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You might remember this drama. In actual real life, unbeknownst to most of you, the drama has continued over the last five months, with me inserting "Nikon D60 SLR" into as much conversation in this household as humanly possible. To the point where, Scott, on several occasions, has slapped his forehead and cried out, "Just get the damn camera already!".
But, no. If anything, I am not rash. And with an investment like that, my MO is to shop it, and drag everyone down with me. And drag I did.
Until Monday. Monday, I caved. And Monday night, I stared at the box. For hours. Tuesday morning, I opened it and was immediately overwhelmed and intimidated. So I went to my LPS (local photo shop, kinda like a LYS [local yarn shop]) and signed up for a class. [I can't wait.] But then I came home and grabbed the bull by the horns, went outside, followed by my posse, and started clicking.
Oh my.
Are they not the two most gorgeous girls in the world?
Candy is positive this camera makes her look 10 years younger. She's only 9.
Gracie is positive it makes her look like a Rhodes Scholar. She's a dip.
See? She is literally running in circles around Candy, taunting her because she is in possession of...the ball.
I know there is so much more that I can do, but I have no idea what. I'm just pretending. But I love the depth. I've never gotten that with my little point and shoot. And until I can afford a macro lens, I can still get a little out of what I have on the macro setting:
I'm going to be playing a lot this weekend.
Happy Thanksgiving!
And guess what? It was cold. We were shivering, but we were happy! How wack is that? I can't tell you how glad I am that yesterday was the last day in 2008 for me. I'm just so tired lately, and even though I can't sleep past 6 a.m. [even on weekends], at least when I wake that early, I can hang in my jammies for a few hours.
In the last year, I've cut down dramatically on my market days. I decided I just didn't need to wear myself out so much. They've recently changed the rules too - for some reason, the shopping center that hosts our Farmer's Market has decided that apparel can no longer be sold by vendors on the craft show days. I don't know if the stores (all 3 of them, which include Steinmart, TJ Maxx and another I can't even remember) complained that it was taking business away, or what. But because of this, with the exception of me & my friend Joelle, it's all jewelry vendors! Nuts. Good for me & Joelle, no?
So, because it was my last day for the season, and because all my friends just happened to be there, let me introduce you to them!
Ya'll know my pal Susan, right? I haven't seen her in months, and it was so good to catch up!
This is Susan #2, from Charmed Jewelry - she always has such a great booth set up!
And Kim from Tickled Pink Jewelry - she makes beautiful matching mommy & me jewelry:
Of course, Joelle was there too (that's Dennis, hamming it up):
Did I mention it was cold? I was so glad I brought Toasty! They did keep me toasty, while I cast on and started Toast!
In Bright Pink Cascade 220! What a fast knit - I'm almost done! Look at that event schedule on the sidebar! The end is in sight! Which opens a whole 'nother can of worms - as in, where the hell is the time going?
Hope you had a great weekend too!
Gracie & I met up with Karen & Henry yesterday for a little [butt-kicking] hike along a few of the many equestrian trails here.
You remember Henry, right? That little butterball of fur? Yeah, he's five months old now and nearly as big as Gracie. But his paws are mammoth, so it seems he has a way to go. He's still a butterball.
Yesterday, I discovered that Gracie is afraid of horses. She'd notice them in their corrals, and then she'd hang back a little, and then bolt to the other side of me. This pretty girl walked right over to us, and finally Gracie got a little curious. My new pretty friend was more interested in the shiny silver rectangle I was holding than the other pretty girl closer to the ground.
We were planning on just a short, quick [flat] hike, but it turned into a lot of winding around, climbing through dirt and looking at the new trail signs.
For an hour and half, I was glad for the mild weather because it's just so damn pretty.
No matter how busy I am, or how much is on my plate, or waiting on my worktable, a little hike in the neighborhood always makes me happy & grateful.
I know, I know. I should do it more often.
I can't believe it's the middle of November.
That's my new homepage image - my little gift to you, and some incentive to help boost the economy - FREE SHIPPING for the rest of the year! Every little bit helps, right?
I'm also working on stocking my Etsy store for the holidays - FREE SHIPPING there too!
Just trying to make life easier, k?
(photo stolen from Jennifer Ramos! Thanks Jenn!)
Okay, I think I have a new favorite event. I had so much fun yesterday! Even if I was alone, and didn't get to take as many pictures as I wanted to; even if I didn't get to spend the day walking around meeting and talking to all the fun folks I've known online for years and years; and even if every single bone in my body was screaming last night.
My pals, Jennifer (Textle Fetish) & Shari (her trusty helper & my trusty bathroom-break-helper), were two down from me and provided endless laughs. It was great to hang with them all day!
Kelley, & her helper Paloma, were directly behind me. I was so glad when I saw in the set up that Kelley was so close because I didn't have the heart to ask for that placement! (Thanks again Jenny!)
I got to see Kellie & Matt again - they are loads of fun and so sweet!
I finally got to meet Miss KB, who is darling and sweet, and has a rocking booth set up and fun, fun, fun products.
