Dreads are crazy. And I guess I am too, lol. I admit it, I hated them yesterday. Mostly because of the smell of the wax I was using. It has a very strong fragrance that neither Hubby or I could stand. So this morning I went a little insane and decided to wash it all out, whether or not the dreads held up I didn’t care. Just had to lose the smell. I also brushed out a couple on the front because I didn’t like where they were, so now I have undreaded bangs. I’ll tell you, everything I’ve read says wait at least a week to wash new dreads, if you do it sooner you will be sorry because they will fall out, and you will be left with a head of undreaded hair. M must’ve done a great job, because they did NOT come out, not in the slightest. And while I still look (somewhat) like Sheena The Jungle Queen (har-har), now I actually like it! The ones I un-dreaded restored my usual center part, and now that the wax is gone they don’t stick out at crazy angles, and they actually smell good! I thought for sure this morning that they weren’t going to last, that this was a failed experiment and I just didn’t have the stones to wait them out. But now I really like them, and am totally committed to keeping them, as I think they actually look good in all their crazy poofy glory. So now I am going the natural route since I can’t stand the wax, hopefully everything will work out. I’m not to worried since I washed the heck out of them (with boatloads of conditioner no less) and they held up. So going crazy and trying to undo them made them into something I really l like. The world is a weird, weird place. 
Dreads, Day 2 June 2, 2008
Dreadlocks! June 1, 2008
I did it. I took the plunge and had my pal M over today and she dreaded my hair. I am a poofy beast at the moment, wanting to speed up time and space and make it 6 months down the road when they will look a bit more tame. Looking forward to their first wash in a couple of days since they should shrink a bit after that. In the meantime it’s a lot of hats for me. Wish me luck!
One Makes Do May 4, 2008
And this post is going to be a lot more chipper than the title might suggest. I have horrible thrifting in my neck of the woods. Horrible. Goodwill is about it and rarely do I find anything exciting. I went there at the end of last week and found 1 lousy sweater to felt. ONE! In the whole place! And I went through them all!!! I did find some nifty little clear glass bowls that will be good for displaying tiny things, or maybe they will help me stage ingredients in the kitchen, haven’t decided yet. The treasure I found at this latest trip to Goodwill was this crazy old crafting book, The A-Z of Handicrafts, published in 1978. It’s so bad, I know it’s good(cheesy Super Bowl Shuffle reference, sorry). I bought it without even opening it in the store (I was in a rush), so when I got it home I opened it up, and to my delight some vintage embroidery patterns fell out! Just tucked in there! What a steal for less that a buck! The thrifting thrills were not ended yet, oh no! This weekend was our annual city-wide garage sale, the weekend where everyone and their brother has a garage sale. Now the norm for this is Hubby and I hit a bunch of sales, only to be disappointed and go home empty handed or almost empty handed. Nothing more than people selling off used baby clothes and toys, and some seriously tired kitchenware. Yawn. Not this year! First we have a new neighbor, and he was having a garage sale (moving from a house to a 2 bedroom townhouse one must downsize). I got this awesome dresser that with a little paint and TLC is going to be placed in my livingroom for a nifty place to store my fabric stash. Then we hit the various sales around town, going to a local church first where I found some old Pyrex bake ware (PERFECT condition, squee!) and an amazing old desk from an elementary schoolroom, metal base, fixed seat and built in flip top. It’s quite small and The Boy won’t be able to use it for more than a couple of years, but we hope he loves it as much as we do. Next off to some lodge (can’t remember which one), where I got this unbelievable stash of macrame stuff, a whole shopping bag full. TONS of heavy weight jute in various colors, big hole wooden beads, metal rings and pattern books for macrame plant hangers, this seriously must have been in someones attic or basement for 30 years. $2 bucks! Got a few gently used balls of yarn, and now I’m regretting not buying all they had even though most of the colors were pretty bad, as I’ve started my ripple afghan and want it to be pretty… I know, I know, where’s the damn pictures? I’m lazy with the camera, they will be incoming in the next day or two, along with my ripple progress, I promise.
