Calling all Colorado Kids!

Come see me this weekend, please.

When: Friday, December 4th, 2009 6 - 9pm and Saturday, December 5th, 10am - 4pm
Where: South Broadway Christian Church, 23 Lincoln Denver, CO 80203
Contact: Jaime Jennings, 303-733-3855
Contact Email: crafts@fancytiger.com
Website: http://fancytiger.com/craftindex.html
Cost: Free!

Fancy Tiger is pleased present the 2nd Holiday Handmade alternative craft fair. Holiday Handmade is a craft fair that features 60 local crafters selling their wares. It is a juried show that focuses on well made handicrafts with inspired design.

Fancy Tiger's Holiday Handmade will be the perfect venue to support local economy and buy handmade! Holiday shoppers can choose from needlefelted ornaments, handbound journals, organic cat toys, handmade soaps, re-purposed skateboard jewelry, handspun yarn, felted scarves, and ceramics to name a few of the amazing products that will be offered. Some vendors include: Fern and Sprout, Pins and Pearls, Mukee Design, Heavy Nesting, Moondance Botanicals, Meg Brothers bags, Mudpuppy, Earthlings Pet Care, Swear Jar Designs, Darling Ruth and Vital Industries. Holiday Handmade is located just one block east of Fancy Tiger at the NW corner of Lincoln and Ellsworth. This event is not to be missed!

The Denver Handmade Alliance is partnering with Fancy Tiger for this years Holiday Handmade. The first 50 lucky people through the door both Friday December 4th and Saturday December 5th will receive a tote bag full of goodies from local crafters brought to you by the Denver Handmade Alliance.

Captain's Log: Post 107

I'm still a busy beaver over here. In fact, it's possible that my teeth are getting longer and I might be growing a tail. Yikes!

I've been creating some vintage button earrings (photos to come soon!) and tote bags.

Wristlets!



I have a crush on these lions guys, I tell you what.



Crazy patchwork.



Shiny brocade- a great holiday party dress piece.

In addition to the creating, we've been having a great time at the Butter residence. I went to a show in Denver with Laura and Jeffrey last Thursday, which was awesome. I would have to describe almost every situation up to the show as uncomfortable though. Here is a sampling of the times I felt uncomfortable that night:

1. Eating at Mama's Home Cooking (or something like that) on Colfax- Laura and I dressed up for the show, and I was stared at by one dude who was having a conversation with another dude about where the food is better- prison or jail.

2. Leaving Mama's- We were asked (not very nicely) for $1.99 from an intoxicated lady and her intoxicated man friend for the $1.99 breakfast special at Mama's. I did not have $1.99 on me, and when we said no, the man crossed the busy street and yelled that we were trash. Hrm.

3. Got to the show a little early. By a little early I mean we got there right after the band, who hadn't even done sound check yet. Embarrassing! We talked to a few guys in the band for a bit and hightailed out of there to entertain ourselves elsewhere for a while. One guy informs us of their stalkers. We see a picture of them by the door and say that if we see them we'll challenge them to a dance off.

4. Drove the wrong way down a one way street, which was so badly signed that not one of us in the car noticed until we were flashed by several people's headlights.

5. Drank margaritas in a teeny tiny Mexican restaurant, Laura suffering the stairs of the lady working there. We think maybe they didn't like us taking up valuable table space with drinking only.

6. I got a little hot dancing my pants off at the show, so I decided step out for a minute to cool off. Guess who I hit in the face with the door on my way out? ONE OF THE STALKERS. I heard a lady outside calling 911 to report the stalker, who apparently divorced her husband to stalk these guys around the world on their tour. Yikes!

7. Stayed after the show to talk to band members, ended up being the last (not employed by the venue) people to leave. First there, last to leave.

Wa-ton! That was one weird night, but the concert was truly awesome.

We're getting ready for Thanksgiving around here. This is my first time hosting without my ma coming to help. I've never made my own turkey before, and I'm willing to accept all advice concerning the beast, which is in the fridge presently. I need to get to the store later to get the rest of my needed feast items! Water you guys doing this week?

Busy time

I usually don't sew all day every day. I'm more of a project or two here and there kind of sewer. Getting into this craft fair has changed that big time! I'm starting to feel like I could probably install zippers in my sleep.

I took a little break to snap some picture of what I've been up to lately.

Wallets galore!







These are all scrappy. There's more of them too! Laura helped big time by going through my scraps and making piles of fun stuff that looked great together.

