Second-hand fun - soon to be 'spray paint fun' !

 

Current Mood : Happy lucky !

 

Spent on craft supplies : $2.16

Spent on doll stuff : 27c

Spent on Lab organization : 11c

 

Got to get out for a bit - made my twice-delayed visit to Dollar Tree today, and took Dearest Son with me. And we hit a local thrift we normally skip. Plus, I think I've decided what my next sewing effort is (hint : fools never learn !) , and I got Dearest's next embroidery design all done already. Busy morning, especially considering I really wasn't up and around until nearly 10am !

 

Currently, Dearest is entranced with the Back to the Future movies, and I think much of the appeal is the DeLorean car / time machine. He saw a ‘real live' DeLorean last weekend with his grandfather, and still talks about it. We taped all three movies, but aside from the stellar car models from Diamond Select - yes, the comic distributor - there isn't much out there for the next-gen fans. The next car, representing the third film, is due out in April, and he's already driving us crazy with advance want.

 

So we toured the DeLorean Motor Company website together, downloaded some wallpapers, and I snagged their logo for digitizing. Utter, total failure. It just has too many details that are too tiny, so it all smears together. Since most of the logo is the DMC in their signature font, over a set of checkered flags, I decided to find the font. Freebie win on the first link. And it digitized beautifully. So now that's ready to go when there's time.

 

Dollar Tree is always fun. I got two packs of craft foam, which is 1.5mm, even smaller than before, in packages of sixteen. My old pack, that got raided to make the blue box, was a pack of 20, in 2mm thickness. Oh, well. I got the last two they had, so I can't whine. The rest was Dearest's four selections and some cheep household necessities. I can't tell you how much we needed knockoff Q-tips ! And Friday loves his latest chew-toy. I can make them cheap enough, but I gotta get off my butt and get some squeakers from PetSmart first. So until then, the DTree toys are fine. And they have squeakers !

 

I actually had a major-to-me score at the Thrift. I loved the My Scene ‘Getting Ready' Nolee set when it came out - all those neat Asian décor pieces, and that awesome closet ! Never bought it though, since my toy boxes were already too full for it, but still, it was awesome. Well, you know what happened with all that build-up ! Yep, I found the green torii-style closet at the thrift, for just 25c ! I fully intend to paint it, but I'm not sure if I'll go with classic black and red, or maybe just a soft cream. Heck, I'm not that against the original green, but the plum-purple drawers aren't my fave. Anyway, score !

 

I also found a small wire rack that originally held casual flatware, but now will probably hold scissors in the Lab. Only problem with having a ‘sewing' side and an ‘embroidery' side to my desk is that shared stuff, like scissors, is always in the wrong space. Now I'll have a place to hang scissors where it's easy to get to them, no matter what side I'm using. 10c is good for convenience.

 

Dearest found a stuffed ‘princess' kitty with jeweled wings. He liked the kitty - and yes, she is cute - but not her wings. So, once home, I removed them, but their absence left a gaping hole in her back. No prob. Five minutes and a threaded hand-needle later, he was introducing a pretty white kitty to his other toys, and I was picking plastic ‘gemstones' off the wings before they got trashed. Seriously, they weren't worth saving - the pantyhose-like fabric they were made of was dirty and torn, and he didn't want them. Not sure what I'm doing with the faux gems either, but ya never know when you can use some.

 

Oh, and the pattern that's next. Well, what can I say, I may be an idiot, but I'm a stubborn one. And I still rue my numerous failures at trying to make my own Modern Art. Through several other efforts with Aileen's Petite Fashions patterns, I already know they leave steps out, and often don't quite represent the original as closely as they should. My first clue should have been that there's only pictures of the Mattel made originals with the patterns, never a photo of the pattern-made replica. To this day, I never buy a pattern that doesn't show an actual photo of what the pattern really creates, no matter how much I want the sketched design.

 

 

But fools never learn. And I still want Modern Art. Just not enough to try it again right now. Instead, I'm using another Aileen's pattern to make a simple sheath with a round collar that is much like MA's, on a bodice that's also similar. The original is known as ‘Silk Pak Sheath', but I'm gonna use cotton. If I can make this, I can probably adapt it to what I really want. Or figure out where I keep fumbling MA !

