Birdnest take 2

I wasn't feeling the larger image, w/ the word.

After looking at it most of yesterday-
I took to it w/ scissors.

It looks much better-small.

*this was a gift for a girlfriend*

***Also, I cut the word off,
but wrote it much smaller and put on the back***

Birdnest

Maitatu is LOVE in Basque.
I don't know if I like it tho.

I don't know.

Thoughts?

Chickadees in color

*please forgive, I took w/ my phone*

I went ahead and added a little color to the birds.
(you can see original post several posts down)

As w/ the sketch,
I tried to lighten the color as it went to the edge.
(more color around the birds and less as it goes further out)

'nuther project

Does it need anything else?

*I posted this on FB and my more religious of family and friends
mentioned a few more names to add to it*

I have a kitchen island!

It took us 5 years of living without
to realize what we need.

I have always wanted a kitchen island, but
always thought our kitchen was too small
9'x9'
(+- a few inches)

Several weeks ago
while out junking...
I saw a hideaway sewing table.

Right then and there
it clicked!

Tiny kitchen = Tiny island.

I connected the legs w/ 2x4's
then slats to make a shelf.

Painted it an off white -
then aged it w/ a grey/green
(dry brushing)

I put pennies on the top
(per Pinterest)
*about $8 in pennies for the top, couldn't buy tile to cover the top for that cheap*

Now, I just need to buy the 2 part epoxy to clear coat the top.

Thought about doing grout, but hubs and my fear is that the grout would
cover all the details to the pennies.

I have a pantry!

I HAVE A PANTRY!

Some of y'all may not think much of this, but for me this is HUGE!

Our house is a 1928 rambler.
Our kitchen is 9'x9'
(+- a few inches)

We have been here 5 years.

That's 5years, of clutter
5years of stuff
EVERYWHERE

I watched Nate Berkus a couple weeks ago-
and he made mention of using an armoire as a pantry.
*LIGHT BULB*

WHY haven't I thought of that?!?

I was looking and searching for a good 2 or 3 weeks, finding nothing
OR
finding everything, but refusing to spend $$$ on it.

This here cost me $35.
It's about 5' high (I wanted something taller, but this works)

It's not vintage
(what I prefer)
but it IS wood!

I HAVE A PANTRY!

Corn Kernel

Popped in my head today to sketch a kernel.

I am not one to watercolor, but lately...
I've wanted to 'play'
See if it would 'grow' on me...

I like it,
just need to practice more.

*waves*

Still here...
That time of the year...
where you are being pulled...
in a million different directions...

Have things I want to blog,
but just don't have the proper words I want to use
nor have I got pictures.

Mentally, I've done it.

lol

'tis the season.

Collections

10+ years ago,
I collected Barbies and Beanies (like many others = sad).

7 years ago, I took many of these that weren't my favorites
and donated them to Toys for Tots.

I had the large box (shown below) -
of my favorites stowed away.

Earlier in this year -
I asked myself
WHY do I still have these?

Been waiting and waiting for this time of the year
so I can donate the rest of my collection.

What you see is not just Beanies (top 2 rows),
Under them are
Collectible Barbies.

Hubs was a lil taken aback
'you know how much money we spent on these?'

He wanted me to see if we could make a lil money back by listing them on Craigslist.

But,
had I listed them and made money back-
that money would just go to more frivolous things.

This way,
I know, kids that wouldn't have anything
will have something now.

I have no use for them.
Hope whomever gets them...
Loves them.

*hope this isn't coming across as me tooting my own horn*

2 in one day, aren't y'all lucky! *girlie quilt*

My grandmother made me and my cousin these quilts.
Many years later-
Hubs claims it as his own.
As you can see, it's been loved.
He says it is the perfect quilt, because it is just heavy enough.

Several girls have fallen or are about to fall off.
Using the girlie quilt as batting-
I took a bunch of hubs old band shirts,
beer shirts,
or anything that was past its expiration date -
and came up with this.

*using the front and a back to get a checker pattern*
*solid, print, solid, print*

It's not complete.

I eyeball everything and well,
apparently I eyeballed wrong. lol

I have about 8" to add on the bottom.

Hubs likes it.
:)

I'm still here :)

I know I haven't posted in a while.

I'M STILL HERE! :)

It's that time of year.
I get sucked into crafts (I'm not complaining).

So far, I've sketched/water colored 2 bird pictures.
*what do you think? does the 1st need color? there is a lil blue on the birds and I fanned out the sketch - more solid in the center and less and less as it goes out*
A few Tshirt scarves.
A couple tshirt flowers (also beaded).
Crocheted a couple of hats.

Still need to make a tshirt quilt or 2.
Still need to make a tshirt scarf (different from the few above).
Still looking for an armoire.
Still helping hubs build and put up a roof? above the front door.
Still need to make a 'new baby' ornament or a knocked up ornament.
Still need a wood toy box or something similar.

