Time to Order Mantis Eggs

Warning: if insects bother you, you might want to skip this post!

Every year around this time I order about five praying mantis eggs (I really want to cap. 'praying mantis', but it's the common name so apparently I'm not supposed to-still bugs me though).  Regardless, I buy the eggs.  People often buy them for garden pest control.  I mainly buy them because they're just really cool. The girls get a huge kick out of it and so do I. 

Praying Mantis Egg

Every egg yields about two-hundred teeny tiny praying mantises (or 'mantids').  I know, that's a lotta babies.  We leave the eggs inside, where they are protected from the weather in one of those butterfly pop-up mesh containers.  It takes a few weeks or more after they arrive before they hatch.  It's the warm temperatures inside that stimulate the hatching process. 

-On a side note, I've read that sometimes people find hundreds of baby praying mantises in their house during the holidays.  Turns out, they purchased a Chritmas tree with an egg attached to it unknowingly and then the inside temp. kicked the egg into hatching mode.  Kind of sad, huh?


Our eggs usually hatch at night while we are sleeping. But last year I happened to look at the eggs as I was about to go to bed and saw that the very first mantis had just hatched.  They have a domino effect on each other during the hatching process- one hatches, which disturbs the one next to it and also gives it a little wiggle room so it hatches as well.  The process repeats until they've all hatched. So, I was able to observe the entire two-hundred or so baby mantises emerge from the egg over a forty-five minute period.  I admit, there's kind of an 'Oh gross!' gut reaction, but once you get over it, it's really quite beautiful.



Praying Mantises Hatching (image from Agrihunt)

Newly hatched mantis or 'nymph'.  Just like Mom, only tiny!

 We keep the nymphs indoors and feed them aphids, ants and like until they are about an inch long and we feel that the worst of the weather is behind us (usually around mid April).  Then, we release them all over our property.

Every spring we'll receive a visitor or two from the previous year.  Usually we'll see one hanging around our deck lights at night where they are looking for a meal.  One of the girls will say, "Oh look, one of our praying mantises!" 

Hatching mantis eggs has become a spring tradition in our house.  If you haven't tried this and want to give it a go, you can find eggs here!

Finally, I want to share a few spectacular praying mantis images that I ran across.  These were taken by Igor Siwanowicz.  He's a photographer who studies the habits and physiology of the praying mantis.  Wow.



Image by: Igor Siwanowicz

Image by Igor Siwanowicz

Orchid Mantis: Image by Igor Siwanowicz



Vintage Lilly Pulitzer Fabric Pincushions

Oh hi, remember me? Yes, it's been far too long.  But I'm here and all motivated to blog and share because Pinterest has my creative side in an uproar.  Seriously, the project list is getting a little ridiculous.  I spent yesterday afternoon blowing on eggs so the girls can dye them and insert secret messages inside to send to their cousin as an Easter gift. Yes, I realize that Easter is more than a month away. Thank you Pinterest.  Meanwhile the laundry (or as we call it: 'Mt. Apparel'*) continues to reach new altitudes and I'm completely fine with it. Happiness is really all about acceptance.  Keeping that in mind...

Today I made these little pincushions.  Lately I've been obsessed with them.  Perhaps because I've been sewing more often these days.  Regardless, I got busy while the girls were at school and here are the results.  I added them to the etsy shop.

They are all made with vintage Lilly Pulitzer fabric.  Most of the patterns were designed by Suzie Zuzek.  One was designed by Amy dePoo (Suzie's daughter) and another by Peter Pell (he was a co-owner of Key West Hand Print Fabrics and did Lilly's print coloration for many years).

Pin It

Pink and Green Lilly Fbaric Shell Milk Glass Pincushion found here

Peter Pell Print Pincushion found here

Strawberry Vintage Zuzek Lilly Fabric Pincushion found here

So fun!!

*Special thanks to Elaine L. for the Mt. Apparel thing : )

The Whimsey Chronicles - A Must See!

Recently, I was searching for vintage fabric on Etsy and I stumbled on the most amazing textile and wallpaper designer. Her name is Meredith, she owns and operates The Whimsey Chronicles.  I'm going to let her explain the rest...