 

And I can already tell it's another challenge. I've already located the missing step, and worked part of it out with paper. Wheee. Spent a few Lab minutes cutting the bodice and collar out, and half an episode of Battle Force Five coating the cut edges with Fray-Check. Hope to work on it later tonight. Wish me luck !

Hah ! See if Mattel ever encourages me to 'customize' on the side of a doll box ever again !

 

Current Mood : Head-buzzy. Maybe we're in for an early Spring ?

 

Still dazed and sleepy, but it was Dearest Son and Beloved Hubby's turns to nap the day away. Me, I still did much of nothing. Urban Threads had another freebie, a decidedly Victorian-style flying bird with a love letter in his beak, and Dorrie liked. So I snagged it, for once without buying anything else. I've decided to try to keep it down to ten, yes only 10, purchased designs this year, if at all possible. Of course, it may get amended to ‘ten per quarter-year' later, but even 40 purchased designs would be a dramatic reduction from the hundred-plus I'm sure I bought last year. I'm too chicken to go count up the designs I paid for in ‘09. This year, it's easy - one !

 

It was another bright and sunny, but rather windy, day, so I could clearly see the shiny frosty-gold eye makeup that really bugged me on Triana, from her stand on my desk. Besides the ‘reverse' Model Muse body, it was the only thing that bugged me about her. It went from her eyelid to her eyebrows, and continued in a generous swoop under her eyes, too. So I figured, since I'm sitting around anyway, and I can see it clearly, I may as well try to do something about it. Figured toothpicks and Goof-Off could do the trick, if I was uber-careful.

 

Snagged three toothpicks, and thought I should at least try a ‘dry run', before I loaded the ‘picks with chemicals that could remove the entire eye decal. And, amazingly, I found that a gentle scritch with a slightly chewed pick removed the shiny gold eye shadow without risking Triana's face or her tiny eyelashes. I had to take frequent breaks to keep my eyes in focus, but about fifteen minutes later, the over-shiny, flash-reflecting gold shimmer-paint was gone. I never even got the Goof-Off from the back porch laundry cabinet. Much better ! Now, if the next line of jointed ‘Fashionistas' dolls would just come out in her skin tone, I'd have a darn-near perfect-to-me doll !

 

You can also see my attempt to give her green eyes. Rather clumsy, but I still prefer it to the ice blue she arrived with. So far, she's had her hair cut, her eye color altered, and some of her eye paint removed. And I've yet to do a darn thing to the black dress I really don't like either !

 

Today's photo took 56 tries, and it still doesn't really show details of her ‘new' face well. Much as I love my Fuji FinePix, it's not really a macro-focus close-up camera. Closer than about a yard, and things are fuzzy no matter what I do. Ever since Mattel went to decals instead of paint for the eyes, it's been difficult to get a good photo without flash-bounce. But the decals allow for much greater detail and expression, so... ya win some, ya lose some, ya take 50 simple head-shots of a doll before you get a good one. That's just a doll hobbyist's life !

 

You'd think I'd go hang out in the Lab, but I again just vegged. Didn't even go to Dollar Tree, but there's often tomorrow. Caught up on a couple of Hoarders I hadn't seen, prowled around on line. And once this is posted, I probably will be Lab bound. Gotta select what to sew this week sometime !

 

And thanks, Michelle, Smidge, Anika, Kapreasha, and E, for your kind and always encouraging notes ! Tripod doesn't let me know you've left ‘em anymore, and I usually forget to check, but it's like getting flowers when I find ‘em ! It's so sweet to know someone thinks my meandering's worth the time to read, much less drop a few thoughtful, warm words. I value them all, and (confession corner !) often go browse through them when I need a boost. Hugs, lovelies !!

XOXOXOXOXO x 5 ! 

The do-nothin' Sunday - and it's all mine !

 

Current Mood : An all-day yawn

 

Dearest Son really liked his Nerf crate, and asked for the same logo on his next shirt. Well, that's normally the way - do a good job, and your reward is more work !

 

My finger's healing from...whatever I did to it yesterday. There's a triangle-shaped skin flap that's back where it belongs, and there's none of the bruising I'd expect from it getting squeezed between the throat plate and the needle. So it remains a mystery, one I hope will heal up quickly.

