Fabric Acid Trip

I am a self proclaimed fabric nutcase. I love to look online and see all the wonderful styles and prints. It makes me want to learn how to design and print my own fabric. The other day as I online window shopping I came across this doozy of a fabric choice:

Dude, what in the hell was the designer smoking when they came up with this design?! It's like the elephants are frolicking in the Land of the Great LSD trip. And of course I immediately start to wonder what I could make with such a fabulous fabric. 

Even more importantly - do you think I would be able to get a contact high? If so, damn, I'd have to buy the whole bolt. "Sorry kids, mommy's busy playing with the elephants and giant polka dot mushrooms."

Pretend I'm saying something worth while

Blah, blah bla blahablah blahblah blah blah blah.

And then I was all, "Oh no, he didn't!"

Blah blah blah blahblahblah-de-flippin-blah blah blahblahblahblah blah blah blah blah blah blahblahblah blahblahblah blah blah blah blahblahblahblah blah blah blah blah blah blahblahblah blahblahblah blah blah blah.

I know, I mean really.

Blah blah blah blahblahblahblah blahblahblahblah blah blah blah blah blah blahblahblah blahblahblah blah blah blah blahblahblahblah blah blah blah blah blah blahblahblah blahblahblah blah blah blah-hah-hoo-ha.

You totally agree, don't you?

Blah blah blah-hidey-ho-ranger-joe blahblahblahblah blahblahblahblah blah blah blah blah blah blahblahblah blahblahblah blah blah blah blahblahblahblah blah blah blah blah blah blahblahblah blahblahblah blah blah blahblahblahblah blah blah blah blah blah blahblahblah blahblahblah blah blah. BLAH.

I'm so glad we had this talk.

Happy 2012

Hello! Happy 2012! Was 2011 good to you, or like myself are you looking for better and brighter times in 2012? I am still on the path to be able to help support the family with my Etsy shop and with the few fairs I've started doing. I still have to work my 9-5 job, but I will get there one day. Mark my words (insert evil cackle here).

In other words, I totally resemble this definition. And I see nothing wrong with this.

I cannot pass up a good fabric sale. At least I can honestly say I use what I buy. So far I am gearing up for 2 shows in March, a possible show in April and maybe an Open House. I guess I better get sewing. With my trusty Diet Coke and sewing machine by my side I will not fail! Perhaps a super hero cape is needed? 

Teenagers and Halloween

I have a 16 year old stepson.

(and yes, I totally just heard all you parents of teenagers suck in your breath and mutter sympathetic words. I hear you. I now know why gerbils eat their young while they can.)

We will call my stepson Al. Al's not a bad kid by any stretch of the means. He's just a teenager, which makes him inherently a pain in my ass. Last night the hubs and I took the two younger kids trick-or-treating and left Al at home to pass out candy. This was probably a huge mistake on our part, but alas the 7 year old wanted mom & dad to go with him. We warned the teenager not to eat the whole bowl of candy while we were gone. When we returned home a good part of the candy was gone. In Al's defense we had quite a bit of kids out and about trick or treating. So later in the night, after the festivities had ended, I casually mentioned to Al that he might want to make sure and brush his teeth well.

Him: "Why do I have to brush my teeth well?"
Me: "Because of all the candy you ate."
Him: (sigh, eye roll) "It wasn't a lot. I only ate like 10 pieces." (sigh, snort, eye roll rolled so far I wondered if he rolled his eye balls around the whole perimeter of his head.)

*crickets chirping*

Me: (blank stare, while figuring out teenager candy math. 10 candy bars + 6 whoppers - 3 twizzlers he fed to the squirrels + 8 suckers= 10 pieces)

Do teenagers really think parents are that stupid? Wait. Don't answer that. Just lie to me and tell me it gets better.

Happy Halloween

Just a quick Happy Halloween! May all your tricking be safe and your treats be yummy. My kids have already played in their costumes. Enjoy the pics!

And what is Halloween without jammin' to some Thriller?

(And if you made your/your kid's/your dog's Halloween costume I would love to see pictures! I couldn't make Aaron's costume as Batman needed muscles. Muscles Mom! I need MUSCLES! What-ever.)

Freezing my bon-bons off

It is freakin' cold outside. I have not been able to get warm since the weather turned a week and a half ago. Not to mention this wind is strong enough to blow Dorothy and her little dog back to Oz. As a native to the wonderful land of Michigan, you'd think I'd be used to this stuff. Usually I embrace the cold - the chance to wear sweatshirts and sweaters, make chili and soups. This year not so much. I feel like an old fart mumbling about my damn joints aching due to the cold. It doesn't help that I am a cheapskate and refuse to turn the furnace up, instead I yell at everyone to put another layer on already! Except I look stupid yelling at myself. And I already have on about 54 1/2 layers on. It's not even winter yet. I am not going to make it through these cold months without turning into my grandma. Someone please stop me if you see my stuffing tissues inside my sleeve. For real, a girl has got to draw the line somewhere.

In other news the only thing truly amusing me right now is watching my kids trying to do the "worm" and my daughter running around driving her "spaceshit".

Spring I need you already!

(but check out this super adorbs jacket pattern I just bought. Adorbs, what am I, a freaking valley girl? WTF?)

Da Truth

I've often been asked on how do I do it all. I work over 40 hrs a week, help raise a herd of kids, stay married, take care of the house and still find time to do all of my sewing/artwork/start a business. Sometimes I even manage to hang out with a friend or two. What are you, Superwoman?

To which I snort and say the only thing super about me is my gas after eating a lot of dairy. Then really you don't want to be near me. At all. I even manage to scare the cat away.

Truth is, to be able to fit in time to do the things I want to do, somethings need to give. Housework being one of them. That's not to say that my house is a disaster or unsanitary, but I certainly don't freak if there are toys sitting around in the family room after the kids have gone to bed. I often leave baskets of folded clean clothes sitting among the toys. At some point, when in the morning I have to run downstairs half undressed to find something to wear, I will contemplate putting the clean clothes away. Or if I need a basket to haul dirty clothes downstairs.  I only truly clean if company is coming over.

It also helps that I have a supportive husband. Sure he doesn't like it when he loses me to my basement studio for weeks at a time, but he understands that my artwork is a part of me and I need it like peanut butter needs jelly. Or like my boobs need a really supportive bra. You get my point.

How do you make to time to be able to do what YOU need for you?