Happy day of Family Food Feast

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is our family feast and giving of Thanks. Thanksgiving is not really about the food but it is a nice bonus. My mom is a great cook. I should be in total coma after we get home this evening.

I am thankful for all that I have accomplished since living on my own. I do work hard but am so grateful I can do it. To be able to pay bills, have my family, express my creativity, bike and make my home the way I enjoy it is priceless. I truly am thankful daily.

Wil found us an awesome Black Friday internet deal. We got a 37 inch flat screen (1080p, HD, LCE LED) and blue ray player for under $500. I am finally able to get the silver and black elephant out of my living room! The room looks so much bigger and feels bigger now! I was also able to move the entertainment center back 8-10 inches so we have more walking room. I woke up at 3am and went out to see it again. I am a goof. We are gaving the elephant to Wils friend Cory. I could have sold it on CL but I would rather pass on the good fortune.

Got my Lemon Cypress tree back from my parents. It grew massive in the burbs! I spent most of my day off Wednesday (while waiting for my packages) rearranging the garden, trimming back the tree then putting on the lights and beads I got last year. I sure enjoy looking out at it all pretty.

The over time has stopped for now so I will have more time to work on my chair, the apartment and fun. There will be more in the near future but until then I will be thankful for free time.

Be Thankful for who you are

Don't call me Captain Obvious just roll with the title. While I don't like dealing with the "Unstable One" but I am thankful to have a job. I do earn a ridiculous salary but have to join a union like now. The union does not want me to work at any other job but seriously. I have a lot of overtime but am only scheduled for 4 days per week in the next couple weeks schedule. The short of it is I have a job that is "temporary". I hate being in this position again! I just want to have permanence and plan for the future.

I am thankful for being a hot Bitch at 49 years of age, enjoying my family, having a roof over my head, having a job in this economy, having my health, the good fortune to bike nearly everyday, a creative mind and paying my bills. There are always variables but this is who I am.

Enjoy you and yours. Happy Thanksgiving.

I did not know

So I have been stressed lately but really? I have to work with a unstable person almost every night. Nobody else can stand her and they wont pick up the third shift if it is open because they don't want to be around her. Yes, that bad. I went to bed last night after the news at 11:30pm. I did not set an alarm (8:45am) thinking I might sleep in until 9:30 but I have not done that for awhile. I woke up at 11:00am - what! This is my only day off until the following Wednesday! I wanted to work on the chair project today but am taking "the day off". I am going to catch up on things, putter and of course bike. There is a huge storm front coming in the next few days that may dump up to 6 inches of rain in the Metro area. It was down near freezing with a freezing level at 1000 feet but with this storm coming in it is 47 currently and to get slightly warmer. Anyway, I don't think I will have the opportunity to bike after today so I must get my butt moving. Well, I could if I had scuba gear. I hope to get some unfinished posts done later today. Stay tuned!

I'm in and out!

Had a great and busy two days off! I got my hair cut and colored, (great cut and a bit different color - love it!) Derby Freshie Reunion, biked, grocery shop, paid bills, got the fabric washed and dried at my moms. More later but honestly the fun creative cool of my Sunday was looking through first my Grandmothers button box then my Moms. It was so interesting to see how well and interesting buttons used to be made. In my Mom's buttons it was a blast from the past. If my mom got rid of any of the many wonderful items she made she would save the buttons. We spent two hours going through buttons first looking for buttons for my Leopard jacket and then for changing out on some current garments that have the "wrong" buttons.

Anyway, it was hard to go back to work today especially knowing I am working 9 days in a row. The up side is paying most of my bills and being so close to a catch up! Gots to go to bed now.

sewing photos

Here is the photo of coat pattern (the camel colored coat) and the leopard sheer ling fabric! The sheer-ling is the inside and soooo soft!

Sorry for ther internet silence

You asked for an update to my internet silence so here we go! I had to bring my computer to work with me and use a word processor to get this done. If I did not have e-mail access on my phone I would not know what was going on! I really don’t have time to be on the computer at home these days. I get up in the morning and have my coffee and breakfast, bike, shower and head to work. When I get home from work I get things ready for the next day and do tasks like laundry and then go to bed. I don’t stay up late or I don’t have time for my bike ride. I have to have my bike ride! The biking is very important to my mental health and dealing with the ever present nasty hormones so I have been faithful with that daily even if it is only a 30 minute ride but it is usually longer. I am excited to note that I am back in scrub tops I have not fit into for about a year and my scrub pants are loose! The seat and thighs have always fit snug and sometimes the waist but now loose all the way around! I feel things going differently as far as the peri-meno. I went almost 2 months without a period. The hormones are fluctuating. Sometimes I feel “normal” but I think the biking is helping greatly as well.


