Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Striving for...

Treetops

IMG_2757

IMG_2750

IMG_2749

IMG_2768

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Letterpress

Know anyone looking for a vintage letterpress? I recently put one up for sale on ebay.

IMG_3661

It is a Golding and Co. Boston letterpress, comes with chases, several trays of type, Baltimore Letterpress Book and loads more.

IMG_4259

IMG_4261

Anybody know what this piece is? I've been trying to figure it out.

Anyway, if ya'll could spread the word for me that would be great. Here is the link to it.

Score, Find, who-ho

These are finds from the previous weekend. Big weekend coming up for yard sales this week too.

Fabric finds

Crazy kitsch shoes

IMG_3840

Ponytail or neckties

IMG_3712

These are actually mittens not boxing gloves. I still love them either way.

IMG_3642

And I always wear my big shades when I box. I hit better that way.

Because when doesn't this make you happy?

Misty had a big adventure yesterday.

She had to be left at the vet so they could get a pee sample for an ongoing urinary problem. This was fine right? Right- except Misty is the greatest escape artist of all time.

IMG_4314

They let her into the enclosed double fenced in- with a top fence area to play with the other dogs. Misty gets along very well with other dogs and is so cute- why not right?

IMG_4313

Right. Except when we got the call that Misty is fine, but they found her in their parking lot covered, absolutely covered in mud. Apparently, she knows how to open locks. Not just one kind of lock, but two.

IMG_4310

So she went for a romp through the woods and the mud. Then she came back. The vet had to give her a big bath because she was a complete mess.

IMG_4307

They put a red tag on her file so know they know each time we drop her off - how smart she is about getting out.

Yellow for Tuesday

I am so proud of myself to actually take photos for this project. Still working with Color Week from Curious Bird. Yellow is Tuesday's color.

IMG_4394

This is some fabric that I found at an amazing rummage last year. I would never cut this. It is just too amazing. Maybe stretch it over a canvas.

100_1129

Monday, April 28, 2008

Sneak Peak

Still working on the binding for the small quilt. It will be my giveaway for later this week (I know I have been promising this one for a while now!)

IMG_4413

Green Monday

Here is my Monday is green shot. The color week is going on over at Curious Bird. Check it out!

IMG_2620

IMG_2572

Okay, I am cheating a little since these two are from vacation. But the green is so vivid.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Face

Okay, here is a funny project I have been embarking on. It is pretty simple really. It is the Half Face Project. All you do is take a photo of half of someone's face. It is a lot of fun. More to come.

IMG_2557

IMG_2561

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Made

I made this from the hand painted fabric. A nifty little bag. I picked up a handbag at a yard sale last weekend for 50 cents. I snipped away the rest of the bag and used the handles for this one. Also, I can't recall if I mentioned that this fabric was from a sheet from the Goodwill.

IMG_4075

I have to open up the sides a bit more because the opening is pretty tight right now.

IMG_4076

You'd all be proud. I hand stitched the part around the handles with embroidery floss. I hardly ever hand stitch so I felt like I deserved a little extra dessert last night.

IMG_4082

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

More Gee

Still in love with this book The Quilts of Gee Bend's.

IMG_4043

IMG_4041

IMG_4040

The stories of the women who made the quilts are just tremendous. So intriguing.

It has inspired me so much to forgetting about rules- cotton this cotton that, square this square that, and anything heavily quilted or pieced.

More

More from away that is. These are shots along Big Sur. We had to cross this stream, which was so cold our feet were cramping before we could get all the way across.

IMG_2259

Also, found on the same stream.

IMG_2249

These were at a window in Chinatown. An acupuncturist's window.

IMG_2332

IMG_2331

Monday, April 21, 2008

Weekend

Enjoyed a nice weekend. It has been super warm around here (60's-70's) and I have been soaking it up. I spent a good deal of the weekend walking Misty and mountain biking. Adam plays baseball in an over 30 baseball league, so he was gone most of the day Sunday. Normally I watch his games but it was nice to have the day mostly to do nothing.

Picked up a few wonderful reads at the library.

IMG_4037

Turns out our local library has a great quilting and sewing section. The Gee Bend's book is so inspiring to me right now. I have viewed the quilts from there online before, but the book is so much more comphrensive.

I am currently adoring the denim quilts from the book. It is funny that one of the first things that got me interested in quilting (quilting denim) is suddenly new to me again.

IMG_4044

I also tried some stencil printing on fabric that I read about in the new Lotta J. book. I cut a stencil from acetate. I would not recommend this particular stencil method to anyone though. I loved stenciling and I loved the pattern- but next time I will cut it from freezer paper or something. The acetate was too flimsy.

