Lush Mommy

the lush mommy love fest :)

2011-01-31T07:50:00.000-08:00

like sweet nothings whispered into your ear… :)

i'll be popping up lush yummies in the shop all month long :) as time permits and the mood is right, i'll be dyeing, carding, spinning, and crafting for ya :) so check the shop as often as you like for some fibery hugs and kisses :) there's no telling what will be there! :)

and mark your calenders, the next BIG update will be my 35th birthday bash in mid-march!! now THAT will be a party you don't want to miss! :) heehee! :)

that's it for now, love :) i hope you enjoy the weeks to come :) xoxoxoxo sara :)

fresh press'd :)

2011-01-26T09:54:00.000-08:00

...this week i am honored to be recognized among a handful of amazing fiber artists in the Art Yarn community :) in this season's Winter 2010/Spring 2011 issue of Knitscene, Amy Palmer wrote an article featuring four art yarn spinners, their totally textured handspun creations, and a bit of background about each of our spinning styles :)

from left to right: Cosmos, Koi Pond, Royal Autumn, Ice Queen, Soul, Diva

...featured artists include Margaret Green of Magpyi.etsy.com, Geraldine Santos of DreamFiber.etsy.com, Esther Rodgers of JazzTurtle.etsy.com, and myself :) the article is a really fun read and an awesome preview into the world of art yarn creation for knitters and spinners :) available now at your local bookstore! :)

the totally 80's update!! :)

2011-01-20T18:19:00.000-08:00

hee! i'm so excited for this next update!! :) :) like, for sure, for sure! :) :) its going to be totally rad and packed full with deLUSHous fiber yummies :) :)

listings will include Lush Stuffed art batts, Lush Velvet smooth batts, Martini and Moonshine Mixes, hand dyed Lush Rovings, Bamboo "Brat Packs" and Locks, and maybe a yarn or two! :) want to see a sneaky peek of the goodies and plan your shopping strategy? keep an eye on my Flickr Photostream on FRIDAY for a full preview :)

i had such blast dyeing and carding and gathering yummies for this update! all the while listening (and singing and dancing!) to a totally awesome collection of 80's songs :) my faves span everything from metal hair bands to pop hits, new wave, glam rock, punk, hip hop and rock ballads :) have fun listening along to these great tunes below! :)

the Slumber Party update :)

2010-11-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

YAY!!! i’m sooooo excited to host a super fun slumber party and YOU are invited!! :) remember how fun it was to giggle and gossip and play games and have silly girl time fun?? get your cozy pj’s on, fuzzy slippers, make a fruity martini or hot cocoa and have fun with us at the next shop update :)

i will be hosting a live meet-n-greet chat room, opened at 6:30pm, so we can be together and get settled in and then the update will hit at 7pm pst :)

there will be sweet little “thank-yous” tucked into every purchase… and super fun prizes too! :) i really hope you can make it :) :) its going to be lots of fun remembering the silly times we've all had :)

please let me know if you plan to attend!!! :) i will be sending a follow-up email with specific links and details for the meet-n-greet chat to those who RSVP :)

the Rocky Horror UPDATE :)

2010-09-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

i am so excited about my next etsy shop update on Sunday, September 19th starting at 2pm PST :) this will be the LAST update until mid-november (after the BIG Torrance Fiber Festival on Nov. 7th) and this time, i'm going ALL OUT to provide a super fun party atmosphere for you :) so, what's the theme?? :) :)

i see you shiver, with antici-................................................pation! :)

that's right! in light of the upcoming Halloween holiday, i'll be listing lots of Lush Yummies loosely based on the awesome rock musical, "Rocky Horror Picture Show" :) :) there will be lots of Rocky Horror inspired Lush Stuffed art batts, yummy hand dyed locks, and some NEW yummies, too! :)

and the BEST part is: there will be a live audio-streaming soundtrack for the update and prizes to win!!! :) if we click on the PLAY button at exactly 2:00pm pst, we will all be in sync at the double-feature "showing" together :) you can even "pop out" the player into its own window and keep the etsy shop open as well :)

please leave a comment at the end of this post to let me know you're hanging out with us and to be entered in one of 3 fun prize giveaways, no purchase necessary! :) also, leave whatever fun comments you like, for me and everyone else who is here :)

there are 3 chances to WIN prizes: leave a comment at the end of this blog post... make a purchase from my etsy shop... or purchase the listing that has the Rocky Lips hidden in one of its photos :) all prizes will be a 1oz Martini Mixer of fibers used in the making of this update :) one prize per attendee :)

