Thank you for the dress love!  I appreciate all of your lovely comments and find your enthusiasm entirely motivating.  (I have another dress to be in the queue of which I’m super excited about and only hope it’ll turn out as well as I envision.)  I answered a few questions regarding the ruffle and belt in the comments sections so take another peek if you were wondering about these as well.

I also wanted to let you know Miss Polly Danger has posted a little interview (of yours truly)  on her blog!  She is quite the sweet and talented lady (check out her scalloped bag pattern — you know how much I love scallops!) and I enjoyed talked to her a bit about le shop.   So stop by and say ‘ello for me!

Here’s my latest Lucy doll – sans arms.  (This Depression-era reproduction fabric is my current favorite from my stash.)

And here’s Spoo Kee getting a steam facial from our portable dishwasher.  This is a ritual for him.  Spoo suffers from sinus congestion and he’s discovered the warm steam helps him feel better.  (At least I like to think this is why he does it; that would also mean he’s crazy smart to make that connection!)

Sometimes he’ll even rest his head on the open door.  Too funny.

I know, Saturday Night Live (or sketch comedy in general?) is a bit of a hit or miss but this sketch is one of my favorites.  The guy in the middle (Taran Killam) is just perfect.

I randomly thought of this sketch while re-watching A Series of Unfortunate Events (Jim Carrey).   Actually, I’ve been in this re-watching movies/TV shows phase these past few weeks.  Anyway, enjoy!

Happy New Year, dearies!  I’m excited about this coming year as it’s the year of the Rabbit  – and I’m a Rabbit!  The last few months have been quite challenging at times but I’m growing wiser in my old age (hee hee) and learning that there’s always something to look forward to and to be grateful for.  Spoo Kee is looking forward to this year as well; by some calendars this is the year of the Cat.  My mom (who is Korean) always called me a Cat; I’ve such an affinity for them anyway.  Hmm, maybe we should call this the year of the Cabbit?

Thank you for your recent comments about my lay off; your support and kind words mean a lot.  I’ve picked up some temporary work which is keeping me very busy right now which is good!  Oh, and I’m also working on a few spring dollies for le shop in my free time.

xo

I have this weird déjà vu feeling I’ve posted this photo before – is it true?  Oh well, it’s the first photo that came to mind when I thought of this post so it stays.  Spoo Kee loves to watch the house finches flit and tweet about the eaves of our roof.  I think they like to watch him too.

Last week I got laid off from my job after about 3 and a half years.  Wow!  It was shocking and a little sad though I think I took it pretty well, especially after I confirmed it was not due to poor performance, compatibility, etc.  Anyway, I have spent the last few days trying to get my ducks in a row wrapping up projects, inquiring about insurance and all that kind of stuff.   But I’ve done some fun things too.

You know what they say: when a door closes, a window opens.  Spoo Kee and I are both on the lookout.

(Thank you for all the Spoo Kee love!  He’s happily purring up a storm over here.)

So, I may have mentioned this before, but The Fabled Needle has a Facebook page!  For months I’ve been trying to figure out how to make this page something more than a feed for my blog but also not something that will become so time-consuming that it’ll be impossible for me to keep up.

Then 2 lovely ladies posted pictures of their own versions of Elisa the Swan (formerly Leda).  OH!  How fun to see that pattern made up.  Patterns are a lot of work and I feel so appreciated when I see others have enjoyed making things from them.

Anyway, it occurred to me that I can indeed have different content on this page.  Firstly, your photos and comments!  This is really the perfect place for this since you can’t share pictures inside blog comments.  Personally, I love seeing all the variations people come up with when it comes to a pattern, scrapbook kit, etc. I have bought.  So if you have something Fabled Needle-ish you’d like to share, please post it here.  (Even if you’ve sent me a link or something before, I would love to see it up on Facebook.)

Secondly, I think my Facebook page will be a good place for me to share little drawings, sneak peeks, works in progress and other things that may not need a whole blog post of their own.  For example:

This is a work in progress / sneak peek of a series that I’m working on.  I love to share such things with you (and by posting them online, they become a sort of contract to make sure I stay on task!) but maybe I don’t feel like writing up a whole post about them.

So that’s it!  What do you think?  I’m also open to any suggestions that could make the Facebook page more fun, and more valuable as a resource.

Do you have any wondrous plans for this weekend?  I’ll be doing some coloring but I also hope to work on a spring dress that is already cut out and ready to go.  Talk soon!

» The Fabled Needle on Facebook

Yippie for 2011, pleased to meet you!  I’ve kicked off the new year with a cold of sorts and have been lying low with a gray & white cat and a never-ending supply of roasted barley tea.  Today I feel more normal and have been working on some new shop things, and dreaming of sewing projects including some for me – some spring dresses (is it a bit early for that?).   I’ve also been contemplating taking down the wee tree although I’m feeling rather reluctant; it’s so nice to have a little forest friend in the house, especially since it’s been so cold and rainy, and I don’t think I’m ready to part with it yet.

The remainder of the week promises to be full of sunshine.  I hope this coming year is bright and sunny for you, and full of wonderful things!

There seems to be a break in Southern California’s parade of rain.  It’s been so dark these past few days, I almost felt like we’ve been enclosed in a gigantic submarine finding its way along the bottom of the ocean floor.  Now we’ve finally come back up to the surface, hurray!  So here it is, beautiful and white winter light.   They say, though, more rain is on its way.

Dark days aren’t the best for picture-taking but they are quite suitable to hunkering down in blankets and quilts, sipping hot chocolate (I’ve basically replaced water, tea and any other beverage with hot cocoa which may not be the healthiest way to go but it certainly is delicious), and lots of reading.

I’ve been reading so many good books lately.  I’ve just started “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” and I’m already in love.  You know how sometimes when you start reading a book, especially by an author who is new to you, and you may have to stumble a bit getting used to his or her voice before getting sucked into the story?  Not with this one.  From the first word on the page I was immediately drawn into that world.  Like going to sleep and falling into a dream, mid-scene.

I’m so glad Christmas and the new year are on their way.  I haven’t decided if I’m going to close down shop for a few days but I’m always reachable via email or this blog.

OH!  I’m going to move my current Etsy shop to a new one: http://thefabledneedle.etsy.com sometime before or in the beginning of January.   Yes, it’s all part of the big name change from love, Liette to The Fabled Needle.   This should be the last of it!

Happy Solstice and Happy Holidays, everyone!  Be well and I’ll be back soon.

This year we got a little tree, an “elf” tree if you will.  Maybe 3′ tall, it’s so cute!  I was afraid it would be “enough” but my husband and I really like it.  I kept the decorations simple and mostly red: homemade magic mushrooms, glittery poison apples, Seuss-ian candy globes, fairy lights and, of course, my vintage paper garland.

Speaking of, if you haven’t already, make sure to enter the Vintage Paper Garland Giveaway.  It’s a short run (ends later Tuesday night) so I don’t want anyone to miss a chance to win your very own paper garland made by me!  A winner will be randomly selected Wednesday, December 15th,  and announced on the blog.

Happy Weekend, folks!  I’m working on a big-ish illustration project that is consuming most of my creativity right now (although I might stop for a sewing break at one point).

4″x6″ recipe card

3″x5″ recipe card

Enjoy my free to print and share pumpkin-y recipes cards from last fall.  Just in time to swap those yummy recipes for Thanksgiving!