Calamity Kim

The Artful Bird is Complete

The jasmine covering the lattice fence in the backyard is blooming it's little heart out and the heady perfume carries on the breeze all the way to the front yard. I can imagine it floating away toward my neighbors noses and I hope they love it as much as I do. The hibiscus, bougainvillea and my orchids are blooming too and it is so pretty outside I just want to be on my bike or walking these days.

I have been working a lot up until recently and am trying to get a lot of old projects finished up while I have the free time. This is a wren that I made using a pattern from Abigail Glassenberg's new book titled The Artful Bird. When I started it several months ago I knew it would be difficult but I was excited about making one since I had been waiting for what seemed like forever for her book to be published. I was doing well with it until I lost the tail section- I laid it down someplace and then couldn't find it. Like, um,  it was there one minute and suddenly gone the next! I had set it aside when I answered the phone and then just couldn't remember where it was. I searched for a while and even left a note for the husband to keep his eyes peeled- finally I gave up after Days went by (and then weeks and months!) but I knew that if I started another tail or wing section then I would find the missing pieces!

This past weekend I saw the poor pitiful bird, waiting, blind, wingless and forlorn and decided to just cut out new tail and wings and get it finished! So I did and it was fun and satisfying to finally complete the project. I used a vintage silk scarf that was reversible to construct the bird.

Abigail's book is loaded with different bird patterns and I look forward to making more some day. The directions are clear and easy to follow. I think I will try an owl next or maybe the lark which is quite whimsical. Check out her Blog which has fun projects like daffodils and goldfish made using felt.

Today I was cleaning up my guest bedroom which is also a craft room (for the stamps, paints, yarn and spinning supplies) and I let out a little screech when I found the tail and wing pieces laying on the bed! I couldn't have been more surprised! They were camouflaged in with the crocheted blanket at the foot of the bed and maybe covered a bit with a stack of whatever  (yarn, papers or books) that always seems to accumulate around the place. Just goes to show that the little house elf has such a wicked sense of humor! Either that or the early dementia has taken root and doing fine!

Anyway, hope you had a Happy Easter and are enjoying the weather where you are,

I hope to share more projects soon-

thanks for being patient- I have had some major changes in my world lately and there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the days to get everything done.

so it goes.

just another calamity,

love,

kim

Freebies for Crafters Blog full of links to great stuff!

Still not finished making stocking stuffers or ornaments?

I saw in my stats where this site had shared a link to my pillow fight bag pattern and so after I checked it out I knew I had to share it with you all. She does great links to all kinds of crafty blogs and I never would have seen this ornament made with felt by Betz White if I hadn't stopped by Freebies For Crafters. So,  y'all get on over there and see what you can find to make.

If you still have the strength, that is! I am sooooo tired! I did some shopping today and now I'm a wrappin!

Happy Holidays,

pass me some eggnog, won't ya?

calamity kim

A Thanksgiving Giveaway in Calamityville

first a little story...

Everyone in Blogville, the tall and the small, are writing their menus and shopping for giant roast beasts. They think thoughts of thankfulness as they prepare their feasts.

In a small pretend cottage, on a street in Sunny Sarasota, a woman nicknamed Calamity is making her lists and hurrying about through much needed raindrops. She wishes the sun would come out but is happy to have the rain. 

If you could sneak a peak into her home you would see that she has been busy, oh, so busy, making things and finishing projects and you would see her smile as she crosses each thing off her list. Right now, at this very moment,  she is writing something on her computer, her face lit by the glow of the screen as the rain dances on the roof and the words pop up before her.

It looks like the words are saying Thank You.

Ms Calamity must be grateful for something.

Maybe you can run around the yard and knock on her front door, distracting her while I look closer and see what this is all about! Just pretend that your dog is missing and ask if she has found any strays lately. I only need a moment- then we'll meet back here and I'll tell you what's going on.

Oh what fun! She is posting a Thanksgiving Give Away!

It seems that one of her Flickr Friends has written a book titled layered, tattered & stitched and after she wrote her to congratulate her on how wonderful the book is- her Blogging friend generously offered to give one away~ why, this is marvelous! Stupendous! So kind and thoughtful is Ruth Rae- Calamity can hardly, barely believe  she would make that offer and so after creating a small wee apron from the book she is going to share pictures and is writing all about it! Maybe I can take a picture of the screen and show you.

Thanks for indulging me in a bit of whimsy. Smiling as I imagine readers sneaking about my overgrown flower beds. I would be out chasing you away with the broom if I caught ya! Anyway. on to the good stuff:

I am thankful for all my readers who come here and visit with me each day. I try to provide some fun, a little whimsy,maybe something to make or do and a video or two. I wanted this Blog to be a place for me to be happy too- to share my hopes, dreams and wishes and it has been a wonderful experience so far.

I know what I am grateful for and that is my husband, and my son, who share my life and are supportive, loving and generous and always listen when I need to vent. They always talk me down off the ledge. They put up with my shenanigans, gnomes, fairy tales and procrastinations. They let me be who I am and don't tell me "I need to change to be better". They know I try to be a good person but accept my faults and shortcomings and don't judge me or love me from a distance. They let me get close enough to have a hug and hold me tight when I cry or am sad. They laugh with me or tell me jokes and love me no matter what. That's love. That's what it's all about.  I am thankful for 3 precious little boys in Clarksville that call me Nanny. I have friends who are also like my family- online and in real life and without them my life would not be the same. Every email and comment gives me joy and love and I thank you all.

So- to get to the heart of this Thanks Giving Give Away Post I would like to say that between now and Monday at noon everyone who leaves a comment and tells me one thing that they are grateful for will have an opportunity to win  a copy of Ruth Rae's new book, layered, tattered & stitched (maybe even autographed to you- I asked Ruth and am keeping my fingers crossed) and an apron ornament I made from the book. I had written Ruth to congratulate her on her wonderful book full of inspirational and soulful things to make and told her I was Blogging it and she offered to give one to one of my readers. How loving and kind is that?

I'm so Thankful for the ability to Blog and have my small little space here.

Thank you so much for sharing it with me.

Happy Thanksgiving and I'll be back on Monday to pick a winner.

xo, Kim

oh, the calamity!

where the glitter gets spilled, the fabric bolts and the glue gun is always smokin!

Makeshift

Natalie Purschwitz has a Blog called Makeshift where she posts her adventure in creating all of her own clothes for a year! I mean, EVERYTHING she wears is made by her own two industrious hands. She inspires my admiration, without a doubt!

Just considering  footwear alone would send any normal sewists running and  screaming for the nearest mall! If I had to make my own shoes I would be OK, probably, living in Florida- I could go barefoot until I braided some raffia and stitched up some sandals. Natalie lives in Vancouver and is not so fortunate. I would suggest she knit some boots and felt them. Not only would they be warm, they'd totally match her felted apron.

She started this brave undertaking September 1st so there is enough photos posted to get a rudimentary idea of her sense of style and while simple her garments appear to be comfortable and serviceable. I chuckled a little at the one piece jumpsuit uniform but had to admire the concept behind it.

I can't imagine making my own bras and panties and socks or tights.

I do think I would be inclined to play with different embellishments like embroidery, discharge dying, tea dying and thread painting to add some design elements to take the edge off the simplicity. But really, would you have the time if you were making all the cloths you wanted to wear for the week? Probably not! Best to keep it simple so that they can all be combined and layered together.

She has some rules that she follows, like not having to make the materials that her garments and accessories are made from so thankfully she doesn't have to weave her own cloth!

I love this silk apron over black dress that Natalie made for a gallery opening where she had all of her clothing on display. 

I am adding a link to her Makeshift Blog to my sidebar and will try to keep up with her year of creating her own clothing. Go give her a pat on the back and a round of applause!

I would love to make a commitment like that to creating something everyday, or week but it seems to be too much to get tied down to- maybe after all the Art Shows and Holidays I can think about making a bag a week or an apron a day or a quilt a month. It would certainly be a challenge.

I just wanted to share this with you before I go wrestle with some sock monsters and monkeys!

Remember if you are in the St Petersburg area Deb and I are doing the Artoberfest in St Anthony's Park tomorrow from 12-5pm at 1200 9th Ave N.

Here is a link to the Craft Heroes Blog to see the list of vendors.

I hope to see you there and I might just be wearing something handmade...but not everything, that's for sure!

Love & Stitches,

calamity kim

(photos of Natalie's clothing are from her Makeshift Blog)

tiny worlds

tiny world house 7, originally uploaded by Mimi K.

This is by Mimi.
Found on Flickr
Have you see her Blog?

To me Flickr is just that- a view into a tiny world where folks share their lives and art and food and photos.

I use it for inspiration- putting in words to search images and sometimes I find art that takes my breath away! Such as this work by Kim McCabe.

Painted directly on to the postcards they speak to me in a way that I find almost spellbinding. She sells her work on Etsy and these are long gone but I can keep them in my mind's eye forever once having viewed them. I love the age of the cards with the fresh perspective of using them for a canvas. I love small things. Art doesn't have to be gigantic in size to be appreciated in a big way. Here is the link to Kim's Blog named Curiouser & Curiouser. I hope she inspires you like she does me!

My Half Of The Brain Rocks!

I just found this really cool, well actually two really totally awesome cool blog sites.
Check them out- My Half of the Brain #1
and My half of the Brain #2
Great tutorials and projects listed. I don't think I have ever been there before- but if I have I can't remember and I would have thought I would have remembered that!!!!!
They oughtta keep you busy for a little while!
Happy Friday!
Calamity Kim

Welcome to Blogland!

One of the artist's I admire a lot (more than a lot, like mega-admire!) at Flickr named Cathy Gaubert has started a blog called Handmade and I want you to go check her out and give her a nice big welcome to Blogland. I added her link to my sidebar and a few other new ones as well.
I am like a ninja blogger sometimes- you know- sneaking in on tiptoe on my silent one toed socks to add things to the side bar in the small wee dead hours of the night. Or is that wee small?
I read a story about Margie's Mom at Resurrection Fern that brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. I love to read about loving moments in other peoples lives- I think that is one of the most amazing things- the love that is shared through Blogland.
 The humor.
The Art and Craft from the heart.
Seeking out like minded souls who share without concern of payment or theft of originality is rewarded when I find these Bloggers who honestly write from their inner place of self. It's not always easy knowing what to share or when to leave something unsaid.
I am like the kid in the front row at Art Camp who always has her hand raised, volunteering for brush washing duties because she is so in love with the colors of the paint and such a messy tomboy that watching as the colors merge and bleed down the drain is almost as fun as putting loaded brush to paper.
Not that I ever went to Art Camp...
I would love to have one though- just for my Blogging friends- (and a few real life friends- not to leave anyone out!) and have an Art Retreat and play and laugh and share stories and eat great food together and stay up late and have a pajama party. Do you know I have never been to a pajama party? Are they fun?
I know- I still could do it now but I'm not sure how to get rid of my husband long enough to set one up...naw, murder is too permanent...teehee...(I have been reading Daphne DuMaurier's Echoes From The Macabre late into the night, so forgive me jokes of muuuuddahhhh)
There is another new to me Blog I really like too called The Paris Apartment- she's young, hip and fun!
And this Blog is all shabby dabby delicious and I am in love with her pink velvet strawberries with pearl seeds.

