Love is.... STUFF

Okay. So I have good new and bad news. The good news is while my boyfriend was in Kansas City seeing if he was going to get recalled he bought me souvenirs !! He bought me some shirts and a magnet from Kansas City ( all I wanted was a magnet). Then he had a connecting flight in Dallas, Texas and he was such a peach he bought me some more goodness!!! He knows the way to my heart...



Texas cow boy boot Salt and Pepper SHAKERS!!! I LOVE HIM!!! These are so cheesey I can't stand it! I am slowly turning into my Great Grandmother..... one S&P at a time!!!

So the bad news.... It's not actually so bad... So originally they told him that he would find out today if he got recalled or not and if he did they were going to give him his orders... Well I guess they recalled 1,200 people thinking they would need a lot, but while this "screening" (aka fondling my boyfriends balls and making him pee in cups) was going on some big wig called saying they are not going to need as many people as they thought... Possibly only 300... So now the mother fuckers are making me wait another month to see if Juan is going bye bye or not... WHY do they do this to me? Seriously... I know this is all ran by men because women don't leave a sista hangin' like this! Especially about life altering PLANS! So whatever... Now when I find out its going to be right around the holidays... Nice way for the military to take a Royal Shit on my Christmas!

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Ssssooooo......Whoever said things can't make you happy obviously never had the cute little things I have!! I love vintage things, cute things, and crafty things. My favorite part of crafting is dreaming of what I will be making and then going down the isles of my favorite craft store looking for my goods!!! unfortunately I have a whole closet full of "dreams" that have yet to be assembled... but thats not the point... I am here to show you the things that I DO HAVE!

Lets start with this cute make up bag I recently purchased:

Isn't it so cute? Its made out of vinyl stuff! I got it from The Craft Kitchen in Santa Ana, CA Its a totally cool indie craft store! Everything is made from local artist! Some of the stuff was to die for! I heard of this store from the wonderful Craft Pig check out her blog... she is super funny and makes the cutest stuff... also she is a crazy dog lady and wants to steal everyones dogs and give them better lives... plus she has an English Bulldog named Miss Gladys... pretty much the cutest thing ever! hopefully she brings her to the Patchwork Show I will be in!!!

The next item I am posting is for Patty! This is my vintage jar full of vintage buttons!! My aunt picked it up while she was driving from Virginia to Michigan.. $3.00 full of smelly vintage buttons.... I am in love...



This is the bowl I found at the Goodwill for $1.99! I love the texture it has!


And this last little treausure I will show you is just to make Amy jealous. This little vintage lamb and skunk is one of my favorite things I have... I love how its not perfect. It actually LOOKS vintage...



My boyfriend says "Vintage is a nice way of saying old junk!" That comment almost got him a kick in the ass that would send him back to Ecuador!

Gggoooooodnite!

THE GOODWILL GOD!!!

Okay so my last post was so random I know... Those Japanese Pillows about killed me... I thought I would never see anything like it again.... oh boy, oh boy!!! So sweet little innocent me was strolling through The Goodwill looking for 100% wool sweaters so I could make myself the cutest darn plushies that are on the cover of Martha Stewarts New Holiday magazine:



I mean come on... a flippin lamb with a scarf!! I NEED IT! I WANT IT! I GOTTA GET IT! There is also a pig plushie... Hes my fav...

So I only go to the Goodwill on Mondays while I am baby sitting my cousin. He has Tae Kwon Do for 45 minutes and I'd rather eat a cup of shit then watch 4-11 year old kids doing reenactments of the Karate Kid.....so I drop him off and jet over there... Normally I am HIGHLY disappointed because it never has any vintage items and if it does have something I want it's always so over priced its stupid... Goodwill gets all their shit DONATED... and now they are trying to make a huge profit... WTF... but NO this Monday was the day for a few goodies! First I found this fabulous vintage bowl that I am in love with (I'll post it later). Then I found a vintage sweater that's angora and wool blend in my favorite red/pink hue... perfect for Miss. Piggy I plan on making... I sort of am questioning if I should cut it up or not... I'll have to ask for a second opinion from "Mother Love".

Then as I am leisurely walking down the isle... I spy this diamond in the ruff... Did the Goodwill god read my blog or what?



SERIOUSLY!!! It's not just the Japanese that are crazy... Its " MY GUY"

"When your guy wont cuddle My Guy will"

Is it just me or does that moon look like he wants to touch you in naughty places?? What a pervert!