IMG_3833

Yes, I am very messy.

IMG_3832

But, I am super happy with the results. I used fabric paint and heat set it with an iron. I just have to test wash it to make sure it stays.

IMG_4035

IMG_4032

I also love the texture that the brush leaves behind.

IMG_4030

I plan to try a lot more of printing on fabrics.

Oh yes, and the church rummages? Divine I tell you. I'll show goodies soon.

Luck

"Luck is a chance happening, or that which happens beyond a person's control. Luck can be good or bad" (Wikipedia)

I have been thinking a lot about luck lately. See I was amazingly lucky enough to win this from Orange You Lucky’s blog among other things lately. (and holy man do I love it)

My mom has always been a lucky person. She constantly was getting calls that she won the gift basket, the pack of tickets, a year’s supply of animal cookies. She would buy a purse or a jacket at the flea market and find $5 in it. It was really endless her winnings.

A sweet aunt of mine, was the type of person who would find money everywhere. A walk around the city with her would easily produce a few dollars in change- and we weren’t even looking for it!

So did I get the lucky gene? I have always thought that it must have passed me by. I mean I have had my fair share of awful circumstances to hideous to even list to you here.

But last year I looked up luck on google and I kept coming across descriptions such as this:

"One way is to be open to new experiences. Unlucky people are stuck in routines. When they see something new, they want no part of it. Lucky people always want something new. They're prepared to take risks and relaxed enough to see the opportunities in the first place." (this site is the reference, Flip Top Head?)

Was I stuck in a routine? Awful! But then I thought more about it and yes, I was stuck in a routine. I got up, got ready, went to work, then the gym maybe or the grocery store and then back home. And nothing lucky ever happened to me.

I think luck is two fold- part kharma, part your own making. If I don’t make an opportunity for kharma to give a little luck to me then it doesn’t happen. I am not going to suddenly get a call saying I won a million bucks or that I win a seasons worth of tickets to the Red Sox. (unless I believe all those junk emails I get)

Makes sense that my mom is constantly signing up for raffles, and giveaways. She never once passed by a Boy Scout selling raffle tickets without buying one.

So lately, I have been signing up for every darn thing that comes my way. And you know what? It is working.

So what about you? Are you lucky or not lucky? Got any great lucky stories to share? I’d love to hear.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Lists

A few random lists that are running through my head.

Things I want, love or need to try:

The list could go on and on, but I will keep it short for today.

Next, this weekend list. I'm trying to keep it simple.

  • mountain bike (yes! the trails are pretty dry for such a wet winter)
  • Church rummages
  • Try to print on some fabric (from the new Lotta book)
  • Start an Alabama Stitch skirt
  • Photograph more little animals for Nellie (lions and tigers)

Here are a few things that I rip from magazines and catalogs.

This is an ad from the Horny Toad catalog. Can someone please tell me where I can ride in a water car like that because I so want to. Horny Toad is my summer clothes, heck even winter clothes, staple. Their shorts and skirts fit perfectly and are so cute.

IMG_3588

IMG_3589

I also love this ad too. The words say: Dogs Need Weekends Too.

IMG_3591

I think I also like it because the dog looks just like Misty. Have you seen Small Stump's dogs? They are so cute- just like Misty but in two different sizes. I know you have seen her etsy shop, because it rocks.

IMG_3592

Man, that dog just oozes happiness.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

And

Thank you! Everyone is so supportive of my different posts (one day this another day that). It is great to have you all on my team!

Some more polaroids.

ribbon

My boyfriend. He fits right in when he goes to Norway.

yak

Bubbly

I am just bubbling over with excitement at the moment- because not only do I have a church rummage to visit on Friday, but on my way to work this morning I saw a sign for one this Saturday at one of my all time favorites! Seriously- it makes me all nervous and sweaty. I know very weird.

Back to sewing and finds from San Fran. Fat Orange Cat also included these amazing bias trims in my little stash.

IMG_3584

They just bring me back! I feel like I am ten when I see these patterns. I am planning an apron and maybe small doll quilt to showcase these great patterns.

These may be old news to some folks, but I am so inspired by these books from Lotta.

IMG_3600

Picked 'em up in Japantown in San Fran. Dang I love that place.

IMG_3602

I love the photography and the projects.

IMG_3601

and my fingers.

This book has me all excited to start printing on fabric. What a better way to use what you have? I have the paints and this weekend I hope to have the time.

IMG_3604

IMG_3607

IMG_3610

I also bought these fabrics while there.

IMG_3595

IMG_3597

IMG_3598