no subject

Just an old picture since I haven't got much to say today. This is Christo's infamous gates in Central Park. I went with some girlfriends from school.

blah, another job missed

So I found out today that I wasn't chosen for further interviews at the tattoo shop (counter person). Which blows. I thought I would be pretty good at it, I guess they had someone else in mind. I feel quite useless from time to time, and today was very much one of those days.

I'm not really sure what I am doing wrong. Or why I can't find work in a moderatley creative environment.

Anyhow, I decided today was a good day to cave for my gingerbread craving and made myself some cookies. They really did help. (Though not with the "I can't fit into any jeans but the two pairs I ripped last week because I weigh way too much....")

Sigh.

How did I rip my jeans? Well, falling down the drive-way of course. With Chloe in my arms. It really wasn't fun, and I was basically immobile for two days. I'm surprised she wasn't at all hurt, we rolled quite a ways.
(The other pair were just on their last threads and split in two places from wear)

So yoga pants it is for now. And Saturday I'll give the rest of the cookies to Ryan when we visit him in St. Kitts.
Blah.

photo gift for The Englishman and the Polish Girl

The land of pastel bathrooms past!! (aka St Pierre Construction, 595 Exeter Road, London, ON circa 2003)

Birthday and Cupcakes!!

Friday we were off to Waterloo to celebrate Brian's birthday. I made him some extra yummy peanut butter cupcakes (a family favorite!). Megan made an AWESOME ice cream cake, I hope to copy some day. Chloe came along for the party, where everyone crashed on available couches and floor space. In the morning fantastic hair was had by all, most notably Sebastian and Adam. ("It's because we use product"-Sebastian)



Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350F
(makes 12 large cupcakes)

1 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
1 cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
3/4 cup Milk
1/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Butter Or Margarine
1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt


Combine all ingredients in a blender. Cover & blend at high speed for 45 seconds stopping once or twice to scrape down sides. Pour into lined muffin cups, filling about 2/3 full.
Bake 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool completely. Spread with frosting.


Peanut Butter Frosting

1 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1/8 cup Softened Butter
1/8 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Milk

Combine all ingredients, beat until smooth.



Dave and Brian's friend Kevin falling asleep early at 10pm. We'll call it a nap, after snapping this photo we woke them both up for much more partying!


Sebastian and Brian


Adam's hair in the morning.


Sebastian in the morning.

my christmas list

so, I started a wist a while ago... and I've just thrown my christmas list onto it. I like my wist, it's fun to have pictures... alot of the wist is crafty stuff (crafted stuff or supplies), it's only been the last while I've added other stuff. It's funny because there isn't really anything I need.... just stuff I've been thinking about.

Here is my list for all the snoops (and santas) in my life!

my wist!!!

wanted: a dreidel

I had no idea how to play with a dreidel. I know the dreidel song (which I love)... but that's about it. This aft I was perusing mathastewart.com when I saw this little gem of a game explained. It's gambling. I LOVE IT.
I am sooooo finding myself a dreidel-and some money-so I can play. (Though Martha's buttons are also a good prize).

pre-loved

a list of pre-loved things I am grateful for;

1. china, fine china, bone china, porcelain. (teacup and saucer sets, lonely saucers, plates, bowls and servingware)
2. buttons & ribbons
3. hand embroidery (on cotton or linen)
4. hats
5. cameras
6. vintage fabrics (wool, linen, cotton prints, lace)
7. old wool sweaters (even especially ones that have shrunk)
8. metal cookie cutters
9. matched tupperware parts
10. lemon juicers (I'm dying for a pink depression glass one)

Kool-aid Dyeing!

I spent an afternoon last week dyeing fleece. I had never used Kool-aid to dye anthing other than hair before, but knew it'd work well. At school, I used acid dyes on protein fibres, Koolaid works very much in the same way, the difference is that it's NON-TOXIC and so I felt safe using it at home. Acid dyes are toxic in their powder form, and the liquid is not good to ingest, so while I am bound to dyeing in my kitchen I am opting for a safer alternative.

Dave bought me a big ugly enamel stock pot at Value Village, just for dyeing in. It's a great size (8-10L).

Without any further ado, here is my fleece experiment!


wetting down (water with a hint of soap)


look at all the fun packs I had to mix colours with!


draining the fleece, and measuring my vinegar (acid!!)


The pot as it simmered


checking for exhaustion of dyebath


yep, it's pretty exhausted, no more dye left in the water


Beginning colour #2


one packet of orange suspended in this much water, just so I could mix part with the green


Happy results drying!!

It's very easy to over process the wool and accidentally felt it. (You are using all the things that you'd normally do to felt it, heat, water, changing the pH and agitation) so I don't recommend it for people who don't understand the felting process.

AND. If you are on my christmas list, don't even think about any modifications you can do to this process for your own benefit. I am staking my claims here.

I wish I were Matt

wow, just wow.




www.wherethehellismatt.com

the most perfect dog EVER.

I was listening to some music on my computer, and started playing tha alkaholiks, when suddenly Chloe comes running from the other room, climbs onto my lap and no lie PUTS HER EAR TO THE SPEAKER. and here I thought she liked Del the best.



My 4.5lb poodle loves rap music.

how bad is this?

can I use these together??

dress done.

