My heart is full, and my wallet empty.

Guess what, friends?!?! I got a new SEWING MACHINE!!!!
Her name is Gene, and she's a Singer. I met her for the first time last night at the Cotton Shop. Let me explain. No, there is too much; let me sum up. As some of you know, I've been in the couch market lately. To tell you the truth, I've been living in the couch market...HAUNTING the couch market. I've pretty much kept KSL and Craigslist up continually on my computer, and although I've found plenty of couches that would do, I haven't found the couch to meet my every couch need. Too expensive...not comfortable enough...too far away......ET FLIPPING CETERA. So, when my sewing machine broke the other day, and Allan suggested I buy a new one INSTEAD of the money we budgeted for a couch, I wasn't entirely opposed to the idea. In fact, I thought it was a brilliant plan. So the above mentioned Cotton Shop was having an amazing annual sale, and I went intending to look and see if anything jumped out at me. Gene didn't exactly jump out at me, but after a detailed LD from the salesperson, I decided to take her for a test drive. I can't say that it was exactly a spiritual experience, but something like unto it... I felt this exhilarating joy LEAP from my heart, and I'm pretty sure I heard a a Hallelujah Chorus. After I sampled the first 10 stitches or so, I was smitten. I can't explain it in any other way. I was head over heels for her. She's digital, and has 100 stitches, and is so smooth and sleek and...sturdy, that I couldn't help but give my heart away. I got an amazing deal on her, and although I spent a little more than I'd planned, I knew I wouldn't regret it. And I haven't. And I won't. Here's a bad photo of her capabilities. A new camera is somewhere on our horizon...maybe next tax return. And by the way, I'm thrilled to be out of the couch market.

A whipped these babies up today to play with the tulip stitch.

Ok, go ahead. TELL me how cute this dress is, and how Josie looks like a dream in it. Em had whipped up this dress for her little Milly, and so I yoinked the pattern and made this for my Joe.

I added this criss-cross back so it will fit her longer...

Here's a baby shower gift I made for my friend Irina who is having twins. A boy AND and a girl.

I dressed up a lamp for my living room...

I just got this chair off KSL. Really classy I think, but not what you would call comfortable. I don't want to talk about it.But I DO want to talk about this pillow I made for it.

And this mirror I gave a face lift to.

So, basically, the world is at my fingertips right now. I feel like I can sew anything, and I just might. I just might.

In honor of the season...

Take the Quiz here!

2 years, skinny jeans, and Jane Austen

Last night Allan and I celebrated two years of marital bliss by eating until we were physically handicapped (meaning, we had to lean back in our chairs, walk slowly, and ditch our big plans of going bowling). Tuccano's treated us right, folks. Just like it always does. AH!!!! MEAT!!! I'm part carnivore, ever since my return from Argentina. They learn how to BAR B QUE before they learn to crawl, I'm pretty sure. So anyway, the long and short of it is last night was tender, savory, bliss. And I'm not just talkin' bout the meat... Heh, heh...


To commemorate our happiness (or really just take the opportunity to show a wedding photo) here is oneof the big day two years ago.
I loved my Allan that day I said "yes" to eternity, but I love him even better today. He has made me happier than I ever knew how to be, and who knew he would make me laugh so much?! I'm pretty sure, I didn't. Pleasant surprise, right?

Speaking of marriage, I always swore I would never wear tapered jeans as long as I live. As you all know, the style has slowly crept up on us all, and before we know it, our cute cousins are sportin' them and looking great. And we think..."ok, on her they look good." And then... "I actually think they're kind of cute, but I could never sport them." And then, "man, I wish I had the legs and booty to sport those skinny jeans!!" And finally we are in the dressing room for a half an hour trying to decided whether we do or do not have that booty. I'm still undecided, but I went ahead and bought them. And I like them. A lot. Here's how it happened. I was having the above conversation with my cousin Laura (who incidentally was the FIRST girl I had to concede looked pretty rockin' in the jeans), and I said something about how you had to be skinny minny to look good in them, and how I thought they were cute, but never on me, and she said something like, "that's what everyone says, until they try them on." So I then I had to find out for myself, and I will say this: although the jury is still out about whether or not have sauce enough to sport them, I haven't felt so hip since I busted that purple net shirt in kindergarten...every other day.

And lastly, I have something to say concerning our favorite authress, Miss Jane Austen. As many of you know, I may or may not be obsessed with her novels/subsequent movies right now (thank you Masterpiece Theatre). Within the last six months I have read P & P, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and am now enjoying Persuasion. I have watched, goggled, drooled, and poured over the delightful movies again and again....and again. This Jane fest, although wonderful, has not been without it's sorrows, due to the heckling, boo-hooing, moaning, groaning, jeering, wailing, gnashing of teeth etc. that my husband and almost every other male within my acquaintance contribute upon the mere mention of any of Jane's books/movies. WHY?!?!? I don't get it, boys. TRIVIA QUESTION: Do we, or do we not practically THROW ourselves at you upon finishing any of our friend Jane's books/movies?! Do we not forgive any/ALL your shortcomings and become instantly giddy and affectionate?? Let's be honest--Jane really knew how to get a girl worked up! Is this not reward enough for any ballroom dance scene you may have suffered through? So, here it is: the day you endure an Austen classic, without the post-game foo foo, is the day I give you permission to moan and groan about repetitive plots and the lack of explosions.

Eirene did it. Somewhere mysterious. With the poison.

