Happy Zombie

Twitter… not just for getting traffic updates or reading what Stephen Colbert wants for breakfast. Every now and then Twitter shines in this amazing and powerful way.  Like watching a snowflake turn into a snowball.  I saw Kathy had tweet’d “Iraqi Bundles of Love, a project to distribute sewing supplies before Kristin’s husband departs Iraq” along with a link to here.

I read Kristin’s post, and that led me to her husband’s blog Iraqi Bundles of Love (aka IBOL) with more info.
What to do.
How to do it.
When to do it by.
I’m so in. In. In. IN!

I lovingly wrapped up tons of fat quarters and yardage, and even added one of my Strawberry Delight needlebooks.  My yellow ribbon was intentional and symbolic.

Something magical and wonderful happens when you Give… you immediately Get. Big time. The Get is always bigger then the Give. And an empty shelf in which to buy and store new fat quarters and yardage on… that’s gravy.

Posted in Do Something | 33 Comments

Not too long ago I became the caregiver to three new darling books.  Not just darling darling… but vavavavoom DARLING DARLING.   Quilting in No Time, The Perfect Apron and Super-Cute Crochet remind me of Japanese craft books, but with one notable difference… I CAN READ THEM! Either they’re written in English - or I’ve gained a super power over-night and am now fluent in Japanese.

My crocheting history is that of some granny squares I had to try (remember the Granny Along?). I’ve had my eye on amigurumi ever since I discovered it a few years ago. But I didn’t know how, and crochet instructions/patterns might well have been penned by Tutankhamu. Super-Cute Crochet promised me, “Learn the Japanese art of amigurumi or how to crochet cute small animals”. I’m in.

I had the same feeling when I learned to drive a manual transmission - that I had when I learned the mysterious crochet code. The secret handshake known only to crocheters. Euphoria. I learned something I’ve been yearning to learn.  And now I can make eggs.  I feel like the world is my oyster now.  Meh, now I can make oysters if I want to. I’m drunk on empowerment.

But for now, I can’t stop making eggs. Where ever I go… I’m making eggs. I have my little tote that Lisa made me a few years ago - my official hatchery 2-go.  Road delays? No problem.

Come to think of it, I don’t know why I’d want to make snot in a shell oysters… when I have Pickle the puppy at my finger tips.

I think I can.
I think I can.
I think I can!

Posted in Quilty n Crafty | 33 Comments

I discovered I could reinvent myself in the past.  I’m totally diggin’ the ‘54 look for me right now. How cool am I in 1954.  SERIOUSLY.   I can’t stop looking at my ‘54 nerd-self but cool in ‘09 look.  Of course I’d never be able to pull that off now-a-days… one has to be a member in the League of Super Cool People for that look.  But I can pretend.

Me through the years:
1962 - Off to college to get my M.R.S.
1964 - M.R.S. on hold.  I discover fast cars and faster boys.
1984 - I discover that my parents are Sigfried & Roy and a lion.
1996 - Farm reporter on a local Iowa NBC affiliate.
1998 - The year of my gender identity crisis.
2000 - I go on a break with my boyfriend and hang out all day with my friends a the local coffee house.

Thanks to the Triplets for turning me on to YearbookYourself.com!

Posted in Stuff | 34 Comments

Going through my iPhoto’s 12,320 photos, I spot many photos I’ve never done anything with. They just sit there - waiting to be seen, waiting to be shared, waiting to be used. Like food that keeps getting shoved further and further to the back of the fridge.

When life gives you ingredients… make casserole.

Rainier Cherries.  Not just delicious… but oh so pretty.  Speaking of cherries… how ’bout that Mary Engleblog!

And one with a little junk in the trunk.

Chaos at dusk (my flash went off).

Less chaos at dusk (and holding my flash pop-up down).

Le Mona de Dollypop on my shelf-o-joy - darling-gasp-cute-gasp-adorable Lemon Dollypop made by Jenny.

PerezHilton-ishy fun with my iPhone app called MyPaint.  A secret known to only a few… Pam is my beverage buddy.  Yup.  We’ve shared hundreds of beverage phone pics between us.  Because this is how we roll.

My lunch at the Daily Cafe at OHSU’s South Waterfront campus in Portland.   A grilled panini with brie, pears, watercress and caramelized onions with a navy bean soup chaser.  And milk.  I always have milk.  This is NOT your grandmother’s hospital food.

