Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Finest Christmas Gift $4 Can Buy + WINNNNNER!

Did I mention the fact that I happen to sell the best last-minute Christmas gift that $4 can buy? 2011 Overdue Book Calendar, folks, get them while they're hot. Or, warmish. Or, you know, whatever temperature PDF files should be. Product shots, commence:

Thank you for putting up with that crass commerical interlude, now, will the winner of the Three Dog Bakery goodness please step forward? That would be.... AMY! Congrats, Honey and Zeke!
I want to thank the good people over at Three Dog Bakery for giving up the goods, and for making such awesome treats. Amy, just email your address to me (laurenspencerhunt at gmail dot com), and I will let them know so they can send your booty out to you!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Rufus Reviews: Three Dog Bakery + GIVEAWAY! SAID IN OPRAH VOICE!

First of all, I need to tell you that Rufus got free treats for this. I think the police of the internet require me to say that? But before you go thinking I have sold my soul to the product-review devil, I want to say that I would never recommend a company that I didn't think made a high quality product, and I love the fact that these guys are local and so mindful of the ingredients they use, and they REALLY love dogs. Also I should mention that I can now see just how badly my dog needs a haircut. We have clearly gone far beyond his normal level of hobo-dog-ness. His grandma has already volunteered to give him a Christmastime haircut.
I thought about writing this post from Rufus's perspective, but then I realized that would get SO schticky, so fast, so I am going to continue to be me, and try my best to convey to you all of Rufus's innermost thoughts and feelings, because, yeah, he has those?
H'Anyways, the wonderful folks at Three Dog Bakery sent us three of their holiday- themed treats for reviewing. (I want to mention that my lame-o product shots were taken after we had already consumed half the treats, which is why they look a little empty.) First up was the Begg Nog Squares, which smelled REALLY great. Like, really great. Like, you probably would have tried one too. I did. I know that this is supposed to be Rufus's deal, but in my opinion, it was pretty good for a dog treat. BY FAR the best dog treat I have ever eaten, anyways.
Rufus liked them too, as you can see. His review was "chomp chomp chomp", and I quote. Next we tried the Snickerdoodle Mini Biscuits, which are a really good size for smaller dogs like Rufus. I have no "dog eating" shots, because it was pretty much impossible to get a picture of them disappearing into his mouth after being thrown. But maybe these photos will tell you how Rufus really felt about them. (The TONGUE! THE LITTLE DOG TONGUE! I love it, even if no one else does.)Finally we broke open the big jar of Classic Wafers, in the holiday flavors of Cranberry and Banana Nut. These, I think, were his favorites, based on the amount of irritability when he was being forced to wait to get one. (It took a long time to take photos, people. It was a lot of sad puppy whining, and me telling him, "I'm metering!" It was sad.) I only got photos of him eating a Cranberry, but he enjoyed the Banana-Nut just as much.
So, in the end, all of the treats definitely got the doggy-seal of approval, and they get my vote because they smell nothing like the fake-meat treats that are probably made of plastic. We also shared some of the treats with Jacquie, whose pup Bruno (remember him?) apparently got quite fond of these treats, camping out in front of the treat jar so often that she finally had to hide them somewhere else. I'd say that's a win, review-wise.

Oh, and did I mention there is a GIVEAWAY????How would you like one of these, for your dog friend, for the dog-friend-having-person in your life? You would? Well of course you would, it is delightful and free! Leave a comment and tell me what your dog's dream-biscuit flavor would be, and I will randomly draw a name to weeeeen zeeeeeeeee priiiiiize! I'll pick on Sunday, so enter before then, or you will be sad. And, if you're not the gamblin' sort, Three Dog Bakery has given me a coupon code, so's you can get your dog-treat fix on the cheap. Just use the code MyAuntJune (no spaces) for free shipping on orders of $35 or more. The coupon expires 12/31/10.

PS: Baxter wanted me to mention that he would be MORE THAN HAPPY to accept corporate sponsorship, especially if it is a company that only makes turkey cold cuts. Baxter would sell his soul for some turkey cold cuts.

