Under Construction

Because four times in one month is inexcusable

Sorry, Jake

Sorry, Donna

Sorry, Dave

Sorry, Jan

You had a birthday this month and I forgot.  At least Mr. H remembered his own mom's birthday but the others passed by unacknowledged.  How embarrassing is that? These are our good friends!

We were at Dave and Donna's house last night for dinner and I happened to ask Donna when Dave's birthday was (I came up with the perfect gift idea over the weekend) and she said yesterday. YESTERDAY! Could I feel more stupid?  And Donna's was 3 weeks ago.  Yea, me!

And thus the birthday calendar.

I'm trying to use more recycled materials so the linen is from a Goodwill blazer and the backing was covering a thrifted seat cushion. The paper is cut from outdated brochures from work.  It only took a few hours to put together but I'm still working on some of the month cards.

Now comes the most important part, filling in the birthdays.

Then I realized I don't think I know anyone with March birthdays. Except my best friend from kindergarten, Heather Sunda, who's birthday is March 31.  Now why, you ask, do you remember a birthday from more than 20 years ago but forget your best friend's husband's birthday?  Ridiculous.

Please help me by leaving your birthday (or any birthdays you think I should know, say, your kids' birthdays) in the comments. If I know you in person, they will be recorded on the knower-of-all-birthdays birthday calendar.

*If we've never met in person I can't promise to record you on the perennial calendar but if you have a March birthday, there just might be a surprise in store.  I need to regain some karma points here.

P.S. I also missed my blog's birthday back on February 9. See the first post here.

Who needs thrift stores anyway?

or garage sales for that matter when you can "shop" at the Brown's house.

I should have captured a picture of their "free" sale at the end of the driveway this weekend including three chairs from Mr. Brown's grandfather. And a vintage Levi's jacket (that I didn't take, and now regret).

The Browns finally decided that recapturing their extra room for their kids to play was more important even than grandpa's chairs or jacket. Or the highchair long outgrown. Or any of the other odds and ends left for free at the end of the drive.

Thinking about the stacks of junk precious items I own, I tried to restrain myself and only rescued this one chair.

I actually do need a chair as I've been using a folding chair in my sewing room for ages.  Turns out this chair is a touch higher and just perfect--why didn't I do this earlier?

I had grand plans of refinishing and fancy upholstery.  But then I realized that putting the chair into use was a much better plan.  So one trip to JoAnns for foam, one treasured pillow case cut up and my "new" chair is ready to go.

Sending strength to Ella

This is my contribution for Ella's book of affirmations. You can read about this here.

Since Biscuit is loving going outside at every opportunity, we are sending Ella good thoughts for health and strength so that soon she too can go outside and play in the sunshine. 

Proving I am both psychic and the worst daughter-in-law in the world

Yesterday I left work early to take Biscuit to her follow up doctor's appointment (all clear with the lungs and ears!).  As I was heading home, I had a sudden, intense desire to make cupcakes. Carrot cake cupcakes.

I found a recipe in the Barefoot Contessa Parties! by Ina Garten (p. 204)* and got to work.  Then my mom-in-law called to thank Mr. H for the lovely birthday bouquet he had sent and for his birthday phone call.  Hmm, I knew she had a February birthday. I guess it's the 23rd. Righteo.

So once the cupcakes were done and frosted (cream cheese frosting of course) we took them out to the in-laws house for a birthday celebration. Perfect!

*These were seriously the BEST cupcakes I've ever made (although I don't make cupcakes that often). I left out the raisins and added a few extra walnuts.  Also, it called for 1 pound of carrots so I guessed that was 4 medium-large carrots (seemed about right).  I also added about 1/2-1 cup less powdered sugar to the frosting and skipped the garnish.  Delish!!

Listy

One piece of exciting news. Sacramento now has a Craft Mafia!

Two other people who also want chickens Sonja and Darlene (no blog for Darlene)

Three projects I have in progress: tripods, zipper pouches, a scarf

Fourteen funny parenting poems

Ten zillion ideas in my head and very little inspiration to do anything with any of them.  Mr. H is accusing me of having ADD since I'm jumping from project to project and not completing a darn thing!  Maybe this weekend will bring some time and inspiration.  Happy Friday everyone.