 

Beloved Hubby left early for his AirSoft war games, and had a great time. It's every other weekend, and they've asked him back next time, so... he's happy, and I'm happy for him, although he's driving himself nutz about which weapon to purchase next. To us, that's most of the fun !

 

I'm still not sure what happened to my lazy butt today. If I wasn't actively doing something, I fell asleep. I probably slept about fourteen hours total, and I have no idea why. While it's true I forgot to take my meds yesterday, and I've been waking up with an urgent need to blow my nose all weekend, it still doesn't explain this level of tiredness - and I'm ready for bed right now ! Hopefully, with all this rest, I'll be bouncy and ready to go tomorrow.

 

I promised to take Dearest to Dollar Tree, too. I want another pack or two of those foam sheets, since I can use them for the ‘small' box and the side parts of the ‘medium' one, and it's the cheapest I've found ‘em. I wanna try out my new glue gun, too. And just look around a bit. Oh, and I found a small empty box for the glue gun and the sticks, plus it fits with the other craft supplies. Yaay !

 

Since I slept most of the day, and went to bed shortly after my last entry's posting, I never sewed nothin', but I plan on stitching up something pretty this week. And I wanna hop back to the ‘high side' Mal-Wart sometime. That one doesn't have a fabric section, but they do have a bigger craft section - which includes a ‘cut fabrics' selection. I'd heard about those, but Saturday was the first time I'd ever seen one. It was rather sad. It was mostly bog-standard broadcloth in a small rainbow of colors, and a few boring prints, mostly sports-related. Yawn.

 

They did, however, have cheap plastic canvas in a bundle pack that I wanna peek at again, and poke at some of the other stuff I didn't have time to really study before. Store was really crowded, and I was in a bigger hurry to get out of there than Beloved. But with a bit of distance comes curiosity, so I may end up back over there next weekend or sometime soon.

 

About all I really did was tidy the lab from the Nerf crate bits, and roll up and store the Décor-Bond I bought last week. The other Barbie tote from last year is getting pretty packed. I'm giving serious consideration to something I saw at Hobby Lobby Saturday. You know those ‘knitting totes' - a stand-up bag in a foldable x-shaped wooden frame ? I have one, bought from a Hancock Fabrics half-off of half-off sale, it's currently stuffed fulla tulle. Looks like this, but with a red ‘sewing cat' fabric ->

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kate/2790433822/

 

Even emptied though, the one I have isn't big enough to hold all the stabilizers I use. However, I saw absolutely HUGE ones at HLobby for $22. - and some a bit smaller for $16. They'd be great for the collection... and with a coupon, ten bucks wouldn't be bad at all. But I then have two Barbie tote bags with nothin' much to do. Clearly, I need to think things over between now and the next 40% off coupon... and when money's available for it !

 

For now though...(yawn) I think I'm gonna finish the day the way I began it - sleepily !

Somehow, I didn't think stuff I knew would happen 'someday' would all happen on the same day...

 

Current Mood : Owie. 

Spent on craft supplies : $6.75

Spent on doll-themed tote bags : $2.67

 

I always knew that, one day, I'd cut into the fabric I'd embroidered when trimming away the stabilizers. I also knew someday, I'd sew over my finger or something stupid. It's possible both things happened today, but I'm not sure. What I did worked out, and my finger doesn't hurt much - typing with it is probably not the best idea I've had all day - so actually, I'm happy.

 

At everything and everyone, save puppy Friday. He is darn near on my permanent sh... I mean, crap list. Beloved Hubby and I were putting away a huge load of groceries when I glanced over - that darn dog had the blue box in his teeth, chewing on it ! Yes, the box I just finished Thursday, that I was so proud of ! I still don't know how he got it, it was on my computer tower, waaay back where he can't jump or get it. But somehow he did.

 

In less than two minutes, he'd chewed a hole in the lid, all the way to the foam inside, and tooth dents and small tears were all over it. I counted nine total. I nearly cried. Beloved got the dog safely away from my wrath, but I was furious still. Frankly, I've about had it with this dog I didn't want, that Dearest Son barely plays with, and that, as predicted, I do 90% of caring for - feeding, watering, playing, cleaning up after, I do nearly all of it. I still have to warn him away from the trash a dozen times a day, and he still doesn't come when anyone calls him. And now the little hound tears up my stuff ? I felt so betrayed.