It was only $4.99 brand new, but I didn't buy it... Now I think I regret it... "Mother Love" would really get a kick out of this... I am sure her two little rat dogs would love to pee on the chest of a pillow with a six pack and nipples... It might actually be cool to embroider "tattoos" on it... hhhmmm.... Maybe I need to go back on Monday ! If "My Guy" is still there it's DESTINY!!!

You Know You Are A Little Crazy When....

You compare suffocation quality of pillows on your boyfriend... No this isn't some sort of kinky S&M thing we are into... It was just an everyday conversation people have with me... Juan and I were talking after dinner and some how Juan said " I've never understood how people can suffocate someone by using pillows.." I respond of course by saying " Hhhmmm I've never thought about it... LET ME TRY!!!" He laughs... and AGREES!!! GEE GOLY! How I love him!! He sometimes enjoys playing along with my crazy games...

So first attempt was a super puffy down pillow... No such luck... He was breathing right through those gooses butt feathers... DAMN... My next idea... " Lets try the polyester fill pillows... Synthetic as we know it doesn't breathe very well..." He laughs and allows me to cover his face with the pillow and then push my hands on his face as I repeatedly ask him " Can you breathe? Can you breathe now? How about if I push down really hard? Now?" Each time he is giving me the thumbs up meaning he can breathe... I remove the pillow and my boyfriends nose is squashed down but that's about all... But he did say the polyester has much better suffocating potential than a down pillow... hahahaha then I was like " Okay try it on me.... actually never mind..." I am pretty sure him being 100 times stronger then me would really affect this "TEST" we did... Besides in my ripe old age of 22 I am really becoming claustrophobic... We both had a good laugh about our little experiment...

So while I was looking for pictures to post on this post I came across these... Boy, what would we do without the Japanese? I just love them.... The first pillow is a "Lap Pillow" and the second is a " Lonely Pillow" if that isn't the most pathetic thing I have ever seen I don't know what is... Would you ever use these?

New craft BLOG check it out!!

So I don't know if you know this... but I have a new online/text bestie and her name is Amy... We became friends when we did the vintage apron swap together on crafster. Ever since I got into embroidery about 8 months ago I always drooled over her stuff. Especially the pillow you see pictured above!!! You can also check out what she made me here. Now we are moving on to bigger and better things and have decided to do a christmas swap together since we both adore Christmastime! Doesn't that sounds so fun? I love swapping!

So since I have bugged her to death... (literally) she is now blogging again... (yes I am taking all the credit hahahaha) What a peach! Her new blog is Swell Stitches. Go check it out!! The stuff she makes is so fun and girly... I always think of Dutch Mints when I see her stuff. (if you don't know what dutch mints are... they are beautiful little pastel goodies!!). She is mentally abusive (ha-ha) to me and thats why I love her... She can dish my shit right back at me! hahaha plus she has a fun Texas drawl!! Some fun facts about Amy Rose are:

1) She drag races!! .... I know right??? The crafty girly DRAG RACER!!!

2) She has a poodle cockapoo (its still ugly hahah just kidding) named Angel

3) We are both left handed!!!

4) She doesn't DIDN'T know what a "cholo" was....

So in the SPIRIT of Amy being a complete Texan and her grand opening of a brand new blog... I would like to dedicate this song to her....

Woman .... Circa 1950

Yay!!! here is my new "style" of embroidery!! Embroidery is ART!!! YAY I love her!! isn't she so saucy?? I love her hair!!! I want to marry her! Stitched onto the canvas and then added the nail heads around the edge for some flare! I did back stitch and split stitch. It took forever!! but I love her!! her nose is so cute!! I wish I had a nose like that....













For sale on my Etsy for $35 SOLD!!!!!

This is the first of many I will be adding to My Etsy! The next one is going to be so cute!! I already have it in the works! i really want to start to branch out in my embroidery... This is totally a different medium from what I am used to... Most of my stuff is either onesies or tea towels... but I want to start doing stuff that reflect me as a person. And since most of you know I am really into vintage things, Rock-a-billy music, and old country western! This is right up my alley!!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is the BEST Tortilla Soup you will ever eat.... Its seriously AMAZING!!! mmmmmmm! but you have to make it according to directions... once you think you are all bad ass and start "substituting" is when you jack it up... so be a peach and just follow the RULES! My Grandma I think got this recipe from the newspaper... but I am not sure!! All I know is its so good and Easy to make !!

Cooking time: 45 minutes


1/2 c. Chopped Onion
1 clove garlic
1Tbsp butter
* Saute all together
about 2c shredded chicken
1/2 can Homony or corn
3 1/2c. Chicken Broth
1/4c. Cilantro
1 Tbsp ground Oregano
1- 14oz can Diced tomatoes
1- 8oz can tomato sauce
1- 4oz can diced green chili's (drained)

optional: add carrots & cabbage

Topping: shredded jack cheese and tortilla chips

What I do is get a big soup pot, saute the onions, garlic, & butter then just add all the other stuff in after the sauteing is done! then I let it cook on low heat for 30 minutes then I serve in bowl with shredded jack cheese and some tortilla chips! I also add avocado if I have one around! MMMM so yum!

