What do tools, melting hang tags, and unhappy hipsters have in common?

They are all subjects in my new blog feature, Collective Sound Bites. 

Have you ever thought about how much information we take in on a weekly basis?  We listen to the radio, watch TV, surf the internet, read books/magazines/papers, talk to friends, etc.   I often want to share what I find, but in a flash, I've moved on or forgotten about it.  So, I'm starting a new post featuring random stuff (also a Tumblr blog of mine) that jumps out at me during my week. My goal is to post it by the end of Friday, so you'll have something to look at over the weekend (C, I'm doing this with you in mind and hope to save you and the boys some grief at my saying "ooo, look at his" all the time).


Tools never die - NPR -  Kevin Kelly (founder of Wired Magazine and blog Cool Tools) said that "there is no species of technology that have ever gone globally extinct on this planet. I can't find any [invention, tool, technology] that has disappeared completely from Earth."  NPR sets out to prove him wrong.  Very interesting...


A refreshing home in Washington - just looking at the pictures of this home gave me a springtime escape!

Laughed at this post by Unhappy Hipsters this week!

“The slow release sofa drugs were having the desired effect; no one had noticed the spiky move indoors.” - Tim S.

Awesome eco friendly idea - Melt tags Winner of the 2010 Red Dot Concept Design by Sangbyum Kim

 

Have a great weekend!

Go Packers!

Sewing tools of the trades

E came up to me the other morning and said, "Mom, I want to show you my sewing."

Wow, I had no idea he was working on a solo project. We usually make puppets, stuffed creatures, Naruto headbands, and the like together.

"Dad taught me how to stitch last night." He points to the table and I see what they were up to while M and I were at karate the night before. C had pulled out the tools of his trade and taught E how to sew surgical knots...with my linocut rubber (stamp/printmaking supplies) none the less.

It hadn't escaped me that C and I both sew for a living...he on flesh and I on fabric (hmm...a great title for something...flesh and fabric...). It is fair that the kids would get to learn both. However, I'm feeling a shift in occupational interest from working at Build a Bear to working in the ER. I guess it was inevitable.

E showed me how he could make a stitch using the suture scissors while not touching the rubber or the needle with his fingers. I was impressed. I could use that technique with my seat belts as my fingers are sore from hand stitching. Maybe I can get both of them to practice while helping me make bags.

Friday's Desktop Diary - tools of the trade

Here are some tools I can't live without. I use at least 2 of them every day! Some of these have been with me since college so I consider them old friends.

1. my seam ripper - this actually came with my first sewing machine and I'm totally attached to it.

2. my sewing scissors - these were cheap but I love how they cut close to seams. They are very handy and sit by my sewing machine. I should probably buy another pair.

3. my brayer - I've had this since college and have used it for various projects. I mostly use it with for my switch plates but grab it anytime an air bubble appears on anything.

4. x-acto knife - We have a love/hate relationship. I can't function without it being sharp yet I cut my fingers constantly when it is sharp. I've had this since my days in design school when I had to cut foam core to make models.

5. jewelery pliers - I don't know the official names of these two tools, but they certainly do the job. The black ones, in particular, are very job specific. They make perfect loops for pendants, earrings, etc.

6. metal ruler - Again, an old college friend. I can't cut a straight line with my x-acto knife w/out it.

I must also mention my computer, my sewing machine, and my camera. Without them, I would not have a business. But, like all jobs in life, its the little guys who make it easier and more efficient.

Have a great weekend and happy father's day!