Sunday, September 30, 2012

La Luna Inspired

As I have stated many times before I have no idea what I am doing.  :)  I like to experiment.  Sometimes these projects go great without any snags or hangups.  Some crash and burn while some take a little bit of time before I get any sort of result.

Friday I tried my hand at working with polymer clay.  I've watched the tutorial videos and tips on the websites but it's something I have never played with.  It's not what I expected and took three tries to get anywhere close to what I wanted but I like how the final pendent turned out.

It was mostly inspired by this outfit at Disney by Design.


Let me just warn you that you may get lost in that website.  There are so many outfits to explore.  So I wanted that pendent but it was sold out so I started brainstorming and came to the conclusion that I wanted to make my own.


Polymer clay moons and stars.  

Moons made out of stars


I didn't have a pasta roller for the clay.  So I used the next best thing.  My tortilla press with a ziplock bag.

Like I said it took about three tries to get them to look like what I wanted.  Sometimes I have an idea in my head that I have a hard time making a reality.  Luckily I had a Creative Consultant to bounce ideas off while I was experimenting.  I also had little fingers in the mix who wanted to help and create her own necklace.  That's where all the hearts come in.  She squished her clay and then cut some tiny hearts out.

I did have a hard time understanding the plastic clay concept.  I thought that it was going to be like playdough and I would just sculpt with it and it would be all easy peasy.  And while it was pretty simple it wasn't what I expected.  It was still pretty fun though.  At one point put the clay in a bag in my pocket to warm it up and make it a little pliable.  I also had a hard time with the curing process.  When the clay came out of the oven it was still movable but I later read that if you leave it alone it will harden while it cools.  It did.  I just have to sting them and they will be ready.

And if you haven't seen the Pixar short that inspired all of it, here it is...


Sorry it's just a peek.  



Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Sew Along

Every now and then I get these ideas in my head.  Ideas that I think would be easy enough to execute until I realize I didn't think things through.  But I am committed to finishing my projects even though I only tend to make things difficult for myself.

I am taking a breather right now because I am about to throw something.  Not really but I'm just really frustrated.

This is the seam with the right sides together (RIGHT!)
The fabric is more green than gold.  

This is the seam with the WRONG sides together.  I didn't notice until I held it up to check the fit. 


Bonus.  Here is the picture Clover took of her snack when she realized my phone was left unattended and the photo app was open.

Something like that always seems to happen even if I think I am paying attention.  I'm just going to have to learn how to accept it and move on.  I had to take the side piece off.  I couldn't find my seam ripper so I had to go at it with a pair of scissors and a needle.  I pinned it and started over.  The front is officially done.  Just have the back, sleeves and finishing to do.

Someone needs to convince me that I'm not crazy!




Thursday, September 20, 2012

I May Be Moody

I feel like today was a wasted day.  I woke up with a gnarly headache.  I took two ibuprofen with my cup of coffee and oatmeal and waited it out.  I started to feel better so I got up and put a load of laundry in only to be met with pain.  I had my neck brace on while I surfed the internet and waited some more for the edge to die off of the headache.  Nothing.  I got up and walked around the house which usually helps when my head starts to throb.  Still nothing.  Lunch time hit and I took two more ibuprofen.  I sat around and endured some more.  My headache was turning me into a whiney mess although there was no one except Clover around to hear it.  So it might not have happened...like a tree falling in the woods.  Around four I took a shower convinced that my headache would concede under the comfort of the hot water.  Still nothing.  At this time I started to stress out.  It had been all day and nothing had helped get rid of the headache.  I didn't feel out of it, other than the headache I felt fine but I wondered if I should call my neurologist just in case.

Then I gave up and laid down next to Clover while she watched Handy Manny in my big bed.  Then I could feel it.  There was a massive rush of pressure from my head to my sinuses.  Are you flippin kidding me?  All this worry and stress all day and it was my stupid sinuses?  Sure enough I could feel it start to creep down the back of my throat and I started coughing.  I got up and had some water and a cold pill with the good stuff to dry everything up and sure enough my headache went away.

Such a wasted day!

So I ordered pizza.  I was pretty pissed off at myself that the whole day was wasted all on account of my body playing tricks on me!  The only positive thing was that it helped to remind me to enjoy the good days.  You never know when your day is going to suck so just enjoy the good stuff while it last and endure and survive the crappy parts!

Isn't that what life is all about anyways?    

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Crock Pot Mondays

Our schedule has been switched up a bit.  This season our dance class is on Mondays in the afternoon.  So that changes my designated laundry day.  Not that it's all contained in one day anyways.  I just get a majority of it washed on Monday.  Since I will be busy in the afternoons now I no longer have that extra time to plan out dinner.  So I will now be instituting Crock Pot Mondays.  This is the second week I have done it and it's nice coming home to dinner that is already made.  Yesterday I peeked in the cabinet and realized I had the ingredients to make Chicken Enchilada Soup.  I used this recipe here as a rough guide. 

The pic looks blurry because of the escaping steam.

With all the yummy veggies piled on top!

