I'm
in the home-stretch of a many-months' design project. With a name
chosen, a logo and some final print-outs, my next fabric collection
will head off to the mill and my brain will be my own again. I've been
twittering as a welcome distraction. Next I'll need a new phone plan
so I can twitter from anywhere. Then I can get input on whether to buy
the yellow shirt or the blue one, have help choosing a dessert at the
grocery store, or discuss any number of random ponderings while on the
go.
For instance, I've been thinking about Magic Shell
a lot lately — well, more than usual, which is never — probably
because ice cream consumption increases in direct proportion to an
increase in workload. Magic Shell can't be natural. But, it sure
tastes like chocolate and not as much like plastic as I'd expect. I
twitter-tweeted my love of Magic Shell and WhipUp twittered me right back a link to a make-your-own-Magic-Shell recipe here.
For my last 2009 MOT post, I'm singing praises for the Stuffing Fork by Barbara Willis — my favorite tool for stuffing stuff with stuffing : )
— like pincushions, dolls, toys, etc.
This
simple tool is awesome. You can use it to push stuffing into just the
right spot. And for teensy stuffed things, like doll fingers and
noses, the small Stuffing Fork
is great. If you poke the fork into a small tuft of stuffing and give
it a twist, you can maneuver your stuffing bit in place. They really
are great.
We just stocked a handful of each size, large and small, in our store (10% discount here
till April 5th). I have an old-school, wooden-handled Stuffing Fork
that's been well-used and well-loved for the last decade or more. Now
I've upgraded to these new ones which have a molded plastic handle and
are even better — a necessary tool for your sewing arsenal.
And
because April is upon us, I'm going to bullet-list out a few more tools
I love, then call it done for the year. Totally random though. No
rules.
- Color Munki. New tool for us. But you should hear Isaac's shouts of
'whoa!' from the other room. When you're in the design business, color
calibration is big. - Great Lash Mascara. Tackiest packaging, but good mascara.
- Beeswax for thread.
For quilting or applique, if you run your thread through beeswax &
press it before sewing, your thread will be stronger and will suffer
less wear when pulled through the fabric stitch after stitch. I'll
blog about this one in more detail sometime. Water-soluble markers.
For marking match points or drawing tailoring adjustments in sewing.
Or for drawing out an embroidery design onto fabric. Where were these
when I learned to sew with chalky, messy, white tailoring pencils?- Art Gum erasers.
I have these erasers all over my studio. When I only had one or two,
I'd lose them, or the dogs would chew them up. Isaac bought me 10 at
once and now I'm all set. Having an abundance of good erasers is a
luxury anyone can attain. - Pentel Twist-Erase mechanical pencils.
My new favorite pencil, because the eraser actually lasts for a while
and can be re-filled. Of course, as a result, my art gum eraser
collection hasn't been as important lately. Dave says this pencil has it's own following.
- Typepad. I've used Typepad from the beginning and have always
been impressed with their interface, customer service, customizability,
upgrades, etc. And I've never had a post go missing. This is the second or third time they've featured my blog on their sign-in page and I'm completely honored. - Twitter. I've always described blogging as a form of conversation, and micro-blogging is even more conversational (see tweets in my sidebar). It's been less than a week since I started twitter-chatting, but what fun.
Okay, so I'm off to polish up a logo for the fabric collection, then
it's back to a more normal pace — and a movie & a milkshake. Any
movie recommendations?
I am just DYING to see your new collections!! I am a new fan and I’m really looking forward to seeing what you are up to! Any sneak peaks??
Do you like musicals? Do you like Pride & Prejudice? If the answer to both is yes, then you will love BRIDE & PREJUDICE. It’s a Bollywood version of P&P and is my most favorite movie! (It is cheesy, but in a very good way!)
http://www.amazon.com/Bride-Prejudice-Naveen-Andrews/dp/B00094AS9U/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1238728603&sr=8-1
Recently watched “Back to the Future” for the first time in probably over a decade, and it was even MORE awesome than I remember!
Okay… Color Munki it is. I have been researching a couple of different callibration programs and your recommendation just cemented it for me. thanks,
joanna
I second Bride & Prejudice. It was awesome. And awful! And awesome!
And MILK, if you haven’t seen it yet. It was tremendously good!
I’m horrible about seeing movies when they first come out- just saw benjamin button last week. noticed that “Doubt” (another movie I missed and wanted to see) is at the $3 theater on McClintock/Elliot. We could catch a movie together sometime!
Sounds fun. Let’s get some girls together for a movie night.
OMG…I just read all about ColorMunki. That is SO something that I have dreamt of in my head and wondered why there isn’t something out “there” like that. Why can’t I be brilliant and invent something like that? Argh.
BTW, in our little town here, we have a local ice cream shop that will turn any regular ice cream cone into a “Globber Blobber,” which means they make the ice cream cone and then dip the whole thing (‘cept the cone) into a vat of melted chocolate which hardens almost immediately. THICK! It’s awesome. One scoop Globber Blobber is only $2.49. Most excellent. But your Magic Shell stuff sounds good too. 🙂
Go to the redbox and get “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” It is great!!!!
