Thought I would add an update about some of the projects I've been working on and some unexpected blooms.

When I was a little kid, we had an elderly neighbor who had massive peony bushes that grew just on the other side of the fence between our lawns. I remember being so completely fascinated by the buds and the ants that crawled over them that I used to beg to visit Margaret just to get a better view of the plants. I absolutely adore these flowers and I had no idea that the previous owner had planted a bush right in the front yard. Almost as nice of a surprise as the army of daffodils that sprung up in April.

And then there's the rose bush which looked so unruly and sickly when we moved here in September that I was planning to cut it back to nothing. So glad that I gave it a shot and let it bloom to see what it could do. It smells just amazing with these gorgeous pink-toned flowers. Definitely going to have fresh rosehip tea in the fall.

What I'm really proud of right now is my set of raised beds that I threw together last week. They were pretty simple to make and only used 3 2x4x8 boards. The first one was just planted with a flat of spices. I can't get enough fresh basil and cilantro when I'm cooking.

The second bed was seeded with echinacea, chamomile and spearmint with some small sunflowers around the border that I'll transplant very soon. The withered looking bush in the front of the bed is my poor lemon thyme that miraculously came back after spending a winter on the porch step. Looks like it won't be long before it comes back to good health. Planning to use these for some herbal teas to get me through the winter.

I had a bit of an issue with my poor grapes and blueberries and a mixture I slapped together with Dawn dish soap to kill some bugs I had crawling around. I mixed the concentrate too strong and wound up burning the edges of my grape leaves. We haven't had a good rain in about 10 days, so I've been rinsing the plants everyday, hoping to wash off the soap. Don't seem to have hurt the fruits, but I feel pretty dumb about it anyway.

And finally, the reason why I'm so excited about my new blooms and my sprouting chamomile, echinacea, and sunflowers: a natural honeybee hive!! Hard to make out anything in the picture, but this little hive is thriving. I've never found a hive in nature. I think it's so cool.

And that's all for now. :)

It's becoming a trend to see the first line of my new posts starting with "I'm so bad at updating this thing", but it's true. I'm awful at this. Very busy for the next week restocking in time for ACen next weekend, but then I get a glorious month off. It will be a much needed break from making loops every day. Plenty of yard/house work to be done on the new house and not to mention putting in the garden and tending all the adorable little sprouts. I'll be attending AnimeNext June 8, 9 and 10th and then I'll have another glorious break until November when I'll be attending Anime USA and hopefully Nekocon. So to celebrate my free time, I'm going to put the store on a sale for the entire month of May. Look for a flat percentage discount for the entire month, and other promotional offers on random days to free up old stock and introduce new products. Fun fun. I think that about covers it. <3

Blergh....

I didn't realize how much time I spend on making merchandise until I decided to take a few days off. Suddenly I have enough time to play video games, read, update my store, and even venture outside...

I even have time to finally update my blog. >___> I'm awful at keeping this thing updated.

Anyway, I promised new stock soon, but I'm in need of a break and I'm planning a new look for the store, so new stuff will be arriving at the end of the month. There are some changes that will be happening soon, some that I'm excited about, some that I'm a little disappointed about.

StarrCrunch's prices are going to see a $5.00 or so increase across all styles at the end of August and beginning of September. This will be a permanent increase to help manage demand. It also seems as though I'm undercutting several contemporaries and I'd really like to not do that. ^___^

So anyway, if anyone was planning to purchase anything, August is the month to do it.

I just got back from Otakon. It was a good weekend. Always fun to immerse myself in the geekery that is an anime convention.

Will be at Godaikocon in Troy, Michigan August 12-14 and at Anime World Chicago in (you guessed it) Chicago Illinois August 19-21.

And for the 10 people who look at this blog, a coupon! Good only for the month of August, reuse as many times as you like and receive 10% your total purchase (how awesome is that??). Just enter AUGUSTCOUPON2011B during the checkout procedure and save some cash for your back to school shopping adventures.

Okay. I've rambled on long enough.

Weeee!

I really should start keeping up on this thing more often. I'm awful at the whole blogging thing in general. I can't believe the last time I wrote here was in November!!!

Anyway, it's July now and we're about 3 weeks away from Otakon. I'm not sure how confident I feel about that right now... >___>

I just got back from Ikasucon last weekend, which was a really great time. I love smaller conventions.

Some new products about to hit the store early in August, just in time for back to school and fall shopping. Check back here to grab a sweet 20% off coupon to use in my Etsy store and earn yourself some savings.

Anyway, much loves to everyone. I'll post some pics soon.

<3

Yay Winter!

It totally snowed the other night. It didn't lay, but still, so much awesome.

I've been extremely busy this month with holiday and seasonal shoppers. I thought I was going to get a chance to relax! Not that I'm complaining. If I'm not busy, I'm miserable.

Got some fun stuff coming up next year though. Very excited! Will be attending for sure:

Kotoricon
Setsucon
Genericon
Katsucon
KitsuneKon
Zenkaikon
Shutocon

To be announced on several more. If anyone else is going to any of these let me know!

On a personal note my creatures that shall not be named had three more babies (squeeeeeeee!!). They need to stop now, but they're so freaking cute I can't stand them! LOL.

Need to find time to do some serious sketching. Doing a new round of bookmarks, should be very fun, if I can find the damned time. @___@

And I think that about updates it...

Whew!

I'm in the middle of a string of conventions this month. @___@ so busy!!!

I just returned from Kitsunecon in Wooster OH, which was small, but a ton of fun! We met so many awesome people!!!

Last weekend we attended Inochicon in Philadelphia PA. We had a ton of fun there too!

But, wow! I'm so wiped out!

I'll be at Erie Anime Experience the coming weekend, the 10th-12th of September. I'm really looking forward to it. ^___^


And now I'm off to restock. Bah!!! -___-;

Updated inventory.

Back to school is coming up, which means autumn is right around the bend. ^_____^ So excited! I hate summertime. It's always way too hot and I burn easily. Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons. I can't wait!!!

So I've been busy making new hats. I have a few new designs that I'll be premiering later this week, along with a few other new products. Fun fun!

<3