I've officially moved...

...so please come and visit the new blog! :)

Check out the continuation of my ramblings

here at Prairiesque.wordpress.com

This morning's musing...

I'm thinking about starting a new blog. Possibly in addition to this one, probably instead of. I still feel like I'm not blogging to my full potential, hehe. Suuuure, I could simply change my ways here. But... I suppose that somehow, by starting fresh, I feel like I can have a better chance. Clean slate and all that.

Also thinking of other new endeavors which I won't mention yet...because, you know, if I can't seem to finish existing projects, starting a new undertaking is always the thing to do. ;)

I still have thinking to do. So we'll see.

"Beki's Barn Sale," or, "Maybe I should tell you about these things BEFORE they happen..."

Saturday was the Barn Sale.

What Barn Sale?

As you, um, may be able to tell (though I hope it's not too apparent), I have not been the greatest blogger lately. Okay, ever. But I've been on one of my especially irresponsible non-blogging tangents so I didn't tell you about Beki's Barn Sale in Hesston, KS.

It was wonderful!! I didn't sell there because I was unable to make it for the entire day, but I wish I could have. I was, however, able to stop by for a little while and got some marvelous goodies from Shop Vintage Girl (who, by the way, is having a sale right now.)

There were some really great items and people there, and you should definitely go next year!

Shop Vintage Girl, aka Shelly (& mom)

Aid for Aidan: Help an extraordinary little boy!!

The sad news: Aidan, the 5-year-old nephew of my friend, Mandi of Red Planet, was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It is 97% curable but he will have to go through 2-3 years of chemo.

Aidan, working on his art

The awesome news: Regretsy (and yes, I mean THE Regretsy) is going to be holding a fundraiser just for Aidan! If you're not familiar with it, Regretsy is a hilarious blog that showcases ugly, stupid, or just plain weird items from Etsy. (Be warned, it is often pretty crude and could be considered offensive...definitely not PG rated.) Contrary to what some believe, the intent is NOT to discourage sales of these items--being featured on the website has actually helped many artists make big sales. And most importantly, has become a routine thing for Regretsy to raise money for good causes, like Aidan. :)

A photo from Regretsy, originally from Meg Swansen

Info about the Regretsy fundraiser won't be officially announced until later on, but here's what you can do for now:

Follow Aidan's journey via this blog:

http://aidforaidan.wordpress.com/

Purchase items featuring Aidan's own artwork, via the Regretsy Zazzle store. (All proceeds from this will go to help with Aidan's medical bills):

http://www.zazzle.com/Regretsy

Check out his Etsy store, where you can purchase prints of his artwork (Again, proceeds go to Aidan):

http://www.etsy.com/shop/aidansmonsters

ANNNDDD..... if you cannot donate, you can still help by spreading the word!!! Aidan is an incredibly creative little boy with a spectacular personality and I would love to see him get as much support as possible.

Thank you for your time and help!

xoxo,

Leanne

Huh?

Well, I'm (nearly) done with my cardigan and, as I thought, have done a completely awful job of tracking its progress. This is mostly due to the fact that as I was working on it, I was too excited to see it done and didn't want to take time to snap pictures, etc.

Now I'm in the middle of trying to type up the pattern, and was wondering...does anyone know what the heck this says? I sure don't. But once I decipher my own handwriting, I'll be sure to post pics of the finished sweater AND the pattern! :)

Music Monday: Leslie Hall!

I've mentioned her a couple times, maybe posted a video or two, but I thought I should bring her up again. Because she's just that awesome. Well, really I should say she AND her band mates are awesome. I'm talkin' about Leslie.

Leslie (Hall) and the LY's are a small group out of Iowa. They started out as "cewebrities" and...well...I suppose they still are mainly that. But they also tour the country, and I am just waiting for the day they come here.

Just why do I love them so much? They are midwest girls and proud of it. Their overall aesthetic has a real '80s-neon-kitty-and-pink-bows-on-wicker-woven baskets kind of vibe. Leslie wears a LOT of spandex, gold usually...in fact I think spandex is all she ever wears. And they sing about crafts. And sequins. And snacks. And besides that, their music really is catchy.

Please look at her website and maybe even buy an album. I am also big on Leslie because she is not unlike any other independent crafter/artisan with a dream, working stitch by stitch to make that dream come true. Except her stitches are beats...well...and sometimes stitches. (She makes and sells spandex pants, too.)

My favorite new video of hers. Please be warned that it is what some might call "weird":

Bike Ride.

I got a new bike...and wicker basket. Nothing fancy, but it soooo pretty! :)

Pictures from its maiden voyage....