As for work, I am on day 4 of a 10 day stretch of work days. I need to catch up on bills and figure the opportunity for OT may go away at some point so I am doing it while I can. It can get a little frustrating for me when Wil does not keep on his house duty of the Kitchen. I don’t have time and it is the only common area chore the kid has so come on! The new job is okay. I could do without some of the people. I will leave it at that. I really like the ability to take care of myself financially but really wish my job had creative outlet and more team players.

“Ages Three and up”
On my day off the last week in September I went biking on a beautiful Fall afternoon. The sun was shining and it was nice out but not too warm. It was my day off so I wanted to go on a bit longer ride than I usually have time for. I was adding miles by circling through the Oaks Park parking lots before heading back towards home. I was cruising along enjoying the river, the smell of fall, the feel of sunshine when a used “Sticky Hand” toy glommed onto my new awesome front bike tire and “WHAM” I went down! I was pissed! Don’t parents understand the reason (besides choking hazard) why there is a warning label on small toys?!? It was discarded in a pile of leaves all wadded up. I ran over it and it “stuck” onto the side of my tire but enough in the tread that it made me crash. Since I was almost 7 miles from home I popped right back up and started riding towards home. I did not want to stiffen up. I was pretty lucky in my minimal injuries but my bike mirror is not so lucky. The holder is fine but the mirror has several cracks in it. They cost a lot more these days than they used so but have been told a nice trick to get by. I just need time to go to a hardware or auto parts store . . .

As soon as work simmers down I would like to get back into doing social events and concerts. I joined a social group site called “Meet up” and selected a few groups to belong to. I am trying to find that balance, still. I also have some DIY projects that got put on hold through to whole hiring and getting started in the job process.

DIY and crafty too
I finally got the curtain rods and hardware to finish the awesome Asian screen! They were on back order for 2 months so that really put my project on hold! The frame is in my place but the fabric is not touched yet. My parents have been out of town but they are back now. My long stretch of work days is almost complete so I hope to find my creative soon.


My mom is going to help me make an awesome coat - well 2 of them. I was looking for a coat pattern to make a fabulous red cashmere coat. I just cant find any the last 2 years that I like and that fit me. My mom helped me look at patterns and see what I can make with her help. Her idea was to make an inexpensive coat with the pattern first to get a feel for the pattern before investing in cashmere. I am excited by the fabric I got for coat one! I will add photo of fabric and pattern later. I still have two purses I was going to make then the whole unemployment thing took some of the wind out of my sails . . . . Finding it now. I have the pattern, the fabric and all just waiting for me to get busy!

My mom said when she was in SF recently she was really paying attention to fashion after our time at the fabric store. My parents walked through Nordstrom since they stroll through the Downtown one a lot. She said they dress a lot nicer in SF. There was a lot of clothes in the Nordys there that we don’t have here. Are we getting too Northwest Wilderness attire here? TTFN

OMFG!!! I am sooo in love!

This is my lovely bulletin board up and ready for holding memories. I cant find my push pins and forgot to get them when I was out. I love the way it came out.


This is my lucky thrift store find today. Just last night I was asking my mom if she would consider doing some pop art for me. She paints with oil and paints impressionist style. I asked if she would do 3-5 4x4 Dala horses in various styles I have in mind. She was stunned. This lucky Dala is going to the way of the black and white cow stylings! So thrilled!

This is a photo of my jewels. It is to show that of 90 percent of my lovely jewels is made by t! The latest trade is a barter of painting for jewels. I feel I am the winner of this barter but in my own proudness I am a damn fine painter with mad skills on the details. My body just cant deal with the physical demand of the job. Otherwise I would gladly do it for a living.
So much going on but no more time now. Screen almost done, Pride was crazy and amazing, Robert is crazy and so is Ken. Life would be normal in my world except for the unemployed thing.

I have made a "sound track" of u-Tube videos to listen to when I work on the comp. Maroon 5 makes me smile.

