I’m packing up and heading out west to the Oregon Coast for a few days with the Mr., who just finished riding his bike from San Francisco to Seattle. He obviously needs to rest his weary legs and I just need a break.

Since I am a workaholic New Yorker, I will be bringing my laptop but I probably won’t be posting anything while we’re away.

Here are a few links to keep you busy:

Etsy is doing an interview about me and my book tomorrow. And the interview includes a reprint of a project from the book, a sweet sleeveless blouse with ribbon embroidery. Check it out tomorrow!

If you are interested in reading about Mr. Loveforever’s bicycle journey, here is his tour blog.

Threadbanger is running an amazing contest on their site- enter a how-to video using your sewing machine and you can win a Janome sewing machine or enter a video showing why you really need a new machine and you can win a Janome Sewing machine! Fun!

Here’s something exciting! Right now, on Amazon, you can buy my book, Complete Embellishing, with Lena Corwin’s wonderful book, Printing by Hand, for a special discounted price!

That’s pretty cool and it’s really flattering to be in such talented company.

Also: you can get yet another chance to win a copy of my book over on Not Martha!

Last week, my friend Siri and I had the first of what promises to be many many headdress-making parties.

Now that my hair is so long, I have been all over hair accessories, the wilder the better. I have been collecting lots of vintage millinery pieces and I have lots of ideas!

Here’s the one I made above.

And this is the one Siri made.

Apparently I love things made from balloons, things like ampersands and poodles.

I also love this balloon graffiti by D. Billy. How happy would you be if you encountered this on your way home from work? I know it would make my week.

Found via the awesome blog Borrowed, Bought, Stolen.

Check out the Craft Stylish website for my project on making cards and tags with recycled magazines. The how-to is on the front page today!

Thanks to Diane at Craftypod for the glowing review of my book Complete Embellishing. So sweet! If you didn’t win a copy of the book last week, you can get another chance by leaving a comment on Diane’s blog.

Oh, and I’m writing another book! More details soon…

Beautiful in their restraint, this collection of mixed media pieces are made by the artist tsilli pines.

To see more of her work, click here.