 

But unless I could suddenly reverse time, over an admittedly ridiculously small event, I still had a torn box and a crated dog to deal with. So I patched it and covered the damage as best I could, with some star-shaped appliqués I had, and while they don't enhance the box much, at least it's still useable, and my fury has abated. It's now holding fabric flower and heart-shaped yo-yo makers (by Clover Mfg.) that were sort of in the way, but they have homes now, so it's all good.

 

With all that going on, I got a very late start on Dearest Son's ‘Nerf' crate. My purloined design stitched up quite well, with minor Sharpie pen touch-ups, where the red didn't quite meet the black on the swoop. I used the same ‘Undercover Crate' pattern for this one, too - just like the Wall-e one, only altered to fit this slightly larger shape, and with an added embroidered Nerf logo on the two non-seamed sides. It was on the first one that I made a slight nip into the fabric under the design. Well, schnikes. Patched it up with a stray bit of Décor-Bond left on the cutting table from the box project, and kept on.

 

It was when I was sooo close to the end that I somehow nicked my finger while sewing. KJ and I were doing the final hem when... I still don't know exactly what happened. I blinked, and suddenly, my finger hurt, and was bleeding a little. Dunno if I caught it on the thread guide, hit it with the needle, caught a pin... could be any or all of those. At least it doesn't hurt anymore, and it stopped bleeding. And the finished Nerf crate looks great - I already have it loaded with various Hasbro hardware. Hard to believe it was the crate no one liked or used before. Once I freed it of fabric, it just sat around, empty. Not sure where the other one is. 

 

So, craft-wise, it was ‘one of those days', yet it all worked out, and I'm happy. I embroidered and sewed this week, too ! Yeah, it's a silly goal, but I'm having fun meeting it, and that's important.

 

I even got to go shopping earlier. I now have a low-temp orange glue gun, and Beloved found some glue sticks he had for the never-found old one. Amazingly, Hobby Lobby had a cordless glue gun for just $6., but the cord doesn't bug me, so I got the cheapie $2.47 one, minus my 40% off coupon. The cashiers are always taken with my printing it on colored paper and cutting it out with shaped scissors, even though they sell both right there.

 

I also scored a glittery ‘swirls and stars' square of scrapbook paper at half-price, as well as two big sheets of 3mm craft foam for the next box, and three sheets of plastic canvas for future trials, too. I guess I can admit this now. When I originally bought the box pattern, I was hoping I could put it together as an extra gift for Dearest Son, sort of a bonus wrapping for his ‘BnL' shirt. But I didn't get halfway through the directions before I realized this was simple, sure - but much more time-consuming than I'd thought. Still, I want to make more, I just have to plan at least a week ahead, to get all the steps done in time.

 

 As mentioned, Beloved and I went grocery shopping, this time at the ‘high side' Mal-Wart. I got to see most of the latest repros - Teacher, Astronaut, and Nurse, along with Swirl and Peaches and Cream ‘My Favorite Doll' sets. Nice dolls, but nothing I really wanted this time. I think what I really want is the repro Teacher doll in the repro Stewardess costume, but they didn't have the Stewardess there. I did snag the ‘First Class Doll' bag featuring that doll - you'll get a photo of that tomorrow. Like last year's tote, they were still $2.50.

 

Beloved is going Airsoft shooting tomorrow, with a nearby group. He's so excited ! It makes me happy to see him eager to go play. I'm hoping to sew a bit more - possibly a simple, but nice, doll dress. Hmm. I think I'll go waltz through some patterns...

 

Hope your Saturday was less angry and injurious, but just as fun !

Surf and...Nerf ?

 

Current Mood : Hungry. My MSG levels are dangerously low...

 

Submitted an ‘I made this' photo and review to the youcanmakethis.com site where I bought the box pattern. The e-mail I got afterwards said they'd try to review my comments within two weeks, but an hour later, I went to double-check something, and it was already there. Darn, I'm good.

 

Unfortunately, about all else I got done today were some dishes and cutting out the fabric for Dearest Son's next crate slipcover. I'm using some black broadcloth and some thin cream-colored cotton that frays like anything. So I cheap-serged all the way around both fabrics. Should be able to get it sewn up tomorrow.

