December 6, 2009

Bit #3 - Bathroom Window Makeover


Soooo....the ratty old blinds in our bathroom have been broken for a long time. Since this picture was taken, one of the lift cords shredded, rendering the whole thing lopsided if you wanted to let any light in at all. We looked around for a replacement, but the hardware store always seemed out of the right size or style, so we lived with it. 

Then I spotted this tutorial and figured "what do we have to lose"? It looked easy enough to turn our grimy, tattered blinds into a beautiful Roman Shade....

Sure, it calls for an existing lift cord, but threading a bit of yarn (yes yarn...) through the header was not TOO hard. Pulling up diagrams for the repair work made me feel like a little grease monkey! In a very, very...small, blind-repair sort of way.... sorta. We had some muslin in the stash and a new bottle of fabric glue in the drawer. A fancy new shade was done zipzipzip! (Note: fabric glue is aaaawwwwwessome.)

My triumph was short-lived. The lift cord snapped. Again. We are blaming it on some faulty rollers in the heading. 



Still, with the help of a spare piece of muslin, the desired Roman Shade was transformed into a dainty sort of ribbed valance. SO MUCH BETTER! (Excuse the cluttered toilet top - I was deciding between the wider tie or two narrow lace ones... Also - that tiny picture on the ribbon is one of my travel journals! Easy, huh?)

December 1, 2009

Bit #2

Brussel sprouts are love.

To look at anyway.




And then when all the little sprouts are snapped off, the most marvelous pattern is left on the stalk! Kind of like a vintage modern wallpaper print.

Bit #1 ~ Watercolor Packing List

Whew! So Nanowrimo is over.... Writing 50K aside, November was a pretty creative month at our house and now is the time to share bits of it here (in no particular order).

Laura and I are going to a dear friend's wedding at the end of the month. I'm trying to figure out what to pack... (And what will fit in a carry-on!)



Doodling things out can be such a big help sometimes, don't you agree?

(NOTE: totally in love with www.dailydropcap.com!)

November 14, 2009

The Words Keep Coming


There are several blog posts floating about in my head, but my fingers are rather busy plotting a tale without me, so you'll have to excuse the lack of updates. 

Upcoming:
  • I-pod covers
  • Knit baby hats
  • Project Linus quilts
  • Altered book beginnings
  • Lots of pencil sketches

(P.S. That is 'mummy' as in the endearment for British mothers, not an embalmed Egyptian artifact. My story is veering into odd directions this November, but that is not one of them!)

November 1, 2009

Nanowrimo 2009

I'm writing a novel this November. 
Are you?

October 22, 2009

New Journal


The new journal I bought at E. Shavers in Savannah. 

Isn't it the most decadently beautiful thing you've ever seen? 
And it feels so soft! I still haven't brought myself to write in it yet. A journal like this deserves great thoughts (and a good pen). 

Dear God, please bless me with great thoughts (and a good pen)?


Beach Sketchbook




I ran out of journal pretty quickly this trip and had to turn to my little "just-in-case" folded stack of watercolor paper. (About 3"x5")


I got to paint this en plein air, sitting on warm, soft sand under a fiercely brilliant sun. It was so much fun playing 'artiste' and the colors came out just right. Those squiggly things on the right are boats...

Sunsets are really rather too presumptuous for me to try yet...



And last but not least, The Depressed Pelican. I love pelicans. This one has a newsprint sea, because truthfully that's what it looked like just then!

I kind of enjoy keeping these mini journals on vacations...the one from the Blueberry Cottage still makes me happy. The simplicity of them is so easy and un-overwhelming. I can dab and doodle all I like without feeling guilty about it - but the next one needs more pages!

October 18, 2009

About the Pirates...

We happened to be in Tybee for the annual PirateFest, so we pulled together some costumes to go to the parade in. Not bad for straight-out-of-the-suitcase deals, huh?

And since we stole the dogs' bandannas, we gave them piratey names instead:
SeaBeagle, Beatrice Queen of the Western Main and ScurvyDog.

ScurvyDog knows how to say "ARRrrgh!"

