Use What You Have

I finally had a chance to photograph this week's Use What You Have projects. After shopping at Anthropologie and other various stores, I noticed a lot of the clothing is embellished. Rather than spend bucko bucks on new stuff, I added to one of the skirts I already owned. I'm so please with the results. All I did was add the lovely white cotton lace onto the bottom of a skirt. Made all the difference in the world! Really sparked the skirt! The little purse was made from a chenille/courderoy skirt purchased from Goodwill years ago (with no project in mind) and some leftover cotton fabric from a jumper I made my sister at least 15 years ago. I found the snap grommet kit in my container of trims. It's just big enough to fit my wallet, cell phone and keys. Perfect! I'm still working on a stuff sack for Audrey made out of a linen spread that got destroyed by a certain dog (I'm not naming any names).

SPT - April - Too Much Buffy

"Mom, Let's take a picture. You pretend you're biting me and I'll pretend I'm scared."

"Oh, that's scary. I don't like it."

I think we've all watched too many seasons of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer". 

I Finally deserve that A

When I was a senior in high school, I took a home economics course. Yes, it was home economics. This one specifically focused on handwork, or at least that's the part the impressed me. I learned huck weaving, embroidery, and...crochet. The teacher started us with a small hook, fine thread, and the pattern for one of those symetrical snowflakes. That thing was worn, dirty, and anything but symetrical when I was finished with it. I swore I was never going to crochet again! Wrong! Over winter vacation, we had a home assignment, yup, crochet something, anything. So, on winter break, we visited my Grandparents. Luckily, Mama crocheted (and knitted). Well, she tried her best to teach me. She sent me home with the pattern and two brand, spanking newly made potholders. Well, by the time we got home and school started again, needless to say, I had very little done. My Mom told me just to hand in one of Mama's. So I did. I got an A. No, I've never felt bad about it. I have always known how to sew and do hand work. I've never gotten along with the home ec teachers who try to re-teach me and give me poor grades or try to give me a complex. No, what I felt bad about (bad enough to learn how to crochet 24 years later) is the grungy look of the dear potholders my Mama made - the one's I own and my mother's, and the loss of that tangible evidence of my Mama's presence. So, over the past two weeks, my Mother has taught me how to crochet. She, herself, just learned within the past few months and is a master. I have recreated my own version of Mama's potholder. The white with blue rick rack is Mama's and the green with white rick rack is mine. 

Mmmmmmm

Look what My Handsome Prince brought me from the Eastern Shore. Soft shelled crabs. Mmmmmmm. Absolutely delicious little things. Dredge their little bodies through flour mixed with a little salt, pepper, and Old Bay, lightly fried in olive oil, on bread with mayo and lettuce. The only thing missing was a thick, juicy tomato. Not in season yet. Audrey plucked her legs, ate them, and left the plump little body. That's okay, it'll be my snack later. 

She's Home

Li'l Sister went in for surgery on Wednesday and came home on Thursday. She was one of the few people who have completely ruptured the tendon that connects the hamstrings to the bone, or one of the lucky few who have been diagnosed. She is in a brace from her hip to her foot, keeping the knee in a 90 degree angle, hip flexed slightly back. She can not sit. She was brought home in a van with all seats removed and just about the entire household's supply of pillows. My sister is the most amazing woman I know. She did not utter a complaint, in fact had quite a sense of humor about going commando. Her kids missed her terribly, especially Sammajamma, who just did not know how to act, fuss, laugh, or sleep. I will be going back as often as possible to do whatever I can. I am so relieved that the surgery went well. It will be a long road to recovery but she can do it. BTW, the WWW is amazing. During the time between the diagnosis and surgery, she found someone who had undergone the surgery (there are not many done) and was in contact with this couple. They kept her informed of the man's progress and let her know what kinds of things to expect. Wow!

10!

Here are all ten blocks finished and ready to go! I'm mostly happy with them. There is one that I'm not too kean about and with the deadline extended, maybe I'll whip up an extra next week and send it. This was a great experience, working without patterns. Each block was randomly made with pieces of fabric on the table or next to each other or whatever. It was a freeing experience, too. Away from perfect points and straight lines (other than squaring them off at the end). It was similar to Gwen Marston's liberated technique. Gotta love Gwen! They will be put in the mail by Friday. Happy, happy, happy! 