 

This one has a theme. I'm going to embroider the ‘Nerf' logo I digitized on the sides that don't have a seam running through them. The crate is the crappiest one in the house, and as-is, it's darn near useless. I got a set of ‘em in a yard sale for a quarter. It's not really a milk crate at all, but instead a hanging kids' closet organizer. There's several blue plastic ‘grids' and a buncha red plastic ‘s' shaped snap hooks, and you can arrange the pieces together in whatever shape you need. I used it for fabric storage before the big clean-out, and Dearest had the three leftover grids and hooks, since they could make a fun garage or maze.

 

The grids, each twelve by twelve inches, really can't contain much besides clothes or towels. Holes are huge ! So the two ‘crates' have been sitting around, nearly unused.

 

But with one of the Undercover Crate slipcovers, one'd make a great storage box for Nerf guns and the three types of bullets that they use. Lightweight, easy to tote and carry, and even the smallest projectile or piece can't slip out. I explained what I'd to do Dearest, who seemed interested, but probably doesn't quite get why Momma's so excited about a crate liner. I'm hoping he'll use it to keep all this junk off the floor !

 

Beloved Hubby's left it to me to decide where we're going for dinner. Wonder if I can talk him into that Chinese buffet place across town ? They have sushi...

I finished the box !

 

Current Mood : Happy and proud of me !

Current Image Notes : Here 'tis - I finally used the display stand I bought last year ! The little inset is from the original pattern. Didn't do too bad, did I ? 

 

Yaaay ! I did it ! Took an hour this afternoon to work on the box that's been bugging me since I bought the pattern last week - and next thing I knew, about three hours had passed, total, and the box was complete. That's with many, many stops and starts. Once the sewing and assembly part started, it just whipped right along, in between calls from telemarketer charities and puppy duty. Only reason it took as long as it did was due to my own fumbling, and constant second-guessing. And those darn phonecalls !

 

Turns out, the pattern has some ‘give' to it, and that's good, since the internal sides I cut were a bit off. But the bottom piece covers a multitude of sins, and it all worked out. Whew. The three layers of 2mm foam worked just fine, and I may well use them for the other sizes. The one I worked up was the smallest, and I can use the Dollar Tree stuff for it, and probably the medium one, too.

 

Further in the directions, the author does say that other items might work in place of the foam pieces, depending on the intended use. With foam and the glue gun, it's entirely washable. Otherwise, she suggests cardboard or possibly even (sigh) plastic canvas. I may write the author, tell her my solution, just for kicks.

 

Otherwise, it was a nice day. Beloved Hubby came home with a red velvet cake - cream cheese frosting, too ! He was in a celebratory mood, so we also had pizza for dinner. He's noticed my daily dish-washing, and wanted to do something nice for me. I like having just a couple of plates to wash at day's end ! And plenty of time to craft.

 

I think tomorrow, I'll test stitch that ‘Nerf' design I digitized, and make the crate cover I promised Dearest Son over the weekend. I've already had my indulgences this week, so I think I'll indulge on the crafty-cheap side at home. I may even find time to sew Triana something new... that'd be great !

 

All wired up !

 

Current Mood : Very tired - but excited and happy !

 

Busy day today. It was so bright and beautiful outside, I had plenty of light to work on ‘Triana' first thing this morning. Triana, of course, is the new Barbie Basics I bought yesterday, and her name is sort of a tribute to the Venture Brothers character, and part of a riff on her ‘Model No. 003' packaging. Not to be confused with Tiana, the lovely titular character from The Princess and the Frog. More on that doll line a bit later.

 

But anyway. Yesterday, while I was in the Lab for far too brief a time, I grabbed my fine-point green Sharpie and relocated it to my living room desk. And now, Triana has green eyes. It's funny - she had the ice-blue nearly-white-at-the-bottom-curve look to her eyes that's so popular with Mattel, so all I did was color that curve in. I kinda hated giving her just one color eyes, but the various details and lines still showed under the Sharpie ! Looks pretty good with her green eye-shadow, too. Now, if I could just somehow eliminate that too shiny underliner...I'm thinking toothpicks and Goof-Off...

