enchanting enchanted

Alright, so the Christmas links will have to wait until later this week. I'm coming across so many lovely ideas and inspiration, I'm having trouble editting my list! My own head is spinning with ideas and inspiration as well - we'll see what comes of it all! In the meantime, I can deliver on the promised movie review:

So after the company had left on Thanksgiving, the four of us rolled over to see Enchanted. I'd been looking forward to this one since the trailer first came out this summer, and overall I'd say it didn't disappoint. Amy Adams was the perfect Disney princess, and the only criticism for James Marsden as the archetypal prince was that he a had a trifle too much personality.

Nathaniel: Sire, do you . . . like yourself?
Prince Edward: What's not to like?

Prince Edward: I don't know what 'melodramatic' means.

It ended up being slightly more chick-flicky and less spoofish than I would've preferred, but still a great film. If you're at all a Disney fan, you'll smile at the many classic touches. And it won't take a genius to figure out my favorite part (click if you have no objections to spoilers). I highly recommend! Warning: the soundtrack WILL be stuck in your head for days.

open for business

It's here! The Felicitous shop is open for business!

Featuring, of course, my cabled bags. I decided to offer just the purse size, since so many people expressed concerns over the sturdiness of a tote (actually, I have a tote that I made for myself and it's held up great - but if a buyer has concerns they won't buy!). I figure if these go over well I'll work on a tote design for the spring.

For the holiday line I've offered four new designs, but there are only a couple of each design available, so take a look!

Thanks so much, all of you, for your encouragement and help throughout this process. I couldn't have done it without you. I'm going to take a good Sabbath-rest tomorrow. Expect me back on Monday with some Christmas links, plus a mini-review of Enchanted! Have a great weekend, all!

happy thanksgiving

A few of the many, many things I am grateful for this year:

• an agile mind, a creative eye and able hands
• a family that loves and encourages me
• dear friends, spread around the world, but a delight to the heart
• new friends, willing to work past the kinks of first acquaintances
• realized goals
• the promise of tomorrow
• cranberry sauce. and pumpkin cheesecake.

What are you thankful for just now? Even if you didn't celebrate this American tradition with cranberry sauce today, what reasons do you have to be grateful?

*psst*

alternate title for this post: "Yes I am alive."
Much love to you all!

once upon a friday

Do you ever get worried about something, and then find you can't remember what it's about?

*Sigh.* One of the many indicators that I am over-committed. Ah well, at least there are thing like new shoes to make us happy. ;)

Some fashion links for your Friday:

• Ambika marks the renaissance of the ruff
• the coolest cabled bangle ever, made with this tutorial. You'd think with all the cables I've been knitting that I'd be sick of them, but I can't wait to try this!
• this Pierrot-inspired dress is anything but clownish (the black bow at the neck is my favorite touch)
• The Sartorialist gives a nod to DIY fashion (and incidentally, these are the coolest pants)

Thanks again to everyone for your poll participation! I'll be releasing a link to my shop this weekend, aiming for a shop opening next weekend. Stay tuned!

clinging to autumn

These pictures reflect a quietness I only wish my weekend possessed . . .

The last is of my poor neglected dress project. Although it still looks like fall, the weather has turned too bitter for cotton shifts, and so in light of the work I have to do this one has been shelved. Pooh. :(

Don't forget to participate in the shop poll, and thanks everyone for their help so far!

you heard right!

Sorry for the absence, I've been busily knitting away in the anticipation of opening my shop!

Yes, you heard right. I've been scheming and stalling long enough - barring extraneous circumstances, the felicitous shop should be up and running by the holidays! The shop will open with some of my immensely popular cabled bags. I've been working on some new designs to release, while at the same time considering the possibility of offering patterns of these designs, sometime after the new year (thanks for the idea, Casey!). Here's a not-so-sneaky sneak peek:

In the meantime, I have a question for you all. (Nothing like multi-tasking and using your blog for a little market research.) In an ideal world, where you could purchase as many cabled bags as you would like, which would you be more inclined to buy?

• A cabled purse, approx. 10" wide by 11" deep (handles included, bag portion measuring 7 1/2" deep)
• A cabled tote , approx. 10" wide by 16" deep (handles included, bag portion measuring 12 1/2" deep), for a slightly higher price

You can participate either through the poll in the sidebar or by elaborating in the comments section of this post. Thanks everyone, and have a great Friday!

scheming

Thanks everyone for your comments, emails, and phone calls of encouragement! My first day of substitute teaching went well, with very little to report. Each of the two teachers I subbed for had scheduled tests or quizzes for the day. So it was essentially like babysitting, just bigger kids and less to do. Highlights of the day: the student who said she liked my scarf and the young man in the faculty lounge that initiated conversation during lunch.

So what do you do sitting at the front of a classroom for an hour with nothing to do but tell teenagers to be quiet? If you're me, your make lists. And at this time of year, most of my lists involve - Christmas gifts! Here are some links to get you ready for the season:

• Sew, Mama, Sew is hosting Handmade Holidays: 100+ sewing tutorials compiled and presented over the 30 days of November. I've already found ideas for people on my list . . . better start crafting!
• Creature Comforts' Holiday Gift Guide. Her blog is already proof of her excellent taste - now she lets us in on her sources!
• As long as you're making/buying all these handmade items, why not take the Handmade Pledge? (Unfortunately, I'm not taking the pledge myself - there are too many bibliophiles in my family to make that feasible!)

And while we're on the subject of handmade, I'm thinking (hoping?dreaming?deluding?) of opening my own handmade shop by the holidays! I'm going to see how much I get done this week and update you by the end of it! (I may also be asking some opinion polls, so start getting opinionated!)

P.S. I'd like to apologize to my mother, whose favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and who (with me, actually) hates to see the Christmas hype starting earlier and earlier each year. Sorry, Mom.

nerves

Well, I went in to apply for subbing at the local high school yesterday, and today, they called me! (Random reason #152 that I'm glad I didn't go to the public high school: They don't even ask for references from their subs! I mean, they fingerprint you, yes, but still . . . not a single one.) Anywho, I go in tomorrow for my first full day of substitute teaching . . .

So I'm a little nervous, but I'm trying to get all my nerves out tonight. At least it's an English class, not physics or philosophy or P.E. In the words of a friend (and former teacher) of mine, "It's like being around rabid animals: you can't let them see that you're afraid." Still (and as always), I appreciate your support!