Life on my IPhone.....

Pictures from the past 2 weeks... life.....

is good.....

Happy Tuesday!

Game of Thrones

One of my current favorite shows is Game of Thrones on HBO.  I'm hooked, I've always loved medieval genre of entertainment.  Show me a fairy, wizard, King, Princess or a dragon and I'm there.
This season was so exciting and sad, if you watch then you know what I'm talking about ie... "the red wedding"

I was contacted by a lovely fellow Thrones fan to commission a set of my large Kokeshi dolls.  She wanted 2 of her favorite characters Rob Stark and Daenerys Targaryen.  I jumped at the chance.  I love working on brides but when I get a chance to work on something new an different if re-news my artistic juices.

 Daenerys Targaryen

Rob Stark

Working on these larger Kokeshi dolls has me reconsidering the doll styles that I want to carry.  Etsy has become flooded with the Original Peg doll style making it hard to stand out as everyone is basically doing the same thing.   I've decided that by 2014 I will be eliminating the Original Peg doll form from my shop.  They will be offered only if requested.  My shop with focus on the Japanese style Kokeshi doll

These are the dolls styles that will be available in my shop by 2014. 

3" Kokeshi dolls 

4 1/2" Kokeshi Dolls 

This was a Downton Abby custom done awhile back

I'll also try to stock the more popular characters like Leia and Han Solo, Mario Brothers, Legend of Zelda....

I have some new products in the works which may or may not make me re-think opening a separate shop for.  I'm dying to get back to my sewing machine so maybe some new plush will show up.

I'm off to entertain the little one! Stay cool, it's so hot here.

XO, 

K

Christmas in July

Summer's in full swing, New Jersey and most of the North East is going through a bit of a heat wave this past week.  Really unbearable. Even though I was born in August, a summer baby,  I'm clearly not a hot weather kinda gal.  I LOVE the fall.  A cold, cold winter with lots of snow. Big cozy sweaters and crackling fires make me happy.  Crazy I know.  I even love a good rain storm.

I decided to beat the heat with a Christmas in July sale.  On 7-25-13 (one day only) Take 25% off your entire order.

Use offer code JULY25 at check out.  

This is a one day only sale, don't miss out!

The Baking Soda Challenge

My oven has been a sore spot for me.  No matter how I try to clean it I still can't get the greasy grime off the oven door or the inside.  I have a self cleaning oven which does work to a point but definitely doesn't get the door clean.

My goal is to get this oven spic and span.  I've pinned a million ways to do it on pintrest.  Most searches come up with good o'le backing soda.  Who new?  I've seen a lot of other bloggers try and document the process with amazing results.

Ok so now I had to try.  I only did my oven door just to see if it worked.  It's the grossest part of my oven.  Here's my take.......

This is what my oven door looked like...

a gunky mess, caked on goodness

I first sprinkled dry baking soda all over the door then spritzed 

with water until all of the baking soda was moist. 

 I let this sit for about 3 hrs

Most instructions on the web will tell you to take a paper towel and wipe clean

This may be the case if the grease and dirt isn't caked on I found that I had to use a little 

elbow grease with a copper scouring pad.  After scouring away this was the result....

An improvement but still visible grime.  

I tried a second application.  

This time I took about a cup of

baking soda and added just enough water to make a paste. 

 I then brushed the mixture all over the door.

I let this application sit for another 3 hours. 

After 3 hours I took my handy dandy copper scrubber

and scrubbed away.........

BINGO!  we have a winner.  The door looks brand new

I think if you keep up with this method (about a month)

You can just apply the paste, wait 2-3 hrs then wipe clean without scrubbing.  

If your oven is caked like mine you'll have to do a little scrubbing.

I only did my door.  This weekend I'm going to try the inside which isn't as bad.  

I think I'll try applying it at night, then let it sit over night.  

One thing's for sure I'm a convert to using baking soda as a cleaner...

GIVEAWAY!

Wow 2 posts in one day! I decided to do a monthly give away the first Friday of the Month.  I'm a little late on this one but better late then never.  

This months give away is.......

From our Woodland series...

Rustic Blue Birds

To enter.... Share these birds on all of your social media sights then follow us on Instagram (username: Knottingwood) and leave a comment letting us know where you shared.  

It's that easy!

The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!

GOOD LUCK

Catching up...

Well hello friends, it's been a while hasn't it?  life's been quite busy around here, I've finally found a nice balance between caring for little miss E who is now 8 months! and running my shop.

People aren't kidding when they say take time to enjoy your little one.  Time really flew by.  We are having the time of our lives watching her grow. She's quite the character and always has us laughing.  She's a happy go with the flow baby.

We just got back from a needed vacation.  We took a 14hr drive to Hilton Head South Carolina to visit family.  My brother and his family live in Bluffton which is right out side of HHI and my Aunt, uncle and cousins live right on the island.

In the pool with daddy....

Hanging with Miss Lucy

It was a great week catching up I miss them so.

On the work front I'm happily caught up with orders.   I have a few on my desk that will be complete this coming week.  I hope to then start some new projects/products and post regularly on this blog.



XO,
K