Things that made me laugh today....

First off... My boyfriend and I have I phones (lucky us) so pretty much my boyfriend watches youTube videos all the time since he doesn't want to get his T.V. from his friends house... I know... I know... ANYWAYS... today we watched some "re-runs" . oldies but goodies that always make me laugh....

This one is my favorite



This one is pretty funny too



So after watching Dane Cook videos Juan and I were just snuggling and joking around laughing at the videos and then this happened

Me: "Say something in spanish" (I wasn't trying to get any action I just wanted him to say something)

him: "NO!"

me: " COME ON SAY SOMETHING!!!!!"

him: " NO!"

me: " SAY SOMETHING!!!"

him in his spanish accent: " ! NOOOO !"

Then I started cracking up!!! what a brat!!!! He's such a PAIN!!!

but on that note look at what he emailed me today. His sister and Dad just went to Ecuador and she copied this photo of him when he was little!!! I've never seen a young picture of him, the only picture I've seen is his passport but he was at least 12 or 13. hahahahaha He was a PIMP!!! He looks like he should be making Cement Shoes for the Ecuadorian mob!!



He is the top left!! hahahaha... Hes sssooo cute and serious! Look at the kid next to him... rockin' the gold chain!!! Juan apparently doesn't know who the other "ninos" are... except for his sis below him wearing a polygomist dress... SERIOUSLY ? what is that thing... a mess of ruffles and a mini vest!! but thats about right... 80's+ young kids= ugly ass dresses... I had my fair share...

INTERVIEW: Sewphie

So I am adding a new little feature to my blog.... Interviewing people who I love, find inspirational, or who make me laugh... or all three together.... whatever it may be I think this will be fun... because I get the ask whatever questions I want and hope they will answer them!! There are a ton of people I would love to interview... pretty much just to pick at their brain.... So don't be surprised if I ask!!

The first victim is Sophie from Threadhead. Pretty much she blows me away as an artist... her embroidery skills are out of this world and I love everything she makes. We seem to have the same style and love the same things... She knows the art of fill in stitches... which is why I secretly despise her.... and love her all the same... She has such attention to detail its sickening! But now I understand... She carves stone!!! wwhhaaatt? No wonder she is so fabulous! Check out her interview and beautiful work! Hopefully she will post some things she has carved on her blog!!! I would love to drool over them and find another reason to hate her... hahahah just kidding... I don't hate her I think shes fab! thats why I chose her!! She really has been an inspiration for me to push myself to try new things. I have been drooling over her work over at Craftster for months... everything she does is just amazing to say the least...

I think I will have a new person to interview every month... What do you think? Hopefully the questions get better... more fun and riskay... I wasn't on my A game when I came up with these... but I like her answers so... they will do!









first name: Sophie

where you live: Preston, Lancashire UK

your real job is: I’m an occupational therapist on a psychiatric ward. It’s a great job, I’m lucky to do something I enjoy. Before I qualified I used to wait tables and do promotional work. I once had a job where I had to dress as Elvis and hand out free samples of bread in a supermarket. I’m so glad I don’t do promo work any more!

How long have you been embroidering?: Probably a couple of years. I can’t remember how I got into it, possibly it was after stumbling across Craftster. I think the first thing I did was the cross stitch lady (it’s Anna Karina) I use as my avatar on blogger.

what inspires your work?: Other crafty folk, tattoos, old drawings, pin up girls. Anything can inspire me I’ve got a thing about magpies at the moment and am planning some magpie pieces. Also after trying Assisi work for the Craftster Tea Towel Tour I’m planning some more edgy, modern Assisi pieces.