I also got to meet Jennifer & her sister Christine, from Starving Artist Bazaar, who was my neighbor (but the picture was terribly blurry, sorry Jenn & Christine!)
I wore my previously mentioned Doily Dress! Hard to see - just a simple doily sewn on to my boring $17 dress, and there are vintage MOP buttons in the center of each of the flowers! I layered the dress over a vintage slip that I dyed ORANGE!
There are so many other people I got to see & finally meet - I can't even think straight right now, so sorry if I've left you out of my shout out here. It was so fun - Jenny Ryan and her army just rock this event! There is so much talent out there, it just boggles my mind. I'm really looking forward to next year - and if you couldn't make it yesterday, hope you'll try in 2009!
I'm so tired right now - I promised myself I would start a new routine this morning and walk, but I'm thinking today might not be the best day for new routines! This is how exercise never happens! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend, and if you're in any of the Southern California fire zones - hope you're safe.
Answering the age-old call of 'oh dear, what will I wear?' I picked up this dress a couple of weeks ago at Ann Taylor Loft, on extreme markdown of $17. I was planning to wear it Sunday, but of course, couldn't leave it alone. That's the curse of a box full of vintage lace trim!
There are worse things, right?
Thanks for the jacket love yesterday!
I am so excited for this weekend! It's time for FELT CLUB! This is my first time, and I'll be there as a vendor. I can't wait to see many of my internet friends - some that I've never met, but have 'known' online for years.
If you aren't familiar with Felt Club, it's an annual indie craft fair that features some very cool designers and crafters - everything from handbags, jewelry and paper products to plushies and one-of-a-kind artwork.
This year, the event is at the Shrine Auditorium near downtown L.A. and besides over 125 vendors, there will be a DJ, snack bar (and regular bar, you know, in case you need a Margarita in the middle of the day...that won't be me). There will also be DIY workshops, (which I am very excited about, but since I am selling, won't be able to take part in...*sad face*) by Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching and Kaari Meng of French General (how totally cool is that?).
Annnnd, Swap-o-Rama-Rama will also be taking place upstairs, where participants can bring clothing to swap and REFASHION. (double *sad face* that I can't take part in!!!)
Dudes, seriously, if you're in L.A., this is a no-brainer. Hope you'll make it - please stop by and say hi if you do!
It's about time, right? About six months ago, I picked up this cute, cropped jacket for $3. Yes, that's right, THREE DOLLARS.
I loved the color and the woven houndstooth design - it's fully lined as well. I didn't like the buttons; they were covered in the same material with a goldish rim around the edge.
And it looks like there might have been a belt at one time, because there are little loops about 5" up from the bottom.
As soon as I saw it, I knew what I wanted to do.
I thought the houndstooth pattern would look fun if it were appliqued with a big, bold floral pattern - and Heather Bailey's new Pop Garden was perfect, the hardest part was deciding on the colorway.
Since I was going to be cutting out the flowers, I really wanted a strong *pop*. This was a little too dark.
This was a little too bright for me.
Ah, this was just right!
I decided to start with the back, and I cut out the big floral bunch in a rectangle so there was extra fabric around the bunch of flowers. I cut and ironed the same size of Stitch Witchery (double-sided) interfacing to the piece of fabric, and then cut out the floral bouquet I wanted to use.
I positioned it on the back of my jacket, pinned it, pressed it,
and then sewed it on just using a straight stitch (wrangling all those turns!).
The front needed some color as well, so I did the same with the smaller flowers in the fabric pattern:
Now, I could turn my attention to the button situation.
After going through my stash of vintage buttons, I decided some of the beautiful rhinestone buttons I had been hoarding for years would be put to good use here.
At this point, I decided to make things complicated for myself. I thought the centers of those gorgeous flowers would look extra sparkly if they were beaded. So, with no beading experience, and a complete disdain for handsewing, I decided to add little *pops* of beading...ugh.
It does look cute - it was a good idea. HOWEVER, sewing beads onto fabric that has already been interfaced and then sewn to an already heavy piece of fabric (a woven with a lining) proved very difficult.
If you think you'll want to add beading to a project, try to do it while the piece is still raw. I beaded all the flowers on the front, and just a few on the back before I ran out of patience.
But still, I'm pretty happy with the end result!
After all, it was just a $3 jacket. *wink*
This is so typical of me: it is Saturday. I have a bunch of bags on my worktable, waiting to be finished. I am standing in my studio, looking around, thinking about what else I can be doing. I am, forever, obsessed with finding uses for the Motherload of Vintage Trim I acquired last year. I am, forever, obsessed with using the plethora of cotton webbing and military belt buckles that I have. It was kinda like that.
What do you think? Lacy Belts? Sort of like utilitarian meets funky-functional? I kind of like them, but I might be the only one. I made one and asked Scott what he thought, and he just raised his eyebrows and mouthed, "oooooooh". That's code, for, "you're on your own with this one."
Anyway, I made some, because I'm always trying to think of low-cost gift ideas. These will be available at FELT CLUB on Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium - I'm so excited about FELT CLUB!
