7 Years! Time Flies When You're Married to Your BFF!

Happy 7Years of wedding bliss!  Well, that's mushy isn't it?  My hubby and I spent this past weekend celebrating our 7 year wedding anniversary.  We spent our entire three day weekend hanging out and trying to get stuff done at home.  We managed to slip away for an awesome dinner out, too.  This is a very rare thing...we normally have our 5 1/2 year old in tow!  I chose the above picture to post as it was taken last summer outside Charleston, S.C. (at Angel Oak) and was one of the best vacations ever.  I also decided on this photo because it pretty much says who we are.  I mean I look pretty serious, which I guess I am most of the time.  Some would call this "boring."  I wouldn't, but hey.  On the other hand, Doug (or "Dougster") looks fun and carefree...which, he is..most of the time.  He is actually a very postive, upbeat person.  In my line of work, this attitude helps, although, admittedly, I don't tell him about most things I see on the job.  I think he just knows when I've reached my limit and he is always just there for me.   He is a great husband and a great daddy! 

Photo credit goes to our daughter, Charlotte...you can probably tell she is quite a bit shorter than us...but she is a super photographer isn't she?!
NOTE:  Yes, this is the second picture I've posted of me wearing those sunglasses...unfortunately they broke last week!  I immediately went into a "level 9 meltdown," and haven't fully recovered.  They were (are) my faves.   

I can't wait to post the pictures of the great stuff I found during our Flea Market extravaganza!  I found a terrific desk to put in my studio, a beautiful dresser scarf, and a pair of white gloves, a la Jackie O.  I found the gloves and immediately thought they would look awesome with my Hepburn coat.  Speaking of the coat, I made a lot of progress this weekend, however I am sure I've gone wrong somewhere.  I pretty sure the mistake is somewhere in the facing department.  Here are some pictures:

I managed to sew the darts, which, I think, actually turned out okay, but the collar is, frankley, stupid looking.  When I tried it on and looked it the mirror, it reminded me of something...I couldn't quite put my finger on what, but tell me what you think:

Am I right?  Yes.  I must fix this or start over.  Enough said.

I hope you have a look at the "Dark" ATC cards making their way onto the blogs.  You can see all the participants at Blissfull ATC Swap.  When I recieve Leila's card, I will post it.  She'll then post the card I sent her.  Of all I've seen so far, they are all pretty creepy!

Toodles for now!

P.S.  I walked through two invisible spiderwebs today and I'm still itching!

Is That What is Called a Senior Moment?

Happy Saturday!  I just wanted to pop in and show off my completed Discovering Myself Journal!!  I've really had a great time working on this project, a first of a kind for me.  Bonnie's blog is so gorgeous and her designs are beautiful.  I'd love to learn how she creates her digital designs!  That's her next class maybe?  Anyway, while I didn't think I really needed to discover myself, and I don't feel I was lost and had find myself, completing some of the pages did force me to think about different parts of me and my personality:  The Good, The Bad, and The Down Right Ugly.  Also, just the physical aspect of creating the pages has really made me see and appreciate (even more) all you paper/mixed media artists out there!  That said, here are the rest of my journal pages:

Front Cover

I Am Beautiful

My Quirks

My Life Motto

Back Cover

I've also changed up a few of the first couple of pages.  If you'd like to see the entire project, click on Journals page on my side bar!

I think I had a "senior moment" when I came up with the name for the Wednesday Wonderisms project.  I had Wednesday and Wonderisms reversed.  I have no explaination for this other than I guess my mind works in reverse (some would say backwords) sometimes??  Anyway, I've corrected it and made a grab-able button for anyone who wants to play every Wednesday.  You can just grab it off my side bar.

Okay, I'm off to work on my Hepburn coat.  I have vowed to complete it this weekend! 

Toodles for now!

Wonderisms Wednesdays

Happy Humpday; otherwise known as Wednesday.  In my blog travels, I've notice Bloggers celebrate, for lack of a better word, Wednesdays as "Wordless," WOYW (What's On Your Workdesk)," "Outdoor Wednesday," and more.  These are all great and I've read and commented on many.  I think having a day dedicated to something, maybe even unrelated to your specific blog is kind of cool.  And, frankley, it is sometimes hard to think of something specific to sewing to write about every other day.  I've also bored myself, so, with this all in mind, I introduce (drumroll):  Wonderisms Wednesday! 

I've actually been trying to come up with something for sometime now.  I've wondered about doing a "Wayback Wednesdays," a "Wal-Mart Wednesdays," "Whycome Wednesdays," (I know several people who actually think whycome is a real word),  and even a "WTF Wednesday," but thought better about that one.  So, since I wondered about these and I find myself wondering about a lot of things lately, I decided to go with Wonderisms.  Sound fun?  Play along if you'd like...I'll  make the above picture grab-able before next Wednesday.  I have wondered about three particular things today.  I wonder:

1.  How is it that I can tangle myself up in invisible spider webs when I'm not anywhere near anything the webs could be attached to? 