If you had an alter ego what would her name be? (I am assuming you don't have one... but if you do... what's her name?) Mrs Mark Lanegan




other crafts you do?: Resin jewelry, knitting (well I started a scarf in March), shrink plastic is fun to play around with. I get to do a lot of crafts in the groups I run at work today we were using glass paints on Perspex. Crafts work really well in my job they can be healing, relaxing and help us to assess people who find it difficult to communicate. Here’s a bit of a history lesson- the term ‘basket case’ comes from when occupational therapists used to do basket weaving with patients in the asylums. For a while crafts were very out of fashion in my profession because they seemed old school and had negative associations because of the old asylums. Luckily now it’s being recognized that there is a positive place for them in building service users self esteem and helping them develop skills. Ok, lecture over kids 

Do you think it is mean of me that I secretly hate you because your fill in stitches are so wonderful?
Ha ha ha! That’s funny. I think you are a total bitch for hating me- I’m gonna think of a reason to hate you back and send you nasty messages. The Anglo American war is on sister! (Brook: HAHAHHAHA I love you! "AMERICA: land of the free and home of the BRAVE!!!" Don't make me bust my pilgrim skills out! )

What project of yours is your favorite of all time?: The sailor girl here I was really pleased with the little flowers. It’s not very big, maybe 4’’ high. It’s based on an Angelique Houtkamp (more of her later…) artwork so when I was done I emailed her with a photo and she sent me a very sweet email back. It’s one of the few pieces I made for myself a lot of the things I make are for swaps at the moment. I may be addicted to swapping. The best thing I’ve made for a swap was this piece also a Houtkamp design I did for Katie Kutthroat.



Do people still say "the bees knees" and "dogs bullox" ? In England?:
Dog bollocks! Yep we do! Also I love cockney rhyming slang eg you say whistle for the word suit (whistle and toot =suit) or a nice cup of rosie (rosie lee= tea) or he’s a pain in the Khyber (Khyber pass = ass). Oh dear, this probably makes no sense if you aren’t English… (Brook: I have heard of this... Some rhyme about answer the phone = the dog is barking or something)

Mother Fucker is my favorite cuss word... what is yours?: Berkshire Hunt (rhyming slang again, I let you work it out) (Brook: eeewwww is it fucking cunt...? you dirty dirty gal!! )

What are some of your favorite blogs or websites? Favourite blogs; Needle and Pins, your blog ♥ Knit with Love ♥, Lily Blogs, Between the pages and my friends art blog Chloe Cumming Is Erumpent oh and that Cake Wrecks one is hilarious.
My favorite websites are Craftster, Instructables, Facebook (I know, I know) and Flickr. I also use the Google image search a lot to find images to embroider.

What is your favorite song?: Anything by Mark Lanegan or Tom Waits and my funeral song is going to be Lay Me Low by Nick Cave

In High School what were you like?: Drunk mostly.

What are your other interest besides crafting? I like watching films, listening to music, going to gigs, cooking, drinking tea, reading, pub quizzes. I’d love to be able to say something dramatic like skydiving but I’m really very average.

A lot of your work seems to be Tattoo inspired, Is there a particular artist that you get inspiration from? I love Angelique Houtkamp’s work. She is a tattooist and painter and everything she does is sooo cool. Check her out she does gorgeous tattooed and nautical pictures of girls with a ‘20s feel to them. I also like Mitch O’Connell and traditional Sailor Jerry stuff.

Do you have any tattoos yourself? if so what are they? Sorry no- boring I know. Maybe one day… I think girls with ink look amazing but I’m not sure it would suit me and how I dress. If I ever had the opportunity to be tattooed by Angelique I would definitely go for it. I’d have one of her fab glamourous nautical ladies on my back. I’m also thinking of getting a little tattoo of a bee on my foot because I love foot tattoos.

If you were to live in any decade what would it be? The ‘50’s for the fashion, hair, fabrics, cars and music (Brook: A-freakin'-MEN)

Do you drink tea everyday? (I know I am stereotyping you.. but oh well)
All the time, it’s true. We Brits love a brew and drink tea non-stop. I probably drink two to three hundred cups of tea a day

What is your favorite material to stitch on?: cotton- I like coloured quilters cotton for stitching on.





Have you always been crafty?
Not crafty as such but when I was younger I went to art school and studied sculpture. I used to make these upholstered masks with big ‘growths’ sticking out of them and gloves with really long fingers, they were quite creepy. Maybe I’ll dig out some photos some time and stick them on my blog to freak people out. (Brook: PLEASE DO!)

favorite season?:
The Summer, music festivals in the mud ahhh…

What is your favorite stitch? I love to use split stitch as a fill stitch it’s so even and flat.

What's one thing that might surprise me about you ? This is a very boring answer but people are generally surprised that I know how to stone carve as it’s seen as a bloke thing. One other thing that is maybe not surprising but very sweet; when I was younger both my parents used to embroider, my friends thought it was odd that my Dad used to cross stitch but I always thought it was pretty cool.



Thats all folks!!! Next month I already have an idea who it will be... I've asked her and she has agreed... he... he... he.... Can't wait! hint: she is the sheriff in town.....

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!!

