Re(tail)diculous

This weekend was probably one of my most productive weekends in many many moons.  Hubs was gone so I had plenty of time to catch up on Downton Abbey, but I did none of that.  I decided if I started where I left off, then I'd find myself on the same cushion come Sunday without a shower.

I've been eyeing some cool canvas art that I could totally do myself, so I decided this weekend was the perfect opportunity to bring the craft tornado through.  That way, I would have it all cleaned up by the time HHubs got home on Sunday. After a trip to Walmart and Joanns (which brought me to my new word retail-diculous), I was home and ready to start.  I bought 4 canvases, and used 3 for the first project.  Got the tape out, and went to town.  

Don't judge me by the beer I drink. 

It was in the fridge, it was Friday, and I was thirsty.

I'm satisfied and ready to paint.

I chose gold. No matter what paint I choose 

for the walls, this should look good, right?

Not where its going, but I needed to see what it looked like together.

That wine bottle has a crochet cover I made this weekend too. 

Oh, and I made the heart thing too.

The 4th canvas

Almost done. 

I chose not to use tape on the 4th canvas because after I made a grid, which you can barely see in the picture, I thought I could stay in the lines.  Cutting all that tape and applying it into the chevron design was just too much for me.  It already took me forever to make the grid. This is going to turn into a hanging jewelry hanger.  You'll see. Its going to be sa-weet. 

Friday night, I helped my biff Jenny with a lobster party which caused quite the wine headache the next morning (totally worth it) so Saturday morning I laid in bed for a few hours.  When my stomach was growling and my brain needed caffeine I knew it was time to get up.  I ended up painting most of the day and ended up falling asleep around 8pm totally on accident.  I set my alarm for 10pm because I had a bday party to go to, but slept right through that! So sorry Carly.  I love you. 

Hubs asked me what my 3 canvas work of art was titled, and I hadn't thought of anything yet.  That was until he told me he needed a laser level to hang it.  I said, "thats weird, thats what its name is." 

I also made magnets out of a bunch of awesome, colorful, beer bottle caps.  Too bad I didn't buy strong enough magnets, as they hold nothing but themselves on the fridge. 

Is quilting in my future?

Dear Magic 8 Ball,

Is quilting in my future?
Am I on my way to becoming the best grandma before I even have kids?
Will Jo-Ann's ever have moderately priced items?

Yes, Yes, and Ask again later.

My yougest acting eldest sister Robyn quilts.  Ok..... I'll give you time to clean your monitor of coffee spit.

She really does. It shocked me too when she started up with this craft.  Not surprisingly, even her first quilt was impressive. During a recent late night conversation, I mentioned I'm really only sewing straight lines because I feel I need to start basic.  Thats when she said she was totally gonna get me hooked on quilting.

When I think of quilting, I think of blanket quilts, naturally.  But I think this chick's gonna quilt pillows, and everything BUT blankets. I've already been told NOT to crochet a "grandma" blanket, so I'll take that as a hint we don't need a quilted blanket either.  I could go all hippie and sew together a quilted skirt to wear to the next Gorge concert, but I fear if I start wearing stuff like that I might stop brushing my hair and shaving my pits.

I have sooo many projects that I want to do right now. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Sometimes I just want to live off the land.  I can totally envision crafting all day long while hottie hubs hunts and gathers. I wonder if the UPS truck would deliver fabric/yarn/sewing supplies. Cuz by live off the land, I mean far enough away, but close enough for electricity, running water, and the internet. (how else would i blog?)

A lot goes into quilting, and I'm not sure I'm totally ready for it all.  I browsed the "quilting squares" area of JoAnns the other day, and man alive that shits expensive!  Cute, but spendy.  I can't imagine how much money I would have to sell a blanket for after its all said and done.  The quilt squares, thread, the filling, the backing, and whatever else I'm probably forgetting, all adds up.  I just googled, "how much does a quilt cost to make" and a search came back from one quilter stating she's spent as little as $60 and as much as $700. Are you freakin kidding me?!?! Did she use egyptian cotton with a crazy thread count and thread made from a bald eagle's chest hair? Maybe I'll just make a cheesy denim quilt with the back pockets still attached.

