The Weekend Update

I suffered my first crafting injury on Friday night:

I was making a little card keeper thing, and trying to hammer on a snap using this thingy. Obviously, that didn't quite go as planned... Now the blood blister just looks very dark under the skin, and I keep trying to lick what I think is chocolate off my finger. That was too much information, huh? Well, it's going to happen again during this post, so consider yourselves warned...


I finished up my Winter Foxes handbag...but have since discovered I apparently have no idea how to properly attach magnetic snaps and need to un-sew my lining so I can place the snap washer BEHIND the fabric (shoulda asked my mechanically-inclined hubby when doing this step if it looked right to him). Which means I've screwed up more than one magnetic snap... *grr*

The bag was difficult to put together - the mini-cord lining/side fabric coupled with Pellon 987F fleece and some DecorBond make for some thick layers (I even bent a denim needle!). But other than the snap issue, I'm really diggin' this bag...it's cute! And my handles are super sturdy - one of these days, I'm going to do a tutorial on making bag straps, because I really like how hefty and professional-looking they turn out, and I haven't seen a tutorial that provides the same level of heft. I just need to make another bag with straps, so I can do the photos for the steps.


After a whirlwind Saturday morning finishing and packaging up some birthday presents (SIL Kristina and step-mom Donna) and just-because presents (for 2 of my fav baby girls Jacqueline & Leah), we headed out...

for Donna

For my girl Jacqueline

I made Steve go with me up to Echo Park, to the BUST Holiday Craftacular. His efforts were rewarded by the sight of hundreds of people dressed up as Santa, riding bikes and singing on a school bus - only in LA! The craftacular was OK; I didn't end up buying anything, but the stuff was way better than the Redondo Beach craft fair a couple of weeks ago (that was just old ladies selling stuff like doilies that doesn't really appeal to anyone in my age range, although I appreciate the effort)...but there weren't that many different vendors (maybe 20), so that was sort of disappointing. But I think this was the first year in LA... The other random thing was that this was held in what probably turned into a nightclub later that night... My fav vendor was I Heart Guts; completely unique, I liked the "I'm a Liver, not a Fighter" tees! And speaking of...I guess I Heart Guts will also be participating next weekend in Unique Los Angeles - maybe I'll go check this one out too, hopefully sans Steve (I feel bad torturing him!).



We hung out with Gabe on Saturday, sans Joelle (in DC for work), as Steve is busy learning all things xbox and Media Center. He also was transferring some DVDs to the new TB drive. As of last night, we (and by we, I mean Steve) figured out the best way to get the connection to the main router is to use good old fashioned CAT5 cable (of which we have hundreds of feet, so definitely didn't need to go to a store to get some of that). We just couldn't get the wireless to work at a speed necessary to stream to the xbox. But we were able to stream Kung Fu Panda from the TB drive in the other room, and watch it last night - good times. Steve will be drilling a hole thru the wall next weekend, so he can feed the CAT5 thru the wall to the spare bedroom/office where the router is housed. I am cringing already, as would my landlord if he knew we were putting more holes in the walls. We are going to have to buy a gallon of spackle to repair those holes when we (eventually) move out!


We also put up the Christmas decorations - we don't actually have as much as I remember, but it's still quite a bit for a small apartment with very little storage space. I think I'm going to do a separate post on the random ornaments that decorate our tree - it's very "scrappy" with no cohesive theme. But my tree skirt looks awesome underneath the fake tree! And hopefully it will hold up to repeated washings from the cat barfing on it (keepin' it real here, folks!).

Locks of Love

I decided back in August that I was going to grow my hair out to donate to Locks of Love...I certainly have enough hair, and even though I'm not really a fan of the thick mess going past the tops of my shoulders, I'm going to tough it out.

I haven't really had long hair since 6th grade...it was sort of long for my wedding, but I don't think I have any good pictures of exactly how long it was before I cut it back to chin length (my CA driver's license picture has a girl on it who only sort of resembles me - inevitably took the most horrible photo possible - she looks high in the picture, and that just isn't me at all - at least I know what I could look like high; I'm planning to retake the photo when I renew next year). Maybe I'll dig up a 4th/5th grade era photo to show my hair in it's full (and probably permed) glory...

I discussed my plan in September with Marili (pronounced Marley), my hair chick. She thought it would take me about a year, given how fast my hair grows, about 1" per month (normal is 1/2" per month). So now I'm due for a trim (and some shaping), and I think I have about 5" already...so yeah, 1" per month. I need 10" to send in, but I'm going to try for a full foot. The problem is that it will be totally thick & yucky during SoCal summer, so that's not that much fun.

OK, now that my intentions are out here in blog land, I have some incentive to follow through. :-D Updates to follow...

Freda's Hive Giveaway

Nanette over @ Freda's Hive is doing 7 giveaways... I love her blog, I've bought several patterns from her - she has great banners using 2.5" squares, which I'm saving fabric scraps for... :)

Today's prize is a quilt - free fabric is always good, huh! :)

Sunshine and Lemonade: Weekend Winners: Lost in the Weeds

Sunshine and Lemonade: Weekend Winners: Lost in the Weeds: Giving away Lost season 1 & Weeds season 1...

