Noodle and Thrud

Cookie Monsters and Sewing Machines

2005-03-28T19:19:00.000-05:00

It is just my luck that the day before my new order of fabrics arrives, my sewing machine goes bananas, decides to destroy 5 perfectly lovely needles and demands to be taken to a vacuum shop to be repaired - which will probably cost more than all of those yards of wonderful fabric did. Bedamn him! Just as I was eager to get to work on my top secret project, code name: Wet Towel. I can't tell you about it yet, of course, being Top Secret and all. But I can tell you about the group of bags I've just finished - they turned out quite splendidly, I'll show them to you sometime :-)

I have a craving for cookies.
Look at these wonderful copper cookie cutters from coppergifts.com
($8-$10):

I love the space ship one and I think my husband would like the moose one - they have hundreds of different kinds! One these and some cookie mix would make a great gift.

Spotlight on Russia

2005-03-25T16:04:00.000-05:00

***Spotlight on the World***

Every Friday the theme
of my post shall be items from and about the spotlight country. If you would
like to see a certain country featured, email
me and I'll see what I can do.

Russia

Whimsical
Lacquer Brooches from RussianCrafts.com
featuring scenes from fairy tales and folklore.

$6-$7

"Colorful hand
painted Russian brooches are loved and collected worldwide. There is huge variety
of types of brooches made as each region, and even each crafts center is known
by its own unique style. However, there are not any craft centers which solely
specialize in brooches as they are made alongside lacquer boxes, trays, and
tableware. So the style of brooch is derived not only from the influence of
Palekh, Mstera, Kholuy, Zhostovo, Khohloma etc but also from all these other
products."

Thick-stemmed Vodka Glasses from
Crate and Barrel

$5.95 each

"Cut to
the chaser. Carlson’s thick columnar stem is beautifully executed by master
craftsmen. Attractive shape accents presentation of vodka or after-dinner liqueurs."

Russian Fairy Tales
collected by Aleksandr Afanas'ev

$12.24

"Nearly 200 characteristic
and colorful traditional folk and fairy tales are brought together in the only
comprehensive edition available in English. Of the original 1945 edition, Eudora
Welty wrote, "These Russian tales are rambunctious, full-blooded and temperamental.
They are tense with action, magical and human, and move in a kind of cyclone
of speed....These tales are gorgeous."

This Miniature
Jewelry Egg would make a perfect easter gift.

There are dozens of gorgeous designs to choose from and can be worn as a pendant,
pin or charm.

$95 -$300

A Brief History of Faberge
Eggs from Blue Russian

The most important feast
of the Russian Orthodox Church calendar is Easter. It is celebrated with the
exchanging of eggs and three kisses. The Faberge eggs began in 1884 with an
Easter egg made for the czar that became a gift for his wife, Czarina Maria.
The egg reminded the empress of her homeland, and so from then on it was agreed
that Faberge would make an Easter egg each year for Maria. Faberge designed
Easter eggs for another eleven years until Alexander III died. Then Nicholas
II, Alexander's son, continued the tradition. It was agreed that the Easter
gift would always have an egg shape and would hold a surprise. These projects
became top priority of the company and were planned and worked on far in advance-a
year or longer. The surprise was always kept secret... (To learn more click
here )

Burst into Spring

2005-03-24T20:06:00.000-05:00

Burst
into spring

It is now, supposedly, spring.
The time has come, time to slough off those thick winter coats, gray sweaters and
chunky books and rejuvenate with a splash of color.

Color your home:
with an Isaac Mizrahi Pop Flower Screen,
a bargain at $99.99.

"Isaac Mizrahi,
one of the biggest names in fashion design, takes his runway panache from clothing
closets in America to other rooms in the house with this fabulous folding screen.
Constructed of 4 white fabric panels hung from a tubular chrome metal frame,
the screen features a blazing orange flower bursting from the lower right corner.
Perfect when you need a bit of privacy or want to add some color and design
to your decor"

Color your feet:
with brightly colored Flats. from
Nordstrom.com. $49.95

"Put your prettiest
foot forward in the season's prettiest pastels. Delicate leather stamens pop
from the center of a gorgeous multi-petalled gardenia in this charming, refreshingly
unique design. Suede liner and flexible sole treat your foot to comfort."

Color you body:
with a bright polka dotty scoop-neck T.
$14.50 from good Old Navy.

"Dots the way
you like it, uh huh, uh huh. Eye-pleasing polka dots highlight this pretty tee.
It also features a scoop neck, sleeve trim, and hem that are all emphasized
with soft rib knit. A delicate dose of gathers highlights the neckline beautifully."

Courtesy of Wikipedia

2005-03-22T19:04:00.000-05:00

Why not sit back,
relax, play a little music
and read this fascinating article on Alexander
the Great..

Post the First

2005-03-22T15:58:00.000-05:00

Good morrow...

Well, until I get my online shop up and running (probably early summer) I've decided
to start this blog to track my progress, wax lyrical and perhaps have a little
fun.

Internet Shopping

Online shopping is a wonderful animal, but it can be capricious. I've pretty much abandoned those so called "brick and mortar stores" in favor of the wide-wide world of goods and goodies which magically appear when one turns on the computer. There are some excellent finds out there, but it can take time and persistence to seek them out. Well, I volunteer to seek them out for all. The rare, sublime and bizarre, the cute, the sexy, the bargains and the splurges, fabulous embodiments of kitsch and works of elegant design. I shall bring them all to you, right here in this blog! In exchange, perhaps you will put up with a little shameless self-promotion a little down the line? Excellent, its a deal.

First and foremost, in the spirit of easter is
this Large Hen on a Nest available from Dean and Deluca for $110. "This
large hen is ideal for scones or muffins at breakfast or tea. Microwave and
dishwasher safe." They also sell a smaller one for $35.

Cuffs are really in at the moment, but these handmade
cuffs by M.I.S.S ("Made in Shoreditch Somewhere") really stand
out from the crowd. You can buy them from Cut
x Paste.com for between $55-$60.

Now for a bargain. A sexy, off-shoulder T-dress
with raw edges made by those wonderful people at American
Apparel, only $26!