itchinstitchin

I'm a busy mom of 3 children ( Damien, Aries, and Odyn), have a wonderful husband, whom I've known since High School, and owner of one cute bull mastiff pup named Buster.

We live in Connecticut, where there are more cows than people. I run my own business, a small handcrafts boutique store out of an old barn. I love to sew, cook, and garden. Also I love going to the auctions around here and finding neat treasures for my shop.

Granny chic is my style - vintage, cottage, retro, 30's - 60's, happy, kitschy, bright, pastel, shabby, turquoise - I ♥ it all!!

Crochet, sew, embroider, scrapbook, deconstructed journals, doodling, and photography are just some of my favorite things to do.

Crochet I am self taught. This is my latest craze. Once peering into a shop window and stalking Flickr I knew I needed to make a granny square blanket for myself - and so with hook in hand the frenzy began.

Embroidery This is a skill that I have been doing since I was young. Making little embroidered bracelets for friends in middle school, people soon came up to me asking to buy them. Something that has stuck with me since my project for 2011 is a doodle embroidery block quilt - for more info see my blog

Sewing Something my grandmother was a dream at, I find myself sometimes wishing she was around to teach me more. With her DNA in my blood I must have something in there from her because one day I bought a sewing machine, the next day I was making dresses and quilts.

Art My grandfather was a true artist. He did wood burnings, painted oil painting, and carved slate. Often in the summer he would take trips to Vermont and sell his art for fun. His words of wisdom he left with me are - Do what you love love what you do and when you don't love it don't do it anymore.

Amelie is my top favorite movie! I love everything about it - the French language, the exploring gnome, and most of all her sweet personality

I also love 500 Days of Summer, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Practical Magic, Empire Records, The Lake House, and Breakfast At Tiffany's

When I do the things I do you will find me bopping around the house to: She and Him, Adele, Kate Nash, No Doubt, Lily Allen, The Smiths, and Regina Spektor

• Kitschy, Retro, Vintage
• Fun Postcards that are different or unique
• Fancy Buttons or animal shaped buttons
• Polka Dots
• Doilies
• Dutch or Swedish Designs
• Cottage Flowers
• Tea and a good cup of coffee
• Reading (Alice Hoffman is my favorite Author)
• Owls, deers, birds, lambs, squirrels, dragonflies, mermaids, and gnomes
• Strawberries
• Reproduction or vintage fabrics
• Feed Sack or Grain Sack fabric
• Old Maps
• Shabby Chic, chippy, rustic
• Crochet or knitting - but not in blacks or browns
• All white embroidery
• Anything from 1920-1960
• Baking
• Photography and old tinted photos
• Crochet or lace ribbon
• Turquoise, pink, yellow, green, orange, grey
• Pencil or ink drawings
• Watercolor
• Doodles
• Whimsical or Japanese Fabric
• Farm Animals
• Personalized Stationary
• Fairy Tales
• To Do Lists
• Matryoshka Dolls

Damien (9 yrs old) likes: * Diary of Whimpy Kid items * Comic Books * Anything for Nintendo * Books * cool bookmarks * Harry Potter Items * Favorite Color Red

Aries (5 yrs old) likes: * Hello Kitty * Hair Ties * Pink or Purple * Drawing or Coloring * Anything that sparkles or glitters * Princesses or Tinkerbell * Stickers * Jewelry

Odyn (3 yrs old) likes: * Trains * Airplanes * Coloring * Anything with wheels * Smarties Candies * Likes Spongebob * Money items like fake coins or paper monopoly money * Favorite color Blue

• Black or Brown Crochet or Knitting
• Dark colors - (earth tones are okay)
• Cats or kittens or kitties (it's not personal)
• Glitter
• Neon colors
• Maroon or burgundy
• Word Stickers (Faith, Joy, Love .. etc)
• Chinese Characters or Asian Themes
• Animal print
• Anime
• Fairies, Dragons, Disney Characters, or Wizards