Okay so first off... I am 48 minutes late on posting the winner for my blog giveaway.... but thats okay because I make the rules around here! So I used this silly random name picker and the winner is

Sherezada

YYYYYAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!! I recently came across her blog when she entered in the Craftster Challenge and I was blown away by her cross stitch... I adored the frame as well.... and since then I have been a dedicated reader!! She seems super fun! and who would have known... SHE MAKES MOVIES!!! If thats not cool I don't know what is!! totally check out her blog. It's filled with fun embroidery!

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This is totally off subject but I thought I would add it to this post... other things I am 100% loving right now... is this book, Hello Cupcake



Most cookbooks or craft books I only like half of the stuff... this book... I LOVE EVERYTHING... Every cupcake is SO CUTE!! the pictures are to die for! They are just fun and make me all fuzzy inside!! Who knew a pringle, gumdrop, and pretzel could made the cutest cowboy hat ever!!! I suggest this book if you are looking for cute quirky cupcakes that will blow everyone away!! The ideas in this book are amazing!

...........

Today was horrible and wonderful at the same time. Ol Shwan and I had a DENTISTA appointment! I hate the flippin' dentist! Good news... NO CAVITIES!!! So we got are tartar removed and went to the Gypsy Den, santa Ana swollen gums and all!!! MMMMM.... I don't even know how to explain the Gypsy Den.... its just one of the coolest yummiest cafes I know... The atmosphere is laid back and easy going... the lights are so dim you can hardly read the menus, none of the chairs or tables match, there are persian looking carpets on the floor and random artwork filling the walls from ceiling to floor... like clutter chic! but who cares about what it looks like.... the food is sssooooo YUMMY!!! The salad is my fav... homemade cruotons !!! DELISH!! It was open mic night so we stayed for a few hours listening to Johnny Cash wannabes... it was fun to say the least!!!

I have a few new ideas that I am working on and hope to show you soon! Other then that... I also have a few new ideas for my blog.... Should be great!!!

Craft show and One Crazy Friend

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GRAND OPENING OF MY ETSY and a giveaway!!!

Sooooooooooo...... This is my happy picture at Disneyland tonight!! (for all my stalkers hahaha )


I opened MY ETSY!! So exciting!!! Go check it out!! I have been wanting to open one for sometime now!! I was actually pressured to do it because I have a craft show TOMORROW! and I made business cards with my etsy shop on them... and I didn't even set it up yet... so how stupid would that be if I handed them out and when they went to look at the shop (lets hope 1 out of 100 does ) it would be blank... hahahaha thats me... always waiting till the last second! but I am really glad that I took the plunge! I have been eyeing everyones shops and wishing I had my own. I know its going to be hard work and a lot of promoting. but I want to say thank you so much to Katie at Needles and Pins for helping me with my Etsy banner, which I TOTALLY love!!! I guess all of her gamer skills pay off!!! Thanks kid!!

So in the spirit of my etsy-ness I am having a GIVEAWAY!! So here are the rules!!
Visit my Esty shop and tell me which is your favorite item (there is only 7 it wont take long)
Leave a comment on this post telling me which is your favorite item on my etsy, then tell me If you would rather have an ornament (strawberry or Russian Doll)

or my FAVORITE can of hairspray Aquage finishing spray in ultra firm hold


My original give away was going to just be the hairspray ... BUT, I've decided to give you options because I am so nice... hahaha and because I know not everyone uses hairspray... but this one smells SSOOO wonderfully! and its a really soft hold... doesn't get all stiff and nasty! but is a great moveable hold! Perfect for when I curl my hair! Its my ultimate FAVORITE!

So thats it!! In one week I will announce the WINNER!! I've won a few blog giveaways and its sssooo fun!! Nothing like getting a litte pressie in the mail!!!

WWWoooooooooooopppppppppiiiiiiieeeeeee!!!!

Embroidered Native American Princess

Well I actually don't know if she's a princess or not... but lets just pretend OK? Actually the reason I did this was because Rectangels theme was sort of " Cities named after women" so I thought this would be perfect

"Attala County, Mississippi: Attala is named for Attala or Atala, a fictional Native American heroine from a story by François-René de Chateaubriand."

That's what wikipedia told me! This is by far my most detailed work I've ever done. Like seriously... I am totally all about some INSTANT GRATIFICATION... But Rectangel puts a lot of effort into her work so I didn't want to dissapoint! I am actually really proud of her! Isn't she delightful? My fav has to be her hair and jewelry... the bone necklaces are wonderful and gross at the same time! She looks so hot with her big ol' cleavage bustin' through her turquoise french knot necklace! Makes me wanna do a little rain dance.... wow... (yeah I said it...)



