string*THEORY

Artsy Clutch

Weekends always prove to be a little challenging when it comes to keeping up any new exercise mantras + my newly added LifeStyle diet. I'm happy to say that the indulgences this weekend were kept in check + to a minimum. AND i even found myself sweatin' to the oldies on Saturday pumping some iron at the gym. Loving this new energy.

Yes yes, creative energy was flexed to. Have you had a chance to glance through Bend the Rules Sewing  by Amy Karol, yet? Let's get serious for a second here, I can say with all my heart, that if it was possible to marry a book, I would marry this one and be it's devoted wife forever. For reals.

This is an Artsy Clutch that I made for my babysitter. Yes, I still have a babysitter (see why I laugh when people try to pressure me to have a baby? How can I possibly have a baby, when I still have a babysitter?). I'm kidding, you know that. She doesn't babysit me anymore, but she'll always be my babysitter. Mostly because she's so sweet and I act like a big brat when I'm around her. It's the relationship we have and it seems work for both of us.

I made a few modifications including completely neglecting to open the book to read the instructions much less cut the correct measurements. You can't tell though, can you? That's the whole message of the book, having fun + not taking your sewing so seriously. I also added in that outside pocket (that's the wool plaid you see there) as well as some pretty stiff interfacing that makes this much more of a "clutch" then a "pouch". I'm loving the play between wool + linen + happy cotton.

Things I would do differently...

• Be more precise when measuring +ironing
• Take more time (I was rushing to run out and meet up with my babysitter)
• Do something about that obnoxious puckering in the front
• Make a 2nd one for myself!

Confessions of an Exaggerator

Confession - I exaggerated. I usually do a bit - but I think it's pretty obvious when I do. I realized that I went a bit over board after all the concerned emails I received from this latest earthquake. When I said "violent tossing" I really meant "strong swaying". There really was nothing violent about it. "Violent" was the 6.2 quake I was in a few years back in Tokyo. Seven floors up, laying next to a large window. That was scary. The one the other day, was not. I'm just an exaggerating baby is all. My apologies for that + thanks for the concern. I hope I'm not crying wolf....

The photo above is my new favorite photo of my sis taken on Friday - during my last meal before the hubs returned. We ended out the week with a bang - dinner consisting of Frijts + Beer. A nice square meal indeed. He's home. I'm happy. And the weekend is being spent visiting with my 'rents...a simple relaxing weekend in the sun. So so nice. I'm really soaking it up while completely ignoring the fact that I have to leave for another week. I promise not to be so whiney next week. Well, so blatantly whiney anyway.

A warm, happy weekend to you.

Hot Pockets + Beer

Well, apparently I'm not the only one that eats like crap, makes a mess + watches trashy TV when there's no one around to guide me to be a better person. I can't tell you how happy that makes me feel. Last night was a little more soul feeding. The evening involved a delectable dinner with the sis...a trip to my beloved sale section of Anthropologie (yes, "my beloved" - it's as familiar to me as my living room)...and ended with...you guessed it - another sleep-over, a bottle of wine + 'sumore trashy TV. Really, though, what's better then that?

But I didn't pop in today to go on and on again about my self-destructive behavior. I need a little help, and wondered if you could lend a hand.

I'm working on a custom order for a long-term-blog-friend (identity to be released when I get a photo of her dear little future-babe - ETA: September). This custom order is especially fun for me, partly because she has great style (I can see that through her knitting + fabric suggestions), and partly because she's given me a lot of creative freedom.

So, I'm wondering - what do you think of these fabric choices?

Outside of the bag:

Inside (a nice surprise - especially for a sweet baby girl - not that we're trying to genderize the poor babe!):

Want to be a part of the creative process? I'll blog it here. Maybe it would be fun for the little babe to someday see the journey of how her diaper bag was made. Or maybe that's just something we all think is fun. Seriously though, it's what this whole handmade movement is all about, isn't it? A re-connection to the people that lovingly take the time to make the things we use. We can't get that shoppin' at Walmart, now can we?

When in Doubt - Play with Color

Yesterday was my first full day of health (with the exception of the sharp pain that kept me up from 1am-2am last night). It was also the first of the three days that I get to myself this month to do whatever I want (or need) to do. It was also the beginning of the only week I will have in my house this month. I wanted it to be filled with productive work, the kind that makes the mind strong and soul calm. Cleaning...cooking...organizing...crafting.

Almost none of that actually happened (with the exception of the last one). Instead I sat around feeling guilty for not being motivated to do any of it. And sad that the one week at home this month was also the one week the hubs would be away. Egh, hate that feeling.

Things really started looking up when I finally decided to throw up my hands and indulge in the feeling. I didn't want to "regret" my non-productive Saturday, so I did what any child of the 80's would and turned on Dirty Dancing for a day filled with mindless craft + periodic naps.

The day ended with lots of fabric tags (in the boutique now) and an Entourage + Flight of the Conchords sleep-over with my sis. My sister has many many talents - but her best skill? Cheering up her big-baby of a big-sister.

