It's Only Temporary

Gaw...I started messing with the template and don't have enough time to do what I want. I should be putting all of my creative energy into writing right now, so this crap-tastic layout will have to do for now. Don't judge!

Tim Gunn Gets Crafty

Yesterday, I tried out some fun new fonts. This is my Brother in action. Look at him go!

He's gay by the way. Came bedecked in purple lace. (Do you know how tempting it was to title this blog post "My Brother is Gay?") I like to think he's channeling Tim Gunn. My sewing machine, not my brother. I adore Tim Gunn, but Tim Gunn would never wear purple lace. He's too classy for that. He would say something like, "This purple lace is causing me a great deal of consternation." while knitting his brow and pressing his index finger to his lips. The English teacher in me is delighted by his sophisticated vocabulary. And I love his honesty. He'd probably tell me all this stuff looks homespun though. Sorry, it's late. Enough of that.

Today, I ventured into the world of applique and ruffles. Both are tedious and time consuming if you want the truth. I abandoned the ruffle making when I discovered I needed elastic for the onesie dress. (It took me a few times to learn not to start recipes before making sure I had all the ingredients, too) Ah, a lesson in patience and preparation.

So instead, I tried out a couple of different appliques on a onesie and tried a new style of burp cloth.

This is the onesie on the embroidery hoop. As you can see, you must stretch and manipulate all the excess fabric out of the way.

The good thing about embroidering & appliqueing is that you can sit back and relax or multi-task while the machine embroiders. Take the dogs outside. Teach your puppy tricks. Pour yourself another glass of wine. It takes a few minutes, might as well be productive.

However, with applique you must trim all the fabric from the pattern, and it is a pain. I think having the proper curved trimming scissors help.

Also, the machine doesn't come equipped with a bunch of cute fonts and appliques. You must purchase the digital pattern and connect the machine to your computer via USB port and download them from Etsy or some other crafty site. In order to use more than one letter at a time of said cute fonts, you must also purchase some sort of editing software. I need to figure out which is the best (and has the most reasonable price).

I think the results are worth the trouble though. But mycousinamanda better not change that baby's name. And if she does, it must start with an M!

Need a Little Culture?

If you are anything like me, living in the 'burbs leaves something to be desired. For me that is culture. Food, wine, and the arts. I try to get out as much as I can, but it usually takes a call from my super-hip-Dallas-dwelling-foodie friend Kim who has her finger on the pulse of all things on the culture scene. I don't know that I'd ever make it out if it weren't for her invites, and for that I am ever so thankful.

When Kim asked if I'd like to see Henry IV my little English teacher heart went pitter-pat. And a little pre-theatre cocktail and snack at the Screen Door? Heck yes!

To be totally honest, it'd been so long since I last read all the Henrys that I forgot this was the one with Falstaff.

Oh Falstaff.

Falstaff. Falstaff. Falstaff.

How I adore thee and thou deviant ways, Falstaff.

Randy Moore wasn't the actor I envisioned for the portly fellow, but Oh. My. Garsh. He was wonderful. I laughed. I squirmed. I laughed some more. And maybe I cried a little bit, too. (But not like the sleep deprived emotional breakdown the police officer who pulled me over witnessed).

I enjoyed all of the acting and thought it was super cool that a few of the minor roles starred Booker T. kiddos.

The set was interesting and unlike any use of a theatre I'd ever witnessed. It puts the audience in the middle of the action at times. If you go to the website you can see a picture. It looks a bit like a skate park.

You must go see the Dallas Theatre Center's production of Henry IV. Yes, it is Shakespeare. Yes, you will like it. See it for Falstaff. See it for Prince Hal (he was a frat-boy-esque cutie...until he turned into a jerkface and yelled at Falstaff).

Henry IV through Oct. 10 at the Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora St. $15 to $85. 214-880-0202 www.dallastheatercenter.org

Sew in Love

How's that for a cheesy headline? I was going to go with "I Love My New Brother," but someone would have some 'splain'n to do. But seriously, my new Brother SE-400 arrived yesterday and I went straight to JoAnn to buy embroidery thread and fabric. I have been making burp cloths like a mad woman ever since. They are ridiculously easy to make. Oh wait, I probably shouldn't tell people that in case I ever decide to sell them at boutique prices, which are insane!

I tried out the embroidery feature on my machine, too. I should really read the manual more thoroughly, but luckily, this machine is pretty user friendly and sewing is a bit like riding a bike, or is it a horse? Anyways, I was 1o when I last sewed with my grandmother; and that was nearly 20 years ago in case you are wondering! Geeeeeeeeeeez. Now I feel old.

Here's a little sneak peek at a couple of my creations.

This one (above) is for sweet baby Maia (mycousinamanda's little peanut).

And this one is for my dear friend Kimberly's baby boy who will hopefully make an appearance any time now. Those are his nursery colors. So cute!

Must... go... sew...now.

It calls me.

So Embarrassing

One of the joys of teaching is that the yearbook photos continue long after one graduates. Today was picture day at school. Over the years I've learned what works and what doesn't. For example, one must wear slightly more make up than usual to avoid looking washed out, etc. But this year I just wanted to make sure the dark circles under my eyes were concealed.

I didn't get much sleep last night. Not going to name any names, but a certain person who dwells in the Casa and his buddy from out of town partied a little too late and loudly last night and went to bed slightly before I had to wake up and go to work. I woke up tired and cranky many times, and I was exceedingly tired when my alarm went off. No sleeping in, though. I had to shower and make sure my hair was perfectly coiffed for picture day. Then I herded students all day.