This is my contribution to Rectangel's Tea Towel Tour 4 Towel:



I normally am not too keen on Native American "style" shall we call it, and I LOVE to tease my best friends Native American boyfriend to no avail... I always say " You better watch what you say, I might give you SMALL POX! " and other really mean things I will keep to myself to laugh about (all in good fun of course)... but the sad part is... I have Native American blood in me! You wouldn't know it because My whiteness could blind you, WITH glasses on! But My best friends, boyfriends, brothers are really into pow wows and they dress all up in the Regalia (remember people NEVER CALL THEM COSTUMES I almost got attacked because I called it a costume) and one dances and one sings and does the drums and it is SO BEAUTIFUL! When their grandmother died they had a catholic/ traditional Native funeral and the drums and the dancing brought me to tears (also the sage burning made me shed a few as well). It was an experience to say the least and the Regalia they wear is AMAZING... All hand beaded. Something any crafter could appreciate. I wish I had pictures to show you... but here are some more of my Attala





What do you think of her?

Other then that... I just bought myself some wool blend felt... {swoon} it is worth $9.99/yard... I will never use rayon felt as long as I live!!! Its just ssooo yummy!! its thinner and feels so much nicer!! I can't wait to start creating with it!! I have my mind on some little Elf shoes... Other then that I just want to thank all of you for your kind words on my last post! It was such a debbie downer post !! But like I said... crafting heals my soul!!!

The worst day of my life... September 26, 2008

This is him with is discharge papers... i thought he was done... BOY was I wrong!



So if you read my blog you would know that my boyfriend is an ex-marine. I met him just at the tail-end of his 4 years active duty... Right before he went to Iraq is when I met him... So I knew what I was getting myself into. He made it through Iraq without a scratch. I was so thankful and knew he would be ALL MINE for good! No longer getting sent to the middle east, because he was going to be officially out 1 month after he got home!!! yiiipppeeee!!! I remember his last day in the military... He was so excited to be a "civilian" and get on with his life, go to college, get a civilian job, and NOT GET HAIR CUTS!! So lets just say... he didn't cut his hair for 3 months or beard!! He looked like a mountain man and it was NOT PRETTY!!!

Well I guess how the military works is you sign a 8 year contract. 4 years active duty and then 4 years inactive. This I was not aware of when I met him... (I didn't even know the difference of a "soldier" and a "marine")so... he told me awhile back that he could get "re-called" meaning... if the government decides they need more people to be in the military they will pull the "inactive" men before they start a draft... Well Juan assured me he DOUBTED that it will ever happen unless we get into some crazy war with Afghanistan, Iraq, and Korea...

Well a few days ago, two of his friends text him saying they got recalled... it spiked my fear that it was possible Juan might get recalled as well... but I figured he wouldn't because he scored pretty high on his "disabilities" through the VA so I thought he would get overlooked...

NOPE! yesterday there was a big fat envelope on his doorstep from the good ol' USofA.... freaking great! I FLIPPED OUT!!! picked it up... saw what it said screamed for Juan and cried and ran inside as I chucked that envelope on the FLOOR!!! (yes I am so dramatic at times) I was PISSED!! I cursed every person I could including GEORGE WASHINGTON hahaha !!! To say the least I was crazy! I wanted him to do every drug he could so they wouldn't take him...Juan... took it all in stride. He didn't let my emotions get the best of him. He's not mad. He knew it was a possibility... He laughed at my offer to buy him the biggest bag of weed I could find, to cut his trigger finger off, to run over his legs, move back to Ecuador with him, ANYTHING... I DON'T WANT HIM TO GO! But... He's ready. I can appreciate his courage... I can appreciate the fact that he is happy its him and not another man with a wife and kids. I can appreciate the fact that while I am bawling my eyes out cussing like the excorsist he remains calm... I think that is why we get along so well... I am crazy and he is rational... He sees clearly through the most stressful of times... The letter said "under presidental code blah blah blah section blah blah blah WE ARE SENDING YOUR ASS BACK TO THE MIDDLE EAST! TO FIGHT THE WAR ON TERRORISM" (more or less thats what it said) So Oct 20 he's going to Kansas City to see if he is eligible for deployment (I am hoping they tell him he can't go) but I know in my heart he will go. There is no reason for him not to go... So to say the least I am scared. More scared then I have ever been....

My next post will be about crafts I SWEAR!!! Crafts make me feel so warm and happy inside... my world as I know it might crumble around me but I'll be fucking DAMNED if they take my crafts away! VIVA CRAFTS!!!! hahaha

Honey-DO list... crafts I must learn, Do, and MAKE!