I've also been making pouches big time.





I'm really digging patchy pouches.



Ruffled wristlet!

Ok, so the deal is that I'm trying very hard to stock up for the show, which means that I'm not updating my shop so much. However, I'd love for any of my dear readers to get their hands on some Hot Butter if there's something you see here or on my flickr page that you have to have or give to someone.

I'll be back to share more of what I've been up to soon. Happy Friday friends!

Secret note to giveaway winners

Just wanted to say that my giveaway winners are not responding to my post here or my emails. I'm giving them to the end of the week to contact me. So Kaye and Jenny, email me by the end of the week or I'll redraw!

Super Cool Halloween Fiesta

Thought I'd share a couple pictures from the fiesta.



My breast friend Laura and myself.



Melissa the mombie and Brad who went by "Harry Slaughter" or, my personal favorite "Scary Potter."



Heather the cat and Ryan the gangster.



Fambly shot!



The grub! I was fully expecting drunk people to want to eat those candy coated spider delicacies later in the evening, and I WAS WRONG. Note to self: Not everyone loves the candy like I do!



Thank heavens for Melissa, who ate the ultimate candy corn cupcake!

I was lucky enough to score this mullet at the Humane Society thrift store for $2.50. Her name is Beverly, which becomes the name of anyone wearing her. She looks great on everyone, but Felix wins the prize for Best Beverly look.



Second place goes to Jeffrey, who lovingly wore Beverly all night.



In other news, I've been sewing my pants off to get ready for the craft fair. I'll try to get some pictures taken so I can share!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Sorry I didn't get around to picking winners yesterday, but it's more fun to win stuff on Halloween anyway, right?!?

So our winner for the apron is...

Number Three- Jenny777 who said:
Well, I'm pretty fond of tacos of the taco bell variety. See, without a pretty apron, I'm useless in the kitchen. It's very sad, I swear.

I guess she can always wear her fancy new vintage apron to go through the drive through. It'll keep her lap clean!

And the winner of the cosmetics case is...
Number 17.

Kaye said...

Knock Knock!
Who's There?
Anita.
Anita Who?
I Anita bath, how bout you?

I have an Aunt Anita and when my son was Felix size, he would always say Aunt Anita bath. Just couldn't say Anita by itself. Love your story and your fabric.

That's a great joke for sure!

I got a comment last night saying that Hot Butter! was featured on Zakka Life. How cool is that?!?

Ok, I'm off to cook and clean for Ashley and Chainsaw's super cool Halloween fiesta. Pictures tomorrow! Congrats winners!

Captain's Log: Snow day number three

We are currently wrapping up (I hope) a freak early winter storm (even though it is not winter). Check this out:



It's totally crazy. Don't worry, we have plenty of hot chocolate and alcoholic additives. I am also happy to have my breast friend Laura here to hang out under blankets on the couch. I need to get a picture of her poodle Butter in the snow. He dives in and swims around, which results in the abominable snow poodle look!

Exciting news time!

I got accepted into the Fancy Tiger Holiday Handmade craft fair this year. I have to admit that I'm a little proud of myself for getting in. I'll definitely be showing my blog friends all kinds of new prizes I'm working on for the fair. I'd love it if my Denver friends stop by to say hi in December.

Don't forget to get in on the giveaways while there's still time! I'll be drawing winners tomorrow.

My new bag and a new giveaway

Felix and I saw a link to Canon paper crafts (ok, I saw it and showed it to him!), and we just HAD to make this guy:



Of course, a three year old isn't much help when it comes to cutting/folding/gluing small pieces of paper, so we had to print off the vampire mask to entertain him while I did the hard work. Also, special thanks to Chainsaw for making dinner while I did this. You know you have a good guy when you out of the blue ask him to make dinner so you can make a paper skeleton, and he says yes.

Felix has dubbed him a "zombie skeleton," and we have named him Rupert.

I also decided to get busy with my Enchino yesterday afternoon. Say hello to my new purse, if you please.



I didn't want to use a big piece of it, but I did want a lion for sure! This ended up being a big mix of materials. I used linen, cotton, buttons from my collection, and magic, of course. While making this I realized that I've never really sat down and made something knowing it was for me. Everything that's MINE that I've made is something I randomly decided to keep.



The back has some big slip pockets.



Pardon my not yet disappeared disappearing marker line.

