Oooooh boy it was hot today! You know when your back gets sweaty from driving in the car for a few minutes? Yuck. And yes, I know I could avoid that with some well-time air conditioning but I just don’t like it. I’m a wind girl. 

Anyhow, beating the heat by making a pasta sauce (so NOT the thing to do if you’re trying to stay cool, but we’ll get a really nice couple of meals out of it) and adding new things to the shop. Woo hoo! It’s been a while, eh? I know. I’ve renewed my commitment to the HappyDashery effective immediately, and no small thanks to a couple of neighborhood girls for committing a few afternoons to Dash. 

So stay tuned. More updates in the days to come. 

What does that photo have to do with anything? Nothing. Just some frogs I thought I’d share with you.

I get a lot of hits here from people searching for more information on the Stokke Tripp Trapp. So for all of you, and anyone else interested, I’ve updated my original review.

Overall we are still huge fans. I recommend highly.

p.s. Stokke people? Please send free product for us to try.
I will test it out, your sales will go up. Promise.

I want to give a quick shout out to Meg (of Enderby fame) over at the ever-hip, Brooklyn-based style-guide known as Nest for featuring the HappyDashery as a shop of the week. It’s an honor to be included with so many other talented artists and shop owners. I only wish I found out about this feature way back in October!

Enderby Nest is a “Green Guide to Stylish Living and Eclectic Home Decor.” I recently discovered this site and it’s already rather dear to my heart because she’s living in Brooklyn (and we all know I miss brooklyn and heart anything that brings me back to my days there) and promoting and creating green design.

Meg’s designs and daily posts remind you that “style starts at home,” and will be stepping it up a bit this week with the start of her DIY show on Threadbanger. Tomorrow marks the debut episode. Good luck, Meg!

Did I mention that I will be accepting gifts for Valentine’s Day? That’s right! For a limited time only (it’s just one day) I will be receiving gifts through the mail, online, or in person. To take advantage of this fabulous offer, just keep reading.

I’ve made a simple list of some of the many ways you can participate:

Visit Three Potato Four. Purchase anything. Anything at all. Man I love that shop!

Take me out for a drink at the Top of the East.

Visit the Old Port Candy Co. mmmm… gummy things, chocolate things, things….

(And while we’re talking candy, if anyone can figure out how to get the swedish fish people to start making the grape flavor again, please let me know. Do you miss them too? Let’s band together! We’ll hold a caucus if we have to. I just know we can make a difference.)

So there you have it. Just a few simple ways to say “I Heart Tonya.” And while we’re at it, I heart all of you, too. And I hope you have a divine Valentine’s Day.

If you haven’t seen this new way to shop Etsy, go check out the Shop Local option here. There’s page after page of artists and vintage sellers all in the Portland area (and Portland, Oregon which is hard to filter out) that I might never have discovered.

Check this out:

Lean On Me is making these beautiful wooden canes and walking sticks.
Note: this is made for a man but they’ll take special orders!

Swallowfield is an absurdly talented artist just over the bridge in SoPo right here in Portland.

Little Leg Warmers has all kinds of good things in her shop. Handmade cards, bags, and quilts like this gorgeous Little Retro Ladies Quilt that I just drooled on my laptop over:

Curiously enough, just one local vintage seller comes up. A little cottage industry going by the name of HappyDashery. I love her stuff!

So there’s a little taste of Portland, Maine talent. Show them your support! And then get over to Etsy and check out what’s happening in your town.