Happy Zombie

Pics from my iPhoto… odds and ends of things that crack me up, inspire me, embarrass me and make my heart swell.

In Portland, Oregon in the South Waterfront district - peppered with train/trolly tracks.   I love this sign.  Though I am puzzled that the bike has no front tire.  Maybe the sign means, “Caution: Ride with all tires” or “Beware of floating tire thieves”.

Five Guys in Beaverton, Oregon.  It’s not every day I get to sputter things like “Let’s do 5 guys for lunch”.  Thank you to Jackie who suggested I try the hot dog there. WOW!   I’ve found THE perfect hot dog.  Mad love fest for the Five Guys hot dogs!   And yes, I really did want to word that differently.

Target in Walnut Creek, California.  Thanks a lot Wipeout.  Now every time I go to a Target - I have an urge to jump on the big red balls.   Shout out to Sarah… Good Day, and big balls.

On I-5 near Eugene, Oregon. Oh Land of Lincoln… you are so funny.  You really have to super-size this photo.   The best part… the couple in the car looked like textbook Norman Rockwell midwestern grandparents.  And also funny… this is a numbered plate.  You mean there’s more like this?   Watch out Missouri… I’d keep on eye on Illinois - they may have plans to copy (and slightly modify) your Show Me State nickname. EDITED IN: If you don’t have flickr or can’t read the plate… I’ve edited what it says on my photo’s caption here.

Lunching at Bagels by the Sea in Seaside, Oregon…. I caught the color fairies spreading a little color magic.

On I-5 near Mt. Shasta. The color fairies spreading even more color magic - and this time in my colors.

At my parents house in Walnut Creek.  Yes, it’s a bull.  Yes, it’s a chair.  Yes, we are an odd family.  After his recent trip to Australia to visit my oldest son and DIL - my youngest son brought me back a shopping bag from Oz.  He said he knew I was going to go gaga over it - and that I would probably blog it.  Yes - and yes.   Mission complete.

Sunkist Zombie - circa late 60’s. I hated my freckles as a kid.   HATED.  THEM.  Now I wish they’d show up more.  I guess if we had that stuff in the sky (sunshine I think it’s commonly called)… my freckles might just pop out.  Photo credit:  George George of Berkeley, Calif.  Oh yes, definitly circa 60’s.

Mami Zombie - circa late 30’s/early 40’s Germany.  I’m seriously ticked at my mom for not saving her toys for me.  I’m sure the captain of the Mayflower would have made room for the buggy.

Back to iPhoto… Amy of Park City Girl is getting ready for her next Blogger’s Quilt Festival.  It’s almost time to pick a quilt!

Wow, that’s a lot of f-words in my title.   I’ve always gotten a kick out of “fat quarter friendly”… very District 9-ish.  Like the fat quarter is either allowed or not allowed to mingle with the other fabrics. Anyhoo… this freebie is fat quarter friendly - my pattern that I promised to share on this post.

Three fat quarters.  Three different versions for three different “pooches”.

I call the bottom corners “milk carton corners” (MCC) to make the bag “pooch” out. A poochie corner. I know there’s an official sewing term (anyone?), but this is what I like to call it. Plus I love milk, and milk in a little carton is just plain cute… and I highly doubt the official sewing term is going to be something cute - so suck it, official terminology.
- Moda’s Aviary bag has no MCC and is poochless
- Sandi’s Farmer’s Market bag has a 1″ MCC with a 2″ pooch
- Lecien’s Flower Sugar has a 2″ MCC with a 4″ pooch.

Milk carton corners not only alter the pooch of the pouch - but the height as well.

I like a chubby pooch.

“Baby Happy” is the quilt under the poochie bags.  All I can show for now - look for it at the Lecien booth at Market (and the free quilt pattern on Lecien’s website shortly after Market).   Another freebie from meebie.  And ALSO fat quarter friendly.  If there’s a Baby Happy… there must be a Momma Happy too.  Wink.  Wink.

You can get my free PDF pattern here. In the spirit of giving, please honor my disclaimer on the bottom of the pattern - thanks bunches. I found my little pattern to be fast, fun… and a good use for my ever growing fat quarter stash (they’re like bunnies - seriously… WHAT is going on in my cupboards!?). I’ve started a Poochie Bag flickr group - I think it will be fun to see all the fabric combos and what’s put inside the bags. And where the bags are going. And who are they for. And so on and so forth.  Hope you have fun!

Yesterday in the Pacific Northwest - the weather was hot, sunny and A/C worthy. Herr Zombie and I took a little trip inland to Battle Ground, WA for Barn House’s 2009 Fall Harvest and for Beyond the Garden Gate’s Vintage Gathering (also in Battle Ground). My mini sequel to last year’s adventure (Part I & Part II).