Speaking of pearls I found the coolest thing yesterday at a Goodwill (I got the oil changed and rewarded myself with a stroll through GW before heading over to Picasso's Moon for some K&B) a Barbie dressed in a white crochet wedding dress studded with tiny white pearl beads- I fell in love with the workmanship of this dress but Barbie looks like a knockoff and as I bought it (for only .99) I decided to replace the doll with a new pretty and authentic Barbie and then after placing it on my bed and mentally gauging Fred's reaction I decided to just keep the part that I really love- which is the dress and hang it from one of the tiny hangers I get from Catherine Moore's Shop. (look under accessories- they are French Laundry Hangers)

The dress unsnapped and came off the Barbie no problemo! I will save the bottom just in case I decide to get another Barbie- maybe my Skully doll can finally marry the Mulder doll?!!( yes, I have  X-Files Ken & Barbie)
Now it's in my sewing room- I think the workmanship is top rate!
All the pearls are sewn in- it really is very nicely done- I think I admire crochet so much because my Grandmother did it and I wish I could too.
When you look around my room you'll see more crocheted clothing-
simpler times, right?
I was such a tomboy growing up I guess my Grandma didn't think I would want one of these dolls but I secretly always have admired them- the love that it takes to make something like this for the little girl in your life- maybe that's what I see when I look at it. I know that my Grandmother loved me, that's not what I am trying to say. I guess I feel sad when I see things at Goodwill that people no longer love. Like the island of misfit toys, they fell out of favor.
Maybe someone decided that little girl was "too grown up" for her Barbie crocheted wedding gown bed pillow thing".
Maybe she herself said I don't want this or had shoved it in the back of her closet and her Mom put it in with the donations because there needed to be more room for Bratz. Surely, I will never know, except that I was supposed to find it and give it a new home. It was the second time I had been in that Goodwill all year- having promised the Mr that I would make an effort to cut back on unnecessary spending- since it costs 92 bucks to fill up the Durango...it seems like it was meant to be or is that another justification on my part to try and mend the ripped and torn places in my own childhood dress of symbolism?
As I get older I seem to be drawn to collecting and making baby shoes, dolls, doll quilts and I buy handmade girls dresses when I find them just to look at the stitches so lovingly sewn. I never was much of a doll baby girl- not once I chopped their hair off and gave them pink marker cheeks- I then thought them ugly and ruined but didn't get new ones after that as a lesson.
 Tough lesson.
I still have them in the back of my closet.
The marker came right of with alcohol and the baby got a bonnet to hide her buzz cut.
All things come full circle I guess.
When I die my dolls and things will probably go to Goodwill too.
 I just hope someone like me is shopping there that day and falls in love.
Recycle.
Reuse.
Re-Love
Give.
Grow.
Stretch.
Share.
Tell Stories.
Celebrate Yourself.
Love One Another.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood- right girls?
and then Blog about it!
Love & Stitches,
Calamity Kim

Show & Tell or Don't hate me cause I have a bunch of wonderful stuff

Good Morning!
Here's your cup of Calamity!
Sit down and get comfy while I share a little bit with you.
I decided to take a few pictures today before I go needle down on some projects and tell you about what I received in my mailbox recently.
Or maybe I should preface that statement with something like- I bought a few things and then Mother's Day happened and then I bought a few more things and then a few friends gave me some wonderful things and now I am just dancing around happily with my arms and pockets full of love and my face is beaming and I am joyous to my core.

Sometimes my core gets all hollowed out and I start to cave in on myself and that's when I get on my pink bike and pedal fast with hair streaming behind me, pretending I'm on a sea foam green vespa in Paris...

Then I open my mailbox and generosity pours out and I feel blessed and LOVED. Packages from Betty @ She's Sew Pretty totally blew me away!

When I unwrapped it and saw the poodle fabric I had to sit down, for my knees turned to melted jello and my heart began to pound in a frightening manner. I had a brief moment of "wonder if I'm having a heart attack?" before I realized that I was indeed having a heart attack of  sorts .
 

Actually ever since I began Blogging and got my first comment and made my first connection with kindred women out there I have been having a sort of love affair with Blogging and Bloggers and am not sure if I have the words (or skill with them necessary) to describe the feeling of talking with other people who love the same things you do.

When I visit other crafty Blogs and see their latest endeavors or thrift shop finds I am genuinely happy for them.

It's like I was with them shopping or sewing and I can share in that feeling of accomplishment or joy at having salvaged some treasure that someone else fell out of love with.

That is one of the reasons I use old linens and crochet pieces- it extends their life and gives them an alternate purpose.

Instead of being dismissed as an old, ugly doily, it has now become crocheted trim on the edge of a pocket or neckline.

I always love the broken, chipped, stained, paint peeling, dusty, forgotten and forlorn. It reminds me of my Grandfather's bomb shelter or basement where treasure was always found tucked in an old tin or high on the shelf next to jars of rocks from Arkansas.

Betty gave me one of her lovely original pincushions, which you might also be able to find at her Etsy shop. There were buttons and bindings and a funky apron pattern that I had admired and then this bit of crochet that spoke to me and I know it will be happy when I use it in something wonderful.

These poodles make me so happy that I am not sure if I can get over the fact that she gave them to me- could I give them away?
I try to be generous and share but this is beyond belief.
My Mom had poodles when I was young and now she has a black one named Charlie who walks on his back legs all the time. I can just see him all dressed up like this getting ready for a night on the town.
Who is the designer, I wonder?
I love the colors and the groovy hats and chandeliers.
*sigh*
Thank you Betty, so very much. I had actual tears in my eyes and I know how corny that sounds, but it is true.

Next I'd like to introduce Milly.
She is made by Susan Mitchell.
This is her beau Antoine.
He brought her flowers. I had fallen in love with him and ran as fast as I could over to her ETSY shop after she showed them on Flickr. Talk about getting your heart rate up!!
I fell in love with Susan's work a long time ago on Flickr.
She is an illustrator of children's books and "a big deal artist".
I am proud and privileged to own some of her work.
(I bought the grand babies one of her books
and am always on the lookout for new ones.)
They will be so happy here at the calamity cottage.
I have lots of dolls and bears to introduce them to.
Maybe they will have a little tea party to welcome Milly and Antoine into the family. Also pictured is an old vintage yoyo quilt from my friend Sue Handman.
I am not sure what it will become part of but it has a destiny that it has yet to fulfill.
The lovely red riding hood cookie jar was a gift from Debra,
the owner of Picasso's Moon.
I went to knit and bitch yesterday and just relaxed in a cozy chair and had a really nice visit with my friends Barb, Cheryl, and Betsy.
A writer on the staff of The Observer dropped in and we chatted for a while with her and gave her an education of Fiber Arts.
She came back later with her laptop and interviewed us for a story she will write for the paper.
That was charming and exciting and I am happy for Debra to get some publicity and exposure.
It is a very enchanting spot to visit and there is so many beautiful yarns to choose from that it  reminds me of the cookie isle at Publix (I'm easy) or maybe I should say the rose garden at Ringling.
Colors of every tone and hue.
Textures from thick to thin and some sparkling with swarovski crystals.
The little houses quilt is what I received from the Doll Quilt Swap III.
It was made by Christie who lives in Australia.
Remember I mailed the chicken quilt to Sweden?
See, I am blessed, right?
You give and you receive.
It is always so much easier for me to give.
Sometimes when I get I feel embarrassed.
I feel really good giving.
My friend Karen says that's because I am a K.
People with names that begin with K are teachers and love to share knowledge. Interesting thought.
So then I bought some fabrics on eBay- yes, I won the wee play by Moda, that I was begging you all not to bid on.
I also got some Susan Branch Tea Party.
Then as if I wasn't already spoiled enough I also received some rick rack and trims from Vintage Cate.
Thank you.
I hope I live long enough to use them all.
If I get hit by a bus or fall down some stairs, y'all be sure and come over to the estate sale.
It will be a doozy I am sure!
Then we have more love from our daughter Lexi and the grandsons: Austen, Hayden and Dylan.

I cried when I opened the apron.

It is tiny and delicate and trimmed with silk ribbon.
The green is my favorite jadeite color.
The pictures of the boys are so delightful and she made the photo holder- I can carry this around in my purse and whip it out like all the other proud grannies!

The card is handmade paper with seeds in it and I can tear it up and plant it and flowers will grow. How magical is that?
Austen is getting so big and Dylan is the cutest baby in the world! Admit it- have you ever seen a handsomer sweeter smile than that kid is sporting?

Hayden is on the left in this one and more of Austen on the right.

There was more love in the way of Knitting for dummies and embroidered linens with birds and then a huge stack of coloring pages- nice job, btw!

They are going right on the fridge!

Are you as tired as I am? I am exhausted! This was a lot of work! I might be too tired to sew now.

Naw, just kidding!

I actually have to get some things wrapped up- I had two more sales at Etsy and am sending off some gnome love!

I am so thankful for this Blog and the opportunity it has given me to share with you and also receive back so much love and support and that means more to me than anything.

except maybe a bit of crochet or a little red.

Thanks for sitting here on the porch a spell.

Hope you come back real soon.

You never know what you'll find at the Calamity Cafe.

Love & Stitches,

Calamity Kim

c'est bonne!

I made great progress in my projects in the last few days.
Thank you for bearing with me.
I know the silence is hard to take.
Don't think I am ignoring you or that I have run out of things to share, because that simply isn't true!
I found these new Blogs tonight in fact and after saving them with bookmarks I went back and decided to take a moment to link to them so that you can check out the wonderfulness yourselves!
First, let me say, you should know about this magazine that I adore, called Marie Claire Idees.
I was doing a search on it, trying to find where it can be purchased in English and I found this Blog called the French Patchworker that mentioned a bag she had seen in an issue and improved upon.
The more that I read her Blog the more I fell in love with some of her Projects and that's when I found the link to this French Blog that is full of embroidery, cross stiching, quilting and all sorts of lovely handmade stuff.
well.
Then I saw the Atelier Rouge Quilts.
That's when I had to start bookmarking a trail back to these crafty chicks.
I really, really like the one block with the round world and the houses sticking up all around. Reminds me of these at Flickr.
I am filing this away for some future date when I don't have anything else to do.
They remind me of the Little Prince.
Can I go to Paris, now, please?
Maybe I can find someone to apprentice to and learn to be an expert quilter.
Remember when Daniel Day Lewis went to Italy and became a Bootmaker's apprentice?
Why can't I do that, except in France with stitching?
c'mon
You can go too!
teehee!
"S'il vous plait"

I can quit anytime I want!

85%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Taking some pictures and getting ready for a little show and tell on the Chicken quilt adventure...

Merci!

rose wellies, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

Thank you for commenting on yesterday's post.
I really meant to say,  that I want you to say how you feel, and talk to me.
With me.
Not having comments is like people coming over and silently taking a seat and never saying a word- like they are just watching me and I feel like I am wasting my time or what's the point?
The funny thing about Blogging is that you are sharing something so deeply personal with anyone who happens by- like leaving your diary out in the mailbox.
Should anyone happen upon it they may dislike what they find and be too polite to say so,  but to enjoy it and then sit down on the front porch, have a slice of cake and never introduce themselves is just too much.
That's all.
The friends that I have made here and the encouragement I receive from you who do take the time is a blessing.
This life is difficult enough without bringing more grief upon ourselves, so I don't expect you all to contribute all the time, but don't think for one moment that your opinion is not important or that I don't need to know what you have to say.
Blogs are a dialog between writers and readers and how wonderful is that?
Imagine if we could have read our favorite author's books online and then actually discussed it with them.
I wish I could have had a conversation with J M Barrie, L Frank Baum, Laura E Wilder, Jane Austen, E B White and so many others.
We live in a wonderful time.
I sometimes read Blogs and can only thing of one word:
Excellent!
Wonderful!
Enchanting!
Crap!
Hysterical!
Sad!
Awesome!
I think sometimes one word is fine.
The point is to reach out and share.
Otherwise- why waste your time?
I don't expect you to love everything I do or just compliment me- that makes me feel embarrassed- I am not glad handing you or asking you to just say anything to be nice. I want to sit on the porch with you and share and talk and laugh and comfort each other. Be friends.

