HELLOmynameisHeather

Blissful Living

I was toying with the idea of putting together a local meet 'n greet - Phoenix, AZ area.  I was getting serious about setting one up for May.  And then good fortune winks my way and I meet Kristin, designer extraordinaire and owner of my favorite local boutique, Domestic Bliss (amazing! Like Anthropologie, but better), who has plans to open a new facility for local creative types to meet up & frenzy off each other's energy, take classes, etc.  We became fast friends. She's naming the studio Blissful Living.  And her concept is very close to my heart.  (We had an amazing dinner at their home a couple of weeks ago - should have brought my camera! - must go back & take photos. She even has chickens - fantasy of mine - in the most adorable chicken coop you'll ever see.)

And Kristin is quick to it -- Blissful Living opens on Friday!  I'm planning to be there this Saturday, May 10th, from 11-2 to meet up with, well, whoever stops by.  A meet 'n greet.  Thank you, universe.  So, come see me & maybe even bring some of your creations with you!  And if you stick around, hopefully you'll make some new friends with similar interests who live in your neck of the desert.  Visit Kristin's Blissful Living blog for more info.  And here's the address: Blissful Living  166 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ.

I'll be teaching a workshop there toward the end of June too -- details to come.

And meet Chloe, my new little niece!  My brother's fourth child, second girl.  (And she looks just like her big sister, Haley.)  They've had a couple of rough years and couldn't be more ecstatic about welcoming home a new baby.  It's a thrill to witness.  We're so glad she's here & safe!

Continuous Loop

So this cracks me up.  I get off of my plane, head toward baggage claim and am greeted by "Charlotte," with a crown on top.  Every day I'm greeted by Charlotte with a crown on top.  Always a crown .  I grinned, as the last thing my Charlotte had said to me before I left town was, "Goodnight, Queen!"  (You see, if she's a princess, then I must be the queen -- for continuity's sake -- her idea, not mine.)  Then, on the road, I notice that many of the road signs have a crown on them as well, I have a brief Twilight Zone moment, then have to ask. 

Turns out Charlotte, NC is nicknamed "The Queen City," as it was named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg, great-great-great grandmother of the current Queen of England.  I had no idea.  Just as I had no idea my daughter was royalty when I named her Charlotte.  Just a happy coincidence.

Spent my Friday with Westminster/Free Spirit, the company that produces my fabric.  Great people.  Good, honest & visionary.  We all had lunch at a place called Sugar Magnolia & I had a go at my first authentic Southern food:  fried green tomatoes (yum!), hush puppies, collard greens & shrimp calabash. Found out that one of the four key people at the company went to the same high school as me. He was there when my brother & sister were there.  We had teachers in common and shared some funny stories.  Mainly about our spit-fire math teacher and her fabulous wardrobe.

Our school had been built in the 70s with some bright idea to have all of the classrooms open to each other.  Imagine 9 classes taking place in one big hall or 'pod'.  Ridiculous idea.  Well, that didn't work out too well, so they quickly had to install wall-dividers.  My mother taught at the school and I clearly remember her frustration at the constantly moving walls. Kids would lean their chairs back into them and disrupt the class next door.  It was built in a big circle, with the library in the middle, a large hallway around that, and then 4 or 5 'pods' fanning out from the hallway.  Navigating that main hallway between classes prepared me for driving later on.  Stick to your lane, signal when you need to turn, etc.  It was people soup.  Most of the classrooms could be entered from outside though too.  It was California after all.  Our lockers were all outside.

Jeff stopped me by Sewing Arts Studio for a Hello and some giddy chatter about sewing with Timtex.  They pointed out a snapshot of me on the wall from a couple of Quilt Markets ago.  I didn't think twice about it till this week (as that photo now leads me to another crazy coincidence).  I received an email just this week from a old friend from high school who says she saw my photo at that same quilt shop recently & told the owners, "Hey, I know her!  We went to high school together." They responded, "That's Heather Bailey.  She's designed these fabrics over here."  Brandi told the story better.  Here's what she said, "And I know it has to be you because you look exactly the same...So I already owned some of your fabric and I had pulled a Free Spirit ad out of a magazine over the summer because I loved the fabric and wanted to find it…it was yours!!!" 

So, here's my brain thread...

Princess Charlotte -- Charlotte, NC -- high school connection with colleague in Charlotte, NC -- visit quilt shop with same colleague, see photo on wall -- receive email from another high school friend who found me from photo on wall at same quilt shop in The Queen City of Charlotte, NC -- Princess Charlotte... and it loops.  Though I'm a little weirded out, I'm also quite reassured by the interconnectivity of it all. Like a snowflake under a microscope, intricate & mesmerizing.

