At the ladybug picnic...

I just finished another one. I think I'm going to call it "Ladybug Picnic." I think it's a fitting name. I want to tweak a few things before it's ready for Etsy, so this one will go to a worthy home. I don't wear a lot of red. I like it, but I can't wear it. I'm so pale my skin is clear.
My older sister married a guy who is part Indian, French Canadian and Puerto Rican. We always joke that there's no way people are going to mix us and our kids up, because my children are the clear ones that turn beet red in the sun and her children are the dark ones that tan.
Anyway, off the rabbit trail, enjoy the purse, and let me know what you think!
Oh, and please ignore the blue blinds- they are being replaced.

Where's my shirt?

I did a bad, bad thing. My children are addicted to Steve's "I hog the ground" video. We have to watch it at least 3 times a day, usually between snack and when Daddy comes home. It's a good bribe to get them to clean up their messes. Anyway, my little princess (who's 3 now) has to have everything she's sees. It's a good thing I sew! She wanted the ears, and I'm a spoiler (she's my only girl). So here they are with a shot of the video so you can compare. The colors are off; I used scraps of what I had. I think she likes them. She did ask when I was going to make her a groundhog shirt.

Look at Mommy! No, no hold still.

I found a tutorial on Craftster that explains how to turn a larger boy's shirt into a romper for a toddler. Well, of course I had to try it for the baby! (Especially since he enjoys sticking his hand down into the front of his diaper in public!)
A friend gave me some hand me downs from her sister (my friend has 3 girls). So the total cost for this outfit is the 50 cents for the snap tape! I could have just sewn the bottom shut, but he's still in diapers, so we need the easy access.
I still need to work on the bottom a bit. The snap tape makes it a little bulkier, so it's bunchy (you can probably tell that). Not bad for a first try, huh?

If you like to waltz with potatoes...

Look what I found! I'm in love with a pipecleaner. Seriously, there's more check it out- this guy's a genius!

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=185342.msg1937945#msg1937945

Get some Pep!

I LOVE IT!!!
My favorite line: "Milk and eggs will give you dancin' legs."
I don't care if he is old and can't dance that well, he gets extra points for personality!

Much, much better!

This bag and wallet set is for another friend. I love the fabric and the colors! This bag was definitely not as problematic as the other one. I may end up making a small bag for myself with the scraps- yea, a new purse for me!

Hold Fast!

HOLD FAST!

Like the ol' salts said...HOLD FAST!
This storm too will pass
don't hold the big grudge
or point fingers at loved ones
but don't let your heart budge
hey, stick to your damn guns!
it's the soul that matters
whatever batters us about in life...

Pete Hogenson

Mrs. Moody McWhiningster

I don't know what the deal is with the Asian print. Another friend gave me some fabric to make her a bag. This one is bigger, more of a tote/purse. I'm not fond of shoulder bags myself, but that's what she wanted. I have to say, too, this was the slipperiest fabric I've ever dealt with. The interfacing wouldn't even stick. I almost scorched the fabric a few times trying to get it to stick. I'm still working on the wallet, but stuff keeps moving around while I'm sewing. I haven't even mentioned the frays!
Oh, and you may notice the inside pocket isn't centered. I'll have to hurry up and give it to her, so it doesn't taunt me... "You know you want to fix me...You know you NEED to fix me..." Because I don't want or need to fix it, not at all, well, maybe just a little, maybe just a lot, okay a lot! That would require taking the whole thing apart, and I REALLY don't want to do it.
All right now, I've just noticed that my last few blogs have been whiny and moody. I sound like the world is ending because I can't make a purse the way I want. A purse! I'm going to be better. (as soon as my pills get here)

Bill Gates is forgiven, for now...

I finally finished it, but never again. What you see is attempt #5. The good news is my 18 month-old really enjoyed playing puppet with the first four. It's a cell phone cover and an eye pillow. The eye pillow only took me about 20 minutes to make. The cell phone cover, well... So now what do I charge? Should I charge with the total minutes in mind, or should I not include my stupid attempts? And she did give me a bunch of fabric, so... Yeah, I can't charge her that much. But never again.

