Made It Myself Monday: An Actual Actor

What can I say?
He worked hard. He paced it well, stayed in character, hit his marks. Perfectly.

And he can sing.
(Who knew?)


Two thumbs way up for my kid as Rolf in the Sound of Music.

And a huge recommendation to anyone who wonders if they should push their kid out of their comfort zone and into theater.
Do it and sit back and let them amaze you.

Happy Father's Day

Hooray for Father's Day.

Thrift Thursday: Random Bits and My First Summer Book

The thrift store is still yielding little treasures.

I found an owl and a stamped aluminum bowl with nice detail. I Love that the owl is standing on some books. I should make him my summer reading program mascot.



I found exciting vintage sequins with excellent patina. About a 1/2 cup for a dollar.



And I found a worn old library copy of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park with vellum covered illustrations. I enjoyed it very much but thought it ended more abruptly than her others.
First book in my summer reading program all done and it's not yet summer.



Next book is vintage 1994 David Sedaris short stories. Yeah! Kind of the other end of the comic book spectrum from Miss Austen.

Well I'm off to pick up a carload of boys from the summer theatre program and to find out if Jacob got his dream role as the non-singing butler in The Sound of Music.

Cross your fingers folks! If they make him stretch and cast him as Rolf... he will be inconsolable.

Oh and a big thanks to Craftzine and to Fairie's Gate for featuring some Betty. It get's harder and harder to stay bitter here in blogland!

So Where Ya Been Betty? Saturday

Man... Where do I start. I have been everywhere and up to everything.

Last I checked in here you saw me scrubbing my ceilings. That was fun and productive and all that goody goodness. It was all part of a grand effort that went far beyond a mere spit and polish!

Later that weekend, I retired to Indian Springs in Calistoga to do a little Spa-ah down time with a lovely group of ladies.

Spa Ladies
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo. Kristen Jones Photographer)

I think this is the 7th year ( 6th for me) that this annual get away has happened. This year we took a bike tour of the local wineries to boot.

Bike portrait with basket damage
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

Fine Winery
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

That was a kick and improved the experience of soaking in the geyser heated waters of tranquility.

Indian Springs Pool
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

It was also the perfect time to show off some great New Vintage Wardrobe creations... and I will hopefully have them for the blog very shortly.

I threw a tiny but festive 42nd Birthday dinner for my Mister.

Over the last couple of months we kicked it into high gear on the fix up/clean up front to get ready for our families to gather for Jake's Middle School Graduation. (High School next year???... gulp.) He has now officially survived 3 of the most universally acknowledged as harrowing years of the human experience. I want to thank all of our loving family members who came to celebrate. We love you all, so much.

the Graduate

I'm working on gathering some before and after pics of the many little home improvement projects we took on, but my computer is acting like a neglected boyfriend and is acting out. Falling asleep in the middle of my projects, etc. Perhaps it needs a trip to the computer spa.

Anyway, for those of you who have been leaving comments and asking questions and checking in, I send my smooches and gratitude and I will be getting to the aging pile of emails as well.


Phew.. Well here's to summer! I hope it's a gem!

Here's to Splashing in your Sprinkler,
Betty

The Holidays Were A Happy Blur

So how were your holidays?

Mine flew by.. I had my computer with me on the road and was all delusional that there would be all this down time for posting and reading and sending my bloggy love out to all my friends around the world....
Right! Ha!

There was too much fudge to eat, gifts to exchange, hugging and kissing to squeeze in. Then it was time for eating. Nieces and Nephews to tickle and tease. Then I needed to eat again. Moms and Dads to catch up with, and eat with... all that good stuff.

Today I am filling up my 2009 calendar, rescuing my pup from the kennel, (he seemed to have abandonment issues...wouldn't look at me when I came to get him...then puked all over the rug when he got home.) and washing the clothes right out of the suitcases. Phew!

I am pleased to report that I made about 30 handmade gifts this year (batches of canned goods counting as one per variety)... And purchased only 5 new items that weren't books. And there were 5 of those, all bought at local independent booksellers... because I do feel compelled to support the industries that employ my friends and family members.

Like most house wiffey moms, I guess my real New Year will start on Monday. Then I do my traditional closet cleaning. This time with a twist. Giddy-up.

