Lucy Knisley is a comic book artist who writes about her food, travel and her life. I’ve been a fan for a number of years so I was extra excited for her newest book, Relish to come out. (And I was excited to meet her when she came to Seattle on her book tour which is now, sadly, over.)

Relish is a memoir of how food has shaped her life as she was growing up and she tells funny and touching stories, ending each chapter with an illustrated recipe. I love this and now find myself wishing I could get illustrated versions of all recipes. I especially like the way she laid out the Huevos Rancheros, shown above. I made her Spaghetti Carbonara and it was the best I’ve ever tasted.

She’s got a bunch of other books as well as a collection of what anthologies she’s done work for. I really must check out her book French Milk, and I have been meaning to get myself her Cheeses Is Love poster for a while now. Relish, by the way, is the perfect thing to have to read on that electronics-less period of time during airplane take off and landing. I have to admit even when I could pull out my iPhone I kept reading the book. I’m looking forward to seeing what she is up to next.

After out Reidel O wine tumblers finally all cracked I set out to find wine glasses that were perfect and landed on these Reidel Vivant Pinot Noir glasses sold at Target. We live near pinot growing country and find ourselves drinking that most often but I think this shape works just fine for all varietals, we don’t get too fussy around here. I looked at all the fancy brands at various kitchen stores but kept coming back to surreptitiously open a box of these in the aisle at Target to hold them.

These glasses have everything I like: a dramatic bowl, a nice thin lip, and they are easy to replace. They are a nice height too, the stem isn’t too long (I tend to knock over taller wine glasses) or so short you cannot get your fingers around it when you’re feeling like holding the glass properly. We bought ours in a set of 8 and all but one has held up to hand washing for well over a year now. And most pleasingly, they made a beautiful ringing noise when clinked. For how much these get used in our house the price is worth it, and they were even more affordable because we used a few Target gift cards for the purchase.

all buttoned up.: Printz. Three online photo printing services compared, with one clear winner.

Thermoworks Thermapen and Oven Thermometer – Cooking For Engineers. This links to a giveaway, and I wanted to note that this is their favorite.

GABIFRESH: Totally InStyle. Congrats on Gabifresh who announced her plus-sized fashion column in InStyle!

Baguette Bag | The Urban Grocer. It’s perfect! A zip up bag to keep your fresh baguette warm on the way home from the bakery.

Links from the Food Universe, delicious:days. I’m looking right at her recommendation for the GIR Spatula here. I love spatulas that don’t need to be taken apart to be cleaned, and this one comes in so many great colors.

Not too serious, not too silly board games | Ask MetaFilter. I like the cooperative games like Pandemic, it’s the players against the game itself.

We bought a microwave! I’ve often said that we didn’t have room in our tiny kitchen but this one is a microwave that fits into a corner (queue triumphant music). The back is rounded (shown below) and since it’s as tall as it is wide it doesn’t take up too much countertop space. It’s cute right? It looks like those big tvs some of us grew up watching. When we were surveying the kitchen trying to figure out where we could put a microwave we decided the corner was really the only option and I was shocked to find out that somebody actually makes one.

This little number goes by the sexy name of the Whirlpool WMC20005YW which is white. There are also black and brushed silver options.

Showing the rounded back of the microwave, cute huh?

The back of the inside of the microwave is also rounded, there is a turntable inside. The microwave is tiny but it does fit an 11-inch dinner place. In the picture above I showed some plates from Ikea (the Ikea 365 brand) that feel like really large plates but fit just fine inside. It’s got buttons for Defrost, Reheat and Popcorn and you can choose your power level.

Note: This is what I originally said, see the next paragraph for why the microwave is awesome and I’m dumb. It’s not all perfect though. The inside of the microwave is only six inches high from the surface of the turntable to the top of the inside and it looks like it might be a bit cramped. That said, the orange mixing bowls shown above are pretty tall and fit inside with plenty of clearance. When I am taking a soup bowl out of the microwave it does take a little more care since I have to grab it from both sides to ease it out. The microwave lacks a keypad so you cannot just type in “2-0-0″ to zap something for two minutes, you have to hold down the time button. It doesn’t take long for it to count up to the 2:00 mark (it counts by five second increments for the first minute, 15 second increments for the second minute and then thirty seconds after that) but it’s not quite as convenient as being able to hit a few buttons. There is an “add 30 seconds” option for when things area already heating and I’ve already started taking the lazy girls option of hitting the heating button just once, hitting start and then pressing the “add 30″ button a few times once it’s already going. These are all compromises I was happy to make for something that doesn’t take up all my countertop space.

Update: Martha mentioned in the comments that you can put food inside, close the door and hit the start button to get 30 seconds going, then you can just hit the start button again for 30 second increments. Which is perfect! Huge thanks to Martha for pointing out the lazy shortcut I was apparently too lazy to find on my own. I will note that this is in the manual, I just didn’t actually read it.

It’s the first time in years and years that we’ve had a microwave. We decided to get one because we’ve pretty much cut bread out of our diets and the toaster wasn’t getting much use. Up until now we’ve reheated leftovers by steaming them on the stovetop, a process which works out nicely but does take a wee bit more time than a microwave. Aaaand since our schedules mean we don’t end up home together for dinner most nights having the option to zap leftovers was sounding better and better. Since we got it I’ve been making excuses to heat things up and I stand there watching them turn around and around like I’m six years old again.

The First Canon Lenses You Should Buy | The Wirecutter.

ThinkGeek :: Static Electricity Eliminator. A small battery-less gadget that attaches to your keychain and helps you dispel (or know when to) static electricity. I need this because during dry conditions I grow fearful of the pain that I associate with touching my car door. Via Ask Metafilter in a question regarding dry winter air and getting continuously shocked by pushing a cart at Costco.

outgrow.me, a marketplace for the successfully funded and produced Kickstarter campaigns. Via Swiss Miss.

MAKR. A shop full of simple leather, canvas and metal goods. I like all the bags and wallets but what I’m really drooling over is those hooks! Via Freshly Picked.

My friends Freshly Picked and The Alison Show got together as The Craft Pack and made a book full of delightful and easy (really, seriously) DIY holiday gifts. The book is called A Hip Handmade Holiday: Gifts For Everyone On You List For $10 Or Less and I super duper love it. It’s a PDF download and includes nine how-to videos, pro tips and lots and lots of printables.

Susan and Alison gave a presentation at Camp Mighty last month and Alison said (to applause) that if your idea of crafting is printing something onto sticker paper and slapping it on a jar, then this book is for you. There are also project with great instructions that teach you a technique and give some room to improvise if you’d like.

There are projects for women, men, pets, the house, things to treasure for years and those gifts for last minute print-and-glue moments. Susan and Alison have curated their offerings incredibly well so the book offers just a few projects for each category but every single one is gorgeous, clever and well explained. If you want to follow each project by the numbers they’re great, but there is also room to use the technique as a starting point. There are pro tips and how-to videos scattered throughout the book. The printables include every holiday card you could wish for, all the stencils you need and stickers to cover treats served in jars, paint cans and bottles.

I’m highly impressed with the balance they’ve struck here and if this is the type of quality that can come through non-traditional forms of publishing I clearly need to be paying closer attention. Susan and Alison have labeled this book “No. 1″ and I hope there are many more to come.

I’m a little obsessed with the Ho Ho Ho pillows.

Just so you know: If you buy the book through the link here I get a percentage. That percentage goes right back into hosting costs for this here website which are doubling due to higher traffic. This isn’t something I’m complaining about. Just, you know, noting. So thanks.

As a way of saying hello The Craft Pack is offering a $50 Michael’s gift card to Not Martha readers. Yay, thank you The Craft Pack!

If you’d like to enter just leave a message with this post, and if you want answer this question: Have you ever sent a DIY gift to a family member? What was the most successful or the least? (My answer: a trio of candied nuts were beloved, but the hand knit scarves mostly got a polite thank you.) You’ve got until next Tuesday, Dec. 18th at 12 noon Pacific (my) time to enter, at that point I’ll close comments. The fine print applies. Good luck! Closed, thanks to everybody for entering!

Earlier this year I accidentally donated our pepper grinder to Goodwill. Don’t worry, it was clean. We’d been decluttering the kitchen and my just washed and reassembled clear lucite pepper grinder went into the donate box. I replaced it with this OXO Good Grips Pepper Grinder which isn’t as pretty but I love it. The part you grab to turn is rubberized so it’s easy to grind. But most importantly for me, the actual grinding bits are at the top. You have to flip it over to grind over food but this means that when I retrieve it from it’s little kitchen shelf any loose pepper doesn’t fall out. Which is great because in my awkward and tiny kitchen I store the pepper grinder on a spot over my head. It’s easy to set the grind, and the other end unscrews so there is a nice wide opening for refilling. Two kitchen gadget thumbs up.

Urban Craft Uprising, the winter edition, is coming up very soon here in Seattle! It’s December 1st and 2nd, 11am to 5pm at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. As usual there are free craft demos and book signings as well as a swag bag for the first 100 people. Don’t wory, if you cannot make it in time to grab a bag they have have an hourly raffle. And this year there is a $1 coat check, so hopefully those aisles will be a little easier to navigate (the show is nearly too popular for it’s own good). I’m excited by all the artisan food vendors they have, and the number of new vendors as well. This is my favorite sort of shopping!

Klein Bottle Openers | Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories.

General Store & Community Market | MARKET | west elm. I’m digging West Elm’s curated marketplace.

ThinkGeek :: Portal Cookie Cutters. I want these!

Introducing Mark and Graham at Apartment 34. Erin invites us to see Williams-Sonoma’s latest shop, that will fill your life with awesome monogrammed goods.

My New Hygge and West Wallpaper is HERE!, Lisa Congdon. I am absolutely loving this wallpaper and eyeing my house to see if it might fit somewhere.

Get Cabiria High End Plus Size Into Stores by Cabiria Style — Kickstarter. This campaign looks worth backing, I even fell for the very first dress they show on their Kickstarter page. I love that one of the extras is a coloring book.

I have serious cardigan envy. I cannot wear wool, not even cashmere, so each year I gaze longingly at the cozy sweaters other people wrap themselves in. This year I decided I needed a big, enveloping Vince-like sweater coat. (A note to Vince: I will pay your Vince-prices if you make me a wool- and yak-free sweater to buy. Please?) I need this sweater so I have something appropriate to snuggle into when I am inevitably seated too close to the front door of a restaurant where the oh so cold air keeps getting let in, my current plan of many layers of fleece and multiple scarves is getting old. Here is what I’ve found so far:

On the left: The Manon cardigan by Line, at Saks Fifth Avenue. I love this sweater so much I’m considering buying a second. The collar is snuggly like a scarf, the sleeves are tight enough that they don’t get in the way when you’re eating dinner, and the nice deep pockets give you a spot to hide your phone. This looks dark gray from a distance but it’s made up of teal and taupe yarns that add some nice depth up close.

(You can also find the Manon in charcoal being sold under the John&Jenn label right now. It’s on sale, so no returns, and note that shipping from that Line specific site, which is in Canada, to the US will be about $30.)

On the right: The Hinge Scallop Cardigan at Nordstrom. This is nice and slouchy, the knit is dense and it feels like it’s hugging you. The sleeve cuffs won’t get in the way, but there aren’t any pockets. As far as beige goes this is a cool toned beige (Stone Cobbler is the listed color). The only reason I won’t be keeping this one is that I personally look terrible in the color no matter how much I keep trying to convince myself I can pull it off.

Does anybody out there have any secret spots where one can find cozy knitwear that is great looking and doesn’t have any wool? Please do share, I’m running out of places to look!

Sally J Shim – Talking Hands Tattoos. Pretty brilliant temporary tattoos.

swissmiss | String Art Necklace.

New at Purl Soho: Utility Canvas! – the purl bee. I love the Utility Canvas bags, and they come in a bunch more colors than last time I checked in on them.

When I was getting ready to head off to NYC for the HP/Project Runway trip I ran into a neat series of coincidences. I asked Rena Tom for a recommendation and she pointed me towards Sarah Loertscher, a jewelry designer right here in Seattle. Rena wasn’t aware of this but it turns out that Mila Hermanovski (who appeared on Season 7 of Project Runway as well as Project Runway All Stars) had commissioned Sarah to create a jewelry line for her Fall/Winter 2012 runway show. Sarah has a set of earrings, Structure Earrings No.25, from the runway collection for sale on her site which happened to be the same as the pair of earrings Mila wore when she appeared on Episode 3 of the current season of Project Runway. And then I found out that Mila was working with Jamie of Design Milk and would be joining us for the trip.

Mila was delightful and I really enjoyed chatting with her. And on the first day of the trip she wore Sarah’s Hex Bracelets.