 

The Wedding Fight

Well, this time two years ago we were waking up to get ready for yet another party.

Our main mission at that point, was not to find and iron our clothing, but to find and fix our car which had broken down at the diner that we ate at after we got married the night before. But all of that was after we had to quickly put down our ginormous burgers because a huge fight had broken out between a bunch of beefy frat boys. Soda and french fries were flying all over the place and I didn't want to get my gown dirty. Not to mention getting punched in the face on my wedding night. Well, I suppose I try to avoid that on any given night. Yes, we were still dressed up, and yes, sitting in a old-fashioned diner while some guys were getting their asses beat.

We high tailed it out of there to realize that we would be sitting in the parking lot for an hour while we waited for a cab to pick us up because the car wouldn't start. I slept. My new husband waited. And waited. And called again. What were we waiting for? Oh, yes, the cabbie. The cabbie who wouldn't get out of the drivers seat to help us put our luggage in the trunk, but instead let the weary newlyweds struggle with six weeks of honeymoon luggage. I'm pretty sure he was drunk. This is the same cabbie that was so anxious to move on to his next fare after dropping us off at our hotel, that he backed over our luggage crushing all the mosquito coils I so carefully packed for our trip to Indonesia. Of course this wouldn't have happened had he managed to get out of the car to help us.

We laugh about it now, I promise.

Anyway, the bags are packed (not really, but I couldn't think of a better segue) and we're headed down to Key West tonight. I really couldn't be more excited. Looking forward to just sinking into the warm sand and dozing off between chapters. A couple of margaritas and maybe a slice of some key lime pie would be lovely too.

I'll be back with photos of clear turquoise waters + a few projects I've been working on next Tuesday.

Enjoy the holiday, and as always, be safe.

Holy Moly

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the enthusiastic response to my new little endeavor. Thank. You. So. So. Much. Really, from the bottom of my crafty little insecure heart. "Insecure" is what has kept me from jumping into the Etsy pool...and you guys (plus the hubs + my ridiculously loving family) pretty much beat it out of me. Thank you for that.

This thing is big, but trust me, nuthin's changin' around these parts. This journal will not turn into some obnoxious + ruthless-enterprising-buy-buy-buy website where I'm constantly pimping my "stuff". No, no, I just don't have the energy for all that jazz. Plus, I still believe that the key to reducing waste in this world is for all of us to contribute by buying only the things that we really truly love. So, I see the itty bitty boutique as a little country shop attached to the back of my studio, where all the things I lovingly and painstakingly churn out end up for the world to adopt. When I'm able, I will fill it. When I'm not, then I will just babble on and on as I have in the past. But for the most part, I will sit here like I have, cutting + sewing away, and every once in awhile, when I hear the little chime of the cow-bell attached to the shop door, I'll put down my scissors + glue, brush off my apron and greet the person who has waltzed in the shop to support me.

The little ledger book up top is the sweetest most thoughtful gift received today from Beth. A perfectly imperfect notebook that coincides nicely with the over-all production of my shop + will now serve as the shops foreman while it works hard to keep my orders straight. I can't get over the sweetness of it all, the embroidery, the way she matched the fabric to the thread...and the perfect little stitches holding everything together. It reminds me of the notebooks used in some of the down-home stores or stalls you see in the country or at the farmers market. Thank you, Beth.

Le Boutique

If a girl  was ever scared to do anything in her life, all she would need to do is hint around it on her blog and all the encouraging words she needed to coax her out of her safe little turtle shell would pour in from all her virtual friends giving her the strength to take a risk and try something new.

I'm not really sure why "selling my stuff" is so scary to me, but it is. It might be that I'm exposing myself to criticism and the cold hard truth to be told. And really, it's more then just "stuff", isn't it? But there have been a few really lovely (and loving) things that happened to me this week giving me a renewed sense of confidence that I can do this.Some of which was all your encouraging words (and emails) in reaction to my last post.

Thank you.

We're right on schedule to open up the little Etsy shop on Friday morning. Bright and early at 8am - all the goods will be ready to go. There, I've said it. It's in print. So it must happen.

And the hubs will surely be happy too, not only because he's excited for me, but also because the "...but ...it's for the shop" excuse for the fabric disaster that is our home right now will no longer be valid. Shucks, I was hoping to ride that one out.

*Speaking of Etsy, the last couple of photos are of the most fantastic reversible headband I bought from Anne of Sugar Apple Creations. I can't tell you how much I love this thing - I wear it constantly, and secretly love the feeling of pretending to be from the 1950's*

Hyperventilating

Hyperventilating today for both good + exhausting reasons.

::Good::

Good, or goodness gracious look what Erin sent me. That woman is tres talented, I'm tellin' you - imagine the time she took to lovingly knit this for me....and it's even lined!! Look...

The most perfect little stitches ever...oh! and the Moo Cards - thank you, Erin!

::Exhausting::

I wont say what it is....but I will say that you could probably figure it based on all the clues here AND I'm super excited about it all. Exhausted too....super duper exhausted. But in a good way....okay, I can't keep a secret to save my life, so before I blurt....moving on...

