The Best Day Ever!

The best (most amazing, wonderful, exhausting, miraculous, interesting, illuminating, exasperating, stretching, creative, waited-my-whole-lifetime for) seven years ever!

Thank you Annie!

Thank you Bill!

Thank you Patricia & Patrick!

Portraits

I did a portrait series of myself tonight. Or it tried. It drove Annie completely bonkers that I wanted some privacy in my studio! I tried to keep her at bay for a little while while I experimented, but she literally couldn't take it that I wanted photos without her! She sent in the dog once, then slid a note under the door. All after a few too many inquires to when I might be done. I did do a few interesting portraits of myself, and then I caved in and we took a bunch of the two of us. Here are a few.

good morning lala

Have a great day.
You too Roxanne.

WIP-Mid-February

I've been working on this lovely little scarf since mid January and now it's almost done. It's not that it was really complicated, I just never sat and worked on it for more than 20 minutes at a time. If I had had plenty of uninterrupted knitting time I think it would have been a sweet weekend project. At one point I had to go into the knitting store for advise because I couldn't seem to figure one part out, plus whatever way I do purl (continental?) is slightly different from the way the author of this pattern does it. So I adapted, and it's turning out great. I say great, what I mean is, it's great for me. I am not a meticulous knitter! Or seamstress. Or embroiderer. Or parent. Or housekeeper. I am delighted if I grasp the overall feel/look that I'm aiming for. For instance, I won't pull out six inches of work unless it sticks out miserably.

Since I took these photos, I've completed both sides, now I just need to figure out how to knit the two finished pieces together. If you would like this pattern, it is called The Rosalie Scarf.
My dear friend Cory saw the scarf and yarn at her knitting store and bought it as a gift for me! She said she thought of me when she saw the scarf, and she was right. I love it!
Thank you Cory!

I look just like this wearing my scarf. Except my hair is red.

Happy Day-After Valentine's Day!

My friend Gail here in the Bay Area sent me this Valentine and I had to post it because it took me by surprise and tickeled my funny bone...

Thanks Gail!

(Please know that if it takes you by surprise in the upsetting way that truly wasn't my intention.)

Cheesecake For Breakfast

Valentine's was very sweet yesterday. Annie kept making little love offerings to give me and showed some Valentine affection to those she came in contact with. We got burritos and headed to the beach with Johnny, Makeda, Obi and their mom's where we played and relaxed at the sparkley seaside. Ahhhhhh! Annie and I had made cheesecake for Papa as a Valentine's Day surprise the night before, plus a few extra small ones to give away, so this morning we had a piece for breakfast. Mmmmm.

Hope your day was sweet.

Re-Fashion

I bought this wool sweater from Ireland at the Goodwill recently thinking it would be perfect for me this winter. It was a men's XL and I planned to felt it and cut the crew neck out of it and give it a more flattering V shaped neck. Well, after I felted it, it was an odd fit through the arm holes and didn't feel good to wear, so I re-fashioned it once more into a toasty warm (and rustic) jacket for Annie. It was amazingly simple, and it took about an hour to make, start to finish, even with all hand-sewing. I'll try to show you (very loosely) my process in case you have any old sweaters around, and want to give it a try.

If you decide to make it and need any more details, just let me know!

Matching

Annie loves clothes that match for us. I love it too!
(I feel a little embarrassed to admit that...)
I can't imagine how long that will last, so while it does I'm happy to oblige. I've been holding on to this thin rayon knit for a while now with the idea of making some nighties for myself. HBO has been running Marie Antoinette and there is a scene in it where the Dauphine is being dressed in a wonderful nightie, and although this one is different, it did inspire me! So, I finally made one. I added a series of gathers over the front and back to obscure the outline of my body, and rayon ribbon to hide the outline of my breasts. It is very soft and silky. When I was finished Annie said "Oh it's so soft and beautiful! I want one just the same!" So I made a smaller version, without the gathers, and tried to match the ribbon pattern exactly. When she saw it the first thing she said was "You didn't make the gathers!" I actually didn't think she'd notice!

Even though it is really hard to wait, we are just holding out for warmer weather to start wearing our new nighties. I'm still choosing flannel and heavy cotton knits against the cold mornings and evenings here in Alameda.

My Face

Last year about this time, I came across a blog in England called YourFace. The guy who had it offered to draw your face if you sent him a picture. I liked his style and was very excited to see if it would actually come true! I immediately sent him a picture and checked his site, sometimes daily, (more sometimes), to see if he got to me. I imagined a interesting drawing of myself, one that I could print on great paper and possibly frame.

After following his blog for a while, I found that he occassionally did themes, and with my photo it was a "1/2 off special", and as you can see he has left off a good portion of my mouth and neck/shoulders. After waiting so long, I felt disapointed when he posted my picture! Why did I hit the top of the list when he was doing 1/2 off? Why did I send him a picture of me in a costume?

Now that it's been a few weeks, I'm delighted to have it and am ready to post it here. I don't think I'll print it out like I originally hoped to, and now I'm searching for ideas of what to do with it ...

Any ideas?

And last but not least,
Thank You Damien!