*lots of bla-bla ahead*

Happy Holidays my friends!!

So as some of you may or may not know, I moved continents last month. EuroTrash and the girls pulled up stakes, moved from our home of the past 12 years in Helsinki to Seattle,WA USA. Big changes. Many people ask ‘Does it feel good to be home!?’ To be honest, 12 years changes a place and the people and even myself. Part of me doesn’t know even how to be an adult in my own country. Its a strange thing. Also,I am originally from Washington State, but certainly not Seattle. In fact the other side of the state about 45 minutes away from anything in a tiny valley I grew up milking cows. So in a way I did not really ‘come home’ but came…closer. Closer is better. I’ve missed my family over the years. Lots of factors played into this big choice and quite certainly it was one of the hardest choices I’ve made in my life. I left alot behind too. Many loved ones scattered all over Europe. A large part of my heart is always there. But this is life, this is the story we create and carry with us for all of time. Treasures in our hearts.

So…on with the show! I’ve been working a bit in between moments of chaos, sometimes just to manage my sanity. I was expecting a transformer for my sewing machine today but it arrived broken boo….So thats a bit delayed but I’ve been working steadily on some helmets for the holidays for the shop. I should have coming up some helmets for Blythe,Lati and Middie. A bit of something for everyone! With any luck we get a dress or two thrown in as well!

Speaking of the shop reopening,I need some input! I need your help!? I’ve been thinking of limiting purchase quantities per update. As I’ve set limits in the shows/conventions…I’ve been thinking the same sort of limitations for the shop. I’d really like to keep it fair for everyone and give as many people as possible a chance for things when I do the updates. So..what are your feelings? Should I limit it based on item type? If an update has both dresses and helmets, should it be 1 dress+1 helmet? Should it be a 2 item limit no matter what kind of item it is, no matter what type of update? or again separate it into item types…1 lati helmet,1 blythe helmet,1 dress?  I still want to do the weekly drawings like I was doing the end of summer and before I left Finland…but I’m really re-thinking the shop policies/limitations/quantity thing as I’ve heard many others are having this sort of policy for their updates. I’ve always tried to be as democratic as possible with this, sort of a ‘first come first serve’ sort of policy, but at the same time, like you…seeing an entire update go to a single person sort of defeats the purpose…gyaaaah complicated no? So let me know your feelings about this. I’ll be posting about the final decisions before I update the shop and re-open. I plan to re-open and update the shop this weekend. Perhaps Sunday so I can take time to hear all your comments and opinions.

So please, bear with me as I get acquainted with the U.S. Postal Service and all the various ways to ship things….I’ll do my best to meet everyone’s needs!

Well, the girls are out of the boxes, I’m pretty much unpacked. We are sorely still missing some furniture, some sort of sofa, shelving and storage but we just take it one thing at a time. Changing continents is huge. We shipped about 30 boxes of cargo. Most of it was EuroTrash stuff and ended up costing double what I’d been quoted. Its been so much work daily, first just to find a place to rent/live and then to find all the things we need to furnish it. Trust me…after a few nights on an air mattress we were crying for a bed! Ha,ha. Actually, our first couple weeks here were graciously hosted by a dear customer/friend of ours and I’m so grateful for that ‘home base’ while we were searching and searching for a place to live. Coming back to my own country as basically someone with no financial history,background or ‘identity’ to speak of was challenging at best and often times frustrating. I am so lucky for all the people who have helped us settle in and get our bearings.

So I leave you now and await your input regarding shop policy…and with a little teaser of some of what I’ve been working on. I hope you all are finding time to enjoy your friends,family and relax amidst the shuffle,bustle and joy of the festivities around us. Even in the midst of our chaos here, I’m loving the seasonal lights,deco and music. Its good to be ‘home.’

Over the years I have been at the receiving end of so much help and support in my life from this community. You guys have seen me through some seriously rough spots in my life and supported me at times when everything around me  seemed to be crashing down. In many ways a haven inside a thoroughly stormy part of my life. The last year I’ve finally found myself in a position to be able to give back more and more. To the community and also to some very valuable charity foundations. Without you, this would not be possible.

As many of you have learned and read through the great organization of Mary,Virginie and Brionie, There is a raffle happening to help our friend Gaia. I don’t have the right things to say …to make everyone understand what a GOOD person Gaia is. How caring, how empathetic…and kind. I have been in her car while she has been lamenting and in tears over the hurt of a friend…and have seen how deeply affected and empathetic she truly can be by the struggles of those around her. How she gives her all to help them. I’ve had the privilege to spend time with Gaia..in her home, her village and in her life. She is one of the most thoughtful people I know.

I just want to take the time to say that if you have something to spare, go take a look at the raffle to help Gaia out right now.

I also wanted to say that at this time my tools and supplies are ALL packed up for my move to the USA in less than 2 weeks, so while I cannot participate in this raffle for Gaia, Olga of Vainilladolly and I will be teaming up to offer some girls around the holiday/new years time in order to give our beloved friend a helping hand in all of this. So keep your eyes on this space!

Gaia! We Love YOU<3

Hello Friends! I am so excited to present to you the first EuroTrash set that includes a delicious 100% French Angora Kitty Helmet! Due to the price of Angora I’ve always shied away from using it too much with the every day helmets, but I just fell in love with the effect so much that I thought, ” It must be done!” So I made a special set for Auction on E-Bay for it.

This set is a 5 piece set that includes as follows:

*Unique one of  a kind sandy angora kitty helmet with embroidery in aqua blue with a metallic strand in it. Applique in vintage lace,detailed with Czech glass seed beads,plastic flowers,pearls and a handmade chocolate brown wool felt rose. It closes at the chin with a beautiful gold framed shank button that has a lovely teal green glass cabochon ‘gem’ in its frame. There is a special tag to match the dress in the back of the helmet.

*Japanese cotton check dress. Featuring a pintucked bodice cut on the bias with a peter pan rounded collar trimmed in japanese picot edging. Sweet puffed sleeves have gauntlet cuffs trimmed in handmade bobbin lace in a lovely brown, handmade here in Finland by a good friend of mine. A true treasure. Lace applique accents the skirt where there is inset rick rack in the hem, bias cut accent band and a final band of chocolate brown organic fair trade bamboo linen.Matte pearly brown buttons accent the bodice with a twill tie of chocolate brown.Closes in the back with flat dolly velcro.

*Dual layered deluxe petticoat with a chocolate brown cotton waist,super fine white tulle with ruffles in pale aqua netting and glittery petrol blue netting.

*Vintage lace bloomers with elasticized waist,legs with accents on the sides of the legs of tiny aqua bows.

* A pair of socks made from wool/cotton/angora blend jersey with a lovely floral print,matching the lace motif.

The doll and her accessories are not included, but I will throw in the raw edged hair ribbons made from the dress fabric.

As always a portion of the sale will go towards charity. <3 Feel free to ask me any questions. 

Thank you all for looking and thank you for your support!

Hello! Just a little quick update about the angora helmets that will be on offer. 100% french angora yarns are quite expensive,but still its fun to offer lovely things made from them. For that purpose Hong and I have decided to list a couple on E-bay. Now and then we’ll offer them in the shop but for the most part keeping them to E-Bay.

So this weekend We are offering 2 Lati Yellow Kitty Helmets on E-bay made out of natural white and pink angora yarns.

Click on the links to find your way to the auctions on E-bay. As always a percentage of our auctions go to benefit meaningful charities. Thank you SO much for all your support!

Rose Whisper Auction

Pink Fantasy Auction