 

Maybe later. Speaking of Princess and the Frog, I was surprised to see another doll from that film on the Mal-Wart shelves yesterday - a character who wasn't in the title. Charlotte La Bouff, Tiana's pink wannabe princess friend, is now available. She's actually kinda cute, and if she wasn't so wow! blonde, I'd have probably bought her instead. I really need to see that movie, if a secondary character warrants a doll. Ya'll know how I am about secondary characters... Even back when I did cosplay in my misspent youth, I always played the main character's best friend - Shinobu in Urusei Yatsura, Molly/Naru from Sailor Moon. Hard to believe I did that fifteen years ago.

 

My whole day changed about 9:30am. The box with my new computer parts arrived, and Beloved Hubby called - his scheduled job had been delayed. And once he was home, there went his day ! It's weird, but since we replaced the falling apart one function at a time CD drive, the flailing hard drive hasn't had a single bad minute. It could be the power supply wasn't good either, we replaced that, too, but I'm still running off my old drive. And it hasn't had a problem at all, even with all the restarts and even losing power twice earlier tonight. Thunderstorm.

 

With my poor ‘puter tied up with Beloved, I clearly needed other ways to spend my day. So I decided to run our dishwasher, to clean it. You may remember our dishwasher doesn't really work - the well water pressure isn't strong enough for it - so we use it as a dish drainer. Problem is, the water sometimes pools, and it gathers dust and dirt, and after a while, will even start to smell. Since it'd indeed been a while, I decided to run it... and soon had a small lake in the kitchen.

 

Oh, well. Needed to mop the kitchen anyway. Figured out where the ‘drain' part of the cycle was, and at least got the water in there emptied, then discovered that I can clean the inside of the door using the sprayer hose from the sink and a scrub-brush. Once it was all over, I did a load of laundry to wash up the two already-dirty towels I used for the lake and a bathroom rug that needed a cleaning. So it all worked out.

 

Watched a movie with my guys  (Weird Science ! ) between making lunch and dinner, then worked a bit more on the fabric box project. Cut out the stabilizer, fused it to the matching exterior pieces, and glued the fleece to the foam bits. Never found either of our old glue guns, and didn't buy a new one, so I just used good ole Elmer's White. Sooner or later, I'll buy a glue gun - I can even use a 40% off Hobby Lobby coupon this week - but I'm kinda tired of buying stuff for this project. There's now three piles - interface-fused exterior pieces, fleeced foam squares, and plain-fabric interior cuts. At least it's easy to tell them apart at a glance now.

 

I also attached the Velcro ^TM to the flap and front, and that concludes the ‘prep work' phase. From here on, it's all sewing and assembly. This has to be one of the most elaborate crafts I've ever done. Even when I sew stuff for me, it doesn't usually take this long. I've put about five hours into it, not counting shopping, and I have no idea how many more there are to go. But I'm really interested in finishing it, so there's little to no chance I'll abandon it at this stage.

 

It's funny how, at least with craft projects, I'll pretty much always finish them, even if I know halfway through that it's a bust. ‘UFO's (Un Finished Objects) are almost unheard of in the Lab. Unless you count not putting in closures, I'm notorious for that. Since I've only skimmed through the directions, it's time to give ‘em a pay-attention read-through. Just hope I can stay awake - it's been a crazy day !

(sigh) Now, *this* is why I had to quit recreational shopping...

 

Current Mood : Still kinda excited !

Spent on craft supplies : $3.24

Spent on a new doll : $21.55

 

Got some of the daily work done early so Dearest Son and I could head to Hobby Lobby for the interfacing I decided to get, and then to Mal-Wart for a few groceries that we need before the big grocery trip later this week. I printed out the 40% off coupon, and read the box directions - it said that Pellon 808 Craft Fuse  (20" wide) or 809 Deco Bond (45" width) was recommended. Thus informed, and showered, we were off.

 

I'd priced fusible interfacing during my weekend circuit. $9.99/yd for the stiffest stuff, but I only needed a half yard, and I had the coupon. So, $3. plus tax was reasonable. But when I got there, I found that Craft Fuse was only $3./yd, and Deco Bond was only $5. for a yard. Numbers matched and everything. So I plunked down my coupon and got a yard of Deco Bond, since it was wider, and this'd give me plenty to work with. Decided against the glue gun, since I was already treating myself a bit. Of course, this was minor compared to what was next...

