Granny Square Quilt

I know it is still summer, and the last thing that I could think of doing right now is throwing a blanket over my bare legs and feet, but I can't help looking forward to a project that I have sworn to myself I would start as soon as fall arrives.

The look of a granny square quilt has captured my heart, and I can't wait to try to make one in the cozier months. Rachel is working on one, too, and she has shared some helpful resources that I plan on using as inspiration and as direction. Also, if you are more apt to learn by watching youtube tutorials (like yours truly), then here are some that I would recommend - Starting, Switching Colors, Finishing.

Can't wait to pick out my yarn colors! Here are some of my favorites from the flickr pool...





This last one is my favorite as far as the color combo! Can't wait to get started!

He Loves Me

Can't you just tell by the look on his face? It's obvious! (I'm talking about the little guy... not G.)

"I love you, Auntie Jessie." - Our new nephew, Owen

Hemline Sale

We all know that I love to shop, but somehow it becomes even more fun when it is done in the name of supporting a good cause! For the entire month of August, Hemline is holding a denim drive where you can bring in your lightly worn jeans in order to receive a disount on a new pair. All of the donated denim will go to the Rose Brooks Center, which is a fabulous organization here in Kansas City.



On their website, the center describes themselves as "A comprehensive domestic violence agency that provides a full continuum of care including prevention programming, crisis intervention and other supportive services to thousands of women and children each year."

I don't know about you, but that sounds like a GREAT cause to me. :)

Cat Life

This is probably one of the most accurate illustrations of cat life that I have ever seen... my favorites? Linebacker and The Hug and Bite.

Illustration by Lucy Knisley, via We Say Meow, via Ink on My Fingers

I was so happy to see my kitty when we got home last night, and I could barely sleep because I just wanted to keep snuggling with her... she is so SWEET! Now all we have to do is pick up the pup from our dear friends today and our little family will be back together again!

Oh, and wouldn't you know that the only notable thing that I brought back from the beach was a summer cold? I've already gone through an entire box of tissue at my desk at work, and it's only 10 am!

*Sneeze*

The Lauren Moffatt Sunhat Winner is....

Lucky Stone reader, Catherine!

I picked the winner by using a random number generator and hers was the entry that was chosen. Her comment said, "LOVE the hat and the dresses! my hat was gobbled up by the wind and the sea last week, so maybe this can be its replacement? fingers crossed!"

Glad that this beauty will replace your lost hat, and a big thank you to Lauren Moffatt for offering it as a giveaway!

So sorry that I didn't get around to posting this last week, but our vacation has been jam packed and full of fun... we are in the SD airport right now and getting ready to hop on our flight home! I will try my best to post some photos later this week or next.

Can't wait to get back to reading and catching up on all of my favorite blogs!

Mike Sinclair

A few weeks ago, I was so happy to see Kansas City local Mike Sinclair featured on Jen Bekman's 20x200.

Prints of this photo are still for sale!

Aren't these images dreamy? I can't get over the hazy view of fireworks overlooking a family-covered hillside in Missouri. Looks just magical.

You can read more about Mike in this Q&A with Jen, and his website can be found here.

Congratulations on this great feature, Mike!

Scratch

I cannot get over the amazing concept for this product... definitely one of those that makes you say, "I wish I'd have thought of that!"

"Scratch is a great young company helping busy Londoners cook real food. Their meal boxes contain all the fresh ingredients you need to cook a fantastic meal… from scratch.
At the heart of the brand is the product, and we wanted to elevate the honest, fresh ingredients along with the brand name. To achieve this we built the identity around a simple idea: everything the company produces -from meals to business cards – comes ‘from scratch’.
On products this creates a useful double meaning. The description of the meal to be cooked ‘…from scratch’ simultaneously delivers the logo and the idea that this is a product from the Scratch brand."

The identity and packaging was developed by the UK firm Brandy and I can only hope that it (or something similar) will one day be available in the US!

*Via The Dieline