Sarah told me that Mila snagged this necklace off of one of the models after the runway show so it became known as Mila’s necklace. She was wearing it at the Project Runway 10th Anniversary Party, shown above.

The earring that Mila wore in episode three of season ten of Project Runway.

The three images above belong to Sarah Loertscher, used with permission. Top image, Left: Mila Hermanovski and Jamie Derringer at the Project Runway 10th Anniversary Party, Mila is wearing a necklace made by Sarah Loertscher. Right: Mila Hermanovski wearing Sarah Loertscher’s Hex Bracelets, photo taken with permission, obviously. Apologies for the small images, both are from my Instagram stream.

My friend (and old conference roommate) Gayla Trail has published a delightful book called Drinking In The Summer Garden which is available in both paperback and e-book format. If you’re in the midst of gathering what has grown in your garden, or if you are like me and a little clueless on where to start, this book will be incredibly helpful. It is full of recipes for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, infusions and syrups and a spread of both sweet and savory foods. You can take a peek at some pages over here.

Gayla’s site You Grow Girl keeps up with her gardening and she’s published three books that make even me think gardening and container gardening is something I might be able to handle: You Grow Girl, Grow Great Grub: Organic Food From Small Spaces and Easy Growing: Organic Herbs and Edible Flowers from Small Spaces. She’s pretty awesome.

I read in bed before going to sleep and usually Scott falls asleep before me so I have to be quiet which is a problem because this book makes me laugh out loud. I insist you go read it. And if you don’t already read Jenny Lawson’s site, The Bloggess, I insist you go read that too. Also she’s on her book tour and, yay!, she’s going to be here in Seattle this Thursday and Friday. See you there, yes? Yes.

We recently replaced our dishes because our collection had become terribly mismatched. People, dishes that all stack together make me feel like some bit of my life is set in order. My very favorite new dishes are these low bowls from West Elms’s Organic Shaped Dinnerware. They are a perfect soup plate, which I’ve professed my love for before. They are perfect for salads and pastas and things that include a runny sauce as well as being perfect for carrying over to eat in front of the television. Which we do most nights. Soup plates are, I’ve found out, sort of elusive so I might justify buying more.

I’ve mentioned this before: I have trouble feet. They are long and narrow with a high arch and oh-so-tender skin. They are Princess and the Pea feet and generally unfit for wearing heels. So I was really happy to find these Fiddle String wedges in one of my favorite comfortable shoe stores, Clarks. The leather upper hugs my feet well and balances out the weight distribution and I don’t just slide down into the toes (and it nicely hides the blue vein that that stands out so well through my pasty white skin). The cork wedges are lightweight and give enough cushion to keep me happy. When I was trying them on in the store a lady stopped to rave about how comfortable she finds them. Sold.

When I was shopping for bicycles there was one among the batch that felt like a machine built to hold me rather than just a bicycle. That is sort of the same experience I had trying these on, they felt like a thing for my feet rather than shoes. I sound ridiculous, I am fully aware, but for some reason I think that you should know this. Or at least know this is how my brain works. A thing for my feet, there you go.

Let’s just pretend that I am wearing a more compatible toenail color here, and that it had been more recently and expertly applied:

The first time I wore these was to a night out that involved a bit of standing (at the bar at Canon where an insanely delicious cocktail including mezcal and shaken egg white was consumed) and walked a few blocks (to seek out High 5 Pie) and then when I got home I went around opening windows and I didn’t take the shoes off first, they weren’t bothering me. My feet felt great later. It was a world record, um at least when it comes to my feet and heels. So I bought two pairs, the black and the orange. I admit in a fit of indecision I panic-ordered all the colors and I can tell you the orange is a softer and lighter color in person and the platinum is a warmer tone and more metallic than shown online.

So, if you normally find yourself unable to wear heels but find yourself desiring a summer wedge I encourage you to gives these a try. Also they are on sale right now, bonus! At: Clarks, Amazon, Zappos, Endless, Piper Lime, 6pm.

Alright I’m ready for more. Help a girl out, have you found any surprisingly comfortable heels lately?

Levis at JC Penny – just cheap, or crap? | Ask MetaFilter. I didn’t know this but I’m not surprised: “TJ Maxx totally sells cheaply made just for them clothes under designer names that are carried in major dept stores (my cousin works designing a lot of this stuff).”

Bicycle Frame Handle by Walnut Studiolo — Kickstarter. A handle that sits low enough on the frame to make carrying a bicycle much easier. The time for this has passed but I’m keeping an eye on their site for when they become available. Via Swissmiss.

Last year I started washing my wavy hair using a modified Curly Girl method*. In short: I avoid harsh shampoos that contain sulfates as well as conditioners that contain silicones, which can be too heavy for my hair type. I wash my hair with conditioner on a daily basis and only shampoo about once a week. It’s been remarkably great for my hair.

When I started researching appropriate shampoos and conditioners the Tea Tree Tingle line from Trader Joe’s was one that came recommended in the Naturally Curly forums. I have been using them ever since. Apparently they are made by a famous salon (I have no idea which) and are just as good as their pricey counterparts.

I had read about people not shampooing their hair for years but I have oily hair and didn’t pay much attention because I figured that wouldn’t be an option for me. It turns out that you can scrub your hair and scalp using conditioner, rather than shampoo, and get everything clean without drying out your hair because conditioners have enough surfectants in them to carry away oils and dirt. This technique has been especially great when I shower in the morning and work out in the afternoon and need to wash my hair again, my hair emerges clean and nice smelling and I don’t have to worry about it drying out. And, I have to admit, there is something very freeing about being able to pile my head full of stuff and massage away like I’m an Herbal Essences commercial. It’s so anti all the “use a very little shampoo and only at the roots of the hair and only a little conditioner but for the love of all that is holy only at the ends of your hair or dire consequences!!!1!” that I was taught in the 90s.

I do use a good amount of conditioner to work through my scalp and down to the ends of my (currently too long) hair so I buy half a dozen bottles at a time but at $4 each it works out to the same amount as a fancy product. Yay!

I’ve included the Tea Tree Tingle body wash in the photo above because it is really easy to confuse the bottle with the other two because, you know, Trader Joe’s is bustling and crowded and it can means you grab what you think is the thing and just want and get the hell outta there without noting that the transparent color of the top of the bottle is slightly less transparent than the bottle you meant to buy. I bought this bottle of body wash by mistake but I have to admit it’s made a great hand soap when diluted and put into a foaming hand soap bottle.

* (To read more about the Curly Girl method read this great wrap up by Laura Lee as well as this list of introductory articles and this recap of method and terms at the Naturally Curly forums.)

Do you have an curly/wavy hair tips? Any products that work great? Please do share, I can use the help!

Urban Craft Uprising, the DIY and crafts fair filled with awesome, is having it’s summer show next weekend. It’s July 7th and 8th from 11am to 5pm and it’s held at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. I’ll be shopping and hope to bump into you there!

Summer hasn’t quite arrived here yet but this book has been brightening my overcast afternoons. I’ve been a devoted reader of the Sprinkle Bakes site for ages and am completely delighted by her book: Sprinkle Bakes: Dessert Recipes to Inspire Your Inner Artist. It’s filled with basic recipes and instructions to for incredibly charming and creative desserts. I am completely in love with everything inside.

The instructions are all clearly photographed and explained so you can feel like a rock star while you’re working.

The projects are all so cheerful and unexpected. She provides templates in the back of the book for those things which are a bit more complicated.

These Mehndi Hand Cookies are amazing, right?

I am so very in love with these glittery snow apples. I’m going to make these the moment leaves start falling off the trees.

Huge congratulations to Alice on the release of her cookbook Savory Sweet Life!

I love the way the chapters are divided by occasion, but not necessarily special occasions. “Lunch Between Friends”, “Snow Day”, “Block Party” and “Summer Fun in the Sun” are all chapters.

The recipes are droolworthy but not intimidating, it’s all crowd pleasing food made extra special. There are useful tips for preparation, storing and variations. The photos are bright and clear and not only make me excited to make the food but also to get to the part where you get to share it with people you love. And there are lots of recipes you can prepare ahead of time (including two breakfast casseroles that you assemble the night before, I adore those) so you get more time to spend with people.

This is a salad I’ll be making tonight.

These waffles were inspired by a now-closed restaurant here in Seattle called the Jitterbug which was a block away from the first house Scott and I lived in when we moved here. We miss those waffles too so extra thanks for this recipe Alice!

Don’t buy this stuff right now | The Wirecutter. This is a note for Scott who has been longing for a larger television.

A Wearable Planter by wearableplanter on Etsy. I love the little ones that mount on bicycles!

Bike Season at Oh Happy Day. If I didn’t already have a bike I love I’d probably be making an excuse to head to San Francisco to check out these made by Public Bikes.

Help me avoid a fitting room meltdown. | Ask MetaFilter. Oh boy do I need the advice in this thread. I have been known to have fitting room meltdown during a session with a personal stylist at Nordstrom, so I know I have it bad.

Toothy The Tooth Ferry Pillow & Illustrated Story Book. I’m still a bit tooth focused around here.

Go buy them so we can have more awesome bloggers make more awesome cards.

By The Jealous Curator.

By Amy Furgeson of Old Sweet Song.

By Melanie Biehle of Inward Facing Girl.

How can we recreate/mimic the Anthropologie fashion look, but on a budget? | Ask MetaFilter.

A CUP OF JO: Lookmatic glasses. This is a reminder to myself to get myself some new glasses this year.

In addition to having me along for their party at Alt Summit earlier this year Rue La La gave me a bit of store credit to spend so that I could report on what the experience was like. Sounds like a crazy good dream right? I’m not going to lie to you, it completely was.

In case you’re not already familiar with them here are the basics: Rue La La is a curated shopping site that offers impressive discounts on goods or coupons for women, men, kids and household stuff on a daily basis and travel and local finds for a bunch of cities on a weekly basis. In addition to shops featuring single brands they have collections of things like winter boots or summer dresses or, a recent favorite of mine, things that will get you ready for Sunday brunch (they had everything from specialty coffee to electric griddles). They carry a lot of high end brands and I have to admit I was a little afraid I might not find anything for our mostly practical household but it turns out that I shouldn’t have worried, they have a great mix of both the things you need and delicious eye candy (at impressive discounts). Rue La La is one of the oldest quick sales sites, have a huge number of shoppers and, I can say with confidence, are super nice people.

One of the things I like about Rue La La is that when you buy your first item you pay $9.95 for shipping and for the next 30 days your shipping is covered. I bought a good featherbed, pictured above, which came in a ginormous heavy box and I was grateful for that shipping price. And, oh my gosh people, having a featherbed is like sleeping on a cloud that is warm but not too warm and puffy but not too puffy. When it arrived we unpacked it and laid it out on the bed to let it fluff up (I hereby heart baffles). Scott flopped down on it and refused to leave for a solid ten minutes. We love it.

It is good to keep in mind that shipping is covered when you find something you like because things get sold out very quickly. One morning I found a fantastically priced Diane Von Furstenberg dress (silk print with a twist front, I could have worn it for so many occasions) and in the time it took me to decide between two sizes they were both sold out. Urgh. I refilled my coffee cup and by the time I got back to the table all of the sizes were sold out. Poof. The site has a shopping bag but they also wisely offer a “Quick! Buy It” button that I learned to use for items I was certain about. Each of the shops stay up for 48 hours and if you spot something you wanted but is sold out there is a “Still Want It?” option you can use and the folks at Rue La La told me that about 50% of the time they are still able to get the deal for you.

Rue La La has mobile apps for iPhone and Android and I found the iPhone app was very easy to navigate. I used my phone to buy the gold flats pictured above while lying in bed, it kinda made me feel like a princess so I took a photo from the same spot. If there is one thing I learned at Alt Summit it’s that I’ll use gold flats far more often than I might have thought. (You are secretly jealous of my pink polka dot pajama pants.)

Sales go up daily and most appear at 11 a.m. East coast time, meaning they are at 8 a.m. here on the West Coast. At first I was feeling a little like “everything has to happen so early here” but then a friend pointed out that she was able to shop Rue La La on her phone while on the bus on her way to work in the mornings. Another friend chimed in to say that she browses the new arrivals while she is walking her dog in the morning. I find this completely charming. It’s like we are living in the future.

Scott’s rubber boots got a hole in them so we replaced them with this far nicer looking pair of slip on shoes. These were meant to serve as mud shoes for chores but he reports they are so comfortable they might become shoes for trekking around the city on particularly rainy days instead.

To help you stay on top of sales that you’re interested in Rue La La lets you set up notices. They show you what’s coming up in the week or so ahead and you can choose to have the site email or text you when the shop goes live, and there is a nice little checklist layout for it so it takes seconds to do. I was really impressed with how easy they made it. When you do order something your confirmation and shipping notice emails come from “the Rue La La Concierge” which made me laugh.