Fast forward to this evening. I was exhausted and tried to take a power nap when I came home, but I just couldn't sleep, my back hurt, and I was on the verge of tears as a result. The dogs were out of food and I had to go to Petco to get the particular brand they eat. So I left the house on a mission.

I was speeding. 57 in a 45 and I looked in my rear view just in time to see the cop flip his lights on. There was no shoulder, so I had to turn around and park. I just turned the car off in defeat and as the cop approached my car I knew that I couldn't hold it together. (I should note that I've NEVER cried when pulled over. Crying isn't my thing. I just suck it up and hope for mercy.) As soon as the officer asked a question that actually required words rather than nods, I lost it. He asked why I was crying (suspecting crocodile tears, I'm sure, but then the flood gates opened and I became a bawling, sniveling, puffy faced hot mess. He kept asking why I was crying and all I could manage was "bad day" "not enough sleep last night" between pathetic sobs. He took my driver's license and insurance and went back to his car. Then I really lost it. I'd almost pulled myself together when he came back and proceeded to try to talk to me. He was really trying to find out why I was so upset. Battered wife? Child murdering, bi-polar, postpartum mom? Then he asked if taught at the high school, what subject, his mother used to teach there, etc. He must have seen the parking sticker on my rear window. Poor guy.

He was so so nice and let me off with a verbal warning. He told me there were two reasons why he was granting me leniency: one, because I was crying, which he said normally didn't work. I tried to thank him between sobs and tell him that I am not normally such a mess. He never told me the second reason he let me off the hook. I am sure the melodrama was making him uncomfortable. My face, I am certain, was streaking with all that extra makeup I put on for pictures and I was thankful I had gone back in the house for my sunglasses prior to setting off. My nose and lips were red and swelling and I just could not. stop. crying. I cried all the way to Petco, wore my sunglasses inside the store looking like a total d-bag, I am sure, just praying no one noticed and asked what the matter was. I was SO embarrassed.

I felt like such a baby. But after my good cry, the tension in my back went away and I think I will sleep like a baby tonight.

Buy Amish, Yo!

Remember last post I mentioned needing, okay, wanting this PB Project Table?

Well, even though it is on sale, it is still too expensive to justify purchasing, so I checked eBay for similar concepts. I'm not too picky. I just like the dimensions and functionality of this design... storage on both ends, counter height, etc. So imagine my delight when I found this at half of the PB price...and it is handmade by some Amish folk up in Pennsylvania. Even better! I am completely in reverence at the workmanship and work ethic of the Amish. Hopefully, they don't disappoint, 'cause I bought it.

After much deliberation between antique white and black finish, I decided on a wood stain. I don't have any white furniture and thought it might not go with the slate tile. We have dark stained wood for most of our other furniture and the dust is visible ridiculously fast (and we all know I am not johnny-on-the-spot when it comes to cleaning). So a medium stain it was! I think it will be similar to the color in this photo. Maybe a tad lighter and not as orange. I'll post pictures when I get it.

Busy Busy, Baby!

Sorry for my lack of blogging lately. I have been busy with back to school and dealing with the tragic and untimely death of our poor Harry boy. He was snatched up by a coyote when Joe let him out on the morning of September 1. It was the perfect storm. That is all I can say. He was the sweetest, most cuddly dog and we are definitely feeling the void. Oskar is keeping us laughing though. Harry taught him his signature "Boing" move, so he lives on through Oskar.
Look at this sweet face...
(We are fencing in a part of our yard for the safety of Oskar and Pheebs and peace of mind.)

In happier news, mycousinamanda is having a baby girl! Yay! She's on her way back to the states from Japan as I type, and we will host a baby shower for her and sweet baby Maia. I love this baby so much already.

I was feeling crafty and wanted to make a diaper cake to use as a shower decoration and gift. After a little research on good ol' Google, I found several different methods and supply lists and went shopping. I LOVE shopping for babies...I mean..it's a little sick how much I enjoy buying baby things. I think I could just shop and make things for babies and be happy.

So here's the diaper cake without all the receiving blankets and ribbon. The jungle theme is inspired by an Alexander Henry Juicy Jungle print blanket I saw on Etsy. I used a rolled minky stroller blanket as the core for the first two layers and rolled and wrapped newborn diapers around it. They are so tiny and cute. I thought about putting one on Oskar just for fun. But I didn't. Just ignore that one diaper with the hole cut in the bottom.

I just eyeballed it and didn't bother counting for the 3:2:1 proportion. This is also why I cook, not bake. The top layer is formed around a washcloth set I found at Marshall's. Love that place!
This is what the cake looks like now. It still needs to be smoothed and the rubberbands need to be replaced with ribbon. The animals need to be secured to the cake. And it needs more bows, of course...maybe some tulle on the base.

And guess what I am getting for my birthday? A sewing/embroidery machine! I've been wanting one for a while. Joe was a softie (and maybe a little tipsy from watching college football all day because has a kegerator now...what? It has a stainless steel facade...so that makes it classy, right?) and he ordered it early. I should have it next week so I can turn those plain white onsies into something cute! I saw this onesie dress tutorial and I think I am going to try it. Hmmm...now I need this project table from PB. It will look nice next to the kegerator in our office.