Boy’s Day (May 5th) at Uwajimaya in Beaverton.

Girl’s Day (March 3rd) at Kinokuniya Books - every day is Girls Days when I get to shop in the craft section at Kinokuniya.

Goofing around at HomeGoods in Goodyear, Arizona.
THINK FAST, Karen!

Good catch, Karen. Good catch.

My paraphernalia. And I mean that exactly as it sounds.

And now I must nap.

Posted in Stuff | 21 Comments

When Kari of ArtsyMama said she was hosting a Blogging For Bliss party to celebrate the official release of Tara Frey’s new book, I honestly had no idea how an online party worked. I still don’t. So I RSVP’d and said I’m makin’ and bringin’ my deviled eggs. I don’t know who else is bringing snacky snacks, but you can visit all the RSVP’d guests on Kari’s sidebar under “BOOK RELEASE PARTY BLOGROLL”. Got to all of their blogs and DEMAND some party food.  I was hoping to have the B4B book from Lark to prize-off by the time I made this post - but it hasn’t arrived yet.  I guess that means another post, and another couple dozen deviled eggs to make.  I may even make Rice Krispy treats for that post.  Stay tuned.

There are 50 bloggers who contributed in Blogging for Bliss, so you KNOW it’s chalk full of great info. A must have book for all bloggers, especially a new blogger or someone jumping into blogland.  I’ve already recommended it to people who’ve asked me about blogging.  I LOVE THAT!  Blogging for Bliss to my rescue!  And thank you Queen of Cuteness Jenny for the adorable allsortsified B4B button!

I’m privileged and honored to be featured in Tara’s book.  The best part - is being featured along with some of my greatest friends…. like my flat mate page mate Happy. I love how Happy Loves Rosie and Happy Zombie were featured on adjoining pages. How happilicious! Now to convince my page mate to ship me her amazing Happy Shabby Vintage Caravan!  The way I look at it,  Happy and I are practically family now - I see no reason for her not to share her caravan with me (other then the Atlantic Ocean being a wee bit of an obstacle).

Mmmm… do I smell beans n weenies???

Posted in Stuff | 21 Comments

Something’s going on. There’s been a rash of Trunky-business in NorCal lately.  A trunkidemic.
You know you’ve arrived, when you see this person on a roadway snapping your photo - and this person providing the production support.

High-jinx and video tape… a bit of quilting, a bit of comedy… and a heaping spoonful of Al Roker. ALex ROKER.

Something’s going on over at The Quilt Show… a sneakie peakie on The Daily Blog.

Help.
I’ve fallen in a trunk and I can’t get up.

Posted in How I Live, I Heart California | 18 Comments

I feel like my summer so far has me sitting on a bus-stop bench, while my friends whiz by me on to their super cool destinations. Damn bus… where are you - I want to catch up with everyone!   Ok, maybe it’s best I don’t get on that bus… we just sped through 5 GLORIOUS seasons of *Six Feet Under - maybe I should keep a safe distance from buses.  But sadly, now after all that 6′U watching… I’m saying “shit” excessively - all in the hopes that I’ll hear Ruth Fisher trumpet, “LANGUAGE!”.

More summer fun to come, but this is what I’ve been up to so far:

=NOSHING=
Five Guys.  LOVE THEM.  Seeing Prez-O’s OTR lunch on Inside the Obama White House had me drooling.  We discovered a Five Guys in Beaverton, Oregon and fell in love.   As did my Al Roker head. Instantaneously… fell. In. Love. It’s not In-n-Out… but it’s a fantastic stand-in.  I have no idea what the peanut thing is all about.  I’m guessing there was a sixth guy, had a falling out, now disgruntled, super allergic to peanuts - peanuts are positioned at the entrance to keep Guy6 out.  Just guessing.

=VISITING=
Early one Thursday…

From up the coast comes dear sweet Sarah and her delightful girls “Priscilla” and “Lil Sis” - who arrive in HappyZombie Heights on the most beautiful Oregon Coast kinda day.  It wasn’t raining.

Tea.
Redwork Club.
AnnaLenaLand.
Wet Dog.
Elvis.

