hello design*sponge readers

I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to help spread the word about Yellow Goat, the work of Petula, a hard-working talented artist. Her designs are fresh and whimsical while retaining a modern, sophisticated feel.

**Remember there are plenty more pictures after the jump!

Next on my purchase list:

Her “I’m Priceless” barcode necklace ($33 USD & $4.50 s&h). The barcode is hand-drawn and the letters are hand-stamped into sterling silver on an 18″ sterling chain.

"I'm Priceless" on 18" chain

"I'm Priceless" Sterling Silver Tag; handstamped & handdrawn

504ward: HandsOn New Orleans

I’m looking forward to volunteering again through HandsOn New Orleans tomorrow (Saturday 6/20) for the Mid-City Community Garden. I volunteered on March 21st as the project coordinator and had an absolute blast. Brock (Joe Brock) who started the garden on his back porch has expanded into an abandoned parking lot which with the help of volunteers was cleared and the space has been donated for gardening.

The garden is sustained through Brock’s efforts, as well as through membership to the garden and farmer’s markets around the city. Brock learned to garden from his father and his goal with the MCCG is to teach others how to garden so they can start eating fresh and organic themselves.

It’s going to be hot tomorrow with a forecast of 95 degrees!

More pictures from the March 21st volunteer day after the jump – -

Painting the planter boxes

Tools: Ryobi Corner Cat Sander

Undoubtedly ripped from it’s predecessors name, Ryobi’s Corner Cat fully meets the same standards as the Black&Decker Mouse Sander.

Home Depot sells the Ryobi Corner Cat for $29.95 (under $30!) whereas the Black&Decker Mouse sells for $39.97. Why pay $10 more when you don’t need to?

I’m constantly building, painting, cutting, or sanding something, and as a student I appreciate a great deal!

Product Review: 5 of 5 Stars

Bright Ideas: Remember your wall paint color

Sometimes you run out of paint. Sometimes you lose the receipt. Sometimes you just can’t find the swatch.

By writing the name of your wall paint color and taping it to the interior of the switch plate on that wall. By adding that little step in while you’re painting it saves you ever having to look for the paint color name elsewhere. I don’t know about you, but anything that saves me even the TINIEST bit of stress goes straight to the “YES!” list. Why ever chance a wrinkle when it’s preventable? You can thank me later!

(Credit Robert Socha, via ThisOldHouse.com)

Bright Ideas: Melon Baller

Three days a week, I watch K who is three and a half. She is extremely bright (skipping a year at her PreK-12 school) and EXTREMELY picky. While making her an apple and peanut butter and apple snack it dawned on me that switching out a knife for a peeler wasn’t the only improvement I could make on prepping an apple. Usw a melon baller to remove only the core (like it’s a pit) from firm/juicy apples like gala and fuji. Now I too cut my apples in half and melon-ball the core. Yes, I know you’re jealous of my action-packed daily life. Do you have any Bright Ideas?

Edible School Yard, ya ‘eard?

After a brief hiatus, I am back.

I had a the great need for a “mental health” vacation. Let’s leave it at that.

New Orleans is really being good to us these days. Beautiful sunny weather, perfectly warm not-quite 80 degree weather. Nothing to complain about!

I’ve been starting to volunteer at Samuel J. Green Charter School on Valence St. near where I live. They have an Edible School Yard, modeled after Alice Waters’ project in Berkeley, California. Their organic garden is an oasis. I feel incredibly fortunate to be given the opportunity to share this special place with so many gifted children.

They sell starter plants, herbs, and fruits/vegetables from their garden every first Saturday of the month at the Freret Street Market. Everything is organic and profits a community built on love for children. 99% of them below the poverty line. That’s what I call big love.

80sStyle.com: lusting

Han Cholo – BIG SPIKE STUDE EARRINGS $80.00

dr. dog @ One-Eyed Jack’s

I went to One-Eyed Jack’s last night to see Dr. Dog. BEST DECISION EVER. Everyone at the concert was wonderful, curteous, and fun. There was dancing, jamming and overall euphoria. They played for the perfect amount of time, and I spent my time with three friends that  I don’t spend nearly enough time with. I give last night 5 stars.

GET DOWN FUNKY BROTHA’

everything moving on really nicely

So life as an independent person seemed very daunting. Unattainable, even. I have come to find that it isn’t! Responsibility is a choice that must be made. I started this morning by hanging my knits, intimates, and other fragile fabrics to dry in the middle of a warm aerated room.

After work is done today I will be filing my taxes.

I got an e-vite to adulthood and it feels great to respond confidently that I’ll be attending and maybe even bringing a bottle of wine.

sad truth… question mark?

Last night I took this and I found the sad truth and cynicism to be oddly humourous. Am I crazy? Do you see it?