Queen Anne's Lace

During walks this past week, we've seen lots of tall Queen Anne's lace (& it was included in our weekly farmers market bouquet). Make the most of it by either pressing or drying it for the fall & winter. 

 Lacy links (sorry:)

Queen-Anne's Lace by William Carlos Williams

 A pretty & easy children's project using the flowers.

Beautiful prints of Queen Anne's lace in Irene Suchocki's shop. (You can request special sizes, too.) This flower photo set is a favorite. There's even a locket. Lovely.

How about making some Queen Anne's lace cookies?

If you're feeling semi-ambitious, follow Amy Merrick's instructions for making a press.

Lots more lace on Pinterest. 

ciao/xo

PS: Perhaps take walk & look for some flowers to dry/press. See Let's Move for some ideas.

(photograph by Irene Suchocki)

Eye Poetry

That's the name of Irene Suchoki's shop & it's apt. We're posting this now because the holiday order deadline for her beautiful prints & calendars is December 5 for the States, December 8 for Canada. The deadline for international was November 22. But if you like something (love the calendars), then why not order? Subscribe to the idea of The Twelve Days of Christmas & feel the stress decrease. Seriously. This photograph makes us want to whip out the fairy lights. Right now.

Here's a link to Irene's discounted print sets. There's New York, Paris, carousels, butterflies, Italy, & fairy lights. Some of our very favorite things. Happy Sunday.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Irene Suchoki)

Knit a Penguin a Sweater

No, we are not kidding. Look how people are helping the penguins affected by an oil spill off New Zealand. Thank you to Lori for tweeting a link to the story this afternoon. We're rushing so text below is directly from the etsy blog:

A recent oil spill on New Zealand’s coast has left the environment and wildlife in shambles — including the local blue penguin population. While volunteers are working hard to rescue and clean the animals in the region, they require a little bit of crafty help: tiny sweaters, or penguin pajamas, for the rescued birds. These woolen sweaters keep oil-soaked birds warm until they’re well enough to be cleaned and prevent them from ingesting oil from their feathers.

If you’re interested in donating a penguin sweater, New Zealand yarn store Skeinz has provided a handy how-to and is organizing the donation efforts.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Leila Nargi)

Made4Aid Monday - Blue Messenger Bag

This beauty is for sale at Made4Aid's Etsy shop. We're thinking it could accommodate a laptop, too. While this bag does require extra money for shipping (only 5.00USD within the EU), there are two pretty bags available, free shipping anywhere in the world. Made4Aid accepts payment via PayPal & 3 major credit cards. If you're not buying anything this year (or yet), understood. But visiting the site's shop & adding it to your favorites would be helpful. Thanks so much. (image property of Made4Aid/used with permission)

ciao-meow/The Mgmt.

Made4Aid Month

Made4Aid now sells items through a new Etsy shop. GG will be featuring items from the shop this month & next.

Made4Aid is a non-profit-making organisation, raising money for aid and relief work, through the generosity of creative people around the world. Handmade art or craft items - or materials - can be donated to made4aid and will be sold online to raise money for aid. All proceeds go to the relief work of Médicins sans Frontières (aka Doctors without Borders) and World Food Programme USA. You can find more information about where the money goes here.

If you have any items to donate, please read guidelines, here.

ciao-meow/GG Central

(made4aid mosaic/all rights reserved)

Made4Aid Returns - Now on Etsy

Hoorah. Many of GG Central's favorite gifts given last year for the holidays & birthdays were from the good folks at Made4Aid in Britain. Instead of auctions (which we enjoyed), you can just go directly to Made4Aid's Etsy shop & have a look. There will be more additions in the next few weeks. Also, if you would like to donate anything, please get in touch with Made4Aid at made4aid [!at] yahoo.co.uk. They are super-friendly & talented people.

GG's editor uses her French market bag (made in England) every single week. Our friend Maria Caterina wears her Neapolitan skinny scarf proudly (& will again if it ever cools off, oh please). Our friends in Darfur use this lovely hand-embroidered tablecloth for their tea table in the Women's Cooperative. Etc. More to come, we just wanted you to know. There's more but Giulia has begun howl-meowling for her supper. Good grief, what a racket!

ciao-cheerio-meow/GG Central

(Smile card image via Made4Aid)

GG Chic - The Catwalk Cats

Ooh la la. It's raining, as people say, cats & dogs. We love this adorable French cat with beret by Claire Owen. It reminded us of genius Grace Coddington's wonderful The Catwalk Cats. Here's a link to a Steidl Books illustration slideshow from the 2007 book. (No, we don't own it but someday...Giulia needs to earn some pocket money. We'll let you know how that turns out. Ahem. She's asleep right now, of course. Rainy day deep sleep.) We're also reminded of a favorite artist who channels cats, Jamie Shelman. Have you visited her Small Expectations blog? No? Immediately go there, well, here.

ciao-damp-meow/GG's editor

(French cat by Clare Owen via Audrey Hepburn Complex)

Coffee Love

Looks like fun, wish we were there. ..The coffee cup has a favorite bicycle-theme from CircaCeramics of Chicago (we're in a Christmas-red mood, they take custom orders--deadline 18 December). Photograph of coffee from the art of coffee & have a little fun with your coffee photo piles.

While you linger over your coffee, tea, or cocoa...think about what you can do to give the Zimbabwean people support. Of course, we're talking about Robert Mugabe. As in go now, go now, get out. South Africa could do a lot & they are not (no matter what they say). Go to the Enough Project & check with their links.

Have a great afternoon & evening.

ciao-meow, bisou,
GG Central

The House of Mouse

No need to guess which mouse is GG's new favorite. Yes, of course, it's Terry Mouse...dressed up just like GG the Redheaded (Opinionated) Cat. It's so difficult to choose, so we selected the four above: (clockwise from top left) Alice in Wonderland, James Bond, Bharat the Bollywood star, & Hermione of Hogwart's. Another big favorite is Lulu the Bellydancer...perhaps we'll feature her in a dance post because Lulu deserves the spotlight to herself.

These adorable creatures are created by Anna Greaves, a British native who has lived in the Netherlands since 2003. Here is her profile, & here is a quote from Anna:

"10% of my profits go to the British animal welfare charity The Blue Cross where I adopted my beautiful rescue cat Nicki. In order to protect my customers with allergies all my creations are made and packed for shipping in a studio that Nicki does not have access to."

Here are photos of zee artiste in her studio...Anna is crazy busy at this time of the year but if you've not ordered in time for Christmas (there's still time in Europe for holiday delivery), Anna's mice are timeless & there's a mouse for every occasion, career, holiday, & cultural interest (take a look & you'll see what we mean). Custom mice are also a delightful option that Anna particularly looks forward to.

Happy looking...if these do not make you laugh out loud, it may be hopeless!

ciao-meow,
GG's editor

Blue Bunnies

GG needs two pair made-to-order...GG's editor wants some, size 7. We've never had bunny slippers & are certain it would make all the difference this winter. From Etsy shop, Magination. Many adorable slippers in all colors, & other cuties. (How to resist Glow-in-the-Dark Chocolate Bunny Slippers?)

Ciao, bimbe

Autumn's clutches...

GG cannot believe her pink-tipped ears: is her editor (her employee, after all) recommending luxury purchases? Look at the news. What about her Premium Feast cat food?! No, no. We can't buy a thing but... if we could, these (& many more) handmade clutch purses from Red Ruby Rose on Etsy are lovely & tempting.

bisou, ciao, GG's editor