Facebook: The Good, The Bad & The Just Plain Annoying

Let me start off by saying that I'm no expert when it comes to Facebook. I've had an account for a few years but only recently (during the last year) got into the swing of things and started using it on a regular basis. I have to say that I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. Here's a little list of some of the Facebook pros and cons that I, as a relatively new user, have encountered.

• Pro:   I can find old friends from high school
• Con:   Old friends from high school can find me

• Pro:   On fb, I recently found out that an old classmate graduated from Harvard!
• Con:   I didn't

• Pro:    It's a great way to kill a little spare time
• Con:   I have no spare time and my laundry production level is in the toilet.

•  Pro:    I can see friends' personal photos
• Con:   I feel like a voyeuristic weirdo while I'm looking at friends' personal photos

• Pro:    It breaks down the walls between friends, family members, co-workers and old classmates
• Con:   I love those walls. I've never once called my grandmother, best friend from second grade, old boss, the guy who "tutored" (wink, wink) me in college Chemistry and my Priest to say, "Hey, do you guys all want to get together for coffee? We have so much catching up to do."

• Pro:   It's free
• Con:  Heroin is usually free too, in the beginning that is, and then they get you hooked and suddenly there's a price. I'm keeping an eye out for my fb invoice in my email "in" box. I realize that they make money on the advertising, just stay with me here.

• Pro:   Your spirits can be lifted when, out of the clear blue, an old friend "friends" you
• Con:   It feels like a kick it the gut when someone "unfriends" you. "Unfriending", c'mon now, is that not the most passive aggressive way of breaking up with someone ever (in a friend kind of way)? Leaving a phone message is more confrontational, waaay more confrontational. I fully expect Hallmark to develop a line of greeting cards: "Heard you were recently 'unfriended'...Please just know that I'm here for you during this difficult time." By the way dear readers, did you know that Hallmark has a line of greeting cards for people who have recently gone to or come out of rehab? Seriously, they do, I came across them the other day...I digress.

•  Pro:    One can adjust their settings for privacy and other preferences
• Con:    I've adjusted many setting but, who knows how to adjust all of them? I've come across so many facebook posts where people have written some pompous statement like, "Learn about your facebook settings before you go complaining about Farmville! All you need to do is..." followed by some lengthy task list that will supposedly block applications (I swear, I was doing everything in my power to go without mentioning "Farmville" in this post, my efforts were futile). Sure, I'll sit down and spend hours trying to understand all of my facebook settings right after this thrilling game of Dungeons and Dragons. Because really, it's only the geekiest of fb users who understand all those settings. (I just totally aged myself with the Dungeons and Dragons comment, didn't I? I hate that. Have I mentioned that I'm still in my thirties and will be for another three and a half months. You know everyday counts when a person starts using half months, for example: "How long did you live with your husband's parents?" "About three and a half months"....."How long have you been without the use of your legs?" " About three and a half months"....."How long before you turn forty?" "About three and a half months"...)

• 
  
  Pro: You can put your best foot foward and only share the good stuff. For instance, you don't ever see anyone post their mug shot, holiday weight gain status or detailed divorce proceedings.
• 
  
  Con:  The people with whom you are the closest are laughing at your status posts because they know what's really going on.

So in summary, (not because I'm finished but, because my twins are about to kill eachother), let me just say that overall I enjoy fb and have also, found it so very helpful when it comes to networking.  I am sincerely flattered when someone "friends" me and I welcome it.  I love staying in touch with people who, I know, would be distant without facebook.  And honestly, when it comes to doing laundry, I'll take any excuse I can find to get out of doing it, facebook seems to do quite nicely.

