The Broken Plate Company

My grandmother was notoriously frugal (I imagine some of my relatives might interject and call her cheap) and one of her weaknesses was "free with purchase" things. In the 1950s, grocery stores would offer pieces of dinnerware collections based on the number of points you collected or dollars you spent. She managed to acquire over 18 place settings of this particular line of dinnerware, including many serving pieces. 'Twas a pleasure indeed to hear that these were all being passed down to me (*groan*). They still sit in a box, neatly packed away because I have no room for a fancy-looking setting of dinnerware in my life.

Here's where Juliet Ames comes in. The Broken Plate Company, her brainchild, is where boxed up fancy dishes from your Nanny and memories come alive and are given a renewed purpose. Juliet breaks each and every plate with love...and force...crafting them into a collection of inspired and versatile pieces. Did you break your Great Aunt Myrtle's favorite serving plate? No bother! Send it her way and she can craft a bevy of wearable delights with which to adorn yourself and ol' grumpy Myrtle. Don't have a plate but still need something upcycled to give your favorite friend, who happens to be a whiz in the kitchen or a hostess extraordinaire? The Broken Plate Company has what you need.

What I love about The Broken Plate Company is that every single piece has its own unique personality. Everything from a grown-up variation on the "best friends forever" theme of our childhoods, to cufflinks for the dapper dudes in your life, to a cocktail ring the likes of which has never been seen at any holiday party you've ever attended. She also offers custom packages for weddings and events. I can imagine a custom package would be a great gift for a family reunion, too! There's even a Pendant of the Month club, for cryin' out loud. A broken plate pendant has even been featured on more than one occasion around Rachel Ray's neck on her show 30-Minute Meals! I have to admit, I now watch the show with my finger rested on the pause button, ready to catch a broken plate pendant sighting. To top it all off, Juliet runs another facet of her empire called Mutha Crafter, a line dedicated to Rosie the Riveter inspired shirts and other apparel for moms to be. She even created a special "I'm So Crafty I Make People" shirt for pregnant folks in the queer community with, you guessed it, a rainbow color palate at my behest.

Juliet's pieces are remarkable and nostalgic in a very special and unique way. I plan on finally digging through that box of dishes this year and shipping a few plates up to to Baltimore to turn them into memories my whole family can cherish, which is something hard to do when only one family member has the whole lot of dishes. With the striking combinations of settings and color, style and design, The Broken Plate Company has something for just about everyone. When you're shopping for friends and family this holiday season, please stop by The Broken Plate and pick up a few things or have your pieces custom made. You won't regret it.

P.S. - I can't publish this review without showing you Juliet's enduring commitment to her craft. This woman just had an intricate rendering of a favorite plate design tattooed on her arm. Stunning.

A Very Zombie Christmas with Tina Seamonster

[This is one post in a series of twelve posts designed to feature a wildly creative and exciting group of crafters and artisans. Please take a moment to visit the shop featured in this post and all the shops featured on the left and right hand sidebars of my blog. You'll have the opportunity to learn about two fabulous shops a week - just in time to get all of your holiday shopping done. Enjoy!]

Two years ago, I was lonesomely navigating the exciting and bumpy waters of crafting here in Washington DC. I stumbled upon a blog written by a local woman who made the most fantastically unusual zombie and yeti crafts I had ever seen. Actively involved in all things craft here in the nation's capital, including Crafty Bastards, Hello Craft and the Craft Mutiny, Tina Seamonster is the funniest and most original zombie/seamonster/yeti crafter out there and a constant inspiration ever since! She also blogs at I Like Seamonsters and is an active co-host on the Television Zombies podcast. To top it all off, Tina's mom to twin girls with the most active imaginations I've ever encountered and no doubt a source of constant inspiration.

Featuring Tina Seamonster at the kick-start of the holiday season was an easy decision - where else will you get your zombie Christmas cards?! She offers a unique and hilarious assortment of cards perfect for anyone who raises an eyebrow to holiday cheer, elves and even the baby Jesus. Even your grumpy husband, cousin or dude down the street would do a double-take once they see these! Did you know that zombies hate cats AND that you are awesome? I sure didn't.

What many people would consider a Haunted Hallmark, her shop is a bevy of Gocco-printed, hand-stitched and duct-taped delights - everything from stuffed zombie ornaments (with dainty little bells!) to wallets to silly shirts for your precocious kids that read "STOP EATING UNICORNS!" Her line of shirts, cards and prints featuring President Obama are perhaps my favorite - there is nothing more amusing than seeing the 44th president of the United States clock a zombie upside the head! POW!

If you're looking for something strange, inspired and unlike anything you've ever seen, I highly suggest you stop by the Seamonster Shop. There isn't a nerd I know that wouldn't fall all over themselves to get her crafty creations. Oh, and did I mention that Alastair the Grumpy Gnome would like you to keep it in your pants? Yes, thank you. Merry Christmas.