Me? Productive?! April 29, 2008
Yes, me. I had the day off work yesterday and I made good use of it. I went to The Boy’s school for Toy Time, baked the whole wheat bread talked about in the last post, made that batch of seitan and used it for Crispy Sweet and Sour Seitan (the link is in the previous post, I’m lazy), and went back to school for The Boy’s rain forest play later that afternoon. Plus all the usual mom stuff like dealing with The Girl and her lousy progress report (bleh). Not too shabby, I was planning on some banana bread as well, but my latest sinus headache wasn’t having it last night, so no go. I think I will do that when I’m done here though- I love banana bread. Now if it would only warm up past 50 degrees so I could get that herb garden and tomatoes started…
Yawn… April 27, 2008
Not the bored kind of yawn, the relaxed, “I’ve done nothing all weekend long” kind of yawn. Having a grounded 12 year old who part of her punishment is she gets to babysit her little brother = one relaxing weekend for Hubby and me. The most I did is a couple of loads of laundry (washed, dried, NOT folded). Do I feel like a slug? Yes! Do I mind? A resounding NO! I did manage to get off my lazy duff long enough today to hit the health food store to replenish my egg replacer and vital gluten flour… those are necessary around here. Tomorrow (I have the day off, WOOT!) I am making a batch of seitan, at least half will be consumed when I make VeganYumYum’s Crispy Sweet and Sour Seitan for dinner tomorrow night, and I know I’ve said it before but I’m going to say it again, you have GOT to make this stuff, it is totally unbelievable. Also on the agenda (if my bananas cooperate and ripen enough) is a batch of banana bread, and sorry, no link for that, I adapted a recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook for that one. Possibly if I have the time I will make bigmouth’s 100% Whole Wheat Bread, as it not only sounds terrifically easy (bread machine stuff usually is), but oh so good. I also plan to hit Goodwill in search of sweaters to felt for upcoming summer crafting with the kids. Keeping them busy and perhaps making some stuff to add to the now empty Etsy shop are going to be priority one this summer. And now off to do the most strenuous activity of the day… giving the boy his bath. Till tomorrow!
Has It Really Been THIS long?! April 26, 2008
I guess it has. Almost a year since my last post, man how time flies. And what have I been up to you may ask. Not a heck of a lot to be honest. The typical mom stuff, wife stuff, work stuff, which actually is quite a lot of stuff if I think about it… Not so much on the crafty side. I’m hoping to remedy that this summer, as I will be staying home with the kids per my usual. The Girl is 12 now, and usually irritated with me as I think that is a 12 year old girl’s responsibility to be. The Boy is 6, almost done with Kindergarten and is still an enigma to his father and me. Autism does that I think. Loads of plans for keeping him busy this summer, lots of swimming, Hubby just got me the Topsy Turvy so there will be tomato plants in our future! The Boy can help water, and I will be starting a flower box herb garden, he can help me plant. I’m pretty excited, we rent and I’ve never been able to garden before! The flower box herb garden will serve 2 purposes, it will allow me to grow things and not use the land I live on which is not my own, and I will be able to bring them in in the winter, so herbs year round! I have got to get my butt back in gear and get some more crafty stuff done to help supplement our income this summer, as I will be almost not working at at all, plus with gas and food prices what they are… sheesh. No vacation in our future because of it. But season passes to our local pool will be purchased, and I think we will spend the majority of our summer there (now to start tanning a wee bit so I don’t turn into Lobster Woman, and must start the search for a bathing suit which doesn’t send everyone who sees me in it running away screaming). How bout the dolly front? Almost as quickly as I got into Blythe I got out of Blythe. I have one custom in pieces that I just need to sell off, and I purchased a couple of Pullips in their place, they are more my speed. Love their faces and eyes and hair and jointed posable bodies… everything. I have 3, and 1 has a new body (even more poseable) and I have plans for new wigs and already have 2 sets of new very detailed eyes that I just have to install. Another summertime thing. I hope to keep this blog up better too, as I plan to have my camera at my elbow all summer, must take more pictures of the kids. I have been a slacker, it ends here.