Quickly, I wanted to share a link to a blog called: Ignite Living. I came across it when I was doing a little fb research. It's written by a man named, Charlie Pabst. He wrote a post about fb. He's pretty hilarious but, unfortunately, he hasn't written much lately. I'm trying to get him to write more, and by "trying" I mean that I dropped him a line on fb in hopes that he will stop whatever it is he's doing and write something that will make me laugh. Wonder if he would consider writing my etsy listing descriptions...ah, pipe dreams.

http://www.igniteliving.com/

Reformed Disney Hater

We just spent three days in Disneyland. As far as the title of this post, I realize that using the words "Disney" and "hate" in the same title may seem a bit dramatic but, it's true. I really disliked all things Disney for the longest time.  I felt that Disney was nothing more than a giant conglomeration set on filling the minds of innocent children with ideas that they needed to buy, or have their parents buy, every new toy, doll, costume or movie upon which they could plaster their name. And worse, I felt that Disney was irresponsible for presenting the princess image to young girls.  I of course, knew that it was a lie and I suppose I thought that children should know the same. My mind was made up.

But then something happened, I had a child and then another and two and a half minutes later, a third. We had three daughters in two years (we managed this by having twins). As the girls moved from infancy into toddlerhood and began to gravitate towards anything that was either pink or sparkled (preferably both) my perception began to soften.

Yet, when the idea of going to Disneyland recently came up, I have to admit that I still sort of surprised myself when I jumped on it rather than trying to convince everyone to go to Yosemite or one of our other favorite travel destinations. I wanted to go to Disneyland  for one reason,  that being, that I knew that the girls would love it. That was all that mattered. I thought I would go along and tolerate Disneyland, but I found that I didn't need to "tolerate" it all because what I discovered was, I really loved it.  I loved it because I was able to see it through my daughters' eyes.  They were in heaven and I got to watch.

Yes, while there, the girls were able to meet the "real" Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty who all managed to marry the perfect guy and live happily ever after, having never spent a day in college. We rode "It's a Small World" where children from every continent are represented as singing happily about the things we all share, while leaving out the many things we don't. It's blatantly obvious that Disneyland doesn't represent an ounce of reality. But today, I realize that our girls have a lifetime to learn about life's realities. And that they can learn about those things with an occasional break in Disneyland. And really, isn't that what Lilly fabric does for me? It definitely takes me to a happy place. I've come to the conclusion that it's part of my job, as their mom, to realize how lucky I am to live in a place where my children are able to enjoy their childhood and to, sometimes, just sit back and let them while enjoying the view.

Happiest Place on Earth

Had to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day.  So, Happy Valentine's Day! We are at the Disneyland Hotel.  We are here with my in-laws (a treat from Grandpa, so sweet of him). The girls are in heaven. I have lots of photos and will share once we get home.  Tomorrow, I'm trading in "foot fashion" for "foot comfort".  You would think (at age 39) I would have figured this out by now. I always give the cute sandals the first chance. I think it's only fair.

Thatchers' Fine Timeless Fabric

                               Thatchers' Pink Box


Here's a little basic information regarding vintage Lilly Pulitzer fabric patterns. If this is a review for you, please just read along patiently while appreciating the fact that I've kept this short, as I could go on and on about it.

Suzie Zuzek dePoo, Martha dePoo and Leigh Martin Hooten are three artists who designed patterns for Key West Hand Print Fabrics(KWHPF)through out the 1960s, 70s and into the 1980s, during which time, KWHPF produced fabric for Lilly Pulitzer. Key West Hand Print Fabrics was founded in 1961 by Jimmy Russell and Peter Pell. Mr. Pell did coloration for KWHPF.

They, as fabric designers, had license to use their own artistic vision when they created prints for Lilly and they did! This is no more true of anyone than Suzie Zuzek dePoo who created the vast majority of Lilly patterns throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s while she maintained her position as head designer for KWHPF for nearly twenty five years. Martha dePoo and Leigh Martin were also very influential and created a multitude of beautiful patterns that were used by Lilly.

I've collected (DH would say "purchased", I prefer "collected") hundreds of vintage fabric patterns by the above mentioned artists from the period when they created prints for Lilly. I love them, I cherish them. If the house was burning down (God forbid), I'd likely run right by the wedding photos and grab my vintage Lilly fabric...I'm just being honest here.