NEW! introducing hand dyed "Moonshine" mixes :) these yummies are full of mixed ingredients all simmering in one dye-pot, producing a wonderful concoction of colors and textures :) these are different from my "Martini Mixers" which are often gathered from several batches of hand dyed fibers :)

and... introducing kettle dyed Lush Rovings :) i've been experimenting a bit with kettle dying and finally have some unique hand dyed offerings for you :) but they are few and far between, so grab them while they're there :)

pop on over to my flickr page for a looksy at a few of these items, not all of them :) the rest of the yummies will go live during the rockin' update :) all listings this time around are virtually unrepeatable, so i hope you can make it on sunday to grab your favorites :)

as usual, reserved items will go up ahead of time and the music and new listings will kick off promptly at 2pm pst :) i hope to see you then!!! :) :) xoxo

Lush Mommy goes Renegade... :)

2010-07-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

i am finally coming up for air after preparing for my first ever craft show the past 3 months... it feels good to know it's only a few days away :) and i just realized that all my life i've LOVED playing "store," i loved setting up shop and pretending to ring up merchandise, and now i get to do it for real! :)

my debut will be at the Renegade Craft Fair in Los Angeles, July 24th & 25th :) check their website for directions and to check out all the artists who will be attending :)

with over 50 handspun yarns, and 40+ carded batts and hand dyed martini mixes, plus lots more fun goodies for sale, i think i am ready to hit the road! :)

stop by the booth and join us for some fibery fun, etsy giveaways, and be smack-dab in the middle of L.A.'s hand crafted wares of every kind :)

i hope to see you there :) xoxo

bamboozled... :)

2010-01-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

...so a dear friend of mine sent me her stash of bamboo fiber and dyes to go with it, and wouldn't ya know it? i'm hooked!

check out my first attempts:

brook

it IS quite a bit different from kettle dyeing wool and protein fibers, but i love how the plant fibers really drink in the dyewater and have a brilliant, silky sheen... :)

fresh petals

so i've ordered more supplies and lots of interesting fibers to play with and i'm super excited to add these into the mix of deLushous fibers in the shop :)

and now, Lush Benders! :)

2010-01-14T22:12:00.000-08:00

...i'm super excited to present my version of hand spun yarns spun directly onto wire, Lush Benders!

totally moldable mini art yarns that have whimsical themes and artful inclusions :)

perfect little bundles at 9 feet in length to add a delightful handspun element to your crafting project :)

Woodland Lush Bender

i'm hoping that they will inspire you to take art yarns to the next level and sculpt them into your own masterpiece!

use them as garland, trim, any sort of embellishment :)

bend them... cut and glue them... even crochet or knit with them! add some whimsy to your table top, your window treatments, or your powder room :)

Embrace Lush Bender

just my way of exploring the things i love to combine: color, texture, and function, and a whole lot of lush yumminess :)

they will be individually listed in the shop and then offered as custom orders...

new styles will be added throughout the seasons with custom requests delightfully taken :)

Flirt Lush Bender

Clubbing...

2010-01-11T22:48:00.000-08:00

...and so it's here! Club Lush, my first monthly offering to fiberistas and fans :) and what a grand opening it was! 7 members so far, all getting their monthly dose of Lush fiber in their diet... good girls!!