The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art June 29, 2007
What an amazing place. Chock full of amazing carvings, faceted gemstones the size of chicken eggs, enormous mineral specimens. We had a great time. If you ever find yourself in Elmhurst, Illinois, get your fannies to the Lizzadro Museum, it is well worth the trip, and Fridays are free! Loads more pics in my Flickr.
Ah, butterflies. June 28, 2007
I love butterflies, but who doesn’t? I most definitely got my fill at Peck Farm Park and Butterfly House today. Enjoy the pictures, I sure had fun taking them, and if you ever find yourself in Geneva Illinois, check it out, a great place to take kids, there is no admission, but they suggest a donation of $1.00 per person. Well worth it and more! More pics in my Flickr.
Sheesh. And more dolly love. June 25, 2007
Some people never learn. I have this friend who has a history of being in abusive relationships. Her latest nightmare likes to kill animals. Her animals. Pets that she loves. Pets that she doesn’t love but wants to help. She has a kind heart and can’t resist an animal in need. Now she is saying that it was all “bad luck” with the animals. He didn’t really hurt them. COME THE FUCK ON! I wish she would learn that she is better than these loser men, especially men who feel the need to abuse animals to exercise control of her. It makes me totally fucking sick and I just felt the need to rant a bit. /rant off. My latest yarn doll Calla sold lickety split, so I am hard at work going to be hard at work later on the next one, her name is Pixie and she will be a redhead. Dollies are addictive, I just discovered the joys of Momoko, she is sort of like Barbie, but she doesn’t suck (apologies to all you Barbie lovers out there), and had to get one of course. I will post pics when she comes, she is bad ass. We are also on vacation this week, went and saw Shrek 3 today. Good movie. I will take pictures of the more interesting activities, Friday we are going to a lapidary museum! I am really looking forward to that!
I Have Returned! June 6, 2007
Not that I was ever really gone. Just been busy and not very inclined to blog. I know, I suck, hate me some but not too much. My loverly little redheaded Blythe doll is gone, all gussied up and sold to her new mom, Tara. Click on her name to see lots of pics of her dollies, including my baby, Sephera. After Sephera I got a little blond girl, Quinn. I wound up selling her off to someone who was having problems coming up with all the money for a new dolly, I gave her a discount because no one should be dolly-less. Now I have another redhead, her name is Calla and she is almost done with her spa treatment. Brand new reroot with some very cool yarn, brand new face paint, brand new eye colors. I’m hoping to be finished with her this week, I will most definitely post pictures. Dolly adventures when Calla is done will be on my first Takara Blythe, a Feel The Sky. She is going to be my first wefted dolly, with a head full of lime green curls, and she will not be for sale, she’s mine! Let’s see, what else is new? My computer died after a crazy windy night. So now I have a brand new Dell Inspiron E1705 laptop. I am in love with it, it is a gorgeous machine, and since it has a 17″ monitor, pretty darn big for a laptop. It’s my new best friend, besides hubby of course. The Girl has graduated from elementary school. I cried like a baby when she was handed her certificate. I will most likely curl up into the fetal position and suck my thumb when she graduates high school. I’m such a wuss. The Boy starts kindergarten in the fall, which gives me yet another opportunity to sob in public. Damn kids, how dare they grow up?! Winter is finally gone, we just planted some flowers to liven up our deckspace. I discovered quite possible the most tasty vegan recipe on earth a couple of weeks ago, it is Crispy Sweet and Sour Seitan from VeganYumYum. This is my new favorite food blog, I have not only made her seitan recipe (twice) but have also made made her Maple Glazed Tofu and they are all to die for. The Girl and Hubby both eat this stuff when they usually poo-poo at tofu and seitan, they are seriously good. No new glasswork, but now that summer is here as well as my free babysitter (hee hee), I will be hitting the torch soon. Now I’m off to make some chocolate chocolate chip muffins from Vegan With A Vengeance, and I made the kids pancakes this morning, also from VwaV. Go me!