Dance,White Boy, Dance

A friend pointed this out and I have to share it. It makes me laugh.
Enjoy!

glumbert.com - Dance, White Boy, Dance

I blame Bill Gates.

I'm struggling with a project. Someone wants me to make them a sleeve for their phone and I just don't think I can make it look like I want it to. Call it obsessive, call it perfectionist, whatever it is, I'm irritated. Maybe if they stopped making cell phones so small, I wouldn't have this problem. That's it! I blame Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and all the idiot males who feel that they have to overcompensate for all of their shortcomings by carrying a tiny cell phone. Once again, men with personality flaws are making my life miserable.

And the half finished bear still taunts me...

Get Bent...

Thanks to blogspot, I came across a hilarious blog. I'm always up for anything that'll make me laugh, and this one definitely does it! He takes everyday objects and wire and makes the funniest things you would never think of, but somehow they make perfect sense once you see them. Seriously, you gotta check it out.
Bent Objects

No, it's okay, you don't have to smile.

I have a new Thursday show. It's on the USA network. It's about a guy who really shouldn't smile. Perhaps, you've figured it out. It's Burn Notice.

Attractive guy, but he looks like he's in pain when he smiles. I'm not sure why... It's a good thing he plays a hardened spy, because I crack up laughing when he smiles. The show is great, not cheesy like most summer shows. Most of the stuff he does, I could actually see happening. Not like that Macgyver guy. Sure, it's nothing I can do, but someone could do it. I don't know though, I, too, believe that duct tape makes you smart. Check it out; I give it two summertime thumbs up.
Burn Notice Webpage

Thank you, D!

I'm so happy because I've got a big pile of fabric that's just waiting for me to turn it into something!!! I've been so busy that I've haven't had any time to crochet or knit lately, though. It's kind of hard to sew and watch your shows. My machine is loud. I'll have at least two new things on my Etsy, and depending on how my weekend goes many more will be waiting to get their picture taken! I have to wait for daytime to take the pictures, but I do all my sewing at night. I'm sorry this post is kind of disjointed- I'm distracted by all the fabric!!!

Giving you the finger or the hand...

Ha! I may have a warped sense of humor, but how can you not think these are funny? I found the first picture in my archives. Please excuse the cluttered bookshelves; they don't look like that anymore. I made these fingers for some teachers that I work with. They're chalkboard pointers! How cute is that? The second picture is one my Hubby found. I'm glad our sense of humor is kinda the same, otherwise someone (me) may end up in a padded room.
Oh, if you actually want to buy the handsoap here's the link.

http://foliage.myshopify.com/products/handsoap

The secret's out.

I guess the secret's out. In case you haven't noticed, the Hand dyed Envelope Wallet in my Etsy listing is made with material I dyed with my coffee dye, BUT, I haven't entered my bag into the reusable shopping bag challenge at Craftster. So, I'm still keeping the whole process quiet until I post my bag on August 1. Not that I think I'm gonna win, but it's not something I've seen anyone else do on that website. I want maximum impact!

Stubbies...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhVqVYUsoVs

'Nuf said.

Fly the friendly skies...

I have a new favorite show!!! It's hilariously funny, not just hilarious and not just funny, but hilariously funny. It's called Flight of the Conchords, and it's about two guys from New Zealand who moved to New York and are trying to start a band. It's done kind of like a cheesy musical, because they break into the funniest songs in the middle of dialog. It's on HBO Sunday nights at 10:30. It's not a typical HBO show, the language is not that bad (only a few words) and the content is adult, but all camouflaged with terms like "getting with her." You need to at least check out the clips on their webpage. It'll be worth it, trust me.

http://www.hbo.com/conchords/

I am a genius!