For the record, this is not my sister's quilt.

County Folk

I couldn't WAIT to get home to sew. 

I'd been impersonating a big city girl since Wednesday night with my hottie hubby and I was done.  Put a PeeWee Herman size fork in me. 

1. Seattle weather and my hair have never and will never get along.  It didn't help that I had to leave all my product at home since we were flying.  I'm just to the point where I can pull it back though, thankfully.
2. Money must grow on ferns there.  I'm just not used to having to pay to park miles away from my destination.
3. My personal space bubble is about 20 feet in circumference. Too many people tryin to do the same thing at the same time.  Too many cars, wierdos, garbage, smells all sharing the same exact space for my liking.

Ok. I'm done bitchin, here's my stitchin.

Its a bib with a tie that flaps up so you can wipe the kid's face!

I went to Jo-Anns on Sunday with coupons in tow and wierd, everything was "on sale" so I had to actually find something that wasn't on sale to buy.  I did need a bobbin case, so THERE Jo-ANN.

I also made the placemats and napkins that the bib is sitting on, and they're double sided, black on the other side.  The napkins and the bib are also double sided.  The other side of the bib is green.  As it turns out, this will not actually fit a baby.  So, if anyone's doll spits up, I've got just the thing for you.

Here are some pics from out trip.  We made it to a Mariners game, a no hitter actually, which made for a short (and kinda sorta boring) game.  But its NEVER boring when you're with friends, drinkin and sitting in the Hit it Here cafe!!!! 

Cody Gapp, Nick Wahl, Rodney and I with Dave Niehaus.  He was nice.

Surprised they let us in? 



grrreat success

It totally worked. I made the scarf I saw online.

Not that I didn't think it was going to, but just the fact that I'm wearing it today is crazy.

Allow me to rewind a tad.

I have a love/hate relationship with JoAnn Fabrics. I feel that their stuff is waaay overpriced and when they do have a deal, its really only lowering the price closer to what it should be regularly. During craft fair season, I go to JoAnns probably two times a week for yarn. Besides the re-dik prices, their customer service freakin sucks. Take last night for example.  I stood at the fabric cutting station for around 10 minutes waiting for someone to help me.  There's even a bell to ring if no one's around.  I rang the dang bell 4 times, while watching the front counter lady literally follow a customer she knew outside to chat her up for the entire 10 minutes that I stood there.  Finally, I rang the bell again with a little more vigor and simultaneously heard laughter coming from the employee room in the back. I was thisclose to pulling a *Chrissy Cargill on their asses, when a lady sauntered out as if she hadn't heard a single bell ring. "Is there something I can help you with, ma'am?" It was all I could do to not be a total B to her.  Actually the ONLY reason I wasn't, and didn't mention the 4 times I rang the bell, was the fact that I was getting fabric to sew with. 

As I drove home, it felt like I had just scored drugs and was about to go home and get really high.  Its the only way to describe the utter excitement I was feeling.  My palms were clammy, my heart was racing, and I couldn't stop smiling.  I actually felt high on life. I'm guessing other crafters feel this when they come home with a bag of nothings to transform into a magnificent work of art. 

(not to keep bitching about JoAnns, but their selection sucked even worse. I had like 4 colors to choose from, white, cream, black, maroon and green. and I realize thats 5, but white AND cream?)

I changed the thread in my machine, filled another bobbin, rethreaded my machine, at lightning speed I might add, and was on my way.  The scarf really only has 4 parts to sew, that being one of the reasons this was my first project.  I will admit, it has some flaws, but this is not something I will ever sell, so I'm ok with the beginner flaws. 

Oh, and after I went to sleep, all I dreamt about was this scarf.  I woke up around 3am remembering 4 different dreams that all had my scarf in it. I'm not kidding either when I say one of them consisted of Justin Beiber touching my scarf, and me then listing it online with the tag line, "Justin Beiber touched this scarf".

Here it is. I will have better pics, but got excited to show it off.



*Chrissy frightened me at JoAnns right after we became friends, and it was then I realized our friendship would be forever. I hope the lady that ended up helping us didn't quit that night and go home and cry curled up in the shower.