PS:
Hibiscus, Dear: For Needlefelting you must use roving... much cheaper than yarn. Try it, you'll like it!
Dot: I use Speedball stuff for my silkscreening. They do have a beginner's kit ( I bet Dick Blick carries it), and the Make Blog has a great video about silkscreening featuring the rather attractive Bre Pettis and Matt from Etsy. They have cool gear that isn't really necessary. We had best luck getting a local screen shop 'burning' the screen for us. We provided the art ( solid black on a transparency and the screen. We had a friend there, so we got it free... but I think the charge would be nominal if you called ahead and provided the stuff all ready to go. (Hmmm.. I guess a little tutorial with our home equiptment would be helpful....)

New Vintage Wardrobe Project #20: Down Home at The Double B Ranch

okay.. I was really a little depressed last week.

In a week and 2 days, I turn 40 and become the mother of a teen-ager, almost all at once. These are fine benchmarks in my far fetched quest for actual maturity, but milestones this large tend to give a girl pause for thought. I had originally thought that it would be ideal to make this transition in Paris, but what with the weak dollar and everything, it seemed like it might not be the world's best timing. Besides, I went to Paris broke once already... and next time I would like to have some folding money for the brocante.

So, I picked Portland Oregon as my second choice. I mean, Obviously! I had killer reservations and imagined bloggy meet ups and everything. But the Just About To Be Teen-ager has an F in social studies. This kid loves NPR. He was excited to listen to the candidates debate. He loves travel, and is totally interested in government and policy, (in an 8th grade kind of way).

He Has An F.

We are going No Where. Because pulling him out of school for 3 days would put the capital IP on Irresponsible Parenting. But, may I just say, I truly loathe being responsible, when it Cuts Into My Birthday Season Like This.

So I dropped everything and made myself a western shirt. And it really helped.

It is my new favorite shirt.

Can I get a Yee-Haw?

Simplicity 7051- circa 1975
in Kokka's Trefle and (I think) a sweet contrasting Michael Miller green graphic.

Nothing says 'Western' like a Japanese imported fabric, printed with Russian Folk dolls.

yup, it's wrinkled, because I am wearing it all the time.

Great for doing chores here at the Double B Ranch!

can you believe this is just where the button ended up? sewing serendipity.

And I just wanted you all to know that as part of Her contest, I am linking you up to Martha Stewart's Blog. Seriously, I know she's going to want to talk to me about the New Vintage Wardrobe stuff, or maybe she'll call me when she's in town, and we will go thrifting. Or you know... whatever. Because I bet Martha and Betty could be tight. Can't you just see us, up late, eating brownies and decoupaging stuff. Another BFF, for my posse.

Martha, you have my email.

The Dog-gone Days of Summer

I find myself doing much and yet blogging little.

This yeller feller is partially to blame.
How could I have internalized how much having a puppy would throw my life into utter chaos?
All major projects are slowed to a crawl. My life is divided into the short segments between naps, walks, training sessions, and clean up. I really want to be a good dog person with a really good dog, but I find the lack of sleep and concentration are really wearing me down, more than I am comfortable with, and my family has left the care and training so largely up to me that I am resentful. ( Of them, and their ability to blow it off... not the cute poocher.) It is so much like having a sharp toothed toddler, that it takes my breath away.

And yes there are great things about this new addition. He is silly, very eager to please (when the mood strikes) , he snuggles like a champ, the deer in the garden are not the problem they were, I have an anytime I want walk partner, who only need a few more months of leash training... and puppy breath is pretty sweet.

In truth, it feels like my life is no longer my own.

But, I have still been able to get my kid to animation classes far from home for 3 weeks,
put up 26 jars of Olallieberry Jam, pick and freeze 3 quarts of wild blackberries, make and freeze pies.

And I was able to make and un-make 14 potholders. (Yes.. I had to disassemble my potholders because Poly Batting is Not Good For Potholders. In fact, it almost conducts the heat. And I had hand quilted 7 of them.... ARRRGH!
But at least I found out now and saved my loved ones from scalded digits.)

And I found time to break my fancy camera's lens.

And yesterday I finally prioritized some selfish sewing and tried to make a shirt from this Adorable Japanese Craft Book... and it is AWFUL. which is perfect since I made no muslin and used instead my expensive linen. What a doofus. I think the pattern is fine.. I'm just not doing great with the lack of English instructions, limited brain power and my not tiny petite Japanese body.

I also totally yelled at my kid, multiple times. And am making him learn too cook, because I said to find himself something to make for dinner and he chose 3 pieces of toast... then asked for ice cream.

I need to regroup.

Time to breathe deep... and look at the pretty flowers:



Oh.. look! It's time to walk the dog again!

Dude, good thing you're so cute!

Made It Myself Monday: A Bonafide Romantic.

This post is a Beautiful Film Week Post.

