Thinking Toward Spring

So I have slowed down with the hat making lately, mostly with my eye focused on warmer weather. I am trying to work on items that I can stock in warmer weather since demand for hats is low in the summer. One of my favorite new iems is this messenger bag. I picked it up at Goodwill in Athens and I had plans for it immediately. I had picked up several bags of vintage lace and other trims from a wonderful shop on etsy called . I hand-sewed several rows of the lace to the front of the bag and added a signature neon poppy. I had all of that neon chiffon leftover from the girls' holiday outfits so I've been cranking out these poppies. They make the prettiest hair clips and pins.

I've posted a couple new pictures of the girls. The close-up of Lucy is once of my faves.

My car is still out of commission. Until we get our tax refund and get the new transmission, I will be driving Miss Vicky. Her power steering is iffy so I've been really limited my trips to the Y or the library.

I've been spending a lot of time on Facebook. Its been really fun to reconnect with folks from the past, even folks I didn't really connect with at all from high school.

Cheap Fun

 
 
 
 

Saturday was so warm and we had to get out of the house. We headed down to Buford to the Fish Hatchery to feed the fish, do a little hiking and fish the family pond. The hatchery guy was really nice and gave the girls a bucket of feed to feed the trout. We then hiked over to the family pond and didn't catch a thing. Still, it was nice to get out of the house.

Flower Power

 
 
I recently donated a hat to a silent auction benefitting a local pre-school. Fern models it for me before I send it off.

Sadly, I am having to part with my beloved lunchbox collection. They are just taking up too much room and I haven't actively collected them in a while. I will be listing them at http://electricbluebird.etsy.com and my vintage/supply shop at http://allskate.etsy.com.

We doing a good bit of spring cleaning in order to get Della Fern her own room. Since we don't have a basement or a garage, storage is a big problem. We just have to get rid of a lot of things. I am fine with it because we have way too much 'stuff' as it is.

This past weekend, we visited the Gold Museum in Dahlonega, Georgia. It was quite interesting. I look forward to doing more local site seeing once it warms up. We are actively planning our first camping trip as a family and I am sooooo excited!

My Husband the Artist

Scott will tell you he doesn't have an artistic bone in his body but that just isn't true. I woke up this morning and found this...

Bottle of Canadian Mist: $12
Sharpie: $2
Spaghetti Squash: $4
Your husband's artwork: Priceless

Happy new year and all that! I am looking forward to an exciting 2009. I am excited about so many things this year. I am excited about camping! My parents gave us a huge family tent for Christmas and I am so excited about us finally all going to a state park for a few days. We are lucky to live near several really great parks (Unicoi, Vogel) and I think the girls will really enjoy it. Lulu in particular loves the outdoors. She just finished reading a book about the 50 state flowers, and managed to identify a (faux) magnolia in the doctor's office.

I am also excited about my etsy shop. I am painting more and I really enjoy it. I am looking into doing some prints, maybe t-shirts with my artwork. I also plan to do more sewing like pillows and the vintage slips.

And I am excited about hitting the gym again. Its been spotty the last couple of months - either I was sick or Fern was sick and unable to be in the childcare. Now that I have discovered the guilty pleasures of the Real Housewives of the OC, its all good. I can do an hour on the treadmill with no problem. But I also want to get into yoga. I just wish the Y had regular yoga and I didn't have to suffer through the Christ-centered stuff. So not my bag. No offense, but this Buddhist-leaning non-Christian wishes it was the plain old yoga without the bible lesson.

Cheers for 2009!

I've been tagged - one word answers.

I am a tag virgin. This is my first one!

