When I was studying in London I used to go to Muji a lot, which is kind of like Ikea only Japanese and not as big and less... how do I say this ....bourgeois? Don't get me wrong, I love me some Ikea. I just think that by now everyone has an Ordning or a Grundtal or a Fornufft sitting around the house. They're just handy that way.

Something about the good design, straightforward packaging and awesome little doo-dads all over the store made Muji a nice place to dawdle between classes. Everything is just so darned cool looking for some reason. I mean, it's paper soap, people!
I didn't have any money at the time because living in London was so God-awfully expensive, but I think I bought a few notebooks and something.

They have a great website, and it looks like you can order online, although I haven't tried it out. I can't say that it would be the most economical shopping of your life- and that sort of defeats the purpose of Muji. Why are there no Mujis in the US??

Found the website for Brooklyn General Store yesterday. Can't wait to get back to NY to check it out.

I love diagrams

This is so great- a guide from the Japanese government about how to wrap gifts in cloth rather than paper. It's not only less waste (duh) but is much more interesting and reusable, of course! The wrapping can be part of the gift... especially if you are giving a Betsy Ross sewing pattern. See where I'm going with this??

[thanks to Craftzine.com for the link!]


Now. Speaking of diagrams, this reminds me of Otto Neurath, an Austrian sociologist who came up with "isotypes," a way of communicating essential information quickly and non-verbally. Something about these types of charts really appeal to me- seeing everything laid out clearly, in various colors, all in a row....it's grade-school-textbook-meets-good-design.

doorbusters!!

It's the end of a strange week. Doesn't feel like Saturday. That's what happens when you work Wednesday-Saturday and you spend Thursday participating in a giant gorge-athon.





THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Meals based on turkey eaten: 3
Trivia-type games played: 2
Times I said "Stop dicking around" during Trivia game: 16
Hours logged on computer formatting new fun booklets for Betsy Ross: 8
Hours logged on computer trying to make Paint-By-Number picture for my brother: 2
Cups of coffee on Friday to get me through post-Thanksgiving drag: 4
Times I said "Doorbusters" on Friday: 6

There is an interesting post on Fashion-Incubator about women-owned businesses. Tell me what you think about her comments regarding the ways that men and women start businesses as well as how we follow through with them.

"If women have always been the innovators, risk takers and entrepreneurs in this business, why do they bail?"

Check it out.

I just dropped off a batch of patterns at Art Star! I am really happy to have Betsy Ross represented in their shop.

They are having a big event this Saturday, so if you're in the neighborhood, you should definitely come by and check out the exhibit and the shop. I'm sure there will be good deals if you are looking for unique Christmas presents (like Betsy Ross sewing patterns.)

Christmas gift idea: Betsy Ross sewing kit

I know you're started thinking about Christmas gifts. I know you're also trying to think of a quick, easy way to check some gifts off your list.


SO.....if you know someone who is a fan of Betsy Ross, let me put together a pattern kit- they make great gifts.

The kit includes: a Betsy Ross pattern of your choice, great fabric and all the notions they will need to get started (zippers, interfacing, etc)

The kits are $35, and shipping/gift wrap is only $5. Contact me if you would like to place an order, and I'll make sure it gets out right away so you'll have it before Christmas.

******


The image above has nothing to do with sewing, but it DOES have to do with Christmas- it's from "Elf," one of the best Christmas movies ever....

How jeans are made

Website Tip O' the Day:

How It's Made! It reminds me of those episodes of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood where he would go to the factories to show how "people" make things. Those segments were always totally mesmerizing for me.

It's not surprising that I love these videos. One of the best ones, of course, is the one about how jeans are made. I love that special vacuum machine that turns the pant legs inside out!

If you live in Philadelphia, get thee to Duross and Langel. I bought some of their "Cleansing Coal" face wash a few weeks ago and it has done wonders for my skin. They have soaps, lotions, and a million other smelly body products you know you want. Buy smelly toiletries locally.

on a roll

***Sound of "Reveille" with a techno beat***


TGIF Purse and Hip Blouse back up in the Betsy Ross shop. I'm so happy to be back in action.

****Sound of bugle playing "Reveille"****

Two patterns are back in the shop- #002 Girlie Dress and #006 One For All Shoulder Bag. Go get 'em. More soon.

you don't know what it's like to miss you

I was in NY this weekend, helping Valerie at Art20. It was fun to get away for the weekend and do something that felt familiar. List of good things about this weekend:

1.
One night we had a great dinner at Artisanal. We had fondue- I haven't had fondue in a long time.

2.Bought some great lotion at Sabon.