This dress was inspired from several things, dresses my sister and dear friend have, the 7-way wonder dress pattern my family has owned for ages and this thread on craftster (and subsequent tutorial in this blog) and a dress by Monif C.. I still hope to trim up the ties, they look a little bulky to me, but we are getting there.
so, I've just about finished my dress for the Holiday Party this weekend, but I have to figure out what I'll wear underneath it. It has an open back and NO SUPPORT.
Since I'm no Nicole Ritchie (gawd or Kelly Clarkson for that matter), I really am going to need to have proper fitting under-pieces to pull this off right.

Add you advices here.


I'm thinking low-slung side-bun for my hair, but I am going to grab my hot-rollers and see what happens. I've got gold shoes to wear. Haven't sorted out a purse yet. I believe we are cutting out early to drink elsewhere as our bestest work-with-dave friend is unhappy at work and wants us to party with him and his sweetie downtown after dinner and the raffle prizes are drawn....away from the workplace crowd.
(here's hoping we clean up with the prizes again this year!)

Monday's child is fair of face

Saturday brought the pleasure of a visit by our friends Alison and Gavin, who wanted to meet Chloe. We had tea and banana bread of which Dave only ate 2/3 of his slice because the bottom was dry. I had tried a new recipe and it cooked much better than the last, I'll try 10 minutes less next time.
Yesterday we went to Len's Mill to pick up fabric for my dress (this weekend is Dave's work Holiday party) and went fot a walk in the woods. It was really busy, many dogs and patchouli stink children (which should be against the law, seriously kids smell bad enough as it is). Chloe loved it though, despite being called "the smallest dog I've ever seen" at least 8 times by passing strangers with Retrievers or the kind of dog Lassie was.

On this particular trail there is a dam, which has probably seen better times... It's got a clog and is collapsing. I walked most of it, Dave jumped the last bit, but we decided to go home and I didn't try a jump with pup in my arms.







Now I have to sort out how not to look so pale in the legs for Saturday.

she's crafty

I caught the craft bug huge in October, and it hasn't stopped yet. I am actually really happy with myself, crafting leaves me feeling much more fulfilled than sitting on my computer all day!
After years and years I finally signed up for a Swap on craftster.org (see link to the right). The theme is "Birds are Beautiful" I need to make 1 medium sized craft, and then 2-3 smaller crafts. The three smaller ones are pictured below!

A Japanese Stab Binding book, with instrustions on how to make an origami peace dove. A bird/button pin (for a tote or outer jacket?) and a small felted pouch.

Inside part of the book, each step has it's own page spread and an example folded thus far. Also the reverse of the pouch. The heathered green colour behind the embroidery was felted in.

Also, I have been on a felting kick! I made Chloe a ball even before I made the pouch for my swap, and I also made myself a new key fob since I've lost my Robert Indiana LO-VE one. And, I am not one to re-use an oldie that I've already retired.

My key fob and Chloe's ball (golf ball sized). Felt pompoms bounce really well and are super light. I am going to dye more fleece colours and make a slew, maybe for necklaces?

Lastly, I have been making Chloe come jackets. The sweater she came in was ill fitting, so internet research turned up a free pattern (strangely enough sized just right for our petite chienne). I have plans to make Muddy, Jeeg and Chloe matching coats, but am hesitating at using the orange fleece I've got... we'll see what evolves!


This one is a navy/white houndstooth with a red lining. The button hole at the back is for her harness when we walk her.

This is the other one I made. It's beige gingham and robin's egg blue lining. It hasn't got velcro yet.

I think I have a blog complex

Everytime I post bad pictures I have the urge to staurated the blog with more posts to bury the offending photos.

So, because I can't help myself any longer.

Post 1. The apology and confession.




I am sorry the Halloween pictures were shite. I will not let Dave forget to take a nice photo of us together before letting him on a drunkin ramapage with the camera. (you were "saved" from many many boob shots, not all of which were mine.....)

I have an issue with bad pictures, but I felt necessary to post Halloween shots to prove to myself we didn't look so bad after three days of sewing on my behalf. Help from Dave was on the financial backer end only for the costume project, he's a weenie and has no patince to pin slippery polyester lining.

halloween past due

so we celebrated last saturday at our friend Rene's house. Not as high a turnout as past years, but fun enough. We were late (got the 11:30 instead of 9:00 which we'd planned) so I drank quickly to catch up. We ended up sleeping at Dave's mum's leaving Chloe at my parent's home. This royally depressed Muddy & Jeeg, as Chloe is somewhat of a thorn in there geriatric 80 and 70lbs respective selves.
Not only does Chloe get what appears to be fun special food, but she gets to sit on furniture, and as it happens was allowed to sleep in my parents bed. M&J officialy dislike me and my small dog now, so I am rectifying that by making the three matching coats!!

and on to photos! (which are AWFUL, my husband sucks a taking photos, especially while sauced. This explains the terrible photos from our Honeymoon, note to self, stop letting Dave control cameras.)


Mike a Warrior & Dave the Knight


Robin a Dia de los Muertes Cavaleros, and Sebastian a Witch Doctor


a Smurfette, Myself a "fair maiden" and Dave P. a frenchman (his baguette had been broken by now)


Rene aka Nacho Libre (by this point he'd lost the mask), Chapman as Bernie and Adam as John Wayne Bobbit.

I could include more gruesome Bobbit photos, but I'll spare you all the sausage shots.