Where is your cell phone? car
Where is your significant other? kitchen
Your hair color? auburn
Your mother? creative
Your father? smart
Your favorite thing? happiness
Your dream last night? none
Your dream/goal? happiness
The room you’re in? livingroom
Your hobby? electricbluebird
Your fear? illness
Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
Where were you last night? mall
What you’re not? patient
One of your wish-list items? tattoos
Where you grew up? Atlanta
Last thing you did? mail
What are you wearing? black
Your TV? off
Your pet? DH
Your computer? crap
Your mood? up
Missing someone? no
Your car? shithole
Something you’re not wearing? mask
Favorite store? yarnstore
Your summer? blazing
Love someone? yes
Your favorite color? pink
When is the last time you laughed? today
time you cried? Monday

I will be tagging bonnie at http://clayandchocolate.blogspot.com .

You might be a redneck...

So we scored a free trampoline from a guy who works with Scott. It was unassembled and dirty so Scott set it up in the yard and scrubbed it down. The mat was still wet and Scott didn't want to take it apart again so we figured we would store it across the road on our neighbor's property so we could work on it without the kids seeing it.

It was much too heavy and cumbersome to walk across the street, not to mention I was sick and Scott's back was hurting. So, we had the bright idea to drive it across the street. I mean, who needs a truck when you have a 1986 Crown Vic Ltd?

I laughed so hard when we finally got it on top of the car that I tinkled. The things you do for your kids' Christmas....



We took the girls to the mall last night so they could discuss things with Santa. Lulu had a nice long talk with him but DF was scared of him and would only laugh and high behind Scott while muttering 'piano'. So while I didn't get a picture of the two of them on Santa's lap like I wanted, I did score some very nice photos of them while they rode the miniature carousel.

The Holidays and Birthdays

The holidays are in full swing. Thanksgiving is behind us. I am done with our shopping for the girls. Lulu is getting a pink boom box, a 3-CD set of 80s tunes (hey, if I have to listen to it, it better be something I like), a retro shirt with roller skates on it, a book about fashion design, a scrapbook, and 7 rolls of colored duct tape.

Yep, you read correctly - 7 rolls of duct tape: red, pink, yellow, blue, silver, purple, and green. One day while staying with my in-laws, she managed to take some plain old duct tape and turn it into a crown. I was blown away. I heard her say she wished it came in different colors. SCORE Mama! I am not giving her any books or instructions - the child is creative enough to make stuff on her own.

Della is getting an electric keyboard, some bath paints, some clothes (she loves getting clothes), a book, and some My Little Ponies to go with the MLP Amusement Park she has been amassing piece by piece.

From Santa, the girls will be getting a trampoline. We have folks against it, somewhat understandably. We do plan to find one with the net and the pads. It will be considerably different than the one that Carrie Marxmiller had when we were little.

While I am here, I should mention that I had a wonderful birthday courtesy of my BFF Christine. She planned a Girls Night at Wild Wing (THE ONLY local hot spot). It was well attended by many of the Real Housewives of Hall County - Karen, Teal, Kate, Vicki, Tina, me, and Xine. Wings were eaten, drinks were drunk, and young, hot waiters were oogled. A wonderful time was had by all.

Neon Pink Glitter Chiffon

I finished the girls outfits and they looked so cute. Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication about the custom hair bows so I didn't have them. I might try and retake photos for the cards once I get them.

We had a nice visit with family yesterday. The girls enjoyed playing with their cousins.

Scott finally got to Quick Care last night and he does in fact have shingles. He got some Valtrex and ibuprofen.

Today is cleaning and laundry day. Ugh.

Scott has cooties.

Scott developed this mysterious rash on his back. It started as an itchy spot with no rash. Now, it looks downright nasty. Its on his chest as well. I am sending him to the doctor this morning.

Blue Beards and Jean Purses

Yesterday, Miss Della Fern was painting with watercolors. Apparently aware of a momentary lapse in her supervision, she seized the opportunity to paint a moustache and beard of blue.

She is modelling her new jean purse. The other night, it was just us girls at home so we broke out the fake jewels, the crazy trims and satin ribbon. DF chose her usual blue scheme and Sissy opted for a mix of colors. These purses have been around for ages but it was a fun way to recycle some old jeans and do a totally girly craft. See, this is what Daddy misses out on.