Fabulous prize box includes:
-Classic Cremes-Carob Cookies with Natural Peanut Butter Filling - 16 oz
Description: Carob sandwhich cookies filled with natural peanut butter filling. Carob and peanut butter belong together like dogs and tummy rubs.
-Classic Cremes-Golden Cookies with Natural Vanilla Flavor Filling - 16 oz
Description: Golden sandwhich cookies filled with vanilla filling. You'll be asking yourself, "Are these really for dogs?"
-Oven Bake Dog Biscuits Apples & Oatmeal - 16 oz
Description: All natural Apples and Oatmeal oven baked into a crunchy, dog-drooling biscuit!
-Roll-Over Rewards Apples & Oatmeal Dog Treats - 16 oz
Description: All natural apples and oatmeal baked to a cookie perfection. Its mini-size is ideal for puppies, little dogs and training treats.
-Gracie's Gourmet Entree for Dogs - Chicken, Carrots, Green Beans & Rice Recipe - 12oz
Description: We brought food from the dinner table to your dog with our all natural dog food Entrees. Packed full of succulent carrots, green beans and broccoli, as well as luscious chicken that’s been slow cooked – the result is the best gourmet dog food that leaves them licking their chops with satisfaction.
-All Natural Rawhide Braid - 6" Vanilla - 2
Description: 6" all natural rawhide dipped in vanilla flavoring.
-Aussie Pet Naturals Jute Rope Toy- The Perfect Eco Friendly Toy
· 100% Vegetable Fiber
· Strong and Durable Jute Rope
· 100% Biodegradable and Recyclable
· Environmentally Friendly
· Help Sustain the Planet’s Resources
· Inspired and Designed in Australia
-Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale (Paperback)
She was the loneliest pup in the litter--a deaf and partially blind albino Great Dane. She had huge sky blue eyes. And when Day Dye reached for her, she struggled to her feet like a clumsy foal, raised her forehead to his, and announced, as clearly as if she had actually spoken words, You know I'm the one. Now get me outta here!

Free stuff! Hoo-ha!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Quilt Market in Small Bits #4: Melody Miller and Echino

I'm too lazy tonight to be wordy, folks. Enjoy the eye candies!I'm just going to say, I want to make out with Melody Miller's fabrics. Mmmmm, transistor radios.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Yipee!!


Ok, so I have SO MANY POSTS TO WRITE, like, a million, about market and about fabric and my birthday and painting the dining room and awesome quilts other people have made with my fabric, but I have been supa-busy and, let's face, it, fairly lazy, but I wanted to pop in to show you something awesome.
Jenny Rinzler of this humble abode (formerly ciuccio) has been awesome on etsy for FOREVA, but recently switched her focus to making excellent ties, some of which are made EVEN MORE EXCELLENTER (biased opinion here) because they are made of my fabric! Anyway, Jenny was recently featured by the San Francisco Chronicle! (Does Jake Gyllenhall still work there? It was only a movie? Whatever.) Take a looksie at the article and the fabulous drool-worthy ties she makes, and then stop over to marvel at this little post, which warms my heart's cockles immensely.
Check out her shop, and buy your loved ones some awesome ties that are a million times cooler than anything you will ever find at the mall. Make your dad a little cooler this holiday season!

(Photos stolen from Jenny's etsy. Please don't sue me?)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Quilt Market in Small Bits #3

Cloud 9 my friends. It smells and tastes and feels as good as it looks. Which, I think, should be their new slogan. I'm sure everyone has already heard about their Designer Series, but HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THEIR DESIGNER SERIES? Julia Rothman, Heather Moore of Skinny LaMinx, and Geninne Zlatkis are all doing collections on Cloud 9's organic fabric! Also, It's going to be another price sensitive collection, so great organic fabric for under $12/yard, so that's awesome. I personally am really excited for the Nature Walk collection, which I am going to try and get at Harpers. KC folk, you would buy sweet organic fabric from us if it were under $12/yd, right? RIGHT? H'Anyways, Michelle was really, really nice, and the booth was beautiful, one of my favorites at market. The owl tote bag? I had seen it on interwebs, but it is even cuter in person. I briefly considered stealing it, but I already had enough to shove in my suitcase, and also stealing is bad? NEXT!Daisy Janie, another fabulous organic company! Jan was really awesome, and her booth won an award, which makes sense because it was great. There were a ton of really cute bags, as well as the Square Dance quilt, and a couple of adorable fabric boxes from Smidgebox. Their new Shades of Gray collection is pretty brilliant, because who doesn't love gray prints? And, ps locals, Bon Bon Atelier just got some sweet Geo Grand bolts in the other day. I am oogling the ogee print for another Birdie Sling.
Delicious market morsels, there are so many more of them to share!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Quilt Market in Small Bits #2