Beach Houses and Cobblestones


We've been away at the beach. 
It turns out that Tybee Island, Georgia is a very nice place to be the first few weeks of autumn! The weather was gorgeous, the housing adorable (big shout-out to Mermaid Cottages here!), the water warm, the pirates friendly (yes, pirates), the food yummy, the side-trips to Savannah glamorous...We even saw a little of The Conspirator being filmed! Robert Redford, James McAvoy and crew were inside the house shooting, so we didn't see them. Lots of fun anyway.

I spent more time behind a novel or a sketchbook than the camera. Go to Laura's blog to see some pretty pictures from our trip! Shucks, even this one was just me jabbing Laura and saying "Take a picture of our feet!" Because sisters in purple shoes deserve to have their picture taken with Savannah cobblestones.

Maybe next time I'll blog as we go and take y'all along with me. Provided there are no decadently warm mornings for biking, dolphins playing at sunset to watch or seashells perfectly pierced for beads to gather....


September 30, 2009

A Quick Bit of Conversation

{image from sun_star_n_moon}

First off, it tickled me to pieces that more than a few of you participated in the recent sidebar poll. Thanks! We should do that again sometime. 

Second, you might have noticed the lack of QueSara entries on your reader. Have you? From the very beginning, Laura has never gotten my updates, and due to the number of followers vs the number of comments, I'm thinking that happens to you too! It's really bugging me, and I can't get a scrap of help from the Blogger people, so...

I'm thinking of changing hosts. To SquareSpace maybe. Or a fresh new Blogger. What do you think?

Anywhoo, it's high time for a giveaway round these here parts. More about that when we get back from the beach. 

7 Days/7 Outfits

Rosh Hashanah goal: to put effort into dressing femininely every day.

This was how my first week went.

Sunday
Chunky knit sweater, thrifted
Belt, Tanner Outlet?
Denim skirt, Gap
Boots, Belks?
Accessory, turquoise bracelet/ring 
Agenda: "Prop Assistant" at ActuallyLaura's SC photoshoot 
Wearability: ****

This top is SO comfortable. Never a big fan of handknit clothing, I now want to copy the pattern and make five. Or six. I think that the beaded bracelet wound into a ring may be my new statement piece too. 

Monday
Teal plaid dress, Target
Knit v-neck, ?
Belt, Belks
Canvas ballet flats, Teva (<3!)
Accessory: that bracelet/ring again
Agenda: ?
Wearability: ****

First time "remixing" this dress as a skirt/blouse.

Tuesday
Pink tank, Jockey
Blue striped shirt, Bitten
Capris, Belks?
Rain boots
Accessory: brass layered necklace, AE
Agenda: warm rainy day at home, walking dogs
Wearability: ***

Weird outfit. Also, new shampoo making my hair unmanageable.

Wednesday
Gray square-neck blouse, thrifted
Striped vest, inherited
Khaki skirt, Bullwinkles
Brown mules, Belks
Agenda: grocery shopping
Wearability: **

One of the blah-est outfits I have ever worn. People were unusually pleasant to me this day though. Perhaps because I looked homeless?


Thursday
White tank, Belks
White sweater, Gap
Khaki capris, 
Purple flipflops, Old Navy
Agenda: helping transport Belle-the-Doberman 
Wearability: ***

Yeah, didn't plan for Belle's transport, but notice! Picture taken afterwards and no major damage! That doggie is a sweetheart.

Friday
Magenta tank, Eddie Bauer?
Pink cropped sweater, Old Navy
Western-inspired belt, ?
Denim skirt, Eddie Bauer?
Sandals, SAS
Agenda: DMV road test, household chores
Wearability: ****

While not entirely flattering to my shape, this outfit felt pretty to wear!

Saturday
Black tee, AE
Floral dress, Belks
Jeans, Eddie Bauer
Tennis shoes, Lands End
Agenda: Nephew's jungle themed 1st b-day party
Wearability: **

I must love him or something. I wish this dress were more wearable, because the artwork on it is just my cup of tea! Japanese primroses, anyone? Next time, if there is a next time, colorful tee a MUST.


 

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