Okay so I guess I have been lagging in my blogging world!! Well... I have. I feel a little overwhelmed! like mucho overwhelmed! I have a craft show coming up so I have been trying to get as much stuff done as I can. Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that you just stop what you are doing to read? hahaha... I am such a procrastinator... and I hate feeling like I HAVE TO CRAFT... thats part of the drawback to doing shows... You feel pressured to craft. I love doing it on my own leisurely time! except for swaps... then I just wait till the last week so I can pump out a masterpiece (hopefully...). So as I am stitching away... I've been thinking... its time to mix this party up! I need a NEW HOBBY!!!! So far in my craft endeavors I know how to: knit, crochet, embroider, cross stitch, make jewelry, scrapbook, cook, and sew.... so far I am pretty "seasoned" in all of them but sewing... I can sew aprons etc... but making that straight line has always been a task... I don't know if it has something to do with my sewing machine that literally sounds like I am using a chain-saw to sew (yes people the bobbin is in correctly) ... or just the fact that... I am not the type of girl to follow the straight and narrow... but in sewing... its important to know how to sew a straight line... so what's a better way to learn then to quilt? my grandma wants to kill me, clearly... she hates quilting... but she is the only one I know who a) knows how to do it and b) owns a pfaff sewing machine that literally makes me want to take out a loan just to buy myself this heavenly piece of machinery... like literally... its amazing... I told her when she dies I don't want any of her jewelry I just want the machine... she laughed so hard... I love how she thinks I am funny but if my mom heard that she would slap me in the face for the first time! but my grandmas jewelry is F-UGLY... yes I said it... FUCKING UGLY!! No offense but its like... hippy shit. not even like beautiful 1930-1950s. its straight up BRIGHT and ugly! so to say the least the sewing machine has its weight in gold! but before she has one foot in the grave one foot on a banana peel (I mean that in the kindest of ways) ... she needs to teach me AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! With that said I have totally been inspired by craftster to quilt... Craftster pretty much inspires me to try as many cool crafts as I can... one girl in particular makes some pretty cool quilts here is an example of one

check her out Here.
I figure once I am really good at sewing straight lines... then I can move onto sewing clothes for myself.... I've tried this before and it turned out quite sad... but my heart is set on "that perfect black pencil skirt" and I'm set on one day being able to make it!

Another one of my crazy/ wonderfully fabulous ideas is... I need to learn how to CAN... yes can goods... AKA "putting up" this has also been influenced by my many hours on flickr... canning has been inspired by graygoosie She is totally fab and has the CUTEST style... she wears aprons as part of her everyday wear. She takes the most amazing photos and makes me jealous of all her vintage goodies! Totally check her out. I want her to be my neighbor so I can run over and bug her all the time! because I already bug her on flickr! she's a sport about it! but seriously look how wonderful
YUUUUUMM!!! the only problem with "canning" is I don't have an abundance of fruit or veggies at my disposal... so it might be a little costly seeing that I don't have an orchard in my backyard... we do have plum trees... but plums only seem to be good while fresh! but it is on my list of things for my grandma to teach me... did I say she hates canning? but she loves me so she is willing to pass it on to me... what a great g-ma!

The other two "crafts" I want to learn DO NOT include my poor grandma... I will let her rest for awhile...

Sooooo... the first time I saw "frosting glasses" or "etching" was on none other then the FFFAABBBUUULLLLOOOUUUSSSS ex-con.... you guessed it. MARTHA STEWART! Isn't she a gem? I just hate and love her all in one! but she makes these beautiful glasses
she also has a "how to" video here.
Now try and picture this with me... Cheap wine glasses from Ikea being etched with beautifully monogramed "B" or" J" or" M" in old script. Or I was thinking little bats on the wine glasses in the spirit of halloween ! On craftster I found some Tattoo style ones as well! doesn't it look so fun?

So last but not least... I want to learn to solder! Its always wanted to try it especially when I was in my "jewelry making phase" I love the glass slide soldered pendants! I think they are so beautiful plus unique because you can add almost anything flat in the middle... I found a girl on craftster who makes soldered pendants with stamps... She has a blog called The Conundrium if you want to check it out ...SO CUTE.. besides I love pen palling and one of my pen pals from Japan sent me the most beautiful cherry blossom stamp that I have been eyeing to make something with...
So with all that said... its time to begin.. I think I will start with canning, etching, and quilting first... since the first two are pretty much a 1 day affair... and quilting... I've had a WIP quilt under my bed for the past 5 years I started before I realized I didn't know what I was doing... a few other things I want to make are
Clothes pin dolls like these ones from Posie gets cozy


Pear Pincushion from HELLOmynameisHeather I already bought the pattern... and while doing that discovered she makes a strawberry pincushion that is to DIE FOR and way cuter then mine!