You can never be too careful when it comes to elite, Hollywood dinner parties. It seems like someone always gets killed off by the end of the night. Aside from the fact that the evening began with the morbid death of our boss W. Anton Power, it really was a lovely party. We had so much in common! Besides all being glamorous and irresistibly interesting, we all--for various personal reasons--were just itching to dispose of Ole' Money Bags. The mutual loath for this man really brought us all together, and gave us heaps to talk about over the delicious Chinese cuisine. I haven't had so much fun since I was baptized!

Tatyana "Tat" Eltale - The Sultry gossip columnist who besides our native born New Zealander, proved to have the best accent of the evening.

Savoy R. Fayre - quite at his leasure

The dazzling Denise N. Dayer (the neice and heir) getting cozy with Seldon "Sel" U. Lloyd

Ivande B. Ahlone evidently enjoying very much the company of Hackford "Hack" Ryder

Hollywood's own sweetheart, Stuart "Stu" D. Muphin - If his sexy southern drawl doesn't woo you, his rope and saddle certainly will. And don't tell him that he looks like Peewee Herman.

Heidi "Hi" Voltage drank too much sparkling cider, and flirted shamelessly with Stu.

A Big Day

I have been anxiously awaiting this day with eager hands and a hopeful heart since I was five years old. The day that I would have a little head of hair to play with to my hearts delight.....uh, I mean a little girl with hair that I can...uh, you know...fix and stuff. PIG TAILS!! She has grown herself enough hair to make two very scant pigtails! It was more exciting than Christmas morning, I assure you! Of course I took them out after about four minutes--because notwithstanding my utter delight, I was not insensitive to the headache it could possibly cause. But it's enough for me to know inside my heart that it is possible.

And can you believe this girl? She is the beamiest, happiest little creature who ever crawled...er, army crawled the earth.

A chuckle and a smile

What makes me laugh even more than the fact that Josie was no obstacle in Mae's straight-shot towards the forbidden plastic bag, is the fact that Josie seemed to enjoy being the speedbump. What a laugh.
This is pretty. I've never shown you all, I don't think. I picked these flowers from each of my five areas on the mission. Each frame is a different area. Truth is folks, I thought up this idea in my first area because I was distracted and thinking about decorating my future home, rather than teaching a future investigator. My hope is that some gal mulling over the idea of serving a mission, will serve, and will take advantage of the idea without the distraction. It's a pretty reminder to me of my lovely Argentina, and my dear friends I made there, and the whole life-changing experience. I really do remember those things when I look at it. I just re-arranged it on a different wall in my living room, so as to remove it from sunlight. It means a good deal to me.

I feel this shot deserves a spot of praise: this picture of Milly was taken by Elena Jayne (my little sister) over Christmas break. She got a little digital camera, and took this unbelievable shot of Emily's little gal. I just love it! The rosy cheeks, the red lips and blue eyes--what a doll. I just wish it was better resolution.

I have never had such a riot making something as I did making this "Nacho Libre" costume with my kindred spirited friend Trine. She threw a Nacho Libre birthday bash for her husband Larry, and hence needed a good Nacho costume. As the mask took shape, we progressively laughed with more force and less bladder control. Please note how the very "snug" mask stretches out Larry's eyes and mouth into distortion. Please also note that this was after I added a two inch piece in the back.

Because you're curious...

I'll tell you what I made everyone for Christmas. Buckle up. This won't be entirely complete, but I'll give you the highlights.
First, I made this bag for Melissa, Allan's little sister. I got the pattern off this fabulous little website, in case anyone can now not live without a bag of their own. It was so deliciously fun, that I aspired to design a bag of my own. I did, and made it for Elena, but forgot to take a photo, sorry friends.

Margaret, Allan's Mom, got a lovely fabric photo bookmark. I whipped this little treasure up after seeing a photo of a really boring bookmark on Martha Stewy's website. Mine is a lot better, and not just cause it has a cute photo of Josie.
Eirene got a pincushion. PS. Craft felt is extremely cheap and useful.
Emily, as you see here, got a magnificent little Obi belt that just accentuates her already rockin' bod. I know, I know...three kids! I can only hope I'll look this smokin' after I've passed three children through my birth canal.

Let's see...Josie got these sweet little smocks, and the afore mentioned booties. I found both of these fabrics at Walmart for a dollar a yard. They both are in want of buttons, as you can see, but I figured, no hurry, right? She's got a while before she even knows what clothes are, so...you know, when I get around to it.
I made slipper like unto these, but not exactly these. My visiting teacher made these for me for my birthday, and she very kindly taught me, and I made some teal and tan ones for my mom.

I made stockings for us all--
Allan is a real comic-book face as many of you know, and so I made his out of some of his old tee-shirts, and a few good Christmas comics. Mine, as I already blogged, is a replica of Anthropologie's Kantha Stocking. Josie's stocking is a bit of a mut. Half Free People, (maybe 3/4's) and a bit me. I like mine better.


Let's see, for my tree I fabric mache'd some eggs that I blew (actually, Allan did most of the blowing). PS, in the future, I would just use plastic eggs. More child friendly.
I also made these, which I learned from Martha. I put them over a tiny light bulb, and they lit up at night. So pretty.
Lastly, my favorite Christmas decor of the season: a branch bouquet adorned with delicate paper cranes.
Well, that is all I have photo documentation of. If anyone would like a tutorial or pattern on something, I could probably come up with something. Emily, Eirene and I are probably going to start a craft blog soon, so this would be a little start.

Remember folks, if you have time to breathe, you have time to craft.