And though I should end it there, all poetic and thoughtful, you have to see these new headrests on Continental airlines.  They can be bent around your head!  Now you don't have to have a window seat in order to catch a nap.  Someone should sew up some shower-cap-like fabric covers for these things and start a little business.  Or Continental could offer them for a buck on every flight, like they do with headphones. 

Finally Used My New Pink Coat

I just got back from a fantastic weekend in Chicago with dozens, make that hundreds, of inspirational women.  I enjoyed the tremendous honor of participating in the web panel at the Country Living Women Entrepreneurs event at the Renaissance Hotel.  Wow.  I think we'd all agree. Wow. 

A much-needed, much-enjoyed energizer!

They dyed the Chicago river green that day.  I hear there was a fantastic parade.  Though it was tempting to sneak outside for a quick peek, we were all plugged in for a serious re-charge and not likely to disengage. I spent the event shoulder to shoulder with Anna Griffin, as dynamic as she is beautiful.  Such a treat to get to know her.

*Panel photos courtesy of Anna herself, who thoughtfully dug out my camera for a couple of quick shots.  (Thanks, Anna!  Your photos were the best ones of the batch.)  There she is with miss Beth Ferreira of Etsy -- lots of exciting things in the works over at Etsy*

Dozens of business owners gathered from over 40 states to attend the event.  I had the pleasure of meeting many of them during the breaks -- I wish I could have met them all.  Evenings were spent getting to know the panelists & the well-knit Country Living editors & staff. What an amazing group!  Contagious electricity.

I'd share more photos, but most of them are blurry & psychedelic.  I did get one sharp shot of the audience to my left. That's Vicki Bodwell in front (sunshine embodied) of Warm Biscuit.

My Saturday night ended with a winding tour through the maze-like hallways of the House of Blues with Maggie Pace of Pick Up Sticks (love her!).  I'd have been set with blog photos if I'd had my camera at dinner that night -- imagine walls upholstered with crazy quilts & painted shoes.  And the pokiest elevator in modern Chicago -- good company makes all the difference.

Then there was Sunday.  Bonus day.  No work, no plans, just a last-minute meet-up with a gaggle of gals from the event.  Joanna Figueroa & I drove out to Lincoln Park to window shop and fabric talk with the delightful Paula Prass, her beautiful daughter, Jennifer, miss Bari J., and Anita Hopper who makes handbags of recycled leather jackets (great concept).

What a fantastic weekend!  Kudos to Country Living for bringing women business owners together for such a meaningful event.  If you're revving up to focus your creative dreams into a real business, I highly recommend attending next year.  Thanks Country Living for your hospitality, I had a wonderful time. 

Super Fat

Super Tuesday + Fat Tuesday = Super Fat Tuesday!

Now that's something to celebrate.  Seriously though, go vote.  Stop browsing the computer, put down your work or play, pack up your kids if you must and go vote in The Primaries.  There are a few clowns running for U.S. President this year.  Though they might be entertaining in the role, I must say Down with Clowns in this case.  Go vote for someone who's not a clown -- whichever non-clown suits you best, but vote.

Crowning Around

What do you do with a bunch of party-clad toddlers when Princess, Princess, Queen (aka Duck, Duck, Goose) and King Simon Says have lost their charm? 

Jewel up some crafty crowns!

So I was going through Charlotte's birthday party photos today, archiving them into their appropriate places, when I realized that our crown craft was an idea worth sharing -- for birthday girls everywhere.  It worked out perfectly, and captivated a table full of kids for a noteworthy while.  So, for anyone with a little girl's party coming up soon, here's a great activity.

These foam crowns are from Michael's.  They're only one dollar each.  Add two buckets of foam stickers in letters & shapes (50% off right now), a couple of adults for sticker-peeling, and a big table.  That's it.  Not very tricky at all, but dern successful. 

The girls went for goopy, froo-froo crowns and the boys kept things fairly simple.  Even Max joined in, although he was already sporting the best crown ever.

On other fronts, I'm designing another fabric collection right now and it's nearly impossible to tear myself away for anything.  Yes, partly for the fun of it, only partly, but mostly because I can't stand the suspense.  I've been working away on one of the designs for five or six days now and well, I really need to step out into the sunlight.  Fun design though.  Unexpected and a bit cheeky.

Things are moving along smoothly with Trash Ties too.  We're ahead of schedule and getting orders out even earlier than promised at the moment, so that feels good.  And I've just now set up the Trash Ties photo group at Flickr, though I haven't posted any photos yet.  So, go join the group, post your Trash Ties 'dos & beat me to it.  I can't wait to see what you've dreamed up.  Like this and this and this -- you guys rock!

The more tired I get, the more exclamation points I'm tempted to use.  What's that about? !  Time for a nap, I guess. !