Felix shows here that it also makes a pretty cool beard. Not sure if I'd want a lion in my beard, but I won't be using it as a beard personally.



Next giveaway business time.

I was luckily enough to go to the Thrashing Bee in Sturgis, SD last summer. They have a super old steam tractor parade, which Felix liked. They had some flea market type areas, where I scored a couple hand made aprons. I'm assuming they're vintage, but I'm no pro. I can tell for sure that they were hand made and that someone put a ton of work into them.

I love full aprons on account of I'm a messy cooker/baker, so I thought I'd pass this lovely half apron onto one of you!



Check out this chicken scratch (that's what this is called, right?):



Somebody put a lot of love into this apron for sure!

It can be yours for the low price of a one comment. I liked your knock knock jokes yesterday- let's do favorite dinners today. What's your favorite thing to eat for dinner? I need ideas people!

Also, feel free to earn an extra comment by checking out my etsy shop, coming back here, and tell me what you like best.

An additional entry can be earned by telling your friends. If you know people who dig a beautiful apron, let them know (facebook, twitter, top secret apron lovers group).

As usual, leave a comment for each entry to make my life easier. Don't forget to sign up for yesterday's giveaway here. I forgot to set an end date. I'm thinking next Friday.

Have a great weekend!

Long story followed by a giveaway

Happy 100 posts day!

I accidentally on purpose bought the most expensive fabric I've ever bought yesterday. I don't feel one ounce guilty about it because it has to have balance out with all the thrifty sewing I've been doing lately. I'm getting ahead of myself. Step into my time machine. Did you put your seat belt on? Good! We're not going far.

So the Chainsaw is away from home for a few days. He usually works from home, but some guys from his company are in Denver for a few days. They requested that he stay there with them to get more work done.

City driving scares the crap out of me. I'm from South Dakota. I remember when driving in Rapid City scared me, and now it's nothing compared to driving through Denver. I can do it, and I will, but my heart rate goes up to like 503, I have white knuckles, and I'm super terrified that someone is going to rear end me.

I didn't want to be without a car for several days, so Felix and I went with Chainsaw to drop him off in the big city. I decided that if I was already going to be getting my pants scared off, I might as well try to check out the Fancy Tiger. I've always wanted to go.

Of course, it was 9:45 am and they don't open until 11 am. Felix and I checked out a kind of fancy looking Goodwill. I found not one item for my Halloween costume, but scored some snow boots for Felix and new (to me) jeans for myself. Everything else on this street (except the sex shop) appeared to be closed. It was snowing and cold. I was in the city, and damn if I wasn't going to walk through the doors of Fancy Tiger before I admitted city defeat.

I was desperately wishing for a coffee shop or at least somewhere warm, when I looked up and saw a sign that said coffee. The front of the building looked like a bar. I open the door a crack and see a man standing BEHIND A BAR. I'm pretty sure it's a bar, ok? I ask if Felix and I can come in. I have got to get this kid to a bathroom before he states he needs one, and we're cold. Bathroom mission accomplished. Felix of course decides we need to sit AT THE BAR. Not in a comfy booth, but on a stool where we might make small talk about skeletons and glowing lights in the bar for 30 minutes with the bartender. I guess this joint doubles as a coffee shop in the morning or something. Felix did not want to leave the bar to go to the Fancy Tiger at 11, but I talked him into it.

I walk into Fancy Tiger, which is a super small joint. However, the stuff it has room for is awesome. They have fancy threads, sashiko floss, craft books, and the coolest, nicest fabrics. And that's just on the sewing side. The other side was dedicated to yarn and it's best friends knit and crochet.

I think I made 4 or 5 laps around the store just looking at fabric, thinking I probably wouldn't buy any. THEN IT HAPPENED. I saw some Enchino, which I've always thought looked so cool on the internet. It's $18/yard price tag effectively kept me from ever considering owning a piece of the glory for myself. Then I did something I should have never done: I touched it. It felt amazing. I left with half a yard.



It's sitting on the table looking at me, begging me to touch it. I think I may end up playing hard to get. I might iron it in a bit, and then it's going to have to wait around for me to call and see if it wants to get together with my creative energy.

Ok, that was a pretty long story. In summary, I took Felix to hang out a bar and got my grubby hams on some Enchino.

If you stuck through the whole story you will now be rewarded with my 100 post giveaway.

Pardon the flash, but Felix wanted to show you his "reluctant to give this to you" face.



