Gratitude is free, this craft, around $4

Dinner was at my parents' house, with my sisters, brother in law and all of us, except the Big Kid.  He was otherwise engaged, but there "in spirit" via a text message he sent me with the four things he was grateful for.  I got this idea from Chica and Jo.  I wasn't able to get the wreath form they recommended, so I just used what I could find.  The girls painted the clothespins with minimal supervision (meaning: somewhat carelessly).  When they dried, we took each three or four and wrote what down things we felt grateful for.  It was interesting, afterward, to hear what others said, and try to figure out who said what.  My mom put her glasses back on to read them and exclaimed, "Who said lazy weekends!  Oh! Long Hugs, that's definitely K****!"   She was right.  I am grateful for my family every day.  Even the days spent in shoe stores where I am repeatedly embarrassed by their loud raucousness.  [They think they are rock stars.]

I have been thrifting...[part 1]

September 18 (ish)

Also, sept 18 ish-

the Book has a great line, "Space is so close, it only took eight minutes to get there and twenty minutes to get back."

this is October ish, and yes, that's my shoe, on my dining room table.  Don't judge, it's hard to get these shots.

I don't remember much about this lot, except those shoes were too narrow for The Man's feet.

Half of this stuff totally worked out, including the sweater with the rip in the sleeve (those pics later) but the dress was way too small, and the jacket fits slim and I have no idea what to wear beneath it.

This day, I just needed to shop.  I still haven't figured out what I am doing with some of this stuff, but it all knew my name and called out, "Antoinette... take me home."

Dancing is free. My kids get down.

My kids often say, while in line at the store, "Mom!  I like this song.  Can I dance?"  Oh sure, dance your little hearts out, I say. Until they bump into something.  They are such fun kids, how could I deny them a dance?  It's free, and it's easy.

I have been listening to "This Is Your Brain On Music" [audiobook, I just put it into itunes yay].  It discusses one of my favorite ideas: that dancing and singing are as innate  for humans as walking and speaking, but, many people are convinced in childhood, that they "can't sing" or "can't dance".  I think that many kids hear it from their peers, as if a five year old is an authority on future musical ability.  And even if they were: singing and dancing like a professional isn't necessary.  Even the minimally skilled can benefit from a good dance fest.  Right?

Blog, I missed you, and don't know why I stayed away.

more on this picture of my great grandparents later...

Well, this blog thing has walked away from me.

But, I've been doing well with my "old" goals.  My still current goals: going back to school, getting into better shape [being more health conscious], and organizing organizing organizing...

I'm in my second semester at my local community college, and doing well academically.  I do find that I have little tolerance for nonsense from my fellow students and even less for the instructors.  But I'm slugging it out, have made a few friends, and generally it has been a positive experience.  It has not been good for saving money.  Yes, I'm going to a community college, but that part isn't money saving considering the financial aid I am getting, and the fact that I have to spend so much money on transportation and food on the days I have school.  I am crunched for time four days a week, and the only way to make it up is to spend money on convenience or use up precious time on things that don't "need" me: like meal prep... Good thing I'm taking yoga or I'd probably have gained all kinds of weight.  My Man is adapting to an entirely new situation, and that's gotten much better over the last few months, and getting better everyday.  

A lot has happened in the year since we've moved back to CA.  I want to share some things and start keeping the blog up.  So.  I admit that Facebook posting is easier, and where I tend to do my bragging, bitching and commiserating, but I'd rather "talk" more here, than share tidbits there.  Of course, I'm still there.

Here we go again, I hope you're with me, but I am telling myself that the exercise itself has value, and perhaps that will help push me to post more regularly.  

A Birthday Party in King Arthur's Court, prep

So much sewing, because, for some reason, masochist/perfectionist/cheapskate that I am, I decided that plastic or paper treat bags are beneath me.  I thought that fabric bags, that I could make from whatever scraps I had already laying around (note that this entire project made just a wee dent in my fabric stash) would be far nicer for our guests.  Actually, after the first three bags, this went very smoothly, I gave myself a quota of three a day two weeks in advance, after ten bags I skipped two days and did the remaining ten over the following two days.  The red bag was a custom request from Iz.  There was just barely enough fabric for the bag and strap, so hers was unique.  The other fabrics were from curtains that had to be cut down to the proper length, scraps from previous projects, and a pair of pants that I was never ever ever going to wear (though the were made from a fabric I fell in love with.

(My feet are in this picture because somehow I forgot to crop them out.  Please do not look at them.) I used heat n bond, felt, and clip art images to make these banners.

Initially we had decided this design would be perfect for shields, but shields suggested swords and, while I am not afraid of a few wooden sword duels, we agreed that other parents may not feel the same way, and this was inviting some kind of terrible kid party shenanigans.  So I just used the idea to make a flag.

A whole day of thrifting w/ Mr. Man

From St. Vincents.  $9.25

Yes, those are Winton cookie cutters, along with a wooden magazine holder, little wooden apple dish, Japanese tea storage box, National Geographic, girls jumper, ash tray/dish, glass, glass lidded jars, an ice cream scoop, and fabric cutting/measuring mat.

Hospice thrift store

two quarter sleeved cotton shirts, Happy Bunny poster, elephant print handkerchief, small Van Gogh poster, three books: Dutch, Wildflowers of Yosemite, Birding, and Smithsonian magazine.

 Hospice Thrift Center -total $25.42

rocking swivel chair, yellow plastic chair (has since been spray painted blue, but the legs aren't done yet)

 Madera Thrift Center -just under $10

suede jacket (75% off), to be taken apart and used for crafts, little Japanese doll, party book, 2 non-fictions books, children's book, japanese character bag, blank journal with snapping cover

WHOO!  That was fun.  We only had about 2 hrs, and it was not a sale day, but it was also a no kids 2 hours, since they are both in school now.  *Happy Sigh*

Cleaning up and finding treasures

Well, I feel like I deserve a round of applause.  

This is the sewing area of my craft room.  Some day it will be more organized, but now it is ready for sewing, and I have quite a bit of sewing to do.  

I found all sorts of odd bits and pieces; there were things I had been looking for everywhere, things I forgot I had, and things that I discovered with glee and awe.  It also reminded me of all of my abandoned projects.  

Which I promise to dig out of the mess and restore to current projects.

The blue thread holder shelf is my one of very few purchases at the Treasure Island Flea market.  It had a slightly lumpy stain, but I saw it's potential immediately  So I tossed a fiver at the nice lady with a big hat who was selling it and ran off.  Once home, it was sanded, primed and painted that lovely Lowe's clearance rack blue.  It's more "baby blue" than I thought it would be, but I like blue, so it's OK.

The cassette organizer has been adapted to hold mint tins (I just removed a few pieces that made the rows so narrow) with buttons and notions.

And all the miscellaneous toys I found along the way line the top.

I just want to go in there again and stare at it.  Or, better, SEW!