We all currently have silver glitter shoes. I have this completely dorky need to see that us three girls have at least one matching pair of shoes. It started with the hot pink Crocs two years ago... I couldn't talk Dada into pink Crocs and he assures me that Georgia Boots do not come in silver glitter. I approached him with my hot glue gun, my Bedazzler and some glitter and he promptly told me to back away slowly...

Rapture Marionette is Complete!

This is the art doll I have been working on for the last two days. I am thrilled with how she turned out. I don't know what she is really but I am pleased. I still have to make the stand using some old lumber but I don't trust myself around power tools so I will design it and let Scott make it. You can't see her hands but they are silver hand charms that say 'handmade' on them, and they are suspended from split rings from some wire around her wrists. I am calling her Rapture. She is such a departure for me and she was so much fun to make. My only rule was that I had to use things I already had. I can't wait to make more.

Beyond the Yarn

Sometimes, I really feel a need to move beyond my traditional mediums. I've had a lot on my mind lately and I needed to work on something that would really occupy a large part of my brain for a while and test the limits of my creativity. This is the beginning of an art doll. It started with a lump of polymer clay, some beads and wool roving. I am not sure where its going but it will be fun to see what happens. I have tons of craft stuff that I can use, and even some non-craft stuff. I think it looks like a creepy possum person right now.

I did buy a few canvases the other day because I can feel some paintings moving around in my head. I have a collage up there too using felt.

I did get to list a bunch of new hats last night. Etsy was moving quickly so I was able to list them faster than normal. Still waiting on my big yarn order for one of my wholesale accounts.

Just pics really.

Tonight's dinner. I took the sauce left over from the pasta last night that had a ton of Italian sausage and peppers and onions and I added instant brown rice. I stuffed the peppers with it and topped with diced tomatoes. Yumola. A salad with a homemade creamy garlic Italian dressing rounded out the meal.

My new spice rack courtesy of my in-laws. I really needed this as all my spices were woefully old and I had been meaning to replace them. How embarassing for a foodie. Very chic rack.

I found these in the middle of the road. I actually had a rubber pair of these on the truck. These are hanging from my kitchen window.

I listed a ton of new stock tonight. And I picked the only blurry pic to list here. Blame it on the cab sauv.

Tattoo Sketch

I've been sketching my next tattoo. Basically, it will be a pin-up style girl sitting on a ball of yarn. (The ball of yarn will cover the crapping rabbit currently on my ankle.) She will have a paintbrush in her right hand, painting the word "crafty" in a pretty cursive script. In her left hand, a crochet hook. Above her left shoulder will be a flying bluebird (my shop is called electricbluebird). The end of the yarn will be left so that I can add to it in the future. She will have reddish brown hair with bangs (like me) and a cocked left eyebrow (I do this all the time). She will be wearing a vintage slip (I embellish them and sell them in my shop). She will be curvy but not too busty (a departure there - finally I get my breast reduction lol). I would also love to have the girls names added to the back of my neck but that might have to wait. Hopefully, I'll have it started this week!

Mullets and Tattoos

I found this mullet wig on clearance after Halloween. We've all had great fun trying it on. I think Scott was googling squirrel recipes or bounty hunting. That is the power of the mullet wig.

The Big 4-0

The other night, Scott made bear burgers. Despite my hesitation, they were actually pretty tasty. We seasoned them with some Dale's and grilled them. They were less greasy than I thought they would be, and less gamey. (He did not kill the bear - the meat came from a friend).

My glitter Cons. They are the best. I've worn Chucks all my life. I still have a pair from the early 90s that have fetuses painted on them (an artist friend in college went through a fetus stage) and "RIP Kurt Cobain" on the toes. I am saving them for the girls.

Commando Fernando dressed up.

Apparently every slug in the neighborhood came to celebrate my birthday. This was taken this evening on the back deck and gives me the freaking heebs.