April Fools - SPT

Granted, this is not a self portrait. It is a photo that appears in my 40th Birthday scrapbook, made for me by My Handsome Prince, friends, and relatives. Everytime I come upon this photo, I laugh! I have no idea what I am ranting and raving about, and yes, I am sure that is what I was doing at the time. I am totally fired up about something. What you don't see, is My Handsome Prince, standin beside me with a totally disgusted look on his face. Is he disgusted at his wifes rampage or is he disgusted along with me? I will never know. No one seems to remember what was going on in this photo. I wish I had the original but I am so glad I have this copy. It still just cracks me up!

The caption balloon reads "I'm turning how old?!" Ha, ha, that's from my SIL.

Busy, busy, busy!

I can't believe I have not posted since Tuesday last week. I guess I got caught up in the mundane tasks of life. Well, not all of it was mundane but I will not recap.

Today was extremely busy and yes, most of it was daily tasks. I managed to go for a run, after my cycle class, in training for a mini triathalon. I think I ran 2 1/2 miles and walked 1/2 mile. Not bad, but I have muscles in my legs I never knew existed (and that's saying a lot!). I taxied Audrey around to a friends house and back. I will try to remember to keep my camera handy (no, A did not have hers, surprisingly). One visit, there were chickens in the trees. It was hysterical! I've never seen them in the trees! Next visit, one of their peacocks blocked the driveway with his plumage in full glory! Wouldn't move for anything.

Dinner has been made, most put away, Audrey is making cookies and 24 is on tonight. I'm finishing up the last two blocks for the swap so I can send them out tomorrow. Life is good, although I'm missing My Handsome Prince (who is in Arkansas this week).

10 Again!

1. Went to NCHS's Talent Show. I was originally invited by my Emma 3 years ago to attend this with her and her friends. I've been going ever since. It is MC'd by students, who are extremely obnoxious, sometimes cruel, but also hysterical! This year was a year of talent. Other years are not. The competition was tough. This was Emma's first year performing (even though I nagged the past couple). Unfortunately for her, she had a fever, was first to perform, and the sound system was not working. It was a frustrating experience for her. Also, the talent show was not that fun for her. I still had a great time!

2. Manchester Play, or at least that's what we have always called it. Somehow it is connected with either the Volunteer Fire Dept. or the Auxillary, not sure which. We have been going to this for about 15 years, only missing a couple. The cast has grown, but still has the "regulars". This is definitely something only appreciated by locals, or those with knowledge of Manchester and it's people. Always silly, always fun! We saw an old neighbor from about 15 years ago, we lived next door to her for 5 years. She whispered, "I wish you were still my neighbor". So sweet to be missed.

3. Wine Sale - I went to a wine sale, nowhere near me, and bought over a case of wine. It was dollar days where every bottle was only $1 over wholesale. Lil' Sister along with Sammajamma met me there. Wine shopping with a grabby baby was a new experience that I still loved! He is so cute!

4. NCHS Choral Boosters Fashion Show - My Handsome Prince and daughter were part of this. The chorus was showing prom fashions from Boscovs. They were escorted by people in service, so of course, Em was escorted by her father. They looked so wonderful!

5. Won two silent auctions. One for $200 worth of hair products. All of us girls are in heaven with choices, choices, choices! Another for a trivet made by Sandra Magsamen. I like her stuff but have never bought any.

6. Watched 24. I knew Audrey Raines was not guilty of selling information!

7. Played Euchre with my family last night. The girls were a team and beat us. They were having a ball and had a secret handshake with every trump they won! They were in rare form!

8. Missed the Brandi Carlile/Jamie Cullum concert at the 9:30 Club in DC. It was the night of the Fashion show (which I thoroughly enjoyed!). I sold my tickets to Thelma and boyfriend, who I called on the cell just as Jamie was coming on stage. They absolutely loved it! My job was done - turning someone on to excellent live music.

