a few hours early treat - sprout studio is TWO!

so, you lovely blog readers you -- you are on my special list too! to help me celebrate becoming two, i have a treaty offer for you! free shipping for ALL of march! here's how it works; you put "happy two years little sprout studio" in the comments section at check out, & just like that, spit spot, i'll return your shipping dolla's right back atcha! *plus* the first 20 custormers or so of march, get a cute little print of mine - could be photo related, could be lino cut printed, could be collage related! so, run like a flurry & go snatch up some sprout studio goodness & help me kick back some virtual champagne!

(how does a flurry run exactly anyways?!)

kisses sprout peeps! & thank you so much for 2 awesome years so far!

xxx.

ooo.

march is almost here! (& the terrible two's?)

in which i share with my mailing list folks great deals & steals!!! because...sprout studio is turning TWO! :) hoorah! so you are hearing the first rumblings here...if you'd like to be in the know too, email me to find out what the march treat is! cupcakes for everyone? champagne for breakfast? cake for lunch? blowing out candles every day? making wishes on all the stars? perhaps! you'll only know if you sign up!

it's fast approaching! jump on the sprout studio train folks :)

the "joann" vintage bobby pins

the "joann" vintage bobby pins, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

these are named after my friend - who loves daisies & who's colors i envision as these greens & blues; thus, the "jojo bobby pin" -- i guess that means i ought to send her some too hmm? :)

these will be in the shoppe soon too - limited edition!

spring time pin wheels vintage bobby pins

spring time pin wheels vintage bobby pins, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

one of my favorite dee-lish colors! off to post these to the sprout studio shoppe!

carnival vintage bobby pins

carnival vintage bobby pins, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

coming soon to the sprout studio shoppe near you!

in the mail

in the mail, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

these yummers are all becoming newness for the sprout studio shoppe (shop? which do you prefer? i'm leaning more towards the fancy spelling lately!) i've already whipped up some super cute vintage bobby pins that will post to the shoppe & some will get dropped off at a local store in the mission (needles & pens). i've also got a few new earring pairs in the works as well. i love getting goodies like these & then being able to turn around and get them up quick. unlike my fabric purchases, which i agonize over, & ultimately end up storing...

on the idea of storing...i've been working every weekend (except the long one where we went galavanting up north) on the organizing of my studio. this is not a willy nilly clean up organize, this the real deal -- the container store was involved. massive reorganization was involved. new & old cabinets & ikea storage ave been moved around. tears were evidenced. another pile of dixie was found in the shuffle - seriously, how can one dog shed so much? blood was seen.

alas, i have seen a small light at the end of the tunnel. when it is all done, i will post the new organized studio. when one delves into far too many creative outlets, the storage of said makings becomes quite overwhelming...!

be well blog readers :) xxx.

maven craft fair!

yay - i was accepted to be in this fun fair! so come on out lovely bay area folks: saturday, may 12th from 11a - 4p at the noe valley ministry. over 30 designers, food, drinks, goodie bags...! :) mark your calenders.

maven craft fair

woefully neglected

i'm sorry little blog. i've been so neglectful of you...spending all my free time on flickr...not giving you enough attention. i know you must feel second fiddle to bright and exciting flickr. i'll try harder to upkeep you with my very own bright, shiny flickr photos. i still like you a lot. pinky swear.

in fact, sprout studio sneak peeks to come -- plus, march is a big month for the shoppe! details forthcoming :)

back safe & sound...

pictures forthcoming soon of the long weekend! it was so lovely...(although i brought a little cold back with me - bleck!) i'll post some photos this evening; or at least get them up to my flickr account! :)

how was ya'lls long weekend?!

will be out & about for a few days...

the mister & me are headed up friday night to stay here & see this band play. then we are headed further up the coast to this super duper b&b that was a recommend from some neighbors. we're doing the full on relax deal. read, knit, hike, gaze at the stars, sit by the fireplace, etc...i cannot wait! we are also going to bring the europe books & do some more planning.

see you later lovelies. i'll be posting loads of pics upon return in flickr!

xxx.

happy v day to you!

