A Blondie Day

A Post About Nothing

Much like Seinfeld's "a show about nothing", I can't think of anything to say today.  Hmmm - well, let's see.  The weather has been beautiful.  And after a miserable month of almost non-stop rain, that's quite something.

The other night, I was snuggled on the couch with My Girl.  She was watching Spongebob, and I was reading my book on garment manufacturing.  I got up to go to the bathroom, and when I got back, this is what I found...

Pretty much a Mini-Me - with my reading glasses on, textbook and yellow highlighter. 

 

 

 

She looks better in my reading glasses than I do.  I'm going to let her take over the business bookkeeping soon.  I'm certain she'll be better at it than me.

The Fairy Grass is growing like crazy - evidence that the fairies have been here...

Why doesn't the grass in my lawn grow like that??

 

My poor herb garden is pathetic this year.  The nonstop rains have really beat on it, and many times the whole garden was flooded.  The earth just couldn't absorb all that water.  Now I am truly known for my Basil, which usually grows like trees.  But this year, well - see for yourself...

 

The sad little things are trying, but the slugs are feasting on what little there is.  Oh, and there is nothing, NOTHING like homemade pesto sauce.

 

I am working away on my samples, in between all the summer fun, and will have everything ready to ship out to the photographers soon.

 

BD and I just joined Netflix, and the first thing on our list is this...

 

Love, love, LOVE Jimmy Stewart, and I've never seen Harvey.  Can't wait.

See, I told you this post was about nothin'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Things and Some Projects

  

10 Things I Like Right Now

1. Chocolate Pudding
2. Summer
3. swimming
4. Christmas movies (always love them in the Summer)
5. reading romantic novels
6. trying a new recipe
7. bubble baths
8. Gene Kelly
9. watermelon
10.  iced coffee

10 Things I Don’t Like Right Now

1. Laundry
2. humidity
3. my hair (hmmm, think #2 has something to do with that)
4. my thighs
5. the News
6. mosquitoes
7. hot coffee
8. Diet Coke
9. birthday parties
10. waking up early

 

Well, that felt good.  I've been in a very list-y mood lately, which is SO not me - but should be, 'cause when I make lists, I actually get something accomplished.

 

It’s finally starting to feel like summer here.  My Girl is done with school until September and will be an official 2^nd grader.  We’ve FINALLY had some sunny days and were able to go swimming in our new pool.  I lost count how many rainy days we’ve had in the last month, but it was A LOT.  We worked on some fun projects.

 

A Fairy Garden... (which should eventually grow "fairy" grass)

 

 

and a Starry Night Puzzle...

 

 

Yesterday My Girl and I spent the day at the mall and did a little browsing and shopping, followed by lunch and then home for swimming.  We purchased a Wall-E beach towel for our boat.  Our boat has been a work in progress for the last couple of years, but it looks like she'll make it in the water this summer! 

Here's our boat when we first found her:

 

 

 

She needed some TLC ...AND new engines!  Don't ask me why we decided to take on such a project, but we kinda fell in love with her, and she was the first boat that all 3 of us approved of.

Here she is when we first transported her home:

 

 

My Girl immediately claimed her stateroom:

 

 

 

 

Here's the Galley:

 

 

And here's the dinette (head and v-bunk to the right):

 

 

Hee hee - don't you just love the fishnet and the plastic shellfish?  That has since been taken down. 

So our little boat has been taken apart - inside and out- and is in the process of being put back together again.  BD has been working tirelessly on the mechanics - new engines, and just about everthing else you can think of.  But I think the final result will be a boat that we will all love and enjoy.  I'll post some pics of the "AFTERS" soon, so you can see what we've done.

 

 

 

 

Serenade

 

 

  

I just got another fabric shipment today!  Ooh, I am just the happiest camper when I get fabric delivered - it's silly.  But I have started on my samples for the Fall line, and, as you can see above, the collection is called "Serenade".  It's such a lovely and fun collection, all at the same time.  Part of it is classic and part is whimsical, and I'm hoping there will be something for everyone.  I should have the samples shipped out to my photographers by the end of July, and hope to have the line up for sale by mid-August.

Here is a little peek of the women's tee:

 

  

 

It's so sweet, and is very dear to my heart - you will eventually know why.

Tomorrow is My Girl's last day of school...ahhh, let the summer begin!  Long, sunny days with her - and long, quiet nights of working.  Gotta fit that in somewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

Big Daddy it is.

Well, you guys are way more imaginative than I am. I loved all your guesses, and alot of them were better than the real answer.  But Big Daddy it is, so I picked a person randomly from all of those who guessed right, and the winner is JILL.   Jill, just drop me an email at blondieandco@optonline.net, and let me know what size (2T to 8) Scrunch Dress you would like and your mailing address.  Congrats!  Thanks to everyone who took the time to leave a comment.