The great chicken debate of 2007

Me: "I was thinking we should get some chickens. Think of the fresh eggs!"

Him: "I think you're crazy, think of the chicken shit!"

And since I value my marriage more than fresh eggs, no chickens will be coming to live with us.

But yesterday I realized I _could_ buy some chickens, just not for me.  As this month's Small Change challenge I'll be buying chicks!

The photo is one my dad took of a barn in Sonoma County. He pointed out on his blog that if we owned this barn, there would be plenty of room for chickens.  Unfortunately we do not own this barn.

Mission accomplished (one week late)

These are two of the cards Biscuit and I made for the Make a Child Smile Program.  (she did the finger painting that looks freakishly like a mermaid and I was in charge of sewing and spelling)  As an aside, we made one for Grandma but somehow I spelled it wrong so 'Grandama' didn't get a card. 

Anyway, Beth over at Playground Dropout has a cool new program called Small Change where participants do one little good deed each month. Since a whole bunch of bloggers have signed on, that's a lot of good deeds.  January/February was "send a card to a sick child" month and next month is "sacrifice a small luxury and donate the money to charity" month.  Hope you'll participate too if you aren't already.

I left my heart in San Francisco

I love San Francisco.  I even love the kitschy souvenirs and turned this dorky mug into a dorky Valentine for Mr. H. 

This was one of the recycling projects I was considering for the Whiplash competition but instead I decided to post it over at Instructables.  Directions for this easy project are here.

And speaking of Instructables. Through a round about way, I was part of a focus group interview thing for a related site and got a $25 Amazon gift certificate out of the deal. Now I can't decide how to spend it!  I want to get a craft book but which one?  Ideas welcome....

Best episode ever

I was behind on listening to Craftsanity podcasts and just came upon this interview with Jessica Vitkus.  Um, best episode ever.  Right here http://www.craftsanity.com/podcast/files/pod48.html

She worked at Martha Stewart AND the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. How cool is that?  It's long (1 3/4 hours) but so worth it.  Enjoy.

Recycled diaper bag

I was so excited about this month's Whiplash theme, Recycled Crafts, I thought of a whole bunch of projects to submit. I finally decided on this functional, pretty, recycled materials diaper bag.

The outer fabrics are from a bed skirt (dust ruffle) I found at the thrift store last week.  The entire bag is lined with denim from an outgrown pair of jeans. Not that I would _ever_ outgrow jeans. Nope, not me. Anyway....

I used more denim from the jeans to make a changing pad. It is lined with two layers of flannel from an old receiving blanket and backed with more of the bed skirt fabric.

 

In addition to a shoulder strap, there is another short strap and an extra set of d-rings so that the bag can be hung on the back of the stroller. 

And there are lots of pockets.  Two slim interior pockets from the jeans, a deep pocket on the back for the changing pad, two open pockets on the front, a zippered pocket on the top edge (for safekeeping of your wallet and keys so they don't get lost in the depths of the diapers and cheerios) and, of course, a bottle/sippy cup pocket on the side.  Diaper bags need lots of pockets.

One last pocket on the side is clear plastic and holds a reminder checklist.  I think "sanity" should have been on the list of items to pack.  Could have used that tonight after my long dose of temper tantrum because NO, SHE DOES NOT WISH TO WEAR A BIB thankyouverymuch!

But I digress.  A clear plastic pocket. For a list.  Or a photo?  I just thought it would be fun.

Overall, I believe this bag is 90% recycled.  The D-rings and bias tape and piece of plastic were purchased new but that's it. All the fabric is recycled/thrifted as is the zipper.

So there you go. My Whiplash entry. There is a side contest this month via ReForm School so I'm entering that contest as well--one lucky Whiplasher will get the opportunity to sell their recycled craft items at ReForm School in LA. This was a fun project and I could make 10 of these (maybe some could be messenger bags?) so my hat is in the ring on that as well. Can't wait to see all the recycled entries. I'll post my reject ideas soon.