Now I need to try that Globber Blobber – my kind of name too. Min, where is this heavenly place of chocolate?
Thanks for sharing all your tools with us!
I can’t wait to see your latest fabric collection. I’m currently preganant with twins and if there is a girl amongst the two, I’m planning on having a “Freshcut” nursery!!! We find out in two weeks, then it’s time to start sewing!
TwitterFon is a great free app for iPhone. I just got it, love it, and I’d recommend giving it a try.
I can’t seem to catch the fever that is Twitter. Ah well.
I can’t wait to see your new fabric line. I love new fabric!
I am SO with you on the twist-erase pencil! I love those things! I tossed every other mechanical pencil in my studio when I discovered it. I also totally agree on the mascara, typepad and twitter. Great list!
Thanks for all of the tool tips…and a new collection…can’t wait to see it!
You know? I love those pencils too! I “borrowed” a bunch from work a few days before I put in my two weeks 🙂 I didn’t want to do without them!!
Husband and I have been eying the color munki for ages too. It’s purchase has been put on hold in favor of a trip BUT – it’s one of the first things on the list to buy when we get back 🙂
Dessert: Lemon Meringue Pie
Store: Fresh and Easy
Opinion: Awesome!
Jona, my fresh and easy friend.
A new fabric collection. Whoohoo! Can’t wait.
The Globber Blobber can only be found at The Chuckwagon in Mt. Vernon, WA. 🙂 If you’re ever in the area…I’ll treat.
Off to google-map Mt. Vernon. I’m that serious about chocolate.
I saw you on their home page – congratulations! Glad you’re on twitted; it’s cool isn’t it?
I love the Twist Erase pencils. The payroll person at work showed me hers and I had to have one. Every night I hide it in my desk so it won’t disappear!
Heather, you’ve got to go see ‘The Cross’ it’s a documentary type film about a man named Arthur Blessitt who has traveled around the world carrying a 9 foot cross. Sounds kooky but it was so inspiring!!! Hope you check it out 🙂
Love the tool ideas and can’t wait to see your new collection.
I think you would love Waitress. It stars Keri Russell and the whole movie is just fabulous. The dialogue is quirky and the use of color all throughout the movie makes it seem like a story book. I guess that is what it is–a grown up faerie tale. Oh and it is all about pie and life. What can be better?
That’s so funny- I was at joann’s looking for a stuffing fork yesterday,unsuccessfully:(
I need to go to the local quilters(mom and pop to the rescue) store today.
Slumdog Millionare…if you haven’t seen it! maybe not a movie to watch with your kids, but great movie! full of heart!
I’m going to have to look into that pencil – I’m a pencil junky – I readily admit it, so I don’t know how I’ve missed this! A movie suggestion – Secondhand Lion – Michael Caine, Robert Duval and Haley Joel Osmet – and kleenix!
thanks for sharing!..great ideas.
So in love with your style, Heather. Some of my old standby movies are: Jane Austin Book Club, Must Love Dogs, Australia is kind of weird but fun – very stylish, Monsoon Wedding (Indian – really fun). That’s all I can think of now.
I want that ColorMunki thing! I about peed my pants wiith excitement when I saw that. It’s like that guy on the Lowes commercial (or is it Home Depot?) with the big purple walrus who drags it into the store and says “Can you match this?”
Do you have the Color Index books by Jim Krause? Gosh they make me happy. I’ve used so many new and interesting color combinations in my graphic design since buying those books.
Twittering … awe Heather. You’ve come over to the dark side.
When I read that you were Twittering and gave Jona a lesson, I went over to Twitter to poke around. Before I knew it I was signed up. Don’t have a clue what to do now.
You should be able to twitter from any mobile device. Just go to the website settings page, click the devices tab, and set up your phone. it should work just like normal text messaging.
I dont like to tweet on twitter. I’ll stick with facebook.
Oh boy, I am sure you have been busy with designing, that is a lot of work, i am glad you can get a break!
I just watched Empire of the Sun the other day (made in the 80’s?) and it was just awesome. Oh, and I introduced my kids to Goonies too, and it was fun watching them laugh so hard 🙂
Great tool list! Those are some of my favorites too. By the way I think I might have taken a class with you in college. Which college did you start out at? I specifically remember a doll you brought in for “show and tell” that was made especially for you by your mother or mother-in-law. I believe she was called The Cat Woman, or something like that. If I’m mistaken, sorry. If not feel free to send me an email.
Thanks for that TypePad link. Very informative! Love your fabric collections! All the pics on your online shop are so so so cute! Yes, 3 “so’s” It’s worth it. K bye.
Heather, I really enjoy your tools. It is very addictive and as always (from you), a very unique idea. A while back you featured the Newton paint set and had a picture of a watercolor painting you did of Elijah’s name. Do you have time to tell us how you outlined the letters and characters for the water color? That is a delightful keepsake for him! Thanks and God Bless You. ~Page
I’m currently pregnant with twins and if there is a girl amongst the two, I’m planning on having a “Freshcut” nursery!!! We find out in two weeks, then it’s time to start sewing