Rue La La surprised me with the variety of what they have. I knew they offered lots of clothing and accessories but I also found kitchen appliances and gadgets, home decor, luggage and even modern fireplaces (which I wish we had a spot for, I’d be all over that). I have to admit I was not expecting to find wine among the sales. The bottles pictured above are two single vineyard varieties and I’m sort of in love with the dramatic labels. We’re planning on having friends over to share. I feel weirdly grown up to have such an abundance of matching wine in my house.

One of the things I was most surprised by was how helpful I started to find the weekly travel sales as they introduce me to new hotels or destinations. We’re headed to New England in the fall and twice now lovely inns have been featured that would be perfect (and I swear sound like they are located right inside Stars Hollow). While the dates of the deals didn’t coincide with our trip I am still happy to have learned about a great place I didn’t know about before. Also, I have to admit, the island getaways are like travel porn in the middle of a gloomy day here. Rue La La also has a selection of local deals for the cities of Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington DC and (hooray) Seattle (we’re usually not on those sorts of lists). As with travel I’ve been introduced to spots around Seattle that I wasn’t familiar with yet.

Thanks for letting me a have a good look inside what you do, Rue La La!

Rue La La gave me credit to use to purchase the items I talk about above but all the opinions and observations are my own.

My cookbook club met last weekend and our book this time around was Gourmet Game Night: Bite-Sized, Mess-Free Eating for Board-Game Parties, Bridge Clubs, Poker Nights, Book Groups, and More by Cynthia Nims. I made pretzel sticks with three mustard dipping sauces. I lack proper serving bowls so I went with what I know, jars. Transporting dips in jars is ideal and even better is that at the end of the night you can take the dirty dishes home easily by simply putting the lid back on. You might recognize the jars above from some of my other projects: mug wraps I made for Real Simple, these held the optional cocoa mix, cobbler baked in jars and the big is from grapefruit tarragon infused vodka.

The pretzel sticks were made from scratch and while time consuming were worth it. I couldn’t find pretzel salt on short notice so I used chunky sea salt and it worked great. The mustard dips were easy as could be:

Herbed Mustard
• 1⁄2 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons minced tender fresh herbs (chives, flat-leaf parsley, chervil, tarragon, and/or basil)

Roasted Garlic Mustard
• 1⁄2 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons puréed roasted garlic (for me this translated into one head of roasted garlic)

Smoke and Spice Mustard (my favorite)
• 1⁄2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

You can find the full recipe for the pretzel sticks as well as the recipe for the Green Pea and Mint Spread with Crispy Pancetta over at Dishing with Cathy Casey and find a few other recipes over at the Gourmet Game Night website.

Green Pea and Mint Spread with Crispy Pancetta and Artichoke-Stuffed Mushrooms. The mint spread was surprisingly delicious.

Olive and Cheese Crakers which I couldn’t stop eating, they are savory but tender like a cookie, and Pickled Grape and Blue Cheese Skewers.

Stuffed Large Pasta Shells with Kale-Ricotta Filling and Roasted Red Potatoes with Bacon-Chive Creme Fraiche which I really loved, like itty bitty potato skins.

We also tried Aged Cheddar with Dried Cherry-Almond Chutney which was great and Polenta Squares with Spicy Sausage and Spinach. Everything was easy to eat with fingers and little fuss, which was fantastic. I didn’t try any of the desserts and I forgot to get photographs of the drinks we tried, Manhattans with Spiced Cherries, Pomegranate-Mint Fizz and Key Lime Gimlets, all of which are made in pitchers making less fuss for the host or hostess. Looking through the table of contents I think I’ll also be trying the Spicy Meatballs with Yogurt-Cucumber Dip and Mini Shepards Pies in the future.

Did we play games? Nope, our group was too large and we knew we would be have plenty to talk about. Instead we used this night as an excuse to put on our fanciest dresses and sparkliest jewelry which we all agreed we don’t get enough chances to wear. It was a huge amount of fun, thanks ladies! I highly recommend doing something similar, wearing your fancy clothes without necessarily needing to be on your best behavior is a huge amount of fun.

Last week I had the huge pleasure of rooming with Meg Keene while we were attending the Altitude Design Conference. Meg was there to speak and she had just started on her book tour for her shiny new book, A Practical Wedding: Creative Solutions for Planning a Beautiful, Affordable, and Meaningful Celebration.

I wish this book existed when I was planning my wedding. It wish it a lot, and that is a sentiment I’ve heard from a bunch of people. Meg’s site A Practical Wedding, had just started and at that point it was just her writing and starting to figure out how to navigate this big life event that so many industries have their claws into. Her site quickly became one of my favorites as it worked as a place to go get my head straight after looking at sites and magazines that were trying to sell me perfection at a huge cost. And that is exactly what this book is, a thoughtful look at what a wedding should and can be. She works through tradition (and which things these days appear expected but aren’t actually traditional), intention for your self, intention for your family and community and how to navigate all the freaky emotional stuff that appears out of seeming nowhere. It’s like having a very cool older sister who went through all this already to help guide you on what is and what isn’t important. It doesn’t look down on weddings in general, and it doesn’t discount expensive weddings but also helps you create a rocking smaller affair. It helps you anticipate things you might not focus on and tells you that you’ll need help (you will) and how to ask for it. The book is sprinkled with essays from brides (Team Practical) telling about their own experiences, good and bad. The book is written with humor, grace and perspective and never stops feeling like she is talking right to you. If you or someone you know is getting married soon I cannot tell you enough how much you need this book. And get one for the moms involved too. And the bridesmaids. Oh heck, let’s just say all of the wedding party and everybody attending should read it too.

Meg is currently on her book tour! If you are at one of the stops you simply must go see her, she is funny and engaging and awesome. She is traveling across the country on Amtrak and reporting about the trip. It’s giving me serious train envy. Also, she’ll be interviewed on NPR’s Talk of the Nation on Thursday and she lists a few other radio appearances (including Martha Stewart Radio!).

Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling | Lovely Package. I have got to sniff this perfume sometime, I love gin.

The 2011 Good Gift Games – The Morning News and defective yeti — Good Gift Games Greatest Hits.

The Cadillac of eyeglasses? | Ask MetaFilter. From the question: “I have $1000 in a health savings account and three weeks to spend it or lose it. I’ve decided to buy the world’s awesomest pair of glasses.” I giggled at the suggestion of getting ten pairs of Warby Parker glasses. Lots of suggestions for NYC options here.

This is The Bust DIY Guide to Life and I desperately wish I had this book when I was around high school age. They’ve collected things from the magazine and included a whole bunch of new stuff on everything from decorating to beauty to savings and lay it all out in clear way that makes me feel like I could take on the world. The book is thick, over 360 pages, and is like a nice heavy textbook. I appreciate that the projects include real life needs like how to lower the front of a waistband of an a-line skirt and how to cut your bangs so that you won’t regret it. There is information on sewing, cooking, gardening, financing a small business and even a nude paint-by-numbers. Debbie and Laurie, I love the book!

Marie of the fabulous site Make and Takes recently came out with her first book (yay Marie!) called Make and Takes for Kids. It covers 50 weeks of seasonal projects easy enough for kids, and you too, to take on. Each is clearly explained and photographed and they all have a bit of cleverness that makes me want to make them myself. This would make a great gift for any crafty family and would give them a year full of activities while reflecting on holidays and seasons. If you’d like to read more about it go visit the Make and Takes for Kids book page.

Are you near Portland (the one in Oregon) next weekend? I highly recommend heading to The Portland Bazaar. It’s filled with excellent handmade goods from makers curated by Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge. The sneak peaks are enough to make me weak in the knees. And I hear that West Elm is serving breakfast to the first 100 people in the doors, nice. There are also DIY classes, book signings and demos including chocolate tasting and terrarium making. If I didn’t have something to be at up here in Seattle I’d be making my way to Portland to join you lucky things.

I got a copy of The Colette Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnick and I think I swooned a little. I’ve been a fan of Colette Patterns and her tutorials for a long time. The book contains five principles (a thoughtful plan, a precise pattern, a fantastic fit, a beautiful fabric, and a fine finish) and five patterns (a scalloped-hem skirt, flutter-sleeve blouse, sweetheart neck sheath dress, asymmetrical flounce dress, and a lined dress with gathered sleeves). Each section of the book takes you through creating each garment, teaching you techniques as you work.

The book has my favorite spiral binding so it will stay open while you work, as well as a set of patterns in the back.

The book takes you through the basics, showing tools and techniques very clearly explaining the benefits and uses for each kind.

Each section of the book uses one of the patterns in the back and acts as a complete lesson in sewing a garment from start to finish. This is how I learn, I need a real project to work all the way through, so I adored how this book was arranged. You build your knowledge with each project.

She gives very basic and practical tips so you don’t have to struggle. Every step is clearly displayed and explained.

And of course all the items in the book are things you definitely want to wear. Easy enough to take on, with just enough clean detail to be super cool. Just look at this top, gorgeous. If you want to learn to sew your own clothes and need a set of lessons to start you off this book is perfect.

update: Well that was fast. I’m all sold out of Dahlia pins for the moment. Thanks so much to everybody who is helping me raise money!

In less than two weeks I’m headed to Camp Mighty and part of what we’re doing is raising money for Charity:Water. I’ve decided to stick with something I know and sell a few of the Dahlia pins which I wrote a tutorial for a few years ago.

These were originally created to be a Mother’s Day gift but I think they’d work equally well as a Christmas gift or perhaps as a hostess gift for Thanksgiving.

Want one? I do hope so! Please visit my Etsy shop called clove+clover for Dahlia Pins in many colors. I have red, dark red, plum, pink, bright pink, yellow, lavender, light gray and dark gray. These are made from my favorite all-wool felt which is lovely, thick and does not have any of the shine that most craft felts display. I have a limited supply of felt, but I’ll be re-listing colors that I still have in stock.

Each pin will also have the secret pocket in the back where you can store a small photograph or message. I’ll be adding more specific photographs to the Etsy listings as they are created. Go visit clove+clover if you’d like one, and thanks.

Here is what some of our other members are doing to raise money for Charity:Water:

• Lisa Congdon is selling gorgeous prints.
• Amy is selling virtual raffle tickets for a goody bag.
• Erica is bakign banana bread. Yum.
• Leslie is selling fine art prints for $25.

I’ll update with more as our team continues to roll out awesome fundraising ideas. If you’d like to read more about Charity:Water and what we’re all up to please see the excellent post at Just a Titch. Thanks to you all!

Guess what? I get to interview Jack Bishop tomorrow! You know, from Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen:

He’s in town talking about the Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook, 2,000 Recipes from 20 Years of America’s most Trusted Food Magazine. I’m totally geeking out over this. So, do you have any you’ve always wanted to know? I’m your girl. Post questions here and I’ll bring back answers.

I’m petite and struggle to find jeans I like. It seemed like I had a stretch of (long) years there where I just couldn’t find any that fit correctly. (Does everybody in the world have skinny thighs except for me?) But! I’ve recently found two kinds that make me very happy, it’s a high/low situation here:

The first are Joe’s Provocateur in a bootcut fit, I believe the pair I bought were petite. (Updated to add: I’ve just learned Provocateur are always petite. Thanks SR!) I found them at Nordstrom, $172. Now, I don’t normally spend that much on a single piece of clothing but these have been so very perfect to dress up or down that I find it was very worth it. These are bootcut with a high enough rise to eliminate the worst of the muffin top effect without making them feel like Mom Jeans. They are a nice dark blue without any fading or whiskering and a tidy fold ironed into the center front and back of the leg (which will fall out after a few washes if you’d rather not have it).

The second are Old Navy jeans in Sweetheart petite fit, again bootleg. I bought these on sale ($17.50!) but it looks like they are regularly closer to $30. The rise is similarly high but-not-too-high and the darkest wash isn’t too faded or treated looking. I think I might need backup pairs of both styles.

Today I’m happy to be a stop on the blog book tour for CakeSpy‘s new book: CakeSpyPresents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life. Yay Jessie! I live in Seattle and feel very lucky to know Jessie and see how she has grown her business into a real life shop how she manages to spread bits of joy wherever she goes. The book is filled with her sometimes silly and always awesome baked goods reflect her certain style. Cadbury Creme Eggs Benedict? S’moreos? Cupcake stuffed cupcakes? Deep-fried cupcakes on a stick? All these wonders can be found inside along with her illustrations. It’s more awesome in one place than you could hope for.

