Ahoy There!

Wow, it has been quite awhile since I've written in this!  Too long actually.  I suppose the sayings about Springtime are true.  It really does revitalize the soul and create in me this want and need to create, experiment and become barefoot for the next 5 months!  Here is a quick recap in pictures of what we've been up to lately!

We went home to Illinois for Christmas

We also went to snowy Minnesota for Christmas and New Years!

Elmi finished his dress for his wife!

I visited Erin in Greenville, SC...love her.

We had a goodbye party turned into dance party for our friend Evan..

I started a new job as a web designer at Centresource!

We went to Florida with family and ate a ton of seafood!

Arthur!  We rescued him from neglect and he now lives with our family in Minnesota.  He loves hugs.

Dan released a new album!  www.danielellsworthandthegreatlakes.com

Its crazy good.

My sister Kasey and brother-in-law James had their first baby boy, 

Mason Looper Walker.  

He is perfect!

I ran the country music half marathon!

The farmers' market is back open!  Expect more recipes from my adventures at the market like this one!

I turned the big 26! (yes, that's a shark hat on Dan's head)

Thanks for reminiscing with me.  Here's to a happy rest of the Spring and hopefully a 'cool' summer!

You and Me

A couple weeks ago, I saw the film 'Blue Valentine'.  It was so beautiful and had a storyline that I couldn't quit thinking about for a few days afterward.  The relationship portrayed was equally parts heart warming and heart breaking.  Here is 'their' song that I'd like to make 'our' song..

If you love a soul more than fame and gold, and that soul feels the same about you,

It’s a natural fact, there’s no turning back, and here’s some advice to you:

You’ve got to say it’s,

You and me, (Ohhh, oh, oh, oh, oh)

You and me,

Nobody baby but you and me. (Hey, hey, hey)

You and me, (My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my)

You and me,

Nobody baby but you and me.

Kickstart Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes!

Today marks an important day in the Mathews household.  Dan and his amazing band have began their kickstarter campaign to help raise funds to record their next album.  Its a very humbling experience to request that friends and family help to fund such a project.  The fun part is not only do 'backers' help fund the record, but they get things in return like advanced copies of the record, posters, t-shirts, house shows, digital downloads, personalized cover songs, etc.  If you have a moment, please watch the following video.  Its quite funny and entertaining!

Digital Christmas Card Giveaway!

Hello friends!

Happy 11 days until Christmas!  Here in Nashville, we got our first snow of the year.  Needless to say, the city shut down and we got a snow day from work.  I didn't get out of my pj's for two whole days and watched 'White Christmas' and 'Scott Pilgram vs. The World'.  Both great movies!  A few weeks ago I had some spare time and designed a couple simple holiday cards.  I'm putting them up here for a free download if anyone is interested in sending a digital Christmas card.  You can also print these out...

Merry Christmas!

Russian Dolls (click to download)

Merry Christmas Ornaments! (click to download)

Merry Christmas ornament (click to download)

From the two of us (click to download)

Russian Doll Card (click to download)

Season of love: Reindeer (click to download)

Season of love: bluebird

Its a bit easy to forget the images of Addis Ababa that kick you in the heart while trying to focus on the glimmer of hope we tried to cling to within the city.  A hope that others will come back and help these children.  A hope that good things are happening and change is occurring.  I believe these things will come into fruition but in the meantime, there are still 150,000 street children.  I know at least 5 of their names and their stories.  I can't forget these boys because I'm now responsible.

photos by Jason Florio

http://www.floriophoto.com/#/stories/ghosts%20of%20the%20civil%20dead/5

The Goodwill of Elmi

Elmi is my one faithful sewing student at N.I.C.E who calls me by the name "seamstress".  He comes every Monday 10 minutes early to class in his Goodwill uniform with a huge smile on his face.  Elmi inhabits every meaning of the word goodwill.  He has an incredible attitude of kindness and friendliness so it only seems appropriate that his shirt has a patch over his heart that states "Goodwill".

Elmi comes from Somalia in eastern Africa where the country has been in a terrible civil war since 1986.  He worked in a kitchen for most of his life and has a wife and 12 children.  Can you imagine!?  He assures me this many children is normal in his country.  Men would come to his house with guns pointed at him and demand for his wife.  He would say no and then they would insist that he give them his son.  After years of fear, he and his family moved to the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.  He lived there for 9 years with his family when finally he was able to come to the United States.

Kakuma Refugee Camp, Northern Kenya

While in Kakuma, he learned to sew at a tailoring course that a relief organization supported. 

Elmi's dream is to become a professional tailor and sew men's suits and women's dresses.  When I asked him what he'd like to make, he said he'd like to a make a long dress with a v-neck for his wife...and that's exactly what we're going to do!  Wish me luck! (after all, I don't really know how to sew)

December Sale!

Starting Dec. 1, the shop is having a 15% off sale on all orders throughout the month of December.  Stock up on vintage finds and clothing for Christmas!  Please use the code "holiday" while checking out.