If I could get you all to send me $10 each that would be great too!

Hahahaha! That's a joke.

Butter'n you up for something, right?

Remember on Grey's Anatomy- love me, choose me!

*sigh*

Today is a different day.

All I can say is ack!

I am full of pollen and can't get the frog from my throat today.
Please read quietly to yourselves.

You don't have to say anything.

I just want to know you are there sometimes.

:) love and stitches,
xxxooo calamity kim

Wearing Your Blog

Blogs can be so different and yet each one is interesting because it reflects the style and personality of the creator.
Like a hat, they come in a rainbow of colors and can be loud and exuberant or small and quiet.
Blogs take a certain amount of guts to write because with each word or picture the writer is leaving themselves open and exposed to any amount of criticism or negativity. Just like wearing a hat with a big bow. A giant bow shaped like your heart.
Sometimes no comment can leave you wondering what you said or maybe didn't say.
The silence can be deafening to someone with low self esteem...should they change this or that?

Maybe they are too dull or boring?

Maybe it's all been said by someone else in a much better Blog with clearer pictures and newer thesaurus? 

Or maybe they don't have time to say hi...maybe the  code for the robot bloggers has them perplexed?

Sometimes it seems easier on my second or third try.

xper3f7

sTu2mllq

Nope, um...maybe that was siu2mllq...
?robots?
hello Blog reading robots !!!
Glad you stopped by!

Are there lots of robots reading Blogs on their automated  lunch breaks?

I wish they could comment on mine sometimes.

Maybe I should try to return each and every email after each and every comment?

I know how much I appreciate the time it takes to actually leave a comment but maybe that is what I am doing wrong?

Maybe by not returning the time,  by stopping back at the reader's Blog,  I am committing some Blogging Sin and shall never be forgiven and will be in Blogger Hell forever? I am not sure that I get it.

If I only emailed, eventually I wouldn't have time to make anything and then what would I write about? I could show other peoples stuff, maybe?

I write and cross my fingers and hope and wish and try and try...

Maybe Blogs are like potato chips and nobody can read just one?

Skipping from Blog to Blog like dominoes falling into the rabbit hole.

How did I get here?

Where am I?

What kind of Blog is this?

Is this a fluffy Blog?

Full of yummy, sweet, cotton candy, that I will forget in moments after reading it?
Is it deep and substantial, like a Russian novel, able to make me think and emote and feel?

Is it young and inexperienced?

Old and unsure?

Does this Blogger love their Blog? Can you tell by the time they spend fixing it up? Do they know how to make a banner? Is it too difficult to learn? (Time. It's always the time or lack of it!)

Do they think about their Blog all the time, taking pictures for it and writing prose while daydreaming at noon or dinner at night?

Do they want lots of people to read it and comment or did they disable the comment box altogether, deciding they would rather keep it quiet?

Brave, they are.

Smart too- I was just at a Blog that had so many lovely images that I, too, loved and wanted to say- "hey! I really dig that !"- and couldn't because there was no place to comment.

What reverse psychology!!

Brilliant!!

How elegant.
How mature.
To be able to put it out there, let it go and turn away and not care if anyone has read it, or agreed, or likes them.

Does the Blog writer provide links?

Do they want to have you leave, and possibly forget to return to comment?

Do all Blogs get lots of comments or are  the double digits only for the famous, successful, well read Blogs?

Is this like  High School?

Do I feel somehow less successful because I have less than 10 comments or is it because I write too often.

Maybe I should just stop and wait a week or two between each post?

Maybe.

Sometimes I wonder.

Why am I doing this?

Because I want friends?

Because I am lonely?

Because I need a family?

Because I have to share my arts & crafts or I will lose my mind all together?

Crazy Calamity Caught Cutting Crepe Continuously Cackling!!!

Do I show you my real hat?

You would be surprised to know how quiet I am.

Shy.

Introspective.

Thinking deep and meaningful thoughts.

Do I come across that way?

Can you see me?

The real Calamity that needs to hear what a good girl she is.

That wants you to be proud of her.

That needs just a moment of your attention before she goes back to her needles and threads.

Did I make you happy?

Do you like my hat?

Does it make my head look too big?

I think each project could be better-

I could have spent more time...

If only I...

Maybe...

What if?

Doubt is like the wind, just gusting up in a gale and blowing your hat clean off your head!!!
Down the road and into a puddle.
That's the Calamity.
Again.

Spilled.

Burned.

Torn.

Bruised.

Thrown away.

Unloved.

Unwanted.

Unread.

Is there anything sadder than that feeling?

Looking over at all the kids huddled around the pretty Blogs with their fashionable colors.

Their new spring hats.

Mine are so dark and old.

Why even worry?

Why even let it touch my tired forlorn heart?

There is something about being able to do this thing- to write and create a corner of the world to shine and say hey- look at me!!!

To become known in a bottomless abyss of Blogs with so much to say is extraordinary!

To have any one find you at all in this world-Wide Web- more or less comment is amazing!

To know that I have given one person the incentive to create something or spend money on supplies they may never use is enough!
Right?
Hello?

Did you hear what I meant?

Did I say it clearly?

Did you know that this is a dialog between us and I am talking to you and I want you to talk to me too?

Don't think for one second that I don't care, that I am any different than you.

Looking down at my hands wondering how I will fill them and my heart today?

That's why I stay busy.

That's why I keep trying on the different hats.

Hats in this post are by the super talented and anything but : "Boring, Sydney" at ETSY. Go check her out and get your own hat!
I think I need a nap.
Or maybe a cup of tea.
hello?
Thank you to all my friends and constant readers- you guys make my day and I appreciate you very much.
The other mice in the corners (thank you Jude) can come out and say hi.
It's OK, really.
I want to say thanks for your time.
Now pass the paper towels, I just spilled more glitter!
I am just like you- only messier!

monkey with time, films and gifts. Monday Madness!

The sock monkey on the calendar gave no indication that this Monday would be any different than any other Monday.
Except, possibly, his straight forward glare might be mistaken for hostility,  for who ever had dressed him in such a ridiculous outfit! Or is that whom ever? My Son  has volunteered to edit my Blog for me and I am so grateful- one less thing to worry about! I tried for approximately 37 minutes to download pictures into Flickr, only to receive the ominous message- One of my pictures failed to download and with that the whole thing was returned to the load position.
How frustrating!
So I had to do it the hard way and re-size the pictures with Pixresizer and put them on the desk top. So, it's like that! Another Monday!

I was going to mention the change in time- how it always upsets my rhythm but I am sure you feel it too.
On the upside-it's the one time a year that all my clocks are set at the same time! They eventually all become off by 5 or 7 minutes depending on batteries and electrical storms and it can seem as though you are jumping through worm holes to go from room to room ...oh, where did I lose that five minutes? Oh here it is in this room!
I bet you're just on the edge of your seat dying to know what we did over the weekend? Oh, it's so exciting here at the Atomic Rancho Casa de Calamity! We watched movies- well Saturday was a bit lonely- Fred worked and I quilted/embroidered on the "shawl project" and I watched Pride and Prejudice and could not help but wish I was as thin and ethereal as Keira Knightly.
What a love story!
Anyyywayyyyyyyyy!
On Sunday we slept late- which was 8:30 but really 9:30 and decided to go to breakfast at a restaurant made from an old train station. You know the kind, built in 1852 in Kentland, Indiana and lovingly taken apart and reassembled here in Sarasota, complete with a miniature train above the  pastry  case.
The ambiance is nice and my favorite detail is the copper tabletops, stained with rings from drink glasses. We were a bit disappointed when we waited for 15 minutes and no one ever came to our table, and I finally got our own menus.
Then, after appearing and taking our order- our waitress came back after 20 more minutes and apologetically asked us what we had ordered. She was so obviously embarrassed and upset that we just shrugged and patiently waited.
We were entertained by one customer who looked like the bird lady in Mary Poppins but thinner and talked to herself non stop!(?)
When the hash and eggs arrived I wondered if perhaps she had  gotten on the bad side of the cook because she set the plates down with a frightened little grimace and a half-hearted "enjoy!"
It was fine and we enjoyed it- it is a treat to eat out and not have to do the dishes- I had been here once before with my friend Sue and had better service and food. Maybe yesterday was just an off day? Maybe it was her first day? I was a waitress for a long time and sometimes it isn't your fault- the best thing to do is to communicate to the customer though, what is going on, so that they know. Some customers are not as patient as we are.
I didn't take the camera- I wasn't planning on mentioning it, really.
I was going to post about some lovely gifts that I received while in Georgia and another once I got home.
Somehow, I find myself off track and not jiving with my pictures- y'all are used to that from me, by now, aren't you? Pictures that have nothing to do with the words? Sorry, I am scattered again! OK. Back on track;
We rented Across the Universe:), Sunshine:( and The Nines:0.
We had watched Michael Clayton:), Gone Baby Gone:0 and Mr Woodcock:( the week before. We also saw Martian Child:P, The Invasion :) and Margot at the Wedding:(.
Quite an eclectic group of films, even for us.
I enjoyed Across the Universe very much. It is like a collage with beautiful images that make you reverse and re-watch so that you get it all. I especially enjoyed the music by the Beatles but sung by cast members. The songs have always been brilliant and a legacy to the times they were written.
I thought that Jack Black could balance out Nicole Kidman in Margot at the wedding, and save us from another trip to Dogville but I was wrong.
Even on your most generous, best, "oh, this is a film" day do not attempt to see and enjoy this movie. Margot is not to be trifled with and  Jack cannot save this movie, no matter how hard he tries.
At least in my humble opinion.
I could be wrong.
The Nines had Ryan Reynolds playing three overlapping characters and we kind of enjoyed it- we "got it" but were vaguely mystified.
Like the box says- "you'll go 'huh?' but you won't feel cheated." That's a recommendation if ever there was one!
Oh, I cannot wait for tomorrow, when we can rent  Dan in Real Life and Bee Movie.
I'll keep ya posted. 
So, the good news is that I stitched through all the "films" on Sunday. The shawl is coming along. Pictures soon.
Last night we went for Chinese food and I got out of doing the dishes completely yesterday! Yee Haw!
Today, I will pay for it by catching up with laundry and grocery shopping.
I am going to explain the pictures now- sock monkey calendar, orchid blooming, reverse appliqué of my Calamity Kim logo on a t-shirt I made Sat while watching cartoons in the morning and then postcards from my friend and Blog reader Linda. They made me smile on an otherwise dreary day a few weeks ago when I received them. I love the 3-dimensional quality to these cards and have only seen them in books and pricey auctions on Ebay. So, thank you Linda, again, for your kind thoughtfulness. They are on display in my sewing room where I can be reminded of the good friends that have made Blogging so pleasant and enjoyable.
Then I showed off my lovely new flour sack towel embroidered and trimmed in lovely red & aqua quilt fabric by my sweet friend Vicki from Turkeyfeathers.
My Birthday was celebrated over at Flickr and although it was meant to be a virtual party, some people went too far and showered me with hand-made gifts and cards!
I love Vicki's work and this design is perfect for my kitchen!
I am humbled by the generosity and kindness that  transforms my life. Without this  blog I would have never met all of you, so thank you, again, for putting up with the ramblings  of a post-menopausal, coffee spilling, fabric loving, glue fingered crafty old cow-girl dreaming of Paris like me! Happy Monday, for heaven's sake! The boy across the street asked if our lawnmower was broken, so I guess I will get out there and mow...it's quite the jungle!   

