an extra day for us all!

• please don't forget our Leap Day Sale at the NP Shop. Today only, our 1.10.08 and 1.14.08 diptychs are deeply discounted- and we'll throw in a free gift for the first four folks to purchase these sale items. Won't you go have a look?

• for a few days starting tomorrow today I'll be the guest photographer at Sea and Sky. Stop in and send some love to Sky, who has lost someone dear.

• next week is Green Week hosted by Emily. Be there or be... well, brown. or not green. You'll be green with envy if you don't join in.

• can you tell I'm feeling downright happy today? A dose of sunshine and slightly warmer temps can do a soul good.

• have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

Posted by Alicia at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Oh, yes. Tomorrow is leap day! A bonus day. So as a little bonus to you, Heather and I have planned a surprise sale at the Noticing Project Shop. For tomorrow only, our two favorite diptychs will be discounted. We hope you'll stop by and snatch one up.

What are you going to do with your extra day?

Posted by Alicia at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I met up with Chris this morning to deliver Fifi. Fifi? I know. N named her. (I'm guessing Fidget will rename her.)

I treated myself to this chocolaty danish thingy. Yum.

As soon as I run up and get Pete some dog food, I'll have a little quiet studio time. All the poor thing ate was a slice of turkey and a piece of whole grain bread this morning. He's been prancing at my feet ever since. Either he's still hungry or hoping more people food will magically appear in his bowl.

Hope you're having a great day too!

Posted by Alicia at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

even if it's just homemade spaghetti and meatballs.

Well I did complete my February quilt square for the Virtual Quilting Bee on time, and I helped out with a birthday surprise for my dear friend, Grace.

That's all I've got. See you later!

Posted by Alicia at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Brian's grandmother's funeral was Saturday morning. She was the spunkiest, kindest little thing you ever met, living a blessed 94 years, and although her body failed her, her mind was as clear as a bell right up to the end.

The scene not pictured from the train ride to St. Louis is the little boy sporting his engineer overalls, who left the house before sunrise feeling a little tired but who somewhere around Jefferson City developed a raging fever. He slept fitfully and missed all the beautiful scenery and excitement. (Influenza bites, my friends, but the Tamiflu seems to be doing its thing.)

p.s. the return ride was much better.

Posted by Alicia at 08:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)

I'm back today with more stacks.

Stack #4: The Where Y'at? Swap stuff ready to send. "It's only a little late," she says with a nervous giggle. (um, that would be three. yes, three. months. late.) Rachel says y'all are going to add me to a top-secret-crafty-swap blacklist. She's probably right. All of the wonderful photos I received are pinned up in various places around the house, but Dominique made a Flickr set of all of them. Thanks, ladies, if you're reading. I'm soooo sorry.

Stack #5: The fabrics I've picked out for Jennifer's month of the Virtual Quilting Bee. Tonight's the night. I swear, on all that is good in this world, that I WILL finish this on time.

Hopefully. ; )

Posted by Alicia at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

See, I had this (sort of) snappy idea to post stacks of things this week- things I've been working on or that are cluttering up this house of ours, but I've already messed it up. You'll have to take my word for the first couple of stacks.

Stack # 1: (this is where you imagine the clever photo of me balancing a tower packages.) A tall stack of parcels is off. One contained a pair baby dolls. One was a little surprise that I've had for months. One was the most recent Noticing Project print order off to Heather. Molly and Veronica, are you reading? Your prints will be coming to you soon.

Stack # 2: (insert another imaginary photograph here.) The best thrift store haul I've scored in a long time. A huge stack of clothes for the kids, a great pair of boots for myself, a handmade scarf, it goes on.. all for under twenty bucks!

Stack #3: FINALLY, a photo.

Poetry! I am LOVING it. I made a list of your suggestions and reluctantly dragged my feet to my library. Surprising enough, this stack has me completely distracted. I can sit and read for quite awhile or I can pick through and read for just a moment, ponder, and move on, but before long it calls me back. Who knew? Well, you all did, didn't you? I'm reading poetry aloud to Brian (thank goodness he's not the kind of guy that finds it completely annoying) for Pete's sake. I've requested a bunch more from the library too. Thank you, thank you! I'm really getting it.