Life is the messy bits

Today is not the day I planned but it was a good day to be a Diva in my world. Originally it was to be day two of Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races for my friend (racing) and me. (watching) He is the Captain of his company's team. Last year they were so close to winning! They barely got beat and ended in 4th place. They were missing three of their team this year to the international racing in Vancouver. (it has to turning into a very competitive sport) They got third place both races Saturday by seconds but got eliminated in their first race on Sunday - done. Sorry Mt. t.

I was looking forward to people watching, boat glancing and just hanging out on the water front. I bike up there and have a few things in my back pack just to chill. Don't feel too sad for me. I ended up having a wonky but great day.

Since the weather was over cast I thought it would be a good day to spray the Asian screen I got for free. The chair and screen are so worked out design-wise! I love when it falls into place. The screen is a deeper red with avocado colored crinkle fabric behind. There is flecks of copper in the fabric - sooo cool and so me. We got some great fabric for the chair that is a Asian style print. (and on crazy sale!) We are going to use pictures (sections) from the print to do each part of the chair. One scene is the seat, two smaller sections for each arm and one for the back. It is going to be pretty cool. My mom and I will tackle the chair soon but I need to get the screen out their garage I am getting to it.

So I got three cans of spray paint thinking it will be more than enough. It is a trickier spray job than I have done before. The design of the screen and all the changing straight lines calls for "mad skills" spraying. The first can went pretty fast but I was not too worried. Second went by too fast as well. I was not even half way down on both sides! I had to keep working my way around. I don't like to lay it down and only paint one side. Circling works best for me. The upside of the newest spray paint is it dries in 30 minutes to the touch, one hour you can move the project and 24 hour completely dry. Three cans down and no more so off to Home D I go. I bought four so I would not run out. You can return spray with a receipt. By the time I got back from a crowded Home D on a Sunday it was starting to drizzle. Thankfully not much before I got back and the screen was dry enough to move. Whew!

The other chore I decided to do while the screen was drying was washing my car. I have not washed it for months (August). I used a rag, a hose, Bio-Green and a car scrub brush. Armed with all that it still took me three go-a rounds and two hours of non-stop work. My arms are a little tight and my ribs are achy but I am sure they will be sore tomorrow. Did I mention I did this in the drizzle that turned into a steady rain? It was not warm but not chilly. I really wanted to get it done. I need to wash it again soon on a dry warm day and wax. Ethyl MeRM is worn but an oxidizing wax should revive her. She wont be new but deserves to try to be pretty. A task for another day. Last week I spent an hour vacuuming her out. I am trying to treat her better. She is not my dream Volvo but that is not her fault. Long live Ethyl MeRM the Diva mobile.

project phone photos

Chair
Not a good photo but it is a sliver of the screen fabric on top of the chair fabric
Here is the chair fabric and one for the scenes. This is the seat. The next is the back of the chair. The sliver of screen fabric is on top. The green of the screen fabric and color in fabric is the color I am painting the chair.
This is a photo of the screen today before I started painting. I sanded and cleaned last week. It was too iffy and cold to paint last week. Yes, the first week of June was too cold to safely.

It is about Me sometimes

This weekend I finally found the creative for the Diva again. I have spent so much time making other peoples spaces pretty I forgot myself and my projects. I painted an accent wall in my bedroom behind my headboard. It really gives the space new life and accents some of my things that blended in to the off white wall. I am very pleased with how it turned out. It also makes the room feel more intimate.

The other thing I did besides clean up after myself is worked on the new screen (sanded and cleaned) and sprayed the bulletin board frame. I annexed over the color to paint the frame! I wanted it to look like patina-ed silver. Some routes were extremely expensive especially for a bulletin board. I picked right. I am soooo excited to have it completed and up on my wall! I love it when a project goes from my brain to my fingers and completed even better than my concept. That is why I do this! I just need to finish spraying the protecting coat, nail in the bulletin board and the hanger. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday. It really does not take much to make me happy.

Happy Mummy's Day!

To all the Mommy's out there good job incubating and squeezing them out - high five! It is the easiest part of the whole job. Me saying that should tell a lot since I can make 'em but cant bake 'em.

Wil surprised me last night with some Mom's Day goodies. He was going out last evening I thought to stroll up to his work to say hey to his co-workers. I asked him to please get me some OJ. I was on the couch sick with the horrible cold going around. I had to keep going last week but yesterday was butt-on-couch day. Lets be real here. Whole Moo on the couch with pillows, jammies, blanket and remote. Anyway, he came back with all the beauty you see in the photo! Tulips, a cute card, dark chocolate covered almonds sprinkled with sea salt and turbinado sugar and the asked for OJ. It was a big surprise! Wil has not had money of his own until recently so I have not gotten any Mom's Day hoopla before. He is not crafty so I never got anything homemade since grade school. (Yes. I still have those) It was a very moving surprise for me.