Handmade Parade Vintage Pillowcase Challenge!!!

Check this out! I was reading this blog and found out about this challenge- You've got until Feb 15th to design a project using one vintage standard size pillowcase and send the pictures in an email to the lovely ladies at Handmade Parade!!! Go, on, get busy! Here's a copy of the rules:

1. Submissions must be received no later than February 15th and no earlier than January 15th.
2. You can only use one standard sized pillowcase (not king) and it should be a vintage piece.
3. Please email your entries to [email protected]

But- go click the link and read for yourself!

That's a Mean Cup of Coffee

Woke up so early today.
Must have been 6 am.
Still dark outside.
Why?     What?  ...Fred said.
Fred said rise and shine! Those aprons don't make themselves!
I mumbled and opened one eye to see his cheerful, happy, good-morning, obnoxious-please-go-away-and-leave-me-alone-self standing there with a cup of coffee for me in his hand and a kiss on his lips.
ugh.
Never have I been a Morning Person.
Never.
Grump. Grump. Grump!!!
I come alive at 3 in the afternoon!!
Except if I get up at the crack of dawn's ass, then I am looking for a nap at 3!
So, I took my coffee and with shaking fingers, logged on and started catching up with some of my favorite and neglected Blogs.
I have been so busy, with everything but that lately.
I miss it.
It seems ironic to me that when I started this Blog I wanted to be like my hero Bloggers and have free patterns and scintillating dialogs concerning crafting and thrifting and nurturing and post brilliant pictures of delicious recipes and possibly write a book and be in magazines and have doors open for me that prior to blogging seemed as difficult to enter as the opening credits to Get Smart used to seem.

So, here I sit without any pictures. (the one with the broom is from last year. I made that apron for my friend Amanda, who has a kitchen full of gnome love.) I went and took some and added them- I couldn't stand it!
No recipes (diet)
Nothing I can share because it is for publication and I can't breath a word.
All my dreams might just come true, but with a price.
There is always a price.
So, getting up early is one of them and I gladly, grumpily pay it to have more time to read my blogs and go make stuff!
It was a delightful weekend- it was even cold- 48 one day! I rode my bike and got out of the house and felt invigorated in the cool breeze!
I finally was able to get out of the bathroom, with a little help from my new best friend.
That's sinking pretty low- linking to a diarrhea medicine!
Where are the gnomes? Where are the fairies and sweet stories to carry you off to another enchanted place full of rainbows and unicorns? Perhaps they are here or here...
I have conflicting emotions about Blogging now- I used to complain and cry about my family drama, until it hurt someones feelings.
So I stopped "getting personal".
Then, I used to post pictures of my work as I created it and that got me an offer I couldn't refuse and I haven't been the same since!

Not that I am complaining. It is certain that the only thing that stays the same is change- everything is always changing. Just when you get used to it the way it is...here comes that flighty fellow, Mr Change.
Just shaking it up.
So, as I wonder what direction the wind is gonna blow next, I consider going back to bed, discarding that idea, maybe another cup of joe...

Reading Blogs Instead of Watching TV

It seems as though without the TV on I have a great deal more time to wander around in Bloglandia and I should be sewing, but I can't get myself up and in the right room.
I just came in here to scan some stuff for a project that I am working on and I thought, oh, I'll just check a few Blogs, like Tattered Saints and Fanciful Twist and Pandora's Button Box,  then I'll go right back to work!
Who am I kidding?
I like these new pieces I borrowed to show you from Tattered Saints and think you might enjoy visiting her Blog.
She thoughtfully posts a quote or two after every post and I admire that.
Go say hi! Give her a shout out! It's cold and lonely in her neck of the woods. Ask her if she ever finished her doll quilt...

I should go back to work...really... I have things to make and time is running through the hour glass....

Snow on Jude

let_it_snow, originally uploaded by onebyjude.

Jude has been busy creating winter wonderland scenes click here for her story

Chicken Blog Celebrates 1,000th Post with Fabulous Giveaway on her Blog- Run, Don't Walk to Her Blog and Leave a Comment NOW!!!!!Before Dec 11th!!!

If I could just have your attention for one moment. Please. Stop scrolling down, looking for more pictures. Come back up here and help me. I need some help with a very important matter. There is a very wonderful Blogger named Natalie who writes this Blog called Chicken Blog and today was her 1,000th post. whew! Now, she writes vivid, engaging, lovely posts and shares gorgeous pictures of her family and their adventures. I love to read her Blog. I know if you go there and read it YOU will LOVE it TOO!
She has never had more than 14 comments- and I don't ask that much, from you guys. But, I am asking you now, to do me a big favor and help Natalie celebrate her 1,00th post. Please GO VISIT HER BLOG AND LEAVE A COMMENT!!!!! Tell her hi. Tell her how proud you are of her. (I hope I am still blogging in 5 years- I can't even finish the Alphabet meme....what am I on D?) It will only take a moment of your time. It's your Christmas present to me- ok? Cause I want her to know that her Blog shines.
Just one small kindness is all it takes.
happy happy happy  
joy
take some and pass it along.
Here is the link or enter this in a search: http://www.chickenblog.com/
Thank you.
Go - NOW!!!!
(*<>*)

I went to visit her Blog this morning and she has 22 comments!! Yee Haw!!!! Is it possible she could get 100?  Call your neighbors! Tell yer friends!!!!

It isn't hard! Even you LURKERS can do it!!! If I get any where from 300 to 700 visits per day, how come only 5 people say hello? What's up with that?

My theory is that the more you comment the easier it becomes to comment. You lose the fear and find the fun.

Blogs are all about connecting.

Picture a game of Chinese Checkers.

The old fashioned tin kind are my favorites.

There is a line that goes to each dip in the board where a marble rests.

That's the way I imagine Blogs connecting.
I just discovered Deryn Mentock's Blog and posted about her 12 Days of Christmas Art being unwrapped and displayed on her Something Sublime Blog
In turn she blogs about me blogging about her and then other bloggers come and visit and share and say hello.
That is fun.
That makes the circle grow.
Planting a seed of kindness.
I can Imagine  the Blogging community linked together to share an idea or a goal- like love your neighbor or just one single word like Peace.
Harmony.
Joy.
Patience.
Hope.
Faith.
Love.
Pick a word and pass it on.
Happy Holidays.

something sublime

Look an see what's going on over at this Blog. The 12 Days of Christmas are being celebrated in a most magical way. I borrowed the pictures to lure you to click...to see....the magic made by Ruthrae and shared with us today! Oh Joy! Happy Partridge in a pear tree...the reason for the season...

wanna go for a balloon ride?

check this out

Getting to Know Anna Maria

I was visiting Anna Maria this morning on her Blog and was delighted to listen to her on Lori's of Sew Forth Now Podcast and learn more about her experience in sewing and fabric designing.
It was really neat to have a voice to go with her image- even though she sounded very grown-up and not as little girl voice as I had imagined.
You know how you see a picture and then think that they must sound like they look? She looks like she is barely 21, so, naturally I had assumed she would sound like that with a little small voice. Not True! She sounds smart and creative and energetic and mature and confident. Thoughtful, kind and loving fit in their also. My favorite line was: " My favorite project is the one I am about to start". That is so true for me as well.
I get obsessed with designing, drafting and putting the pieces together and don't sleep well until I have started it and gotten some of the urgency to fade.
If the idea is working I can set everything else aside until it's done.
If it isn't working or I hit a snag I have to set it aside until the EUREKA! moment when I get it!
The wrinkles get ironed out and I am back at the machine- doing what I love to do!
Go listen to Anna on Podcast and see if you recognize a little bit of yourself in her words. Photos are from Anna's Blog.
Look for her Fabric at your local Quilt Shops or try here.

Wait in delicious anticipation for her new fabric next Spring and her book coming next Fall!!!

What a wonderful world! Chocolate Lollipops indeed!

The Name Game!

Monica has been gone too long- Thank Heavens she's Back and playing Games! Her Friend Freddie Subaru posted it on her Blog and Then Monica Joined in and invited all of us too- I cracked up!
The Name Game
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet,current car) Jazz Durango,
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie), Rocky Road Oatmeal Raisin
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name), K She
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal), Aqua Dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born), Leah Eatontown
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first), She-Ki
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),The Sea Glass Sweet Tea
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers), TroyJohn
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy), Obsession Almond Joy
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ), Pansy Flynn
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter), Hunnicutt Houston
12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower). Halloween Hibiscus
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Peaches skirtie
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree), Egg Sammie Dogwood
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”), The Quilting ThunderStorm Tour.

If you decide to play then leave me a comment with a link to your Blog or Just leave it in my comments if you don't have a Blog! That's fun!

[Today is the 4th Anniversary of the day that Fred Proposed to me,  so we went out to dinner.
We went to a Korean Restaurant and had some delicious Korean beef, Hawaiian Tuna and some ice cream that was wrapped in rice dumplings or something- strawberry, vanilla and green tea.
Then we went to the beach and walked and watched the sandpipers chase each other and talked about the last 4 years and how things have changed. Some good, some bad, but certainly different than it used to be.
He proposed to me at the beach and we were very nearly in the same spot.
There were a lot fewer people around this time, because it has been cloudy and raining softly all day.
The water was a beautiful color of light green and the clouds were gray, dark blue and brilliant white. It was gorgeous.
No matter what happens, I will always have some nice memories of my time with Fred.
He is a romantic at heart.]

Hootenanny Hoedown's Happen! Or The Tart in The Mail

So many times I am asked "What's a Hoot?"
I reply patiently that in Calamity Kim Land it's a term of endearment for having a blast or you are so fun- or funny! I finally found evidence of other people using this same word to describe musical fun! Maybe it was used a lot when they had Hoe Downs?  My Grandmother always said" Hoot & a Hollar" That was real big fun! A Belly laugh! Yeehaw! I couldn't resist this album with these cute country kids made from fabric and felt. I love that type of real looking collage. Makes me want to get out my scissors and start cutting! Maybe I'll put this on the turntable and give it a whirl!
Yesterday I spent the day doing chores and listing more items on ebay.
Today, I am going straight into the sewing room to sew. I hope that's not another empty promise.  That seems to be my specialty lately, or so it seems.
After I knock some cobwebs off the sewing machine I have some big plans for Halloweenish stuff!
It seems as though time is just flying by!
I hope to have a few things to show by the end of the week, er maybe the start of next week! I can't believe it's Thursday already!

I did want to show this lovely pocket mirror that I received from Tiffini Elektra X of www.tartx.com. I never Blog about anything or anyone with the expectation of an award. That being said, I was thrilled when Tiffini responded to my Blog post about her lovely work by offering me a complimentary pocket mirror. It took me at least 30 minutes to finally chose this one:

It has a lovely red velvet drawstring pouch. She also sent a button so I can strut my flare! Then the cards with her collage images and a bio on the back. So sweet! I am going to show a few more pictures of some of her work and please keep her stuff in mind for stuffing some stockings- The mirror is gorgeous and very well made. She also has some neat bookmarks and then some very nice frame able prints. I love her light up assemblages also. Wicked cool!

"Recruiting A New Alice" is the title of this print at the bottom. Here is the link again to her site. Tell her Calamity sent you!

If You Can't Say Anything Nice...