That's all of the stacks for today. There will be more...

maybe.

Posted by Alicia at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

sticky sweet hugs and kisses to you.

may you get a little taste of something special today!

p.s. I forgot to mention that the basic idea for these lolly flowers came from here. If you're ever at a loss for ideas for ANY holiday, Cindy is where it's at.

Posted by Alicia at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

for book club.

I didn't choose the book, but the meeting is here at our house. How lame will I be if I don't finish the book and I'm the hostess? Very.

Gotta go read.

Posted by Alicia at 09:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

Ba dum bum. It's a bouquet of baby doll arms. Get it? Ok, sorry.

A few baby dolls ship in a day or two, and one blond will head to the shop after all- maybe next week. I'll let you know.

I got tons of paperwork and accounting done this weekend. It always surprises me that my (very!) small business can be so complicated to keep straight. But it is done, and a huge weight has lifted off my shoulders. Now we tackle the taxes, which of course, is not a complicated proposition at all. (wink.) The rest of the weekend was filled with exactly what we all needed: french toast, tickle fights, smoked ribs and pasta salad, a little painting, some sewing, pancakes, a little Rufus Wainwright. Maybe more than a little. Brian is sick of him, but I'm addicted.

We have a busy week ahead of us- good busy- but words from me may still be scant.

Happy Monday Morning!!

Posted by Alicia at 09:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Second place isn't so bad, is it?

Just popping in today to let you know that we're offering a set of runner-up photos in our Noticing Project Shop! They weren't chosen on their particular days, but they are lovely little photographs none-the-less and come together in this set of FOUR!

Much love,
Alicia

Posted by Alicia at 08:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Surely by now you've seen Six One Way. It's a heartfelt little photographic collaboration, and now we can all play along. Thanks, ladies. You're both pretty cool.

Here's our first contribution:

The newest round of colds (the kids) and a quick but painful bout of food poisoning (the mom) has left me feeling a little behind and without much to say. I'm going to take a few days off here, ok? But of course I'll still be posting photos over at the Noticing Project.

Have a great week, guys!

Posted by Alicia at 08:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

I promised handmade somethings to share, but the plan was foiled. Feverish and coughing his way around the house, the boy was home from school for two days. He's better now, though the cough still sounds low in his chest. And this morning a certain someone else, tinier and in pink pj's, is coughing. Winter. Blah. February first. Cold and gray. Here we go again (except I'm not going to post everyday.)

I have several paintings in beginning stages, ideas for some shop surprises, a mural painting job this weekend. I'm working on six custom ordered baby dolls: three blonds, two brunettes, and a red head. And always taking the photographs. Always. Oooo... and the quilting bee starts this month. I'm trying to head off the sinking winter feeling by keeping busy. Think it'll work?

To get your mind off my annoying whining and lack of fun things to show you, here are seven random things about me (tagged by Lauren and Heather, way back when.) I did this one once before. I'm not that interesting. This is hard.

1. I love bacon. A LOT.

2. I hate laundry. A LOT! I bet there are 10 loads down there to be done right now. At our old house when he was still a baby, J rolled right down the stairs to our basement. It was scary, but I swear the giant pile of laundry on the bottom landing saved him. ; )

3. I love wine and coffee. But I don't know a thing about either. Cheap wine tastes fine to me, and we borrowed a French press from my mom to try it out. It was annoying. I gave it back.

4. I have a poetry phobia. I try. I really do. It just makes me feel dumb. (Any suggestions? Mary Oliver is lovely, but she tends to lean towards the religious, which intimidates me even more.)

5. We are very environmental, but I really cannot limit my hot shower. I don't have the will power in the morning.

6. I don't bite my nails, but I pick at my cuticles all of the time.

7. Things I aspire to be but probably never will: a runner. a Buddhist. an organic farmer. an architect. a neat freak. stylish.

Enough about me. How are you all doing this February first?

Posted by Alicia at 08:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)