Pot Warmers & Leg Holders

I have had the hardest time falling asleep this week.  And I'm not talking about midnight or 1am.  I've been up till 4, 6, 7am before falling asleep.  Such a drag!  But, I've made some important half-alert discoveries. 

For instance, last night I analyzed the implement of leg warmers.  I thought back to the dance classes of my childhood and had no recollection of cold ankles or even dancing outside in cold weather. And if a dancer were to dance outside in cold weather, wouldn't her whole body need an extra layer, not just her lower legs? 

I then flashed back to 5th grade and the vague recollection of a leg-warmers- over-jeans trend.  Now in that case, leg warmers were an accessory, an expression of personal style and good taste. Right?  Anyone?  So, is this what leg warmers are to dancers, just an accessory?  Hmmm, no, that couldn't be, as they would surely have been named something other than "leg warmers."  They would have needed a snappier name like Kickies or something.  Or Lady Legs.  Ya, good one.

No, no, there's got to be something more to it.  Hmmm... legs, ankles.  Oh yes, ankles!  Skinny jeans! (Hang in there.) Skinny jeans only look okay on a small sampling of female forms.  I've got it!  Leg warmers balance out the figure.  Make a dancer's hips look smaller.  Just like flared jeans do vs. skinny jeans.  Some smart lady from way-back-when just named them "leg warmers" so dancers of all shapes and sizes could save face.  "Oh, these old things, they just keep my legs warm."  Such a nice lady.  I wonder what her name was...

And so my evenings have gone.  One important discovery after another. 

It's getting about time to pull out the potholders.  Every pretty, vintage potholder that makes its way home with me tends to end up on my funky junky Christmas tree (check these out). Makes me laugh to see them hanging there in the mix, "Hee, hee, there are potholders on my Christmas tree!"  I even like them there when I'm well-rested and sane.  It's true. 

Okay, I'm off for a Friday date.  Make sure you stop by on Monday -- I've got something REALLY BIG planned.

Snap Sparkle Pop

Any minute now.

---

Back again.  Anna did a fabulous job... and wore just the right sweater!  Yay Anna!

Blimey!

Happy Halloween!  Any guess who Elijah was last year?

Greenery

Fresh flowers.  Freshly- painted table.  Down with brown!  At least, in this instance.  And it rhymes and sounds a bit controversial. Truth is, I'd love to rip up my tiled floor in favor a dark brown wood floor, all knobbly and funny.  Impractical fantasy though.  For now.

Too tired to speak in full sentences today.  Maybe tomorrow. Gladiolas were Isaac's favorite flowers when we were dating.  I wonder if they still are. 

No matter how much I try not to play favorites with color, I always come back to green.  Like a favorite child.  Most moms swear they don't have one, but usually all of the kids will point to the same sibling as the favorite.  Same goes with color for me.  I swear I don't have a favorite color, but my close family and friends say that this is my color.  Anything from a warm lime to a rich avocado.  Ya okay, they're probably right, but I'll never admit it.  Or have I already?  I guess it's true.

This little wall separates our morning room (a.k.a. kitchen table room) from our laundry room. What do you think I should put on the shelves?  Recipe books? Vintage tins?  Nothing? 

I hope that vase doesn't stick to the top.  Too impatient to let the paint cure.

Lady of the Lamp

Perhaps the silliest thing I've ever spent more than $50 bucks on -- a lamp lady with a tiered skirt made of the most atrocious lace.  I don't know where to put her, but she makes me smile.  I brought her home about a year ago I think, and set her on a cabinet in my room and well, there she is. 

Garbled Jargon

Gosh, I think I'll have to go with The Snart (6 comments down, if you can believe it.)  Mainly because I can't get the new vocab word out of my mind.  How horrible to be outed in the school paper after complete denial.  Sneeze + fart = snart.  Then, oh to get stuck in the tub while pregnant only to be rescued by the military police or to grab the boss's nether-regions when innocently trying to reach for the doorknob behind you.  I've conclusively decided that I'm not above embarrassment, I'm just fortunate to never have been subjected to such monumental humiliation.  My friends, my dear friends.  I feel for you all.

The second fat quarter stack goes to comment #274, a la the random number generator. #274 is Joyce, who heard, "Duck!" and promptly hid behind her steering wheel, plowing right into a duck on the road!  So, Joyce and Jan (snart), send me your addresses.

And, speaking of new vocab words, have you ever played the game Balderdash?  Every player makes up a fake definition for an absurd, but bona fide word.  Each definition gets mixed in a stack with the true definition and then everyone guesses which is the correct one. You earn points for getting it right and for effectively tricking your opponents.  I rock that game.  Of course, I've only ever played it with my family and I've got their psychology down pat.  We haven't played Balderdash in years (likely due to the influx of new babies two years back), but I think it's time to revisit the general concept...

