Tomorrow is Halloween and I'll be working the evening at Thinker Toys (in Multnomah Village). If you've got kids, you should come down to the village. From 3:30 to 5:30 you can get free coffee and a walking map at Starbucks, then walk from shop to shop in your fabulous costumes getting candy and treats. The walk ends at the dentist's with black bristled toothbrushes!

I'll be at the toy store in my narwhal costume handing out candy!

Today I'm canning the pumpkin butter I made yesterday with pumpkins from the Rassmussen orchard in WA. I'm excited to see how it turned out. It smells a little over spiced, but I do tend to like bland foods, so maybe it's perfect.

And, in honor of Halloween and how much I love seeing people dressed up - free shipping worldwide if for purchases of 2 items of more. (Buttons don't count as a 2nd item, but I'll throw some in with your order anyway!)

Just mention "pumpkin" in the message to seller and I'll refund your shipping costs immediately.

Happy Halloween!!

First, the gears are in full motion on one of my favorite upcoming projects.

The idea appeals to so many of my favorite tendencies and the way it is actually turning out makes me thrilled.
Sneak peek!


Also, I recently received two wonderful packages in the mail worth mentioning because they are awesome.

1. From Argyle Whale

I know! My love of diagrams (ven being one of my favorites) combined with narwhals and their close cousin, the unicorn! It's currently hanging above my desk looking over the everyday goings-ons of Hopeful Monsters.

And, the mole moleskin! I love it!

2. From Made by Hank

My new favorite purse! Lemony yellow! And those ruffles! It also arrived wrapped in the sweetest little packet with a lovely little coin purse to boot.

I had planned to have a really productive morning, but instead I slept badly and feel like I'm getting sick. I have to work at the toy store this afternoon so I might just hang out with the dog and drink tea.
Which isn't a bad way to spend my morning really!

Whenever I'm not working away at Hopeful Monsters or manning the toy store, I've been printing Save the Date cards. I can't wait to get them addressed and sent out - then start the invitations!
Hopefully I'll have some photos of the prototypes I've been working on ready soon, but for now I'm just slowly taking over the apartment with boxes and sketches and lists of things to do!

The website is up! Hurrah!

If you've have trouble with the Hopeful Monsters home page, you're not alone.

Over the last month the site has been more or less unpredictable. I know it still says I'm out of the country, which I'm not, but I haven't been able to get it changed because I can't connect with my host. It's making me nuts.

I promise I am trying to fix it, so just bypass it and look for updates here (rarely, I know...) or in the shop.

In other news, there's a new addition to my little family. He does great modeling with the nautilus throw pillow - so coy!