Textures Handmade Market

For the past several months, the owners of Textures and Lucy and Leo’s,  (Maggie and Jean) have been working super hard on their time away from the shop to train for a 165 mile bike ride from Miami to Key West.

Why are they doing this, you ask?

Here’s a little background…

Jean had ACL surgery last March. While rehabilitating, she discovered that riding the stationary bike felt best on her knee and seemed to be helping most. During this time, a friend (we will call her Kim) was recruiting friends to join her in a charity ride to raising money for the AIDS foundation. Jean decided that this would be a good goal,  she bought a road bike and signed up.

Maggie did not have knee surgery. She started riding her commuter bike with Jean when (in the beginning) she needed a friend to go along on rides with her, just in case something happened with her knee. After riding on several long rides, she discovered that cycling did not make her Asthma flare up, when every other physical activity inhibited her breathing. She became very excited and started feeling like her lungs were becoming stronger and stronger every ride, making it so she does not need to use her inhaler at all. This is a HUGE feat. At this point she decided that a 165 mile ride from Miami to Key west could be an amazing goal as well, and help her stay healthy.

So here’s the details- November 18-19, Maggie and Jean will be conquering this amazing goal!! They will ride 100 miles the first day and 65 miles the second day. Since this is a charity ride, they each have to raise $1250 for the AIDS foundation. Each one of them have raised $700-ish which means they need to raise about $500- ish more.

In order to finish up their fund raising for this awesome cause, Maggie, Jean (and friends will) be riding a stationary bike inside Textures/L&L’s on Tuesday, November 8 starting at 10:00am – until ???. They will be riding the bike and taking donations until we raise $1000. To sweeten the deal, L&L’s will give you a cupcake for every $10 donation. If you donate $100 or more you get a gift certificate  for a dozen cupcakes and a personalized Maggie Owl, that is a value of over $60!!!

This is an exciting adventure that these two have signed up for. Come by the shop to hear about how training is coming along.

**If you are interested in learning more about this organization and the ride itself, go to smart ride 8 . If you would like to donate to the cause, go to Maggie WIllman or Jean Bates .

Katie Daisy has healthy doses of feel good sentiments and amazing ornament.  She creates a cheerful world of love, grace and generosity.  I enjoy gazing at her prints and watercolors.  Here is a peek.

Having traveled to Athens recently for the Athens Indie Craftstravaganza I befriended Jordan the maker of these cuties.  She has remarkable talent – super cute cuddly’s for your youngin’ or young at heart.  The robots are something special — they have that 50′s feel yet feel spunky and new.  I adored the cacti and had to take one home to sit on my mantle.  Make sure to check out her site to see what she is up to and where she might be – Fattycakes!

Such sweetness comes from this artist --Elista.  From papercuts, prints of papercuts, dolls, one of a kind books, illustrations.  She is so talented, hands thanks create small treasures.  They also feel so precious, they come in all price ranges so if you are craving for a goody you can get something special.  Also for more treats check out her one of her blogs.. you can start here!

We are so fortunate to be frolicking in these glorious days.  I am amazed at how gorgeous it is.  My husband and I have been working on our edible garden, something I have been dreaming about for sometime now.  I am a big fan of Fritz Haeg’s, Edible Estates: Attack of the front Lawn.  This is a great book- It looks back in history at the Victory gardens of the 40′s and what is going on now.  2010 was an explosive year for folks making they own lawn a sustainable veggie wonderland.  We are hoping to follow — we have the beginnings of all sorts of lovelies Rainbow swiss chard, Kale, beets, sugar snap peas.  As I am sure you all are itching to be outside — this is a great book to get those gardening juices flowing.  Enjoy every minute of it.

I am in awe of the company, Votivo.  They make wonderful candles – they smell great – I even think you can sense in the aroma how each one is made by hand.  They are not like your ordinary candle, they are special.  It’s exciting to know that Textures is now carrying them.  We are so lucky!  I wanted you to hear how the shop describes themselves.  Oh — and I know for a fact that one guy with really big arms does all the hand-pressed seals.  I wonder if one arm is bigger than the other.

Votivo(voh-tee-voh): Expressing a vow, wish, or desire.

Since its inception in 1994, Votivo has built a worldwide reputation for high quality home fragrances and distinctive packaging. Each Votivo product is a culmination of care and commitment to detail. Each candle is hand-crafted. Each tissue is hand-wrapped. Each pewter seal is hand-pressed. Each candle is specially made. At the heart of every Votivo candle is a unique fragrance meticulously formulated and layered to reflect depth, richness, and complexity. Our candles are famous for their ability to quickly fill a room with wonderful fragrances. As one of the original domestically made luxury candle lines, Votivo passionately pursues excellence in the art of candle making.

I am amazed by this sweet necklace.  I love how it is a wearable story, each vignette coming out of a British novel or storybook.  I love miniatures as I have said before, and a wearable one seems delightful.  The sweet makers of the goodness are Klimbimberlin, I think you have to say that slowly.  Enjoy in the loveliness.

I love to see lines lines lines.  When I taught drawing at FSU I would lament over how wonderful lines are and how versatile they are.  This beautiful silkscreen fabric embraces all the loveliness I find in lines.  Summersville is a sweet etsy shop full of great prints on both paper and cloth.  The photographs of the pieces are also sweet.  Happy Thursday!

This is an amazing video that gets you close to the wonders of nature.  It is a collaboration between RISD and Etsy, and it is very lovely.  Here is a peak of the creatures you will see.

******Click here to watch the video —RISD\’s nature center***********

I love fabric and am quite positive many of you all do too.  There are so many lovely prints I adore but lately I’ve been taken with Pennsylvania Dutch.  Here is a composite by True Up- a great blog devoted to you guessed it fabric.  Check back with them on fridays for all the sales on the web.  Such a great resource!