Be The Match - Part 2

Last week we got a letter from the bone marrow donor coordinator.  Unfortunately, the doctor decided that now is not the right time for a donation.  They can't tell us why exactly, but it could be for a number of reasons.  Sometimes the patient isn't ready for a transplant yet, sometimes they have gotten too sick, the treatment plan has changed, etc.  The coordinator added Adam back to the donor list, so that he can be matched with another patient.  Should things change with the original patient, they may call him back down the road for a donation.

I can't help but feel a connection to this patient on some level.  This person that we will never meet and never know.  In fact, we don't even know where this patient lives, be it local or in another country.  All that we do know is that the patient is 64 and a man.  This man is probably someone's husband, someone's father, someone's son.  I pray that the patient is still living.  I pray that he will still be able to get a donation at some point, and that we may be able to help.  So, we start down towards donation again.  It could be next month that Adam gets called to donate again, or it might be years.

I have a challenge for all of my friends and readers.  Please visit the Be the Match site and learn a little more about bone marrow donation.  If you are eligible to donate, please consider joining the registry.  If you can not afford the kit, please check back as they will from time to time receive donations that allow for free registration kits.  Many are surprised to learn that the actual procedure is painless, and most only have mild aches for a few days after the procedure.  Check out some myths and facts about bone marrow donation here. Some employers even will provide paid leave for the donation without you having to tap into your sick or vacation time.

You could be the one that saves the life of a child, a mother, a father, or a friend. 

Nom nom nom...worm poo!

We had a little bit of a mishap with the worm bin last week after I overfed the worms.  There was a dinner party here for a couple family birthdays, and I had a ton of leftover salad and squash.  It was fine for a couple weeks until one day I walked into the house and almost died.  After we scooped out the bin where I put the salad, the stench cleared up in a few hours.

That is, until I opened the bottom tray to see if it was finished today.  I found one leftover piece of squash that was well avoided by the worms.  It smelled like it had been anaerobic and didn't look like the worms actually at any of it at all.  I'm still not sure why, but we made sure to bury that nasty piece deep in an empty pot to decompose.  The rest of the compost in the tray looked decent, so it was dug into our lime and lemon planters.  I'm interested to see how the plants respond.  I even found a few worms already in the planters, and I'm not sure how they got there.

I'm thinking about doing an experiment this spring with some seedlings.  I'd seen some articles about the effect worm castings have on the root growth of plants.  For some reason, seedlings grown in a medium of at least some worm castings have a more robust root structure.  The better root structure would probably translate into better tolerance to drought, something especially important on our sun-baked patio.  I'll make sure to post pictures if I do!  Up next, a worm bin for my daughter's preschool class.

Holiday Shopping Guide - 20Lime Design

Today's featured Etsy artisan is Jennie from 20Lime Design.  If you're looking for stationary that is both hip and classic looking, 20Lime is the place to look. 

TULAY personalized stationery set

How did you get started crafting? 

I've always loved stationery. There is something so classic and traditional about having stationery with your name or monogram on it to send thank you notes, condolences, etc. In the age of email, social networking, and cell phones, taking the time to sit down, write, and mail a personal note is a touching and significant act. I think that the paper the note is written on should be just as special as the person writing it. It's a chance to express your personal je ne sais quoi and send it along with your words.

I got started doing stationery while still in design school (a quarter-life career change, see below for more on that.) I wanted to make a special gift for a friend's 30th birthday and "voila!" my Tulay design was born (I named it after my friend.) She loved it! I went on and did another set for my Mom's 60th birthday (my Diamonds design.) And then I couldn't stop, I'd think of a friend and what made them unique and special to me and then I'd design stationery for them. I love the smaller realm of A2-sized cards (4.25x5.5) and transforming it into something that really reflects a personality.

Why did you decide on 20Lime Design for your business name?

20Lime Design is not a reference to popular cocktail garnish. It's actually an address...

I spent my twenties living in Beacon Hill, a very unique and historic neighborhood in the heart of Boston. I renewed my lease for seven years to rent a tiny one bedroom apartment at 20 Lime Street. It's right around the corner from the Charles River and the Advent Church, with it beautiful bells that gong-ed and chimed me every evening. The haunting echoes bounded off the brick sidewalks, and weaved in and out of gas lanterns lining each street (or maybe that was just me.)

The walls of that apartment witnessed all of the silly and profound adventures of young woman learning to stand up on her own two feet. While navigating the minefields of a fledgling corporate career, I embarked on the sometimes funny and often frustrating search for Mr. Right and blasted marinara sauce all of the ceiling during dramatic first attempts at cooking.

Looking for something extracurricular to do, I took an intro to graphic design class at the New England School of Art & Design, Suffolk University. I was hooked and enrolled into the program to pursue a degree. It took 6 years, mostly going part time, but I did it! Turns out I found my true calling and abandoned my business suits and cubicle for jeans and a mac.

