Featured on Etsy.com !!!!

Eeek! I'm excited! I got an e-mail this morning from one of my customers saying that one of my handmade items is featured on the front page of Etsy today! The featured item on 03.23.06 is my Reconstructed Jean Skirt with Pink Felt Flowers.

Edit on 4.17.06 - SOLD!

Day off in Downtown

+ scheduled a pick-up of my fabric donation to a local sewing class for girls
+ photographed 3 kites @ Gulfport beach for reviews on KiteLife Magazine
+ parked in downtown and walked around and sneezed like mad (oak pollen) but was a beautiful day out!
+ paid the utility bill
+ ate at subway and pondered what life would be like if we lived in a small apartment downtown - no need to use the car because everything but family is so close, having less "stuff" to clutter our lives, not owning a house
+ looked around Star Booty and learned that they take cool clothing, etc. for store credit and also consign handmade items/art
+ came home and now I'm off to clean more

Rob's new kite and video

Oh yeah - Rob's been rocking his kite-making skillz. This is his standard version "Mohawk," soon to be available for sale. This is the kite that he has been testing and losing sleep over for months. I think it paid off.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO featuring the music of The Dismemberment Plan, Pedro the Lion, and Headphones.

day trip to saint augustine

highlights from the fun-fly kite day trip:

- being awake before the sun rises
- hearing Robert's first handmade kite (the Mohawk) roar through the air like a fighter jet in 25 mph winds
- watching dumb people feed sea gulls and other beach/park birds
- being proud of Robert for his great job with the Mohawk
- being exposed to unhealthy amount of Jimmy Buffett

birthday details and thrift store scores

Well! I had a great day. Started out with a Robby hug before I went to sleep a little past midnight. In the morning, my mom came to my house to teach me how to crochet. Then my big brother brought burritos, and we reminesced (sp?) about growing up.John brought presents from my dad and Susan. Then Rob's mom picked me up and took me to a great Goodwill! Spent about an hour there and I hardly got past the SHOES. It was great. (see pictures below) Then Rob and I went to Kinjo Japanese Resturant where I recieved free dinner - woohoo! Then to his mom's house for ice cream b-day cake and (half) a Godiva Rum Truffle (which was the only "alcohol" I had) and visit with Oma. Then home for seam-ripping and Olympics-watching and a phone call with my dad. And to bed I go! Yay!

Rob & Steve - Sawgrass Lake Park

Robert and Steve went to Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Petersburg, FL, on Tuesday. Click on the photo to view my flickr photo set. All photos by Robert, except the one of him, which I suppose Steven took.

Robby made a kite.

Robert made this. It looks so beautiful in the air. Once I get a pic of it in the air, I'll replace this photo. But you get the idea. Tuxedo!

Candace sent me books!

Robert's mother's sister's friend Candace has been reading my journal and thought I'd enjoy some books of hers that she no longer needs.

1. Classic Millinery Techniques: A Complete Guide to Making & Designing Today's Hats
2. Hat Tricks: 80 Instant Makeovers to Transform Ordinary Hats into Fabulous Creations
3. Stitch & Stencil: Over 40 Easy Fabric-Based Projects
4. The Complete Soapmaker: Tips, Techniques & Recipes For Luxurious Handmade Soaps
5. The Complete Candlemaker: Techniques, Projects, and Inspirations

I'm really getting into the first book. But in order to jump into any millinery projects, I'll definitely need a wooden hat block thing - which I've never seen in person. And then some buckram and millinery ribbon. I have almost everything else. Perhaps I'll hit up St. Pete Freecycle to see if anyone has a hat block. Wish me luck!

Also, in my research I found this inspirational painting by frenchman Edgar Degas - The Millinery Shop. According to the Art Institute of Chicago, its oil on canvas and from 1884/90. I forgot how much I enjoy Impressionism.

Lam Hoac is here!

Lam Hoac is a great guy who designs and flies sport kites. Sky Sport Design is the name of his company. Lam, Rob, and I will be driving to Saint Augustine, FL, this weekend for SASKC 2006. Lam is visiting from Canada, so we are his temporary Florida home. And we sure do love his company. Besides being a kite master, he's a great cook and all-around fun guy too!

Handmade trade with Jill Bliss

After many back and forth e-mails, Jill Bliss and I have agreed to swap some handmade goods! She's the founder of blissen and maker of these fabulous wallets that I've had my eye on for some time now. I'm flattered that she likes my purses :) I sent her a tote I made from a pair of printed vintage napkins and also the "Elephant Hawk Moth Green clutch". She says she loves them both! And I love the wallet and pins I recieved! Thanks so much, Jill!