A sweet day with just hubby and me - a nice drive, seeing my friend Karen from TheCityWho’sNameICanNeverSpell and buying some of her incredibly awesome Cardamom Bread, hoping to see my friend Laurie and finally getting to meet her IRL (please notice that I typed that in a non-stalker font)… and for seeing all the harvest goodness and getting my harvest groove back on.

This vendor (The Olive Kat) at Vintage Gathering had THE most beautiful Pyrex display I’ve ever seen - and I wanted it all to come home with me (and I brought my husband with me why?).   I sucked at taking good shots, but I found some photos of their booth here (along with gobs of photos of the entire event).

Next stop… Barn House.   The weather was sunny and beautiful, but I was jonesing me some rainshine.

Sudden craving for some baguettes, balsamic vinegar, basil…

I wish this was my barn.  And I’d live in it.  And I’d hang my hat here.

Of course I’d have to have my TV hidden behind it. I may be able to live in a barn - but I do need my TV. My fantasy barn comes fully wired.

Continuing on with my living in a barn fantasy… this would be my spa slash bathroom. My fantasy barn comes fully plumed. And with a housekeeping and kitchen staff.

This would be my craft slash sewing room.

Oh beehive.  Shout-out to Nanette and Lori!

I know the actual arrival of Fall is still weeks to come - but I could really give an ess what the calendar says. Why?
1) My friend The Queen of Cuteness, aka Jenny - has released my long awaited dream blog, where I can live in AutumnLand year round at Owlsorts. Three words - Ooooh. Emmm. Geeee!

2) Fall at Casa de Zombie starts when I take a certain someone out of the closet and recycle him.

Jack’s coming out of the closet (again)- from 2006’s Halloween.   I know… it’s kind of like handing out stale left-over candy from last year.

No dust, no rot, no seeds, no funny smell.   Just Jack.  For your own recycled Crayon Jack, click here.

Tingle on Wayne… tingle on Garth.

First there’s laughter.
Then there’s tears.
And then I ’bout PF Chang’d my pants.
HI. LAR. IOUS!

Like one of those pharmaceutical tv commercials that speed fires warnings of the side effects - if you go to this blog you need to be warned:  Pee first, nightmarish images, adult content, laughing out loud, retina burning and time suck.  MOST IMPORTANT: Be-careful how you dress, act and drive in public - you could end up on that blog. Sewing while listening to FHFU is a dangerous thing.

Edited: The Atomic Aqua Potty is in Pacific Grove, CA. HOLY COW, I just looked at the date stamp and I took this photo exactly 3 years ago to the day. Anyhoo. I took it when Karen and I were driving around PG and Monterey - she was just planning her colors for her studio at the time. I would love nothing more then to lie and say THIS is where she got her inspiration for her colors. But alas, this photo was for my art assignment at our Artist’s Way *thing*. I love how it’s juiced up (good gawd, what were those construction workers eating that they needed electricity!), and made to look as though it was designed to be there. The painted plywood… yea, like totally fused as one with the potty.

Edited #2:
In of spirt of PeopleOfWalmart.com, big thanks to
Nanette and Lallee for providing links to more laughs at Cake Wrecks and Awkward Family Photos.

I love my iPhone
I love my toys

I love my hamburgers,
I love them animalized

I love my fries,
Dipped in mayo
I hear my arteries cry,
I don’t listen to what they say-o

I suck at poems,
I suck at rhymes…
This here post should be a crime.

I’ve been entrusted to carry out a top secret mission.  I’m like Agent 99.   I’m armed with a shoe phone and craft supplies.  My mission is to make some very special boys and girls know the world is their friend.   Actually, I’m more like Agent 40… if one were to count my secret counterparts.

Boy goodies.  Irony that I would be sexist. As kid I had dozens of Hot Wheels - and one crappy poser Barbie.

Girl goodies.  I’m enjoying my girlyside now at 40mumblemumble - I got a dolly for me too.

A stylist I am not.   Unless Wes Craven or Rob Zombie is hiring. Must learn to edit… like moving the scissors out of an inappropriate position.

Maybe Courtney Love or Amy Winehouse needs a stylist/photog?  ‘Cause I can do those sidewalk shots.

All packed up and ready to go…

where they end up… nobody knows. For now.

Idaho? Iowa? Indiana?  Is it worth trying to bribe me of info??? YES, it is. I’ll have instructions to make the bags when I get to spill the beans (when “Max” gives the ok). Happy Labor Day!