I realized that the last two photos I took were of cats posing candidly with fruit. Then I realized that the internet could probably use a few more cat pics in the mix. You’re welcome.

Well, we did it! On Saturday, Brian and I circumnavigated the entire 32+ miles of Manhattan island on foot. We laced up our walking shoes bright and early and joined hundreds of others as part of the 27th annual Great Saunter. Last year we made the mistake of meadering at too leisurely of a pace and stopping too much to take photos, and made it about 26 miles. This year we proudly hobbled to the finish point in South Street Seaport to the cheers of a nearby Cinco de Mayo party. (I pretended that all the whoopin’ and hollerin’ was all for us.)

Here are a few photos from our trek:

I posted a few more photos here, if you just can’t get enough.

I love going to TV show tapings, maybe to a surprising degree. I watch the odd show online and get absorbed into out-of-date series here and there, but I can’t say I’m really up to date on current television. But, there is something so exciting about being on the set of a show taping, with all the lights, and cameras,  the professional crowd riler, and all the glimpses into the behind-the-scene action.

This past week, Martha Stewart did a whole show devoted to Etsy, and I got a prime spot in the front row! The whole audience was comprised soley of Etsy seller, and it was such a fun few hours of Martha + Etsy love.

As the audience filed out, a photographer snapped a shot of every single seller in the audience and posted them on the Martha Stewart website, along with a link to each shop. That’s my shot above, and they almost got my name right on their site…

Fun times!

Friday night I participated in my first ever official 5 Borough Ladies Arm Wrestling competition, under the guise of Nancy Drew Blood, flanked by the finest, fiercest entourage of girl detectives a gal could ask for. We all had a wild time and raised money for a good cause, Callen Lorde’s HOTT.

Let’s just say this was the best night ever. What could be better that a tiny room full of strong ladies, strong drinks, bribes, multiple dance-offs, arm wrastlin’ with both left and right arms, terrific puns and personas, cheering, chanting, screaming, theme songs, magnifying glasses, and plenty of fake blood for all? I’m so elated that I stumbled into this madness, what a night! And, if this sounds like a dream come true to you too, be sure to read the New York Times article all about it, called A Lighter Side of Arm Wrestling, for Charity, Sport, and Feminism. (And yes, that is Nancy Drew Blood duking out in the article’s photo.)

Go 5BLAW go, and wrists up, ladies!

Photos by New York Times, Miniature Rhino, and Kim Grassie.

Here’s a little glimpse into what I have been working on in my studio lately, a new line of handprinted cards! The Stay Golden cards aren’t done just yet, as one tooth on each card will be sparkling gold. Keep an eye out, as they will soon be landing in my Etsy shop.

Learn how to turn a holey tube into a wholly new pouch for your phone, keys, or art supplies in this tutorial I wrote in honor of Earth Day for the Etsy Blog. Read on!

Hello, friends. I just wanted to let you know about the Inventgenuity Festival that’s happening this Sunday, March 18th in Boston. It’s a creative event designed for kids that  will explore will explore a theme of “dis/assembly” with hands-on workshops and on-going collective projects led by expert makers, unmakers and re-makers of sound, electricity, food and objects of all kinds. I’ll be one such maker, leading workshops on making pouches from busted bike tubes. Spread the word!

Here are a couple photos from Inventgenuity Brooklyn 2012:

I have a lifelong love of patterns and look for them everywhere I go, from the print of the old lady’s moo moo on the subway, to the way car headlights line up just so as they cross the Brooklyn Bridge at night. It’s everywhere, and I’m constantly taking photos and mental notes. So, when Chronicle Books asked me to write a guest post for their blog about their beautiful new book, Mastering the Art of Fabric Printing and Design, I jumped at the chance! 

Read my guest post on the Chronicle Books Blog, and be sure to read to the very end for a free DIY tutorial.