Sometimes I surprise myself

 I just packaged up my package for the April Swap-o-rama and I had the darnedest time coming up with something for the handmade part. The colors were lavender, cream and black and quite pretty. Delicate even and I thought I should make something suitably sweet. I finally decided on a trio of lavender scented satchets and to tweak them a bit while making them harmonious with all three of the colors I decided to make wee patchworked pillows. They came out so darn pretty, I am tickled! Who knew I could pull off pretty? Click here to see another angle. Oooh and check out the fabulous ensemble Jennifer put together for her person! Awesome!

Today, Mr. A-go-go, Sister A-go-go and I hit the subway and checked out the Cherry Blossom Festival in downtown Los Angeles. Meh. It was kind of like a glorified farmer's market without the fresh produce. They did have japanese drummers and kettle corn though. Oh and we saw these amazing hand crafted insects made from palm leaves! They were amazing! The Sister A-go-go bought two of them and I did manage to take some pics but they are still on the disk in the camera so I will have to show y'all later. We had a nice lunch at a japanese place and then trekked on over to the Marukai Market where I picked up some green tea soy milk, paprika & allspice in adorable wee glass bottles, my favorite shortbread cookies & a package of chocolate peanut clusters with rice and spiced soy something...the package was just really nifty. It was orange with a Mr. Peanut character and a Mr. Kakinotane character! I love me some nifty packaging!

When we got home we sat on our back stoop and watched the bees in the garden. Everything is blooming right now and oh so pretty! When we got tired of the bees we picked two oranges off the tree and ate them...yum! Sitting in our garden enjoying the sun is so nice. We need a good hammock to nap in. We even spotted the skink we rescued from the neighbor kitty the other day. Love our creepy crawly life. After a nice rest we jumped in Rodney (the car) and went off to visit with granny who was already lounging in bed. she had decided she was hungry and thought if she went to bed earlier she would get dinner earlier. Lucky for her we brought peanut butter and crackers. She requested them last week. Peanut butter, crackers and um...sardines...gotta love the lady!

Happy last day of March! Happy Birthday Big Sister and Happy Birthday to the Sister A-go-go!

Photobooth Friday: oh so arty

What do ya think? This strip was taken at the beginning of my reintroduction to the booth. I'm thinking December 2000 maybe or maybe it was January 2001. I think it was after my Mamos passed and I was hosting a friend's photo openning at the big bookstore I worked at. It was a great night with old friends. We laughedm hugged and drank sidecars at a swanky bar. We took a lot of pictures of the actual fun but this strip was taken before it all began which is why I like it so much.

More boothers to the right...check out the sidebar!

Okay, I admit it...

I'm in over my head in regards to crafty obligations and swaps. It may help for me to write these thigns down as I forget what I sign up for and who I agree to for a personal swap and then suddenly I am behind on a few and have forgotten some more and I end up running around in circles in this tiny tiny casa leaving a trail of buttons and threads and scissors behind me. Has anyone seen the fabric scissors? I can't find them.

Currently I have put on the back burner a personal swap with two fabulous peeps. I have the purchased stuff tucked away in their very own ziploc on the kitchen table which resembles anything but a table but I still need to put it all together with some pizazz! I have a birthday present for Lalu, my oldest bestest gal in a bag on the floor under the ironing board. Her birthday was in February! I have two sister birthdays coming up on the same day, Saturday and haven't mailed one or started the other not to mention the April coloriffic which is mostly done...it needs packaging. Oh and then there are the "surprise" packages that I have been thinking of sending out. One of them is from last year! Call me Susan Powter but STOP THE MADNESS! Sheesh! Do any of you do this too?

I hate when I get behind but I hate that I hate it so much that it leaves me all kerfungled and such. So today, I have a plan to cross a bunch of stuff off the list. Today I actually thank the Stacey lady for canceling on our lunch date because now I have no excuse not to finish up some stuff.

Pictured up at top is a peek at the work in progress part of my contribution to the Pink swap over at 5 things. There's something about a pink bunny wielding an axe that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Happy Thursday folks!