2.  Why Hootie can't go back to the Blowfishes.  I can't dig the country music.  Is blowfishes a word?

3.  Do I really look like this?  My daughter's drawing of me.  Actually, I'm in awe (or wonder) of kids...especially my littlest daughter.  She gives me presents like this everyday.  It's great isn't it?

As I mentioned, Wednesdays are commonly referred to as "Humpday," or the middle of the week.  Well, Tuesday is really my Humpday.  That means tomorrow, Thursday, is my Friday.  Follow?    I've got a few projects I need to finish this weekend...first, my Discovering Myself Journal.  I've got to answer:  "I am beautiful"  and "My Quirks."  I'm a little stumped on the first.  Bonnie says to answer honestly..."what are your best physical attributes?"..I'll probably go with My Hair, although I am convinced it is a magnet for the aformentioned spider webs.  Maybe it has something to do with the amount of hair product I use???  Anyway, two pages to go and I'll be Discovered!

As for sewing this weekend, I plan to work on my Hepburn coat.  I have managed to cut out the pieces for my Hepburn coat.  The pattern is from Simplicity and there are only 5 pieces.  The big thing I've noticed about the vintage pattern is that the tissue seems a bit heavier weight than pattern tissue nowadays.  This pattern states it is "Simple," but I'll be the judge!  I'll keep you posted!

One more thing to look for this coming weekend:  The October Blissfull ATC Swap cards will begin to appear on the participants' blogs.  I finished mine and sent it to my swap partner, Leila from Artsy Creations By Leila.  Leila is a terrific artist and I am super excited to recieve the card she has made!  She is actually having a giveaway for a pendant she made, so pop over to her blog and check it out! Just a reminder, the theme for October is "Dark."  Be prepared for some creepy cards, I'm sure!  Until next time, toodles!

Art Journals, Jewelry, and Hepburn, Oh My!

Good Sunday night!  I hope you all have had a fabulous weekend.   It has been a wonderfully warm few days, but, alas, I believe this weather will begin to turn cooler sometime during the overnight hours tonight.  The good news here...terrific sleeping weather! 

The weekend has been really busy for me, but I managed to squeeze in some time to catch up with Bonnie on my Discovering Myself Journal.  Have a look at these 4 pages and let me know what you think.

I'm sorry for the less than terrific photos.  I took these with the camera on my phone, which, actually works fairly well, but the light was horrid in the room and I just could not adjust what light I had and/or the flash on the phone.  I think there are 3 or 4 more pages to go and I should really know myself!

On Friday, before getting to watch my littlest daughter ride on her Daisy float in the Homecoming Parade, I received the Halloween bracelet in the mail that I won from Amy at RubyMoon Art.  The bracelet she made is super cool, but look at the container she sent it in.  It is really neat.

Cool huh?  I managed to complete one more art/craft related activity just before the "beep beep beep" of my pager rang out...I finally purchased the fabric for my coat I'm making for the Hepburn Hepburn Project hosted at Rhinestones and Telephones.  I decided on doing the "simple" coat:  vintage Simplicity 5301.

Again, this photo sucks, but trust me..the fabric is pretty nice.  It is more on the green side of khaki than the tan.  It is a semi heavy cotton/poly blend of some sort.  I was excited to begin to cut out the pieces and get started on this project, but I could not ignore the beep. Maybe I'll be able to start cutting this week??  Hope so!
Toodles for now!

 

Flea Market Finds & Page 3

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Thanks to all for your sweet comments regarding "My First Dress!"  I had a great time making October's dress and am already thinking about what to do for November's and December's dresses.  I'm totally bummed that the Dress Challenge 2010 will end with December's dress and  Margaret, unfortunately, has decided not host a Dress Challenge 2011.  I've been thinking about hosting it if unless one of the other participants already plans to.  Anyway, I wanted to show you some of the stuff I scored during my Flea Market Friday.  I also managed to hit a few thrift / vintage shops over the weekend. 

The first picture is of a silk (I think) circle.  I'm not sure what it is...I mean I can't call it a table cloth because it isn't very large.  I don't think I can call it a dresser scarf because it is a circle...so ??  Whatever it is called, it is beautiful.  The bird, tree, and flowers are embroidered.  I was told this silk circle came from the estate of a well known lady in the town I was visiting.  I also bought another item from this estate, however I plan on giving this to my daughter for her birthday, so I won't show a photo of it until after her big day!  These items, along with several others, were on sale in order to support the town's art society. 

The second picture is of a few vintage sewing patterns as well as a Vogue pattern catalogue from 1974!  Sew cool!  The last picture is of a collection of Foreign Travel magazine.  The collection begins in November 1934 and, save one, it is complete through December 1935!  I found collection, along with a ton of books, at a local thrift shop.  I feel I hit pay dirt here!  I found an entire room of books!  I actually felt guilty walking away from this store after only paying $2.00 for the magazine collection!  These magazines are full of terrific photos and graphics.  I originally went shopping to find cheap books to cut up for different paper crafts.  Honestly, I find the thought of cutting up books something I will have a hard time doing...even cheap books.  Is that weird?  Well, I will not cut up these magazines, however I did find a few books that will be sacrificed for the sake of art!