I think I've got it figured out! The bleeding is minimal, the pattern stays after a trip through the washer and dryer, and it's dark enough to actually see! Here's the preview... it's still pretty hush-hush.

Experiment in progress...lab coats and goggles, please.

I've been doing some experiments involving coffee and unbleached muslin. It's all very hush, hush, but I'll tell you what I can. I'm working on a process for dying fabrics with reduced coffee, but it's been difficult, what with the bleeding problems and all. I think I've got it beat, and I will post pictures of the finished bag when I'm done!

Diva In Training

Last night I spent some time coloring on a t-shirt. Yup, I made my little Diva-In-Training a nightshirt with regular crayons. Why a nightshirt? Well, I've learned that if I totally ruin something, that's the thing she wants to wear every chance she gets! Had I totally jacked this up, she would be wearing it to Sunday School!
I got the tutorial from my friends at Craftster, and decided to give it a shot. I even washed it and dried it, and nothing came off! It definitely looks like crayon, though. It's kind of hard to tell, but it says, "Diva In Training." The little gray thing in the top corner is a crown. She was not too happy about posing for her picture, as you probably can tell. Any other time and she's crowding to the front of the camera, but if I ask her, nope.
Loving Hubby says, "You really want our daughter wearing a shirt that says 'DIT'?" Gotta love him! He's obsessed with initials! The first time we picked names for our kids, that's the first thing he points out- she almost had to have a different name because her initials spell "bed." Whatever! Anyway, here's the link if you want to try it yourself... you know you do! http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=127565.0

I'll just have to not wear it then.

I guess I could tell you what I did over the holiday.
First of all, I tried to make my daughter a reversible dress for the 4th of July. No pattern, I know I'm brave (or stupid). Well, it turned out really cute and she LOVES the matching reversible head-kerchief, but the dress... I didn't measure her right, and by the time it was all put together it didn't go over her head. She was so diplomatic though. As she's standing in the dining room (AKA craft room) with her arms pinned next to her ears and me struggling to pull this too tight dress down over her head, she says, "Um, I'll just have to not wear it then." I started laughing, and she said, "Mom, it's not funny." I had to call my mom right then and there. It's just something you have to share immediately. Oh, in the picture, the hem isn't finished.
Then, on the Fourth, I decorated for a cookout my church was having. I did 20 tables for like $30! Not bad when you see the results. A few things were donated (some of the materials to make the USA centerpieces, helium, and white tablecloths) but still I think I did pretty good. It looked very festive.

Etsy, Etsy, Bo Betsy, Banana Fanana, Fo Fetsy...

I've got an Etsy!!! (insert nanny, nanny, boo, boo face here) I'm excited, but a little nervous. What if this ends up like the eBay fiasco of June 2007? Oh well, you don't know what you can do until you try. I'm all for trying anything at least once. Craftyhandbags was already taken, so I had to go with
http://craftybagsetc.etsy.com
That's OK because I don't just make handbags. I am a crafty woman! (with a short attention span) Meanwhile, I'll just have to have a little chat with whoever took MY CRAFTYHANDBAGS!!! (deep cleansing breaths) I'm fine...really.
So far I just have two things listed, but many more will come. I have bags coursing through my veins. You know what's really funny? I hardly ever carry a handbag! Well, I carry one, but it's usually thrown into the diaper bag. Sad, isn't it? It's like I live vicariously through all the people I've been giving my handbags to. Well, not any more! I'll be living vicariously through all the people who BUY my handbags!

I really need to get cracking on my teddy bear thing. It's just sitting on my counter mocking me, "You are an idiot! Who is so dumb that they can't make a teddy bear head? YOU!" I will conquer the bear head!
Anyways... check out my etsy, buy something, will ya?

It's here. It's really, finally here!!!