I have been nominated several times for the Nice Matters Award.
Thank you!
This latest one was from Amy and the others were seen in emails in my recent fog  that is known as the Drugged on OTC Medication Weekend ( Dayquil/Nyquil Hallucinatory visions, possibly). (stay tuned for video on you tube, it's hysterical)
How nice am I?
I try.
Sometimes I fail miserably.
Sometimes I am a disappointment and an utter K- TASTROPHE.
I guess all that matters is that you try.
If you fail you can always apologize.
oh, the calamity!
Sincerely apologize, from the bottom of your heart.
I have had some issues with family members ( haven't we all?) and I waste time by not communicating with them.
We were all raised in different households, and didn't even meet each other until we were older.
I was 17 when I met my birth Mother and my half sister and brother.
My older sister I hadn't lived with since I was 5.
It's difficult to try to get to know each other anew.
We give it a try every few (or ten) years and sometimes it lasts, sometimes we stop trying. We can all be nice when we want to be.
I have had strangers be nicer to me than friends or family.
It's usually right when I need it the most.
So, if this award is for all those little things that add up to big things, then by all means, take one and pass it around.
I have had so many Blog people be nice to me that I couldn't possibly list them all and I don't know the rules on this one.
I didn't know that the Rockin Blogger was a real award :)
I am simple like that.
Yes, laugh.
It's OK.
There are so many things in Blogland to post about.
I have been seeing the Alphabet Posts- sounds like a collision in the cereal isle, but very creative folks are showing pictures and telling tales from A-Z.
I redefine what my Blogging is almost monthly.
I sometimes think it's my private journal (that thousands of people read a week).
Then other times it's an Art Gallery for my very own creations.
Then it's a commercial for the latest Etsy Update.
Then it's a Holiday card or a howdy!
No matter what, I thank you all for reading and sharing and coming back again and again. That's Nice.
Really, really NICE

Artsy Mama is Having An Artful Blogger Party Today!

This is something you all might have fun with.

Artsy Mama is having  An Artful Blogger Party today to celebrate the New Artful Blogger Mag published by Somerset Studios.
There are a whole bunch of Bloggers featured and it's nice to see them featured old school. On paper!

Kari  has a lovely Blog and she was our hostess for the International Tea Party back in March.  She put a post up about creating a tutorial or showing a process to celebrate. Go see- SHE HAS CAKE!!!!!

After a bit of thought I realized I could not only find a use for the game boards that are piling up but create a doll bed to display my doll quilts on. Two Boids with one Post!!!

I buy old board games for the wooden pieces and never really know what to do with the boards. I would love to make them into books but I haven't done that.  Not yet, anyway. I have a stack.

I pulled out the Candy Land game board and thought I'd give it a try.

Here are the materials I used:

1. rectangle shaped game board
2. 4 old fashioned wooden clothes pins
3. 4 round wooden balls to fit top of clothes pin
4. 4 clothes pin bases- check the wood dept at the craft store. I think they are bases to use when making clothes pin dolls.
5. paint, glue, brushes, images to collage or decoupage, foam core board, plate for tracing or heart shaped candy container
   
6. you will need a drill and a bit the size of your clothes pin

To begin I traced a circle on the foam core board remembering to leave some tabs on the sides for the clothes pins to fit on.

The clothes pins will sandwich the board and go down through the holes in the game board.

Its simple. REAL SIMPLE!!!!

As I was thinking about it I was trying to plan the motif. Was I going to paint it? Cover it with fabric? Collage? Was it going to be fairy, children, shabby chic, Marie Antoinette style? What room would it live in? Should it match the drapes? ( wait, I don't have drapes...)  I found a heart shaped candy container from Valentines day and used that to trace around for the head board. The foot board was just going to be round.

I used my exacto blade fitted on my heat tool to cut it out of the foam core. Then I fitted the clothes pin on to the foam core and tested it out. It worked- after some trimming to fit the balls in there.  The next step was to mark and drill the holes in the game board. I used the exacto blade to cut slits into the hole like an iris in an eye. This would allow the clothes pin to fit snuggly.

Once you put it all together and know that it will work, take it apart and put a nice layer of glue inside the game board.
I would rest several books on it while it dries, possibly over night.
Once it's dry then put the head board and foot board back on and glue the wooden base pieces to the bottoms of the clothes pins.  This is for display purposes only and wouldn't stand up to a 2 year old for 5 minutes!
I will post more pictures as I work toward completing this doll bed.

I painted it one coat of satin finish "beach glass" acrylic paint.
I have some birds and some roses cut out to apply later.

I think I might add some color with my new wax watercolors that came today.

The themes are infinite depending on how you want the end result to be. You could even design your quilt to match your bed or vice~versa! I will also make a matress from some ticking fabric! Won't that be cute? I just got some at Jo Ann's that is black with roses that will be gorgeous! Maybe I will make a silhouette of Marie Antoinette or children in the woods for the head board...mmm

Have fun with it and thanks for stopping by the Calamity Craft Cottage- where glitter is spilled and the Fabric bolts! ( If only I had a pony named Marshall! what a happy girl I'd be!)

Blog Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Normally, when I Blog, I have pictures taken and a story that has been germinating in my fertile mind for a few days.
Not this morning.
This morning I got up early and started watching the news with Super Fred and as I drank my coffee and opened one eye, I saw the bridge.
Channel after channel.
I asked him to try GMA, which I never watch anymore.
Same thing.
Now, this is exactly WHY I don't watch very much TV.
I hate the news.
I am horrified by it.
The reporters can't keep the smiles from twitching at their lips.
They are so used to delivering bad news,  that I wonder if their brains even process what their mouths are saying ?
Do they self medicate to keep it from blackening their souls?
Oh, wait, maybe they sold their sold to get where they are a long time ago.
I know that tragedy strikes nearly every second, somewhere in the world. Mother Nature can be cruel.
It seems that each time there is a Big Tragedy that everyone pulls together a little bit tighter.
They pray more.
They try to say their "I love you's" more often.
Hold hands and hugs a fraction of a second longer.
It makes me wonder if that's why these things happen.
Is that too optimistic a viewpoint?
I want only good things for the people in my life.
I want them to be happy and healthy and joyful. I don't want them to hurt anymore. There has been so much already.
The divorces, the bitterness, the sibling rivalry, the abandonment. Death would seem to be a relief sometimes.
I talked to my Mom yesterday and she had forgotten that we had talked the day before. Her tumor is growing and pressing on her auditory nerve and causing her Vertigo so severe that she can't walk around very much.
My Dad holds on to her as he helps her from bed to chair, to bed.
I need to go see them.
I need to go help and I continue to postpone it because it won't be fun. Or happy.
Just Sad.
I am too selfish.
Super Fred came home yesterday with the black cloud of doom over his head.
Had a bad day.
The rain and lightning makes it rough for Controls & Instrumentation.
Lots of calls- headaches-sudden emergencies.
He said "How was your day?" and I said: lovely as always.
I am a princess. I get to make stuff all day and block out the real world. I felt a twinge of guilt as I brought him a cup of coffee and acknowledged once again that his headaches make my dream possible.
Maybe I should get a job, so that I can be miserable too.
I don't know why we get the lives that we do.
I asked him why he was born to be him instead of Tom Jones or Dave Matthews or George Bush?
He said he wasn't sure, but, that he was glad he wasn't Scott Baio.
[I have recently started watching the new show- on VH1 and am not sure why I am so intrigued. Is this guy a jerk? Has he just had everything handed to him and now he feels empty and jaded?
Why do I even care?
I don't, but it makes me wonder why he got his life.
He thinks he is going to die alone.
He made his choices and I am sure all those parties at the Playboy Mansion didn't make him realize that his life was shallow and empty. Maybe making this show will help him.]

Maybe you are who you are and those are the cards you're dealt?
Maybe the people on the bridge were supposed to be there?
Maybe that's what makes people become agoraphobic?
Maybe it's just another wake up call.
Hello? You paying attention to your life?
The people that are in it?
The dog gets more attention than some people in my family.

I got nominated for two "blog awards".

Normally I try to make my Blog a reprieve from all the real world horror. A fantasy forest full of fairies, gnomes, butterflies and enchanted mushrooms and tall tales. I don't face reality very well. I hide out with my thread, fabric and paints and Create.
I daydream.
I play.
I have worked 3 jobs at once before.
I have had years where I never made anything.
Not one thing.
I have felt dried up and empty.
When just getting through the day was enough to exhaust me completely.
Now I am in a happier place where the ideas flow and the creative juice runs amok in my mind.
I have to write down the ideas to remember them all.
Some good.
Some bad.
Some I will never make.
The spark that ignites my passion, however, is alive.
If, by sharing my world/work with you and I inspire your creative self, then that is truly my purpose.
I get dark and forlorn sometimes and feel my sense of self falling down into the abyss.
I think very creative people do.
I don't self medicate, I just go with the flow and when I get depressed I try to get in the light- go outside, or to the beach.
I look up at the sky and I remember what a beautiful world this is.
Everyone has a story to tell.
Thanks for listening to mine.

Now, Blogs that rock for me are:

ChickenBlog
Turkeyfeathers
Ullabenulla
Spirit Cloth
Bitter Betty

There are many, many more, as you can see by my Blog Roll. I feel bad singling out 5 but, thems the rules. I will do the Blogger Noggin one later. My head is pounding just from this. Hope I didn't give you a headache.

I have to go take some advil and make something.
That always makes me feel better.
The Make & Do.
Y'all have a nice weekend.
When I hear from my Art Doll Hat Swap Partner then I will list the remainders in Etsy.

Mortimer Mouse, Booties & Mail Love

I fell in love with Mortimer Mouse over at Karen's Etsy site and in a flash he was bought and packed and arrived in my mailbox with a charming if not down right mischievous grin on his tiny embroidered face!
The red & Aqua color scheme will match my sewing room in a delightful way!
Then I also received a lovely and sweet package from Natalie- from the Chicken Blog.

I absolutely have been drooling over the Trader Joe Tote Bags- but now I am delighted to have my own!
I can go to market in style!
With a collaged waterproof work of art!
The woodland fabric is so sweet and I love it so much- I can't believe how nice and sweet she is! Well, I can, I just can't believe that she gave it to me!

I usually spend a few hours each week searching on eBay without success for this kind of fabric. So thank you Natalie! i don't know what I'll use it all for, but I will think of something, I hope!She also gave me bits of this and that to add to my trove of treasures.

 

I can't wait to bite into the dark chocolate bar...mmmm....it is going in the cupboard until I can make some s'more cupcakes with it.

 

I also won a contest for the very first held by Wendy at Wee Toes & Noggins and got these adorable crocheted converse sneakers! They are so beautiful and the workmanship  is very exquisite and professional.  It's the first thing I have ever won! I have tried several  times to take pictures but finally got the camera setting right! YeeHaw!!!! Thank you Wendy!   Thank you Natalie!!!! Thank you Karen!!!! You chicks rock!!! 

Rockin Round the Clock

Deb Silva posted a new MeMe- it's really a YouYou. 7 Things That Rock. Cheryl got tagged and so Did Lia. I did one on Cheryl's comments, but I will do another. Just because So Much Rocks!!!
My Son Troy (same as before) Grandkids and Daughter Lexi and her husband Beau ( serving in Iraq) and my Printer all go without saying- I used them before- well, the kids, not the printer.
I have sung my love song for the HP8250 before. I kiss him goodnight and he is the only thing that gets dusted on a regular basis. That's love. Dusting. Whew!

1. Free Spirit Fabrics- especially AMH & HB & JS. I love the quality. The hand is smooth and the color clear.Below is Anna Marie Horner's Chocolate Lollipop and Jane Sassaman (below that) has awesome designs that remind me of being lost in an Enchanted Woods.

