It Goes "Ding" When There's Stuff!

I wasn't going to sew anything for one month after I got back from SCA Gulf Wars, since I'd been sewing practically nonstop for four months straight; but I did break that rule for this, yesterday:

No kidding, I've had this purple jersey knit fabric sitting in a bag for _over a year_ waiting for me to "just be done with this one project" before I'd start it.  Meanwhile, the knit bathrobe I made for myself in 2008 was literally full of holes (puppy) and falling apart at the seams.  So I made this one to replace it.  The pattern is the same as the Japanese clothing I've made in the past for Sir Takuan's samurai costumes in the SCA, and also the one I used for my short, silk robe/cover-up last year.

SO COMFY WOW.  

I've also been working in the yard - cleaning up, and building new garden beds in the backyard.  This is the year I get back out into the garden, yay!  I'm in the midst of it this weekend; I'll have pics when I'm done.  (More details on my garden blog).  

Don't worry, I'm up to my EYEBALLS in stuff I'm working on in the house, too, and I'll have posts and pics later this week! I also have a spiffy new phone coming in the mail in a couple of days - with a better camera on it!  :D 

. 

Something Green, Something New

I did two things yesterday:

1.   I re-organized some of the houseplants into a more green-

house-like space.  This is the window corner in the living

room, behind the little Day Sofa. 

2.  I started a gardening blog!  You all know about the Martian Death Fungus and the drought;  well, 2013 is the year I start up the serious gardening once again!  You can follow my progress a bit here, from time to time, but if you're really interested, go check out A Bit of Earth. 

Squee!

My BFF and I, in addition to all the other crazy junk we do, often sneak little gifts and joke-gifts into each other's homes, hiding little surprises here and there just to see how long it takes the other one to notice.

Friday night when she and I and Kress were at my place catching up on our Vampire Diaries, I noticed she'd done it again - a little brass Ganesh statue that she tucked into my meditation corner!

Squee!  *dances*  

I don't have pictures, because I'm still in the middle of freshening up the corner (my cats "meditate" there, too, so it gets covered in fur and I have to wash all the cushions once a week) to include my new elephant god - I'll try to get pics tonight so I can post them tomorrow. 

The camping trip I'm taking this weekend is another spiritual retreat for women like the one I go to in June, where there's a raffle, a couple of swap meets, and many vendors with beautiful wares to buy.  I'm hoping to come home with either new piece of fabric to add to the corner (a blanket/sari/sarong/etc.), or something for my little Ganesh to rest in/on.   :)

My BFF, by the way, is pretty freakin' awesome - her first fiction novel, which is her third book, just hit the shelves a couple of weeks ago.  Check it out! :)
.

Wow, I'm Famous!

Tee-hee. 

I'm featured in a Home Tour over at of Peacocks & Paisleys today.  Check it out! 

P&P is one of my favorite blogs.  It's beautiful and inspiring, and the author has such an eye for beauty, and a way with words.  Blogger crush!  ;)

Thanks, GB!  :) 


.

"Pennies From Heaven" ?

Things I would like to win:

• the lottery
• Home Depot's $5K shopping spree 
• a $50 gift card to CSN, via the giveaway at Anu's wonderful blog, My Dream Canvas!  

I just entered.  How cool would that be?  I don't think I've won anything in about twenty years, lol.

Anyhow, My Dream Canvas is beautiful - Anu's home is just gorgeous, and she's an excellent photographer.
Go see! :)


.

Notes On Blogging and Lurking

I read a lot more blogs than I have listed on my profile.

If I like your blog, I've either read the entire thing, or am in the process of doing so in my spare time. 

I don't often comment, and when I do, I hardly ever link back to myself.

I don't want to be famous.

I don't want to make money doing this. Ever.  It's just fun.

I moderate comments only because I'm terrible at keeping up with them - moderating them helps me make sure I don't ever miss the opportunity to read them all and respond to them.

If I don't respond to your comment, don't feel neglected.  I liked it, and thank you. :)



Peace, y'all.
.

Progress On Several Fronts

+     figured out how to comment on my own posts!

+    shoulder greatly improved.

+    got a tiny amount of painting done - with the other arm - in the kitchen last night. 


-    still no pics! Dammit!  Waiting for good light & functional memory.


:)

Random Monday Afternoon Post

1.   I'm really hoping to have pics for you tomorrow, camera issues or not.  I just have to remember to take some tonight when I get home, before I lose the light.

2.   Came across my new favorite word today:  "designerati" - TM Decorno, who alas, is no longer writing her blog, but, happily, is still guesting at a couple of other design blogs from time to time.  I spend a LOT of time reading design blogs online while I should be working,   and, to answer the question that I've been asked a few times in person (but not here): NO, I am not one of the online "designerati."  I adore paging through design blogs, but I am not remotely inspired to become one of the people I read. This blog is for my projects, my house, maybe sometimes my gardens - but I'm not here to join an online world or become internet-famous.  I just like to blog, and feel like showing off.  I may link off-site sometimes when I find cool things out there, but I have no plans to create a "design blog" that consists mainly of pictures of other people's work.  I'm not entirely on board with that idea...though it doesn't keep me from looking at re-posted re-posted pictures elsewhere. Heh.

Edited to add:  that's not meant to sound all judgemental.  It's just not what *I* want to do, is all.  No offense to the online designerati intended.  :)
 

3.   The less-fun part of decorating:  maintenance.  *UGH*  Do not want.  What's hanging over my head right now that I'd rather not be doing?  Sprucing up the baseboards in the dining room, for one thing.  I did the entire rest of the house last summer, but somehow I forgot to do the dining room, and it looks that much more horrible next to the rest of the house where all the baseboards have been scrubbed, re-caulked, and re-painted.  It'd take me like an hour if I'd just get off my ass and do it...but I probably won't.  Bleh.


.