Category: Small Town Life

Metal Monday

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type

Can you guess what this is? As I stepped back to snap this image, I saw this…

roscoemonday

Apparently I had a couple of dog treats in my left hand, Roscoe was determined to remind me. Such focus.

earthenmetals

This weekend was Elgin Art Studio Tour. We visited our friends Tiger and Erin at their blacksmith shop, Earthen Metals. We got to see Erin in action, she was teaching a class. Super cool gift idea for my husband… need to remember this come birthday, holiday, anniversary time. Also would be cool thing to do when my sisters visit.

erin-class

The weekend was stormy, windy, sunny, cool and hot… and that was just Saturday.

Have a Slice, or Two

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homeslice I just dropped a couple of these, along with some other new items, at The Owl this afternoon. Notice the new labels. The back of the bellyband reads Handsome, Cheeky & Useful… because they are. This would make a great gift for your best pie baking friend, favorite host or hostess, or yourself. Better yet, why  not bring  Mom  a fresh-baked strawberry rhubarb pie and this pie server as a gift… that is, if she’s a Texan. Now all I can think about is pie, no lie. Today marked the return of the Cedar Waxwings. They find our mulberry tree every year, and the tree is a buzz with wings. It’s quite a spectacle, and the fact that I await their arrival each spring is further proof that I’m middle-aged. In case you needed some. Five things I’m looking forward to this weekend:

  1. The season premier of Orphan Black. Helena!
  2. Beginning a new knit or crochet project. This pattern is a heavy contender, but would like to use a sport weight linen instead.
  3. Rain, I think we’re slated to get a bunch of it.
  4. Happy Hour at Elgin Local Goods  Pimento Cheese and Blue Corn Crab Cakes…what’s not to like?
  5. Work. I have two clients needing logo design.

Sweet Dreams are made of Cheese

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Lately I’ve been stamp stamp stamping away on vintage silverware, knitting this poncho, making shepherds pie (you betcha), redesigning my husband’s website artisanconcrete.com and trying to steal away some time to light a fire on our new brick patio. I’m striving to finish my poncho for our trip to Maryland & DC next weekend… only like 8 9,  okay 10 more inches to go. I predict a lot of Gilmore Girls (don’t judge me) or A Chef’s Life knitting time this weekend. If you’re not watching this PBS show….you should. Love.

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blankie

I said I would “NEVER” again knit something for money again. I had a moment of weakness late this summer and said “YES” to knitting this baby blanket for a coworker to give as a shower gift. I always say “NEVER”, but rarely mean it. Please don’t ask.

dolce

About the silverware, does it make me a C-R-A-Z-Y person that I love stamping just one letter at a time with a hammer on a spoon? Be honest. I love this like I loved learning to set type on a letterpress. It’s hands on print production on a shiny loud scale. And don’t think for a minute that I don’t see the irony in the fact that I am writing this having just finished creating the Ipad version of the magazine.

The title of this post is lifted from the words stamped on sets of cheese spreaders… all with bad cheese puns.

“Let it Brie”, “Sweet Dreams are made of Cheese”, and “Gouda Vibrations” I know, it’s painful, right?

And for you Eddie Izzard fans (I’m looking at you @JDewps)… keep your eyes peeled for “Cake or Death?” cake servers to hit The Owl Wine Bar & Home Goods Store or G&M Drygoods soon. Oh, and look for holiday cards too.

Tonight I’m taking the early commuter home for Sip, Shop & Stroll. This event will happen the second Thursday each month. In-store specials and live music. Downtown Elgin from 5-8. Future dates 12/11, 1/8. Elgin Local Goods just posted that they will have tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches! If you haven’t visited downtown Elgin lately… you really should. It’s truly becoming the heart of the city that it once was.