Favorite Things This Week: metal kimonos to hairy legs
Lots to share with you this week! My daily trolling of blog posts is always interesting. People are unbelievably creative and artistic out there.
1. A quilt-looking item first, because wow! This is one of Catherine Foster’s Woven Kimono, made of gold, silver and copper. It looks quite quilt-like as well as woven, and is just stunning. There are others as well on her website.
Wherever I found this also reminded me of this wooden one “pieced kimono” by Jafabrit. Also really beautiful.
2. Wow. This is really creative. Bet you’ve never seen a necklace like this before. Sure, we all go for pretty and hope vaguely that it might match what we’re wearing, but I think I can safely say that this necklace is in another category of jewelry entirely.
Like this? Well, its creator is Regina Pruss, and she makes more things like this as well. Leaf and acorn. An owl in a tree. An octopus. Available through another shoppe I’m putting on my Indie Index, the Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco.
3. This is really creative and just really … great. Start with the shoes and go up. By the time you finally come to the top of this creation, you’ll just be blown away. Or anyway, I was. The only thing these legs might be missing is a nice ankle tattoo. 
From Paper Crane.
4. What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America. This book is about historical costumes in a museum in Williamsburg, but much more as well - the stories behind the clothing, and the stories about life changes that the clothing itself tells.
I think sewing is amazing. Handsewn clothing is amazing. I am always deeply impressed and humbled by those who made clothing in the past - not only did people make all their own clothing in most cases, but it was hand-stitched, and in some cases the fabric too was hand-woven or knit. The artistry, work and thoughfulness of the production of 
all of one’s own clothing is mind-boggling.
5. I really have a soft spot for the cups that have been sold in New York by every vendor and a lot of the coffee shops for about half a century. It’s that nice Greek key pattern that says “we are happy to serve you.” Now you can have a cup sleeve knit in that pattern from Half Birthday.
Did you know there’s also a ceramic version of it at the Museum of Modern art? It’s not only a favorite of mine, it’s iconic.
6. Yon Craftzine pointed out this Gigantic Cable Rug from Flocks - you can see the scale from the pictures. Wow! Be impressed! I can’t even manage to handle the normal-size knitting needles. (Note: because of how Craft showed the pictures, I’m not certain picture #2 relates to picture #1, but … I just feel like it ought to.) Also seen at Crafty Crafty. Apparently it’s popular.
7. I wanted to share with you this beautiful and evocative picture (right) from Alicia Paulson’s blog, Posy Gets Cosy. I love reading this blog. She is a sweet person, and I have lately cried with her because she & her husband Andy lost her Corgi to illness - her dog was named Audrey, and my dog is named Audrey, and so every time I think about losing my puppy. Send happy and warm thoughts to her if you’re so inspired.
Still, though, she manages to post unbelievably beautiful pictures like this one to the right. That’s her kitchen and her niece making cupcakes ther. No, really, it is. It looks like it was designed by stylists. Or that it’s from TV in another decade. Which is why, when her new book comes out, I will be purchasing it immediately in the hopes that she styled the scenes and projects herself and took all the pictures herself.
8. I really love this hat/beret/floppy head piece thing from Treats & Treasures (left). It looks very fuzzy, warm and cozy. All of my hair would tuck up into that and my ears would be toasty.
I really like the heathered charcoal yarn, although I’m sure that it would look quite smashing in other colors as well. That right there is a Warm Fuzzy all by itself. Things like this make me wish I could knit, but I can’t, alas. Anybody want to convert it to crochet for me? I lack that talent as well.
The designer says about her hat, “Lately I am very much into cozy warm things like children’s books, hot chocolate, warm baths… and chunky knitwear. I always wanted a big rasta like funky hat and now I made one. If you’re interested, this is the (easy!) pattern.”
Ridiculously Cute: Happy Eggs
These Happy Eggs are just one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen. But then, a lot of the things that you can find on Ana Paula Oli are silly cute like this. You should see the little happy peas in a pod :) She also sells the patterns for these like the one for the peas and if you want more, check out her blog - Ana Paula’s Amigurumi Patterns and Random Cuteness.
Weird Out the People At Work
You know, because sometimes I think about these things.
I have to admit that I work in a place full of artists, people with tattoos, non-traditional lifestyles and empathetic souls. So being somewhat nontraditional or punk is … not that impressive or unusual. So what’s left? I guess making people worry a little about you.
1. Noose Earrings. In four colors!
2. Magnum Force Earrings. Yes, these are made from .357 magnum shells. Awesome.
3. Underwear Earrings. Made of polymer clay. I guess all you can hope for with these is that you can find a pair of actual underwear that matches. I don’t wanna know how anyone would know that your earrings and underwear matches.
4. Spock Necklace. OK, I know I’d get funny looks for this, but probably more of the “yeah, I knew she was a nerd, but this is ridiculous” sort. It’s a good picture though, what with Spock smiling
5. Buy My Love. I’d really like to see the double-take on this one. Would they get it? What would they wonder about my life?
6. Not SO, weird, really. I could definitely be convinced that this Egg Pillow would be good in my ofice. Office chairs, of course, are not that comfy. This, on the other hand, is crinkly, as it’s stuffed with garbage sacks. Save the planet!
7. I need art on my office wall at the moment. Perhaps I should use this print - and of course, be sure to label it clearly with its name, Bad Day at Work.
8. I’m truly confused by some of the things that I see on Etsy, like this Dead Rat. But boy wouldn’t it get some serious reactions if it were one of your desk toys?? There’s a dead rat pin, too.
And I’m done.
