.

 

Thursday Treats: il laboratorio del gelato

 

I came across il laboratorio del gelato on my search for some particular flavors of true gelato. Too bad there isn't a location down here in Atlanta, or I'd be there! If you know of a local place in the Atlanta area with a variety of flavors, please let me know...oh, alas.

Personally looking over the flavor list, I'd try out the walnut nocello or chocolate hazlenut first...but that's just me.

Yum!

♥-Kat.

Monkey see, monkey do...

1. General Vladimir Spittlekoff print by chetart

2. Party of One print by emmaoverman

3. Milton the Monkey by MinnieMiller 

4. Monkey bookmark by licgifts 

5. Swinging monkey decal by InitialYou

6. Vintage monkey curio by CoolVintage 

7. Monkeys on chandelier art by theinkling 

8. Monkey cookies by sugarcoatedcookies 

9. Monkey lunch bags by beethings 

10. Pug the spider monkey vintage illustration from cpmcdill

There will be sock monkeys in your future...

♥-Kat.

Birds of a feather do not always stick together...

1. Wren earrings by sophiehillartist

2. Atticus Finch t-shirt (yes!) by inexplicableconfetti (happy mardi gras New Orleans!)

 3. Gulls photograph by takenbyrobinlynne

4. Pillow by Nuka

5. Reusable snack bags by evelynfields

6. Stay Close print by PragyaK (many other fantastic bird prints too!)

7. Angry Bird blank note cards by badbird (many other bird prints with attitudes, too!)

God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.
-Jacques Deval
Afin de vivre bel et bien.

(quote found here) 

♥-Kat.

Snow just the way I like it: wham, bam, thank you m'am..I'm out!

 

Snow started to fall down Friday afternoon & left around 3" into the evening. It was fantastic, but I didn't have anywhere to be either. Really though, it was great. There wasn't much traffic around my area & it was so tranquil. It was a nice quick dose of medicine for the soul. I actually sat outside on the balcony for just a bit & read. Not too long, I didn't exactly want to muck it up by coming down with a cold, you know! ;)

 

 

A lot of it had melted by Saturday afternoon, and by Sunday it was basically all gone around  my neighborhood.

Hope everyone had a great V-day, President's Day, and have a fabulous Mardi Gras!

♥-Kat.

Because you'd rather be... shopping: favorite things

 

Hand-stamped martini earrings by insanejellyfish  

 

Aerial art locket necklace by heartworksbylori

cameo necklace by laralewis  

stunning golden leather necklace by eninaj 

  

scrumptious teal Italian leather bag by morelle 

  

aqua pumps by starletvintage

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Okay, now get back to work!
-♥Kat.