Another reason I was anxious to start blogging again (as I eluded to in my last post) was to share my very exciting crafty news with all of you.

First, my vintage-inspired bathing suit design in Vickie Howell’s Pop Goes Crochet (which is now available). Weee!!!!

I created this crocheted retro design back while living in Austin. I was a little nervous contributing to this book; I mean, Vickie Howell is, like, mega-famous in the craft world! But she’s also really sweet and made sure to let me know that she was super happy with the design. When she sent me this photo I was blown away.  ”Wow, that’s my suit??” I was thrilled to say the least. Then her pal Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club (if you love retro and bright/fun colors, you’ll love her shop!) said some really cool things about it on her blog, which again, is thrilling! I can’t wait to get my copy which is on its way!

Onto the second thing, art-related. My Spirit of the Forest print is featured in the May/June issue of Dujour Magazine!

Dujour is a new online and limited edition print magazine about emerging artists, designers and so forth. And it’s gorgeous! I love some many things in this magazine (I got the online subscription) and I’m especially loving this collage here; I’m completely flattered that my print is included in this mix. Wow, there are so many talented and wonderful artists out there.

Anyway, thank you for letting me a boast a bit. I couldn’t help but want to share these happy, craft-related things with you! And thanks for the sweet welcome too on the last post – it’s so good to hear from you.

Have a lovely and long (hopefully) weekend.

Many of you know, at least if you are fan of Neil Gaiman, Henry Selick, or “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Coraline” the book has become “Coraline” the movie, out next month.

As I just discovered via How About Orange this morning (as I am, once again, finding myself trying to catch up with my blog reading) there is also “Coraline” the website. Of course.

It is beautiful, I’ve just begun exploring and wanted to share…» Coraline

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/SRqX1x8gSFI/AAAAAAAAArw/JAamT2-2-U4/s1600-h/751086_copy.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/SRqX1x8gSFI/AAAAAAAAArw/JAamT2-2-U4/s400/751086_copy.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267689664359188562″ border=”0″ //aNot sure how, but I stumbled upon these production shots of a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/fullcredits” target=”_blank”Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland/a. (I grabbed these photos from a href=”http://infdaily.fusebox.com/2008/09/our-first-look-at-tim-burtons-alice-in-wonderland.html” target=”_blank”INF Daily/a. I hope they don’t mind!) Anyway, take a look at that rick rack skirt. Weee! I would totally wear this outfit span style=”font-style: italic;”out and about/span.br /br /I checked the IMDB site but there is no costume designer listed which is strange since they have the rest of the costume crew listed. Should I just assume a href=”http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041181/” target=”_blank”Colleen Atwood/a has teamed up with Tim yet again? If not, I’d love to know who.br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/SRqZaRSsCUI/AAAAAAAAAr4/xwVHaCWSV2U/s1600-h/751064_copy.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/SRqZaRSsCUI/AAAAAAAAAr4/xwVHaCWSV2U/s400/751064_copy.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267691390760651074″ border=”0″ //aSo pretty. I love the soft periwinkles. (I love to say span style=”font-style: italic;”periwinkle/span too.) I think I enjoy looking at theatrical costumes like these as much as I enjoy eating sugar. span style=”font-weight: bold;”Sheesh, perhaps more!/spanbr /br /Oh, back to rick rack, did you know there’s a href=”http://www.jkmribbon.com/wrights/rickrack/bulk_rickrack/1747120.html” target=”_blank”span style=”font-style: italic;”embroidered rick rack/span/a?br /br /And thank you for the blog-love lately. As always your comments make me smile.

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8rx8_M9CEI/AAAAAAAAAI8/fZEdzWYJM8E/s1600-h/penel.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8rx8_M9CEI/AAAAAAAAAI8/fZEdzWYJM8E/s400/penel.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173213152048646210″ border=”0″ //abr /If you want to see a movie that is funny and sweet AND has adorably wearable costumes , see a href=”http://www.penelopethemovie.com/” target=”_blank”bPenelope/b./abr /br /I stayed home all day trying to get some work done and it was time to trek outside. We haven’t been to a movie in a long while (I missed bSweeney Todd/b, I cry and cry!) so last night it was either a href=”http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount_vantage/therewillbeblood/” target=”_blank”bThere Will be Blood/b/a or bPenelope/b. Although I admit I have a “non-sexual crush” on Daniel Day Lewis, I have been watching far too many iForensic Files/i (eek) as of late and wanted to see something light-hearted and uplifting.br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8r42PM9CII/AAAAAAAAAJc/uKTIQyMuLkM/s1600-h/penelope4.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8r42PM9CII/AAAAAAAAAJc/uKTIQyMuLkM/s400/penelope4.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173220732665923714″ border=”0″ //abr /With Christina Ricci, Catherine O’Hara and Peter Dinklage I figured it couldn’t be too bad. Oh, it wasn’t – I really liked it. It definitely had some funny moments that even the trailers don’t spoil. (Don’t you hate it when a trailer uses all the best parts of the movie?) The Penelope character is charming and quirky…ok wait, I don’t to give away too much!br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8rzqfM9CFI/AAAAAAAAAJE/B0ASvrxK0Sg/s1600-h/penelope1.jpg”img style=”margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8rzqfM9CFI/AAAAAAAAAJE/B0ASvrxK0Sg/s400/penelope1.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173215033244321874″ border=”0″ //aThe clothes. There are plenty of movies with gorgeous costumes but in one like this, the clothes are ones you could actually wear in real life. Think Anthropologie. I imagine though that Penelope makes her own clothes. (That’s what I like to think, how cute would that be?)br /br /The designer put a lot of thought into the details. That may be my favorite things about Colleen Atwood’s costumes – she doesn’t miss a stitch. I’ve looked online but haven’t been able to figure out who the designer is for span style=”font-weight: bold;”Penelope/span – if anyone knows, let me know. I especially love the saturated colors, the 1930′s-’40′s style, interesting tights and Mary Jane shoes.br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8r16PM9CGI/AAAAAAAAAJM/EO9B_u3y1qs/s1600-h/penelope2.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8r16PM9CGI/AAAAAAAAAJM/EO9B_u3y1qs/s400/penelope2.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173217502850517090″ border=”0″ //abr /The production design in general is enchanting, fairytale-like and truly inspiring. I mean, it has made me realize I need more butterflies, moths and terrariums.br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8r4vfM9CHI/AAAAAAAAAJU/wM0ZHgg8w0I/s1600-h/penelope3.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/R8r4vfM9CHI/AAAAAAAAAJU/wM0ZHgg8w0I/s400/penelope3.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173220616701806706″ border=”0″ //abr /And striped knits.