I'm a little bit bummed today.  First, of course, and it goes without saying - it is raining again.  I don't think in all my life I've seen such rain.  Then while I was eating breakfast, my tooth broke.  I had just had the same tooth repaired a few months again, and now the other side broke.  I'm pretty sure this time it'll need a crown.  Then my sweet baby dog, Sabrina, who is my best-pal-in-the-whole-world, who I've had since she's 3 months old (and is now 13), got sick.  I had to take her to the vet this morning.   This is her at the beach last summer.

They're not sure what's wrong, but they're doing some blood work, put her on antibiotics and back onto Rimadyl for her athritis.  She also had a double ear infection, which I feel terrible about.  I never even noticed that her ears were bothering her at all.  She wouldn't eat breakfast this morning, but did eat a little dinner.  She's just not herself, so I'm hoping she perks up in the next day or so.  Can't even imagine what my days would be like without my little shadow, although I know I will face it some day.  Just not now.

OK, right now it is POURING outside, so I am actually going to run out the door and let myself get soaked in the rain - wash off all the blahs!!!  What the heck, right?

Hope you all enjoy your weekend. :-)

 

 

I think I live in Seattle now.

This is the view outside my back door, and has been for, oh, probably close to a month - with little teeny, tiny breaks of sun every now and then.  Just enough to tease and taunt us and remind us how things once were, when there was sun.

 

 

 

Well, one thing I can say is that my flowers are very, very happy, and I haven't had to lug the 2 ton hose to the front of the house to water - not even once.  The roses, however, are not very happy with all the rain.  The constant pounding of water on the sensitive petals is causing them to be bruised and kind of sad looking - sort of like the way I look right now.

I just had to share a little peek of the children's t-shirt that will be in the Fall line.  There will be another design for women's tees, too.

 

It's very sweet, and I think and hope you will love it.  I'm pretty sure I have secured the services of 2 amazing photographers who I am thrilled and honored to work with.  I'm really looking forward to seeing my clothing back on darling little children, like they're meant to be - instead of on mannequins.  It's just not the same.

May you all have a wonderful day, whether you're in rain or sun!

 

 

 

 

Meet Blondie

Introducing our sweet little friend, Blondie, and her cat, Leonardo.  He is her best pal.

 

They will be making an appearance every so often, whenever they have a free moment.  Although, they are quite busy having lots of adventures, and sometimes even getting into a bit of trouble - although they don't mean to.  They may also be showing up on a tee shirt from time to time, and possibly even some fabric.  So watch out for them!  Blondie and Leonardo would love to get to know you.

Pretty Things

I'm am loving some of the guesses for BD, Butter Dumpling being one of my favs.   Keep the comments coming!  I'll be picking a winner randomly on Friday, so you have 'til then.  Oh, I have so many gorgeous fabrics.  I know you will love the dress you win. :-)

 

Ok, on to some pretty things.  This being my favorite:

 

Have I mentioned how much I love this kid?  Oh, she is the air I breath.  I think I've mentioned before that she was a mere 1 lb. 5 1/2 oz. when she was born.  Yes, she could practically fit in the palm of my hand.  Born at only 26 weeks, thanks to my out of whack blood pressure.  But oh, how she has taught me that love, faith and never giving up can overcome the odds.  What I don't think I've ever mentioned is that she has very mild CP.  You would probably not notice it if you met her, but after watching her a bit, you can pick up subtle things -  how her balance and coordination is not quite what the other kids' is.  She will move much more cautiously around stairs, ladders, jungle gyms, etc. and she often has trouble negotiating those things.  But does it stop her?  No.  She is my little lion.  And her favorite mantra is "If I try hard enough - I can DO it!"  Her right side is slightly weaker than her left, and it makes things like writing more difficult, taking off lids,  buttoning buttons, etc.  But  - she does it, and with an ever increasing determination.

She wanted to pose for a picture while sticking out of the sun roof of my new (well, new to me) PT Cruiser.  I think I'm really liking this car!

 

 

Oh, it was time.  My old Mercury Moutaineer has seen better days.  I'm especially going to miss having to shove a wooden block under the front tire every time I parked on the slightest incline to prevent it from rolling.  Oh, and the heater that is stuck on the "Hot as Hell" temperature, with no variation whatsoever.  I had come up with a compromise of keeping the heat blowing down on my feet, and cracking the window so cold air could come in and mix with the ovenlike atmosphere and result in a near bearable temperature. 

These are my roses.

 

This rose bush was actually in danger of taking over my entire house and yard, and had to be tamed early this Spring.  But I'm happy to say, it has retreated and is behaving well.

 

 

 

 

 

I especially love how they grow in pre-designed and arranged bouquets.  Makes putting them in vases a snap!