How often do you come across an almost-word when typing a pass code on the computer?  You know, those codes we so often have to get through before we can leave a blog comment?  Perhaps some of these could be new slang. What would their meanings be?  Help me out.

Exhot.  This one's pretty obvious.  Ex•hot {eks'hot} adjective: Used to be hot;  someone who is still trying to be hot, but it's not working.

And "riprz," well, that one's probably pretty similar to "snart." 

But, these others, what's your take on them?  Ready ladies, define... that... word!  Keep it clean or you'll be deleted ;)

Hmmm.  Maybe someone should start a code-word-slang blog or forum.  Could get pretty funny!  Or maybe an embarrassing stories blog... or a book.  We've about got that together already, don't we?  Thanks for the laughs.  I had a fabulous birthday!

Busting Up

Oh my, oh my.  Thank you for the stories!  They're coming in faster than I can read them.  I'm going to cap the contest at 300 comments so I can catch up sometime this month ;) and get some winners announced!  And, wow, I didn't realize just how embarrassing embarrassment can be.  Thank heaven I didn't do it; I did not wish for an embarrassing moment as my birthday wish.  In fact, the one candle on my slice of cheesecake blew out on its own before I had a chance to wish.  What does that mean? 

Artifacts above?  Evidence of my own Poppy in the works. Yay!

A Slice for You?

It's my birthday.  Hooray!  And I'm serving up some goodies, like last year.  Care for a slice? 

The price?  Tell me your most embarrassing story.  Moo-ha-ha (evil laugh, twiddling fingers). Of course, I can never think of one of my own.  Never.  Either my life's been dull, I'm not easily embarrassed, or I'm in complete denial.  Isaac, on the other hand, just shouted from the other room that his whole life has been one embarrassing story. 

After an hour of straining for an embarrassing memory, my best offering is a story Isaac insists I should find embarrassing:

My husband is a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings series.  He claims to have read the series at least 20 times ("about once a year since I was twelve.")  So, when one of the movies came out (not sure which), I rummaged through my fabrics and old costume bits, and ran out to various thrift stores to put together makeshift costumes for us to wear (an act of love & support -- complete, unabashed geekiness).  I even got my sister & brother and their spouses on board.  Isaac was a leather-clad man of Gondor and I was an elf, of course.  My dress was some bulky, crazy dragonfly- inspired costume I designed in college.  I needed equally awesome hair, so I hopped from beauty store to beauty store in search of long locks to add to my own.  In one of those store, I discovered these things called "hair rats,"  which are like long logs of rolled-up hair.  They're used for adding volume to buns and beehives, I guess.  I'd never heard of such a thing.  Hold that thought. 

So, the movie geek fest was a complete disappointment on my end,  I couldn't find a parking spot in time and ended up running to the theater, then hunting out my family in the dark as the opening credits rolled.  No one ever saw my amazing braided elf hair, glued on ears, and repurposed-junk-jewelry headdress.  Ah well.  I do think Isaac, who arrived in a separate car, had plenty of fun scaring small children in his grungy leather garb and scraggily blond wig (with real yak hair glued to his chin -- now that's commitment!)  And that was the point, after all, for Isaac to have a blast.

Ok, back to the story.  So, some time later, in examining my hair brush and its need of a de-hairing, I had a thought, "Hmmm. How do those hair rat things work anyhow?"  I pulled the hair from my brush, rolled it up, and started playing.  Not that embarrassing really, but strange enough to keep it to myself, I guess.  I never did find the perfect use for my homemade hair rat, I have a lot of hair already, but I did leave the thing in my bathroom drawer. 

Weeks later, along came Isaac, minding his own business, looking for some sort of something, and discovered that abandoned hair wad for which he demanded (with a mighty smirk) an explanation.  He has a major disgust for lost hair (which makes the yak-hair beard even more remarkable). I explained myself, the history, the fascination, the miraculous height of 60s hair and so on.  Oh, he laughed.  And.  he.  laughed.  By the time he got a grip, I was feeling a bit embarrassed.  Isaac still can't get over it and brings it up to embarrass me whenever possible.

Ya, I know, I haven't set the standard very high.  I guess I could make a birthday wish for something terribly embarrassing to happen this year so I'll never have a blank look again when asked for my most embarrassing story.   Or maybe posting that atrociously posey photo of us in costume can be my new story (I was trying to be all "my hero!" campy, but that doesn't really come across).  And, yes, I'm feeling a slight tinge of embarrassment now.

So anyhow, in consideration of all poor, generally unembarrassed souls like myself, I'll give one stack of fat quarters at random, even if your story's not very good ;)  But the other stack, the other stack goes to the most hysterically- horrible embarrassing story ever told. 