2.The Jennifer's of Polka Dot Pixie, Every Day is a Holiday, and Nimbleknots

3. Stephanie's Fairies  They are so sweet

4. Monica and MiMi, the Happiest Zombies that I know.

5. Starting a new project and that feeling of flow- when everything is falling into place perfectly- that Rocks for sure!

6. This show on HBO called Flight of the Conchords. 10:30 Sunday nights. These guys break into song and crack me up!

7. Vincent Price and his movies in my Queue

8. Making your own stamps that are approved by the USPS

Oh, look, I ran over again. It's too difficult to pick 7. There are too many things and people and choices to limit it to just 7. C'mon Deb!!! Why didn't ya go for 10?

You kids play nice and go make something. OK?

Ghosts on Hogs* Frogs* Blogs*Getting Gonged*

I wanted to see this in the theater but I was so afraid it was awful that I just couldn't find the courage to give it a try.
Now I wish we had gone to see Ghost Rider, because after renting and watching it last night- it was awesome!!! I love Nick Cage! (and his over acting)
Nickie is as thin as he was in Moonstruck with some wash board abs! Wow! He has been working out!
He sounded a bit like Elvis and his hair reminded me of Nero or Caesar, but it was Comic hero at it's finest.
Awesome CGI- he flames on up the side of a skyscraper on his chopper.
Sam Elliot is there to lend advice and Peter Fonda as the devil- and the boy from American Beauty all grown up. ( Wes Bentley is his name)-I wish I'd bought it.
I probably will and put it on the DVD shelf between Constantine and Hellboy.

Yesterday I shipped a few things out and today is another sewing day.

It was raining lightly when I woke up and so I hope it continues- we need it desperately.

I want to show you a few pictures of my frog friend that has taken up residence in this little pig holding a flower pot on my front porch.
I hung it up there thinking I would stick a piece of flower foam and a fresh hibiscus- if I remembered, and before I could do that, this frog moved in and set up house!
I think it is great fun to watch her and I have even named her Aunt Jenny after one that my Grandmother had.
My Grandmother's frog lived in a hole by the mailbox, all the better to frighten small girls when they tried to get the mail!
I was terrified of her but she was a big toad. Ugh. Warts.
Imagine my horror when I got an actual wart on my knuckle. My Uncle "took it off" with some magical incantation and he was upgraded to Hero status afterward.

So now I am a bit obsessed with Aunt Jenny- she didn't come home after a few nights of fly catching.

Maybe she had one too many and had to stay with a girlfriend?

Maybe she met a new fella?

Maybe I should Google frogs and get some more information.  I know that she is there sometimes and then at dusk she wakes up and then she is gone! Some mornings she is back in her Spanish moss lined terra-cotta pot.  Sadly, some mornings she isn't.  Is it abnormal to worry when she isn't there?

That's crazy, right?

Maybe that tells you how dull things are around here- just Frogs, Ghosts on Hogs and Blogs.

Thanks to everyone who commented on the comment post. I learned a lot and  I have a better understanding of   why you comment or why you don't. I get it! I won't bother wondering anymore about the stats. I don't care- it just made me curious. I couldn't figure out the reason. Thought it was something I did. I realize I have no control over it at all. It's all about time. If I have time to post, I will. If you have time to say something you will.

Don't ever be afraid, if you are lurking,  to introduce yourself and say hi!

I was a lurker once, myself.

I would read this and that and of course this one and be either too afraid to say hi or I felt as though with so many comments, I couldn't add anything relevant, so I never did.

It was only after I started blogging that I realized what the commenting was about. It's feedback. It's a way to connect. It's one part of the Blog-a-Rama. It's like having company. I invite you over for a look at what I am making or my life and you let me know what you think. Thank goodness this isn't the Gong Show. Chuck might have gong-ed me by now.

The Chicken Lover's Post

Please, People, Go see Natalie at her Chicken Blog ( it's new and improved!) and fill her mailbox with these inquiries: her hair color,  her pant size, the secrets of her success, where to find the best crispy chicken tacos, how many pecks in a bushel or whether she  flosses daily. Also ask about her chickens. She needs to talk about her chickens.

I am so proud that she has been Blogging for over 5 years. She is the oldest Blogger that I know.

She has gorgeous pictures on her blog.

Go see.

Then add her to your Side Bar- or better yet, Blog about her Blog!! It seriously has nice pictures, articulate and entertaining stories. Cute kids. Great recipes.

C'mon! My Chickens are begging you! Her Chickens are lonely!!

Did I ever tell you about my Brother nicknaming me chicken head after one especially bad session at the hairdresser?

It was in the 80's. I had a black purple cellophane and a tail.

Spikes too.

It looked awesome when I first got out of bed in the morning .  Believe it!

Like the back end of a chicken.

I have been collecting chickens ever since.

And speaking of (Angry) Chickens... Amy Karol has the coolest Mail Order Craft, Recipe, Paper, Sewing Project Club! I love it!

When I see that big red envelope in my mailbox I know I have some fun in store for me! Here is a peek at the latest- Mailorder #7. 

You can find out more over at her sites: Kingpod and Angry Chicken.

Now go turn off the jukebox and then :

Last but not least, learn the chicken dance from our friends with Arrested Development. Oh, how I miss hanging out at the frozen banana stand.

To Comment or Not to Comment, that is the question

The winner of the Bella Bear Make do is Laurie of Old School Acres!!!
Yippee!
I will be emailing you to get your mailing info!
Thank you to all 17 of you who left a comment.

I think there must be a few of you who read and dash. Which is fine. It puzzles me though. By TypePad's  Stats I had 281 visits on Sat, 232 on Sun and 243 yesterday. Am I to conclude that you either didn't want a shot at the bear or you didn't read that post or what? Or you don't stick around long enough to say anything? I am guilty of reading and running- especially if my blog time is limited. Lately I haven't even made time to read any- I miss it. There is too much to be done though. Maybe I should take a vacation- like Vicki.

Miz Smoochielips and I had a discussion yesterday about Blog etiquette and maybe we will write a book about it.

Like is it better to email each commenter individually and thank them for commenting? Or do you leave the comment on your Blog?

I read them but I don't always take the time to follow up- is that the problem? I am sorry- sometimes I just don't make time to do the little polite niceties. I do appreciate all your comments, even if I don't respond.

Do you have a blog? What do you prefer? How do you answer comments? Let me hear some discussion on this, OK? Or maybe I'll ask the wise Caterpillar.

have you seen this?

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Pick 5

Do you think that our Blogs reflect who we are? I have taken to setting the clock so that I can get up and leave the desk. Last week was consumed by Spring Cleaning and purging and garage sale days. This week I seem to have tried to catch up on Blog World and have found some wonderful new Blogs, put names to Blogs and have added a few I fell in love with to my Blog Roll- Sidebar- List of Friends- whatever you call that place where your Adventures wait. My dear sweet, farm girl sister Jenny of Kansas (think Heirloom Cows and Roses) has tagged me in some new Blog Madness- Pick 5- are you kidding me? I am impaired when it comes to choices. I have to Bookmark all the lovely Blogs I find, because otherwise I forget ( can I get Ginko B. in shots?) and then when I have that immediate rush of warm fuzzy love I grab their URL and dash to my typelists and throw them in and slam the door, looking quickly, left to right to make sure no one is chasing me to get them back....I hoard the blogs...yep, I do...

I go back and read over them and admire pictures and fragments of their lives and insights. The Blog world is a crazy quilt pieced together by the links, forged by comments, left like bread crumb trails to be followed...to the next Blog....that web woven of like minded spirits who want to connect to someone else who appreciates what they do. Be it Art, Crafts, Quilting, Collecting, Traveling, Eating, Politics, Family Life...It is amazing to me when I have been on Flickr since last July or so and I am just finding some Flickr friend's Blogs. I always (usually) check their profile page for a blog address...don't I? Is there a separateness between Flickr and Blogville? Sometimes I think there is. Not everyone on Flickr blogs and not all Bloggers have Flickr...anyway, ANYWAY....the point, Kim, the POINT is that I got tagged a second time by purple cucumber so in my world that means I get to pick 10 favorites. right?

My brother, Glenn, brought over some of his books and games he wants me to put in this weeks sale..Of course, I wanted the Mad game and said that might be my fee for helping him...I am trying to purge not find more. I have enough! Too much probably. I have stuff everywhere I look. I am trying to simplify and have even put my pack rat in the sale. Please won't someone buy her? Take her away!!!! I need room to breathe! To paint my sewing room! To walk around not hitting knees and stubbing my hobbit toes...No more Clutter!!I am even cleaning up the Blog...  I will go through my sidebar and spiff it up a bit in the next week. Blogs that I don't read or if they are bad links then they are history! I will always add 5 for each one I remove, so it really is pointless to even try!

My favorite 10 would have to include these chicks but I must say everyone on my sidebar is a favorite or else they wouldn't be there. I think that's obvious on everyones Blogs...when you take the time to add someone it means you intend to go back and you want them handy. I have Blog log and Technorati and am still not too sure how to add but I am figuring it out. The Google Analytics is up and running with some very interesting and thorough stats. I thinks so many of my readers come from Vicki and Ulla that I should be sending them roses and chocolates!

Funny how they are two of my favorites too. So here is a list - without order of favorites- just don't make me choose which is my most fav- I won't ! Hell, I can't!
                                     1. Ulla at:    http://ullam.typepad.com/ullabenulla/ Because she takes me to see the most wondrous creations and places and shares a love for fairies, crowns, red riding hood, Alice, handmade couture and she creates awesome things herself. I can get lost for hours in her posts and archives...

                                     2. Vicki at: http://turkeyfeathers.typepad.com/ Because of the embroidery, quilting, cooking, tiny doll house sweet treats, photography, sweetness and kindness, perfect stitches, wonderful doll quilts...

                                      3. Amanda at:   http://www.amandabutton.com/ Because of the creative musings and skelly dolls, faerie bowers, flowers, gnomes, embroidery, aprons, skirts, that so funny arsenic and old lace skit she had last year for Halloween....too many reasons...cause she is a sistah..

4. Jude at: http://spiritcloth.typepad.com/  Because she is so earthy, grounded, spiritual, creative and honest. She takes me on the train with her while she sews, embroiders, quilts a wonderful gift to her brother "Walter". I love the people she has on her sidebar- all so creative- Artists to the 10th power. I love it that she is journalizing about her creative process with this quilt sewn with love and meaning for a person she sew clearly adores with each stitch. Thoughtful, patient, kind, heartfelt, natural, organic. It shows on her work, her words.

                                      5. Lotta at: http://mom-o-matic.blogspot.com/  Because she is honest and FUNNY and sad and has awesome links, pictures, stories. She writes really well and usually makes me either spew coffee on my monitor or pee my pants laughing- pick one, they are both a mess. I love her strength. She is a good Mom, wife and Person. Human. She makes me happy after a visit and more able to cope with my day. Please go visit her and give her a vote so that she can get paid to Blog for a Year too- she is worth it!

My alarm has gone off, sadly, this is all the time I have at present to ramble and dazzle...I will give you 5 more next time...must prepare for onslaught of new garage sale buyers tomorrow and Sat....It will be more fun when I am done and can show you pictures of painting my sewing room instead of my office- which is actually Sadie's bedroom! with bookcases and a desk and computer....TOWANDA!!!!!!

Let's Get This Party Started!!!