I made a few changes to the recipe.  I didn't bother softening the veggies.  They were going to cook in the soup long enough so I employed the dump and stir method.  I also didn't bother with the rue (flour and water as a thickener).  I broke up some corn tortillas and they melted into the soup and thickened it quite nicely.

What is your favorite crock pot recipe?  I have a lot to collect.  I have a lot of Mondays in front of me!

Sew It Begins

Sometimes I get really excited about stuff and come up with really crazy ideas.  Then the excitement dulls down and I'm left there scratching my own head.  For some reason I think I can sew a Renaissance style dress to accompany my Merida as Queen Elinor for Halloween.

Yesterday I started cutting out the pattern.  Which wasn't too bad.  But fun sewing time comes after the laundry has been started and the dishes have been done.  I didn't get very far but every little bit I work on is closer to completing the dress so that is all I need to focus on.

More than a couple years back I took a sewing class and learned some of the basics.  Although if you know how to read instructions you can work on a pattern.  Sewing is really easy if you break everything down and just like everything else it takes practice.  To this day I still cant sew a straight line.

The instructions are printed on the pattern itself.

Please ignore the coffee stains on my ironing board.  It's obviously only used for crafts!
 
Soon I will be working on the green taffeta I bought.  I hope this all goes easier than it's imagined in my head :).

Sew it begins!  

Get Knocked Down? Get Back Up!

Usually about two to three weeks into my "I'm going to treat myself better-eat better-exercise" attitude, something always happens.  It's my own personal challenge.  I've come to expect it.  Well into this round I knew something was going to happen.  I just didn't know what.

I upgraded my workout from Walk it Out on the Wii to working out on the elliptical.  I was keeping a timer and taking pictures of my progress to keep myself on the right path.  Two weeks in my feet started to experience some nerve damage.  It was a little scary when out of nowhere your feet go numb or alternate between tingling to pain.  So then I had to back track and figure out what I was doing that was causing all of these not so fun symptoms.

After discussing it with one of my doctors we figured out that I should for now stick with walking.  Walking?  How boring!  But since that is my new starting point.  Here we go again!

  

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Supposed To Be Mary

I was a little curious if my darling Clover would start to recognize some of her favorite actors and actresses from the "I've seen more than once" movie collection.  I know that some studios like to use the same people in different roles.  I'm not exactly sure what her thoughts are about movies.  I'm not sure if she believes they are real or not.  We have talked about shows and theater and she knows that they are actors putting on a show on stage but I'm not sure about movies on a screen.

The first thought was during Muppets.  I was wondering if she was going to recognize that Gisele and Mary where both the same person, Amy Adams.  She didn't seem to make the connection.

Then my friend asked about Johnny Depp.  We know him as The Mad Hatter.  He is even on one of our most favorite blankets.  So she asked if Clover recognized him as Jack Sparrow since we have just started watching Pirates.  We talked about the similarities between the characters.  So far Clover hasn't noticed that the same person is two of her very favorite characters.

So I figured that since there are differences in the characters that she hasn't figured out that they are played by the same person.  Then the other day we saw the preview for The Five Year Engagement which stars Jason Segal.  We know Jason Segal as Gary from the Muppets movie.  The preview was less than three minutes long but after it was over she ran up to me and declared with a fierceness that only a four year old can express...

"MOM!  He is supposed to marry MARY!  Not that OTHER girl!  Why is he with her?  HE IS SUPPOSED TO MARRY MARY!"  

If I was her I would be more concerned with the lack of Muppets in the preview.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Knit Along

So if you read this post a few posts ago, you know that I finally decided to knit something for myself!  How is that going you might ask?  Well it started out a little rough.  I started, ripped and then started over at least more than seven times because after that I just couldn't count anymore.  But seeing that I am already committed (or perhaps should be committed) I had to stick with it.  No matter how many times I lose track of the pattern or how many times the stinking stitches fall off the needles or the fact that I had to go up two needle sizes because I just couldn't wait to go back to the store to buy size 4's double pointed needles.  So this is where I am at...

My solution:  My Clover's hair ties to hold the yarn from slipping off.
Saved my sanity!


Finished the brim and working on the hat.

And Noooo!  Those are not winter pj's in the Summer time at all!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

I Have No Title For This One

We were laying down talking the other day.  It was one of those conversations that had no point, other than to get stuff out of our minds.  Random thoughts here and there.  Hubby mentioned something and I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember what he was talking about but it ended with "it doesn't exist, like toilets on the Enterprise, because no one ever poops!"

I was quiet for a second.  I laughed and then I had my epiphany!

So everyone on Star Trek uses replicators right?  What if the replicator creates the food to match the exact nutritional needs of the person asking?  The meal or drink is created specifically.  Since it is perfectly matched to their needs there is no waste.  Therefor there is no need to poop since the body has no waste.  

Then I heard "I have no words...you just blew my mind!  I may have to consult someone on this."

Hubby just sat there stunned by my awesomeness.

Discuss amongst yourselves but I think I'm on to something!




Monday, September 3, 2012

Strength n Stuff

I had an opening paragraph set up but it didn't seem to be leading me where I wanted to go.  So I deleted it and figured that I would just type as the thoughts came out.

