Family...

Well...here they are...my mother (the blurry woman on the left...OK, sorry, we were out at a darkish restaurant and I didn't use my flash) and her brother, my Uncle Bob and his wife, my Aunt Marc. They have been here for the past 2 days visiting. They are magnificent farmers from the fertile area of California (I know, which one?) They have raised oranges, Fuji apples...and now Pakistani mulberries (of which, I received some jam. And did you know, there are no pests with mulberries, so they don't spray them...they are organic! Expensive too, but organic!) and a couple of variety of figs, and well...you name it. We've had a fun time eating mass quantities of yummy food, last night, we stuffed ourselves at the Taj Mahal, the best Indian restaurant. They have an incredible vegan buffet on Wednesday nights (and November 6th...I think, they're having belly dancers and a special buffet...always a good time, as it's usually the local belly dancing troupe performing with fire and swords...as well as your every-day belly dancing)

My aunt and uncle were here visiting my grandmother mostly...she's 92, and the amazing woman behind the crochet flowers that I decorate a lot of my creations with, and also the woman behind keeping the family together. We don't get to see everyone much as they live in California, but both of my mother's siblings came to visit this year. My grandmother wanted to have a reunion, but not everyone could come at the same time, so we were able to enjoy them as they came separately. I was remarking to both my mom and grandmother that now that I am older, I feel like I can connect with everyone differently. It's been so much fun to just sit and talk and hear family stories, both of the past and present...all the memories that everyone has about the family. It's hard for me to remember that my mother has siblings, and that there was an entire life that was lived before I came on the scene, and I love to watch everyone interact with each other. My life seems to be unfolding and in the opening up it's like I'm looking around for the first time and hearing and seeing all new things. I am realizing too, how lucky I am to have such a wonderful and diverse family full of the neatest people with so much knowledge and experience. For instance, my uncle was able to show my mom how to prune her apple trees for the next season...and give her all sorts of suggestions about how to heal all her fruit trees, and ease her fears about some things that were going on with the pests (they've been neglected for quite a while now) The things he knows about growing fruits is both invaluable and fascinating!

Thank you all for your sweet comments yesterday as well (I'm going to print them out and hang them up for posterity) I am feeling more stable today (big sigh of relief) and seeing more and more layers fall away and heal...I am grateful for all of you, my family and my friends...

PS:

• Dina, indeed that is the dress you were stalking...I am so happy one of us got it, so stop feeling guilty.
• Dina, tell Superman and Lou-Lou I am extremely excited about the sleepover! But, no scary movies, like Monster House...
• Liz...I meant to tell Dina to pass on some muffins...oops, another batch with be forthcoming...and I hope you come out with us to Traveller next weekend (silly me, I thought it was this weekend, but it's the 27th...Friday!) dancing and eating...
• Is anyone else cold? 32 degrees tonight? Thank goodness I have a cat to sleep on my head! Brrrr...
• Wa-Hoo Project Runway! Yay Jeffery...did anyone else cry at the end of that one? I loved his collection, it was exciting and creative, and made me want to get busy sewing! Congratulations!
  

Monday Thrifting...

As I mentioned yesterday, I found this loverly vintage dress at a local thrift. It was in between all the Halloween goodies, and I just about fainted...really. It was heart stopping mostly because it's too cute...and it was big enough to fit. I thought at first that it was a square dancing dress, and well you know what? I didn't even care...the blue and yellow flowers? Even the rick-rack on this thing is unusual. It's blue and yellow to match the flowers (of course) and intertwined then sewn on with a zig-zag stitch...a little creative don't you think? Something I may have to try soon...since I have so much vintage rick-rack just lazing around collecting dust.

Luckily, I got it out the door before a huge emotional breakdown...where I actually had to remove myself from the store before they asked me to leave because I was crying and well...I think that just scares the customers on some level. My sadness was not due to not finding any cute fabric or other wonderful stuff at the store, but some personal stuff that seems to be ongoing since the divorce (last week was my weepy week, and it looks like this week is shaping up to be that too...I oscillate from being numb to being sad...with leaky eyes all day long) I was talking to my mother at the thrift, on the phone, and to her credit, it wasn't her fault...it's just that I keep thinking after a year and a half it should be getting easier right? Well, like anybodies stories, there is complications...and mine seems to be complicated. Sometimes I feel like I'm just hanging on by a thread here, which is why I am trying my darnedest to keep myself floating by being creative...

I have cried a river, I have cried a song, I have cried the seasons in and out, I have cried the sun up in the morning and I have cried the moon full in the night, I have cried an entire apple crop, to which I have made pies. If anyone wants to know why Arizona got more moisture this summer? I think it may have been me. I have cried until I honestly thought I couldn't cry anymore...