"A little background - I've practiced commercial interior design for a dozen years and have always had a strong interest in fabric and fashion. I decided to redefine my career path upon re-examining what my true design passions and aspirations were ... textiles and wallpaper! I use Autocad to sketch out my designs and I look for color and image inspiration everywhere: in architecture, signage, fashion, vintage illustrations, to name a few. Every collection begins as a story in my head, with characters and actions, so that I simply feel like I am bringing those things to life as I meticulously place them in a pattern. In fact, a story is included with each pattern to explain how the pattern was designed which truly makes them "storybook textiles & wallpapers." ~Meredith- The Whimsey Chronicles


Here are some example of patterns and products that can be found in her shop:

African Cuff In Tourmaline- Click here to View

Foxtrot- Click Here to view

Brella's Wallpaper- View Listing Here

African Cuff Wallpaper- Click Here to Veiw Listing

Not Yet Released, but coming soon as announced in her blog post today!

The photo above is an image of The Whimsey Chronicles newest collection.  Do you "sea" the seahorse?  Please visit The Whimsey Chronicles website to view the entire collection.  If you take the time to look at her collection, I believe you'll fall in love just as I did (if you haven't already).  I would have to guess that we'll be seeing a lot more of The Whimsey Chronicles in the future, so I'm happy that I've had the chance to share it with you here today.

Hope to see you soon,
Kristina

Additional Links:
The Whinsey Chronicles Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Whimsey-Chronicles/131110010256271

Blog: http://whimseychronicles.com/my-chronicles/

Lilly Inspired Labels

My friends over at Razmatags just listed the cutest Lilly-inspired labels in their Razmatags Etsy shop. I use these dishwasher safe, waterproof labels every day (honestly, not just saying that- I use them constantly). I love them. They last forever. They're made with a special vinyl that withstands the test of time and the abuse my girls offer their lunch bags, which is huge. Take a look at these:

Labels from Razmatags

Very Jane Feature

Just wanted to post a quick link to Very Jane.  My Back to school "Teacher's Pet" headbands are featured on the site today. They are available through Very Jane (.com) for half price, so that's only $3.75 each!

Very Jane is my favorite "Deal of the Day" site and I'm not just saying that because my items are on the website today, it's actually a great site.  I buy items on Very Jane all the time. So even if the headbands don't interest you, it's worth checking out for their other daily deals.

Click Here for the listing. Here are a few photos of my feature.



Script Headband - click HERE to purchase



Back to School Sale



2 Piece Set in Lilly Fabric (Zoo Patch)

Hello all, I'm having a Back to School special in my Looking 4 Lilly etsy shop. Enter the code "school" for 25% Off your entire purchase!! Offer expires 8/3 12pm PST

2 Inch Vintage Lilly Headband

Folded Floral Lilly Fabric Headband

Folded Floral Bright Headband

M.I.A.

I've been absent! I didn't even realize that it had been so long until I saw the date on my last post...shame on me. Here's the short list of what's been going on:

April: Insanely busy with my shops.  I did about three times the amount of orders that I normally do in any given month (I know weird, huh?) and then, there was an additional order for 500 headbands for a shop that's located on the east coast.  Also, our oldest (not so) little girl turned eight and I wouldn't think of letting her do that without a party. Seriously, my head was spinning.  On top of everything, I have these three kiddos and they, of course, have Spring Break in April , so I tried to make that fun as well.  Balance...

May-Still lots of orders (although, not as insane as April), Spring Break for the girls and a big fundraising event for school.

June-Kids out of school, Daily Swim Practice x two, Travels, Family Reunion and more...

That at least brings us to the current month.

So now, because I'm insane and thrive on stress I'm always looking for a new creative outlet, I decided to open a bridal accessory shop! I'm really liking it.  And why not? I get to play with silk and feathers- all kinds of feathers, I just ordered ivory peacock feathers, so fun. But the best part: The brides I've worked with are surprisingly calm and happy.  I could have used a little of what ever they're taking while I was engaged.  I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I honestly remember crying over seating assignments- like "losing it" crying.

 Here are a few photos of items in the shop:

I have a Russian netting birdcage veil that I've listed at only $10 as a grand opening type of deal. As of yet, the shop isn't even close to being as full as I'd like. Even so, here's a link if you want to visit KAK Bridal.

Now, I'm headed to the studio to tackle a boatload of tulle that will become elbow veils. On a side note, for those of you who have worked with tulle, isn't it the strangest textile?  It seems to grow, like the Blob- it's as though there's more of it every time I pull it out of the bin. Just had to mention it.

Thanks for stopping by!
Kristina