Another "Dad's Ties" project

Back in October I was contacted by a woman who had my card and one of my bags that she'd won at a silent auction about a year ago. Lisa told me that she had a fistful of her late father's neckties and asked if I'd like to transform them in to bags for mom, and her sister, and herself. Sound familiar? I'd only just finished a similar project perhaps a 2 months earlier. Of course I wanted to help Lisa - I was really excited about it.

I met up with her in early December - she lives in Bordentown and met me at the craft show I did at the fire house. It was a slow show so I was able to spend a lot of time with Lisa and her mom, sorting through the pile of ties and making notes.  The ties and notes came home with me and I embarked on the project almost straightaway - I was able to finish most of the bags before Christmas so that Lisa could bring them with her to her sister's for the holiday.

Next week I'm meeting up with Lisa to deliver the last two bags (shown at the top). Lisa, Erin, and their Mom were really happy with the results and that pleases me.

I love this kind of project and I wish I'd been making these bags back when I lost my Dad - it would have been something special for my sisters and me and Mom. Not that we need any material objects to remember Morty - he is as fresh in our minds and as alive in our hearts as he was 15 years ago when we lost him. Hard to believe that it's been 15 years!

Another note - Lisa's husband is Jim Downey, of Jim Downey Glass. I'm fortunate to own one of his pieces (a gift from Lisa) - his work is beautiful!

Happy New Year everyone. May 2010 be a satisfying time for all.

OK - I should have looked a bit before posting the below - I guess it's pretty clear which came first. See, e.g., House Guide and House and Holmes.

So - I was not the first to notice, but pleased that I did. :-)

Which Came First?

Athena and I went to see Sherlock Holmes today - the new flick with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Really enjoyable action film - not the staid and snooty Holmes one might expect (that is, one who has not seen the ads and previews for the past several months).

This is no coincidence and surely I cannot be the first to notice. I admit I only spotted it about halfway through the film. Holmes is portrayed as a self-destructive genius, intent on solving puzzles and utterly miserable when he had no puzzle to solve. He's unkempt and unshaven, and intent on derailing the romantic relationship between his only friend Watson and the intelligent and indefatigable Mary. Watson is portrayed as the more-than-tolerant best friend who cannot resist becoming entangled in Holmes's capers and is almost, but not quite, as genius as Holmes. Sound at all familiar?

My only question, since I have (shamefully) never read any Arthur Conan Doyle, is this: are Wilson and House based on Watson and Holmes? Or are the hot new Watson and Holmes based on Wilson and House? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Athenasaurus Strikes Again

I seem to get a lot of requests to make the Athenasaurus dino hoodie from people who happen upon the blog post describing the first one I made for Athena. So I thought it would make sense to post the hoodie in my Etsy shop as a "made-to-order" item. As well, a few days ago I happened to find a really nice, well-worn green hoodie in the thrift shop and also found a nice hunk of yellow polar fleece at Jo-Ann's - these have been transformed into a new ready-made dino hoodie, also for sale in my shop - only $52 because I was lucky enough to find the right hoodie at the thrift. Custom-made dino hoodies will be $77 because I'll use the best of the best - brand new American Apparel Flex Fleece, which comes in a huge range of colors. I can also customize a hoodie that you already own - that will be $45.

RAWR! And happy new year!