And who can resist one of The black apples little dolls?


AND last but not least... this scarf... I NEED IT AND WANT IT!! since my alter-ego is Little red riding hood.. I totally love big bad wolfs! here is the pattern (you have to be a member, its free and totally worth it) I really REALLY want this little cape but I doubt I will wear it frequently, if at all... So instead I am picturing this scarf in RED of course!! all snuggled up while I drag my WOLF around Disneyland or any other outdoor activity...
Isn't it sssooo cute?

Chicken Cordon Bleu

The first time I have ever had chicken cordon bleu was like a month ago... and I made it. My boyfriend was complaining about something we ate (aka something I made) so I threw a fit and said " well if you don't like it... find some other F-ING recipes that we can have" like I said before yes... I am a brat... but. coming from someone who just eats the food and doesn't prepare it he was crossing the line... besides he normally loves everything I make so I was mad at him... you know... since I literally sweat my ass off every time the oven goes on.... in his tiny apartment that isn't up to code and doesn't have a stove vent... so if you could imagine... it gets hotter then a popcorn FART!
So he was on a mission to find something better then what we ate... and he did... WAY BETTER.... Swiss cheese and ham make me feel like vomiting... like literally... but with this combo it is DIVINE... and pretty much orgasmically good... (judging by the face my bf makes while eating it...)
So I read over the recipe and I sort of.... um... don't follow the rules... plus I cut everything in half since its just me and ding dong eating it. and yeah... its pretty easy... I get the ham and cheese from the deli at the grocery store, I get baby swiss cheese because... its not as... um swiss-EY I guess...I roll the ham and cheese inside the chicken and then put a piece on top, depending if Juan has decided to eat the cheese even though I told him 3 freakin' times " I only got enough swiss to make that dinner YOU picked out"... I buy the chicken already filleted ... but sometimes its still not as thin as I want it to be.... so I beat it with a tuna can in a plastic bag, hey girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! Another thing I don't "sprinkle" anything... I put the bread crumbs on a plate and put the chicken in the plate coating both sides with bread crumbs (no I don't use egg just the chickens own juiciness). Plus I don't wait to put the cheese on top... Actually I just realized that was on there when I copied the recipe to my blog... ooopppss... so do it however you would like!


See what I mean... the last little baby one is missing cheese! My favorite part is he acts like he has no clue... um... who ate it then? the only mouse I see in here is YOU!!!


Chicken Cordon Bleu I
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices cooked ham
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 7x11 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2)Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness.

3)Sprinkle each piece of chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Place 1 cheese slice and 1 ham slice on top of each breast.

4)Roll up each breast, and secure with a toothpick. Place in baking dish, and sprinkle chicken evenly with bread crumbs.

5)Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from oven, and place 1/2 cheese slice on top of each breast. Return to oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Remove toothpicks, and serve immediately.
Yield: 4 servings


This is rice-a-roni the San Fransisco treat and the salad is the bagged "Caesar salad" mmmmm.... I love that salad....

Juans rating: ***** Five stars!

Swap craft goodness!

Katie and I decided we wanted to do a swap with each other. Well she is all fabulous and stuff and finished mine ages ago... She made me the cutest pillowcase and she cross stitched me " don't make me flip the bitch switch" and framed it!!! So I wasn't sure what to make her... she told me she would like whatever I made her (puuullleeaaasseee) hahaha well I hope she liked what I made her... here is the tampon holder I made for her... well she said she doesn't carry tampons around... well dang... so it now is a tampon/ pen holder... :( but regardless i love the little geisha I stitched on it!




I sort of didn't know how I wanted to make this... so I used felt and then used pinking shears on the edges and then added some velcrow for closure...
I also made her this tea towel... It is a pin up holding a telephone... I thought her hat was so cute... I used 6 strands of floss on her hat and really wished I hadn't, It seems too BULKY! but regardless I love the way she looks all sassy and stuff... and of course I added some giant ric-rac on the bottom... because I just love me some ric-rac!






I also made her an oil cloth card holder! I love oil cloth so much... So I am trying to figure out different things to do with it... this card holder is sort of "under construction" I don't like how loose the card part is... so I am working out the kinks... anyways... here it is...



anyways I hope she liked it... I really tried to make something she would like.... anyways.... other then that I have a few more crafty goodness I will post soon.... not only that I have a new RECIPE that I will also post soon.... and my hair post... is in the works.... I need to touch up my roots before I do a tutorial... I know I am so vain... but come on... I don't want to look like a skunk!