And then I did.

This crying may have contributed to my amazing weight loss in fact (who knew crying was just as important as diet and exercise?) There is a huge part of me that just wants to take a long vacation from myself (when the going gets tough, the tough go to the tropics!) I don't think that's going to happen. Although, seeing the humor in this breakdown at the thrift (because through all of the emotional stuff, I seem to be hanging on to my sense of humor. I mean, gheeze, if I can't be funny then what's left?) The guy at the cash register must have taken a look at my leaky eyes and blotchy red face and runny nose, because he was trying to make small talk about the dress like:

"Oh wow...A Halloween dress...what are you going to be?"
and, I'm looking at him saying;
"Oh well...um actually, I'm just going to wear this dress,
um regular..."

Poor guy...and through all the tears in the car in the parking lot...my mom gently reminded me that "...creative people always seem to create through sorrow and adversity."

yay.

The good thing though, is with such swollen eyes, my fine lines and wrinkles are almost non-existent. Ah misery...my muse.

Piles of Muffins...

This is how I ended up my day off yesterday...
With a pile of pumpkin muffins...Half were delivered to Dina and her wonderful son, who regaled me with all sorts of good movie recommendations (who knew Monster House wasn't scary? According to Niko, I just need to be brave...sigh) and silly stories, including one which explained the large sticky spot on his hair ("I have crunchy hair right here")...apparently one of his friends at school dropped a spoon full of strawberry yogurt on his head at school...which got us all to laughing and talking about sticky things...Niko told us we were "asgusting...and don't say those words any more!" although, I'm hoping he was joking and didn't mean it, because it would wipe out quite a bit of my vocabulary, and to tell the truth, I can't exactly remember what it was I was saying. He was also saying "ewwww" in the cutest way. It was a lovely visit and an extremely enjoyable way to end my day...it was super fun to finally sit and talk to Niko (Dina too, of course) because really, up until last night, he's been a little shy around me...although, I must admit, I haven't been around a lot so it's hardly his fault! I also got to meet Lou-Lou the wonder dog...WOW...she's something else.

I took a 3 mile walk at Peavine yesterday as well, and then took myself out to lunch and a good book at WildFlower...they have the BEST Caesar salad there! Thrift shopping (I scored an amazing vintage dress...more later on that) and found what may be the replacements to all the glasses I keep breaking at Cost Plus...AND, I did get my free Pumpkin Pie Passion lotion at the Bath place...so now, I will smell like a walking baked good...Speaking of which (walking that is) how long do you think it would take me to justify buying these boots?

Sunday October 15th...

Participants...

• Well...um...the 3 of us that normally attend.

Projects completed...

• Not much my friends.

Hmmm...have you ever had one of those weeks?

No really, was it odd for everyone else out in blogland? It was a little strange here...Let's just say, after a week of headaches mixed with nausea for my mother, and myself not getting much if any sleep...it was long and exhausting both. So, when confronted with Creative Sunday this week, my mother dropped Rozzie off with me so we could run and get some tree ghost material...while she caught up stocking her booths in the antique shops. And then we sat back and ate...after quite a long walk in the neighborhood...while watching What Not To Wear (which, they'd never seen before) and just chatted!

Although, I did decide that I would fix yet another mistake in my living room...When I made these lovely floral curtains years ago, I was wanting them to be long and puddly...guess what? I apparently measured wrong! Because all of the curtains are just a bit short for the puddle effect.



With the advent of the lovely new wall makeover...The curtains were feeling a little sad, and left out, and well...I certainly can't live with sad curtains...

After my mother and Rozzie left today...my mother finishing up the other sock to make a whole set...way to go mom! (although now she's a little nervous and not wanting to make life sized human socks...only baby socks...in which case I'd better get busy...heeheehee) I got on the curtain train...









Now I realize by looking at these pictures, the curtains look all different colors (damned cheap camera) they actually look like a combination of the first and last picture...but, I think you may get the jest...

I bought the brown brocade fabric for a bag liner only, but realized that I may just be able to solve a curtain dilemma with it. Originally salvaged from a pair of curtains (I only bought one...so I don't have quite enough material to do both the small side windows and the large picture window...drat!) I cut and hemmed and sewed...and look...I puddle! (and in the living room no less!) In some small stroke of luck, the brown material matches the new wall color close to perfect. I do actually have some little brown pieces left over, so I may just sew them together and attach them onto the picture window curtain after all, since most of the curtain falls behind the blanket chest when closed. Do you think anyone will notice? Probably not, since most people didn't notice that there was no puddling!

And also...