As for my day on the couch it was pretty f'ing good - except for the being sick part. I have been working too hard the last 2 weeks especially when sick. I needed a day (or two) to just chill and not worry about anyone else. I gotta thank my parents again for the super comfy couch. I enjoyed some HGTV, some of the Absolutely Fabulous (Ab Fab) marathon on LOGO TV, a lovely nap and then the Lady Gaga HBO 2 hour special. She is fucking awesome! Seriously, she can more than dance, love her lyrics, she follows her creative heart with her costume designs and F-you attitude but the girls voice is so strong and forceful it is a joy to witness. The best part of the special is she is herself and banters with the audience and the stream of commentary is refreshing in all the over-staged power concerts out there. The show moves along but does not seem as stressful rushed as some concert specials with the wardrobe changes and such. I like the reality side to the filming where we follow her under the stage to her costume changes. I enjoyed watching it thoroughly. She puts on a show that rivals Elton John, Prince and Billy Joel. The Monster Ball is a must see.

Even after a very physically hard week (and being sick) I was determined to go to the concert at Doug Fir. I was so excited to have 3 bands in one venue that I liked something about all of them. The bands were all good live! Seriously, can you pass up an $8 concert? I thought I would like Violet Isle best then Derby and the Dimes but Derby really rawked! I am really glad I went and really enjoyed live rawking again. I will be going to see the top 2 again. Local talent is pretty tasty. Check them out and let me know if you want to go see them with me.

I am super psyched about my 2 new creative projects! I got a Louie style chair and an awesome Asian style screen FREE! The screen is nice as-is but with some sanding, painting and fabric magic it will be fab. The chair is re-upholster, sand, fix and paint. The chair is rough as donkeys but I am up to the challenge. They are at my parents house so I will take pics today and post. I am super excited! So many ideas are bashing to come out and the feeling is brilliant! I am in creative Moo-hear me roar.

Go with what you know

When an opportunity comes along take it or shut up. Since I am not having luck finding a job with my career of training and not yet sure (financially) about a career in real estate I am taking on manual labor. A gal's got to pay the bills. I am doing some interior painting. I may even get to do some decorating! I am already in charge of the color story throughout the house. I would rather be doing my own place but I gotta say it is very satisfying to have someone hear my ideas and totally dig them. It is fun for me.

I had a stressful Thursday. My phone was taking a shit on me, my parents wanted me to finish painting their Living room trim (for the love of the Parents) and I got very little details of this job but was misinformed that I had three days to do a whole house! I got stressed by it all - money worries, and needing a bike ride got me a bit grumpy. I breathed through it and thought all was fine. The next day I had a new phone, most of my parents job was mostly done (so they could put the room back together) met with my client and had a better idea of the job and I was looking forward to helping with door at Comedy Sportz. Bron,who runs the UK CSz, was in town! Besides, Bill was doing sound so the funnest guy in CSz (and possibly the world) was in 'da house! I enjoyed the show but at the end realized I had a migraine! I thought I would be okay but half way into the after hours show I got so nauseated I was going to toss my cookies! I had to go home and straight to bed instead of hanging out with Bron!

I had an appointment with my client at the paint store at 11am on Saturday so I and my posse ( I gots me a posse!) could start the job on Sunday. (yes, Easter) I was in pain but staggered down to my paint store where my client was waiting and got the essentials to start. I spent the rest of the "first day we had no rain and hit 70" hiding in my bed drinking my swamp water and taking a mix of all pain relievers to get rid of my headache. I got well enough to start the job. Even now on Monday evening I still have it but not the nausea so I can keep going. Stupid migraine!

I have more to say but need to put heat on the back of my head hopefully ease my migraine. Kiss!

I love a good re-purpose!

I went to a Green home improvement show last Friday. My mom read about it in the paper and it was free - perfect. I was excited after reading the website that I could not only see some cool home improvement stuff (HGTV I heart you!) but I could maybe win stuff - and I did! As the doors opened I bee-lined to the booth that was giving away a $10. Home Depot gift card and got one! There are quite a few things this DIY gal needs so I am thrilled! I want to finish my bulletin board project. I think I have figured out how to work with a new metal! I am trying to make this BB look like aged silver. Anyway, after my interview there is a Home D very close so I will go! I need silver spray paint and the corner brackets to hold the board into the frame.