I finally got my cd "Songs for Dustmites!" I've been living off snippets from Steve's web page and the videos on his MySpace. I've heard the originals on some of the songs, but quite a few of them I've never heard before. I couldn't get all of the snippets to play. I'll give you a run-down on what I think of the songs. You can read, or not; your choice.
First, the photos in the booklet: I love the first one. He has his "vulnerable" eyes on, or as he says his "winsomefulness" is showing. You just want to hug him. He looks adorable. The second one: His eyes look a little freaky. It's the same look, but the lens makes them look almond-shaped and distorted. He still looks cute, though.
Mighty Little Man: Way better than the original. I like the lyrics in the original better, but the music is much better in the cd version. The lyrics in the first one are very autobiographical, and my favorite line is "I have my mother's eyes." I do think that the cd version's lyrics definitely match the video. It would be hard to make a video for the first version's lyrics, I imagine.
What I Do on Saturday: Another good one. I'm not that crazy about the video. I guess it's a personal taste thing; it's not bad. The first two songs seem to be the most upbeat. I kind of spaced a little for the rest of the cd. It's mellow.
Maintain: I totally get this song. I wrote out what I thought the song meant on one of the Steve Burns fan boards that I frequent, so I'm just going to paste it here- "I understood it like this... when you're in "love" for the first time, everywhere you look you're reminded of your Love. Everything is super alive feeling. You're constantly connected to each other "jump out of my skin gonna float above the buildings see which one you're in"; you're invincible "we can finally stop the traffic we can finally stop the trains"; everything is moving around you like you're both in a bubble "we can act like we're above it all"; and everything and everyone can see how in love you are "it's screaming from the payphones and its dripping from the trees and it's moving through the pavement underneath your feet." I think he's describing this awesome (sorry, cheesy I know, but for lack of a better word) state of euphoria and he just wants it to stay or "Maintain." " Thanks for letting me save some typing. For those who don't have the words handy, the phrases in quotes are lines in the song.
>1: It took me awhile to figure out the name for this song. Yes, my math skills are rusty. I like it. The lyrics are cute, and I especially like the line about building a fort in our mother's room. Which makes me think that it's not supposed to be a love song, maybe it's about one of his sisters? And how could you not like a song where someone plays an empty ice cream container.
Troposphere: This song is about an airplane ride, I guess. I always thought troposphere was pronounced traw-posphere (like draw). It's the southern in me. I was either not paying attention in Earth Science or my teacher didn't pay attention in her Earth Science class. We know it's right, because could Steve do any wrong?
Stick Around: This one makes me just want to cry. It doesn't really remind me of a personal experience, because if I'm mad at someone I really don't want them to stick around and I haven't really had any painful (for me, maybe) breakups. But I really don't like to think of Steve being hurt, he's just too much of a cutie. It's a really emotional song.
A Reason: This one I liked the original better, period. I know it wasn't professionally done, but the sniffing and coughing is very endearing. Also, the way he delays the vocals a tad bothers me. I guess all those years of piano, flute and piccolo drove the obsessive need for everything to be right on the beat into my brain. I'm still learning to like jazz, there's just too much improvising in that.
Music for Montgomery County, PA: It's instrumental. I don't remember much, children were running around at the time.
A Song For Dustmites: Cool, kind of spacey. I really enjoyed the YouTube video, but it's not able to keep my attention when the children are running.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2_xl7ZK3Kw
Superstrings: Nothing really jumps out about this song, it's just good.
A Sniveling Mess: Sometimes I feel like a sniveling mess, and the lyrics are totally me. I don't like to admit it, but yeah, I'm a sniveling mess.
Henry Krinkle's Lament: eh, it's good.
You may be able to tell that the last few songs weren't my favorite, but if something happened to this copy, I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.
The packaging was pretty cool, too. I liked the little blurb by Paul Ford. If you haven't already read it, you need to. I enjoy a nice dry humor. You can download the whole thing from Steve's web page. I strongly recommend it.
http://www.steveswebpage.com/SongsForDustMites.html
Plus, the dustmites are just adorable. Cute and bald, just like Steve.