A Visitor, A Motorcycle, Some Peppers and a Lack of Crafts

Amy Scott moved away in 6th grade.  We were friends, but not really great friends.  But I imagined how hard it was to move so far away from everyone you know, so I wrote her a letter.  And she wrote me back.  And well, a few letters became many letters and eventually in high school it meant we were sending each other 20 page letters pretty much every week.  I have a few serious bricks of letters from Amy.  We still don’t see each other very often, and now she lives in Buenos Aries, so trips are rare.  But she is criss-crossing the country and stayed with us for the weekend.  We really didn’t do all that much other than shop and eat, but it was great seeing her and spending some time together.

She also needed some polyfil and wondered if I had any.  Ha!

Not to blame it on Amy, but I have not finished anything last week!  Ack!  I will hopefully remedy that this week.  However, I don’t have anything quick in mind.

Also?  Tim bought a motorcycle.

Holiday Weekend Traditions

This is my second year in a row going to St Louis for the weekend of the 4th.  I had just as much fun as last year, even more with the addition of Cynthia.  We watch fireworks, went swimming and picnicking at Johnson’s Shut-Ins, shopped, watched movies, drank beers and in general had a great time just being together.  Tim also spent most of the weekend with his childhood friends and made the trip to Holiday World!

Cynthia also received her apron (YOMS: Week 24), so the full picture:

P.S. It is really hard to take your own picture in an apron!

Year of Making Stuff: Week 24 and 25

Between 12 Hour Comic Book Day and the two other programs, last week was a bit of a blur.  And now I can’t believe that tomorrow is Friday and this week is almost over, and that July starts next week.  Crazy!  I love summers here, but it is going too fast.  Last weekend was Taste of Bloomington and a fun night out with the girls.  And tomorrow I get to see Steph who will be down from Indy!

So this was finished somewhere between last week and this week, but it is a gift to be delivered next week for Cyn (very late Birthday), so here is a sneak peak.  I bought the lemon fabric while we were in Chicago.  So cute!

And since last week was running so late, I am ahead of the game for this week.  Sharpie Tie Dye!  Ok, so it was a program that I did with some teens at Ellettsville, but I love the way it came out and  I was in desperate need of a new night shirt.

yARR

Yarr.  So I’ve been looking for a new pair of flats latey (well you know, in a very half-assed online sort of way) and finally came across the ones that were perfect today!  Oh, except for the fact that they were $180.  Guess I’ll keep looking.

I have the next two days off….reading, knitting, bike riding, gardening, art show visiting, party going, friend seeing, sleeping, music listening and kitty playing to commence now!

Year of Making Stuff: Week 19

From the book Zakka Sewing: 25 Japanese Projects for the Household by Therese Laskey, Chika Mori, and Yoko Inoue, a Christmas gift from Thiên.  Due to space constraints, we don’t have night stands, but some cube shelves that do hold books, alarms, water glasses and whatnot.  It is the whatnot that was looking a little messy.  This fabric basket came together in about an hour and was really easy to make.  It is really deep, so I may play around with the dimensions in the future, but is just right for my little space!

Tim and I bought plants today to fill in the rest of the garden.  Sunshine is in the forecast for tomorrow!

Reflection

Me in sunnier days last weekend in Louisville.

I am thrilled with the amount of lush greenery around these parts, but really?  With all the rain?  I could use some sunshine.  I don’t want to use the phrase brick wall, but I am needing some inspiration for new things for the Year of Making Stuff.  Maybe its time to pull out the craft books and the post-its.  Or maybe I should make a list of things I want to make.  I also have a hard time sometimes thinking that people want handmade stuff.  Anyone want anything?  (well, you know within reason)

Year of Making Stuff: Week 18

I was probably 10 when I read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and wanted to make my own origami paper cranes.  I never learned.  Fast forward 20+ years, I finally founds some instructions that made sense in a book (go figure!) and now I am a wicked paper crane maker.  These doorways lead to my sewing room and Tim’s office and until earlier today still had a snowflake garland hanging up.  Spring is here, and it was time for new decor.  It took a few tries to figure out best how to hang these suckers (fishing line, finally), but they look colorful and well, spring like.  Week 18: Paper Crane garland.

Also, for week 16:  A bookmark for Regina, complete with her favorite Simpson’s quote.

Tim and I also got to visit Ashley and  her sister in Louisville on Saturday which was a great little road trip after Tim finished his finals on Friday.  The students have (mostly) left and I am in love with Bloomington all over again.  I think it was that first summer I lived here that I truly loved this town.  And tonight a meeting about a new craft group…details to come, but I am really excited!

Also?  My sewing machine cozy ended up on the Sublime Stitching blog…check me out!

Happy Mother’s Day too!

Year of Making Stuff: Week 16 No Photo Yet

I skipped making anything last week due to work and leaving town, but will make up for it this week by making TWO things.  Item for Week 16 (last week) is finished, but will be in a surprise package that will be shipped at the end of this week.  Photos to follow early next week.  Item for Week 17 (this week) is in process and will also be done this week despite having to cut the main fabric part 4 TIMES.

Savannah is a beautiful city, and I was so happy to be there for Regina’s party.  A beautiful city, perfect weather, homemade southern cooking, good company and some sweet-ass sweet tea are the perfect ingredients for a long weekend get away.  I really needed it.

Schoko-Bananen is a banana flavored candy covered in dark chocolate that a co-worker brought back from Germany specially for me!  I adore it, AND its fun to say.  I think the world would be a better place if there was more banana candy and all beauty products smelled like grapefruit.

Tim is in the final stretch for his papers for the semester.  Send good thoughts.

Spring Weekend Getaway

I am getting ready to go to Savannah tomorrow to celebrate Regina’s BIG birthday.  I am really looking forward to a weekend getaway, seeing friends, and visiting a new city, and in the process hoping that Tim gets lots of quiet time to finish up his semester.  But maybe he could also squeeze in some time to plant these snow peas too!  I haven’t had a lot of experience growing from seeds, but these guys are finally up and ready to go.

In Year of Making Stuff…I may just have to make TWO things next week and call it even.  I was going to pack my knitting, but forgot it at work.

Also?  Friends make you healthier.  Not just in mind, but also body.  Who knew?

Sunny Spring = Outdoors

This spring has seemed a little damp, though maybe I am still getting used to midwestern weather patterns.  Today was cool, but SUNNY so it was spent outside.  A hike in Brown County State Park with Jenn and Cean, clothes on a new laundry line outside, work in the library gardens and even digging dandelions all seems so sweet when done in the spring sunlight.  Lest I complain too much about the rain, it does make everything GREEN.

Tomorrow, three types of lettuce and arugula will go in my garden and photos of my sort of lame weekly YoMS project.