I saw some great stuff at the show that made me wish I could have a home of my own to improve. The recycled glass counter tops, reclaimed wood for building and floors and cork floors made from recycled (or as I like to say - re-purposed) wine corks. Yes, I said they make a lot of products from recycled wine corks. It cant be the plastic ones but the actual made from cork ones. I thought the recycled class counter tops I have drooled about for awhile were cool but that is over the top awesome! They have a bin at Whole Foods among other places to drop off your used wine corks. If you save them up and give them to me I will recycle them for you. (Awesome, will you have Evil Dave save his corks?) Less in the land fill is cool and making good looking flooring is great! I have been excited about the use of bamboo in home improvement but I have really wanted to work with cork. It is great in a kitchen for flooring. It has spring in it but wears like hardwood. It does not stain easy and they look great! *sigh*

So I have my 2nd interview Wednesday afternoon. Please send good thoughts my way!

Love the Beads!

Today t and I went to the Bead/Gem Faire in Hillsboro. I have been looking forward to this show for some time.The last bead show I attended with t started the partnership of t and Marta's re-purpose the jewelry project. That is where I bought the copper salt water pearls. I have enjoyed working with t and all the beautiful jewels she has made for me. I had no intention looking at beads for myself but in looking around at all the pretty stuff I found some Swarovski crystal beads I loved! They are a medium to dark blue that has a clear/silver cast to them and very sparkly. The bead size was a smaller size so the string cost $2. I had no idea what I was going to do with them. I don't have anything in that color or sparkle. My idea is to go towards something out of my comfort level meaning something I different that what I have. As we were strolling I had my beads in my hand. I fell in love with some small blue colored rounded turquoise and very light blue opal oblong beads to go with my pretty crystal. Those were way out of my price range right now. (really, everything is) The opal was $10 and the turquoise was $20. t saw what I liked and we talked it and put different strings together so she could understand what I liked about the combo. We found some beads of similar colors and shapes for $6 for 2 strings. I was pretty stoked at the choices and cost. The coolest part of the day was t saying she would show me how to make jewelry if I am interested. I am totally interested! She said I seem to have plenty of design ideas so I might as well just do it!

It is about Me (in my head)

I have been mulling some thoughts and wants around in my head for sometime now. I have put some things important-to-me on hold while I still have Wil living with me. I thought it would be short term when we moved here 5ish years ago! I thought the boys would get through high school and move on. It looks like it will still be a few more years for Wil. I told Wil he could live with me until he finishes school. I want to be a supportive parent and give the push he needs to start his grown up life so here I stay for now.

One thing I need is living in a more suitable place for me. I want one that has actual outdoor space with garden , a work area that has space to store tools and projects in progress. I need to be able to start a project and not have to finish and clean up in a short amount of time like when I work at my parents garage/yard. The type of projects I like to do require dry time and several days of adding layers or what have you. I have tried to work on things at my parents or in the parking lot of my building, Nells (before they opened) or Comedy Sportz (before the Oregon Jewish Museum opened) but it isn't enough! I have soooo many projects busting out of my head and not enough time to work on them the way I need to. Some have been bashing to get out and done for a bit. It is beyond frustrating to my creative side.