What a nog out!

(Ok, that was horrible. Good thing I don't get paid.)

Holiday Punch & Egg Nog Set with Six Cups (Hazel Atlas) - $69

Though Em is the resident egg nog aficionado in our house, I can't keep myself from lusting after this vintage Hazel Atlas milk glass set. The perfectly preserved little cups and bowl. The horse drawn carriage scene in a cheery red. The delightful and nostalgia-filled shamrock green script telling you what belongs inside. The visions of whiskey being sneakily poured into the bowl when no one is looking. Oh wait, I need to focus. If there is some magical Santa fairy waiting out there, ready to give presents before Christmas, please put this on my list.

The Garbologist's Wife

[This is the first in a series of twelve posts designed to feature a wildly creative and exciting group of crafters and artisans. Please take a moment to visit the shop featured in this post and all the shops featured on the left and right hand sidebars of my blog. You'll have the opportunity to learn about two fabulous shops a week - just in time to get all of your holiday shopping done. Enjoy!]


The fashion landscape is often grim for us larger gals - we've either got to choose from a bevy of ill-fitting business casual ensembles in black, gray and dark purple or there's the modern and hip clothing that doesn't last more than a season because of its lack of quality. And what for the eco-conscious lady, interested in clothing her curves with something sustainable or upcycled? I don't think I'm the first person who groans at the thought of finding an entire wardrobe at a thrift store. Impossible! That was me, anyway, until I clicked a link shared by friend for a brand new skirt she was acquiring on Etsy.

The Garbologist's Wife is a one-woman sewing machine based out of Baltimore, committed to designing and creating ecologically friendly clothing for all women. Her sizes range from small to 3x and manage to be equally adorable and jaw-droppingly flattering. Her skirts come in a range of styles: a casual wrap, a neat and tidy a-line, and even a fun pleated and structured piece that would complement the curviest of curves or the squarest of hips. Her Sweetie Pie dress made my best friend gasp in delight and she also has a line of vintage button accessories. Her color choices are inspiring, considering that she rescues all of her fabric from vintage, preexisting bolts and other pieces that she digs up at consignment shops, thrift stores and tag sales. She compares herself to Fraulein Maria, who managed to make an entire wardrobe out of a few panels of curtains. With her delicate, feminine and unique collection, she is both a fashion inspiration as well as a motivational designer. I'm confident that she makes all women look beautiful in the skin they're in.

I've elected to write about The Garbologist's Wife first not only because she is top notch, but because I think that we should all endeavor to incorporate one of her pieces into our holiday wardrobe or gift-giving plans - and sewing takes time! She takes custom orders quite enthusiastically and offers detailed sizing information on both her website and Etsy shop. She was one of the busiest vendors I saw at this year's Crafty Bastards, and I can imagine she will stay just as busy at her appearances at the Craft Mutiny's Holiday Booty Market on December 19th and Pittsburgh Craft Mafia's Handmade Arcade on December 12th.

You can also keep track of this lovely lady by reading her blog or following her on Twitter! She is also a member of the venerable Baltimore Etsy Street Team! The Garbologist's Wife is a breath of fresh air and I assure you that you will be just as happy as I am to have discovered her.

The BEST apple?

[Image courtesy oysters4me on Flickr]

NPR did a taste test recently to determine the apple that most skillfully and deliciously tolerated heat. Growing up in Virginia, there was no contest - any apple that came off the tree at a orchard was ten times better than a store bought apple, and Granny Smiths are overdone and too tart! While the NPR taste test results yielded an admiral result, the Honeycrisp, I have to tell you...the best apple to nosh on or bake with will always, ALWAYS be the Stayman-Winesap. Available as one or the other or a heritage varietal, these apples are top notch and my autumns never feel complete without sinking my teeth into one.

Framing impermanence.

From top left, clockwise:

Chalkboard Sticker Frame (also available in rectangle) - $6.95
Pin-Up Frame by MollaSpace (in black, white or clear) - $28
Taylor & Wood Frames Wallpaper (per roll) - $40
Exhibit Your Art Pad (sticky notes) - $12

Sometimes I find myself spinning around in circles in my living space, wondering if what I've put in a frame here and there is just right or perfectly suited to the space or my temperament at the moment. While I often admire people that can decide on something and stick with it, I'm also given to whims and flights of fancy. There is a certain freedom in impermanence and flying by the seat of your pants. The frame finds featured in this post help facilitate that - they are all flexible and full of potential.

Happy Halloween!

Ghost Family by joojooland - $27

Wishing you all a happy and safe Halloween! I hope the tricks are hilarious and the treats plentiful. I'm taking the weekend off to get some serious crafting done, but I'll be back on Monday with a fantastic bunch of new sponsors to tell you about, a craft project for a good cause, and maybe a new recipe or two. 'Til then!