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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.

4.2 Earthquake at 4:42am

Just when I thought I made it though the week scott free....it's Friday...he's finally coming home today....I had to be woken with the violent tossing about of my room. Another earthquake - this one, about 4.2 on the Richter scale. Not strong enough to cause the kinda damage shown in the above photo. To the street anyway. I sure would say that if a seismic measurement or photograph could be taken of my rattled nerves - it would look much the same.

It sucks to be alone in the house when stuff like this happens.

Time to take a quick inventory of the dishes....and go back to bed. Fingers crossed that the little ones that usually come pitter-pattering through the house after big mama, will step lightly in her wake.

Totes + Hip Hop

I made a mental list of the things I can do that are a little more difficult when the hubs is hanging about the house distractin' me. The first three items on the list were related to eating (as most lists in the house are). Meal time is a big deal around these parts. Partly because we love food so much and partly because we're never organized enough to have food in the house and there's the sad sad state of affairs involving our inferior cooking skills.

 

Meal time usually involves an annoyingly drawn out negotiation of where to eat. How 'bout Thai? No, too greasy. How 'bout Mexican? No, we were just at my mom's house. How 'bout sandwiches? To which he almost always replies: "you know I like my dinners warm". Well there you go. Guess what I've been eating for dinner the past few days? Yes, sandwiches. And breakfast for dinner. Or like last night, strawberries and tea. And then some crackers. And cereal. So if there is one silver lining I can point to during the dark days of my husband's temporary absence, it's the freedom to eat like total crap.

My mom once told me that if she didn't have kids she would eat salsa and chips for dinner every night. I think I understand where she's coming from now. Although, I would add a margarita to that balanced meal. You, know, for the fruit vitamins.

The other thing is getting lost in sewing projects while blaring my most treasured hip-hop music. Common + Q-Tip were on last night. The melodies were turned up full blast and accompanied with a little off-tone back-up vocals by yours truly. Thoroughly annoying entertaining for my neighbors, I'm just sure of it.

But look what came of it. A nice little neat pile of crisp linen + denim + canvas shopping totes. I'm experimenting a bit with a new look and some applique. I love the way they turned out and I'm hoping that I don't stash these away for myself before they're whisked away from the shop. It's so interesting to see the patterns in style in print + pattern throughout time when working with some of these vintage fabrics.

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.

 

"Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy"

Have you ever heard that song? Neither had I until I managed to make my way up to the Calgary Stampede this week where I heard that song about 392 times in less then 48 hours. Despite the short visit, as much craziness as you can think of happened and Canada pretty much knocked me on my butt. So much so that I had to cut my trip short and return home early. This mostly due to a violent bought of God-Only-Know's-What involving me becoming "that girl" on the plane - grossing everyone out. I'm trying my best not to go into the details - feel lucky today that your not one of my sisters, because I would be on the phone with you right now breaking out all the disgusting details. I do that, I don't know why.

I'm so.so.so happy to be home. The trip home was the longest short trip home I've ever had and every time I turned around, my patience was tested. Right down the very last minute when I was picking up my luggage and there were about 40,000 mis-behavin' children in the luggage carousel area of SFO. Screaming, kicking and ramming their carts into my ankles. I'm ashamed to say that I had a minor melt down involving "words" with a 12 year old and a evil stare down contest with his mother. Right after that, my phone died so I couldn't find my husband. Karma? Most likely. The world has a way of balancing things out.

At any rate, it took until about this here minute to recover and I'm finally moving about my house freely instead of shouting from the back room "babe, can you make me 'sumore chicken broth?". The man is a saint.

The weekend turned for the better after a baseball game with the hubs and then a surprise at my doorstep from Megan. And if you don't know who Megan is, go on over and introduce yourself. The photo doesn't do it justice, but she sent me a generous package full of soapy goodies from her shop. Body + face soap, foot balm (which I need after wearing cowboy boots for 48 hours straight!), a scrubby exfoliating thingy + the coolest soap dish ever (already displayed in my bathroom, thank you very much). This stuff smells soooo good, and is that healthy luxurious kind of stuff you could probably eat if you were really hungry and couldn't find an apple. Thank you, Megan!