I want to also let you know that Risa Provencio, The ParTea Planner with the incredible style and sassy chic tea party bidness is having a get together for Mother's Day. The link is on my sidebar- right about Tie one on- y'all should go give her a big Blog Party Welcome and sign up for her sweet little giveaway...I would love to donate an item...not sure just yet, my mouse on the wheel hasn't had his second cuppa java yet...and you know what that means...the ideas don't start jumping and jiving till enough caffeine or blood (whichever) gets pumped faster to the old right brain...having spent the last few weeks really making stuff and cleaning the house and working on a craft book project, I really haven't been reading my blogs and going  around visiting as much.

I do apologize and with Miss Amanda off recovering in her nest room I can possibly spend a little time traveling around blog land saying hi!
She is my great derailer, throwing me off track more often than not with her Instant Messaging and links to marvelous places and wondrous things with fairy wings...Like this site or this one or even this one. When she showed me Art of Wings I knew I would have to really try harder to finish her wings I am making for our Fairy Tea Party we are planning for her birthday ....I thought they would be so easy and I had no clue how time consuming the painting and embellishing would be.

Of course I have to sew on all the silk flowers and pearls and ribbons. I am not a big fan of glue...anyway, I will have to deliver them in person because I am not sure how well they'd mail...too bad I can't sprinkle them with some tinker bell dust and go visit her now...Speaking of Tinker bell, have you seen all the new products for her upcoming movie? Target had a bunch of Fairy stuff associated with that animated movie about Tinker bell saving the Fairyland. Forgive my link laziness- I am sure you can Google it if you're curious. I would have loved all that as a kid- I wish they would make adult sized stuff that was halfway decent- I suppose I will have to make my own Fairy dress with flowing organza and tulle. I never was allowed those types of costumes when I was young and I can only remember bought costumes of cartoon characters (like Lucy from Snoopy) that would tear up after one or two wearings...now, in my 46th year I am regressing to the point that I figure if I want to wear fairy wings in the back yard and eat cupcakes and have tea then what the hell! My son is in Tallahassee and my parents are in Augusta- too far away to be embarrassed by my craziness. Tee Hee!

Oh the Calamity! That Kim has lost her mind! Did you see that? (Imagine Gladys Cravits at her window- looking in my back yard!) She is wearing wings and some kinda dress that is unbelievable! What!!?? Now she is drinking tea with that dog of hers! There outta be a law against that! I am calling the Lake Association right now!...

Anyway- Don't forget to go visit Risa and be back here tomorrow for some more details on my Blog-a-versary Party!
Oh, we did get to the beach last night for a walk and a sunset..it wasn't so spectacular but there were no clouds or red tide smell- which is usually bad by this time of year, so we enjoyed breathing the fine salt air and watching kids run and play.
It was a bit breezy yesterday and  today has started off with thunderstorms and much needed rain!

I am going to the grocery  to get more salad and lean cuisine- maybe on this Friday I can remeber to post about my MILF experiences of late (like the Jazzercise postcards with offers of discounts begging me to come back, Bertha Butt!!!)
Geez!
I really need to- all the benefits I gained from going for 8 months  have been all but lost as I sit and sew and sit and type and sit and sit and sit...
gotta get movin ...
yesterday as we were walking on the beach, I tried to cheer the pained expression from Fred's face (walking is not his favorite either) by describing how, if I don't  do something,  that my but is going to continue to grow (in an effort to provide ballast for my stomach) so large that it will reach all the way up and smack me in the back of the head! Like an Asshat! I will be able to cushion my noggin with my own but as I sit and type, oh, how comfy that will be.....So, nice visual, right?

Ha, so he joins in and adds to it and soon we are giggling and smiling as we walk and I can feel some burning in my thighs and calves...oh yeah!
He hates the Lean Cuisines, saying that they taste especially like roadkill, and has started to fantasize during the Red Lobster commercials- its shocking, really,  to hear him moan and groan about those garlic biscuits.
I must stand strong and firm.
No biscuits for you!
6 Months!
No Biscuits!
No coconut shrimp with that evil pina colada dipping sauce.....after you lose 20 pounds I primly state.
Oh, poor Freddie. anyway....y'all have a great day and thanks for stoppin by....oh, we saw a cute little rabbit in the dunes as we were leavin...reminded me of watershipdown....

Pot Luck and Passion Flower tea

Thank you Phyllis for inviting us to the Pot Luck! I set up a little something out back by the lake for us....thank heavens it's a lovely cool day! We are having Pork tenderloin and roasted carrots and potatoes with garlic butter. I have already started the tea brewing and it should be ready any second....would you like a salad? We have spring greens and deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail. Since this is Florida and everyone is from somewhere else, (mostly) I am sure that seafood would be the best meal to prepare. But, since I don't like to spend a lot of time cooking- not when I could be sewing- I usually fix at least one pork tenderloin a week- the leftovers make great sammies and are easily cut up for Sadie too!

I saw some pixies and fairies flittering about while I was trying to set the table...they are always up to mischief if you don't keep your eye on them! Amanda sent me a lovely Fairy nest- apparently the south carolina fairies hatch in the spring! I think Florida fairies hatch all year long!!! Its always warm and they just keep on laying those eggs!!!! They are everywhere! I can't believe it! Anyway, dinner will be ready in a second and then we can talk and laugh and tell stories and catch up with one another....how was your week?

Mine went by super fast! I can't believe it! It is going to be summer vacation before you know it!! Would you like some more tea? Oh, let me get that empty salad plate out of your way..... The hibiscus made me think of Smoochie's mumu gowns and kona coffee- we'll go over there for coffee after dinner is over here.

I have more pictures at Flickr...stop by there and have a look...I will be right back...I have to go feed Sadie and the buzzer is going off on the oven...dinner is ready!!! Oh, pardon me..I was gone a while...hope you were enjoying those ducks out on the lake...there are a lot of birds around here in fact, herons, egrets and ibis and there are two hawks that live up in those pines over there. I love it when the ducks have babies and they swim in a group altogether around the lake. Sometimes we catch turtles out on the bank sunning themselves too- and once I found an empty turtle shell and hung it up in a tree to  dry ...but then I thought it sorta smelled bad, so I took it down....

Oh, what? You want to know the recipe? Well, there really isn't one, I just open the tenderloin and put it in the roasting pan (lined with foil) and then I cut up potatoes, carrots, onions and  peppers into small chunks and after washing them off I put them in a zip lock bag with olive oil and some salt & peppah. I usually toss them in with the pork, but you can put them on a cookie sheet, spread apart if you like, and bake for about 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees. It should be done- I stab it or check it with the themometer- you don't want to over cook it. I let it sit on a cutting board for about 10 minutes to rest and let the juices get reabsorbed back into the meat..while its resting I put the veggies back in under the broiler and get them browned. I usually sprinkle a little shaved parmesan cheese on the top...yummy.  It is super easy and always comes out great!  I have to go visit everyone else now, thanks for stopping by! Hope ya'll come back real soon! We'll have some pie- Key Lime....

Key Lime Pie Recipe - Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant Ingredients 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons graham-cracker crumbs 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1/3 cup sugar 3 egg yolks 1 teaspoons grated lime zest 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 2/3 cup fresh or bottled Key lime juice (see Note) 1 cup heavy cream 3 tablespoons confectioners'sugar
Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine graham crackers, butter and sugar.
Press mixture into bottom and sides of a buttered 9-inch pie pan, forming a neat border around edge.
Bake crust about 5 minutes or until set and golden.

Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment and a nonreactive bowl, beat egg yolks and lime zest at high speed about 5 minutes or until very shiny.
Gradually add condensed milk, and continue to beat 3 to 4 minutes or until thick. Reduce speed of mixer to low.
Add lime juice and mix just until combined.
Pour lime mixture into crust.
Bake about 10 minutes or until filling has just set.
Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
To serve, place pie in freezer for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
In an electric-mixer bowl, combine cream and confectioners' sugar.
Whisk until nearly stiff.
Cut pie into wedges; serve very cold, each wedge topped with large dollop of whipped cream.
Yield: 8 servings. Note: Fresh juice is far superior to bottled juice.
Per serving: 460 calories, 7 grams protein, 25 grams fat, 50 grams carbohydrates, 160 milligrams cholesterol, 195 milligrams sodium, 49 percent calories from fat. Credits Recipe from: Adapted from Joe's Stone Crab, Miami Beach. Printed in the Sun-Sentinel.

happy anniversary next month!

I started this blog back in October - and the 6 month anniversary is April 22nd. I am planning a party so ya'll better tell your friends and get your glad rags on and bring a casserole or spmething sweet! I am planning on a wonderful, happy, delightful April long Month of Craft Chaos here at the cottage so get ready! In the meanwhile- we have these real roses to offer inspiration and challenge if you attempt to use the Following Flower Tutorial to make some then please join the Calamity Kim's Wonderland Flower Garden at Flickr. I invite you to make a rose or two and add your pictures! I am hooked I think and am off on another rose adventure- creating one of the Little Prince Asteroid B-612 roses..so cool! Be back soon!

stats, tatts & bats

I started this Blog in October .
I really had no idea how it worked.
I wasn't sure anyone would even find me - I had two other failed attempts that I couldn't find when I Googled them!
That's funny!
I just entered Ulla's contest on her Blog and there have been quite a lot of Blog a versary type give aways and in honor of my upcoming 6 month anniversary I too, am going to be giving away a bit of treasure!

So far I have written 321 posts.
I have had 689 comments.
10,752 page views.
734 visits in the last 7 days
and 43 since midnight.
My Blog Log reports:

Daily Totals: 67 offsite clicks | 126 page views | 70 readers
So, is this bad? Is this good? Does it matter?

I think about having 100 people in my home- daily. First of all, I am certain that 100 people couldn't fit in my house!
We never entertain. We are pretty much lone wolves, me & Freddie.
Except for family events and those are few and far between.
It is what it is.
I have the hope that someday this might change but for now I am content in my own small world...me and Sadie Mae filling the days with crafts and walks and cooking and chores.

Blogging and wandering around Flickr and Etsy and Ebay and the web is time consuming and fun!
I enjoy it very much and yesterday when Fred hooked up the stylus and pad it blew my mind to draw on the computer!
He had been holding back, he's had it forever, maybe he knew with my addictive personality I would not be coming up for air on that one for a while!
It was amusing and I will definitely be practicing and playing with it more in the future! Last night we watched a new series on Planet Earth in HD and man, it was pretty awesome!

Then it was Dresden Files with Claudia Black from Farscape fame playing a guest visit. After that we watched Battlestar Galactica and  it was the season finale.
Next year in 2008  we will have a new season.
Fred almost cried, I think.

I know he is thinking Starbuck is a definite cylon and  I don't know what to think except if they come to Earth, will it be in our time frame and will we battle the Cylons? Yes, we are sci fi geeks and I don't mean to bore you but we do love us some sci fi and techno babble.

So did you guys stay busy over the weekend?
Plant some flowers?

Create some crafts?
Cook? Read?

Play?
Before I show pictures of the 6th month blogaversary extravaganza prizes I would like to know what you think about my blog.
Is it good? mediocre? boring? plain bad? snooze fest?
what do you like?
what would you change?
what do you want to read about?
I would like some feedback at this 6th month juncture just to know if I am in the right place with all this.
I do enjoy the interaction with you cyber yaya's... and please feel free to be honest and help me.
I can take it!
I am asking for it.
I don't know what is the expectation that I should have, anyway, I am happy that a few of you do leave comments and I try to answer them with an email or I go visit your blogs but there are so many!!
Sometimes I can't remember who is what and where is who?
I bookmark some to come back to and if I dig ya I throw ya on my side bar asap so I don't forget...if I need inspiration I go wander...
Someone will write a book I am sure, about Blog etiquette and what the "rules" are. Maybe Amy Sedaris can do that for us?
That would be a hoot! So, I am going to go sew some and I will let you know about the  blog party....

