Sep 4, 2010 | 94 Days of Summer
Day Seventy-six: Photo props left in the window.
Boy Wonder: (walking past the remains of a photo shoot) Â Mom! That’s not a dead bird! Is it?
Me: Â Yes, it is a dead bird. I just went outside and whacked the first black bird of a specific size over the head. You know, so I could take a pretty picture. Don’t you think people will want to buy my candles more if there are recently deceased birds in the product shots?
Ok, I didn’t really say that.
Seriously? Dead bird? Where does he get this stuff? I cannot roll my eyes further into my head without risking brain injury. There is entirely too much sarcasm and not enough common sense in this house.
Sep 3, 2010 | 94 Days of Summer
Day Seventy-five: The marine layer is creeping back once again. But yesterday’s sunset will hold me for quite some time. I caught it just as it was ending. . . and even so, it’s beautiful.
Sep 2, 2010 | 94 Days of Summer
Day Seventy-four: Deconstructed
So, it’s been a day. A day of undoing. Considering that I’m feeling a bit undone, it’s in keeping I think. I spent the better part of the day fretting about my bead investment, after realizing that I really don’t like the pendant quality. It feels clunky. And Mireio is a lot of things, but I’m hoping clunky isn’t one of them.
Which meant a decision to either abandon the project or wade deeper in— oh come on, y’all should know by now which path I took. I’m predictable on that front.
I found another solution. Or, at least a possible one. And promptly fell into a deep funk after paying for the supplies. Let’s just say the proto-types of this endeavor are not going to be a money making venture.
Of course if I’m conflicted and tortured about something, I don’t suffer alone. I’m sure there are days IZ wishes he didn’t work from home. I tormented him with my angst over coffee and he found me hours later in my funk feeling sorry for myself.
“But you felt this way when you started with buckwheat, and you felt this way when you went to the new glass for candles. You should really trust your instincts more.”
Yes, yes I should. I took the scissors to the necklaces, sorting out the reusable components and trying not to calculate my losses. Taking things apart is never as much fun as putting them together.
(more…)
Sep 1, 2010 | 94 Days of Summer
Day Seventy-three: A summer skirt or two.
Ok, it’s not for me, and technically I didn’t sew it. But I did supervise its construction. In fact, I supervised the construction of two, since Miss Faith also made a skirt along with her sister Miss Sara. And yes, I call them that. I have no idea why, I just do.
We picked out fabric and wouldn’t you know that the ONLY black jersey was some awful fake velvet that Miss Faith just Had. To. Have. Â (Oh don’t get me started on our local JoAnnes) Â And sometimes, you have to give in to the whims of a pre-teen, because she is nearly 13 and well, she wanted it. Who cares if it costs too much (for such terrible fabric) and who cares if you’ll spend the day cursing under your breath. The smile on a certain pre-teen’s face is worth the frustration.
So we sewed. All day. Other than cut the fabric (Yum, JERSEY FROM HADES) I made them do everything but the final pinning of Sara’s ruffle and pressing and pinning Faith’s hem. We used a pattern from Sew, Mama, Sew! and it’s just wonderful. Easy, straightforward, the perfect “pattern” for a new sewer. They both got a taste of success, which is necessary when you’re first learning. Right? You want to be able to sit down and actually make something.
I’d call it a successful first sewing lesson. And, you bet, I’m crossing off “Make Summer Skirt” off my list. Twice.
Aug 31, 2010 | 94 Days of Summer
Day Seventy-two: This might be worse than fabric.
Aug 29, 2010 | 94 Days of Summer
Day Seventy: Still green
My little victory garden isn’t feeling too victorious. My plants have only a few tiny starts and those are still completely green. I’m beginning to think that short of a really hot September, we aren’t going to see homegrown tomatoes this year.