I’m so happy to let you know that my friend Kelly Wilkinson, Make Grow Gather has a new book out! Congratulations! It’s called Weekend Handmade it’s it’s full of useful and fun projects. Congratulations Kelly! And with her book tour stop here today she is sharing some thoughts on Saturday afternoons, enjoy:

Hi everyone! I’m so thrilled to be here at with Not Martha as part of the
blog tour for Weekend Handmade. Over the course of the tour, I¹m breaking my
ideal weekend into its different parts, and posting about each part on a
favorite blog of mine. I’ve been lucky enough to spend a leisurely weekend
afternoon with Megan so it only feels natural to be here for the tour ­
thanks Megan!

Saturday Afternoons

An ideal Saturday afternoon for me is equal parts action and leisure. And
nothing embodies that more than being in the garden. There are plenty of
weekends that require errands or full days of work, but if I can being
completely indulgent and moving at my own pace, you¹ll find me in our little
vegetable patch in the fresh air, with dirt under my fingernails, planting
or weeding or harvesting.

I created a whole chapter of projects inspired by the outdoors, including
decorated planters and a tea towel apron that¹s equally at home in the
backyard as the kitchen. If I feel particularly ambitious, I¹ll even set up
some sunprint cloth to ³print² while I¹m out back. But inevitably, I get
thirsty. Megan and I both love a good shandy ­ and I happen to think they
taste best sipped out of a big Mason jar. This requires some planning ahead
for me, because I live in a San Francisco apartment. Our garden access is
out the kitchen door, down two flights of stairs, and through a little
alley. My husband and I like to mix half ginger ale (or lemonade), half
beer, and a lot of freshly-squeezed lime while we¹re up in the kitchen, and
bring it downstairs. But if you ­ like me ­ don¹t regularly keep lemonade or
ginger ale, here¹s a quick little trick so you¹re never without shandy
fixings:

Quick Shandy:
Squeeze 1-2 lemons or limes into a Mason jar
Add a couple tablespoons of sugar, fill halfway with water, screw the lid
closed and shake to dissolve the sugar. Open back up, fill the rest of the
way with beer and you have yourself a homemade shady!

Photo credit: Photos by Thayer Allyson Gowdy.

I bought the Clarisonic Mia last spring after reading about it on a few sites of people I trust. I read the hype from the company (your pores will be smaller! your wrinkles will be fewer! you will glow from within!) but I didn’t really believe it. I’ve been using it all summer and last week I realized that despite faithfully applying SPF 30 I’ve had way fewer breakouts than I normally would. In fact I’ve stopped worrying that I’m going to get an inconvenient pimple (is there any other kind?) before an event where I need to look halfway decent. Which is so, so nice.

I have noticed that my pores seem less horrible than they used to. I think this is the result of a consistent cleaning routine rather than the Mia working magic. But that consistency turns out to be what I needed. I never skip thoroughly washing my face because it’s convenient and quick and right within reach (no more running out of fresh wash cloths). It did seem like a lot of money to plunk down for an oversized toothbrush but I’m hereby declaring it worth it.

I briefly looked at the larger model, the Clarisonic Plus, because it can also be used as a body brush (it holds larger body brushes as well as the smaller face brushes). But I read reviews that the larger one is bulky enough that it is awkward to use on your face. I also considered the Clarisonic Classic, which is as small as the Mia but has two speeds. For the added cost I didn’t think I’d miss that feature. You can easily compare the models over at the Clarisonic site.

One thing I don’t like? The Mia is all smooth rounded lines, which actually makes it difficult to store in or near the shower. I could use a flat end so it could stand up, or at least a little loop so I could hang it. As it is you put it down and it sort of rocks or slides one way or the other.

It comes in a bunch of colors. Most of the colors are in the pastel range, and there are a few patterns that might be exclusive to specific retailers but I bought the basic white one. Since I bought mine they came out with a poppy red model and a fetching Kelly green color that would have been my choice. My other pick is the charcoal gray. You can also buy replacement brush heads, sensitive brush heads or deep pore cleaning brush heads (which I’m going to try next). I’ve seen the Mia at Sephora, Nordstrom and Ulta stores, which all have great return policies. As I type this the basic white one is being sold on Amazon for only $105.

Last night Grace was here in Seattle on the Design*Sponge at Home book tour and I was lucky enough to get to attend the crafting class that she’s holding as part of book tour.

Here is Grace demonstrating stamping our designs into wax. Hi Grace!

Know what we did? We wood burned our own wax seals. And then we got to practice stamping them into the hot wax.

In retrospect it seems incredibly dangerous. I mean, we were sitting in a store with wood floors that was filled with clothing and hanging paper decorations. Our tables were cluttered with exacto knives, hot pokers, matches and flammable wax. It was incredibly fun.

I managed to not accidentally set fire to myself or Melanie, whose hands you see here demonstrating how to do some wood burning. I’m very clumsy so reporting I didn’t burn Seattle to the ground comes as a great relief as well as a point of pride.

If you’re headed to one of the book tour events all I can advise is that you get there early, the line for her book signing wound through the store, down the stairs, out the front door and down the block. Congratulations Grace!

Also in the store that night was this installation by Matthew Parker. These were all hand folded geometric paper shapes and it was, there is no better way to say this, really cool. His business card says “stay rad” on it. Awesome.

Cheap, Cheerful Flowers For Your Next Party | The Awl. How to juj grocery store flowers.

swissmiss | BuckyCubes. Cubes! I think I have just found my go-to Christmas gift.

Splurge vs steal! « Door Sixteen. The iHurst DIY kit for a make your own diamond encrusted replica human skull.

The Crazy Target Experience :: Missing Missoni. – Modern Kiddo. The Missoni stuff was so gone from my Target as well. I got there so late that they’d even taken down the displays indicating where the stuff used to be.

Cool Tools: Coby CV198 Noise Cancelling Headphones. Noise cancelling headphones are an absolute must have for air travel. Must.

The Cat Ball. I don’t have cats (allergic) but I suspect they’d get a big obsessed over this. It’s made by a local Seattlite! I’m thinking presents for your feline pets, yes?

Cool Tools: Fels-Naptha.

As you might know the Missoni for Target stuff was briefly in stores earlier this week. I say briefly most reports it was all gone about an hour after the stores opened. Modern Kiddo has a great report from the scene, complete with a spy picture from Shutterbean showing some shopper taking four whole carts of stuff.

When I saw the Missoni line I saw something familiar. The picture above shows a skirt I bought from Erin MacLeod. I think the skirt was made from a vintage fabric and is similar enough that when I put a picture on Twitter last Thursday Natalie asked if I was sitting in the Missoni for Target pop-up shop that was going on that evening. Sadly, no, I didn’t make it to the pop-up shop.

By the time I made it to a Target the day it was released the shelves that formerly help Missoni items were bare. I encountered one other Missoni hopeful and by the time I left she’d only found one child’s sweater. So, do you think Target will do another run of the Missoni stuff? Should we all brace ourselves for round two?

WHolman Design by wholman on Etsy. Bowls made from old road sights. I want to display my fruit in one of the blue arrow bowls.

Cool Tools: Kryptonite Evolution U-Lock. What to use to keep your bicycle safe.

Shopping for Men: The Stores (NOTCOT). Where do men find all those good clothes? These places.

Back to School Supplies (for Adults!) | Family Style. Great sources here.

Fallen Princess: Costco. No go. While I myself have a fondness for Costco because it’s local (Cotco #1 Kirkland holla!) I have to admit there hasn’t been many memorable Costco purchases other than my many flats of canned foods for our emergency kit.

Jordan Ferney (Oh Happy Day!) has a very talented husband, Paul, who creates amazing oil paintings. Last year they took a bunch of orders for paintings at half price and this year they are doing it again! It’s called The Commission Project. It’s simple, you send a photo that you’d like as a painting by September 1st and you’ll get it back as an oil painting by Christmas. It’s the perfect present. And just think how relaxed you’ll be knowing you’ve gotten that awesome gift thing checked off your list way in advance. Go see the gallery. I love how he can pull emotions out of a photograph and amplify them in the painting.

This year Jordan asked me to contribute a photograph that could be used as an example. I sent in the photo above, and yes I know that it’s horribly blurry. Let me explain, I took this photograph using my very first digital camera while sitting in a cafe at a moment I didn’t really mean to take a photo. It was shortly after Scott and I moved all the way across the country to San Francisco and we were exploring our new city. I was holding up the camera but wasn’t expecting to take a picture when I saw this moment where the colors behind Scott seemed to compose themselves so I hit the shutter button. For me it represents that time in our lives, shaky and a little impulsive but everything worked out. I’m so glad to be able to take that moment from a decade ago off of my hard drive and give it a home on our wall. Yay!

Unique Geological Papercuts by Crafterall | Paper Crave. These are gorgeous.

There is a relatively new fancy technology in eyeglass lenses: free form lenses for single vision, which some manufacturers are calling “like HDTV” for glasses. Really? Will I notice that much difference with MY prescription? | Ask MetaFilter. I had no idea these existed. I don’t wear glasses much any more, but I might if I felt like I could see more clearly out of them.

swissmiss | Desk-It. A paper to-do list that is as simple as Swiss Miss’s TeuxDeux. I need this, I still only remember things if I’ve written them down on paper.

Keep Our Secrets is a children’s book printed by McSweeneys that uses heat sensitive ink that will reveal secrets as you touch it. I love this! Their children’s imprint is called McSweeney’s McMullens.

Are you at Comic Con right now? First: I’m jealous. Second: Allow me to suggest heading to see Kirby Krackle perform tonight, Thursday, at The Third Annual San Diego Comic-Concert: A Night of Geek Rock at The Stage in Downtown San Diego (6 blocks from the Convention Center) from 8:00pm – 12:00am. You can get tickets here. They put on a damn good show and you will love it, promise. Disclosure: My husband Scott plays bass for Kirby Krackle, but even if not I’d be telling you about this because as it turns out a dear friend of mine grew up with Kyle, one of the founders of the band, and Kyle plays guitar with Explone, which Scott also plays bass with. Seattle is a big-small town that way.

Kirby Krackle is also debuting their shiny brand new album, Super Powered Love, at the con and you can buy it right from them at booth #1803. There is one song in particular that is worth the purchase, you’ll know which when you hear it. Tell them I said hello! And if you speak beer geek ask Kyle about his Charging Hippo Brewing Company. I’m a picky beer drinker and can confidently say you’ll be hearing about it in the future.

Martha Stewart Faux Bois Tree Stand – Grandin Road. If we had real trees at Christmas I would absolutely buy this. It’s a wide fake tree trunk that waters your real tree. Oops! It’s actually for artificial trees.

How to Buy the Perfect Gift for Your Niece or Nephew | The Hairpin.

CB2 – bamboo dry erase. I wonder if I could fit this into my office room?

swissmiss | Just launched: Tattly. Awesome temporary tattoos created by designers.

Hi there! Today is a stop on the blog book tour for 1, 2, 3 Sew: Build Your Skills with 33 Simple Projects—Bags, Accessories, Home Accents, and More written by Ellen of The Long Thread. The book is filled with happy and useful projects and has a whole section for organizers. If you head on over the the book’s page you can find a preview of some pages, and you can also see the book trailer on YouTube. It’s stop motion and I’m sort of in love with it.

There is also a free tutorial for the Market Tote which is completely adorable. I must make one.

Next up on the blog book tour is Modern Kiddo, and you can see the whole schedule right over here.

Morse code necklaces by Coatt. (Secret messages!)

Posters by Row Boat Press, this Night Flight diptych is also glow in the dark.

Simple jewelry by Foamy Wader. I bought myself these in silver, they are delightfully light weight.

Really fun bias tape from Polly Danger.

Gorgeous enameled jewelry by Alisha Louise, you get to chose your color for each piece. I have my eye on this pull-though necklace.

These chiffon earrings from Muchodesign, she had a whole tree of them and they were delightfully flitty. Is that a word?

An LED Sewing Kit from Sternlab which was sold by the lovely Moxie, who offers this Needle Felted Coin Cell Battery Pack tutorial so you can create your own glowy pendant.

Jewelry by Dottyspeck. I have some earrings similar to this design that I picked up from the CakeSpy Shop and adore them.

See also: I listed businesses I went to see there in a previous post. Love them all.

Urban Craft Uprising is this weekend here in Seattle! They are stuffed full of my favorite vendors, here are just a few:

• CakeSpy, paintings, cards, cute stuff
• Crystalyn Kae, fabulous handbags
• Devout Dolls, wonderfully strange dolls
• Erin MacLeod, snap together skirts (I have a skirt of hers and it gets more compliments than any of my other clothes)
• Ex Libris Anonymous, blank journals bound from old book covers
• Idolatre, perfectly different clothing
• Jill Bliss, paper and fabric goods printed with her lovely designs
• Matthew Porter Art, childrens books, illustrations and goods (he made the poster you see above)
• My Paper Crane, adorable and fun plush goods
• Sam Trout, screenprinted t-shirts and sweatshirts
• Schmancy, handmade pins and pouches
• Slow Loris, t-shirts and silkscreens with distinctive designs
• Texture Clothing, comfy, flattering cothing (my purple shirt is from Texture)
• This Charming Candy, lollipops in deliciously grown up flavors
• Yarnia, custom DIY yarns

There are so many vendors this time around that I have not heard of, and lots of them are foods (ice cream! cake pops! preserves! gluten-free treats!).

update: See which businesses I found and loved at the show.