Club Lush is like friends, with benefits! as a member, you will receive 2.5 ounces of fiber, a bundle of Lush Stuff novelties to add into your creative project, special monthly coupon deals and 10% off your Club Lush renewals :)

wanna see the goods? alright, but don't say i didn't offer you some! :)

wanna be in the big girl's club? if you send me a sweet-talkin' email, i'll add you to the list and see what i can do... :) you did bring your sparkly pants and platform shoes, right? let's dance! :)

all in the family... :)

2009-11-28T21:51:00.000-08:00

yay!! my mom has opened up her own etsy shop called Back Porch Quilts and has a wonderful assortment of hand-sewn quilts in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns...

Sage Green, Brown and Cream Quilt Table Topper

i grew up sewing alongside her, ooh-ing and aah-ing over the crisp cotton fabrics and fussy-cut pattern pieces on her craft table...

Oh Baby Star Quilt Wall Hanging

all of her pieces are instant heirlooms and family traditions, to be passed down from generation to generation...

Log Cabin Star Quilt Wall Hanging

and just in time for the holiday shopping season, these quilts will make a wonderful gift for your family as well :)

Christmas Quilt Table Runner

i am so proud of her and all her accomplishments :) and my dad helps out as photographer extraordinaire, so its fun for me to see my own roots in action :)

Twin Size Sampler Block Quilt

and then there were 4...

2009-11-13T22:27:00.000-08:00

...so its time we added to our humble little family, and once again we get to hear the pitter-patter of little feet around the house...

well, its more like a rolling sound, since those little feet, 4 to be exact, belong to our new hamster, Harriette, who loves to scoot around in her little green ball :)

and she is quite a husky thing! over 6 inches long, she barely fits through the little tube adjoining her double cage condo... but she rolls like a champ around the house and only bumps into things she wants to sniff out...

she's my new spinning buddy, i usually bring her and her ball out at night and she gingerly bumps my wheel now and again as she cruises the floor, as if to say "looks great! maybe a little more fluff or bling and its golden!" :) i love pets that just listen and love and make me laugh :) xoxo

ETSY SHOP UPDATE: Saturday Nov. 14, 11am pst :) coffee and cookie dough this time... why chance it by baking? xoxo

a rrrrroaring good time :)

2009-11-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

...so, it was my son's 4th birthday last week and between his party and halloween weekend, we are officially partied out! :)

we had all of his "best" friends, a.k.a. the neighborhood kids, over for a super fun time in the double-slide bouncy and i think the parents (and grand-parents) had just as much fun sliding as the kids! :)

and there were so many fun toys and gifts that we'll get to play with, over and over and over... :)

and THEN there was the fur... TONS of fur snippets EVERYWHERE in the house!! he wanted to be a red furry dragon with yellow trim :) so, of course, i obliged... :)

...and just fyi, NEVER cut any sort of faux fur type fabric with scissors, ALWAYS use a razor to cut only the backing and then you don't have fur bits all over... UNLESS you are making it the day before halloween, then you'll need to just hack at it!! :)

...so now we rest :) until i just get so stir crazy that i have to dye, card, and spin :) next UPDATE is on its way!! :)

Big Purge... Mini Splurge :)

2009-10-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

...so this week, i finally decided that i have HAD it! i mean, i am REALLY sick of it! sick of all the sh-tuff that i had collected and had been storing and carting around and "organizing" and living with for the past 7 years... so the dudes and i had a treasure hunt all thru the house gathering up anything that held us back from the freedom of a clutter-free living space, and everything that was used in the past but is not useful in my current endeavors–

all my old sewing supplies, fabrics, trims, etc. from my previous career as a fashion designer... saving up anything spinnable or giftable of course...

all my old jewelry making supplies and metal-smithing equipment and wax that was left behind...

all my rolls of plastic and patterns i had used to create my revolutionary "pick-a-pack" storage systems for organizing your kid's wardrobe... i'll trade ya my copyright for fiber!!

and thus, we have cleared out my home and garage, leaving only the essentials... and most importantly, space to store my bins full of raw fleece ready to be washed, dyed, carded and spun into my latest wildest dreams! :)

...so this week its just a mini update :) a mini splurge for you! :) UPDATE in the shop on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 12noon pst :) hope to see you there! coffee and cookies as usual :)

A Cinderella Moment...