Holy Crap! Kite Video!

I'm so proud! Rob and Drew made an AWESOME video! They flew; they recorded; they rocked your world.

CLICK HERE!

Kite: Sky Sport's Sea Devil standard custom-made kite (Lam, you rock!)
Pilot: Robert Randolph
Cameraman: Drew Little
Location: Treasure Island, FL
Music: Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) by The Postal Service

Vintage Linen Patchwork Garden Tote

new purse - click for more info!

John Barresi has come to stay.

Our friend John Barresi has come to stay with us during the KTAI Trade Show in Clearwater, FL. I can't go today, so I am relaxing/cleaning at home.

I go back to being a cake decorator apprentice next week so I am excited about that. Oh, and my sewing machine is busted, so no more sewing for Wendy at the moment :( It needs to be repaired. Very sad!

Rev flying and visit to Uncle Tim's

Rob, Steve, and I went to Treasure Island this after noon after Rob made me a lovely late breakfast. After a bit of wrassling with dual-line sport kites, I picked up the Revolution 1 quad-line kite for the first time and apparently did very well with it. Rob said there were other kite flyers around saying I was "awesome" and wondered how long I'd been flying. Eeee! Have I found my niche? Perhaps. It was fun. And what a workout!

After the beach, we visited my Godfather (Uncle Tim) at his condo where we enjoyed pizza, Twilight Zone, and a few games of pool. Fun for all! It was a perfect day off of work. No work! :)

And to round out the night, Rob and I mixed a paint color for our living room walls. It's AWESOME. The shade is like baby-poo yellow. We'll see how it looks in the morning. Signing off for now. Bedtime.

Lesley came to visit!

I couldn't believe it. Lesley CAME BY THE BAKERY TODAY. She's brave. I was so glad to see her. We talked a bit. She wants to come back to work soon, but it will take some time for her skin to heal from the burns and for her voice to get stronger. Sorry we couldn't hang out tonight, Lesley. One of these days we will get together soon.

And happy new year to everyone!
(i want to eat left over Christmas fudge....)

My father's wedding

My father got married December 4th at this beautiful house called Casa Feliz. Go to their website to see photographs of the interior.

I got to see my grandmother, which was nice. She lives in a nursing-home in another city. This nice girl came with her to the wedding to take care of her, and darnit, I cannot remember her name. Here we are, sitting in the entrance hall. From left to right: the girl, my grandmother, and myself. Photo by me.


Eli is my new stepbrother, and he is cool. I look forward to spending time with him. How dashing is he in his tux? Photo by Rob.


Since I was the one and only bridesmaid, I was asked to wear a certain dress in the color of Latte. I fabricated my own frock, matching Latte as best I could. Unfortunately, the only other wedding participant wearing this Latte color was the wedding cake. Photos by Rob.


Before the ceremony started, a violinist played some music, and I drank a ginger ale. Photos by Rob. (The colors in the photograph of the violin are pleasing.)


Over the next few days, I will be disassembling my dress and returning it to its natural state of solid white polyester dress and heap of nylon mesh scraps. Also, I'll be cranking out wrist cuffs for Summerbirds In The Cellar, but you already knew that.

A stuffed animal friend for Jeremy.

Four-year-old Jeremy came to visit the Bakery today. I recieved the pleasure of helping him create some ultra sugary-sweet treats: cookie sandwiches filled with buttercream icing and then magnificent vanilla cupcakes, complete with colored sprinkles and maraschino cherries. I presented him with the little stuffed animal friend I made for him; he held it close to him and smiled. I hope it provides him with some comfort.

My first attempt at a stuffy-stuffed animal thing - and yes I was inspired by Hillary Lang's much more wonderful Wee Wonderfuls.

Been in shock all day.

Fifteen minutes into my shift at work today, my boss calls to tell me some horrible news about my friend. I still can't believe it. My whole time at work I couldn't help but be thankful for my life and the lives of my loved ones. I know it's cliche, but you really never know when your entire life will completely turn around on you.

Latest Vintage Linen Haul

This a new batch of stuff from my grandmothers house - mostly pillowcases. And one neat-looking knitted blanket she made.

Georgia International Sport Kite Championships

Steve, Rob, and I went to Tybee Island, GA, this past weekend for the Georgia International Sport Kite Championships. Here are the photos. Warning: kite bias. Pretty kites!