For our anniversary Scott got me The Badass Perforated (aka Egg) Spoon. It’s made to allow the runny bits of egg white separate so you can make a tidy looking poached egg. It works!

This is the housing for the top of the elevators and stairs on the roof of the parking garage at a Target store nearby. But all I can see is a level in Portal 2.

The other day we bought new bicycle helmets. I chose a Giro Indicator and I like it because it has a little adjustment wheel on the back so it fits snuggly but it’s not headache inducing, and it’s really well ventilated. It was on sale at REI, and the one I picked (White/Silver) is even cheaper on Amazon right now. Yay for bicycling.

I’ll also mention that School House Craft is still offering 20% off for any ticket combination to the conference. Enter notmartha when you buy your tickets. This will be good up until the event (in September!).

And finally there is a pretty neat thing happening here in Seattle this Thursdsay, June 16th:

Moveable Type coming to Seattle’s Central District!
June 16th, 5-8pm
at Miss Cline Press shop
2370 East Cherry (cherry & 23rd ave)

Join us for a printing party to welcome the Moveable Type national tour on its first stop in Seattle.

Moveable Type is a mobile print shop built into the back of an old delivery truck. The truck is owned by Kyle Durrie, the proprietor of Power and Light Press in Portland, Oregon. Kyle is starting a 9+ month tour across North America. The idea is to combine her two passions of traveling and printing. Now, the truck is ready and the adventure is just beginning. Her first stop in Seattle will be in the heart of Central District at Miss Cline Press shop.

During her trip, Kyle will be visiting schools, art spaces, city parks, music and arts festivals, craft shows, parties, and anywhere else that has an interest in learning about printing the old fashioned way.

Moveable Type will be setting up its mobile print shop outside Miss Cline Press on Thursday, June 16th for an evening of printing demos, studio/truck tours, and tall tales about life on the road. This event is free and open to the public, and participants can expect to get their hands dirty and make a few prints to take home with them.

A priceless opportunity! Hope to see you there.

More info and tour dates:
www.type-truck.com
www.missclinepress.com

Feather Earrings Blue Leather by MissFluff on Etsy. I like the juxtaposition of weight and feather lightness in these earrings. Check out the feathers necklace as well.

Jordan Ferney | Oh Happy Day!: New BHLDN Party Supply Line. I love these decorations.

How to Shop at Discount Stores Without Looking Cheap | The Hairpin.

i make shiny things : Not cool Urban Outfitters, not cool. Urban Outfitters blatantly rips off an independent artist. Again. A friend of mine has one of the Truche necklaces and it’s lovely./p>

The Jackie Cardigan, a favorite of The Ugly Green Chair (who I trust to do my shopping for me).

What’s going on here? My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Today I’ve got a set of colorful Atelier LZC Tea Towels from the mirror mirror shop, which currently spans both the UK and the US. I known Paola because I read that she moved with her family from London to my old neighborhood here in Seattle so I sent her a very long email describing where I thought the best food shops and parks were. Happily she didn’t think I was a crazy person and I’ve had an excuse to visit my old home, including this one bakery that makes good soups, ever since. I absolutely love the way she has curated what is offered in her shop, and I continue to have a crush on the stacking egg cups which are, if you’ll allow me, the most practical of all egg cups I’ve seen.

f you’d like these two lovely French-designed tea towels to grace your kitchen please leave a comment with this entry, and if you’d like something to chat about (I love reading all the comments) answer this question: Have you ever been to a high tea? I have, twice, and I have to say I found the little sandwiches confounding each time. Your turn, you’ve got until Saturday, May 28th at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies. Good luck! Closed, thanks for entering!

What’s going on here? My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Today I’m tickled to have a copy of Alicia Paulson’s second book Embroidery Companion: Classic Designs for Modern Living to give to one lucky winner. Alicia is one of those people I’ve known online for almost as long as I’ve had an internet connection, and whom I’m happy to say is just as awesome and warm in person, and I adore the love and care she puts into all her work. Her take on embroidery shows a fondness for the past but has a modern and cheerful way about it. She also has a delightful blog, Posie Gets Cozy where she talks about food, dogs, gardening and the joys of hammocks. And she produces patterns for sewing, crochet and embroidery as well as offering the occasional carefully compiled craft kits which sell out crazy fast, her latest was the Daisychain ABC Sampler, and I love her felt Christmas ornaments. You can find everything at her online shop Rosy Little Things.

If you’d like to win the copy of Embroidery Companion please leave a comment with this post and, if you’d like, answer this question: What is the first craft you remember doing? Though my mother has evidence of earlier creations the first thing I remember was using cut fruit as stamps to decorate t-shirts on a rainy afternoon during a vacation. Your turn, you’ve got until Friday, May 27th at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies. Good luck! Closed, thank you so much for entering!

What’s going on here? My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Today I’ve got a copy of Gluten-free Girl and the Chef to give away, it was written by Shauna and Danny Ahern who do the site titled, you’ve perhaps guessed, Gluten-free Girl and the Chef. I talked about Shauna’s first book a few years back when I spent the day being gluten-free and discovered gluten is everywhere, including my toothpaste and my hair product. At the time I met Shauna I knew one person who had celiac, and since then I’ve met many more. It seems like every one of those I’ve met has gone through a struggle with what they cannot eat anymore and this is where Shauna comes in, she is a generous, happy, glowing soul who focuses instead on all the goodness one can uncover while eating gluten-free and she shares that. This book was written after she married Danny, the chef in the title (and one awesome guy, if I may say so), and the book covers a love story (romantic sigh) and lots of recipes and beautiful inspiring photos.

Do you live gluten-free or know somebody who does? Then this book is one you’ll want. To enter please leave a comment with this entry and, if you’d like something to talk about (I love reading all the stories!), here is a question to answer: Do you know somebody with celiac? I’ll go first: When I was living in San Francisco I learned about the disease from a co-worker who had been diagnosed earlier that year, it was completely new to me. Now it seems that a startling number of people I know have celiac. Alright, you’ve got until Thursday, May 26th at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies and as always good luck! Closed, thank you for entering!

What’s going on here? My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Today I’ve got two pairs of earrings and one hilarious ring from Dave Sheely Designs for one lucky person. Dave knows his resins and uses only the highest quality in his jewelry, they don’t discolor over time, don’t shatter, and are scratch resistant (which means a bright orange ring I have of his has stayed as lovely and shiny as the day Scott gifted it to me!). Each of his pieces is hand colored and polished, and since Dave is a friend I can tell you a whole lot of care goes into each one. His designs combine bright colors and a sense of humor and often incorporate beach glass or tiny objects meticulously placed, take a look at his Floating Red Gemstone, or the Crystal Esther Ring to see some of my favorites. Today I’ve got two pairs of textured earrings, one set of orange discs and one set of teal shapes (these earrings are super lightweight, I’ve held some), and one “Ring Finger Ring” (size 9) which is made to flip and point on it’s own. Oh gosh that is so weird, I want one.

If you’d like to win this fabulous set of jewelry from Dave Sheely Designs please leave a comment with this post and, if you’d like something to talk about, answer this question: Have you ever lost a favorite piece of jewelry? I have, in high school I had a favorite chunky silver ring that held a particular sort of teenage symbolism for me. I lost it in the dressing room of a TJ Maxx while trying on prom dresses. I was heartbroken. Ever since then I tend to obsessively check to make sure my jewelry is in place (and it’s also one big reason I didn’t want a real diamond in my engagement/wedding ring). Ok, you’ve got until Wednesday, May 25th at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies, good luck! Closed, thanks so much for entering!

What’s going on here? My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Todays giveaway is coming to you from the future. Well, sort of. Jessie Oleson, whom you might know as CakeSpy, has a book coming out later this year (late September is the most informed date I have heard, things change but this might not!) it’s called CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life and she is happy to send a copy to one lucky winner. Just, you know, in September when the book actually exists. CakeSpy, as if you don’t already know, is lover of all things sweet, purveyor of the history behind our favorite desserts, a most excellent illustrator with a certain favorite character (Cuppie, pictured here), has a column at Serious Eats, a real brick and mortar shop here in Seattle, and a rabble rouser when it comes to the question of Cake vs. Pie.

If you’d like to win a (future) copy of the CakeSpy book just lease a comment with this post, and if you’d like please answer this question: Are you Team Pie or Team Cake? I hereby publicly declare myself Team Cake, pies are great but cake has a power I cannot deny. Ok, you’ve got until Saturday, May 21st at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print, as always, applies. Good luck. Closed, thanks for entering!

What’s going on here? My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Today’s giveaway is from Joy the Baker, it’s a bunch of stuff she likes and thinks you might like too. When I asked her originally I thought her book (she’s gonna have a book coming out!) would be a great thing to giveaway, but it turns out the book is still a long ways off. But, being sweet as she is, she jumped in a offered to get together some good things, because she’s nice like that. She also hinted that there would be a few additional surprises included.

If you’d like to win the care package from Joy please leave a comment with this post, you have until 10 a.m. on Friday, May 20th to enter, the fine print applies. If you’d like something to mention please tell us: Do you have a favorite kitchen gadget? I have recently been introduced to the new style of can openers that don’t leave a sharp edge and refuse to look back (I am clumsy in the kitchen). Ok, good luck everybody! Closed! Thanks so much for entering.

What’s going on here? My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Welcome to Wednesday and it’s giveaway: a Trourbadour Tote Bag in the color of your choice from Crystalyn Kae. This is an awesome bag, it can fit a laptop (up to a 15″ Macbook), has many useful interior pockets (go see the pictures), a zipper top, and a gathered design in front that allows you to stuff the bag should you need (it can hold a water bottle and a pair of shoes, I see possibilities here). I see Crystalyn Kae bags on the shoulders of girls wherever I go in Seattle, her Topstitch Hobo seems to be a favorite (at least from my highly unscientific pole of, well, my observations) and she always has a nice big booth at UCU (a big craft and handmade goods show here in Seattle that is worth traveling for). Crystalyn Kae bags are made from an embossed coated canvas which is lightweight and waterproof (necessary here) and it can even be thrown into the washer. The bags are all made by hand in the US and it’s very good construction (I have examined it), have comfortable handles, most of them are vegan (unless otherwise noted), and have perfectly chosen contrasting lining. One of her newest items is the Pleated Clutch and I think I have a crush on it.

If you’d like to win the fabulous Troubadour Tote Bag please leave a comment with this post, and if you’d like something to chat about answer this question: Do you prefer your bags in neutrals or bright colors? Me? I have been trying my utmost to buy bags in bright colors since my wardrobe stubbornly, perhaps reliably, stays in the range of black to gray. Having colorful bags means I can accessorize to my mood without thinking too much about it. So far it’s working, I think. Alright, you have until 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 19th to enter, the fine print applies. Good luck! Closed, thank you for entering!

What’s going on here? My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Yay! Today I have the ABC Poster from Matthew Porter to give away. Matthew Porter is a Seattle illustrator and childrens book author whose distinctive style has become familiar to our household, we’ve bought several of his books for our niece and nephews. His wife, Andrea, is the administrative side of the business (and since I work with her in the GBA I can tell you she is a force). They owned the Bluebottle art gallery here in Seattle for eight years. In addition to his books he sells original art and onsies, hoodies and posters in the shop. His most familiar character is a monkey and his book Monkey World is a lot of fun, I have to admit we read through a few times before mailing it off to our niece and nephew. I absolutely love that Matthew offers his top 10 childrens books for inspiration (bottom half of the page), there are a few books there I just barely remember.

If you’d like to win the ABC poster please leave a comment with this entry. You have until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18th to enter, the fine print applies. If you’d like something to mention here is a question to answer: Did you have a book as a kid that you remember to this day? Mine was Dr. Seuss’s The First of Octember, because my birthday falls early in October and I was fascinated by the idea that there might be a month in there somewhere I hadn’t been told about! Alright, good luck. Closed, thanks for entering!

Today I’ve got a copy of Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces by Gayla Trail. This book has a perfect combination of the information you need to grow your own food in containers, planting beds or community gardens, what to plant, how to care for it, and heaps of beautiful photographs to inspire you. I’m very intimidated by gardening and I find this book to be comforting. She covers everything I might like to grow but doesn’t bury me in too many options. There are even recipes, tips on keeping or preserving and a section on how to can. This book is both a great place to start, and has lots of information for those gardeners who are looking to polish their food growing skills. And if you don’t already follow it Gayla’s site You Grow Girl is full of great information. Gayla is one of those people whom I’ve known online for years and years. (I find myself saying that a lot lately!)