Yes, I've been sitting here drooling and stomach growling as the smell of freshly cooking banana bread wafts through the house. My mother had a bunch of sad and nasty bananas that literally sat up and begged me to make them into bread. I used the recipe in the Joy of Cooking for Quick Banana Bread (although, it bakes for an hour...drool...and I'm wondering what's quick about that?!) I whipped up these no wheat/dairy/refined sugar loaves...I just redid the recipe and fit it to my allergy specifications...so there are no problems! I am also making a little list for pumpkin muffin recipients as well...and Dina and Liz (whom I went out with this weekend, and had a lovely time) are at the top...so get ready girls! Until then, I am just sitting waiting for these loaves to cool (again...quick?!) so I can snuggle in between the clean flannel sheets of the bed (I actually did do laundry today thank you!) with a good book, and a slice of heaven! (that's the bread...I don't have a new boyfriend)

Living Room Redux...

This is the big secret project I've been working on all week...one wall at a time! And the fact that I can keep a secret of this magnitude is something!

I painted the walls of this space right when I moved in...about 4-5 years ago. I painted them green. I don't like green. Not at all. Then later, I was helping My Pal Amy choose colors for her first home...I found a lovely green in Restoration Hardware.





The green was both lovely in the store and Amy's, but apparently...I don't like green in my living room. I painted about a quarter of the living room Amy's green...and hated it. So, it's been sitting 2-tones of green both of which I do not like, for quite some time now (really...a couple of years at least)








So, I'd had it...not one more winter of being stuck in my house looking at this giant mistake...I've been thinking about painting the new color scheme for quite some time now...and I finally had both the energy and the boldness to get the job done...one. wall. at. a. time. Moving the furniture as I go. I took some of these pictures after I'd moved the wall with the mantle on it...I'm not quite that messy!

Drum roll please...

AFTER...

Tada...my front door area...with the door in the middle there...where I take most of my pictures of myself in skirts...a lovely creamy color, which goes nice with the white trim. I decided I wanted to do something that matched the white trim, because the thought of carefully edging all the windows and doors and all their frames, made me a little crazy.












The door opposite the front door, and what one usually sees when you walk in to my home for the first time. The start of the only wall in the house that is a deep yummy chocolate brown!

Besides my bedroom in the background through said door, are those adorable mirrors, and a lovely Victorian doll house, a gift from my parents many years ago (I used to play with it quite often as I recall)










This is looking towards the right of that door...at the opposite end of the room...Where my extra chair and entertainment armoire are housed. You can see my guilty little secret if you look hard enough over the armoire though. I couldn't move that thing to save my life...so, I need to climb up on top of it soon and finish that one little corner up there!






This is the wall that goes in the middle of both of those last pictures...with the kitchen in the background...and all the mantle...and my newly moved Wagner opera plates that hang next to my oil color that my grandmother gave me, of what I like to think is Italy! This is across from the giant picture window...








This is the area opposite of the window and armoire above...directly next to the mantle...and house the sort of entry way...front door to the left, bedroom and mantle to the right.










My expansive picture widow...with the iron wheel decor (what I like to think of as the Zeena boob covers) now above the window, as they melted colorwise into the space above the mantle...too dark for them now up there! And, my 6 board ginormous blanket chest...aka the big blue thing in front of the window. Yes, that is made from large, now extinct trees...each board makes one side...huge, my feet don't touch the floor if I sit on it in fact.




And finally...that 2 tone corner...with 2 tones that I can actually live with. I love the way this turned out very much! I think it is sophisticated and clean. The colors go very well with what I have already, and the chocolate wall is long and tall now, and makes the whole room look larger. I always joke that every room in this house is long the wrong way...all rectangular...but this enhances it somehow. Kind of makes me want to put up crown moulding too...but that's another project for another time!

PS...Yes, some dolt put an electrical outlet in the middle of the wall...that is my original deco looking heater controller...and those are in fact, in the upper left corner, red tassels that hang from my ceiling fan!

Have an amazing weekend!

(I'm going out with Dina if she feels better on Sat.)

Corners of my home

How I love Halloween...Samhain...The Pagan New Year...And since "building" my own little mantle, the one feature this house actually doesn't have that I've always wanted...it is so much fun to decorate it for whatever season we may be enjoying. Now, I can just glance at the mantle and remember exactly where abouts in the year I am. Although, the heat coming on all on it's own this morning was a good tip off...it's 42 degrees here right now folks! I really enjoy my Halloween decorations because they are reminiscent of all the vintage ones my mother collected when I was younger. I don't think I have any vintage Halloween decorations, although my wonderful father does send postcards this time of year...and he loaded me up with all sorts of yummy vintage Easter decorations, but I'm thinking that Halloween may be a little rarer? (either that, or he keeps it all for himself...wink, wink) Anywho...there are companies that are now reproducing these types of things...so I feel quite lucky. I have 6 tiny glittery candy containers that I got at ZGallery (after coveting them forever, but not prepared to pay the prices for all, and not being able to narrow my choice down to only the ones I could afford...and I walked in during the middle of the summer, and lo and behold, they cleaned out their storage and found these and made them all half off...so I bought them all...yippee!) And the short pumpkin nodder I found at Target, during one of their Halloween vintage inspired seasons...the little orange wooden thing with a pumpkin face is a handle to a vintage jump rope...OK, I have one vintage Halloween thing...And finally, the tall dapper guy in the back. I've always wanted one of her paper mache people...and I found him in town 75% off...swoon! Actually, I've always wanted to make one of these paper mache beauties, don't worry, it's on my list!

