Strange days

Strange days lately. Friends are moving. The doorbell rings and a tiny kitten is handed to you. Rain out of nowhere several days in a row.

We travel by ferry to visit friends and half the boat is dressed like they stepped out of the 20's: flapper dresses, boater hats and all. Maybe it's just New York, but lately things have felt so strange.

I want to name the kitten Bear, but she can't be mine. Four cats is just coo coo, but Bear would perfectly fit into my little heard of "B" named cats- Bug, Banjo, Bastian.

How are things lately for you?

Cats in Space...

and other thoughts on making...

Today Design*Sponge is sharing the fourth :) and final :( post in my Embroidery 101 series. I really wanted to go all out for this last project, so I made an epic constellation table runner piece. It's really not hard to make at all, just large in scale. It's almost funny how I always underestimate the amount of time making something really takes, especially when I'm simultaneously creating a pattern, instructions and documenting images for others to follow. My aim is to enjoy the making process & I really did with this starry piece (even though I cried out of maddening frustration when my sewing machine just would not to work anymore. Why machine, why?).

Here are some behind the scenes of creating the pattern and working on the piece. Bastian was really into rolling around on the paper pattern. I squealed with so much delight on seeing his goomby* face in space, his little furry paws amongst the stars...

Head on over to D*S for the full project, pattern & instructions. Woo woo!

* I always refer to Bastian as goomby. I've no idea where this came from, or exactly what it means, but he's so damn goomby & cute! 

Goomby: goo-m-bie adj. of or pertaining to the gooniest of goons. (© 2013 Jessica Marquez) ;)

My lately...

Ginger beard & cat feets

Had to start with a picture of my boys looking oh so sweet on a very lazy Sunday. My SLR has been collecting some dust since I discovered instagram, but today I took her out and I'm so glad I did. Jeremy and I were playing with a harmonica which drives Bug crazy for lovin (video proof below). This is not normal. He's pretty much a jerk! Albeit, a super cute jerk.

And now my instagrams....

1. Green juice to help me beat my sinuses into shape.
2. Recent stitches.
3. My embroidery class at Purl Soho. 
4. So grateful for my unoffice!
5. Hacksaws & embroidery, just the everyday life of a crafter...
6. Making my weekend project: DIY wood spool photo holder
7. Visited the Brooklyn flea this weekend & spotted Brady & Kowalski's typewriter booth
8. Cat superman! Banjo helping me enjoy the laziest Sunday. 
9. Banjo won't stop licking himself (which drives me crazy!) so I covered his body with a pillow. His head is poked out on the other side... so cute!

More instagrams @miniaturerhino...

So how was your week?!

Teal Cat Project DIY!!

I'm so excited and happy to be a craft contributor to the Teal Cat Project blog. It's a way for me to volunteer some crafty cat inspired projects while helping an amazing project that helps fuzzy ones. I have two rescue cats myself, Bug & Banjo!

The first project is DIY Embroidered Button Covers featuring Meowmy, the Teal Cat Project logo cat. So super crazy cute! Head on over to the TCP to find the full project. I hope that you give it a try!!

wish i was a moon beaver...

...but really, who doesn't?

via: Tilleke Schwarz

I shared Tilleke Schwarz's embroidery work in my Squam classes, which went so well (thank you to those who took my class & were so enthusiastic!).  So grateful for the experience, for some time in the woods surrounded by creative people, and for a break from the city.  I got back yesterday from my New Hampshire retreat, but I'm still processing everything and will have lots of photographs to share by next week for sure. 

I'm jumping right into Renegade Brooklyn prep now, which is fast approaching this weekend, June 11 & 12th.  You must check out the inspiring insanity that is renegade!  All this week while I prepare I'll be day dreaming of NH trees and sitting by the lake as I crank out the craftiness in my studio.... 

cat anniversary...

it's been 2 years and i haven't kicked you to the curb yet, bug. stay cute little cat, because when you bite my ankles and poop on the floor, it's that mug of yours that saves you every time....

more boys + cats thanks to mathyld for sharing that site....

summer walks...

...while it was sunny last week we took a walk in our neighborhood of crown heights.

ny always has great trash. it makes me so incredibly sad to see so many perfectly useful things just thrown away, especailly books. seeing books in the trash drives me crazy!! plus you find things like this!

it's cat city here! so. many. cats.

photoshoot- what else do you do on your walk, but take pictures in an alley? really. i like how we both made the same pose (in reverse) in our respective images. this may be the first image i've ever posted an image of myself here.... hello there!