Happy New Year! Próspero Año Nuevo

MereMere's latest: Dachshund Felt Sombrero

Hope you all made some crafty resolutions for 2011!
If you want to make you're own felt creations, check out these Whimsical Felt projects. Or if you're feeling like you want to jumpstart holiday 2011, try Fa La La Felt.

A Holiday Message from fivefeettall

I never finished this year's holiday card.
I had a lot of good intentions and a lot of great ideas for my 2010 holiday card. It’s just... nothing ever came to BE (what exactly was I doing all summer long??) But 2010 was a weird year—I said it back in January before I really knew how weird it was going to get. If only I had known.

A few hand-picked, censored, politically-correct 2010 highlights:

---

Learned that I have a reckless love for sledding. And, for the record, regardless of weight or grace, my sled will go farther than yours.

---

Flew 20+ hours to Thailand to ride an elephant and snuggle with a tiger. Don't believe me? Check out the photo evidence.

---

Got Branded. Registered fivefeettall as my business name and literally branded myself. Check out the world's smallest tattoo!

---

Stopped eating meat. And yes that includes hamburgers. And no I haven't cheated. Curious as to why? I find Paul McCartney very convincing. Do you?

---

"Retired". Left my day job and discovered the sweetness of doing nothing.

---

Spent my birthday week in Chicago (Pitchfork Music Festival) and Ann Arbor (Michigan Brewer's Guild BeerFest.)

---

Enjoyed the second annual ArtPrize. Got involved and hosted an artist.

---

Sold out. Took my first corporate job.

---

Started a new Thanksgiving tradition. A feast sans meat.

---

After 12 years, gave away the keys to the Escort and bought a new car. Here's the Chevy all shiny and new.

---

Here's to an even weirder and more memorable 2011. Happy New Years everyone!

Is Your Mug Warm or Are You Just Happy to See Me?

When I was in grade school we got these T-shirts on one of our weekend trips to Traverse City that changed color based on the temperature of the room. I wore that shirt all the incessantly. In retrospect, while the concept may have been wildly innovative, they were incredibly cheesy (score 1 for the '90s).

While these mugs may rely on some of the same technologies as my color changing t-shirt, they are in no way whatsoever cheesy. They are awesome.

Visit thinkgeek.com for these gems and other amazing stocking stuffers.

New Shop a Grand Rapids Win!
Back in May I read about a "eclectic home decor shop" specializing "in artfully redesigned, recycled goods" that was opening in Grand Rapids.

Hmm. That sounds like something this eclectic redesigner might like.

Well it wasn't until this past Saturday that I finally found myself inside the shop, And what a holy treasure trove! The entire shop is about the size of my office, and every item in it is blissfully charming. (It's loaded with mustaches and owls!)

If you're looking for any last minute Christmas gifts head to Rebel Reclaimed at 926 East Fulton in Grand Rapids, MI 49503. It's a definite win! http://www.rebelreclaimed.com/

A Sugar-Coated Holiday

This Saturday I decided to celebrate the holiday by initiating a new tradition. I bought out Meijers candy aisle and had some friends over to build gingerbread houses. I was impressed with the creativity and unique style of each house (/bridge!). It may have been the sugar buzz, but it seemed like everyone had a good time!

And as a bonus, my house now smells like Candyland.

Good Tidings 'til 2012

For the last 4 years, I've made a desktop calendar which have been sold on my Etsy site. It's a project I've enjoyed and I had several ideas on ways to change it up for year 5. Unfortunately, with the circles my life has been running this fall, I didn't get to chance to make a 2011 calendar (there will however be a new design for 2012—I promise!)

Here are some fun calendar finds to tide you over for 2011!


1. Artsy Birdies from monkeyminddesign09 on Etsy
2. Magnetic Calendar from graphicgrain on Etsy
3. Accordion Calendar from Snow & Graham
4. Petite Wall Calendar on Inklosures
5. Critter Calendar on Night Owl Paper Goods
6. Letterpress Argyle Calendar from albertinepress on Etsy
7. Symbiosis from sefora on Etsy
8. 3-Dimensional Box Calendar on Little Hut

From one Junkies Point of View: Cookies or Crack?