I love this time of year, for all the obvious fall seasonal color things, and I purposely step into all the gutters around town so I can crunch in the big piles of leaves...not as dangerous as one would think considering this is still a bit of a small town. I love the fall because I know winter is coming and I could use the rest! I love the fall because I know it's not going to be as hot...and yes, I am actually considering moving somewhere where the weather is much colder year around, and there may be the actuality of getting snowed in during the winter. Spoken like a true romatic don't you think?

Christmas fabric delima...

Is it too early to think about Christmas?

Well, I'm having a little problem. I thought I found the perfect material for the back of the tree skirt I wanted to make...And I can't find it anymore. Did they put it on sale and then sell out? Perhaps. Rats.

Now.
we all remember what the front fabric looks like don't we?

I bought this at a thrift here in town ($1)

it is in fact, vintage...a backing of a really old thrashed crazy quilt (I carefully removed it, and then proceeded to save the other part of the quilt too, thinking that I could do something with that as well...sigh. Can I not bear to throw anything away?) So, I think I've narrowed it down to these fine fabrics (ha! I'm now thinking of buying at least 2 of them and doing a sort of pieced thing on the back...because I am absolutely convinced that I will not find actual vintage fabric for this piece, and I need to get started on this project so I can finish it before the holiday season!)

these sweet girls
wonderful for a background
treetop kitties (which matches absolutely nothing!)
these reindeer
this holly
something perfect for my mother
or really...anything from Michael Miller (check out the retro rocket rascals)

Give me your votes please...I am really leaning towards all of them (rolling my eyes). Including, of course the kitties, which don't go with anything, but are soooo cute I can hardly stand it! And what if I go totally modern some day? (I mean, a girl can change her mind can't she?) And I do, in fact, have a pink aluminum Christmas tree that I could switch off from year to year...

What'd You Got?

Last week was a good week for fun mail and lots of good surprises and thrifty goodness!

I received my package beautiful fishy ear rings from Susan! Not only are they amazing and look fabulous on me (pictures to come soon) but the wrapping was exquisite! I didn't want to open them...yeah right. One of my friends was in the shop when I got them, and she oohd and aahd over them, and was inspired to wrap her holiday presents differently this year! I am excited too, to hear how her trip to Portland was.








Then, Dina who was running a smidgy bit late...came with the barrette bribes to your left. I about fell over. Apparently she's seriously into vintage hair accessories right now. Lucky me! The first words out of my mouth were "are they vintage?" Holy cow, yes they are. On their cute Little "donos" cards...with rhinestones and everything. I don't know how she could bear to part with them...She asked the question on her blog how could she be so lucky to have gone out with 2 good friends 2 nights in a row? Well, I'm asking the same question right now...how could I be so lucky to have a friend that would give me these wonderful gifts? And in answer to her question...it's because squirrelfriend, you are so fun to hang out with...cheery, silly, generous, and up for most anything! I am just thinking of a million times when we've laughed and laughed until we cried...good friends are an amazing thing. People you can share all your funny quirky silliness with...inside jokes, personal references that make sense to no one else...and I'm happy, as always, that I get to share the journey with people like her! I have a couple of wonderful friends...My Pal Amy and My Squirrelfriend Dina. Notice too how I have reserved those special names only for them...only one Pal and one Squirrelfriend!

OK...I also found this lovely little vintage red floral doll dress, and just as I was lamenting that I did not have a doll...I remembered my troop of naked sock monkeys. I am wanting to make outfits for all of them (a huge undertaking) so, this may be cheating a bit...but for a quarter, I'm OK with that.

And are those polyester floral 1960's thigh highs? Why yes they are! Not for any monkeys but me...99 cents!











And this incredible metal floral...and indeed red, not the orange it looks like...cake and pie carrier. The pie, or whatever, goes on top. I don't have one exactly like this...my mother found it, and let me buy it for my little collection! $7.20 (it was on sale...hehehe!)







I'm working on some living room surprises to be unveiled later this week...stay tuned!

Sunday October 8th...