happy v day to you!, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

...for the mister...(nope, didn't make them)...the card is egg press -- one of my favorite letter press stationery sites.

i think spring is coming early :)

i think spring is coming early :), originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

...a little pinky love on v day for you...

happy v-day

v-day

my head is hurting a little...

big ole discussion on the arts & its role in society going on here: jenny's blog go contribute to the conversation if you wish! good debate & thinking going on there...

sometimes it's just so hard to be in middle school...

things i witness on a semi daily basis:

1. not getting the lead in the play -- (when i myself, thoroughly thought that letting perhaps not as deserved of a student get the lead because it would have lifted that creative part of their spirit up so high...) -- so many tears on student's part...{{aches}}

2. accidentally throwing a ball into the glass auditorium windows & breaking it -- so many tears...upon seeing said culprit (accidents always happen i want to say) after meeting with the principal and having her told she needs to pay for it...eyes well up as as she says, "i'm just so disappointed in myself..." ai yai...{{aches}}

3. not being able to finish the art project, world on their shoulders, cannot explain...{{aches}}

...sometimes these kids drive me to distraction, other times, my heart just aches for them...oh, to be 13 years old...how glad i am to not be that age, & how hard it is to witness those struggles & pains again...sigh...

bird flights bracelet

bird flights bracelet, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

this lovely treat will be in the sprout studio shop soon too :)

sheaves of green bracelet

sheaves of green bracelet, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

this new beauty is already flying home to a new owner!

flower poms bracelet

flower poms bracelet, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

this will be in the sprout studio shop very soon :)

rice pudding

rice pudding, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

one of my unwritten resolutions this year was to try more new recipes. add some more interesting zing into the regular set ups. i have lots of veggie cookbooks & millions of torn out recipes stuffed into them. so, i'm trying to weed through them; figure out what i like & pitch what i'm never gonna really try or find out what we don't really like which sounded appetizing at some point in my recipe collecting zealous. also, with the new *red* kitchen aide mixer, baking is on the list too. so this is what i've tried so far:

*chocolate-ginger brownies (yum, thumbs up)
*pumpkin pancakes (another yum when there's extra pumpkin around)
*white bean salad with zucchini and parmesan (sooo easy & super dee-lish, it's going to be a regular)
*shrimp & pasta puttanesca (pretty good, decent mix up to the pasta routine)
*banana bread with ginger (good, but i like martha's recipe better)
*mushroom stroganoff (good, more effort than normal though)
*this here pictured rice pudding (i substituted some of the whole milk for soy, which i don't think was so smart, but all the milk would have done a number on this digestive system i'm afraid. but now i'm on the hunt for another rice pudding recipe that won't reak any havoc)
*carrot cake cupcakes are in the oven as i type...

if you want any of these recipes, just give me a shout, i'll gladly pass them along :)

let's see...

go here for your ecological footprint quiz: impact

going up to farleys for a skate art & music night

tomorrow is the needles & pens opening for nikki mcclure's work! yay! i love her art - maybe we'll be lucky enough to buy a piece. after that opening is this opening: shooting gallery which looks good too. then we are off to our alt bluegrass show mentioned earlier - a lot to do in an evening :)

saturday consists of sprout studio time, and sunday i'm determined to make homemade pecan sticky buns. i'll post the progress!

the new rain boots!

the new rain boots!, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

& since it finally rained, i got to sport them; to the tune of one of my 2nd graders telling me i wear "really weird" outfits all the time. i told her, thank you!!!! such a sweet compliment! ;)

amazing. poignant. beautiful.

watch this: my language

on an abandoned rail car

on an abandoned rail car, originally uploaded by sproutgirl74.

i think the rains are coming. which i'm happy about; because i have the cutest rain boots *ever* to show you & i've been wanting to wear them now for about a month! yay rain! (for right now anyways!)

inspired

great work here: robert ryan

cute overload

i have never seen so much cute in one place ever. i think i'll take one of everything please. for your cute overload (try not to hyperventilate like me from gazing upon so much cuteness) go here have fun. hold on to your pennies because they will be flying out of your pocket quicker than you can blink. i swear.