Just a busy time of the year.

Dinosaur Iron Man Skeleton

Dinosaur

Iron Man

Skeleton

Last year Hoss was a bloody skeleton. Sprout was a dinosaur (if you scroll thru Oct '10 posts you can see them).

Sprout was determined to 'copy' big brother and be a skeleton this year. Then he said he wanted to be a ghost skeleton. I told him ghosts don't have bones. He said 'dinosaurs do'. Thus the birth of the dino skeleton, then he figured he would add to that and be a dinosaur iron man skeleton.

A hoodie. White felt and fabric glue = BAM! Costume.
I used blue glitter glue to add just a little something more to the bones. I sewed the skull, back bones and tail to the hoodie (you can easily just glue it all down).

Sorry the pics aren't all that, I took w/ my phone.

Stupid Easy Hoodie

Items needed: 2 tshirts and a sewing machine (you can do it by hand if you want)
Time: 10 minutes

I also have a do rag on aka tshirt sleeve.

1 of a kind costume ideas

This is such an awesome idea!
With 1 wk til Halloween, what are you going to be? Don't know? Well, try this...

Write on little sheets of paper - nouns
Write on little sheets of paper - adjectives

Put the nouns in a bowl and put the adjectives in another bowl.

Mix'em up.

Pick 1 from each bowl.

BAM! UNIQUE Costume

Grumpy Mermaid
Elderly Zombie
Pregnant Vampire
Bedazzled Trucker (Love this one!)

*per The Chew on ABC

More is MORE

It's that time of year again...
2 weeks out and it is time to start
'test driving' the Halloween makeup
and
accessories.

See what works.
What needs to be changed.
Added.
Removed.

What you see:
facial tattoo
dark green/purple makeup
and
hair falls.

What are hair falls?

I referred to them (before googling them) as
yarn hair thingies.

My hair is too short/thin for them to go in like they are s'pose too, so I am gunna have figure something out.
Ok, this 'look' is similar to Cyber Goth.

FLUFFY

What did we do Friday?

Gabriel Iglesias!
A comedian god!!!

I was late to the game to buy tickets, SOLD OUT rather quickly.
But thanks to the radio gods, I won tickets-
not just tickets, but
MEET and GREET tickets!

We didn't bring a chocolate cake,
but a wonderful brownie thingy.

We had on our Hawaiian shirts to Represent, Yo!

It was a great show.
Very funny!
Our cheeks hurt.

Fall

I <3 Fall.

I <3 the Colors that come with Fall.

I <3 the Smells that come with Fall (spices)

...don't fret, I will complain once the white stuff falls.

Moving On...

I've grown tired of the hamster wheel (a.k.a treadmill).

I've moved on...

I like the bike.
I've been doing 8 - 12 miles,
then I do weights (about 15-20 minutes).

It's fun.
It's just as tiring.
It's easier on my joints.
and I burn the same if not more calories.

I also, enjoy the 'Me Time, 1-1.5hrs'.
No kids screaming/fighting.
No needy hubs 'Wheres_______?'

I Know It Is Spam, but -

I haven't been looking forward to October.
I used to love it (I am working on loving it again), but...

In a few weeks, it will be 2 years since ma's passing.
She came to me a few times since her passing,
but it's been a while since her last 'visit'.

I open my email this morning-

The address was *HER NAME*.
The letter itself -
'I hope you are ready to begin your new life,
(had a link I did not open)
Talk to you soon'.

Yes, I know it is SPAM, but...
I see it as a lil 'hello' from her,
being that her anniversary is just a few weeks away.

***I mentioned this to hubs and he too thought the timing and wording was weird,
he agreed to the 'hello'***

Yes, I BELIEVE
Always Have
Always Will


Just to be sure - I checked her email.
She had no New, Old, or Sent mail.

Moment of Silence

I've lost 2 pieces of Pyrex today...
within hrs of each other.
1, a small red fridgee fell out of the cabinet and shattered
(I accidentally bumped it and it fell out)
and the 2nd, my favorite turquoise loaf pan -
pulled out of the oven and set on pot holder (nothing cold)
and I hear a heart breaking
*crack*
...sad.
Not just those 2 chips, but on 1 side it completely cracked.

The Boys Halloween Shirts

Since most schools are anti costumes/gore, I made these for the boys.

Black t-shirts.
Fabric of your choice (or theirs).
Cut into tie shape (I made 2 cuts because I wanted particular image for the knot).
Using fabric glue, I glued down the ties.
Let dry.
Then (just to be safe), I sewed them down.
*I didn't have to sew'em. The fabric glue is sturdy and washable, I just don't trust my boys. lol*

Pics

I am not a seamstress. I've never taken Home Ec classes, but I did my best (and I see the flaws).