Participants:

• Rozzilyn
• Susan
• Sadira

A bit of a slow start today, but we did accomplish most everything. Rozzilyn's origional project idea was to create a bulletin board for her room. With all of her drawing and creating, she needs a special space for all of her pieces of paper for sure. So, we bought the board, and left it at their house (rats) But, that was just the perfect opportunity for her to help me bake some pumpkin muffins...She's a perfect helper, measuring and mixing...breaking eggs all over her hands...truly a lot of fun.











I love to use my vintage colorful mixing bowls for any project. My father has gotten me most of them, and I just adore them to no end. I wish I had more. I really love mixing bowls, I think that dates back to my mother. When she let me help her cook, she always had the most wonderful big vintage bowls to use. Mostly ceramic, and we used them all the time, no matter how much they were "worth" they were really priceless because we had so many good memories...Now I get to create more good memories with Rozzilyn...



Plus, you know what she said? "Aunt Sadie, you're a really good cook" Who can resist that? Living alone, I don't cook as much for me as I did when I was married, and I really miss it. I have noticed this fall that I have made pies and muffins, so I actually feel really good about that! Plus, I think with Rozzie's help, that this is the best batch of muffins I've ever made...

As you can see, I am wearing my new birdie apron, and is that the tallest 9 year-old girl ever? I mean, I'm not that tall (5'4") this girl is going to be super tall! (lucky)







Mama's project...baby socks! (or rather...almost life-sized Barbie socks, for Rozzie's doll) Can you believe it? She finished this one some time ago, but it needed it's little toe stitched up, which was completed today...and she started on her next one! It is quite adorable, and now that she's done it...she can teach me! This picture is just for Kate to show her that it certainly can be done by someone in my family...with more practice, maybe we'll get as good as her.










And my projects...baking the yummy muffins with Rozz...


Putting a waistband on this perfectly wonderful Halloween-like vintage skirt. Can you believe that it's been sitting around for it's whole little skirt life just waiting for a waistband? Talk about procrastination! I think it was just the wee bit happy that I did this, and well, so am I, because now I can wear it.











I also finished my Halloween banner. I was thinking of a totally different idea, however, my mother and I were at JoAnn's this weekend (for knitting needles only...HA!) and found this wonderful vintage looking witch and moon fabric for only 99 cents a yard, so I changed my plans.







I sewed little triangles of the material to black felt and then sewed them to some black and white binding. This binding is so thin and hard to work with, about half way through this project, I was wondering what exactly I was punishing myself for? It caught and then didn't, so some of it is sewn on really well, and the other parts...well, let's just say that I'm holding my breath! I was thinking how fun it would be to make more of these little banners, but I'm not so sure now...


We all went for a lovely afternoon walk in the perfect fall weather with a hot, right out of the oven muffin. (Yes, we risked burning ourselves!) I'ts a bit like the Beverly Hillbillies around here, as I had to lend my mom my socks because she was getting a blister. Nice, just to sit down in one of the nicer neighboorhoods in town and share socks. Of course, someone we knew drove by...perfect.

I'm of to eat muffins, drink coffee...and read Amy Butler's In Stitches book, there's already a few projects that I'm drooling over. I'm sitting here listening to the gutter guys climb around on the roof replacing the old leaky gutters! (finally)

I've Been Tagged...

...yes, I've been tagged by Jolene...
And, since I have a spare few moments this Sunday before Creative Sunday officially starts...I thought I'd just squeeze it right in! The Rules:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they are not any good, but they must be songs you are really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your LiveJournal/blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they are listening to...

1. Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine

2. The Flower Duet - Lakme (opera)

3. Lips Like Sugar - Echo and The Bunnymen

4. Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap

5. Paper Bag - Fiona Apple

6. Yellow - Coldplay

7. Bridges and Balloons - Joanna Newsom


I usually buy a lot of compilations techno/house/world music for the shop...and anything that I truly love, I play and play there until I kind of get sick of it. Although, it takes a little longer to truly get sick of a compilation, because there's usually so much going on in one. I know, horrible, but true! There is some music that I enjoy that I don't listen to in the shop, like opera. I love opera, and most classical music as well.

Now List 5 weird things you don't know about me...

1. I eat a handful of Junior Mints every night. I've been doing this for quite a while now, and the way I figure it is...a handful of Junior Mints a day keeps my ice cream cravings away...mostly because I have major lactose problems, and I don't like to eat too much dairy.

2. I don't have the greatest inner dialogue! I say some appalling things to myself on a daily basis. I don't feel confident, or put together or that I know what I'm doing. I often don't feel successful at my life and business...I think a lot of the times, that this is all a big farce. OK...now, with therapy, these issues are getting a bit better, and I can feel things changing. It is just in there, and I think it's weird to an extent, so I decided to list it...plus, most people really don't know that about me!