9. Went to Michael's with Mom. Mistake. Good thing it was not April yet - use what you have month. Actually, I did not buy that much and did replace a glue gun. It was nice. We used to spend a lot of time together crafting and shopping and don't get to anymore. When we do, it's a step back and quite enjoyable.

10. Nitty Gritty Church Band performed in Church. I love to hear my Handsome Prince sing!

SPT - time - Random photos from this month

Random photos from the month. Enjoying spring, reading, washing my face, with a friend after a workout, with my handsom Prince, on the floor with the dogs. I found this a bit difficult. To sort of stop what I am doing and take a picture. I didn't always have time to take a photo. I also felt like I had to have something in mind with what I was going to do with the photos. I may continue this one more week just for the sake of it. It's interesting to see how I change based on what I am doing.

Old bunny, new bunny and Sam's bunny

I could not resist making one of the bunnies from Wee Wonderful's freebie pattern. You will find other bunnys here. My first thought was to make my precious nephew an Easter bunny. It is made out of a suit jacket of my father's and cotton scraps from my stash. But I also determined that it MUST have satin/silky ears. Everybody knows that bunnies have the softest ears! Which in turn, made me pull out Pinky (male) my childhood bunny, whose satin ears are in shreds from the nighttime rubbing. Pinky needed a companion, so another bunny needed to be made, this one of course, pink. 

The Pony Princess In the Peppermint Palace

That was the name of this production. The title and production really had nothing to do with one another. It was a play of nonsense and fun, of Shakespeare and Jerry Springer, Alice in Wonderland and Monty Python, Star Wars and Maxwell Smart, The Trix Rabbit and Lucky Charms Leprachaun. They didn't miss much. This was a group of middle school kids who met for an hour and a half, one day a week for six weeks. In that period of time, they brainstormed, scripted, blocked, got props, music and whatever they needed to put on the production. It was quite a fun evening! I think Audrey enjoyed it. She was the main character that all the other scenes revolved around. I love these things! It's such a wonderful experience for kids to break out of those molds that peers, parents, teachers, society, and they put themselves in. This was such a unscripted out of the box type thing. I hope there are more to come.

Medallion kind of mood

Here are my four blocks I made today. I must be in a center medallion mood so I'm stopping. I want to do something different and a little more scrappy for the next few. Enjoy! This is so much fun!

The gang

Every morning, Shelby needs a pill for separation anxiety. Of course, the other two need to get something too, or at least they feel that way. This is the three of them every morning! I expect it from the dogs, but the cat too?! She hears that pill bottle and knows the dogs are getting something so she gets her cat treat too.

I'm killing two birds with one stone today. I'm working on blocks for the block swap. It's challenging working only with fabrics on hand. I had to buy the solids but am working only from my stash. So, also using what I have (hence the two birds). It's also challenging in the fact that I am not working from any patterns at all. The designs are just taking shape from whatever is in my head at the moment. I'll admit, sometimes they don't quite make it to what I had in mind, but still they have their own style. I'll post some photos at the end of the week. BTW, if there is anyone out there from this swap reading this, how do I get my photos on the block swap flickr page? Can't quite seem to figure that one out.

SPT - Time - Laundry

Time after time










over and over


ad infinitum










again and again



a thousand times









day ater day


endlessly











repeatedly


time and again











year after year.

10 things I've done since my last post

1. Father/daughter evening - My Dad took me out to dinner to The Chameleon Cafe where we had grilled quail salad, escargot appetizer, and venison for our entree. Mmmmm. It was outstanding as usual. We split everything and still leave satisfied. From there we went to The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, where we heard an absolutely wonderful Mozart piano concerto. My Dad takes me out once or twice a year for this kind of evening and it is something I always look forward to. We don't get to spend much time together.

2. Took a hip hop class. I am definitely not coordinated! I found humor in that fact, although one of my daughters is just like me and did not find humor in it. I enjoyed the fact that both girls accompanied me to something that I want to involve myself in. I'm always with them and I just enjoyed that they would do that for me, too.

3. My Handsome Prince and I went to the Military Ball. One of the reasons for the dance lessons, although there was not much opportunity to use them. We still had fun.