2009-10-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

...so we finally had the chance to watch Cinderella with my little guy who always dresses up like a prince... and i just fell in love all over again with the wonderful story and lovable animal characters and magical transformation and all the colors and sparkles there were to see :) and of course i just melt when the fairy godmother's wand sends a spiral of glittery magic around Cinderella and she is instantly transformed into the most loveliest vision of all :)

and it inspired me to create some magic of my own, with a little bibbidy bobbidy boo and a dash of sparkle and voila! now you can have a sprinkle of magic, too :) grab your favorites in the next SHOP UPDATE, Monday Oct. 12 at 10am pst :)

the stepsisters, Anastasia and Drisella:

fairy godmother and prince charming :)

and glass slipper, a candy wrapper corespun yarn with crystal embellishments :)

and i was also in a holiday season, wintery wishing (its still sunny down here!) and nature's offerings kind of mood... and have some yummy peace offerings also in the mix :) UPDATE on Monday, Oct. 12, 10 am pst :)

hope to see you in the shop... cocktails and toffee bars will be served :)

Updating an Obsession :)

2009-10-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

so, YAY!! i finally have found a way to make one big obsession obscenely BIGGER! i started a new fiber frenzy in my own studio and now can't find my way out :) i've been up to my knees in raw fibers, dyepots and carded fluff trying out my new toy (i'll give you one guess!)

and my neighbor's little daughter has been my biggest help of all! she helped me pick out colors and textures and we carded up a sweet little dream batt that i can spin just for her :)

so here's the good stuff!! sneak peeks at the BIGGEST update i've had, and probably the funnest one, too!! :)

and after arm-wrestling for a spot in line at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival Fleece Sale (say that 3 times fast!) and scoring the HUGEST haul of fleece, i will officially be up to my neck in it! who won the wrestle? probably miss AtomicBlue herself, but it's such a fun way to go down! :)

Spinderella :)

2009-10-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

so, yeah... from rags to richness is pretty much how it goes down over here :)

I absolutely LOVE to get my hands on anything from my stacks of fabrics, my son's toy bin, shredded threads from snagged garments... you get the gist...

and if you really want to see what i mean, take a peek at my recent "spinterview" interview... a nifty little question and answer ditty that the boys cooked up :) they did the asking and i did the chatting... you know me :)

an excerpt from the "spinterview"...

Why do you love to spin? For me, spinning is like painting with my hands and dancing with my feet… I absolutely LOVE going to my stash and searching for the batt, locks or roving that is calling out to be my next project… I love digging through my bins of fabrics and trims and beads and novelty yarns and threads to find extra goodies that might want to be spun into the yarn… I love sitting down with an oiled flyer and a fresh bobbin and having the opportunity to spin something unique, whimsical, textural and colorful… I love holding fiber in my hands and letting it twist and spin and form into shape… I love having the chance to pass the creativity along to someone else who might knit, crochet, felt, or craft with it in some way… and I love teaching my son how to take something in your hands and make with it something new ... for more about my whirl-wind adventures in fiber yumminess, click here to read on...

and have you checked out the Spin In Public website? a tres cool celebration of us spinners and fiberistas who love to give it a whirl in public and do some grand style exhibitioning out there in real life :)

so there you have it... another great reason to hold onto your belly button and toe lint :) cuz ya just never know when it'll end up in the mix :) okay, i'm so grossed out by that thought right now, but somebody had to put it out there!! :) xoxoxoxo

What's the Buzz? Tell Me What's a-Happening!

2009-09-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

ok, so "Along Came Polly" just has too many funny scenes to pass by... :)

anyways... it's here! a real-live spot for me to share with you more pictures, stories, and of course gut-busting laughs (tummy exercises, really...) in my day-to-day adventures with fiber, a 4-year-old, coffee and cocktails!

so, here is where the haps will be... etsy shop update info, upcoming fiber, yarns and project previews, lots and lots of pictures, and coming soon, a super-fun launch of brand new fiber fancies!! in other words... i'm going to introduce my own spin on carded art batts :) woo hoo!! :) xoxoxo