The other important thing I have put on hold since moving here is being a dog owner again. This is the longest period in my life that I have not had a dog in my life. I have had some great close relationships with my dogs through the years. They were always there for me and "on my side" but more importantly my companion. Henry was a golden retriever stray I had for many years. She was a great companion that was so in tune with me. She got me through tough times and brought me great joy on a daily basis. I still miss her and that was over 20 years ago! Right now in my life I need that special bond. I have a lot going on in my life that is scary and hard. As always, I have tried in my own "Marta way" to keep moving in a positive way but need a little help. I have elderly parents (don't tell them that) I am starting to worry about, two sons that need to grow up some more, work is wonky and dating is not working. The creative is still moving forward but stifled. I really want and need a dog that is my steady friend. My building is a no pets - "unless you have a special note from your doc zone". I'm not wanting to break any rules but honestly feel that at this point in my life I really do need this for me to help me help myself cope. I feel like I am turning into a little old lady weighed down by the mental weight I am carrying about. This can really take a lot out of you physically! I come home in the winter and chill at home all lazy like. I need a purpose and meaning to get out of this funk I'm settling in. Cycling therapy has always helped but it has been too chilly/wet this winter to "work it" soooo . . . I have my projects but the frustration of lack of space and cold temperature has put a hold on a lot. That adds to the mental weight I am feeling. I can only plan and make ready with so much on my projects until the weather turns. Basically instead of therapy and zombie drugs to (not) cope with "life's up's and downs" I want pet therapy instead. The peri-menopause is really clamping down hard on me too as well as my feet pain acting up. I'm not feeling sorry for myself but the opposite - I'm trying to pick myself back up! I am still standing but want a four legged friend by my side to find my spunk fire again. Doesn't everyone want a side kick? I am going to my doc on Monday to discuss this with her and see if she agrees with my thought train. I feel hopeful having written my thoughts down, made the doc appointment and even started looking online at adoption sites. I even gave Ken the heads up so he can give me the inside track at the Humane Society. I know the whole process will take some time if it moves forward but feeling proactive in the process is very uplifting.

It's raining projects - hallelujah!

I feel like I am on a creative roll myself. I have a bulletin board project, purses I want to sew, not one but two chandeliers to re-create, re-vamping my garden, maybe sewing new curtains for the living room and putting the existing ones in Wil's room, staining projects, re-organizing my kitchen and other sewing projects from my 99 cent sewing patterns - hallelujah.

I am really lucky in my re-purposing projects since I always have at least one more idea stewing in my brain. Right now I have lots going at once! I am not sure where to go first?!? I wanted an adjustable wooden hanger to hold purses on my wall next to my vanity in my bedroom. I found a cool one at Ace that is made out of bamboo but shiny and expensive. I wanted the piece to be more the color of my bedroom furniture and causal looking. I want the cool art of the purses to be the eye catcher. Ends up I am staining it myself after I found one at Goodwill for 1.99 (unfinished) as well as the cork board of my bulletin board. (gel stain) The bulletin board frame (an art picture frame) is going to be painted in a silver patina to match the silver photograph frames on my vanity and the bigger of the two chandeliers will be the same silver for my bedroom. I have it almost like a shadow box. I am going to put trinkets and artwork from the boys in grade school. I am thrilled to have so many ideas in my head and the fact that I can see the finished project in my minds eye but I feel pulled in different directions. I am stuck on most projects since I cant spray paint until the weather warms (doing the opposite this week here - it is February) and have to invade my parents garage to work on a project. I can do the prep work there but doing it in the cold is not a big draw for me plus not much work space. I so wish I had a work area where I live! The time and productivity would be mind blowing! Are the gods of creativity listening? Save me from myself in my high rise apartment dwelling!

I will say with all the changes to my place the last several months I really like coming home it is so comfy and me. It is my creative all around me and like a hug. The best part is that it is not the space but the decorating that makes it "mine". The space I am in is not ideal but I have made the best of it while I am here.

Good creative flow Friday!

I think my Auntie She She is my good luck in the junking. I have had more good finds on the trips with her along. She gets a sense of what I am looking for an keeps an eye out but I think its more than that. She has good ju-ju around her and it surrounds me too. I had such awesome luck on our junking trip on Friday!

I have had a project brewing in my brain for some time. I want a girly chandelier to hang in my bedroom but the catch is I have to re-wire it to be a plug in not hard wired. I do not even have an over head fixture in my bedroom. I don't want to spend too much money on something like this but I want to learn about re-wiring and the bling of chandeliers. I really want it for the pretty impact - another way to make a rental more mine.

On impulse I veered in to ReStore (supports Habitat for Humanity) on our way to favorite junk shops and hit the first of many jackpot finds of the day. I fell for a 70's glass three tiered brass wonder. I am going to do some great blingy stuff to it and spray it and make it into two separate chandeliers. One will be copper for the main room. Stay tuned . . . . I also go three more interesting glass bricks I needed for some projects. Auntie She She really enjoyed poking around and was very enthusiastic about my project. She loved the things for projects you can buy there and wished there was one near her.

Next we hit another fun junk place called Really Good Stuff. It is chocked full of everything and dusty and smelly as all get out. I love going there. Auntie Sheesh loves that place too. We both found little things there but mainly had a fun time browsing around. Our next stop was a new boutique Goodwill on Hawthorne then lunch at another good find - the Waffle Window. If you live in the Portland area please check it out! It was sooo tasty! We want to go back soon. Our last stop before heading home was a junk heaven on Hawthorne and mid-thirty block. We really made a day of it. My creative energy is leaking out of my pores!