I've been thinking a lot lately about people and the infinite amount of strength they posses.  Not only have they been on my mind but I find myself amazed and inspired.  Some I know in person, some I know from reading my blogroll.    

It just makes me think about the many situation in which we go through just living our lives.  There are times when it seems that life shouldn't be that hard.  Unfortunately, we all have those days.  Sometimes it can seem like it's too much, but we all seem to be able to pull ourselves up.  Not only do we pull ourselves up but we stand strong.

I guess that's what strength is all about.  It's not about never being knocked down.  It's about finding the will to stand back up.  Time and time again.  We are all so much stronger than we think.  It sucks to have to have those experiences to find that out about ourselves.

It does remind me of one of my favorite quotes though...

If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you. - Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Dear Technicolor, I am a tad confused.  You see I am currently watching Mary Poppins which was colored by Technicolor.  I have a question.  Why is Mary Poppin's jacket black in the movie?  I have seen this costume in person.  I didn't get to touch it because it was behind glass in an exhibit, but still I got a good look at it.  In person the jacket is purple.   Everything else on the outfit seems to be colored correctly.


This outfit and many other Disney treasures are currently on display at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  This temporary exhibit is D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives at the Reagan Library.  Since we walked in sporting our Disney gear the volunteers knew exactly which exhibit we wanted to see and let us hit up that one first.  I have to admit that I did not believe the guy when he said it would take us up to two and a half hours to get through all of the exhibits.  I believed him when we were done.  The Reagan Library is huge!  Not to mention one of the most pristine places I have ever been.

Can't pass that view up during lunch.

Clover's other favorite part besides all the dresses was getting on board Air Force One.  
  
It really does take a while to get through all of the Library.  We had lunch at the country cafe and a fudge snack at the pub.  The food was yummy and the entire museum exceeded all of my expectations.    When we got to the end we hit up the Disney exhibit again before we headed out.

It was a wonderful outing.  The only bummer was that on the way home our lovely travel DVD player died.  I was a bit worried about being in the car and not having anything to entertain Clover but she did surprisingly well.  I would say that all in all the trip was

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

I Have Thoughts

I have thoughts that I can't seem to put into sentences that make sense right now.  Perhaps tomorrow I will try again to get everything that is up there out.  Or perhaps the day after that because tomorrow is Sunday and I don't really have any plans and sitting around doing nothing sounds really good right now.  But who knows.  Things do change very quickly around here.

Fun with Yarn

I had a bout of insanity last night that really only had to be witnessed to explain.  And I was o so fortunate to have one of my good friends there to watch what I was calling either insanity or persistence.  Perhaps both.  Lucky for you I took pictures.  

It all started with me wanting to make a hat.  I found the pattern and started but the green yarns I had didn't quite match the shirt/sweater that I wanted it to go with.  Girl problems right?  So if I am going to go through all the trouble to knit it I want it to be something I will wear.  And I'm making it so I want it my way.  Very rarely do I make stuff for myself so I was sticking to it this time.  So off to the craft store we went.  I borrowed the very keen eyes of my co shoppers...one adult and one four year old to pick the right shade of green.  We found one match.  One match in three isles of yarn.  Color yes, weight, nope.

So I will just decrease the number of stitches casted on while I increase my needle size since my yarn was Super Chunky.  After two failed attempts at this I just sat there and stared at the yarn.


This was me at my first attempt at unraveling the Super Chunky weight yarn into two sets of two strands.  Essentially pulling it in half while being reminded that it does not want to come apart.  It did not want to come apart.  But I was being stubborn.  So here is the yarn wrapped around my foot and me trying to straighten it out with the other foot.  

This is the yarn getting stuck in my hair while trying to pull it apart.  It retwisted with force near my forehead and pulled my hair in with it.  It knew it was going to be a hat and was getting a jump start.    


So at about midnight last night/this morning I gave up with the hope that I would try again when I was rested.  And that I did.  I didn't manage to take any pictures of the unraveling process because my hands where full.  I did enlist a helper.  I threw the yarn ball down the hall and proceeded to pull it apart separating the yarn into two piles on each side of me.  Every time there was a kink and it would no longer pull apart I yelled for my trusty helper who by this time had changed into her Repunzel costume because Repunzel was in Tangled.  Seriously, that was her reasoning.  I would yell for her and she would come out and straighten my strand out down the hallway.  She did this about ten times until we were done.

See two strands!

I probably put four hours into finding the yarn and rewinding the ball.  The entire time I could hear this conversation in my head between myself and the Hubs about just buying what I need online instead of searching stores and making due with what I had.  We didn't actually have that conversation but I did imagine what his reaction would be if he came home and saw the yarn tangled up in my hair or if he came out of the office to see a mountain of fibers in the living room.  See we've been married so long we don't actually have to have conversations.  I am pretty much assuming that he would just look at me like I'm nuts.

I casted on and knit a row before I had to put it down to have a rockin Labor Day bbq.  I will get back to it when I find some spare time.  I think I am on attempt number 18 now, but I am happy to report that it is no longer in my hair :)