The world is but a canvas to the imagination- Henry David Thoreau

In that case- I should have an amazing imagination! I guess I let some of my creativity cut into my organizational skills. Oh how I wish the two could be friends, instead of arch enemies. I'll have to tackle that one a little later.

I hope you're enjoying my new banner. Thanks Papa Oat! We'll see if PAPA sticks for the baby. My niece calls my dad, Poppi. too cute!

Last night, after enjoying some delicious veggie sushi & watching the premiere of Fringe- I started a new scarf. I'm using a thin wool on both- a-pea-grass-green and a raspberry. The green is a different skein, but same color as the scarf I was talking about here here. Well I decided to give the original all green scarf to my mom for her birthday, later this month and just start a new one for myself, mixed with raspberry-wool- Zach & his mom picked out.

Sunday night Zach pulled out one of our Halloween decoration boxes. So, naturally I've started decorating the apartment. I need to take some pics. We've collected a good amount over the years. It might be a tad early, but after Halloween I start getting ready for wintry/Christmas so I need to start now- you see?
My mom gave me this piece:


In our home we try to get as much organic produce & products as possible. But at the same time I am a HUGE fan of coupons. If you go directly to
Seventh Generation's website and sign up, you can get coupons for a good amount of their products- totally cool! With that I wanted to share an article from The Daily Green on 5 Ways to Save With Organics. They send daily news on environmental info, politics, food, medication- it is really a well-rounded newsletter. I've really been enjoying it.

Another great newsletter I receive is from Vegetarian Times. The recipe of the week is a Potato, Pea & Couscous Hash. It sounds delicious and can be adapted for meat-eaters if need be.

Finally a few corners from our home:



Sorry for the glare. The My Little Ponies, were mine- hence the missing tails & mussed hair. We've washed them & conditioned their hair ( no joke) but they're still a little old looking. The Care Bears, washed up much easier. Of course these will eventually be for Baby Girl Oat. The last shot is of her wall by the changing table, which has turned into a gallery of thrift-store finds, handmade fairytales & special pieces. Note: the bear illustrations were too cute to pass up. They came in little brown frames- 3 pics bear with friends, bear with mama & bear with papa for $5.00 at Ikea. I think they all mix well. The larger embroidery hoop full of yo-yos is from Z's side of the family, I mended them and stitched them to the hoop, while adding a few buttons for detail.
Have a great Wednesday~
xo
M

Making

Some new, reversible bibs for baby Oat. A little embroidery project I made for myself and a simple embroidered carrot bib for baby. Making baby things are kind of addictive!
A new wallet. I feverishly made it the other night, before picking Zach up at the train. It has almost everything I want- I need to make a little spot for my license etc, b/c the one pocket they would need to stand up straight. But there is a cute pocket for business cards, I can carry my checkbook and even the $1.00 bill that usally lives in my wallet. Made from vintage fabrics.


Now a weird story. We get soliciters, we live in an apt. complex and I guess people just park and go door to door. Weird & annoying. Today this guy knocked- I figured it was matinence about a leak we were having. Anyhow I need to get presentable, b/c I was in my slip and had been munching on onion dip lol. When I said just a sec, the guy laughed and said "Oh I like your talking door" ( which I can only imagine he was refering to me speaking to him through the door) When I opened it he then said "don't shoot, your neighbor said you guys were friendly and I'm talking to people for my communications contest"- with that I promptly said -" thank you, but I'm not interested" and closed the door. He wasn't familiar looking, I was half-dressed and I hate communicating with strangers at my door. Still I felt sort of like a meany... Maybe it was a high school or college class? Maybe he lives in the development ( although I've never seen him) or Maybe he's a crazy. I probably should have asked a little bit more info... but I didn't.

But maybe sometimes it is okay to go with your instincts. It just felt weird. Who goes door to door unless your a politician, selling something or giving out religious materials or trick or treating? (he wasn't wearing a costume) When I lived in the city, I'd like to think it was my instincts that kept me safe and continue to do so. I think sometimes as women we don't want to upset someone or hurt their feelings, so we do things that make us feel uncomfortable. I learned fast when I would ride the subway every day, if I didn't like the looks of someone or some situation sitting next to me or in my car- I moved. I didn't worry about their feelings after awhile, I worried about being safe. Sorry for the rant~ but such is life- series of strange happenings.
All you can do is trust your gut.

With that I say- trust your gut and visit our shoppe. I think I just exploited myself for a Sale.
xo
M

Shop Update

hobosale, originally uploaded by hobocampcrafts.

So I've been talking junk about how I have made a million things that never got listed. For reals! This Wednesday is the day when you'll see it all! Plus our 10$ t-shirt sale and Coffee Cuff sales are still going on.

I finally photographed the bibs I've been working on. This morning I woke around 3:45am and baked 2 loaves of brown sugar banana bread. I brought some to Dad.

Today was a perfect fall day. Leaves are falling, sun is shining- just gorgeous.
xo
M

Sunday, 28 Weeks and the 3rd Trimester!

RocklandMagazineArticle, originally uploaded by hobocampcrafts.

When I think about having a mere 12 weeks or so, give or take left I can't believe it. Partly because 12 weeks seems like an eternity before I can meet the little dumpling in my belly, but also 12 weeks seems like torture with the way of my tummy troubles. It seems I went a little overboard with the lasagna from yesterday and now I'm paying!

