http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

Hey Friends, just a quickie, but this site has the CUTEST ways to make your graduation tassels into Christmas ornaments. Definitely worth the click! Congrats to all Grads and the people who love them!

Sooooo, IF my rotten, lousy computer could be persuaded to upload the photos I just took, I'd be able to show you my beautiful and quirky thrift store finds from this week. BUT, tears, pleading, threats, bribes and turning the darn thing on and off again have all proved fruitless and I'm bummed. Foiled again. Maybe I could take pictures with my phone, post them to Facebook, save them to my computer and THEN upload them to the blog? Although, just typing that made me want to take a nap.

 

 

All righty, here is a truly mediocre picture of the beautiful music box I liberated from the thrift store yesterday. It's in perfect condition, though a vintage piece and plays Greensleeves. The soft, muted pastels and the tenderness in Santa's face make this music box a calming and joyous expression of faith. I'm tempted to keep it, since my own daughter was born early Christmas morning, but with a preschooler, a toddler and 3 cats in the house, fragile items are in constant danger of being annihilated. Maybe it would be better off with you?

 

Here's PPPPPPPorky PPPPPPig. For those of you out there who sell vintage, I've noticed that pop culture things, toys and cartoons sell pretty well. My Little Pony stuff, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, etc. So I'm hoping that Porky finds a home soon.

 

It was a great day for finds yesterday. If I'd had more money to spend I believe I could have bought a lot more sellable stuff, but alas, I was forced to make some hard choices. However, this beautiful Irish Bride and Groom from Royal Tara made the cut. Wouldn't it be a wonderful cake topper or wedding shower gift for the right couple? Bone china, made in Ireland and in perfect condition. I'm happy already thinking of the couple who will get this piece, whoever they are!

Wanna shop in my Etsy store? Click here on the link! Happy shopping! https://www.etsy.com/people/fatjoeyknitwear?ref=hdr_user_menu

 

 

Max at 19 weeks, full of exclamation marks.

 

My children, (Izzy, age 3 and Max, 15 months) have already taught me volumes about life. Always, always, always carry snacks. The solemn promise of a two year old is worthless. A little lipstick on the walls will brighten up the darkest of dens.

But recently my son reminded me of an incredibly important lesson and I thought I'd share. Here it is: make sure your life has enough exclamation points. For example, Max is 15 months old. Everything, and I mean everything is new and exciting to him. If he could talk in sentences, it would sound something like this. "Mom!! MOM! There's a doggie! oh my gosh, oh my gosh, OHMYGOSH, I want to pet him. I GOT TO PET HIM! He licked my hand! I LOVE HIM!"

Or...."Mom! MOM!! Look out the window! Last night it was all blue and sparkly and TODAY it's completely different! There's TREES! And grass! And houses! And OHMYGOSH there's a DOG! CanIpethimcanipethimcanipet him, PLEASE?"

Or "Mom! MOM!! I'm in the bath tub! I LOVE the bathtub!! Look! I'm peeing! I'm peeing in the bath tub! HAHA! Isn't life great??"

Everything he does excites him greatly. Well, of course it does, he's not even two yet. Wonder is a lot harder to come by the time you're an adult. But Max's sentences ALL have exclamation points at the end. No wonder he can't wait to get up in the morning. Mine sentences go something more like this.

"Ugh, the baby's awake. I am so tired."
"I smell cat pee. Where did the cat pee."
"I'm going to the grocery store. Again. I am so tired."

And herein lies the problem. There's a lot in adults' lives that HAS to be done. There's no getting around it. Fine. I accept that. There's shopping and cooking and diapers and feedings and bills and cleaning and yard work and dusting, there's deadlines and  meetings and projects and papers, and on and on and on. And it must be done. It all must be done. So here's what I propose for all of us. More exclamation points. More wonder. More joy.

Whatever your day holds, take a page from Max's book and be sure to add in some exclamation points. It can be anything that, in your mind, gets an exclamation point at the end of the sentence. Like this: "Oh BOY, I get to go to Knitting Club tonight! I can't wait!" Or "Oh BOY! I'm going to watch the new Ken Burn's documentary and drink cheap wine. I can't wait!"

You may have to look for these things. Once exclamation points leave your sentences it can be hard to get them back. But it's important to try. Life contains a depressing amount of hum drum periods, tiresome commas, and troubling question marks. Sprinkle in some exclamation points and watch your day come alive. I have to go now. My son is adding more exclamation points to his day.
"Mommy, look! I'm playing in the potty! WHEEEEEEE!" Have fun!

Hello, friends!

It's been quite a while since my last post and I do apologize for that. I never meant to abandon you, but my goodness has life gotten busy! Since my last post in 2012 I've added vintage goods and crafts to my online Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/fatjoeyknitwear?ref=pr_shop_more kept up my knitting, started teaching acting with Child Drama Workshops and added life and acting coaching to my resume as well. Oh, and then this happened

which turned into this.....

which turned into THIS.

 

 

And finally this.

 

 

 

So now I have these!

 

 

Max was born in May of 2013 and instantly captured my heart. Good natured, wide eyed and a passionate eater, Max has grown into a delicious, snuggly bundle of boy. At 3 weeks, he rolled over, at 9 months he walked and I've been chasing after him and his fireball big sis ever since. But now that Max is (Thank you God!) sleeping through the night and Izzy has preschool 3 days a week, I'm hoping to resurrect this blog. I can't always put two coherent thoughts together, but I'll try. And I've missed you all.

HOMELESS SCARF SEEKS SHELTER.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/104295985/lacey-black-ruffle-scarf

Lacey, black ruffle scarf

From fatjoeyknitwear

By the pricking of my thumbs
something wicked this way comes.

And guess what? It's YOU, elegantly wrapped in our lacey black ruffle scarf.
A cascade of dark lace announces your entrance and proclaims that you're no one to be trifled with. Wear it to the theater, the finest restaurant in town, or on that all important third date. After all, if you're going to be a drama queen, shouldn't you look the part?


The Black Ruffled Scarf is hand knit by me in my smoke free, pet friendly studio from imported mesh yarn. As always, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a no kill animal shelter or Heifer International in honor of the Late, Great Fat Joey.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/100474989/pink-ruffle-scarf

Do you drink Cosmopolitans instead of beer? Prefer pedicures to mountain biking? Never leave the house without at least 3 lipsticks? Me too - and that's why I just had to knit this gorgeous, girly scarf. It's all of our favorite things - soft, ruffly, pink and frothy....dive right in and snuggle up to proclaim "I enjoy being a girl!"

This sweet accessory is handknit in my smoke free, pet friendly studio from 100% imported mesh yarn. Hand wash cold and lay flat to dry. But be careful! If you wear this scarf, men might start opening doors, sending you drinks and kissing your hand - just be prepared!

As always, a portion of the proceeds from the ruffly pink scarf will go to a no kill animal shelter or Heifer International, in honor of the Late, Great Fat Joey.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/99450909/sale-ruffled-snowflake-scarf-hand-knit

Here at Fat Joey Knitwear, we just LOVE to sell things. And we HATE to not sell things. SO! In honor of all of you getting your checks from Uncle Sam, we are holding our first ever Tax Refund Sale in my Etsy store. There are scandalously low prices and DEEEEEEEEP discounts - for a limited time only!Have fun shopping and don't forget! A portion from every sale of our gorgeous hand made knits goes directly to a nokill anmil shelter or Heifer International, in honor of the Late, Great Fat Joey.