Aww!



So what it is exactly? I'm calling it a cosmetics case. I'm not going to lie- it's kind of a prototype. There are a few messy parts here and there, but it's pretty cute.

Want to win this for yourself? Here are the ways you can enter:

1. Comment here (preferably with a hilarious knock knock joke).
2. Subscribe/follow my blog. (if you are already a subscribed, that counts!)
3. Tell your friends- twitter, facebook, blog, whatever!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. I know it's a pain, but it makes my life easier.

Also, keep checking back. I have a couple more things I'd like to bestow upon you! I have a purse or two that need new homes and a gift certificate to my shop is not out of the question.

Good luck!

New Scrappy Wallets

Hi friends!

I'm pleased to announce that I've made some new card wallets out of scraps, which is how I made my first set of wallets. I think these guys are so cute!



This one is my favorite:



I also finished a quilt block for Rachel of p.s. i quilt. It was a string block, which I've always thought look super cool. I also thought they looked scary hard, and I was surprised to find out that they aren't!



It was a bit time consuming though. One was fun, but I'm not sure I'd ever find the time to do more than that. Good call on using the quilting bee to get one done!

I also had to go issue an apology for being a bad, bad quilting bee participant. I'm pretty ashamed of myself for holding finished blocks (some from this spring) and packages of fabric hostage for a long time. As much as I think quilting bees are super cool and a fun idea, I probably won't be signing up for another one. I hope my quilting bee friends can forgive me!

Also, stop by tomorrow for my 100th post giveaway. I'm still coming up with my giveaway prizes and am considering doing a few. See you tomorrow!

98!

As in 98 posts, friends. Holy smokes! We are fast approaching giveaway time around these parts.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I sure did!

I don't know if you know about this secret to drinking WAY TOO MUCH, but I'm going to share it with you now. Casinos. Have you heard of them? It's a place you go to give your money away freely, hoping to win of course, but who ever does that? Did you also know that while you are gambling they make sure you don't get thirsty? They offer thirst quenchers of every variety, and I took advantage of their kind offer.

Giant glasses of wine? YES!
Green drinks? YES!
Dirty martinis? YES!
Other drinks that I didn't need? YES!

All of this can be yours for little to no cost. My method of choice is penny slots. Then I tip the drink makers or deliverers one doubloon. You don't have to play the slots consistently either. You can walk around and throw a dollar in a machine here and there. Easy peasy practically free drinking. I was even lucky enough to have a free room to share with my lady friends.

Then I spent the next afternoon sleeping on the couch, wasting away a perfectly beautiful Indian Summer day catching up on the sleep I forgot to get the night before.

I think we made up for it yesterday with a trip to the pumpkin patch. It was weirdly hot. I thought about wearing a dress, and decided it wouldn't be warm enough for that. Then my legs spontaneously combusted through my jeans while I was petting a cow.



Why is it that I can get a cow to pose for a picture, but my own child refuses to look at me?



I told Felix that his boobs are a little saggy in this picture.

Knocking on wood

I've been a bit of a "knock on wood" addict lately.

"Oh, Felix is taking a good nap. Knock on wood."

Not only do I say the words, I physically knock on wood. I always thought knocking on wood was a pretty good insurance policy.

Felix caught a plaguerific (new word!) cold when we returned from our trip to South Dakota. Chainsaw caught it next. I had a bit of a scratchy throat and was a sneeze machine, but then I went and said this:

"I seem to be fighting this cold better than you guys. Knock on wood."


And let me tell you friends, knocking on wood is not always the best insurance policy. In this case I should have supplemented the knocking with vitamin C and herbal tea. Alas, I am achy, and my brain weighs 83 pounds, most of which is snot.

Oy!

Big stuff

Hello friends!

I hope you had a great Side Pony Tail Friday Afternoon, whether you participated or not.



I seem to favor a left (to me) side pony tail. Next week I'll have to get crazy and try the right.

I finished up a couple new bags this week. I love this big linen number:



Patchwork is my first sewing love.



I love how big it is. It'd be perfect to throw a couple changes of clothes in for the weekend, a trip to the mall, or for anyone addicted to huge bags and all the glorious things that fit into one!

I have been riding the glorious high of creating things almost exclusively from thrifted finds. The linen was salvaged from a skirt, the lining from a king size sheet, the scraps from a glorious giveaway, and it's even interfaced with some weird looking stuff I got from freecycle.