On a positive note, I was featured in an article in Rockland Magazine. A local publication that comes with the Journal News. Read it Here I was delighted to be a part of their Women & Web Businesses/ Net $ Profit feature. the response has been positive from friends & family who got a chance to read it.
I already have a copy nestled in a frame, hanging in my studio nook. We've come a long way from the little Hobo-train that could. Our little shop has about 279 sales and has been pretty busy considering the summer is a slow down for most. So I couldn't be happier.

Last night Z helped me go over inventory and see that I have a ton of products that have yet made their debut in our shop. In a bit I think we'll tackle that. But first, I'll give Pappa Oat a bit of a break- he did just do our laundry and put the crib together!

Well with that, I've got some folding and hugging to do. What a hero!
xo
M

Rainy Day

A new knitting bag of Hello Kitty or should I say Hello Knitty?! A great piece of chocolate brown fleece with adorable owls and lollipop trees. A recycled pair of pink- seersucker pants to fit the little one, eventually. I envision little knee patches! Lastly a lovely colored handmade, vintage zip dress. The colors are wonderful. I don't think it'll fit me, so I may either try and sell it or reconstruct it.

The rain hasn't let up, but I must confess- I love the rain. Today is a birthday party for my niece (3) and nephew (9), their birthdays are close together. I missed going. I woke early, made some vegan- ibs friendly foods (lasagna,pumpkin pie & French onion dip) then by noon- I was on a downward slope of tummy issues. So Zach is there now, with our family- taking pictures for me. Not exactly how I had hoped to spend Saturday- especially when I heard my nieces were wearing matching polka-dot dresses!

Last night we went to Ikea and purchased our crib (they were sold out before! and only had 8 available) in addition to that we grabbed an area rug for my studio nook and a few odds & ends. Still not sure that the area rug will work- so it might be a return.
After our trip, we started Pirates of the Carribean 3 lol, I also stitched up 2 new pillow covers for our bedroom. I used some leftover yellow polka-dot fabric that I had used on the changing table panels so it'll kind of be matchy- but not matchy-matchy.


Two adorable yards of fabric I purchased from
Lemon Tree Studio
Apples & owls oh autumnal spread. Speaking of autumnal the kettle is screeching, my mug has a peppermint tea bag and I think I'm going to nom some pumpkin pie.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend- by couch light, candlelight or sunlight~
xo
M

So I made it out yesterday and managed to find a cute little hairstylist at Super Cuts! I've always been a short-haired girl- I feel it just suits my personality more and I feel prettier. So when you've gained 20+ pounds and have been confined to couch activities you need a little " pretty-pretty" as Tyra would say- cause I've had it with pretty-ugly!

Speaking of pretty-pretty, check these two adorable items out:



They're from Knittin 4 U,
available here
Just fantastic!
Last night, I made my first bib. Flannel on one side cotton on the other. It can be used reversible. I also made my first shift- dress for baby.. I'm still working on the piping. Pics to come! Hope you have a great day~
xo
M

And Now For Something a Little Different...

Because I'm a dork and love all things autumnal I almost bought this cute little sign at Joann's that said "welcome" with a black cat and a leaf. But then I realized I didn't need it and could make something similar so I made this:



I also finished the very different- type of patchwork quilt for baby. I don't have quilters in my family and I am not a huge perfectionist.. so traditional quilting seems too difficult for me. Here is my version of a cute little quilt. (P.S. The old-school satin blanket binding is a pain-in-the-but to work with and I doubt I'll ever use it again- there was serious bunching going on- but overlook that, please!) Here are some pics:






In with the mail, Netflix (Thumbsucker), was a Land's End catalogue. Drool. I know what you're thinking drool? Um yes, I love something about their simple, classic, cozy clothing. I love mixing it with my own handmade or handmade of others and vintage. It is a good base for me and affordable and sometimes kinda funky. It also fills my need for cozy-living in Maine or Vermont or upstate NY-running a coffee shop or farm-artist-dream lifestyle. Um yeah. Oh and fleece is kinda the coolest for keeping toasty. Plus, these awesome shoes come in concord grape- which I kinda need! Plus the clothing is perfect attire for apple-pumpkin picking-hiking etc! Plus they're paying me to say this. I'm joking!

But if they did wanna pay me these shoes would suffice!



One of my latest couch endeavors is knitting myself a scarf for the season. I'm using a lightweight wool in a grass green on number 10s. A simple knit scarf in one of my favorite colors.I'm also still working on the pinky-wool mix for baby.

Yesterday, afternoon while organizing all of the baby clothes I watched Pirates of the Carribean for the first time. I'm the kind of person who strays from big blockbusters and things when they're super popular (hence the 4-year hiatus), but I figured it was time. I actually enjoyed it for the most part. I realized we have a ton of day clothing(dresses,pants outfits etc.) in sizes newborn-6 months. With some 9-24 month and a couple of 2-t pieces. Either way babies come with a lot of stuff!

Last night I recovered the inspiration board in my studio(with a leafy-acorn fabric) and put fabric on the new one for the kitchen.I chose a funky, brightly-colored canvas in retro.I wanted a place to organize recipes,meal planning & party invites. While I did that Z traced a new pattern for a dress. The dress is very simple and smock-like, which I thought would be versatile for the little hobocamper soon-to be in our lives!

Well I just got back from a haircut and a trip to the thrift store, who was having a $5.00 fill a bag SALE! What great items I got! I'll be sharing soon~
xo
M