So, bring it on!  I'm ready for a good laugh... or cry.

Oh, and here's a token photo of Isaac & I as old folks (that's some sort of plate behind Isaac's head).  I found this treasure while hunting for the elf photo.  We were gussied up for a friend's 30th birthday party.  Laura calls this proof that I don't embarrass easily.

Title Schmitle

Are you a fan of The Princess Bride?  Yes?  Then, go see Stardust. The trailer doesn't do it justice.  Laura, Isaac & I guffawed through the whole thing while the baby slept in his stroller, good boy.  Oh, and he's so cute!!!  Truly cute.

Today's a fun day.  Laura's painting me a poppy for my birthday and I'm making paper things -- though I haven't decided what.  We just might have to do some shopping too.

Cuteness

I just received some fun little pick-me-ups in the mail.  These goodies hail from ms. elinor, lowercase e.  I love this little figurine.  She's only about two inches tall.  She'll be making herself at home on Charlotte's bookshelf (which used to be a china hutch -- I'll have to post about that one too).

Elinor, well mom :), also sent some funky fabric bits, horsey buttons and an antique mother/daughter postcard.  Random and perfect.  We have a lot in common in our taste for miscellany.  And, mom's now selling my fabric on her website.  So, here's a link for that. 

It's our babysitting night tonight.  We have a co-op set-up with three of our friends where each couple takes a turn watching all of the kids on Friday nights.  In other words, we each have reliable date-night babysitting for three weeks, followed by one very hectic fourth Friday filled with all the goings-on of eleven little kids.  So worth it. Highly recommended.  Of course, it was on a date night that Charlotte broke her teeth at our friends' home.  So, if you set up one of these babysitting circles with your friends, make sure all couples agree to some sort of basic structure -- like two adults present or rooms with bunkbeds get locked, etc.  It can get pretty crazy. 

We usually take the kids to the park for a couple of hours and get them all tuckered out and then set them up with pillows, blankets and popcorn in our loft and project a fun movie onto the wall.  Sometimes we'll slip in a craft activity or cookie decorating.  I think we made New Years hats once.  Anyhow, that's my night.  It's actually kind of fun.

Happy Discoveries

Here's a true find.  Who starts their own shoe company?  Amazing. 

These polkadotties are all Carrie Miner's doing. They're called Puddle Jumpers.  Carrie is a single mom of two adopted daughters from China.  She runs her shoe business out of Utah and has an incredible story.  We spoke on the phone a few weeks back and I was so impressed.  If your daughter/niece/ grandaughter isn't sporting polkadot mary janes yet, then it's about time, don't you think?  Wow.

And Adorn.  Boy am I late on this one.  You guys have been telling me for weeks to go check out the Summer 07 issue of Adorn for a happy Freshcut™ surprise.  You were right.  They did an article where four designers interpretted the same bag pattern, all using my fabrics.  And look, designer No. 4 was none other than the fabulous Ms. Congdon.  Lisa, is this the project you emailed me about a while back?  Wow, so look at all those fabrics there and I didn't even do the sewing.  Yes, this issue's still on newstands -- great magazine, by the way.

New Gizmo

This is kinda fun.  I got an email about this new mini-website tool called Leafletter a few days ago and had to check it out.  It seems like a great way to show a portfolio of artwork or a series of photos in one blog post without smothering the page with photos. 

I dinked around in there and came up with this little album showing Charlotte's Easter clothes from Kat.  If you click on the title at the bottom, you'll see a menu of all the pages.  Or you can travel from page to page by clicking the larger photos.  The smaller photos can each be made larger when selected and some of them have added notes.  Click around and you'll find a photo of Charlotte's toothless little smile.

Kinda fun, huh?

Prezzies

Don't these look pretty together?  I came back from my trip to L.A. to a pile of happy packages. 

Mom sent the bunny basket, along with some old children's books and a piggy for Charlotte.

Laura painted me a birthday sprig (nope, it's not my birthday anytime soon) and sent along an amazing violet-glass cake stand that I purchased on my last visit to St. Louis.

Kat made Charlotte a practical wardrobe of amazing treasures, including this smocked summer shirt, as a "just because your fabric inspires me" present (totally blushing - wow!).

And the polkadot boxes are from me, via The Land of Nod. 

I know I need to photograph the rest of the goodies too, but Isaac only left the Lensbaby this week and these pics were looking so pretty together.  When I get my hands on the proper camera equipment, I'll see about making you even more jealous : )

Meant in the nicest, most-friendliest of ways!

More Wool Stuff

I did it.  I snuck in some 'me' time and made something I can show -- wooly flowers with needle-felted centers.  Of course, just as soon as the garland was complete, I gave it away.  But, not before I snapped a couple of photos.