This (also large!) bag is also made from thrifted supplies. I did put a magnetic snap in it, and the handle interfacing is always new (because I'm addicted to the thick fusible interfacing for handle making.)

I'm off to post a few new things in my shop. I'm trying to get in on a craft show with limited spacing, so I want my etsy shop to look good!

Adventures

I made out like a thrifting bandit last week in South Dakota. I have piles of glorious fabric, some of it being vintage and way too cool. I also acquired several linen items on the cheap. My favorites are long matronly dresses and skirts. Thrifting linen is one of the best ways to get your hands on it without breaking the bank.

Check out this sheet:



I love how it looks like water color!

I was uploading pictures of my favorite purchases, and several of them were "invalid files" or something. I love this flower one on top:



I also celebrated my second side ponytail Friday afternoon. Sometimes it's the only appropriate hairstyle.



My mom didn't notice until late in the evening. She then asked me if I knew my ponytail was crooked. It was, and it was on purpose. Feel free to participate next Friday afternoon.

I also thought you might appreciate a funny story. It was not so funny at the time, but it's funny to me now. On our way home on Sunday, Felix and I encountered this spectacle:



Do you see what's going on here? I had to drive stop and go for around 30 minutes while a bunch of cowboys (cowpeople?) on horses drove a herd of cows down the road. When we were doing the going (as opposed to the stopping), we discovered that the speed of cow is approximately 5 miles per hour.

I have a question for my blog friends. If I wanted to share some etsy or flickr favorites, how do I go about using the pictures? Do you have to save them and upload them on your own? Do you always ask first?

Fear the sting!

I was just telling Chainsaw last week that I have never been stung by a bee (that I remember). Wasps? Yes! Bees? No.

Well friends, that has changed. I must have forgot to knock on wood or something. I was minding my own business at the Harvest Festival in Spearfish, SD last Saturday when I felt something horrible happening a bit under my left knee. I was actually wearing thick knee socks, and I have no idea what possessed this bee to commit suicide by stinging me through my sock.

My Grandma works at a natural foods store just a few steps away, and I was immediately treated with fancy oils and potions.

Now, two whole days later. My leg is a bit swollen, but not to gross proportions (I've seen some scary pictures!). It itches like you would not believe, and Benadryl knocks me out.

Vintage Sheets

I'm always in awe of the blog world's luck when it comes to finding cool vintage sheets. I always check out sheets at thrift stores, and every once in a while I find a good one. I've been hording the few I have, but I decided it was time to sink my scissors into a couple.





I spent TWO days making these, but I love them.

I'd also like to report that no snow has fallen on our little neighborhood. I did see snow on the news in areas close by though. I'm not used to it being so cold so soon. In South Dakota, yes, but here?

We are enjoying the warmth of out light switch fire place. I can't believe it's almost time to turn on the furnace!

Seriously?

I woke up to some awesome pouring rain this morning. I thought I'd check the weather and see what's up this week. Imagine my surprise when I see that it may be snowing at night this week. I have learned to take the forecast with a grain of salt. It's almost never right when it comes to precipitation thanks to the mountains.

Anywho.

I've been keeping myself pretty busy lately.

I made a pile of Zippered Card Wallets.



I'm really happy with these new bags.





I dig throwing the long strap over my shoulder. I used to require a long purse strap for ultimate bag happiness. I remember why!

Today is my first day babysitting after a summer off. I really did take the summer off. Of my several jobs, the only one I was faithful to was my cleaning job. Anyway, there was some small child scuffles/bites/head punching last year at this time. So far I am pleased to report that the boys are playing nicely. Now if only the dog would behave.

I'm a winner!

I was so excited to win one of the awesome giveaways Linda at LindaMade hosted last week. I was the lucky winner of the "Scrap Bonanza." Nothing could have pleased me more last week. Seriously.



She also included some fun stuff, like this coaster set:



They make me wish I had a coffee table or something to protect from the evils of condensation.



She also included some cute trims (including one with pom poms), buttons, pins, and all manners of majesty.

Felix and I were in heaven last night. We separated them into color piles for fun. One pile was the designated dog pile, which was home to Felix's favorite fabric.



In other giveaway news, I ask ya'll to stay tuned. I'll be hosting one or two in the near future. My 100th post is looming!

I have posted a few new things in the shop, which I will continue to do this week. I'll be back tomorrow to share some of my newest creations.