This weekend, May 30 and 31, I will be in Afton, Minnesota at the MayFair Art Festival.

I am excited to be showing some of my new designs in some of the MOST FABULOUS fabrics you have ever seen.

If you are in the area and need a FREE break with or without kids, it promises to be a beautiful weekend in historic Afton.

Did I tell you I'll be bringing HIGH END FASHION that is OOAK?

Hope to see you there.

Oh, the things that go through your mind when retracing your steps for a lost shoe.

Today, on our daily hike to the post office with packages for my loyal customers, we had a few firsts.  I ate my first bug of the season (flew right in).  We walked through the drive thru at TCF (can't go in with a dog) and Axel lost one of his precious shoes.

Already having delivered the cargo and nearly at our door again, I peeked around the edge of the stroller (to check for eyes open or closed) when it occurred to me that Axel did leave the house with 2 shoes.  Immediately panic set in, but exhaustion won.  I had to wait until Jahred came home to go searching for the shoe.

As I was biking just a minute ago, suddenly I realized that this tiny leather shoe, hand stitched in Canada, worn by my beautiful boy nearly every day for 8 months, super dirty and starting to come apart at the seams...meant more to me than possibly any other object.  The thought of not having the shoe as a keep sake for a grown up Axel nearly made me sick.

Frantically I biked through traffic on the precise path we took home this afternoon.  About 1 mile from our home, I saw the sad, boy-less little shoe, face down on the sidewalk...just where Axel had left it.

As I bent down to pick it up, I don't think you could have wiped the smile off my face.  A couple walked by, and although my chatty self wanted to share my joy, that moment was just for me.

Pulling into my driveway, it felt like I was carrying the Olympic torch.  Victory, sweat and a few tears was all I needed for this TGIF.

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. 

++ For more info on these truly amazing little shoes, visit MiniToes.

In times of financial trouble, I find it's best to just hang it all on the line.

The average energy cost of drying a load of clothes is $.50.  This summer, I have pledged to spend 0 dollars on drying clothes and let the wind do it for free.

There is one problem of course...it can be revealing.  After the first few loads bathed in sun and onlookers eyes (I do live in a city)...I patented a few techniques to hide your private wear from the local teens.

The stash it under technique is when I place the underwear underneath a towel or larger object.

The ALWAYS clip it technique keeps them from blowing off.  Clipping isn't necessary for heavier pieces like jeans or towels...but underwear MUST be clipped (even when under a towel).

The NEVER leave it out overnight technique is obvious.

The watch the weather more closely will keep you from snatching your undies out of a rain shower.

Here is a pic of my adorable clothes line.  Jahred hung this load out himself and is an active participant in my GREEN to save GREEN summer campaign.

Don't forget to come see me this weekend at the JohnStock festival in North Minneapolis.  It is on Johnson Street across from Crafty Planet.

I feel like I am the neighborhood resource for "thriftyness" lately.

Not only has saving money become necessary in our house, it has become a game.

I am releasing a few tips and one DIRTY SECRET to help you all through some tough economic times.  Saving pennies counts!

 + Tiny Bottles - I've seen each and every one of you leave a hotel with the tiny shampoos in your bag.  I don't know if we think it some how justifies the hotels astronomical rates, or if we just need a keepsake from our night in the Red Roof Inn.  We all take the tiny bottles (they ARE cute).  Well folks, it's time to use them up.  Stop saving them to use as "travel sizes" for your next trip...that will never happen because you forget they are under the sink.
I do find that they are often really cheap and will leave your hair feeling less than clean.  But...as an alternative, use them for your dog, kids or as body wash.  Instead of buying a new bottle when yours is only half gone (that just makes you waste it faster to get to the new stuff)...dig deep and pull out those samples of Brand X shampoo!

 + Give your husband a chance with the scissors - This may sound really frightening, but saving $40 on that haircut every couple months really adds up.  In the past year that I have sworn off haircuts, I figure I've saved over $500 from cuts and color.  Although I have yet to let Jahred cut my hair, I would be willing to let a friend or even myself give a little trim.  I cut his Jahreds hair for goodness sake and perhaps it would renew that "just in love" spark to let him cut mine (or cause a divorce).  But seriously, growing your hair out just encourages creativity for new styles (or gets you into a pony tail only slump).  Big dollars to be saved here.

 + Stop Tipping - No, I'm not that mean...I just order my food to go.  We have a local fine dining restaurant that we LOVE to eat at.  The problem is, we have no disposible income to do so.  On those desperate nights when we are deciding between rice with noodles or canned corn with 1 can of sliced ripe olives...we simply call the restaurant and order the food to go.  Although they don't advertise as having "to go", they have no problem packing us 2 meals from the menu.  They even include the side salad, dressing and bread.  The portions are the same size or larger...the bonus is, no $15 tip on top of the meal charge.  Don't forget to heat the leftovers for a lunch the next day.

 + Let the Sun Shine - This summer, instead of spending loads on sun screen, aloe and after burn cream, just put on a white long sleeve tee and wear a hat.  Those nasty chemicals in sunscreen may be linked to cancer anyway...and sunscreen isn't effective in water, sweat...and wears off throughout the day.  For kids, a long sleeve tee is the best way to go, safe, effective and no worries.  T-shirts can go in the pool, through the sprinkler and since legs barely get sunburned, leave them lotion free to catch the Vitamin D!!!

 + Be Smelly - I'm convinced that the more you use deodorant and chapstick, the more you need it!  Here's my dirty little secret.  In our house, we have 1 stick of deodorant, it is Secret brand and it was the stick I got in my "Welcome to College" pack in 2001.  Jahred and I have been sharing this stick for years and it still has miles to go.  Sweating is natural!  Of course there are times when a little prevention goes a long way...but lay off and you will find you might need less.  Same goes for chapstick.  Just don't think about it and STOP LICKING YOUR LIPS.  All you do with chapstick is lose it anyway.

COME SEE ME!  Instead of taking the kids to Valley Fair or paying to go to a crappy in.  Come to a farmers market or art fair.

Here is a list of places I will be this summer if you want to see a little of what I do and have your family entertained for FREE!

May 16 and 17 - Johnstock Fair in Minneapolis
May 30 and 31 - MayFair in Afton Minnesota (gorgeous river town)
June 20 - International Festival of Burnsville

All other Saturdays I will be at the Mankato Farmers Market living it up with farmers and friends alike.

Enjoy a summer of saving on necessities and splurging on FUN!