If you’d like to win a copy of You Grow Girl please leave a comment with this post. You’ve got until Tuesday, May 17th at 10am PST to enter, the fine print applies. Here is something to talk about if you’d like: Have you ever eaten anything you grew yourself? I am terrible with plants so the most I’ve managed is using my own rosemary and thyme, but my dad is a gardener and grows blueberries and wild strawberries (which are delicious). Ok, good luck! Closed! Thanks for entering.

Today I’m happy to have a bunch of goods from local artist Rakka Deer, aka Kris. She’s got style and wit, and she’s got a huge number of projects going on at any given time. It amazes me. Besides Rakka Deer and her Etsy shop she has 37 Confections, Stupid Fucking Awesome, Excheckered, Pax and Ak, Skull Diggery, Suspect and Fugitive, a Tumblr and Glitter Pissing. She’s offering up some good stuff from her shop: a six pack of geek cards, a thread painting and a six pack of Inigo Montoya cards featuring a drawing she did of the character over a pile of Hello My Name Is stickers (this still makes me laugh).

And while I’m talking about Rakka Deer please allow me to mention this: Recently the town she grew up in was devastated by the tornadoes and flooding along the Mississippi so she’s raising money by holding a Bake Sale for the South, which is happening at the Cakespy Shop here in Seattle on Saturday, May 14th at 11 a.m. I’ll be baking for it (something in jars, but of course). Also on Saturday is the Great American Bake Sale
for “Share Our Strength” at the uptown Metropolitan Market starting at 9:30 a.m. Two bake sales! Seattle is in luck.

To win the package of items from Rakka Deer please leave a comment with this website. You’ve got until Saturday, May 14th at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies. If you’d like something to chat about answer this question: What is your favorite thing to make for, or buy at, bake sales? Clearly I enjoy making stuff in jars. Alright, good luck!

Today is a bit of synchronicity, my month of giveaways coincided with the blog book tour for World of Geekcraft, Step-by-Step Instructions for 25 Super-Cool Craft Projects. The author is Susan Beal, a super cool lady who writes for Craft, Stitch, ReadyMade, CraftStylish, Geekcrafts.com, has her own site at West Coast Crafty and whose many books have appeared on my site before (most recently see Modern Log Cabin Quilting). But more importantly she is one of those people whom I’ve known online (and in person) forever, very close to a decade. To learn more about the World of Geekcraft book check out the blog and you can find PDF instructions and templates for the Pow! Zap! Magnets right here. The book tour is headed over to House on Hill Road and Public School tomorrow, go and visit.

If you’d like to win a copy of World of Geekcraft please leave a comment with this post. You’ve got until Friday, May 13th at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies. If you’d like something to mention answer this question: What was your favorite geeky tv show or movie when you were a kid? Me? I’m gonna have to go with Buck Rogers. Alright, good luck! Closed! Thanks for entering!

Today I’m happy to have a selection of goods from Schmancy, a tiny but super awesome shop here in Seattle (which you should visit if you are anywhere nearby). Schmancy is owned and run by Kristen Rask, author of books, runner of Urban Craft Uprising, creator of School House Craft and general powerhouse. In a happy coincidence Schmancy launched a new website just yesterday, lookin’ good.

The package from Schmancy includes a zipper pouch and strawberry magnet hand made by Kristen herself and three collectible items from her shop: a Dunny 2010 Series from Kid Robot, one City Critters from Mindstyle (all designs are from Jim Henson’s sketchbook!) and a Droplets are from Crazy Label. Nice! To win please leave a comment with this entry and if you’d like answer this question: See that rainbow patch on the zipper pouch? It makes feel nostalgic. Have you ever collected patches as a kid? I’ll go first: I had a few patches from when I was a Brownie (which didn’t last all that long), and I used to go through my mom’s collection of patches because they were so colorful. You’ve got until Thursday, May 12th at 10am to enter, the fine print applies. Ok, good luck! Closed, thanks so much for entering!

This here website started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Today I’m thrilled to be able to offer three lucky winners (that’s you! and you! and, yes, you!) a copy of The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure. Wendy’s site, Pound, was among the very first I started reading way back-in-the-day and I followed along as she investigated her love for Laura Ingalls Wilder. I somehow missed out on the whole Little House experience and I have to say I’m jealous. (Anne of Green Gables? Frodo? Susan and Lucy? All yes. Little House? I’m feeling like I have to catch up to the rest of you.)

If you have an affinity for Little House this book is for you. To win a copy please leave a comment with this entry, and if you’d like something to talk about answer this question: Have you ever worn a bonnet? I’ll go first: Yes! But not on purpose. I remember my aunt making me wear an acclaimedly homemade bonnet one the moment I visited Oklahoma. Shortly thereafter we went through a drive-through, which I think was Sonic. I feared they had cameras and could see my polite bonnet wearing shame. I knew the adults were getting away with something because my older and younger cousins were not required to wear bonnets. Luckily the pointing and laughing were kept to a minimum. Ok, embarrassing childhood snapshot time is over. You have until Tuesday, May 10th at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies, good luck! Closed, thanks for entering!

About this: My site started ten years ago this month and to celebrate I’m giving away something each weekday. Because I like you.

Today I’m thrilled to have a copy of Tara Austen Weaver’s book The Butcher and the Vegetarian to give away. I read this book when it first came out and I’m running late as I type this so I hope you don’t mind if I quote myself:

Tara takes us through the time in her life when she, raised a vegetarian, is advised to take up eating meat to help solve some chronic health troubles. The stories of her trying to figure out how to buy and cook meat are both hilarious and filled with a thoughtful exploration of how to balance the personal and environmental ethics of eating meat. She gets very close to the subject, visiting ranches and farms that are gentle to both the land and the animals, going through some of Michael Pollen’s arguments and spending a day at Meathenge. She finds some very good food and people. Tara doesn’t take any more virtuous than thou stances, and approaches each question looking fairly at all sides. That makes it sound boring, I admit, but I assure you it’s not, the book takes a journey that moves along briskly. I love it when I find an author whose words ring very clear in my head, and Tara is one of those.

If you’d like grab this book please leave a comment with this post. And if you’d like answer this question: Have you ever made a big change in how you eat? I’ll go first: In the past few years I’ve been eating what would be considered healthy and I discovered that it’s far more delicious than processed food, something I admit I would not have believed before I made the switch. Ok, you’ve got until 10 a.m. PST Saturday, May 7th to enter, the fine print applies, good luck! Closed! Thank you for entering!

Today I have the first two albums by nerd rock band Kirby Krackle to give away! My husband Scott plays bass for the band so I can tell you they are currently hard at work on their third album, which they are writing and recording at a lightning fast speed. If you are not familiar with Kirby Krackle them you can listen to some of their music right here on their site. I am not a music reviewer so instead please allow me to point you towards this review of E is for Everybody (the second album) over at Wired’s Geek Dad: Kirby Krackle’s E For Everyone is Geek Rock Perfection where he says “there is truly not a bad song among its 11 offerings. Each is a perfect nugget of guitar pop glory adorned with the kind of semi-obscure references you’d expect from self professed geek rockers.”

I you want any nerd cred you must have these albums! To enter please leave a comment with this post, you have until Thursday, May 5th at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies. If you’d like please answer this question: When you were a kid who was your favorite superhero? I’ll go first: I wanted to be Wonder Woman. I was just the right age to both watch the show and wear the Underoos and I remember running around the yard with friends pretending to lasso bad guys and fly in the invisible jet. (While running around in the yard I was wearing regular clothes not the Underoos, just to be clear there.) OK, good luck everybody! Closed, thanks for entering!

This month Not Martha will be 10 years old. Ten years! To celebrate I’m holding a giveaway each weekday, they’ll be filled with stuff I love made by people I know. Here we go.

I’m super happy to have a copy of Heidi Swanson’s book Super Natural Every Day to offer as our first giveaway. Heidi’s site, 101 Cookbooks is one of those sites I’ve been reading for years and years and our cookbook club chose her first book, Super Natural Cooking, for our first meeting and everything was a delicious success. With Super Natural Every Day Heidi has given us simpler and quicker recipes that I cannot wait to make. The book is broken up into Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner, Drinks and Treats and has a collection of tips that I’ve found myself trusting Heidi to know. (Eggs from really awesome small farms actually are more difficult to peel! It’s not my imagination!) Did I mention this book is vegetarian? It is. I hardly noticed though. I ate dinner just shortly before I am typing this and the photos are making me hungry again.

You want this book. To enter please leave a comment with this entry, you have until Tuesday, May 3rd at 10 a.m. PST to enter, the fine print applies. If you’d like please answer this question: Have you ever cooked with dandelion greens? I’ll go first: I have not, but there is a recipe for Chickpeas & Dandelion Greens in this book that is very simple (seven ingredients!) and I’m gonna try it. Alright, good luck everybody! Closed! Thank you for entering!

This is a Slice ceramic safety cutter meant for opening clamshell packaging. I manage to get papercuts from anything sharp and flat so last Christmas I grabbed one of these in the hopes of avoiding the frustration and the blood and the pain. Opening gifts should not be associated with pain. This has an incredibly tiny ceramic blade in the tip that is just big enough to cut through sturdy plastic packaging but too small to cut skin.

I was really delighted when I found there is a small magnet inside so you can keep this on a fridge or a magnet board, so handy. It’s photographed above hanging out with the spring clips and fortune cookie fortunes that I keep handy over my kitchen counter. We’ve even started using our little cutter to slice through tape to open boxes. It’s turned out to be my favorite gadget. Slice makes a range of ceramic products for the office and kitchen and I have my eye on the Precision Cutter as well. Both the Safety Cutter and Precision Cutter are also available at Amazon.

Funny thing? The Safety Cutter comes in the very packaging it’s designed to open more easily:

This year I decided to get a pair of knee high boots. I’m short so I was trying to stay away from boots with big details because I feel like they would overwhelm me. I could be wrong but I like to work my way up to things. I chose these MIA 2 Pali Boots and they’ve become my favorites. We went away last weekend and I only brought these and a pair of flip flops for the pool, this is saying something as I nearly always over pack shoes just in case. The soles of these are flexible rubber that is just bouncy enough and they’ve never given me blisters. The zippers are on the outsides of the legs and are a nice chunky weight. The detail that really sold me, though, was that the snap closure on the sides holds down the zipper pull. The boots are made of thin leather and do crumple a bit at the ankle, no more or less than any other pair of boots but the smooth ankle shown in the picture isn’t how they actually look when worn.

Above: my feet on the dining room table, that is a large copper cookie cutter of the Eiffel Tower which I have to return to a friend there in the background.

I really like that the folds over the vamp break up the line of the foot and give it a cute edge, I think they make my feet look smaller. (I know I’m the only one noticing the size of my feet, but still.) They are on sale right now and I almost want to buy a pair in the dark or light brown color.

If I’d been paying closer attention I would have seen these similar but higher quality MIA Women’s Bridgeport Riding Boot, which are on sale for almost half price right now. I’d buy these in a second if they were still available in my size. Maybe in tan. Darn. (Ooh, they are still available here in my size. Tempting. Seeing how much I like the other pair I think these would be worth it.)

Quick note: The Amazon and Endless links above are affiliate links, which means should you choose to buy something I get a small percentage which goes to help cover hosting costs for this here website. No pressure.

I’m so pleased to be showing you Susan Beal’s latest book, Modern Log Cabin Quilting, and offering a sweet giveaway today. You can read why Susan loves log cabin quilting and view projects from the book made by others at the Flickr group.

This book introduces you to log cabin quilts, gives you all the information you need to sew your own, including tools and techniques, and offers a range of projects.

This is the Bright Furrows quilt, I like the cheerful colors. There are a whole range of quilts using both huge blocks and lots of small ones. There are a number of special quilt projects including a t-shirt quilt to save those worn out shirts that hold memories, an Anniversary quilt and the cozy Winter Woolens quilt.

Above is the Northwest Modern quilt, I like how it’s random. There is also a whole section on household items like tea towls, aprons, pillow cases and a pincushion.

I like the Red Cross bag which uses both corduroy and cotton fabrics. There are a nuber of bags, including a super simple drawstring bag, a zipper pouch, and a market tote. (A way to use up your fabric stash and make gifts at the same time!)

This Charming Camera Case is easy (and uses some stealth velcro).