Alexander Henry makes me die. Like, I want to live in their fabric. Look at these pictures and tell me you don't want to live there too.I breifly discussed Halloween costumes with one of thir friendly sales-folk. He had planned on being Vincent Price, but forgot his costume, and so he just waxed his mustache, which was pretty fabulous. I told him I had wanted to be Rachel Zoe but was afraid no one would get it. (Also? Why? Because I love her, a little.) Then he told me that before he realized Market was on Halloween, he and a friend had planned on going as Rachel and Brad! Anyway, fairly boring story, but it was nice to know that one person would have appreciated my Zoe-ness. If I had done it, that is.
Anna Maria Horner, anyone? (Have you picked up on my super-secret system of organizing these by alphabetical order by initials? I'm fancy.) So, her booth was really fabulous, and she was very funny, although I don't think I ever spoke to her directly, because I was scurred. BUT, also present in her booth was her assistant/seamstress/rockstar, Alexia Abegg. Meeting Alexia? HUGE deal for me. I was almost more dorky with her than with Amy Butler. The first quilt I ever made was based on one of Alexia's, and her blog was just a GIANT part of me getting really into fabric. It's a small world, this quilty one, and I really love it.
That's all for tonight, kiddies. Mama is going to go microwave her sammich.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Market! In Small Bits.

The idea of writing one big Quilt Market post has been looming over me for the past, oh, week and a half, and it is INTIMIDATING. Because market is LONG and AWESOME and TIRING and OVERWHELMING and INSPIRING and TIRING AGAIN. I just finished editing my pictures today, which is ridiculous, but I took 500 photos, and now that I look at them, I keep thinking of things I DIDN'T get pictures of. There's just that much stuff. It's insane. And the people! I met so many amazing people, some who I "knew" from the interwebs, and then about a million more that I didn't, and the people at Quilt Market? They tend to be awesome. I'll try to remember all of them an give credit to their particular awesomes, but I will probably fail. Also, I don't really take pictures of people, (They MOVE! It is frust-er-ating!), so you will have to imagine what they look like, or google them. But the people are a big deal, and one of my very favorite people, ever? Kim Kight. Of Trueup.net. Who is awesome, so much so that I actually thought to take a photo of her awesomehood. I mention her first because I was lucky enough to be her market buddy, and because she was suuuuper nice and let me hang around her when she was meeting with fancy people, and she didn't mind when I followed her around like a lost puppy. Because for the first, say, hour and a half? I was a lost puppy. Thursday was the Schoolhouse sessions, where designers give little presentations about their lines, and other people give presentations about quilts and such, and for the first few sessions, I was walking around alone, feeling like the opening sequence of a teen movie about a new kid in town. It was a bit pathetic, and I started to think I would never meet anyone, and would spend all of Market alone in my crazyness, walking around with my head down like the kid who keeps Magic the Gathering cards in their pocket. (Sorry, people who like Magic the Gathering. Do you still exist? I'm feeling very high-schooly at the mention.) BUT THEN, I am standing waiting to go into Bill Kerr's schoolhouse, and I look over and see the most beautiful nametag ever! Kim Kight! And so, like most freaks, I say Oh! and hug her. Before introductions. Because that is how I roll. And then I intriduced myself, and we hugged again. And she's SO CUTE! And funny! And really, I should end this section, because it's making me sound all freaky-deaky, but it was just the BIGGEST relief to be market-buddied, and know I would not roam the red-carpeted halls all on my lonesome. But anyways. ON TO THE FABRIC!Of course, first has to be Amy Butler, because she's Amy Butler, and that's all there is to it. I met her when Kim and I were going to her Schoolhouse, and she was totally as nice as everyone says. And as tall as they say. She asked me if I knitted my vest, which I didn't knit, and then, like the dork that I am, I told her I got it at Marshall's, because Amy Butler TOTALLY CARES where I got my vest. BUT she said she liked my birdie sling! And then I gushed about how great the pattern was, and eventually she had to turn away from my gushing and go present her schoolhouse, which was great. Because the new stuff (Soul Blossoms) is pretty great. We ordered all of it at the store, so expect it in KC in December, my friends. And now, gratuitous booth shots.Is that enough to make your head spin? This is only post one, my friends, there is still SO MUCH MORE.