5. Finished my fuzzy dice. Cute and silly. Gotta love them sitting on the dash of my truck.























4. Made two blocks for the block swap. Love, love, love it!




6. Went to my niece's gymnastics meet. Quite fun! She is good - and so graceful. There were 7 of us from the family that went to this (excluding her parents and one brother). I'm not sure but we might have made her a bit nervous, although I know she was quite excited for everyone to be there.

7. Got to play and hold my precious nephew. He is the sweetest thing! He was exhausted and still quite happy.

8. Somewhere in there, I watched Flight Plan - thumbs down, and Gladiator - thumbs up, although nauseating in its violence and its intent. Plus, seeing Jaquine Phoenix so evil!

9. Started really clearing out my sewing area. What a mess! I decided I am definitely taking part in use what you have month. I pretty much try to do that anyway, but somehow always accumulate more stuff.






10. Watched 24 - Audrey Raines?!!! Is it true? You can vote on the site.

Beautified!

Today I got beautified. I love getting beautified! In getting beautified, I mean getting a trim, eyebrows waxed and the lip waxed, oh and let's not forget those stray eyebrows that for some reason grow on the chin. Ugh! My hairdresser used to work in this chic salon that served espresso and what not. All the stylists were young, pretty women, hair styles and colors always different. I was never comfortable there. Never felt hip, young, or welcome (other than my hairdresser). Now, my hairdresser works in an older establishment. Bad country station coming through a cheap radio, the smell of perm solution in the air, women under the old dryers. I love this place! The older women are chatty, sweet, friendly. There are always perms and sets going on and they just ogle my curls and want them. What a difference! So, I'm good to go for another 6-8 weeks.

I used to pay my kids 25 cents to brush my hair. It just does not work now. I wonder why.

SPT - Time - Guest appearance - Audrey

obviously, im super cool, haha, only kidding. but anyway, these are a bunch of pictures of me at different times. i love making goofy faces as you can see. but, i also like to be serious. haha, and i enjoy tricking my mother into thinking we are taking a smiley picture while i make yet again another funky face. i definately take my digital camera everywhere. ever since my mother gave it to me, i take it almost everywhere i go. when i went over to my friend kellys house, greg visited, and we took tons of pictures there. when i hung out with my friends ashley and bridget, we took pictures there too. wherever i am i am taking pictures just for fun. its kind of like my hobby, expressing my feelings through the faces i make, whatever they may be =] 

My days

Typical morning today, which consisted of making breakfast for the girls, packing their lunches, phone calls from Mom, Dad, and Lil' sister, and neighbor, then frantically eating, dressing, brushing teeth and heading out to class. Today was kickbox class and then lifting with Tasha. We worked back and biceps and I have increased my weights and reps. I'm feeling good, although I have determined I need a massage. I might schedule one this week.

The first floor will get a once over with the vacuum and I will sit down to quilt. Little by little I'll get that quilt done. I have to go over to Lil' Sister's house to babysit today. I have two more classes tonight - Cycle and Bodysculpting. Afterwards I will help Audrey paint a T-shirt for her drama production tomorrow. Sounds like a full day. Here is the book bag Audrey and I sewed last night. She is quite pleased with it and has friends that want me to make her one. Smart child recommended they come over and make it themselves. I like the way she thinks! She was giving me a hard time about my work area. I need to get her in there more often, maybe more will get done.

I'm anxious to start on the blocks for the block swap. I've been checking out all the blogs of those participating to see if they have started and what they have done. It's so exciting!

Spring is in the air

However, brief, spring is in the air. The weekend was absolutely glorious! Today we actually had time to enjoy it. After class this morning, MHP and I took the kayaks out to Codorus State Park. We paddled about for about an hour. It was great! What a great purchase those kayaks were! Once home, we left all the doors open so dogs and cat could come and go (we may be finding a few mice, too, but we'll deal with it). MHP stacked firewood, I pulled a few weeds (not many) and once Audrey was home, she fished leaves out of the pond. The frogs were out today. I think we counted 4. I love it when we lay in bed at night and hear the frogs croaking.

I had to teach again in the evening. It was a great kickbox class! I worked them hard (along with myself)! Afterwards Audrey and I constructed a book bag for her. She was tired of using her backpack and wanted something different.