This then brings me to the third page of my Discovering Myself Journal.  I've finished this page and I "jazzed" up pages 1 and 2 with some stickers and gold thread.  I cut up my first book last night.  Well, I cut a page up; the page depicting Western Europe.  I glued Great Britain, Norway, and Sweden onto Page 3.  The ticket says, "What I Miss Most About Childhood..."

 My answer here:  No Fears.  I also miss people, places, and feelings.  You know the feeling at Christmas, the feeling like time moves so slowly, the feeling like you can fly, disappear, leap tall buildings.  I didn't have room for all these, so I stuck with, "No Fears." 

Here are my "jazzed" up Pages 1 and 2:

Well, that's all for now.  I hope to work on Page 4 ASAP.  I will post it when it is complete!  I hope you all have a super Wednesday and rest of the week!

Oh, be sure to click on Wendy's 12 Days of Christmas ATC Swap button on my sidebar and join in on the fun. 

Toodles for now!

My First Dress!

Happy Monday!  There's an oxymoron for you!  Positive note:  It is almost Tuesday in my neck of the woods!  I hope everyone has a fantastic Tuesday and entire week!  On that note, I'm here to unveil my very first "dress."  Ever since I "met" Anna from Frosted Petunias through the Blissfull ATC Swap, I have wanted to make one of these little dresses.  I had never seen anything like them until I saw Anna's wardrobe safely keeping her dresses from harm.  Since then, I've seen others' great dresses through Alice and Camilla.  I decided to make my dress a little spooky given it is October.  I layered strips of cardstock overtop black fabric.  I've detailed the fabric, which is sewn,  on the bottom and neckline with black lace and tiny beads.  Oh, I printed a super small portion of a famous painting on the cardstock before "stripping."  Can you tell from what painting this is? 

What do you think? 

I can't wait to show you all the awesome stuff I scored over the weekend at the thrift, antique, and flea market!

Toodles for now!

Post Winner and A Few More Suprises

TGIF!  I hope you all have had a super Friday!  I have a few more things that may make your Friday night even superer (yeah, I just made up that word)!  What is in store you ask?  Well, how about announcing the winner of my 100th Post Giveaway!  Stand by for that, as well as a couple more suprising (maybe) facts about me.  Before getting to this, first let me thank you all again for tagging along with me through these 100 posts and beyond.  Thanks for all your comments and emails.  I've had a really great time reading them and learning more about you, too!  I So, let's get on with it then right?! 

1.  Questionable Taste?  I think Kid Rock is sexy..true, in a trailer trash sort of way, but sexy nontheless.  He is sort of like Sawyer from LOST.  He's the guy you'd like to mess about with, but you'd marry Jack.  Although, I guess, he turned out to have issues, too.  Maybe not a good analogy.  Anyway, there you go.

Kid Rock

Look Up (hello Sawyer grrr)

Jack

2.  Addictions.  I'm addicted to lip gloss.  There.  I said it.

3.  Children.  I have a daughter who will turn 22 next month.  I know what you are thinking..."wow, you look so young, Angela!"  Thanks.  People are always suprised when I tell them my daughter is a senior in college.  By the way, I have another daughter who started kindergarten this year.  Yeah, I may be crazy.  I'm proud of them both.  I also have two stepdaughters.  Proud of them, too.

4.  Fashion:  I cannot walk in high heels.  When I do, I look like a man in drag.  I don't think I need to say anything else here.

5.  Professions:  I see dead people.  Literally.  I'm sure when you find out my occupation, a lot of things you may have wondered about me, will make sense.  I am a homicide detective.  This profession is not unlike a lot of things personally about me.  By that I mean, double edged. I mean I am grateful for my job and it has given me a lot of good things, but it has also done a lot to make me...well,  me.   One word that probably best describes me is:  "Antithetical."  I guess I am an oxymoron.  My oldest daughter frequently laughs at me (no, not with me) and tells me she thinks it is funny that I am a Bad As* (her words) who chases bad guys but then interrogates them while wearing a pink cardigan and pearl earrings.  When I met my sister in law, she also laughed and told me she thinks of me as "Martha Stewart with a gun."  I'm actually okay with this.  And as for Alex, she thinks I am cool.  For your kid to think you are cool...there really isn't anything cooler.

I've decided that blogging anonymously, as I have for the past 101 posts really isn't fair.  It's also not that easy.  While I won't tell you where I work, or my last name, I feel revealing what I have in the last few posts is, in the words of Martha,  "a good thing." 

Okay, enough of the mush!  The winner of the giveaway is: 

Sheila

Sheila from Notesongs!  Yay!!  Congratulations Sheila!