::Good::

This is some patchwork goodness that I whipped up last night. Snuggly, soft goodness, perfect for the summer time + watching fireworks at the lake (if that's where you watch your fireworks, you know). It has more to do with the previous photo....and nothing to do with the coolest Sunday ever! Which was this past Sunday, spent meeting Angela + Steph. Two of the sweetest San Franciscan crafty blogger's. We had a fun filled afternoon involving delectable pastries, coffee talk with craft books + a new sandwich shop I was introduced to.  Thanks, girls, for inviting me on your crafty field trip!

The Pops & a Smattering of Thoughts

The past few days have been post-free because I'm just trying to get by without setting fire to the place. It's been "one of those" days...weeks...months(?) involving a lot of tripping, close-calls & general all around clumsiness. More on that later....

 

Fathers-day weekend with my pops in Sacramento was everything it was supposed to be. Quiet, relaxing & just a generally entertaining time as it always is spending time with my dad. He's one of the funniest, most outrageous people I know & always full of interesting thoughts, projects and observations. The big obsession (yes, I get it from him) of the weekend were his tomato plants. Protecting his tomato plants, in particular, from a pack of wild & greedy raccoons with a a fine taste for home-grown organic varietal of this fruit of the Gods.

Every morning when he rose, he would rush out to the backyard to audit the current state of his plants and their succulent fruit. And every morning he was sad to announce to everyone at the breakfast table, that again, the raccoons had conquered another smattering of treats. It wasn't until the last night of my trip when he devised a master plan to ward off the little creatures protecting his prized plants from becoming victim to the aggressive furry friends.

It involved the dismantling of a screen door, the gathering of all the patio chairs & a tent made of beach towels. A brilliant plan despite the fact that it was a little rough on the eyes. The contraption or concoction, rather, of things ripped off the house upset my mom, as you might imagine. She put an end to the scheme, challenging my dad to come up with another, less destructive solution before the night fell & the predators emerged.

My dad opted for a less complicated fort involving some tin foil, patio chairs & the beach towels. Fortunately for him (and for my mom, because she wouldn't have heard the end of it), the tomatoes were in tact the next morning.

I'm wondering though, is there an easier way to do this? Is there some type of natural scent or bright light, or other more simplified solution that might offend the little creatures keeping my dad's prized fruit in tact?

With the exception of those handsome dad's at the top, all the photos are just some general, unrelated eye candy. The fruit of my labor from last-weeks bag-lady sewing extravaganza.

Bag Lady Part II

When someone says "best" they're usually referring to the most superior one thing in a group of things, right? Unless of course they're ten years old & their talking about their friends. In which case, there is almost always more then one, there is usually a whole group of "best".

I'm a lucky member of a group of four "best friends", & have been since around the time when I didn't realize that "best" was supposed to be only one. Good thing, too, because it would have meant a life time of quiet birthdays, boring college living-situations & a rather small bridal party.

Four "bests" is much better then 1, I have to say.

The other great reason why four is better then one is the mixture of personalities. You have the quirky one...the busy-chaotic one (that's me)...the shy one & of course, every group of four needs an organized, punctual one.

Last week, the punctual one called the busy one (I prefer to go by "busy" rather then, "chaotic") to remind her that the shy one has a birthday coming up.

Thank God for that, because, as usual - I forgot. Her big day came up...and I thought about her all day. Should I call now? Nah, it's too early. How about now? Nah, she's at work. And now? No way, its dinner time.

Then, sadly....it slipped out of my mind...

11:35pm rolled around and I did the old - "OOH SHIT"...jumping off the couch...flinging the knitting aside....and paced about, yelling "what do I do?? what do I do??". I never called the shy one for her birthday. She's notoriously early to bed (and I'm a major night-owl), so an 11:35pm phone call would not have gone over well.

So, I sent an email. Technically, I contacted her on her birthday....but really, come one - that's just not cool.

So in a bout of redemption, I ran to my sewing machine. I needed to make her the best birthday present ever. And yes, I'll add this to the rest of her "bests"...from all the previous years, that I've done this. No, this wasn't the first time.

Equipped with guilt, and the hope of tricking her into forgetting my forgetfulness, I designed this little beach bag. She's one of those "itty-bitty-purse" types that can't hold much more then a cell phone & pen. Something of this size should come in handy.

Without getting too mushy, I'll say that the bag represents her current transitional situation. Bag's are designed for transition, right? Today she lives in the hustle and bustle of sourthern California. This is represented by the cars and people on one side of the bag. Soon, she will attempt to slow her life down a bit with a move to a peaceful, natural spot in Vermont - represented by the trees on the other side. The bag will hopefully carry her most treasured things, keeping them near during this time.

Two weeks late, she'll receive her bag, a framed art-card from Etsy artist D-Kim and a few of those gift tags I told you about the other day....

Now tell me, how many Hail Mary's do I need to recite?

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Bay Area peeps - Movie night is TOMORROW! Details here....

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