3. I love okra. Love it! Love it so much that my mother gave me some the other day, and I am not going to be able to save it to even fry it (which is one of my favorite things to do with it) because I love to eat it raw. I love it for the exact reasons most people hate it...I love the slimy texture, and the taste is divine!

4. During the holiday season, about all I can handle is reading those trashy romance novels. You know the ones with the "throbbing manhood" stuff? Seriously, I don't know what it is, if the world is just stressed out and I'm picking up on it...if I too, am stressed out, and this is all my attention can handle! If you would walk into the shop and I'm reading, I will throw it under the counter and hide it (well...now you know!)

5. I am seriously into the Fall Temptations from Bath and Body Works...Especially the Pumpkin Pie Spice. I bought the 3-in-1 bath/soap/hair...although, I don't think I'd use it as a shampoo. I got a free lotion from the new amber collection...oh excuse me...body butter! I have a coupon for something free from the fall temptations line, and I have practically been counting down the days (Monday, thank you!) And I just looked on their site, there are lip glosses in these flavors...I don't really think I could be trusted with that! Although, maybe someone would kiss me if I bought one? (ohhh...marketing is a sneaky little monkey!)

OK...since I don't know 7 people well enough in blogland...I will tag:

Dina
Kate

and ask anyone else who reads this either send me a list in the comments...or send me a link to your blog with this all filled out! I would love to hear more about all of you!!

This Weekend...

It may just be one of those weekends. You know the ones, you're just meandering through your life minding your own business...then POP out of nowhere, there's tons to do? So much that there's just no way you can do everything...









I just made this sweet little faux Obie for the black and purple brocade oriental dress I'm wearing tonight. I found it on this site, and thought...I can make that! Well...it consists of patchwork oriental fabric, quilted onto a black felt background. Since I seem to refuse to use a pattern...I do end up with oddities here and there often with things. I'm wearing it out tonight anyway...style be darned (actually, I look OK) Yes, the light is terrible too, because it's night time so, I'm inside with lights on...




Heavens, is that my shoe in the upper right hand corner? What a hack! OH...has anyone tried that Victoria Secret Sexy make-up line? I got a free coupon for some lip gloss (I've gotten so many coupons from there this year that I have quite a few panties saved up!) Well...let me tell you, it is sexy! I got it in red (yay!) and it has glitter and you apply it with a paint brush...yummers!




Here's my WIP for this weekend. I was joking with Dina that I'm going to invite people over with the sole purpose of indenturing them in my studio and forcing them to make handbags! If I do attack this pile of stuff, I should get a few bags, a X-mas card holder, a vintage top and a vintage skirt out of it...pretty good inspiration!

The New Library...

Our library is finally open...after a 6 million dollar re-do, it is back! I am having mixed feelings about this...First off, I love books...love them like old friends, snuggle up with them in bed, have meals with them...and generally bring a book along to most places I go. I read all the time, I think it has to do with getting hooked in Junior High, because our TV broke, and my mother wouldn't fix it unless I brought my math grade up.





So...in place of Laverne and Shirley re-runs I was no longer allowed to watch (and yes, I did miss Twin Peaks and a handful of other shows that are now thankfully on DVD in case I want to watch them) I started to read instead of die of boredom (I know, I was very dramatic then) I went back and read all the classics I missed when I was watching Little House on the Prairie, and became quite hooked. I now probably read 2-3 books a week depending on what time of year it is (yes, I'm incredibly smart and have an amazing imagination) And, I have a wonderful personal library myself!







I was a little surprised when I walked in and saw all the open space, although nice...it used to be filled with books...but our library thought it was a good idea to deacquisition one third of our library collection (some books which we will never be able to get back because they are no longer in print) The new stacks are beautiful, with lights across the tops of them so you can see better...but, with not many books, there's not much to see. In fact, when you walk into the entrance...you can't actually see any books at all.