Before I forget! Thank you so so much...for all your kind congratulatory wishes and messages from my anniversary. The hubby was just as touched. Ya'll are just too sweet.

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*

Presenting Fifi Trixiebelle

...and...the prize goes to Charlotte!

Out of the 40-some-odd choices, the name was partly chosen by me, but mostly chosen by the hubs. Who knows why he might be attracted to such a name. A "Fifi" type is usually a vixen....a little sassy...and maybe even a little...uhmm...slutty? So, what man couldn't resist a name like that?

Ok, people, we're talking about a mannequin here, so let's move it along.

Oh, and to answer a few pressing questions of the day....

Where is that Yellow Sweater from? The yellow sweater is from a super-cheesy-teeny-bopper type store in SF (on Haight Street) called "X Generation". A little embarrassed to admit that I've shopped there, but such is life when you post things on the Internet for the world to see (and comment on).

Where can I adopt my own Fifi Trixiebelle? Unlike Bragelina, one does not need to travel to Vietnam, or Darfur or any other exotic locale to adopt one of these babies. A trip to E-Bay or directly to their on-line business, Rox Studio is all your need to visit. A couple of clicks, and your there. And they're cheap too! About $70 with shipping, a $50 price difference then what you'll find at JoAnns.

A few tips when getting your own Madame Mannequin....

• It's cheaper on E-Bay vs. their on-line store from what I can tell.
• Make sure you're picking out the right size & base (wood vs. metal).
• If you're trying to get one to make things for yourself, get one that's a little smaller in size (then your measurements).
• This dress-form is not a hard-core sewers form. More of a every-once-in-a-while sewers form, but mostly to display-pretty-things-in-my-studio type of form. What I'm saying is, she's a little tough to pin, not a lot of padding there.

Email me if you have more questions, I've been looking for the perfect dress form for a while, and I'm happy to help.

Ooh, and those fluttery spring flower brooches flying all around Fifi were made using a tutorial by Blair of Wise Craft. They're unbelievably easy and addicting - check out the flickr group.

I'm Back!!

Wow, reflecting now on the wonderfulness that are My Blogging Friends. Thank you for all the care you sent me. And the advise, ooh the advise. All hand delivered with lots of love to my virtual doorstep. No need to google and re-google and scroll through the painfully bright computer screen. 

A few re-occurring themes in the comments were the influence of sugar & caffeine. Either, getting too much or it, or not enough, or using it to ward off evil when the first sign of a migraine appears. Another was the dark quiet room, cold packs (or not) and prescription meds. The latter being something I may need to pursue. When I asked for non-prescription solutions, it was only because it was Sunday and I had no way of getting a prescription - now that it's Tuesday, and I'm feelin' good, I may need to look into this & stocking up before the next one hits. Ooh, and jaw problems. I'm glad you brought that up. Funny how I just mentioned that I have a teeth griding problem, and never thought that this all might be related.

I think I need to get myself in gear, overall. Lower the stress, increase the exercise (or at least START to exercise), eat with more regularity, go to bed before 1am - you know, the usual.

And the hubby, oh the hubby. What would I do without him? He followed your comments as they came pouring in. He sprang up out of bed at the drop of a hat when I woke up starving for protein (I need an egg now!). Snuck out of the house to get me Pho (Vietnamese soup). And when all else failed, put his sweet little soft, chubby hands on my temples with his forehead to mine and said "I'm trying to see if I can transfer your migraine to me so it won't hurt you anymore". That moment and memory was worth the two days of pain. Well, almost.

And so, now it's time to play "catch up". The photos are a couple of swap packages I promise to mail off today (sorry for the delay, girls). And those tags? A little creative spurt came out of my two pain-free hours last night. I made about 50 of them. I'm considering putting them up for grabs on Etsy. We'll see. And Madame Mannequin? She'll get her name tomorrow.

Thanks again, friends.