No worries -- I have plenty more supplies.  Ahem.  And I can visit her at Ga-Ga for Garlands as often as I please. 

Wool Stuff

I "made an appearance" at the Quilters Guild show across town and indulged in some wooly stuff.  I love the way that wool dyes up, bright and rich and hard-to-resist. 

Elinor's in town this weekend -- her first trip since she broke her ankle.  We figured out our wheelchair routine at yesterday's show.  You should have seen our performance in the cafeteria -- like a choreographed dance.  Carefully carrying lunch and drinks for the two of us, we made it through the crowds, past the register and to the table without one spill.

We were there to help out some good friends from The Bernina Connection (who just started their online store -- wink wink).  One tour around the show and we returned to their booth with bags of wool goodies to divide up between us.  It's true -- we like the same sorts of things -- mostly.

Strange-Craft Confessions

Whenever times get a bit crazy and my schedule's full of one-too-many spinning plates, I tend to buy myself new art and craft supplies.  It's inevitable.  Take, for instance, these new crochet hooks.  Don't they look like candy?  I passed them by on a muslin-run last Saturday and had to have them.  Ooo, crochet.  I want to crochet.  In fact, I'm going to once I get through X, finish Y and wrap up Z.  That's right, and I'll need new crochet hooks, so why not get them now?   

It's the promise of obligation-free creative time that sees me through the craziness.

I haven't done much crochet since I was a young girl, just a few edges here and there.  I did find one of my earliest projects recently -- a hideous pink and turquoise ruffled number I designed for my doll when I was nine.  I'll wash it up and snap a photo -- add some real beauty to the blog.  I wish I had more of my early creations to both wonder and snicker at.  I really did crochet a three-foot long banana slug with an "all-purpose hole," which I filled up with baby banana slugs.  Who would get rid of such an heirloom?  Where is my slug now?

Have you ever made anything weird like that?  Am I admitting something I shouldn't?  Heck, let's open the door to Strange-Craft Confessions. What's your strangest project so far?  If it's strange in a raunchy way, I don't want to know about it.

∆   ∆   ∆ 

And, look what came in the mail, two more magazines sporting Freshcut. Quilts and More has a drawstring baggie on the cover and a fun apron article by Cindy Taylor Oates.  (We've met for lunch a couple of times - fun and helpful gal.  Hi Cindy!)  Sew News has a headband pattern I designed -- similar to the free one here, but I bothered to illustrate it this time, so it's a definite improvement. The ties are a different shape.  That's my friend, Chelsea, modelling.  Hi Chelsea! 

Preview the articles in Flickr, but get 'em soon -- one's a Spring issue and one's a March issue.

One Door at a Time

We've had the ongoing project of installing a door under our stairs for oh, a couple of years now, I think.  I love the layout of our home, but its one weakness is its lack of storage space. 

So, we decided to make our own closet -- take matters into our own hands.  The stairs had to be re-inforced and the doorway properly framed.  And, that's about how far we made it before abandoning the project for many months -- a doorless closet facing the front door. 

Well, good news, Isaac installed the door.  Yay!  And we picked up this fantastic glass doorknob (Anthropologie) to justify the visibility of our new junk repository -- a bit o' bling.  Now I wonder how long it'll be before we install the doorknob. 

One day I'll have funky doorknobs on every door.  One day.

My First Red Carpet

I didn't have a chance to watch the Academy Awards on Sunday night.  We were busy celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday and chatting-it-up with family.  But, I did record the event to keep me company during long stretches of busywork this week.  Anyway, while watching a bit of the show last night, I was reminded about my own Red Carpet experience - one of the many odd, suppressed Hollywood memories I alluded to in my About Page, but have never launched into here.

It was a dark and stormy night...  It was a long and taxing day...

...at the downtown Los Angeles library.  I had spent hours researching patents for my hair accessory business (another story).  I was tired and hungry, but comfortably- dressed in some random assemblage of unremarkable lounge clothing. Strapped with a messenger bag full of photocopies and notes, I exited the library carrying a 12"-tall stack of hefty books.  When I called my husband to report that the day's work had been accomplished and I was heading home, he replied, "Hey, you're right next to the Oscars, you should go have a look!"

Heather:  "How close is "right next to?"

Isaac:  "Oh, a couple of blocks."

Heather: "Uh...ok. Sure."

Isaac:  "Stay on the phone and I'll tell you how to get there."

So, I headed to the right, tall stack of books in arms, instead of to the left, where the car was parked a few blocks away. 