They're calling it Prescott's Living Room...and at eleven hundred dollars a chair...I guess so. There are several new nice meeting rooms, including a kind of craft room for the kids, which is good because they're no longer letting us use the third floor. They put up a new large display case (which has some really frightening art in it at the moment, usually they let different community organizations use it) and a good sized place for the Library Used Book Sale. The young adult section only has 4 small shelving units (one could work through the tiny amount of books in mere months) And as you can see by the pictures, there are some fun furnishings in the children's area. They stuck the children downstairs...I guess there were too many complaints about the noise they make (mostly grumpy retired people here in Prescott and on the board of the library apparently) and gave them some cool stuff (although, I noticed one of the little stuffed books is already ripping apart) as you can see too, Rozz was having fun, but it's a bit juvenile for her...there is no place for the 9-12 year olds (plus, I'm enjoying the young adult books more than most adult books...it's all the magic and non-love drama) The ceilings are a little low down there and you kind of feel like you're in a cave...in fact, you can't walk 10 feet anywhere in the library and have the ceiling be the same height...it's a little disorienting (and I donated quite a bit of money in Rozzie's name so she, like other peoples children, could have their pictures posted in the children's section...and I certainly don't see any pictures down there at all...in fact, I heard they're not letting them hang anything on the walls down there...you know how kids hate colorful spaces) They also took the fish away, and there's been some struggle with whether or not they're bringing them back. OH...most of the library is done in teal as well. Really, I do look around and say $6 million, and this is it? Slippery cork flooring, teal trim/paint and carpet...really expensive chairs...couldn't we have gotten a decorator?

So, there's some good and bad things...It's certainly nice to be able to touch and see the books again...even if they have gotten rid of most of them and are now putting new copies of really old books in the new arrival section...they can't scare us away that easy!

An Apple A Day...

That's been happening a lot lately around here hasn't it? This is a picture of all the apples I can't get to in the tree in my back yard...because this tree grows in a large ravine, and there's just no solid ground for me to stand on, and the trunk and branches of this tree would in no way support my body! (I've lost a lot of weight...but I am not a fairy!) I feel a little sad that I can't get to these guys and make another pie, but when my mother, Rozz and I were walking to the CSA tonight, we passed 2 apple trees in her neighborhood that are loaded down with apples that no one is picking at all! Maybe I'll steal some of theirs? You would not believe how many trees like that are around town.

I am contemplating making this project for myself soon. I know I'm going to need some help ahead of time, and at Studio 3 here in town, I can pay $15 to sit with a group of experienced knitters and one lead knitter extraordinaire and get all the help I need until I finish my project...So, I am certainly checking into that. I need to get all my yarn and needles first, luckily we have some 50% off coupons for JoAnn's this week, so it's wooden circular and double pointed needles in a size 10 for me!

My house is filling with the delicious smell of salmon with capers and potato au'gratin with soy...so I must be going. I need to eat before Project Runway tonight so that I can be ready to partake in some Junior Mints while watching it! (A special treat for myself since I've now taken the rather large pile of fabric to the shop to commence in cutting out the material for bags there) And, if anyone sees any bag that I post to the blog, and you do actually want it, please let me know. I charge $16.50 for them, and will ship them to you for $4.00 extra. I am contemplating starting an etsy shop, but am a little scared, so I will be taking it a bit slow...So, please let me know!

A Bag A Day...

Well, I did it...I made a bag yesterday after all (all that silly mentioning that I was not going to do it paid off!) OK...well, I actually cut it out last night and woke up and jumped on the sewing machine first thing this morning. The liner fabric is made from a polka-dot pillow case, and the outside is some wonderful vintage 70's material. Certainly fun and colorful for the fall.

I am also tossing around an idea for a Halloween garland made from felt, and was supposed to work on it tonight at Oh Knit at mom's, but we got all involved in a walk and dinner and eating some apple pie (good excuses huh?) I did get on the computer and look at a pattern for a knitted sock monkey hat that I really want to make for myself as well. Of course, I will need to buy quite a few supplies, and then I'll be totally ready.

We were noticing the fact that tonight, well, um, we haven't been knitting at Oh Knit in quite a while. I am personally chalking it up to the theory that we don't really feel like knitting while the weather is still so beautiful because we're just enjoying these last few days of summertime before the fall sets in. I know that I really feel like settling in more when it's colder and being inside and busy with my hands then...So, I'm just going to enjoy being where I'm at for the moment...and am truly looking forward to sitting in my mother's new snug in a bug insulated home next week! (were holding a special "I can't believe I finally got my house insulated" party then!)

Well...

just when you thought I was done (believe me, I thought I was too) Ms. Susan L...over at sulu-designs informed me that she was posting her fishie ear rings. Now, I may be reliving my high school days here (oh wait...that was Kim with her yellow plastic stegosaurus ear rings wasn't it?) but are these not the most wonderful ear rings ever? Holy Cow...I told her that I was doing a happy fishie dance and singing the "I can't Wait For The Mail" song. So, the cat thinks I'm crazy (but really, don't they usually?) although, I know she'll be begging to borrow them from me...

Sunday October 1st...

Participants:

• R.C.
• Rozzilyn
• Sadira
• Susan

Well...first off let me say, what an amazing day! With pie in hand/car we made our way over to a wonderful home for an amazing afternoon (again, the same man who's son made all the shoes for Jay's runway show) We started our time together touring the outside...and as you can see, R. has created an amazing place here. He has tons of stuff to look at placed all around this amazing well taken care of (and planned...making me rethink my non-landscaping, bloom where you've fallen, yard)...with a sweet (although concerned and somewhat mischievous) looking gnome on a swing...perhaps it's the cow skull in the tree? Perhaps it's just the nature of gnomes...