Wave of the future

Hello everyone! I just want to start by saying that I appreciate all your comments and thank you for taking time to leave them! ******I know I cruise blogs and skim a lot and sometimes don't comment- if there are a lot, I often don't know what to contribute, but the ones who only have a few-it's  easy to just say something sweet before moving to the next. ***I read fewer novels now that I read blogs so frequently! It seems that my time is divided between The Land of Blog and my Chores and My Art. *****************************************************

I was thinking about the Softie Awards last night, listening to Fred's soft snoring and an idea popped into my head!***

I am going to get started on this project today and then I will be listing some more things over at Etsy.******** I walked Sadie Mae yesterday in the warm sunshine and then gave her a bath when we got home.***
It takes me about an hour to do the whole wash and dry.*** She is such a sweet dog- she will stand patiently while I scrub her and rinse with cold hose water!*** I think she loves it!***
Then I dry her with towels and then the hair dryer- she gets that look on her face and you can tell she is getting the goose bumps fuzzy feeling you get at the hairdressers.*** {You know, when someone else is brushing your hair? I wonder why beauticians don't be quiet more often and let us enjoy the relaxation it provides.}***

So are you enjoying the tunes? I visited a blog this morning that had the radio set up and thought I'd give it a whirl- you can turn down the volume if you don't like it. I chose the Van Morrison station, LOL, cause I'm like Donnie & Marie: a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll!*****

I went to the Goodwill bookstore yesterday and have a few pictures to share. It's like going to a library, everyone there is quiet. ***Nose down in books, absorbed by the images contained there. I like to sit on the floor in the craft section and go through them.****

Sometimes I find a treasure.***

Then there is the old/rare room. I always find something in there! This was the first "Books Only" Goodwill in the US and now, because of it's success, they are opening more across the country. I saw the newest Charles Frazier book for only 7.99, but passed on it.****

I did get another fairy tale book because of the elegant illustrations  ...Cinderella dressed for the King's Court. Another Velveteen Rabbit book with gorgeous illustrations. I have two cute little Grandsons (Austin 2 1/2  & Hayden 10 mos) and another new one on the way!!

I have a future library in mind for all the grandchildren and have been collecting children's books for many years. I also picked up a 1952 Atlas with vivid colors (for only 2.99) to be used in some collage.
I was hoping to find a copy of The Little Prince but didn't.
I will have to extend my search to the Internet where I can have the images in an instant.
Research.
I love the Internet and couldn't function quite the same without it.
I can save time and find what I want in a split second.
I do like to browse my favorite shops though...but I hadn't been to the GW Bookstore in months.
It will probably be months again before I go...I get the itch to go see what I can find and then it is satisfied.
I am trying to use my public Library more often, because I fear someday that they will start to close and be no more.
Like relics of the past, they are becoming of no use, being replaced by the information highway we all travel.
As long as we support our local libraries and visit them often then hopefully they won't die.
So pack up the kids, if you have them and grab a tote bag and go visit your local library.
Hahaha.
This message brought to you by.... Sorry....I just love books and the feel of them and the places they take me. Just like the Land of Blog....I travel around and make new friends  and invite them back to visit me! It is quite wonderful and who could have imagined 10 or 20 years ago that this would have happened?****

Hit Refresh for a new Banner

The Alice Thimble Cupboard has been added to the Christian Carlos Fund Site, click here to visit. I am excited to be able to contribute to this worthy cause and hope you all will stop by Ebay when the bidding starts and do what ya can. I will keep you updated or you can also bookmark the link above and check back on your own.

I just got the mail and was so excited to find an Ikea Catalog from that sweet sistah Barb!!!! Yippee!!! I can browse and see what all the damn fuss is about!!! Thank you so very much! You are a kind, sweet, dear woman!

Last night as I experienced another annoying bout of InSoMnIa...you know the kind...where you just lay there and try, try, try to go to sleep, but still can't....so if you are like me, you just free associate things and let your mind drift and wander where it will. Most nights I drink a cup of Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime.
Not last night.
I laid there and looked up at the glow in the dark stars that make a milky way galaxy on my ceiling and thought about all the things I want to make and put in my small ETSY shop. Like Mutant Veggie People, chenille aprons, baby quilts, fake cakes, purses, tote bags, paper dolls....so many things...I almost got up and wrote them down...but afraid to wake Fred and Sadie...I just rolled around for awhile and then finally fell into the black sleep of Tylenol pm.
This morning we got up at 6:30 am and I have been in front of the computer all morning! Played with several new banners and then decided to post a fast one and run back to the sewing room and try to be productive.
I have several mutants but need to find the disk that I wrote their story on and print some copies to go with them- should anyone want to purchase them.
I have one fake cake but no really great photos to list with so maybe later I can set up the tripod and get some good ones.
I am working on the Marie A bear which is starting to look a lot more like Louis 
!!! I will try harder to be more focused and work this like a job...most days I just float, glitter and fly....
First I am going to curl up with a cup of hot tea and this Ikea dream book and well, ...dream! Happy Lost Wed!!!!

the deleted

So, I just wrote this long, wonderful story about my Grandma, Hattie Mae and it had bits about books and crafts and Amy Sedaris and poison peanutbutter, then I put my pictures in and it was LOVELY. Then I went to PREVIEW for some reason and then.....It was gone.
I forgot to save it first.
I could cry.
Stupid
stupid mistake
I have done it before.
why can't I learn.

well, I just don't have the energy to go back and rewrite it all! Fred always says to write it in word and then copy and paste. When will I ever learn?Sorry kids. I have to go sew. Get some joy back. That was craptastic, let me tell ya.....Maybe that was meant to be a lesson- this old crafty brain gets all full of stuff and it forgets simple stuff like save and then preview! Usually I just hit save and post it! Oh well, it is so gray and gloomy outside! My mood has been affected! I will post bright and early tomorrow with the teal velvet bear.....Marie A. has inspired me so completely to pull out all my silks and velvets and ribbons and vintage flowers from hats.....pearls...lace....organza...tulle.....ahhhh and those cakes!!!!!

De Lurkers Week

First: It's weigh in Friday With The Future MILF Group! I have Lost 2 1/2 lbs!!!! I was 187.5 last Friday and this morning I am 185!!!!! Yeah Me!!! It's walking and choking down slimfast.

This de lurking is like a cloaking devise on Star Trek, right? I think someone should make a de lurking devise and you would have to sign in to even read the blogs..no, then half the time my password would be wrong and I wouldn't be able to have any blog adventures. I went over to Wip and that led me to Old School Acres which led me to a most delightful blog and post about lurkers. Paper Napkin has all kinds of groovy little buttons...I couldn't decide which one I liked best so I grabbed a few.
She had so many comments that her comment option was closed!!! over 200....Now, that's excessive!
Somewhere between 0 and 20 is perfect for me...over 200...how do you deal with that many emails telling you that there are comments?
But, It's tough when you can see how many people come to your blog..
I recently hooked up to feed burner and I know that people from Venice ( so close we could craft & tea) and Austin ( want to see your city someday) and Nashville (been there and loved it!), Perth (did I ever mention the guy I dated from Australia?), and New Haven ( have been there and loved it!) have read my blog..
I am amused by the Google searches that lead some of you here as well. .I will save some of the best for another post.
I am glad that you are entertained and when you do comment I am delighted.
I feel like a few of you are becoming my Cyber Ya Ya's and if we could someday put together our own little Craft Retreat/ Conference it would Rock!
I have been a lurker on a lot of Blogs that I felt had been around a long time and already have so many comments- they don't need mine or that I really have nothing more to add- I mean, how many times do you need to hear "Awesome- fabulous idea!!" blah, blah, blah.
So there is a balance in there somewhere..
Let's try to find it..
Remember this is National De Lurkers Week.
You have all week- oh wait, it's Friday...maybe I can just extend mine for a week.... I don't bite.
Say Hello!
Share something about yourself.
Do you have a blog?
How's the weather?
Did you know that with every comment you leave you lose a pound?
Did you know commenting can end world hunger?
It can promote whirled peas.
Commenting on blogs can help find Big Foot!
Only Aliens from other Planets lurk!!
Oh, yeah, it just goes on and on....
It's like going to someones house, walking in, looking at their diary and then leaving without ever saying hello or thank you or saying how  it made you feel.
I just watched a vlog- over at Mom O Matic..she posted a link to Jenny At Mama Drama and her video blog...very cool and sweet and what a nice way to get to know someone! I think we should all do that!!
What's to fear?
If the biggest fear that you have is saying something stupid- look at me - I do that all the time! Daily!
Ya gotta laugh at yourself and have fun with it for heavens sake.
No one is any different or better than any one else here. I just enjoy the process. My rambling rant about cheerleaders struck a cord with some of you. ..I wasn't slamming cheerleaders so much as the idea that once those chicks become cheerleaders in their own head then they think they are so much better than the little, lesser people. There has always been levels in each society...
In Blog World everyone should play nice, share, grow, learn. That could be a Utopian Society. Real or Cyber real. Have you heard of Second Life? It's a 3D Cyber World where you can own property and earn cyber cash to buy enhancements for your character or house. Do the characters in Second Life have a computer with Third life on it? A world  within a world within a world....I think our Blog World can be what we make it. Mine is full of crafty goodness, cupcake pictures, hot tea & long walks on the beach... The choice is yours. Just Say Hi!

PS: that doesn't mean now- just whenever..

Blog Widower

This morning as my dear, sweet, patient Husband (Fred) was getting dressed and unable to find one of his 3 black County Logo shirts to wear said somewhat forlorn and pitiful: " I guess I need to order more uniforms for work, three shirts just isn't enough. Now he has 5 pairs of black pants, and I have to admit, since yesterday was one of many  all-consuming Blog-O-Rama days for me, I only did one load of towels, the dishes from 2 days, and baked some mighty fine Banana Bread. I totally lost it on the shirts. I had to laugh when he said he was a Blog Widower. The image of him in his dog haired black robe & slippers sitting in abject  misery in front of the big screen playing some game (with guns, soldiers, shooting, i dunno, don't care) and eating spam from a can with his swiss army knife just cracks me up! The tumbleweeds of dog hair blowing through the house like an old spaghetti western.
This morning he handed me the " Creating Cool Websites" book by Dave Taylor and said everything you need is right in here. This was after he showed me the code for AQUA.(00FFFF)  What bliss. Now that is love, when your man doesn't have a melt-down over your obsession with the Computer/Blog/Flickr/Email/YouTube thing ya got goin' and then helps you to change gray to AQUA.
Me oh my. That's some PIE.
He's like my Robin Hood.
Or maybe my Westley, for I am Princess Buttercup. (as in Princess Bride not Reese's) and I can only hope to somehow make it up to him by vacuuming the floor, washing the dog and fixing a nice dinner.  ;)  Oh, how the inner war rages between Feminist-independence and retro-fifties-apron -wearing-homemade everything perfection. Can I just let him go to work with a cup of coffee and a kiss on the cheek  while I sit at the computer in my bathrobe and have fun, fun, fun, till Daddy takes the computer away?  Absolutely!
So, peeps, what do you think about the aqua? Too bright?
I tried red instead of the pink and it started to give me a headache!
Like the gray better? 
Is there anybody out there?  Today I am going to try to  get started on The Pincushion Challenge theme:  Winter Wonderland, finish some art dolls I started, hit the grocery store, rent videos, mail the last of the Christmas packages, pay bills, and the rest of the craptastic things I have to do until I can be here again, guilt-free wandering about in the wonderful Blogosphere.
As you wish.