I’m thoroughly charmed by the quilts and projects in this book, they are fresh and inspiring. So I’m very happy to have both a copy of the book and a fabric kit to give away. If you’d like to enter please leave a comment with this post, and if you’d like please do take the time to share any quilting projects (or disasters) you’ve undertaken. I’ll go first: I’ve never quilted anything! Clearly I will have to change that very soon. You have until noon Pacific time on Thursday, April 7th to enter. The usual fine print applies. Good luck! The winner as chosen by the Random Number Generator is #45, Emily. Congrats! And thanks to everybody for entering!

Spectacles at The Ugly Green Chair. A hugely helpful round up of her favorite spots to buy prescription glasses online.

Final Frame: A Raw Reminder | Apartment Therapy Unplggd. Sushi note pads.

I'm a grown-up. I love glow-in-the-dark stuff. Suggestions? via I’m a grown-up. I love glow-in-the-dark stuff. Suggestions? | Ask MetaFilter.

Where can I buy a modern, stylish necktie these days? | Ask MetaFilter.

Help me find the best of Etsy | Ask MetaFilter.

Moon orb lamps make every scene more beautiful | DVICE. Wow, found over at Pinterest.

Today my Here At Hogwarts comic arrived, it was drawn by Lucy Knisley and the cover was hand printed by Nora Renick-Rinehart. It was a small Christmas present to myself that I ordered early through their Horribly Heartbroken at Hogwarts project on Kickstarter, but now you can get one for yourself any time you’d like right here.

p.s. Whether or not you fell down the hole of reading the Twilight books the series of comics by Lucy Knisley titled My Lost Weekend In the Meyer is hilarious. Go read.

Good Chemistry Salt and Pepper Shakers – Untitled Document at Room Service. Add to my list of lovely salt and pepper sets.

I’ve finally convinced my husband that we need a canister vacuum, what’s the best option on the market, in terms of a happy balance between quality and price? | Ask MetaFilter.

Which are your favorite teeth cleaning products? | Ask MetaFilter. I love all the opinions on floss.

shop – upon a fold. Amazing and beautiful things. I have no idea where I first clicked through to this site.

I want to give big congratulations to both Alice Bradley and Eden M. Kennedy because their book, Let’s Panic About Babies! How to Endure and Possibly Triumph Over the Adorable Tyrant Who Will Ruin Your Body, Destroy You Life, Liquefy Your Brain, and Finally Turn You into a Worthwhile Human Being comes out today! I had the pleasure of meeting them both at the Broad Summit a few years ago where they announced they’d just gotten a book deal so it’s extra exciting to get to hold the book in my hands. They are both hilarious women who have written a hilarious book. The kind people at St. Martin’s Press have given me five copies to give away as well as a “Panic Break” gift basket which includes an electric “back” massager, a stress ball, an anti-stress bath soak, a meditation CD, Anne Taintor shot glasses, a Subversive Cross Stitch set and of course, the book!

I’ll be lazy and quote the back cover instead of attempting just tell you how funny the book is:

Babies. Maybe you’re thinking of having one. There might even be one inside you right now, draining nutrients from your system via a tube growing from its midsection. Or maybe you’ve already got one around the house, somewhere, and you’re responsible for its continued survival. You’re saddled with a a helpless being whom you’ve agreed to house and feed and love with all your heart for the rest of your life, more or less.

Either way, you’re confused, you’re frightened, and 911 won’t take your calls anymore. But don’t despair! Let’s Panic About Babies! is here to hold your hand and answer some important, age-old baby-related questions, including:

• How can I be sure I’m pregnant? (Torso swells gradually until baby falls into underpants.)
• Did I just pee myself? (Yes.)
• What happens if I have sex curing my pregnancy? (Your baby will be born with a full, lush beard.)
• How can I tell if I’ve chosen the wrong pediatrician? (He/she can’t pronounce “stethoscope.”)
• How do I make sure my baby loves me back? (Voodoo.)

From the moment they’re created until the day they steal our cars, our babies demand center stage in our lives. So join Alice and Eden as they tell you (and your lucky partner!) exactly what to think and feel and do, from morning sickness to baby’s first steps. They know everything!

Ok, if you’d like to enter to win a copy or the fabulous gift basket please leave a comment with this post. The fine print applies, and with my deep apologies I have to tell you that prizes can only be sent to the US or Canadian addresses. I’ll let the Random Number Generator choose the winners at noon, PST on Friday, March 4th. Good luck!

Done! Congratulations to Angela, Jenn, Sarah, Eugenia, Wylie and Patti!

Here is the current stack of books next to my bed. I have to admit it’s easier for me to read using the Kindle app on my iPhone because it disturbs Scott less so I find myself reading paper books less, I’ll have to fix this.

Things We Love, by Kate Spade. I got this in a gift bag at the Altitude Design Summit, and you can view it online right here.

99 Drams of Whiskey: The Accidental Hedonist’s Quest for the Perfect Shot and the History of the Drink by Kate Hopkins. This was a Christmas gift and I have yet to really get into it but I think I have a crush on the author already.

The Beauty of Different by Karen Walrond (Chookooloonks). Karen came to Seattle to do a very unique reading. I’m highly enjoying the photos and stories.

Crafting a Meaningful Home by Meg Mateo Ilasco. I’m in love with the projects in this book.

Prudent Advice by Jaime Morrison Curtis (Prudent Baby). Such good advice dispensed with a bit of humor, I occasionally find myself reading these aloud while Scott cooks dinner.

Home from the Hardware Store: Transform Everyday Materials into Fabulous Home Furnishings by Kathleen Hackett and Stephen Antonson. There is this brilliant thing they did using molds for cement pathways.

I Felt Awesome: Tips and Tricks for 35+ Needle-Poked Projects by Moxie, who will be teaching a needle felting course on March 5th in NYC while she’s there for the Needle Felting Extravaganza. If you live nearby I insist you attend, she’s awesome.

Coralie: The Graphic Novel by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by P. Craig Russell. I’ve been waiting for the images from the movie to fade in my head before reading this. Nearly there.

Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon. I still miss this series. Reminds me that I also have yet to get into the graphic novels that make up Buffy Season 8.

More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. Small knitting projects are the best sort of knitting projects.

Handmade Living by Lotta Jansotter. Food, decorations and inspiration, it’s been so nice to page through this bright book after a gloomy day.

disclosure: Each of the links above is an affiliate link with Amazon. If you should happen to buy a book after clicking on that link I get a little bit of money that helps cover cost of hosting for this website.

swissmiss | Nasty Clamps. These heavy duty clams hold a camera or an extra flash anywhere you can put it.

Twig & Thistle » Style Me Pretty Magazine!.

defective yeti — Games: Mr. Jack Pocket. And a round up of board or card games that two people can play.

A book to make the miles fly by… | Ask MetaFilter. Seeking book recommendations that are engrossing enough work out on a treadmill while reading.

Nectar and Elixir- bike seat clamp / bottle openers by Swarm — Kickstarter. This is smart, and it will become a very good gift for all the drinky bicyclists in the PNW. Via @mathowie on Twitter.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a book reading even for Karen Waldron (Chookooloonks) reading from her just-out book The Beauty of Different at Lucid Jazz Lounge here in Seattle. It was an extraordinary event. She was backed up by the Jason Parker Quartet during her readings and they played songs in between. I don’t know much about jazz but those men were talented. Karen’s readings were warm and inviting and she sure knows how to charm an audience. She talks more about the night (and has better photographs) over here and hints that there could be a West Coast repeat, if it is anywhere near you a urge you to go. Congratulations on the book release Karen!

The book is filled with stories, wisdom, advice and Karen’s breathtaking photography. And instead of bookmarks she has these promotional post cards for you to send off to friends far and wide, I think they are awfully sweet:

It’s here!

Our Pinch salt and pepper set designed by Craighton Berman arrived and brightened what was the dark end to a gloomy and rainy day.

It’s more lightweight than it looks, and deceptively sturdy. I wanted one of the ones from his first run through Kickstarter because they were made here in Seattle.

It’s a great size. The pepper ball is pleasingly plump and sits in the base hovering over top of the Maldon sea salt (my favorite). It’s delightful to use. I’m in love with my salt and pepper set. Is that wierd?

Clearing away decorations yesterday revealed that the stack of cookbooks I keep in my dining room has grown. From top to bottom:

Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson who has the site 101 Cookbooks where she has lots more delicious and healthy recipes. Super Natural Cooking was also the focus of our very first cookbook club and was liked all around (unlike the later Cookin’ with Coolio which was, well, interesting).

Not Your Mother’s Casseroles by Faith Durand who you might recognize as the editor over at The Kitchn. Most of these are able to be assembled and possibly frozen ahead of time, there are breakfast casseroles, I predict I’ll be cooking a lot from this book this year.

How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman. I also have the iPhone app which is handy when I’m standing in the grocery store wondering if I have everything I need.

Biscotti: Recipes from the Kitchen of The American Academy in Rome, The Rome Sustainable Food Project. I spent a summer in Italy, uh, some years ago and have been meaning to learn to make excellent biscotti ever since.

52 Loaves: One Man’s Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust. After getting caught up in the no-knead bread craze I find I miss bread and want to start making it again. That and I appreciate working through something obsessively.

Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Hacks, and Good Food. “Gain firsthand insights from interviews with researchers, food scientists, knife experts, chefs, writers, and more, including author Harold McGee, TV personality Adam Savage, chemist Hervé This, and xkcd.” Gosh I love this book.

The Everything Cast-Iron Cookbook by Cinnamon who is a maker of bags at Poise and writer of the One Good Meal column at Gapers Block. I’ve only managed to make a few things from this book but look forward to many more.

The Gourmet Cookie Book: The Single Best Recipe from Each Year 1941-2009. I am frankly disappointed with myself because I didn’t make time this past holiday to bake any cookies at all. I’ll just have to make January an equally acceptable cookie month.

The Newlywed Kitchen: Delicious Meals for Couples Cooking Together by Lorna Yee who writes at Cooking Through China and a food writer at Seattle Magazine. These recipes make just enough for two and are great to make together.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks by, obviously, The Pioneer Woman. I have yet to get up the courage to take on the Cinnamon Rolls (the recipe makes 50!) but we have plans to take on the Rib-eye Steak With Whiskey Cream Sauce this weekend.

I’m Just Here for the Food by Alton Brown. It’s been available for a while now but I still use it as a what’s-going-on primer.

Bake!: Essential Techniques for Perfect Baking. I had no idea who Nick Malgieri was before this book made it’s way to me but I was immediately drawn in by the obvious enthusiasm, clear instruction and pretty pretty photos.

The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook by Jaden Hair of, you guessed it, Steamy Kitchen. It’s almost as good as having a relative show you how to make new dishes.

Baking Illustrated by the people of Cook’s Illustrated. I trust them, and need all the extra instruction I can get.

Conspicuously missing from the pile:

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef by Shauna (Gluten-free Girl herself) and Danny Ahern. It was named one of the Best Cookbooks of 2010 by the New York Times. Yay! I was very grateful to get to spend an afternoon at her house making Gluten-free Cake Pops with Jessie from Cakespy. Double yay!

Cool Tools: Slice Safety Cutter. Magnetic so they can stay on the fridge.

Cool Tools: Bench Cookies. These look handy for a bunch of uses.

Twig & Thistle » Blog Archive » Urban Craft Uprising 2010. She took all the pictures I didn’t (it was crowded!).

Looking for some sort of keychain-sized device that will beep when the user’s cellphone gets too far away. | Ask MetaFilter. Somebody in this house needs one of these.

I’m so pleased to be holding a book giveaway for Crafting A Meaningful Home by Meg Mateo Ilasco as part of the virtual book tour today. The book is full of projects for your home (created by people whose names I am familiar with!) and each craft has a story about family behind it.

I’m squeezed for time and didn’t get a chance to do my usual photos of a few pages, but there are plenty of page previews over at Amazon. I’m glad they included pictures of the oversized crocheted area rug, the Doily Rug, as I think it’s amazing. You can also read more about the book and view the video made to celebrate the launch of the book right over here at Design*Sponge.

If you’d like to enter to win a copy please leave a comment with this post, the fine print applies, I’ll have the Random Number Generator choose a winner on Friday at 4pm PST. Updated: Yikes, I didn’t realize that would leave less than two days to enter, so I’m moving the deadline to Tuesday Dec. 14th at noon PST. Time is up! Thank you so very much to everybody who left comments, the stories have been heaps of fun to read!

To give you something to actually say in your comment I’ll ask you this: Do you have an item, handmade or not, in your home that has a family story behind it? I’ll go first, though I don’t have one here in my house (but intend to get one when I next visit my parents) my favorite thing growing up were the pot holders I or my cousins made on that little square loom while on the long road trip to Oklahoma. I remember giving one to an aunt when we arrived and having her pull out older and well used ones to show me. She said they were always better than any other pot holders and she was happy to have more to add to her collection. I think those pot holders were one of the first times I was aware of being able to design something to my liking within the constraints of what I had available, that being my choice of six colored loops. I remember figuring out how to make a gingham-like pattern and being so excited at discovering how it was done.