 

At Mal-Wart, we were both OK with looking, but not buying, toys this time. But that was before the phone rang, and before Dearest found a Battle Force Five car launching set, marked down from $13. to $7. Beloved Hubby called, just to hear how the day was going, and when Dearest asked, Beloved told me to splurge a bit. Dearest selected the set he liked best - it included a never-before-seen car - and we headed for the Barbie aisle. I thought I might get an outfit or something...but then I saw the Barbie Basics. While they've been all over In The Pink and doll news sources, I'd never seen them in that harsh light of retail for m'self. Selection was limited on the dolls, but the same-price accessory kits were plentiful.

 

I quickly went through the hanging display, and found three of the four I'd been interested in. I quickly dismissed the short blonde bob Diva (#9), since her bob was turning out, instead of in, and I had two very similar already. And pretty #6 simply looked too much like the SuperStar repro I just got last month. #11 was not available, but Steffie-faced #3 was. I even had two to choose between. One had a visible tangle from where a rooted section had come undone, and they both had good facial screening, and the bangs on the snarled one were kinda short, so I snagged the non-tangled one. I felt a bit selfish and greedy, and actually put her back twice, but I decided that I was worth it. Of course, she was half of what I spent total...

 

And I still feel a bit guilty, since we're fixing my computer this week, too. Well, I'll make it up by cleaning house and staying home this weekend ! I'm also gonna customize my new doll from her eyes on out. Yup, gonna change her blue eyes to green. And give her a haircut. Wish me luck. I have to say, right here and right now, that I hate the dress she came in. While it looks like just a black tube, it actually has full princess seams from hem to hem, and fits beautifully. But three inches away, it's so darn plain. While I realize that's part of the ‘customize a little black dress' package, most of the other dolls have some sort of visually interesting dress to begin with. But I can't resist that Steffie face, when it's not in a whistling pucker, and no matter what body it's on.

 

Unfortunately, I spent so much time cutting her hair that I never got to cutting out the new interfacing for that box ! Still, I'm happy I got her. Her name is Triana, and this is the stand she came with - it's not that hard to hide. I'm trying to figure out how to alter her eye makeup, since it's so iridescent, it shows up in every photo. I'm sure I'll think of something eventually...or it won't matter after a while !

The white flag over the kitchen sink has been raised - I'm under it.

 

Current Mood : Seeing lines and ruler marks every time I blink. 

 

I thought I'd have to take a day off sewing and crafting. Dirty dish piles were approaching the rafters, so I needed to get to that first, before someone got hurt. Plus, the kitchen didn't smell too good. Started with silverware, since there was so much of it. I figured once I got that done, the rest wouldn't seem so bad, or so much. Plus, for some reason, I hate doing silverware, and I always put it off. I'm just gonna have to bite it and chew - and get used to doing dishes after dinner every night. I've been fighting that monster for years, and the only loser has been me.

 

We're getting ‘Free High Definition' week with our cable. While one company hosts HD as part of their all-day every-day package, ours has whole separate channels for it. Despite the new TV, we don't really care about HD, so this is more of a novelty than an actual benefit. I mean, does the clutter on Hoarders look more compelling when you can explore the details of the trash on the floor ? I can see how it'd make a difference in sports, but we're not into sports. I've even given up on ice skating, since there's no women in it anymore, just barely-teens.

 

I did get some time in the Lab, and decided to just woman up and use the box pattern I bought. So I flipped through to the page of what sizes I'd need to cut in the six - seven for me, since I have to cut up Stitch Witchery, too - layers required. The pattern uses fusible interfacing, which I don't have, but I do have interfacing and Witchery, which is the same thing, only more complicated. Started with the craft foam, and only used half of what I'd glued together. So if gluing three layers of 2mm foam works, problem solved. I even used the worst ones, where the Gorilla Glue foamed up some.

 

And it seems I was overly optimistic about how long cutting the pieces out would take. I spent two hours, and only got the foam and the interior, exterior, and flaps in fabric done. This is a great pattern if you love measuring. Personally, I hate it. If this one works out, I'll make cardboard patterns, instead of hand-measuring every piece. I'm hoping that later tonight, I can cut out the fleece, interfacing, and Stitch Witchery pieces. And get to sewing tomorrow. I used the glittery star fabric that was left from the Undercover Crate project. Used it all ! Even the squares cut away from the crate bottom. Only two pieces are off-grain, which I normally don't worry about, but really should.