3.
At 75% of the places where I have bought coffee in New York, I don't have to add the cream myself. It is magically added to my coffee by a fairy behind the counter.

4.
No matter where you go, you're bound to meet someone interesting.

Can someone please tell me why I like this so much?

plans

Ok, this day sucked (what with the rainy-rainy and the lunch that I didn't get to take until 3 pm and the work-related irritants) so maybe I need to just make another list. Lists make me happy and this one will distract me from before mentioned badness.

Things to do:

1. Treat all areas of life with equal importance as instructed by pastry chef

2. Figure out where that beeping sound is coming from
3. Hire monkeys to work on projects while I'm sleeping

4. Make bread following recipe in today's New York Times. Need 4 1/2 quart Le Creuset lidded pot (in "jade") and will not accept substitutes. Oh forget it, I don't have $175.

5 . Follow friend's advice and have Living Will prepared by next Tuesday.

6. Be more prepared for next week's Quizzo by buying light-up globe to brush up on geography (yes, it must light-up)
7. Eat only very, very healthy foods.

8. Finish "Blink." Unlock secrets of the mind.

9. Figure out what ever happened to Lifepac. Never mind. There it is.

10. Come up with way to prove to woman at the blueprint shop that .50 x 8 does not equal $8.50. I even drew an illustration for her (proving to be one of the most consecending things I've ever done) and that didn't help. I don't know what else to do, but we have got to come to an understanding on this.

11. Now that my sewing machine is wrecked, I think I'll dig out the screenprinting kit that is waaaaay under my bed and see what's what with that baby. I've had it for (checks watch) a year and a half. I can't believe that I haven't even opened it up yet.

Magazines + Coffee = Happy Aimee

As usual, Lucky Magazine was a treasure trove of inspiration. I find myself ripping ideas out of that magazine more often than any other one- mainly because I see bags or dresses or something with some great pattern or design, or maybe it's a picture of a shirt that I think I would like to make. This time, here's what I found:

1. Beaucoupribbon.com

2. Silver chain necklace from Club Monoco, which would look great layered with other necklaces. Note: NOT worth $49. Find some at a thrift store.

3. PalacePapers.com, a fabric and wallpaper company. Beautiful patterns. Thinking a lot about surface design lately.

4. This white silk gathered dress by 3.1 Phillip Lim is so graceful and simple. I'm not spending $500 for that one, but I love the style.

5. Owl plaque. The rest of the site is awesome too.

6. I was looking for a tank/camisole set from Jill Stuart that I had my eye on, and then I ended up falling in love with this little black dress with an oversized ribbon in the front. Great detail and it would be pretty easy to add this accent to a dress that is already in your wardrobe, no?

7. I. Love. This.

8. I love how this diary by Smythson is covered in white leather and then that is covered with black lace. It's very chic. This concept would translate well to a skirt. Get on that.
9. Again, I was looking for something else when I found this brocade jumper that would look great layered over skinny pants for a party. Jumpers are so easy to make. Go getcha some fancy fabric and make this jumper ASAP!!

10. There are a lot of pieces in the Mint by Jodi Arnold collection that are great. I can't decide what I like the best.

11. Oh yes, and the overnight bag at the top features one of my favorite color combinations. And....am I hallucinating? It's only $22?

Check it: I'm selling this plus-size dress form on ebay. I want it out of my closet!

sunday list

Here's a round-up of some cool things I have found over the past week.

1. The great new holiday cards from Egg Press.

2. Necklaces at the brand-spankin'-new Mew Gallery by Tiny Airplanes. MB got one and I loooooove it.
3. Adorable and nostalgic circus lacing cards at the time-sucking Plum Party website.

4. Cozy dinners with friends at Creperie Beaumonde, even though we were a little put off by the service. I had a cocktail that tasted like dessert.

5. These shoes- for Nine West, I feel like these are some very well-considered shoes. Strong work, guys. They would look really great with fun tights this winter. Drool.

6. Old Avon perfume decanters.

7. An icebucket in the shape of the Liberty Bell.

8. The cutest pillow on earth by Princess Tina at Busy-being.com.

9. The Chloe winter collection.

10. A cute vintage cigarette case that says "I Love You." Darling, I love you. Have a cigarette.

11. Tie-front nylon anklets. Couldn't find a link for them and am dying to know where to buy them. Any ideas?

LATE NIGHT ADDENDUM: FOUND THEM! WOO HOO! Some of them are super trashy, but I adore the ones with the simple tie in the front.

I'm very excited to report that Betsy Ross got a nice shout-out in the directory section of this new book, Making Stuff.

It hasn't come out yet, but snatch up this cool British crafty book when it does!