So when I began to think about bringing my dream of a design studio to life, it seemed so obvious (and has a nice to ring to it.) 20Lime Design, from whence it all began, my niche, my nest, my fortress, my flophouse, my home.

Although I no longer live in Beacon Hill (I finally found Mr. Right, married him, and moved to Maine) the spirit of my days on Lime Street thrives. It has become a sanctuary for my design and my art. A place where I can create the medium for love letters, thank-you notes, announcements, and holiday wishes.

PETAL personalized stationery set

Do you have a muse?
I started designing stationery for friends, and they are often unsuspecting muses for me. I like the challenge of trying to capture each unique personality and turn it into a stationery design.

I'm also greatly inspired by interior design, believe it or not. I love House Beautiful magazine and ideas are often sparked by a wallpaper pattern, color scheme, rug, or hanging plate. The Tulay design was influenced by an embroidered pillow and Beads came from a hanging, beaded curtain. Diamonds was inspired by the ultimate preppy decorating on the east coast of Florida.

At the same time I don't limit myself at all. I try to keep my eyes open to ideas anywhere. aOK came from a classic hand gesture that I felt had a great energy and positivity to it that I wanted to bring to paper.

Do you take custom orders?
I do. In addition to personalized stationery, I also do announcements, invitations, save the dates, calling cards, and whatever else anyone can think of.

I also do business design work, including logos, brochures, advertising, signage, etc. I especially like working with small businesses that are getting started.

What does a typical day look like for you?
That's the beauty of being self-employed. Every day is different. Who knows what I'll wake up to every morning. It usually includes plenty of time in my home studio, with my siberian husky, Chewy, smooshed under my desk (he snores too!) I generally have a couple projects going at once so my desk and work table are strewn with watercolors, markers, paper stock, pages from magazines for my inspiration files, etc. It's cluttered, but that means I'm submerged in art all day and I love that. At the end of the day I like to unwind in the kitchen, cooking with my husband and playing backgammon.

TROUT personalized stationery set

Where would you like to go with your business?
World Stationery domination! In all seriousness, I'd just love to get my work out there in the universe and be a recognized player part of the vast and diverse stationery marketplace. I'm planning on adding a line of A7 (5x7) greeting cards to my Etsy shop very soon. So stay tuned...

Holiday Shopping Guide - craftycrackpot

Caitlin of craftycrackpot creates affordable sweaters, adorable dresses, stuffed animals, quilts, booties, and more.  As part of a family with thirteen children, she's always on the go and helping around the house.  I absolutely love her little peasant dresses!

How did you get started crafting?
My mum was always into knitting and other hand sewing, so I guess it was just something that was passed on. As I mastered the simpler crafts, I wanted to move on. I tried many different crafts, but never really found my "thing" until I hit the sewing machine. I've loved it ever since. Whether I'm quilting, sewing clothes, sewing toys or anything else, it really is something I take great delight in!

Why did you decide on craftycrackpot for your business?
I was thinking about starting an Etsy store but couldn't think of a good name. My mum suggested "craftycrackpot" half in jest, I think, and it instantly stuck. It seemed to be something that would stick in people's minds, and it also described me - crazy about sewing!

Do you take custom orders?
Yes, I do. I would love to make something for someone that is "just" right.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day for me would involve homeschooling my 2 younger siblings, helping out with stuff around the house (I'm part of a large family), and fitting in sewing any opportunity I get. Oh, I also like to work out at the gym.

Where would you like to go with your business?
I'd like to actually turn it into a "business" rather than just a hobby. I'm thinking of starting up my own blog to try to engender more traffic. I'm also trying to list new items more often, so my name is out there more.

dia de los muertos

The kiddies are gone, the candles in the pumpkins burnt out, and soon the copious amounts of fake spider webs outside will have to come down, too.  My husband is in the kitchen grinding up pumpkin innards to feed the worms in our worm bin.  Those worms churn out excellent, nutrient-rich fertilizer, but that is another post.  There's pumpkin in the oven roasting away so that I can put up some pumpkin puree for baking.  Next up are the seeds.  My little ghoul can't wait for 'yummy punkin seeds' and she said she 'likes to crack them with my teeth'. 

We live right across from a school, and were planning on going to Trunk or Treat.  Somehow we missed it this year, so we meandered through the neighborhood.  The little ghoul was terrified when the houses had any spiders, witches, or 'scarrrrrry' decorations.  She had insisted on wearing shoes that were too big and clip clopped on the sidewalk.  After a few tumbles because of the big shoes, we eventually took them off and let her walk around barefoot.  Here in California, it was still a warm 70* last night, so she was fine with bare tootsies.  I can hardly wait for next year!