My quilting man

Here it is, THEE work in progress! The quilt that took over the living room. We had to move the sofa to get the floor space our place is that small. In this picture Mr. A-go-go is getting ready to pin all the pieces together. The quilt top, the batting and the back. You may think "Wait a minute, shouldn't the top be facing the other way?" and you would be correct if we were making a simple quilt. We, of course are not. We are making a quilted duvet cover. This way we can use the quilt as a summer blanket and then stuff it with a comforter for when it gets cold! Ingenious I tell ya! Many months ago Mr. A-go-go brought home a giant roll of quilt batting that he rescued from the trash pile at work. We're talking GIANT, as tall as me almost and just about as thick. We were afraid to open the tube and imagined it growing to crazy porportions like the blob or something but we seemed to manage okay. The batting is usable but sadly it is polyester and not cotton. Being the "use what you have" people we are and being that it was free and would maybe end up in a landfill, we used it. There is plenty left over Susan and Cathy if you want some but remember it isn't cotton. It is about 3/4 of an inch thick and 4-5 feet wide. If any other of you local ladies would like some, lemme know so we can schedule a pick up or somethin'! He has already started machine quilting the thing and I can't can't can't wait for it to be done! What I really love is how some of the fabrics came from swaps and two are vintage pieces from dresses I've worn. Now, I want to make a quilt. This time I won't ask the guy for help and just start cutting all by myself.

Today is school and errand running. I need to pick up a few supplies and such. Tomorrow I am hitting the post office and helping the Stchay-shee gal with a robot party for the boy and Friday it is lunch with Cat and Saturday we're going downtown to the Cherry Blossom Festival and then on Sunday I may venture forth with camera in hand to photograph a guerrilla pillow fight. Happy Wednesday folks!

Happy Birthday Mamos!

Today would have been my Mother's 66th birthday. I miss her so much it still hurts and overwhelms me at times. She is around the same age as I am in this picture. I have no idea when they started filming for the flick. Her best friend's husband at the time was a producer for Universal and got them a gig as extras for a short while. This was a great big thing for my mom as she adored films so very much and was disabled with Lupus but was in the middle of a good period where her health soared and she was able to be productive. I don't remember much from this as I was only 5 or 6 but I do remember her smiles and laughter. She told me the lights almost knocked her out...Lupus doesn't do well with a whole lotta lights, brightness and activity but she had such a good time running around and hanging out with some guy in a hawaiian shirt named Bobby. Yup! If you ever find yourself watching New York, New York, keep an eye on the two ladies seated at the table behind Liza just before the champagne fight starts. That's my mamos and her friend! She told me how they had to spend hours pretend speaking and they could only say "Tomato". Later I would follow in her footsteps as an extra in The Doors. I had just recovered from a hellish chicken pox experience and had lost both my voice and had an ear infection. I was seated way way way in the back of the theater where Jim gets arrested on stage and spent most of my time reading my smuggled copy of The Vampire Lestat and then lipsynching "Light My Fire" when filming was happening. I was sad that I couldn't talk to anyone and mad that they put me in a dorky outfit which I of course restyled more to my liking the next day and no one noticed. If you watch The Doors and search search search for a girl in a giant white floppy hat with red polka dots, that's me! I did get to wear crushed velvet bell bottoms and eat all the donuts I wanted and Oliver Stone stepped on my foot while Kevin Dillon asked me if I was okay...oh and I got paid too! So, whoo-hoo!

When my mother was alive we would go thrift shopping on her birthday and then after she died I would go thrifting by myself holding a mental commentary of what she would like, not like, etc. I have school all day today so can't go but I did go yesterday and I think she was with me in spirit or maybe I'm just a little nutty. My mom was one cool lady who had a hell of a life. I am amazed at what she went through and sometimes I wanna knock some sense into her head but I can't. She did the best she could and with everything that was stacked up against her, I think she did a pretty good job. I am so grateful for what she taught me. I wouldn't be the me I am without the life we had. I love you Mamos. Wherever, whoever or whatever you are I hope you are at peace and eating some very good cake! Happy Birthday!

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

Easter is coming soon! Soon! Soon! Who needs chocolate when you can get one of my espressly made for you faux coco bunnies? Don't they look dandy? Okay, fine, I'll stop with all the self promotion...have a happy weekend folks! Today I get to hang out with a dear friend and eat yummy goodness but for now I need to do a bit of speed cleaning, the goal is the kitchen table! Wish me luck!