Homemade vs Store Bought

What do you prefer?

I am prone to handmade...I prefer to make vs purchase.

For the past 18 years (+-), I have most often made gifts for my very best friend. I wont say that each and every one was a museum piece of art, but they were from the heart. I've made her a birthday cake, cards, drawings, I've even made her a custom Barbie.

*Back story*
Down South we have these things called Azalea Trail Maids - think Southern Belle. They (there are a couple dozen of these each year, Senior High School girls: http://www.johnstrange.com/edm310summer07/hinds/history.html.

She was one. She designed her beautiful yellow dress to mimic that of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. It was beautiful.

I made the Barbie 'Southern Belle' dress/gown to look like her Azalea Trail Dress.

*ANYWAY

She and her husband are expecting their first child, lets call her Bubbette because she refuses to tell anyone what *her* name is, and thus she doomed herself to my nickname (she knows this and we joke about it).

The nursery theme is Peter Rabbit. I looked high and low and could not find Peter Rabbit fabric in small town USA.

I found some fabric that I liked and ran it by her to be safe.

Project 1 - plush bunny.
The 1st attempt failed.
2nd attempt became a lil ball.
3rd time - It came out great. I cut back on all the detail and I love it.
Had enough fabric left over to make a burp cloth.

I did it where the seam is on the outside. It is part of the overall design.

I still have a few things up my sleeve, must get done before Christmas.

*pics to follow*

An Experiment

So, last week I tried something.

I set hubs alarm 5 minutes early.
Why? You may ask.

Because I am tired of seeing him rushing 'I'm Late, I'm Late', before work.

It's amazing what 5 extra minutes will do.

Have I told him?
Nope.

Stupid Easy Poached Eggs

Served with an English muffin, cheese and ham = <3

STEP 1
Crack egg and put in a little bowl
(it's easier this way)

STEP 2
Hot water (NOT boiling).
What I do, I boil the water and then turn it down to drop the temperature.
Salt and a drop of vinegar (opt).

When it's Hot (not boiling)-
stir with the handle of a wood spoon (or something similar).

You have a tornado or whirlpool.

STEP 3
Pour the egg into the center of the tornado.

It will spin and drop.
It will look like a complete mess, but don't fret.

Let it cook a couple to four minutes.
(depends on if you like your yolk to run)
I like mine to run.

STEP 4
With a slotted spoon lift the egg out
(again it wont look pretty, I'm not Martha Stewart)

Put the egg on the end piece of bread (no one eats that piece anyway)
to drain off the water.

Enjoy.

:)

They are a little more time consuming than frying or scrambled,
but they taste so much better!

I don't like it

***
It saddens me.

I don't like thinking about it.

I don't like looking at pictures.

I don't like watching the news nor do I like watching the 'specials'.

I remember.

I will never forget.

Labor Day Getaway

Per MapQuest,
a 11.5hr trip (1 way) turned out to be 16-18hrs

Drove thru a couple states, that I *hope* I never have to go thru again.

Don't get me wrong.
They are Beautiful.
Farmland as far as you can see....
FARMLAND. AS. FAR. AS. YOU. CAN. SEE!
As Far As...
YOU
CAN
SEE!

If you don't get it -
There is nothing there.
Cows.
Deer.
Antelope.

Anyway -
We drove over on Saturday.
Look around on Sunday (Rapid City is a tourist trap and history).

This was hubs 2nd time seeing The Heads.
Mine and the boys 1st.

It was neat,
but I don't need to see them again.

Been There.
DONE That.

Beachcombing Treaures

Agates and Quartz and Shells, Oh My!

(too bad we don't know what's what)

Calling all Rockhounds,
if you can help that would be great!

From Left to Right.
Top - Smoky Clear, Semi solid not quite opaque, stones
Center- Marbled, light yellow/clear, shells
Bottom - Sunstone?, Light blue, smoothed over shells.
and a few pieces of sea glass.

I LOVE Oregon Coast!

We did not see Bigfoot...

but here is what we did see.

Then we saw More Green and More Beaches. Went down to Crescent City, Ca to see the giant redwoods.

Took the kids beach combing = free and they loved it!

The water was cold, but you got used to it (did not go swimming, just walked up to the knees).

The weather was PERFECT, 59* in the morning and the hottest it got was 80* and I think that was the day we drove down to California.

Having grown up on the Gulf Coast, the salt air calls to me...the smell of fish calls to me...the cool air Calls to me! I left a piece of myself there. I fell in love with western Oregon.

Mt Hood,
Voodoo Donut,
Mill Ends Park (smallest park in the world),
The Astoria Column, where Sprout and Hoss developed fear of heights,
Sea Lions,
Starfish,
Sea 'enemies',
barnacles,
baby abalone,
clam chowder,
fish and chips
awesome burgers,
Dutch Bros,
etc...