It was a magical day and I hated for it to end. The charming Lt. AnyoneCanQuilt and weinerific Miss Cowgirl Rosie came up too. It was a fun filled day with the AnyoneCanQuilt’s, and they are THE most wonderful family ever. EVER. Sarah has gorgeous photos and words here and here. Only one thing was missing from our great day - and that was having our third member of our Team LeFleur there too.

Tea time = blogging time.

Sarah blogging my Shelf-o-Joy (me pretending to be a newspaper reporter/photog… reporting the Royal Visitors).

Sarah sewed here. Ok, pretended.

=MIDSOMMER=
The Midsummer Scandinavian Festival in Astoria. I can never get enough pickled herring.  Or the Dane’s and their use of Lego people.
Or Krumkake.

Or the national costumes and the music.

Even though we are “Southern Scandinavian’s” during ScanFest weekend… DS representin’ the DE in the Scandia Haus.

=INTERMISSION=
Let’s all go to the lobby to get ourselves a treat. Mmmm. Flower Sugar. Soooooooooo tasty.

=PITTER PATTER=
Señorita Melvita de la Frita, aka Mel. Two new little feet pattering around (and freaking out my dog Madison - just hearing the click of her eyes makes her shake). I did it. I finally bought a full size Blythe. I kinda blame that silly lil’ Doe, I kinda blame Sarah.

But I’m so happy I took the Blythe (full size) plunge. Triskit not so much. Someone’s jealous.

I’m having a blast making clothes.

The real reason I bought Mel.

Sew fun.

=iPhone FUN=
I killed my old iPhone. Not on purpose. But ironically, it biffed on the day the 3G’s were released. So now I’m doing the whole 365 flickr thing, via my new iPhone.  I’m only on day six.  Shit. [Ruth: “Language”]. Crap. Three hundred and fifty-nine more days to go.

=SNEAKY PEAKIES=
I’ve been sewing - as usual, top secret stuff that won’t be seen until much, much later. This was a project I was asked to make. Something WAAAAAY out of my realm of reality. Itching to say what it is, but once it’s seen… people who know me will say, “You designed that… why?”   But I’m super happy with the way it turned out, and especially love my fabric choices. 

Jennifer Paganelli’s “Dance with Me” by Free Spirit.

Lila Tueller’s “Santorini” by Moda.

=PACKING & PLANNING=
I see In-n-Out’s in my future plans. And now I must nap.

*The house and property used for Ruth’s sister’s character in 6′U.. that’s my dream home/dream property/dream landscaping. Just putting that out there in case the universe is reading my blog.

Posted in How I Live | 30 Comments

While visiting George and Mary and their new goldie puppy Sasha… me in a panic (a panic that I wouldn’t get the iPhone out in time)…

Sasha! Naughty, naughty girl. Drop the scissors…

but wait until I take your photo!

Sasha - my cosmic dog twin?
— Runs with scissors
— Potty’s a lot
— Doesn’t follow directions
— Likes to play
— Gets into stuff
— Likes to sleep late
— Constantly thinking about food
— Makes a mess
— Runs to door when UPS, FedEx and DHL is knocking
I have a hunch I’m not the only one who’s a Sasha cosmic dog twin.  What quiltie craftie sewie artie peep isn’t?!

Posted in Stuff | 36 Comments

Bizzarro.

A mention of Mike Rowe on a blog post I did last year, lumped me in with Debbie Rowe on Bing.

I’m getting a lot of visits on my blog because of this. Must be weird to be looking up stuff on Michael Jackson - and then to land on this.

Of course now I’ve dropped even more names. I’ll be sitting at the best table at Mr. Chow  The Pig in no time.

Posted in Stuff | 24 Comments

… or to be more precise - a picture is worth the one thousand and fifty six other photos that are on my flickr.

Untouched photos taken of my Bunny Hill BOM block on my design wall.  My new Nikon D40 shot on the left - my Canon SD1000 shot on the right.  As soon as I saw the comparison, I KNEW my money was well spent on the Nikon.  Visions of the D90 had danced in my head, but now it’s the D40 accessories that dance in my head (with Bruno Tonioli providing the color commentary). 

And all these years I’ve been putting much of the blame on Oregon’s weather for my lousy shots.  Oh Oregon, will you ever forgive me?

Posted in I Heart Oregon | 36 Comments