Below are examples of patterns done by the three mentioned artists during the 1970s. The three patterns on the left were done by Suzie Zuzek dePoo, the pattern on the top right was done by Leigh Martin Hooten and the lower right pattern was done by Martha dePoo.Vintage Lilly Pulitzer Fabric designed by: Suzie Zuzek dePoo,

Martha dePoo and Leigh Martin Hooten

I've always been under the impression that the only additional patterns that I might come across would be through online auction sites or through the occasional person who finds me, through my shop, to tell me that their Floridian Grandmother has "all this really bright old fabric" and that they'd like to sell it (I love those people by the way).

I never imagined that someone could somehow manage to get three original Lilly artists to collaborate and design fabric today. But, I'm so happy to say that that is exactly what a woman, by the name of Becky Smith, did. She wanted to create fabric that had the same style as our beloved vintage Lilly prints. So, rather than looking for someone who could mimic those patterns, she went straight to the source and met with Suzie Zuzek dePoo, Leigh Martin Hooten and Martha dePoo, who agreed to design patterns for her. To put it casually (because after all, this is a blog), this is a really big deal folks!


Becky contacted me a few months back and informed me of her fabric and more specifically of, her chair, "The Thatcher". She received my name from Martha dePoo, with whom I'd been in contact because I had a few questions regarding vintage Lilly fabric. I actually had a few hundred questions but, I managed to keep it to a minimum. Ms. dePoo was nice enough to take time to answer my questions and realized that I might (ha! might) have an interest in Thatchers' new fabrics. I'm so grateful that she made the connection.

So, after a few conversations with Becky and taking time to look at Thatchers' web-site, I requested her company's "Pink Box" which is filled with fabric swatches. Once I received it, I was able to actually feel the fabric and get a first hand look at the prints. The fabric has such a nice soft texture and the patterns are gorgeous. There are four patterns in varying colors. I have to admit that my favorite pattern is "Les Trois Princesses De Le Mer" (translation for those of us not fluent in French: "The Three Princesses of the Sea") which is covered with mermaids (I happen to like the pink and green version the best, although the green and pink is nice too). The pattern shows mermaids who are engaged in a variety of activities including, sitting on a shell while looking into a mirror, talking on a shell-phone and, of course, taking time out to cuddle a pet sea horse. It's just too fun.




The fabric, in textile terms, is a cotton glazed chintz. It's upholstery quality so, you may have drapes made, through your designer, for your entire house. If you're not in need of window treatments, you might consider using the fabric to have pillows made or benches covered or seat cushions or upholstered headboards or...you get the point. It's produced in a fabric Mill that's located in Southern France. Obviously, for Becky, who lives in St. Louis, this wasn't a choice based on convenience. She spent a great deal of time searching for a manufacturer who could make the highest quality fabric. She ended up going with the French Mill that actually produced fabric for her very own great-great grandmother years earlier. So they came with a pretty high recommendation. This also allows her to travel to and from France on a regular basis...which, I'm guessing didn't hurt.

Keep in mind though, that it wasn't just the desire to create amazing fabric that drove Becky. She initially set out to make a great chair. But, this was not going to be just any chair. It is a "bespoke" chair, meaning that they are custom made and decidedly not mass produced. The chair that she created is, of course, upholstered in her "timeless" fabric. It is a chair made with the belief that it will become a cherished family heirloom. This chair is so special, it's been given a name, it's appropriately known as, "The Thatcher". It can be seen in the photo below. No, this photo wasn't taken in my living room, it came from Thatchers'.

                                             The "Thatcher"

I want one of these chairs for every room in my house. I'm not sure how to incorporate it into my somewhat rustic style kitchen with its copper farm-house sink but, just give me some time and I'll figure out a way.