-- And let me just say here that everything looks smaller in a Thomas Guide -- add to that a couple of wrong turns and we're talking achey, shakey arms, with a couple of blistered heels on the way --  By the time I made my way to the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, past the protester-packed corners and the swarm of limousines stacked end-to-end along the road, I was determined to see this tiresome adventure to some worthy end. Why turn around now, right?

So, I headed cautiously toward the back of the bleachers and the flurry of activity that surrounded them.  I was certain that I'd be stopped and questioned by the police at the street barracade or the security guards peppered throughout the crowds, but I wasn't going to turn back until I was told, "Miss, this section is for VIPs," or "Tickets, please," or the like.  No one stopped me.  No one was concerned.  Somehow, little innocent me, with my conspicuous and dorky stack of patent books made it all the way to the security station -- you know, one of those metal-detector thingies you have to walk through.  There I was at the end of the road.   

But, there was no one there.  No one to ask, "How can I get into the bleachers?" or "When does this thing end?" or "Where am I allowed to stand?"  So, I peeked my head through the gateway to search for its manager.  No luck.  (But, no alarm sounded either.)  So, what did this bedraggled young-lady-in need-of-adventure do?  I walked on through, around a corner... and oops, right onto The Red Carpet.  No, not the front-and-center part of The Red Carpet, but The Red Carpet no less.  I stood there for a bit, awaiting my security guard and getting the lay of the land, somewhat in shock at where I found myself and even more surprised by my brassy behavior.  I just stood there, bent over with books, between the reporters and the tent full of dining tables.  No one ever questioned me.  Nobody minded.

After a few minutes, I found my way up into the bleachers, stood in shock a while longer, assessed my own mounting exhaustion, then promptly headed out.  I was at the Oscars for all of ten minutes.  Sometimes I wonder... should I have just kept walking, could I have made it into the front row, would I have been awarded a gold statue of my own?

-- Ok, that last line's not true, but it makes the story sound more metaphorical, doesn't it? --

The truth is, I had no desire to make a name for myself as "The Library Girl" on international news, nor interrupt the fashionable proceedings with my tennis shoes and jeans.  By that point, I just wanted to put my books down and get my hands on a tall glass of water. 

∆   ∆   ∆ 

One Hollywood story down, how many more to go?  What did I call them in my little bio, "somewhat meaningless celebrity encounters?"

Let's see, there's the time Cameron Diaz grabbed my arm, and the night Claire Danes stepped on my foot, oh and the bomb-scare at the grocery store with Christina Ricci (strange day, not scary). And several more -- all meaningless, I assure you.  But, as a collection, they're almost interesting.

(Footnote:  The photos are a re-enacted and the shoes are BC brand.)

Hip-Junk

I was going to tell you all about my Saturday at the Renaissance Festival, my thoughts on hip-junk, and how we should all abandon our purses for random draw-string baggies dangled from a belt. But, a deeper study into the benefits of bag-free shoulders and the flirty possibilities of shakin' our hip-junk as we carry on about our daily tasks just might threaten a revolution of modern accesorization.  So, I'll leave you to study out the possibilities in your own quiet moments.

Sparing you the details, my Renaissance experience boiled down to bright conversation with good company, some mighty people-watching, cheering for medieval Billy Idol on horseback, and witnessing Charlotte's poignant first encounter with her personal hero, Babe. 

Mark ten points in the Good Mama column, cuz I'm gonna need 'em -- this week's going to be a busy, work-filled one.

(And, no, we did not dress up.  That isn't a photo of me.  I was hoping to take a whole series of hip-junk photos, but my camera ran out of batteries.)

Not Ketchup, Not Catsup

Catch-up!  That's right, catch-up.  Deadlines, promises, laundry, sleep.  Catch-up.

I had to stay in Chicago an extra night due to airport delays last week.  So, far better than pulling an all-nighter at the airport, I had a quiet meal at the Hyatt and a good night's sleep.  Somehow, that extra day of travelling compressed last week's obligations into a mad flurry of busy-busy. 

In Chicagoland, I met up with Hope Meng and Melissa Alvarado of Stitch Lounge, Nicole Smith of Cutting Edge Magazine,  Simon Haskins (designer and son/business partner of Jenny Haskins'), Anna Maria Horner and several amazing folks from Bernina.  We ate delicious food and chatted about one of my favorite subjects - sewing. 

I found that I was somewhat enchanted by the cold weather.  However, if I had to clean a windshield, fill a tank with gas or buy groceries in such weather, I'm sure it'd quickly lose its spell.  Thank you for your foul-weather-warnings -- you should have seen how many layers I wore that first time out the door.

Oh ya, those photos up there... Seeing as tomorrow's Valentine's Day, here's a fun idea:  Customized Sweethearts.  All you need is a bit of clean sandpaper, a papertowel to brush off the dust and some edible markers.  No, you don't eat the markers. 