It is about a mom, a boy, an issue, a creative solution and and a really happy ending.

Okay, cartoons on commercial tv aimed at kids over 7. Have you seen this stuff? There is a ton of real Crap out there. I'm sorry, I am a true animation fanatic and I love unconditionally some pretty marginal stuff, but acting Truly Idiotic and Gross is not as funny as they seem to think. My boy was sucked right in. He was talking like these truly appallingly stupid characters, and he thought it was funny. I thought it was pathetic, obnoxious and quite beyond annoying. I nagged... but I wasn't getting through. His Dad nagged...Not registering even a slow down in the "duh" levels at the house.
Seriously- This is why we don't have "TV". (By TV, I mean cable or any way to receive "broadcasting"... The television machine does reside at our house and we watch tons of movies. My son became infected just by viewing at other people's houses. That is mighty Potent Lameness. )

But Back to the Point: I decided that Jake really needed to be exposed to smart humor. Stat. Cleverness. Cary Grant. Audrey Hepburn. Charade. Suave, wisecracking, and well dressed, our hero and heroine face murder at every turn ... with minimal mushy stuff. We hit paydirt. Jake loved it. The next time we were looking for a dvd rental he asked "Are there any movies like Charade but maybe with a robbery or something and chases?"

Sure, why not To Catch a Thief?

We started watching all kinds of old movies together. His dad is not into it and I was very glad for the company. The "duh factor" was ebbing. For my birthday I got three Audrey Hepburn movies, one of which is my beautiful film # 1: Roman Holiday.




I am just going to assume you have seen it. So fantastic. The intrigue, the adventure, the double cross and a princess playing hookey. Jacob was really into it. When it finally comes to the end of the movie, he watched the scene with Gregory Peck and Eddie Albert at the formal press reception with his knees up under his chin. He giggled when she got the pictures from Eddie Albert and then when everyone is gone except for Gregory Peck, I noticed it seemed like he was holding his breath a little and as Gregory Peck walks slowly out of the empty hall, he cried out:

"Wait! Isn't she going to come out? That Can't be the end! How is he going to get back to her? It's not Over, Is It?"

That's my boy.

Best ending to a movie ever.

Back to Life.. Back to Reality...

Yesterday was the first day back to school.

Yesterday I accomplished:

Deep cleaning my bedroom to get ready for a photo shoot in there.
That included scrubbing the floors. Hands and Knees style.

I canned 5 quarts of whole peeled tomatoes, my first batch, ever




I made a pillow cover and valence for my son's room out of thrifted mod animal fabric.




I worked on my next outfit for New Vintage

I started on and nearly finished a collage for my bedroom.



I finally got some overdue mail out.

I signed up for the "organic veggie box"

I filled out a ton of stuff for school

I worked on my next video


I am so relieved it is "Back to School"..
I feel like my old self again.

A.K.A. the Noodle

4 pals on the first Monday sans school, post water balloon fight, and just before a pizza feast and cupcakes.
Who is gunning for coolest mom on the planet? Me, that's who. And I have such a small window to still be the one who can make the best things happen.

Now, for an overdue answer to a me-me from Violette Crumble.

Where did we get our dear son's name. Jacob Albert.

Jacob seemed so original at the time. Funny because that year it became the most popular name for boys and stayed that way for the next 3 years.... Something in the water? who knows.
Albert is a family name on his dad's side and I like how solid and old fashioned it sounds. No trendy moniker is Albert.
And as a story a real let down too.. Just wrote Jacob Albert on a matchbook and that one stuck, beating out Griffin ( my fave) and Tyler ( dad's fave) because we agreed on it. We didn't find out he was a boy ahead of time .. because I didn't want to spoil the surprise... but I think we sensed it, because our girls name was never really "chosen". Just debated.
Jacob has a zillion nick names. We very rarley call him just Jacob. The second he was born his dad called him Sport Shoes. We refer to him often as Punker D or the Punk. Sometimes Boo or The Chuckling.. But mostly Noodle. Jakey Noodle. Punkey Noodle. The Nood.

I expect as he revs it up toward young adulthood we may cross a line and he will put the brakes on all the pet names. So for now I will use them, as often as I can, for as long as he will let me.

Okay I will tag:
Michelle, and Knit Sonya . (Between them they have 5 kids so that should count for 5?)...

I am so excited because I have a whole huge home improvement project to post, A New Vintage Circus Tent, and the next installment of everybody's sewing super hero Sally Stitch and her humble side kick Mrs. Home Maker (the good twin of the less popular, Mrs. Home Wrecker)..

Do... Stay Tuned!