wallace and gromit stamps

Sometimes when you say you like something, people will just send it to you. For no good reason except that they're nice people.

Many months ago, I randomly expressed my envy over the Wallace & Gromit Christmas stamps that the Royal Mail issued last fall. To my great surprise, the wonderful Shadow Akiyah on Swap-Bot offered to send me some from the U.K. once they came out and refused to receive anything in return. I'm not really a formal stamp collector, but I do enjoy seeing interesting ones as well as ones featuring images with some significance to me. These W & G stamps that I just received this week are really fun, especially since the pack comes with a paper advent calendar and commemorative folder.

Have you been on the cracking new Wallace and Gromit site, by the way? There are tons of cute games, activity packets, and e-cards available there. If you're handy with the needles, you might try crocheting your own Shaun the Sheep with the free pattern from Purple Linda, too!

I find it really reassuring that in today's digital world, you can still see human fingerprints on Wallace and Gromit's faces. It's one of the many reasons that they'll always remain timeless classics.

gathering honey

There have been a few honeybee sightings around the web recently...

My Little House Christmas stockings were featured on the wonderful site Beyond Little House, which is home to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association. These kindred spirits are also the organizers of Laurapalooza, which I hope to go to someday. The goings-on at this year's inaugural conference made me just pea green with envy!

There have been links to my Jane bookmarks on a couple of book discussion groups on Good Reads as well, including the Jane Austen group. I do so enjoy reading comments and reactions to my posts, so I was tickled to see the numerous happy reactions to my bookmarks that have been left in the forums there.

One of my favorite baking sources, Bake it Pretty, pulled my Vintage Holiday Cupcake Toppers tutorial from their customer gallery and featured them twice in the last month. There are just oodles of great products and ideas over there in the BIP blog and store, so it's very fun to be included on their site.

A more unusual sighting was the inclusion of the savory baked phyllo squares I made on the Athens Foods website. The nice people over there contacted me directly after I did that post to offer their assistance and product for future phyllo recipes, but since I hadn't had a chance to get back to them yet, it was an especially kind mention.

I truly appreciate the many e-friends who stay in touch via Facebook and Google Connect and who take the time to visit my blog so often. I'm also very grateful for the inclusion that I've been seeing on blog rolls and reading lists, as well the wonderful links to my photos and tutorials. I don't sell any products on this site or solicit any advertising, so it's these links and sweet comments that make my little heart sing.  Thank you so much for making blogging such a pleasure!

crafty links

* A round-up of arty crafty things that have caught my eye recently:
* Turn any image into a quilting pattern, from the Victoria & Albert Museum;  you can even use images from the V & A collection, which boggles the mind.
* Shop for fabric on Etsy by color using this great online clicky tool. It's fast and it really works.
* How to alter a vintage wool sweater for a more modern, figure-flattering fit. With rosette as bonus.
* Make a Japanese-style obi sash in under an hour. A great way to dress up a simple dress or crisp white shirt.
* This dude crochets. And of course, it's dude-like stuff such as bear rugs and guns and urinals.
* Very cute + free PDF pattern for a knitting sheep from Vogue.
* Make a spiffy magnetic spice rack. Love the look of these, but the idea of getting all the spices in and dealing with the overage is suited for more patient person than I...
* Whales, hedgehogs, tree stumps, and mushrooms are among the cute + free embroidery patterns you can download from Lolly Chops.
* Watercolor stencil tutorial from Craftster using interesting techniques and materials.
* Cheap and cheerful ABC cup banner for your next party!