And, finally, what happens if I don't mention the studio photos?  Will you forget that I promised them last Wednesday?  Hopefully.  They're still on Isaac's laptop and I don't have the nerve to ask him to do one more thing for me.  I hereby change my promise from "Wednesday" to "soon."

And check out this dress!

How Green Was My Chandelier

What a good guy.  Here's my new green chandelier, painstakingly painted by my husband. (Those are not my man- hands.)  My only involvement was in art direction.  Make it green.  With green crystals too.  And yellow crystals mixed in.  And put these vintage brooches on there to boot.

I would have done it myself, but when the spouse is in a let's-finish-this-room-up-right-now mood, who wouldn't hand the paint over and say, "Go for it!" 

Not Gildy!

The mirror was first.  It's been sitting around our garage for three years now, as it was too boring to bring inside.  And my current rule-of-thumb is... if it's ornate and prissy, then it better be a funky color, or no deal. 

Anyone can pick up a gold mirror just about anywhere.  Where's the fun in that?  Friend comes in, turns the corner and says, "Oh, nice!  I have a gold mirror too.  Mine is hanging over the couch, not the piano though.  How creative that you hung it vertically.  I'd never have thought of that!" 

Yawn.

So... though my mirror still has the frilly-thing going on, at least it's owning up to it full-force-- a few dollops of Jamaica Blue ala Isaac and a smattering of chartreuse ala moi and now my studio walls aren't so naked anymore.

Watch Out Mr. Beige!

I went on a clean-up kick last week, restacking fabric and sorting through my books.  Within a couple of hours my studio was sparkly-clean and ready to take on the world. 

Then, just as I was about to wrap it up and move on, Isaac caught the shiny- studio bug; it hit him hard!  One conversation about blah-blah-beige-and-the -need-to-color-my-world and Isaac was off to the store for paint.  Fantastic!  It was like Dave-the-Slave Week, except my husband's not a Dave.
(Laura's invention - hers is a Dave)

How about a turquoise mirror, honey?  Ooo, and a green chandelier.  And those jars need red lids.  Bright red.  And I need a rod for some ribbons.  And a couple more shelves too.  Ooo, pretty.  Now hang those over there and put these other things right here.  Aah.  Thank you, thank you, Macho-Sweetie-Good-Guy.  ('Macho' being the key word amongst all of this funky froof)

Now the studio's all glammed up and I've got at least a week's worth of new blog-fodder. Watch out Mr. Beige... Oh, it's terrible.
(Token UHF reference to make my brothers smile - see footnote below)

∆   ∆   ∆

Footnote : )  The first hundred times Matt and Ryan played UHF were a torture, but somehow, after a while, the movie grew on me.  Aah, the good ol' days of algebra homework and afterschool UHF. 

I think it was my brothers' guffaws that grew on me, not the movie so much.  Eventually I looked forward to each gag and my brothers rolling on the floor in laughter.  I swear, my younger brother must hold the world record for how many times one joke can be rewound and played over and over... and over again.  His favorite part was the "I'm thinking of something orange..." sequence, though Wheel of Fish and Conan the Librarian were certainly in the running.  My favorite bit was Spatula City.  WARNING:  My fond memories do not constitute a recommendation.  Rent at your own risk.

Limber Lulu

The collection grows.  Cute hangar, huh?  What I can't believe is that her ponytails are still intact. 

And, as bloggy-voodoo would have it, she looks an awful lot like Hillary's recent mobile and Sarah's subsequent magnet set, both adorable.  How old is she?  I have no idea.  But, she had to be mine.

Yesterday was Elijah's birthday -- ten years old.  How'd that happen? I'm certainly not ten years older than when I had him. 

We took him and a gaggle of his friends to an indoor play-shangri-la: buffet, tokens, bowling, the works. 

It was the first birthday party I didn't have to decorate for (mixed feelings here).  But, with his birthday following Christmas so closely, I can't deny that it was a welcome break.

Blaggle-Blaggle

Mr. Wooden Robot says, "Snick-Snock-Blaggle-Blaggle - Time - to - vote - for - the - Bloggies - Snick-Snock-Blaggle-Blaggle"

I messed up on the nomination form the first time around.  I put URLs where the blogs' names were supposed to go and had to go back in and copy and paste until I had it right.  I should have read the directions first - it really wasn't that hard. 

I think today's the last day to nominate (until 10pm Eastern Standard), then there's another round of votes once they have a ballot together.  I'm not sure what the big deal is with Bloggies (anyone with Bloggies insight?), but it's always fun to put a good word in for my friends - I hope you all win!  Winning is fun all by itself. 

And, voting sure made it clear that I don't have enough links in my sidebar - I have far more favorites than I've pron