new feature on etsy. suggested seller.

At least, I'm fairly certain that this is a new feature. I never noticed it before. I don't remember Etsy even mentioning the addition with the updated layout info. 

What do you think about the addition of a Suggested Sellers to the Favorites page? I like it!

Happy browsing!

- Kat.

i want that. fore axel and hudson boy's golf inspired clothing.

So my boy heads back to school next week. This year he'll be heading to school uniform-style. I'm okay with that & was actually one of the mean mommies that voted for the uniforms last year at PTA. But, even I have to admit that it hurts a smidge not to use "clothes for school" as an excuse for the cutest boys' clothing ever!

You can find Fore Axel and Hudson at various Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus stores - click here to see the list. The story behind the name is cute, although I did come across this line before the scandals came up...but these adorable outfits can't suffer from that!

I love hats & have managed to brainwash Alex into thinking fedoras are the coolest accessory to sport.

However, this brown skull print driver cap is my absolute fav. My pal JP & I both want this in adult size!

And, no, the line is not just hats! There are whole outfits too. See

However, frilly pink little girl stuff you will not find here! But I'd say that it's about time a designer came up with something scrumptious just for the boys! Girls almost always seem have cute things...a switch is nice.

For this post, I say boys rule & girls can drool over these very cool outfits.

♥ -Kat.

[Images from Fore Axel and Hudson site]

weekly deal. 8.15.2010 - 8.21.2010. leaves are-a-fallin'

This week at cardinalhouse, buy one get one 1/2 off storewide* for my readers here!

Must enter "81510bogo" in message to seller during checkout. Refund for difference back via PayPal.

Everywhere I turn lately, there's a back-to-school sale here and autumn collections there. I have tried in vain to deny that summer is coming to a close, but I had definite proof this weekend. Leaves scattered on the grass. The leaves are-a-fallin' & I must come to grips that this summer came & went within a blink of an eye.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the mini-collection I've been working on with autumn on my mind. Pic's aren't great, so please excuse them until I can take some real pictures. 

 Oh, & for those of you that were around last fall & recognize the necklace above...I've picked out a similar orange fabric to make a new necklace like it since it was such a big hit.

*buy one get one half off - item of equal or lesser value, s/h extra - offer good 8.15.2010 until 8.21.2010 - offer not valid with any other discounts.

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Enjoy!

♥ - Kat.

design fix. dune tile from Spain.

Realistically, in this economy, lavish design just isn't happening that often here in the States.  More often than not, hotel owners & management companies are striving to get the most bang out of their hard-to-let-go bucks as they can.

Oh, but what I wouldn't give to have the right place to use Dune's tile. Dune is a Spanish tile company with architect/designer reps in Florida & California in the US.

I put a slide show at the bottom of the post with my favorites from the catalogs because it just got to a ridiculous number!

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Are you seeing this? A wall covered in amethyst! [on left]


Agate tiles on right. It's hard to see in my pic, but the agate-covered step is actually back lit.

 

And as if that wasn't enough ...they have fool's gold nugget tiles too.

Swarovski crystals embed into tile? You bet. [Please excuse the bad pic]

I really could go on & on, but I'm trying to show restraint. Let's just say that I was very giddy when I looked through these catalogs the first time.

See, doesn't take much to make me happy...

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Enjoy!

♥ - Kat.

book nook. the artful bride.

Here's another wedding themed DIY book. You know, I understand wanting to have some fun...but too much kitsch just isn't pretty. period. 

it's true. I'm a bwitch.

Boring? Perhaps, but I don't like to upset the apple cart...too much. Which means that for 95% of people would see it on the straight & narrow, square, vanilla. But 5% would see the hidden jokes in the details. Does that make any sense? Like a kid's movie with subtle adult jokes in the background. I l-o-v-e puns.

Okay. back from that tangent.  

Here are my picks from the book:

Flower Power jewelry set. Would I want it for a wedding? No. But in different color combos, it would be cute for other outings. This looks like some of the designs that my grandmother & I would work up when I was younger...but that can be for another time.

It's cute...Guest Survival Kit. add in some personal touches to it beyond breath mints & a tooth brush & I agree that it's cute.

Okay. I cracked up when I turned the page on these personal- ized undies. Aren't they great?! You would have to have the right group of gals to get away with this one, but I LOVE IT!

If the wedding is going to be a fun wedding...then I think this photo booth candle is a great idea. But, if the wedding is more serious, perhaps this would be more appropriate at a shower or rehearsal dinner rather than the reception.

How much do I love these monkey place settings?! This could only be pulled off with a more casual wedding. I would have to be separated from them because I'd keep playing with them - hahaha.

Another cute idea is this doll house miniature chair place card holder. The miniature name card is in the seat. I know, the picture didn't come out so well, but I'd think some would still need their glasses to see the name in real life. A miniature table is also pictured with "table two" labeled on it...

All images from book. The Artful Bride: Simple, Handmade Wedding Projects April Paffrath, Laura McFadden
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Okay, next post is going to go back design. I found this FABULOUS tile company...their catalogs have such great shots that I am going to set up a little slide show [fairly sure about that]. 

I'm off to personalize some undies!

♥ - Kat.

the crafter and the mill. a true story.

Besides the playhouse*, my favorite place at my grandma Edie's to snoop spend time in was the beadroom. Actually, it was an entire building immediately behind her workroom. At least 3/4 of its walls were lined with shelves from ceiling to floor. On the top shelf, lightweight items like yarn was stored. Down at the bottom, fabrics were stuffed into boxes and tubs. Everything in between...beads. Recycled soda bottles, mason jars - you name it - filled to the brim with beads. For a kid like me - it was the jackpot at the end of a rainbow.

So this past Saturday, my mom & I sifted through some of this fabric. I mentioned in an earlier post that there was a story behind the fabric...and there you go, that's my story. Haha - no, just goofing. and yes, I realize I'm not funny. just a nerd, but I'm okay with that.

Okay. Here's the actual story behind the fabric.

When my mother was a toddler, the family lived in the Aiken, SC area. At the time, the nearby mills + workrooms would load up the day's fabric scraps and put them outside the doors at closing. The scraps were free for anyone to come by and take home.

Notice how the pieces of fabric are all cut the same? That's because they were stacked & cut from a pattern press all at the same time. 

My grandmother used the scraps in her various projects. A personal favorite of my mom & me...her quilts.

Those scraps that I brought home Saturday are from the same stock that I learned & practiced sewing on when I was a little girl. Now, I'll work on turning them into something that others will enjoy too. Awe...& there's my gush quota for the day =)

♥ - Kat.

*playhouse - by the time I was a little girl, the playhouse was basically another storage building. However, it's shelves were lined with puzzles, books & games. Almost everything in there had belonged to either my grandparents, my mom, my aunt or perhaps one of my 4 uncles...

haha..misdirect + requests.

Yikes. I think that I might have fried my brain just a bit unloading the rest of the beads this afternoon. I was about to write the story behind my grandmother's fabrics & stopped upon entering the title. There is still a picture to take tomorrow when the sun pops out again. I'll type up the story then & wing this for now - can you stand it?

I've received a lot of requests lately. Yes, lots about flowers this + that. I promise that there are new things on the way. Actually, as soon as I get done here I'll be going back into the studio to work on a project.


Okay, the other prominent Q I get is about my old Team Eric necklaces [True Blood - that Eric...smoking hot Eric..you know]. I need to check in on my supplies. And if that's looking good, do one for both Eric & Alcide --Bill fans, you can special request because it just ain't happening otherwise! Ditto that to you Twilight people.

& on that delightful note ;) ...

Enjoy!

♥ - Kat.