For someone who claims to be anti-holiday, there really are quite a few things about the holidays that I enjoy immensely.

Namely, cookies.

When I moved into my house, 4 years ago this month, my neighbors were neighborly and brought by a plate of cookies. Sustenance for unpacking and painting and such.

Included in this batch were nuggets of ginger flavored crack—disguised cleverly as charming Christmas cookies. I'm a huge fan of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, well, spices in general really, but this family here really screams Christmas to me.

My new neighbors happily shared their recipe with me, and now I happily share it with you.

From one addict to another, these are amazing.

---

Chocolate Chip & Ginger Cookies
• 7 oz. chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 8 tablespoon softened butter
• 1 tablespoon ginger
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

1. In a medium bowl, mix flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cocoa.
2. In another bowl, beat butter and ginger until fluffy. Add brown sugar and molasses and mix until well combined.
3. In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in 1 1/2 teaspoons bowling water. Mix half of the flour mixture into the butter mixture, then add the baking soda mixture and the rest of the flour mixture. Mix in chocolate chips.
4. Heat over to 325 degrees. Roll dough into balls and chill for 15 minutes. bake until the surfaces crack slightly, 10 – 12 minutes. let cool 5 minutes, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

DIY Christmas

Those who know me, know that I'm not exactly bursting with the holiday spirit. But there are two things about this time of year that I cherish. Crafting and cookies.

For those ready to channel their inner Martha this year, here's a few DIY projects she's featured on her website that I find particularly charming. Links to the instructions are below.


1. Rudulph the Sock Dog
2. Button Christmas Cookies (because Santa deserves a little somethin' too!)
3. Button Ornaments
4. Ribbon Tree Cards
5. Rick Rack Cards
6. Button Wrapping (check out the stamp on the wrap too!)
7. Snowman Button Cards (not shown)

C is for Chevy

Those of you who know me well, also know my Escort. We've been together 12 years—until yesterday, when I left her in the dealership parking lot in Allegan, and drove away in something shiny, new and black.

On the left, my beloved Ford Escort, who kept my safe through many anxiety-filled days. On the right, her shiny new replacement, A Chevy Cruze, who has big tracks to fill.

I had a great car buying experience with Grand Auto Family. But let's hope I don't have to do it again for 12 years!

A Serving of Sarcasm this Holiday Season

Amy Sedaris, America's most unconventional hostess, has brought us her second published work, Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, because "being poor is a wonderful motivation to be creative".

Her first book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, is a graphic delight. Full-color, mixed-media illustrations combined with hysterical photoshoots of Amy herself—it somewhat resembles what I imagine the 1950s on crack to be like. The book is primarily recipes and party tips but in the back she crammed a short crafting section—"Pantyhose, Crafts and Good Ideas". I'm thrilled she's released a second book, which devotes more specific attention to crafting, serious or not.

I haven't had a chance to pick the book up yet. But I have no doubt it will be a visual masterpiece. And with sections like "Crafting for Jesus" and "Unreturnable Gift Giving" the content is sure to be golden as well.

David Sedaris also has a new book out this year, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, which is a collection of fables. I'm a little less excited about this than his typical books, as talking animals aren't really my thing, but for a Sedaris fan, the collection wouldn't be complete without it.

So if you're looking for last minute Christmas gifts, perhaps the Sedaris family can help you out!

Owls are in.
And these ones will be at Flourish Artists Market on East Paris this Saturday.

At last month's Recycled Arts Market, I found I couldn't make owls fast enough to keep them on the table, so along with the original plush design, I've made these little table top friends to debut at Flourish.

Flourish is located in the old Creative Learning Center next door to Bill & Paul's on East Paris. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this, and every, Saturday. I will be there this coming Saturday—Stop by and say "hi"!

Wrap it up!

Here's a great way to wrap gifts for kids! Super simple—white paper, red ribbon and my pinky print!

Works best of course with rectangular gifts! Shown to the left is a gift for my cousin's two-year-old son.