My fun day out ended with my son taking me out to dinner at Ling Garden. The family that owns it is so pleased Wil works next door to them so they can see him more often. They were happy to see us both in the restaurant and fussed over us but the best part was when Wil payed for our meal. They thought that was nice for Wil to take his mama out.

Creative abounds . . . .

I am a buzz with creative thoughts and ideas! I went back to Joann's Fabric on Tuesday after work to see if there were more patterns I was interested in while they were still on sale. . . and there was! Like I said when I was there before I did not prepare ahead or have much time there. I got 4 clothing patterns! I looked at all the fabrics on sale and got very inspired. Finally I dug around the Home Decoration remnants and found two fabrics to make purses out of . They were 70 0/0 off regular price. I got these lovely fabrics for about $7.00 a yard. Home Dec fabric is usually $20. and up per yard. Actually they were less than than! I bought 4 patterns at 99 cents each, the 2 yards of fabric (one at 24.99 and the other 34.99 - 70 percent off) and yard of the iron on lining 1.99 a yard that was 1/2 off. My total was 14.00 - less than 1 of the patterns regular price. I am pretty stoked to get rolling! I hope to sew and bike Sunday.

Saturday is for the ladies. Auntie She She and I are taking a bunch of jewels to t to show her for possibly re-making for me. I love "recycling" jewls! I am still glowing with pleasure from the pieces she made me last. It is like jewel christmas!

After we are done at t's She She (or Shesh as I now call her for short) and I will go junk store exploring and bargain hunting. When we are done we will hit Mom's 5 Star rehab to show her our prizes and visit. I will also take my sewing prizes to show and watch her wince at upcoming work. :)

Go forth and create!

Keeping it rolling

Yesterday I went to the big sale at Joann Fabrics. They have all Simplicity patterns for 99 cents! So you understand the magnitude of this sale the three patterns I got were normally $14.95 and $15.95 each! I wanted to look more but had to go meet my mom at her house. This morning she had her last replacement surgery. I may go back later today to see what is left. I have so many ideas running through my head - it's sooo cool! Looked at fabrics there and later at Mill End (smaller one in Beaverton) and got the creative juices flowing but did not purchase any. I am really enjoying the thought process and all the possibilities flowing through my Creative Moo brain!

Mom is doing well so far. She is still in recovery but the doc is pleased at how the surgery it went. In a few days she will be feeling so much better than she has in a long time! There was not much left of that hip socket. Just moving around was a chore and very painful.

2011 is The Year of the Creative Moo - the Perfect Brainstorm

The Year of the Creative Moo - the Perfect Brainstorm
obsessive oblectation oligomania

Now that I have that established the year here is the brief explanation. I really want this year to be the year I nurture my creative side more. Reading the Asher Lev story really inspired me. He had to paint like the rest of us need to breathe. His art sometimes hurt those he loved but you have to be honest in your art - whatever it may be. I don't plan to hurt anyone (but Wil does not like things nice and pretty . . or tidy) but I have a need to express myself more creative. I fulfill my creativity in many different ways. Yesterday it was helping a friend frame some cool art she got for next to nothing for the least expensive way but coming out of it with something awesome! After that I went to a favorite junk shop to scout for furniture she might want. She is a single mom looking to move out on her own from her family this year. I ended up with some things I have wanted for a long time for a dollar each or less! I always envisioned the Elvis is King I have to be displayed on a music sheet stand. I have only seen one a few years ago that was not adjustable and wobbly for $15! Yesterday I found one that is all I wanted in a stand for $1! It needs a serious cleaning but the excitement I felt in finding this object to finish my creative vision was stimulating and got the creative juices boiling!

Here is the reason and meaning of the words. In surfing the web trying to narrow "my years" meaning I came on this article about creativity that inspired the three "O"words. The Perfect Brainstorm is where I got the first word obsessive and the second part of the year. The second word oblectation means enjoyment; pleasure which seems fitting when tapping into creative process. Lastly oligomania means obsession with a few thoughts or ideas. There you have it -the Perfect Brainstorm!

I am going to punctuate this declaring of a new year by sewing two pillow covers to go with my new-to-me couch soon!