And the last pretty things for today are these:

 

 

 

 

I love crazy quilts.  I am amazed at how little bits of oddly shaped fabric and assorted patterns and colors can come together to make one beautiful creation.  Someday, I hope to make one, but until then, they continue to inspire me (there's that word again).  I love to mix and match fabrics, colors and patterns and see what I can come up with. 

Oh, I just can't wait to share the Fall '09 line with you!!!  I just completed the designs for the women's and kids' tee shirts, and they are adorable.    I have all my little bits of fabrics cut out and glued onto my design board, where they represent little minis of each design.  Maybe I'll share a picture of the design board with you?  Hmmm, maybe I'll do that.  I'm just busting and must share some sneak peek soon.

Look all around you today, and find your own pretty things...and enjoy them!

 

 

 

Whole lotta inspiration going on

From now on, my dear hubby will be referred to as BD.  Inspired by Jen, who refers to her significant other as LB (and if you want to know what LB stands for, read her blog - which you should anyway, 'cause it's great).  If you can guess what BD stands for, leave a comment, and you will win one of my Scrunch Dresses custom designed for you in your choice of size (from 2T to 8), but in my choice of fabrics, which I promise will be lovely!  And to make it fair, if more than one person guesses the right answer, the winner will be picked randomly.  I'll give a little Hint: BD stands for a nickname that I often call my hubby, and yes, it's safe to say in front of children.  Let the guessing begin!  Good luck.

 

Now let's see - there's more inspiration going on around here.  I was thinking the other day bout my Scrunch Dress, which I love, and I thought I'd post what originally inspired it.  I absolutely adore All Things Austen, so this movie, of course, was an instant attraction.  Never mind that I haven't actually seen it yet.  I can gaze longingly at the pictures.

 

 

I fell in love with these dresses that she's wearing.  Hence, the Scrunch Dress.  I'm also enamored with the way the dresses look over peasant tops/dresses so (hint, hint), this will be further inspiration for my Fall '09 line - which, by the way, is going to be a full 17 piece coordinating line, which I'm working on right now.  I am so silly and goofily (is goofily a word?) excited about this line, it's crazy.  I pretty much sleep, eat and breath it.  But My Girl is finished with school in 2 weeks and so officially begins Summer Vacation - which I know will bring me down to earth.  There's nothing like long, lazy days with her, swimming and eating ice pops in the sun, that reminds me what is truly inspiring.

 

 

Something else...

I have another new item in my Etsy Shop...

 

The Greatest Show

 

I've been collecting vintage circus fabrics for a few years now, so when I saw this brand new circus fabric with a retro feel to it, I had to get it.  It's so adorable, and I just love the colors.  I know the clothing loses something in translation when it's on a mannequin and not a real girl, but these are one of a kind items, and I'm also trying to keep my prices down.  I'm actually making lots of OOAK clothing right now.  Some of it goes into my Etsy shop, and some of it is going into storage for next Spring, when I'm going to be setting up a booth at Art Festivals.  I'm very excited about that, but right now my head is telling me to chill out and take an Advil.  Oh, I am so trying to fight off another migraine.  What is up with that?  Maybe all this damp, nasty weather we've been having.  Do any of you get these viscious headaches?   I have different versions of them.   Some of them with visual goodies like flashing lights, blind spots and double vision, and some of them with flat out mind-blowing pain, where there is no choice but to close myself in a dark, quiet room and lay down with a blanket over my head - ugh!

Ok, anyway I'm off to meet My Girl's school bus.  TTYL...

 

Inspiration

This is my Mom and her 2 sisters.

  

 

Aren't they beautiful?  My Mom is all the way to the right, and her older sister, Gertrude is to the left, with their little sister, Eileen, in the middle.  I can't even tell you how much I love these amazing women, and how much they all have meant to me and inspired me through out my life.  Note that the coats that my Mom and her older sister are wearing were designed and made by them, as are the hats.  They were all wildly talented.

Today, I want to talk about my My Aunt Gert, who passed away about 10 years ago, and I still miss her terribly.  Try as I might, there are no words that can accurately describe the crazy, funny, talented, non-conformist she was.  I adored sleeping over there as a little girl. We would stay up all night watching old movies and run outside in the dark in our bare feet because we heard a mocking bird sing in the night.  She painted murals on the outside of her house and made her own birdhouses.  The breezeway between the garage and the house was a home to dozens of birds, and she would feed them, take care of them and nurse them if they got injured.  She let her hair grow long way into her 60's and made her own jewelry out of bits and pieces of things that she put together.  She was willing to try anything at least once, and went sunbathing in the nude for the first time in her 60's.  She wasn't afraid to dance or wear crazy clothes or sing out loud.  She lived and loved passionately, and I could never thank her enough for the wonderful memories she gave me or the lessons she taught me simply by being herself.