A wonderful wind decoration twirls about...that, in my opinon, just enhances the view he has...

















A cute little stick hut...which I can't remember the name of at the moment...but we all decided since the javelina haven't knocked it down, they're using it as a summer home (yes, he's making all of this stuff...you should see the paintings he's done!) And the sweetest little skull that he actually carved into a piece of wood...which I forgot to take a picture of...he's descended from quite a tallented carver and other artists...so, as you can imagine, it's a great piece!

And, if I wasn't excited about the outside...the inside was spectacular. I did not take pictures because I felt a bit weird, but I'm telling you...it was amazing! He has an incredible collection of antiques (including an Italian buffet and table with carved faces and grapes on it...it seriously took my breath away) beautiful art, vintage maps, prints and photos abound...and the books? OH MY...the books! They are everywhere and they are incredible! The library (all 3 rooms) fairly reek of the most amazing smell of antique books...oh yumm, pure heaven...And yes, this even eclipsed the smell of the coffee and apple pie! He has met so many famous authors...and the Edward Gorey stuff he has just made me giddy. We had an exciting time eating, drinking, telling stories, and laughing...It was hard to go home.

Meandering around the grounds? sitting in the kitchen, and on the deck? drinking good coffee and eating apple pie? stretched out on the floor looking at rare books? This is indeed, my idea of a great afternoon. We stayed quite a while...and if we'd brought more food, we may still be there! R's passion and knowledge is inspiring...and has infused me with excitement about my own small collections!

Thank you R...a good time was had by all!

And...I was a bit creative in the evening as well...

I was making a challenge for myself this week called "A handbag a day" because I want to keep up the supply at the shop. So, I made this little western themed one, and took it to the shop today. However, the day has gone by without another handbag...so maybe tomorrow?















Here's a little close-up of the detailing...can you believe that it says Prescott Arizona on it? I made the outside from a rayon dress, and the lining was created from a gingham checked curtain.









And because I usually have nothing to wear...


A new collaged t-shirt. There's 2 little skulls there in between all of the roses...but don't you think the pink and polka-dots make it look that much more girley? It's getting to the point where it's more fun wearing things I've made than just buying things and wearing them off the rack...

I just love it!

More Pie?

...well, yes as a matter of fact, there is. I thought I was done making pies (I'm not really lying to you) and there I was last night, after a wonderful dinner and talkies with My Pal Amy, rushing home to make more. I was trying to pass off that this was going to be a difficult task to Amy, but she kindly reminded me that I did indeed teach her how to make apple pie not too long ago...and in my enthusiasm, I danced around her kitchen telling her how easy it was (I was just trying to be supportive...mostly because she's not confident in the kitchen!)

OK...it is easy

I admit...and since the Creative Sunday group is taking a little field trip to our friend's house this afternoon to look at his Edward Gorey collection of wonderful things, and just visit...We thought we'd bring a yummy treat! Yes, this would be the friend who's son did the shoes for Jay (don't worry, I'm working on either some shoes or an introduction) and since we have tons of apples still...well, why not. You know, we drive around town and people's apple trees are just loaded down with apples, and no one seems to be picking them. We are thinking about picking theirs too...because my mom just confessed that they go through about 3 jars of applesauce a week at their house!

So here are two more pies...one of which I'm not sure what exactly I'm going to do with. I would love to send it to Jolene and her family (since they're in the land of no apple trees) or my sister, or my father and Patti, or any of my sweet blog readers but, I'm not confident that pies would make a good travelling companion in the mail.

The pie that will be going with us today is in one of my little vintage cake/pie carriers. This one is decorated with little apples (perfect, no?) and looks a little more like the fall. And is that little maple leaves and an acorn (with little detailing) as well as apple cut-out's? Why yes Virginia, it is! I usually save my acorns for my amazing pumpkin and pecan pies at Thanksgiving, but I was feeling especially creative last night...and thought why not? Besides, this year, I'm working on a 3-dimensional turkey for the tops of the pies (just kidding...I do happen to have turkey canape cutters, I'll probably just use those) It's so fun to dabble in Martha Stewartness! OK...I'm off to create a bit in the studio with a cup of Pumpkin Spice coffee (thank you Dina, for the tip) and eagerly awaiting Millstone's Holiday Peppermint. I know, not organic, but it's only once a year because they're limited editions (kind of like Starbuck's Pumpkin Pie flavors as well...yumm)

My house smells just amazing right now!