White Horse and a Cherry Tree...

Sometimes, I have no clue what to do all day. This usually means a visit to the mall and their free play area. Or more recently, the thrift store. This last time, I was looking for sweaters, which were on sale for $3, and found this painting. I'm trying to start a mini collection of found paintings. Some framed and some unframed. But interesting. (I also found a personalized ashtray from Las Vegas that read, "Jesus' Butts." Banner day).

I picked up the little guy and carried him around trying to decide whether or not to spend $30. Meanwhile, my two year old situated himself at the mini drum set at the front of the store. So I just had to listen to his whereabouts. I finally called my sister and made her look up the artist and gallery. As she's typing and reading me google pages, I hear, over the intercom, Could the boy playing the drums please be quieter?" And then silence. And then, "Now it's too quiet."

My sister cracked up. She knew that the intercom was definitely for me. Even though she couldn't hear the words. 

I went to find Hartwell, he was a little deflated, head in hands, so I bought him The Brave Little Toaster video. As I walked up to pay, the intercom rang out, "Purple tags are half off today." (Very busy intercom day at the Goodwill). I flipped my painting over and purple tag! So $15.

The cashier apologized to me as she rang up the purchases. She told me it was her on the intercom and she doesn't have kids and therefore has no state of the art noise canceling device in her head. I told her that I didn't even notice, I just thought, "Well, Hartwell found the drums." I think she felt bad. Which is good. It's not a library. But, you know, drums aren't the friendliest instrument, so I understand the reaction. 

So, what do you think? Drums for Hartwell's 3rd birthday?

I Look Up to the Little Bird...

I've been working furiously, between learning every solitaire game on my ipod, to finish this Christmas gift for my friend. I second guessed myself through every step in the process. And I had never attempted a zipper installation of this sort before. Zippers are a fickle mistress. 

But I forced myself to cut out the wool/angora felt, then a few days later I decided what the backing would be. Which was a brown pinstripe italian wool suit, pocket included. And so on...

And so it only took a month and a half to finish my first couture pillow.

It began while visiting the zoo. My friend and I were looking at a bird and she remarked, "I would love to have a living room in those colors." Well. My mind picked that information up, and filed under "Eventual Gift." Then I stared at that bird, a superb starling,  until his colors were burned into my mind. Like a peacock but with more brown and black.

After I finally came up with the idea, a pillow, then I had to figure out what to put on the pillow. And once I figured that out, how does it go on the pillow. So I created a layout with coins. And printed it out to use as a guide.

Anyway, after all of this, I gave it to her. And she said, "You called my bluff." Because, we decided, what looks amazing in your head is a little intimidating in your living room. 

The pillow is simply inspiration to guide her toward that living room. We all need something a little glamourous(?) especially when our living room is full of toys. Loud plastic toys. With tinny songs and flashing lights. Good luck, Autumn!

P.S. She liked it. I think it was the sudden realization of the task of painting her living room. Something she had pushed to the back of her mind due to her new baby. And now, I accidentally got her thinking about it. Merry Christmas!

She's the bees knees.

Ladies and...let's be honest, it's just ladies, I give you Cottage Industrialist.

She created this stationery for me after a brief google talk conversation. I'd love to elaborate, but she tells it so brilliantly, I don't have to.

I love them! They are amazing! Thanks, Cameron!

Eat Fresh.

I've been really boring lately and inside my head. Designing and thinking about projects to make. And, as if I didn't have enough to do to avoid actually doing anything, I've been playing addictive games on the ipod I got for Christmas. Solitaire? Really, Courtney? You really need to play solitaire right now? And is that not the loneliest thing ever? Playing solitaire on your ipod at 10 at night? That and this crazy match game. If I tried to explain it to you, I may spiral into a deep depression. Right now I actually believe it helps my brain. And that thing needs all the help she can get.

So, that makes the completion of this project all the more exciting. I finished the sandwich I was making for a friend. We decided on a hippie trade. She designed some gorgeous stationery for me, (which I will link to when she posts), and I made a sandwich and a snowman for her. I did some redesign on the bread. It took a lot of thought to get something that didn't need to be filled with anything to create a thickness.

I have many more sandwiches to make, for other friends whom I feel I owe. And some other cool things I will post as soon as I get the guts to make them. In my brain they are delightful, but in the real world? Not so much sometimes. I bet more solitaire will fix that right up.

Welcome to the Rose Parade

One of the best things about living in Pasadena is getting to go to the Rose Parade. And if you don't go, you get to spend the day complaining about how hard it is to drive anywhere with a major street blocked off for miles. So, win-win.

This year a good friend who lives eight houses down from Colorado Blvd. invited us over. He lent us his driveway to park in and then had this amazing set up when we arrived. Tall directors chairs in the back with shorter ones in the front that had little tables attached. It was like four star camping! The kids were in heaven with the chairs and the people and the noisemakers that dad bought. And the doughnuts. Man, they love doughnuts. I'd been craving them ever since I made some. And let's just say I've now had my fill.

Aside from the doughnuts and cool chairs, they really seemed to like it. Hartwell was excited to see the floats, "Here it comes! Here it comes!" And Bee would kind of dance when a band marched by.

Next year we really need to take the time and go see the floats after the parade. And instead of doughnuts, maybe oatmeal. Oatmeal and prunes.

Last Dance with Mary Jane

There's an amazing store somewhere in the Burbank area that sells used movie wardrobe. Like a thrift store but pricier, maybe? Because they can say it was worn in Scary Movie or whatever. So my husband stopped by and came home with a new t-shirt. Only $8. Nice job! He wore it a few times and one day while amusing himself with facebook poker, he noticed a patch was peeling off the shirt. So, as we all would, he peeled the whole thing off. And discovered something hilarious.

If you knew John, you would laugh twice as hard.

Because I'm awesome, I ironed the patch back on...