 

But I can't help thinking...what if I take that 40% off coupon to Hobby Lobby early tomorrow, get a half-yard of fusible Pellon and the glue gun ? It'd be just a bit over five bucks, and it'd definitely save some time and frustration. And after I've cut out ten squares and two flaps three more times, I could probably use the break !

 

I made an Undercover Crate !

 

Current Mood : Craft happy.

Current Image Notes - Here's the crate cover I sewed ! Seems like Dearest Son's electronic EVE has already taken up residence ! 

 

I actually did get off my butt and into the Lab last night...and soon got back on my butt, although I was sewing ! Decided to try the crate cover design, and it worked out really nice, even though I made a couple errors. It didn't even hit me that I didn't have enough of the starry fabric until after I cut out the first of two pieces. So I patched the rest of the fabric, and there was enough, but that seam was really unfortunate. It kind of screwed up the measurements, so the Wall-e parts don't match up at the seams. And it puddles up a bit at the bottom. But it fits well, and Dearest loves it, so it all works out. I made my ‘embroider something and sew something' goal for the second week in a row, so I'm happy, too.

 

And now that I know how, I'll make a few more. Since I had to claim one of Dearest's crates - we have several, in slightly different sizes, so I measured the one I covered - to get the fabric dimensions, I ended up carrying it around to store fabric, cut pieces, the pattern, my notes... it really came in handy. So now, I want one. And Dearest is looking forward to picking out the fabrics himself for his second one.

 

I thought I posted a link directly to it, but I don't see it. Anyway, here's the link to the PDF to snag your own copy. I love freebies that work ! 

http://lauragunn.typepad.com/theundercovercrate.pdf

 

Oh, and before I forget - if I vanish for a few days, don't worry. My kernel fault a few days ago has gotten progressively worse every day. This morning, I thought my system was DOA for sure. We have new parts on order, and they should be here next week. I'm hoping my poor, sick ‘puter can hang in there a few more days ‘til we can get him fixed and upgraded, but if not, I'll try to post from Beloved Hubby's computer. If I can remember my password here !

 

We thought of just replacing the whole deal, but Best Buy is pretty much the only place that sells what we want, and they're waaaay overpriced, especially compared to Tiger Direct and other online sources. Plus they've started ‘optimizing' their systems - more crap and bloatware, I'm sure. No thanks.

 

One thing that was kind of amusing during yesterday's pseudo-shopping trip was that I couldn't really find anything to buy. Whenever I saw something I might like later, I soon figured out how to craft one m'self, using what I already had. One of my long-time whines is that you can never find the cute fabric used to make that $20. pincushion. Or $30. sewing box. Well, I have an embroidery machine. I can stitch up what I like, anytime. And if it's simple enough, I can even digitize what I want, if I don't already have it. So I doubt my next trip to Hancock Fabrics will cost much, either. Good-quality broadcloth's only $2. a yard, full price. It's still hard to believe I got out of there yesterday without buying anything at all.

 

And since I finished the crate, Dearest has put in a special request - a Nerf crate. It'd be perfect to hold and carry his new armory, and make easy, short work of projectile harvesting. Yup, you can still feel and use the handles through the fabric. So I spent a good hour cleaning up a Nerf logo, and another digitizing it five times before I thought it was acceptable.

 

Sometimes, I do feel a guilty twinge about appropriating copyrighted logos for my designs. But since I don't sell them, and use them strictly for Chez Insanity projects, it's not a huge stab. Plus, I figure I put in the time cleaning and digitizing it, so in a way, I've earned the use for one or two stitch-outs. And it's not like I can legally buy the designs, or I would. A commercially digitized design will always look better than my amateur efforts. Still, I get a kick out of doing it, and an even bigger one when they stitch out recognizable !

 

I posted today's entry early, so I could 'show and tell' the pattern creator, Laura Gunn, how well it worked up, and how much I enjoyed her sharing it. I like to pen a quick Thank You note when I get to use something awesome. She wrote back an hour later, saying she thought my version turned out cute. What a nice crafter !

 

Now, if I can get off my rumpus room again and update Somewhere That's Crafty with something cool...