Craftin' Outlaws

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:00:20 -0700

Flamestitch will be at Craftin' Outlaws on August 16. We are pretty excited to be involved this year, and are busy sewing all day long. You should come see us.

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Handbag Awards

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:29:02 -0700

Handbagmerge

These are photos from the Handbag Award show. On the left is my bag, with all the other handmade finalists. The bottom right is a photo of Debbie Stoller (Stitch n' Bitch, Bust) presenting the award for the Best Handmade Handbag category.

I love New York, and all its craziness, but I could never live there. You have to fight for everything: parking spaces, food, seats, road, bathrooms... THERE IS NOWHERE TO PEE IN MANHATTAN. I came back to Ohio appreciating very basic things, like the grass in my front yard, parking spaces, the freedom to buy a backyard pool, or have a barbecue. What if you want to go to a pumpkin patch in the fall? Or pick your own strawberries?

I was beyond impressed with New York, despite my homesickness. It's a marvel of American ambition, for sure. Just don't drink too much while you're out and about, because as I mentioned, there is nowhere to pee.

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Early Show

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:28:31 -0700

We got back from our New York trip on Saturday. The Handbag awards were on June 18, and while I didn't win, the show was still fantastic, and my bag had an appearance on the CBS Early show on June 19.

We had such a good time in New York. I got some stellar photos of the Statue of Liberty, ate soup dumplings with my friend Kate Black, and swam at Coney Island. We also ate hot dogs and frog's legs at Nathan's, and found out that they get their tartar sauce from Marzetti's, which is about 2 miles from my house.

Oh, and Ellis Island. I spent a lot of time in that museum. Everyone should go there.

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Vote for The Old Slut!

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:34:28 -0700

Bag Borrow or Steal has the entries up for The Independent Handbag Designer Awards, and citizens can now vote for the audience favorite:

http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/ui/ihda

Our entry is The Naugahyde Bag by Renee Parrill. Please vote for it.

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Finalist, Dreamweaver

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:04:08 -0700

finalist0001

This bag is going to New York on Monday. It's a finalist in the Independent Handbag Designer Awards. The awards will be at the New York Historical Society, and we're pretty excited about that because of Night at the Museum (Ben Stiller is funny. I love the part where he grabs the tiny Owen Wilson and says, "I will manhandle you Jedediah!").

On a completely different subject, my husband gave me Dreamweaver CS3 for my birthday. I've made it my business to understand it inside and out, but hard-won tips and tricks are always welcome.

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Driving

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:02:48 -0700

I saw a bumper sticker recently that said, "Voldemort votes Republican". I think that's wrong. Voldemort wouldn't vote at all because he is a dictator.

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Vox Hunt: Celebrate the Earth

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:32:40 -0700

In honor of Earth Day, show us something (literally or figuratively) green.

Spring Claw0001

I took this photo yesterday at the Whetstone Park of Roses.

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QotD: Spring Cleaning

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:30 -0700

Are you planning on doing any spring cleaning this year? If so, please share a cleaning tip you swear by.

I don't have a tip so much as a philosophy. My philosophy on Spring cleaning is to be ruthless, like the Vikings on the Irish coast. You must be able to part with possessions without weakness or second thoughts. George Forman grill? Gone. Duplicate set of Christmas dishes? Gone. Jeans, ugly sweaters, shoes, Scent Stories, Polly Pocket shoes, magazines, junk mail, plastic cups and bowls... Gone. Gone. Gone.

I have done a great deal of Spring cleaning these last two weeks. I have loaded boxes and bags full of albatrosses and balls-and-chains, and now, with each box the taste of freedom becomes stronger in my mouth. I always do my spring cleaning alone. The others don't have the stomach for what needs to be done. I tell them to look away. I can deal with their grief. I cannot, however deal with the claims on my space and time that these harpy-like possessions demand. Their heads come off now.

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House Spirits, Walnut Brains

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:28:13 -0700

Totoro

I crocheted these three Totoro dolls using this recipe:

http://heavens-hellcat.livejournal.com/420.html?page=2#comments

I think it was very generous of this gal to post her pattern. Totoro is one of my favorite movies,

even though I'm an adult and it's a cartoon. It's pretty heavy on the Shinto, and I appreciate that
very much. All cartoons should be heavy on the Shinto. Miyazaki makes me wish I had house

spirits like Totoro. I have made my three cats honorary house spirits. They don't know about it

(because of their walnut-sized brains), and I think that is why it works out.

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Surprise

nobody@vox.com(Flamestitch) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:23:12 -0700

Patchwork Cover

I was just looking for sewing books on Amazon, and this title was suggested as one I might be interested in. THAT IS MY BAG ON THE COVER! I'm so excited! I submitted that design last summer, and I got a letter from Lark, saying the release date would be June of 2008. I had no idea it would be listed anywhere yet.

I originally made that bag almost two years ago, and put photos of it on Flickr. I sold that one, but the one on the book cover is still in the envelope Lark sent it back to me in.

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