If you love this fabric as much as I do, please take the time to visit Thatchers' web-site and be sure to read more about the fabric artists during your visit.  See link below.

http://www.thatchersfinetimelessfabric.com/

Pink & Green giveaway winner!!

Hello and thanks to all of you who entered the Preppy Pink & Green giveaway. I love doing giveaways and already have the next one in the works. The winner for the Feb. 10th giveaway is:

Kimresse

I'm trying to track her down to let her know. Again thanks to all who entered. Stay tuned for more!

Pink & Green Spring Giveaway!!

Spring is here!! I couldn't be happier because I live for Spring. Okay, so I realize that it's a tad bit early. According to my calendar the official fist day of Spring will be March 20. But, I consider that to be a minor technicality and really, who has time for technicalities? My daffodils tell me everything that I need to know. The approximate 1,500 daffodils that we've planted on our property over the years have now breached the surface of the soil, this is all the proof I need. On that note, go and un-box those cute spring skirts and tops, yes, the ones that you just put away. It's time to wear them again, just make sure to grab a jacket when you do because, you're likely to get cold, until say...sometime around March 20th.

In celebration our annual "Daffodil Breach", I'm having a Pink & Green Lilly Pulitzer fabric headband giveaway! There are a whopping nine headbands in this particular giveaway. I make these; they can be found in my esty shop. The link is in the right hand column. I've included both vintage and contemporary Lilly prints this time. The headbands included in the giveaway can be seen in the photo above. All pink, green and Lilly. What more could you want to kick off the beginning of Spring?













Here's how you can enter to win:
1. Follow, all followers will be entered in the drawing to win.
2. Comment on this post. It's good for a second entry thus doubling your chance of winning.
3. Go Blog about it! Mention this giveaway on your blog, tell me about it and your name is entered a third time. Thus, tripling...oh, you can do the math.

The drawing will be held on Wed, Feb. 10. The winner will be notified via email and the winner's name will also be announced here on Feb. 10. Good luck!!

Kate Puck Jewelry Giveaway!

I met a woman through etsy who designs the most beautiful sea inspired jewelry. Her name is Kate. Here are a few examples of her work. She has an etsy shop: www.katepuck.etsy.com She is currently having a Valentine's giveaway (ends on 2/14)through her facebook fan page (for the necklace seen below). Become a fan on her facebook fan page and your name will automatically be entered in the drawing to win. See link: The give away details are under the events tab.

http://www.facebook.com/katepuckjewels?v=app_2344061033&ref=search#!/katepuckjewels

2010 Golden Globes

I was honored to have my items placed in the 2010 Golden Globe SWAG bags (aka goody bags). And then, I was especially flattered when I received this photo today. The woman in the photo is Kate Flannery. She is an actress from the show, "The Office" and she is seen here holding one of my Little Golden Book bags. They are exactly as they sound, handbags that I make out of Little Golden Books. The one that she's holding in the photo is, The Princess and the Pea. Kinda fun...had to share.

As it so happens, I'm busy this weekend making several more. The one I'm working on right now is titled, Let's Go Shopping!. I will have more of these in my etsy shops (Looking 4 Lilly & The Vintage Lilly) within the next few days. And yes, of course, I'll incorporate Lilly fabric where ever possible!

Lilly Cruise

So, I've been thinking (this is when my husband says, "Uh-Oh"). I want Lilly Pulitzer (the company) to host a cruise. Now, of course people would pay their own way but, Lilly could act as host. You know how sometimes organizations or groups take over a ship for a specific cruise? I think it would be so much fun. If nothing else, we'd be the best dressed crew to ever set sail. I envision pink and green everywhere. It would be such a great way for Lilly lovers, from all over, to get acquainted. I've met some of the nicest women (and even a few men) through the fb Lilly fan page and would love the chance to meet some of them in person.
Perhaps this is just the rambling of a Lilly Pulitzer fan who's longing for warmer days. Regardless, I'm all for the idea. What do you think, are you on board?