I absolutely love Weeds, so that would be awesome to win that one.

And I've never jumped on the Lost bandwagon, but am curious what all of the fuss is about...I currently have it queued up in Netflix, but haven't started watching yet.

Ok, Mir...time for your opinion...

So I decided to venture over to Santa Monica's Sewing Arts Center because I needed thread during Thursday's lunch break. While there, I had a chat with a lady about the disaster quilt, and she seemed pretty convinced the thrifted sheet was a BAD idea for the backing.

dimensions approximately 37" x 44"

Since I don't think I can rip out my stitches, I'm going to have to start all over again. Fortunately, I bought the quilt kit on sale, so dollars-wise, I'm not out very much at all.

So there are several options for you Mir.

I can salvage most of the blocks from the original quilt (all except 3)...

So...
1) I can rework the original blocks into a smaller, more squarish quilt (more like 37" x 37")

OR, I can completely start over and make something new. I happen to have the perfect fabrics to use...but they shall remain a surprise ;) Although, I will tell you that they are more subdued than the ones above!

So...

2) I can re-do the original quilt in new fabrics

OR - we can do a new pattern - below are some ideas...

3) Disappearing Nine-Patch (this is way easier than it looks, BTW):From Krom Mama

4) Happy Hour quilt:

from CrazyMomQuilts

5) Patchwork Charm squares:

Also CrazyMomQuilts

6) Finn's Quilt:

So those are some choices - none of which is at all complicated, and totally doable.

Mir, your assignment is to pick 2 of the above (or 2 of your own idea, as long as it's relatively simple - squares & rectangles are good for me)...and let me know...

Then I'll pick what I want to do! ;)

My Christmas Gift!

So, this summer, my good 'ol Canon PowerShot S500 starting turning some pictures pink:





Which was really sad...the Elph was my first digital camera...Steve bought it for me in the fall of 2004 (yeah, maybe a little slow to hop on the digital camera bandwagon). And it has taken some real gems, including this (which is still my favorite photo I've ever taken):



But it seemed like the logical time to get a new camera...and since I've had such good luck with Canon thus far, I decided to get the Canon Powershot SD790IS.

It came today, and I had to do a picture comparison.

Test subject: Sylvester

Spot: by the coffee table in the living room, approximately 6 feet away

Old camera, max zoom:

New camera, max zoom:

So yeah, I'm pretty happy!

Have you ever...?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain – I've hiked on a mountain, I think that counts??
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping – OH DEAR! Does it count if your bikini sort of falls off your body after going down a water slide?
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching - again, does it count if you gone, but not seen any whales?
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp – dude, the Holocaust Museum in DC is pretty close!
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury – almost!
91. Met someone famous – you would think living in LA that this would be an easy yes, but I really don't pay attention that much!
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day – too many times to count

What's in a Name?

YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle.): Micizzle

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color and favorite animal): Pink Cat

YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME : (your middle name and street you live on/or neighborhood if it's a number): Paige Voorhees (this one is really good!)

YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name: Foxmi

YOUR SUPERHERO/CRIMINAL NAME: (Your 2nd favorite color, and favorite drink) Blue Mojito (ironically, a blue mojito is really tasty, also)

YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (parents middle names): Jean Dale

YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets) ** Black Radar**

YOUR PORN NAME: (name of your 1st pet and the street you grew up on) Charlie Clay

Christmas Traditions Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? All of the above
2. Real tree or Artificial? I grew up with fake...Steve grew up with real. Right now, we have to have fake (our apt lease doesn't permit it). We get the real tree when we go back to his parents house.

3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving, no earlier
4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever we got to it – it will probably be the 2^nd weekend in January this time around
5. Do you like eggnog? Nope

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My 1^st ten-speed bike
7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? Usually Steve, this year in particular was my step-dad Rob
9. Do you have a nativity scene? no
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail... I love getting mail!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of any. I subscribe to "it's the thought that counts"...plus most people know my tastes pretty well.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Muppet Christmas Carol!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I think of it – I bought stuff starting in August this year!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Maybe?
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? ham
16. Lights on the tree? yes... multicolored because Steve won't let me do all white
17. Favorite Christmas song? Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Always have to travel.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A bow…I can't find a star that my wussy plastic tree will hold upright
21 Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Growing up, in the morning (but we got to open one early after the church Christmas program); now with Steve's family, we open Christmas morning AFTER everyone is awake

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Store shopping in LA – too many people…so I tend to go online!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Country-fied
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I'm a Christmas ham kind of gal

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Everything on my Amazon wish list

Cyber Monday arrived on Tuesday

Now that's what I call service (and yay! for free shipping!).

So apparently if you order non-computer items from Dell, including an xbox and a terabyte (TB) drive, it will arrive next day (versus the desktop near-fiasco a couple of years ago which involved me pulling basically breaking into a FedEx ground facility). And thanks to cyber Monday deals coupled with a corporate discount from Steve, we saved $100 and didn't pay shipping.

This is all a part of Steve's master plan...which is a modification (ie, slightly less crazy) of Gabe's master plan that involves not renting DVRs (using the computer to record shows and stream throughout the house) and storing copies of all our DVDs on the TB drive.

Merry Christmas to us!