Your turn, good luck!

shelterrific » Blog Archive » instant etsy searches: glancely.com.

the girl in the green dress.: tie tea cup. I like how thoughtful this mug is.

whip up 2011 calendar! It’s downloadable and so very pretty.

One Sydney Road. I really the stuff in this shop and, yay, they are in Cleveland (my home town). Via Blog con Queso.

Living Walls & Vertical Gardens | Green Walls & Wall Gardens | Woolly Pocket. This company makes a variety of well designed options for indoor and outdoor modular container gardening, my favorite are the Wally Pockets for indoors vertical gardens. Spotted these at Velocity in Seattle.

Donna Hay – shop online. Swoon.

Fabulous rubber address stamps at :: Paperwink ::, via Swissmiss.

a grommet scarf. | Design For Mankind. Neato.

KEYBRID!. A key blank and key ring in one. Love this. Via Core 77.

Gifted Magazine is an online holiday magazine presented by Creature Comforts and full of really wonderful holiday projects and gift ideas. I’m delighted by it, bring on Christmas.

If you’ve been missing some of your favorite lifestyle and shelter magazines this will delight you. Anthology Magazine is a brand new print magazine that is published quarterly. It’s put together by Meg Mateo Ilasco author of Craft, Inc., Creative, Inc. and Crafting A Meaningful Home, and Anh-Minh Le a design writer and somebody whose website I’ve been reading for ages. Hooray!

If you happen to live in San Francisco the magazine’s launch party is Thursday, Nov. 11th at the West Elm store in Emeryville. Go for me?

Pinch: a most lovely salt and pepper set by Craighton Berman. The top is a pepper shaker in the shape of a ball, which acts as a lid for the salt cellar below. We’ve long need a salt and pepper for our dining room table and this one couldn’t be more perfect. I also love that the first edition are being manufactured here in Seattle. Thanks to Cinnamon for the heads up on this one. (It’s only up for one more day so hurry, it would make an amazing gift for a foodie.)

Horribly Heartbroken at Hogwards: Help fund a trip for two heartbroken artists to the Harry Potter Wizarding World and get a comic book with a hand screen printed cover about the experience in return. I adore the comics of Lucy Knisley and cannot wait for my book to arrive. Check out her site and her books (French Milk is on my Christmas list).

Last week Maggi and I took a little trip out to see Bakerella at a book singing for her best selling (yay!) book Cake Pops here in Seattle. It was so great to finally meet her in person (hi!). Delightfully we bumped into Jessie of Cakespy and Carrie of Bella Cupcake Couture while we were there (hi!).

And, hooray, I have an extra copy of Cake Pops to give away. Want to win? Please leave a comment with this entry, the fine print applies, US and Canadian entries only this time please. Winner chosen by the exalted Random Number Generator. You’ve got until this Friday, Oct. 15th at 12 noon, Pacific time.

I adore this book. Everything is clearly laid out, all the photography is charming, but of course, and the directions are very clear.

I love this photo index.

And obviously I love all the Halloween cake pop options.

Ok, you can enter now. Good luck! Contest over, thanks so much to everybody for entering!

Rose Flower brooch pin with clip by finkshop on Etsy. I think I’m in love, so delicate and yet abundant. Via the Rover blog.

Because Wet Umbrellas are Annoying | Kohler. I really like this, though living in Seattle I have indeed mostly given up on using umbrellas in favor of the all weather jacket.

Bags made from recycled Asian vinyl banners by seen1 on Etsy. I like how bright these are.

suspect and fugitive: It’s Contest Season!. Suspect and Fugitive is holding giveaways of small paintings once a week until December. I’m a big fan of her work and give a thumbs up to entering!

I want new glasses. The kind of glasses I want are “hey nice glasses” and not “oh, I didn’t even notice you wear glasses.” | Ask MetaFilter. Lots of great recommendations for places to shop for frames.

The above is a terrible picture of our new towels, which I’m unexpectedly in love with. I picked them up in a rushed trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond when we had friends coming to town and I sort of grabbed the first towels that looked good to me. But now I love them because they manage to be fluffy without being too heavy or thick, because they remind me of these from CB2, but most importantly because they don’t have that strip of binding (cuff? flat strip of non-terry cloth stuff?) a few inches in from either end. (What is that called?) Anyhow, I simply don’t like that and find the lack of it delightful. They are nicely inexpensive too, even when you insist on getting extra bath sheets.

Bar Keepers Friend has been recommended to me a number of times, I recently got a chance to try it out after turning on the wrong burner which just happened to be under a mostly empty pot leaving scorch marks. (This happens to me a lot, but this time I have nice enough cookware that it didn’t outright melt.) And wow people, the most lazy of scrubbing with Bar Keepers Friend and a regular sponge and it nearly completely restored the pot. Thanks for the recommendation, high fives all around.

update: Marielle left a very important note — wear gloves when using this! It is not something you should get on your skin.

New car air freshener | Ask MetaFilter.

Personal Shopper: Travel Trunk for Laura.

What are some ubiquitous indie grocery items? | Ask MetaFilter.

5 Reusable, Plastic-Free Straws | Apartment Therapy The Kitchn.

pedalr • A better marketplace for people who love bikes. Via Swissmiss’s Twitter (precious resource).

Please recommend books about people trapped together | Ask MetaFilter.

Design*Sponge » altangrill. A tiny grill that hangs off of a railing, I want one.

the UGC: Birthdays and Bikes. Recommendation for a bicycle gel liner for your, uh, sit bones, I’m hoping to get my bicycle soon. (Just in time for the end of summer. I do know how to procrastinate.) P.s. Happy birthday boys!

Great headphones for a noisy office in the $80-$120 range? | Ask MetaFilter.

the Ugly Green Chair: Shutterbug. She links to the most appealing camera strap I’ve seen, the RS WS-1 designed specifically for women and the stuff we have on our chests, made by Black Rapid. While watching the demonstration video I realized the background looked familiar, it was filmed at Gasworks Park here in Seattle.

I find wool and most all animal fibers (yes even cashmere, tragic) too itchy to wear. As a result I’ve missed out on a lot of cozy sweater wearing in the past. Happily manmade fibers seem to have caught up and these days I’m finding more and more acrylic/cotton blends that are soft and fuzzy and, most importantly, warm. My most recent find is this wrap cardigan from Old Navy. I might buy two.

I’ve talked about my Teva Montecito boots before but it looked like there were discontinued at the end of last season. I’ve gotten a handful of questions in email about them since so I thought I’d mention here that they are available again this winter.

Last winter I wore these boots all around a rainy Paris and a rainy Nottingham and a rainy Seattle and they held up beautifully. They are the most comfortable pair of shoes that I own. I think I’m in love with them.

I’ll sum up all the points from my earlier and longer review: These are mid-calf leather boots with cork soles, they are remarkably light weight and bouncy, the break in period was painless and they never gave me blisters (despite a lot of walking in Paris), I don’t miss the arch support like I expected to, the toe and arch area stretched enough to make them comfortable to the point that I simply don’t think or worry about my feet when I’m wearing them, a little overlapping flap near the button at the top means there is a lot of wiggle room so they don’t hug your calves too tightly, my feet have neither been too hot or too cold when wearing them (though I have not worn them in snowy conditions), and the pattern on the bottom of the sole is pretty. They are high on my list of things I would miss most if something happened to our house (pick one: fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, theft of just our footwear).

Another option that I’ve read very good things about and have admired being worn by others is the Merrell Tetra Launch waterproof boots with the military inspired button detail.

I’m so happy to be part of the Creative, Inc. blog book tour today. Creative, Inc. is written by Meg Mateo Ilasco who wrote Craft, Inc. and does a lot of things, and Joy Deangdeelert Cho who is a prolific designer and whom you might know best as the person behind the blog Oh Joy!.

The description on the back of the book reads: “Packed with real-life advice from freelance superstars who have excelled in their industries (and made mistakes you can now avoid!), this book is an essential resource for all creatives — from illustrators and photographers to graphic designers, animators, stylists, and more — who want to succeed and doing what they love.” The book covers topic on how to promote your work, set fees, license your artwork, deal with taxes and hire and manage. Each chapter goes into depth on what you need to know, offers examples of working out fees or invoicing, and includes an interview or two with a creative professional that gives up a huge amount of great information. They are realistic about when you should charge more or less depending on the advantage, how to look at a licensing deal, whether you should expand a business or close it, whether you should hire (or fire) an agent. Most all of this information is mostly new to me and presented in a way that makes me feel like somebody has my back.

Sound like information you need? Lucky you I have a book to give away! If you’d like to get it please leave a comment with this post. The Fine Print applies. I’m going to do a shorter than normal deadline for this one, you’ll have two days to enter and The Random Number generator will be picking a winner on Wed. Sept. 1st at 4 p.m. PST. Good Luck! Winner randomly chosen and is being contacted, thanks for entering!

Apparently when I need to be soothed I read fiction that is about the end of the world as I know it, in one way or another:

Daemon (for Kindle). I originally bought this as a paperback to read on airplanes. I found it in a drugstore and with blurbs by Craig Newmark, Stewart Brand and William O’Brien (Former Director of Cybersecurity and Communications Policy for The White House) I couldn’t not get it.

Freedom (TM) (for Kindle). Daemon comes to a sudden end, a downside of the Kindle for iPhone is that you have no idea how far you are into a book. So I used the upside of the Kindle and immediately downloaded the sequel and kept reading, all around 2 a.m. Now I cannot remember where one book ends and the next begins, which is bad since I keep accidentally giving Scott spoilers when we talk about Daemon.

The Passage (for Kindle). I kept coming across reviews of this book so I downloaded it next, and it’s glorious length kept me company through many long nights of keeping myself awake coughing.

Going In Circles (for Kindle). This book by Pamela Ribon (whom you might know better as Pamie) is a story about a woman knocked over by a divorce, and picked back up by roller derby.

The Breach (for Kindle). This was a short book when compared to my earlier science fiction books, but I kept wishing I had a beach to sit on while I was reading it. It was fast paced and fun.

The Stand (for Kindle). Reviews of The Passage kept comparing it to this so I figured I might as well finally read it.

If you’re looking for something to read I recommend heading over to What’s In Rebecca’s Pocket? and see all the lists of reading lists that she compiles in the summers. (Thank you Rebecca.)

Yay! Shabby Apple wants to give one of you lucky readers a dress. The giveaway is for one of these lovelies:

• Tuxedo III
• Barefoot in the Park
• Pretty in Pink
• Duck Beach
• Anchors Away
• Nine to Five
• Five to Nine
• Baja
• Circo
• L’Amour
• 24K

To enter go visit the Shabby Apple site, then come back here and leave a comment listing which would be your choice. If you cannot decide (indecisives unite!) you can just leave a note letting me know you’ve take a look at the dresses or at the Shabby Apple blog.

Additionally Shabby Apple is offering Not Martha readers a 10% Off deal when you enter Notmartha10off. This code applies to everything on the site. Little tip: they also have a 20% off code for certain items so double check to see if your choice covered by that instead.

While you look around Shabby Apple please take note of the newly launched swimwear and fitness wear offerings. As somebody who still hasn’t gotten a decent bathing suit for this season I’ve been browsing the swimsuits, and I love the touches of vintage flair. And ruching is certainly something I’m all for. Also don’t miss the accessories they have. I’m a little bit in love with the looking glass pendant.

To recap: to enter the giveaway leave a comment here with a note about which dress listed above would be your choice (or just a note saying that you cannot decide). The Fine Print applies. This giveaway only applies to those living inside the US (sorry non-US peeps!). I’ll be letting the Random Number Generator pick a winner on Wed. Aug. 4th at 4 p.m. PST. Good luck! Winner chosen, thanks so much to everybody who entered!

Cool Tools: 800 Watt Portable Generator.

shelterrific » kinda genius: reuse your jars with jar tops.

Cool Tools: Pocket Kite.

angry chicken: a gift box. Charming!

I Lock You ~ Bag Lock (NOTCOT). A deterrent from bag snatching from the back of a chair.

Cool Tools: CoverFlex Silicone Lids.

Construction gift for grown-ups? (think lego, mechano, etc.) | Ask MetaFilter.

Here are a few clever paper things that I have caught my eye recently. The first is this set of individual cupcake stands by Hello Hanna, each set is packed flat and you assemble them. I can assure you that they are very cute in person.

The second thing is this memo cube with a small drawer for wrangling things like paperclips. It’s designed by Oh Joy! and sold by Chronicle Books.

The last is this blank memo cube meant to be decorated by rubber stamps, and it’s got a hole that is cut down through most of the pages that is made to hold a pen. Handy.