Sephera’s First Outfit February 20, 2007
And she looks pretty darn good in it. I made the sweater and jeans and they aren’t quite perfect, but the next ones will be! I am going to have to be sustained by this picture for a while because as soon as her new hair gets here, she is getting totally disassembled for her reroot. Should be quite an adventure!
She’s Here! February 17, 2007
Shipped with lightening speed too, I might add. I just ordered new hair for her, I am working on clothes, and as soon as the hair gets here, she will be in way worse shape than she is now, as I will be taking her head completely apart for her makeover. Wish me luck, her blonde sister should be arriving next week.
Getting Down With The Sickness February 11, 2007
The disease of the collector. I’ve got it. I haven’t even gotten my first Blythe yet. It’s only been a couple days since I won her. And NOW I just won another. A blonde this time. Somebody help me.
Even More Blythe Goodness! February 8, 2007
Are you too suffering with lack of Blythe? Then check out the Blythe-a-lizer at Puchi Collective! True, it’s not as good as having your own Blythe and making her pretty, but it is really cool and is a lot of fun to play with, not to mention what a helpful tool this is for anyone looking to customize a Blythe, check it out, it’s nifty!
Oh Wow, Am I In Trouble Now. February 8, 2007
I have discovered the wonderful world of Blythe. Now I don’t live under a rock, I have seen her before. BUT. I DIDN’T KNOW HER EYES CHANGE COLOR!!! That just teared it for me, I now have to have one. And these things are not cheap. I am frantically scouring eBay with the hopes that someone will put one up that is old and beat up, and that I can spend oodles of time restoring her to glory, maybe even making her better in the process. Pictured here is Akasha the Gothic Nurse, a commissioned custom Blythe by PicaraChan. She is unbelievable. I am in love. Shh, don’t tell my husband.
And I Thought I Was Cold BEFORE! February 5, 2007
Yeah. Well. I should have kept my big yapper shut. It is currently -7 degrees. That is up from the -10 that is was when I woke up this morning. Poor hubby got up early after not sleeping well due to having dreams about the Bears blowing the Superbowl (ugh, I don’t want to talk about it), and warmed up our cars, which were none too happy about it. Our water cooler that we keep in the garage to avoid a certain little boy flooding the house has frozen solid, so is now in the house with me in the hopes that it will thaw soon and that the boy won’t mess with it. He has been promised mucho grief if he does. I have about 15 layers of clothing on currently, and I wrapped the girl up so tight for her wait for the bus this morning that I am surprised she was able to walk at all. I watched her head out all the while thinking “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!” trying my darndest not to giggle too audibly. Am I mean or what? Off to get some coffee now, and maybe a shot of Bailey’s for good measure, that would most definitely warm me up. ;P
General Tao’s Tofu February 3, 2007
From a Vegweb recipe. I just made this for dinner and I’m in HEAVEN. I followed the reviewer’s advice and doubled the sauce, but I did not double the sugar or the cornstarch, and I may even use less sugar next time. I also used rice vinegar instead of white and turbinado sugar, not granulated. Now I would love to chat about the hat I have started, but I can’t. I need another helping. Right now.
Vegan Cupcakes, Veggie Stew and the Post Punk Kitchen January 30, 2007
Thanks to Kelli for linking to the stew recipe, but even more so for the article itself. I love vegan food. I eat loads of tofu and never bake with eggs or dairy anymore. The cupcakes pictured were made by Isa Chandra Moskowitz of the Post Punk Kitchen. If you are even slightly interested in vegan cooking, check the site out and the recipes in the article, I know those faux Hostess cupcakes are going to be made by me in the not so distant future.
Crocheting and Frozen Toes January 30, 2007
Oh, this weather. I am really hating it. I am NOT a cold weather person by any means, and it has been freezing long enough, darn it! I’m sick of it. It’s currently 6 degrees outside. SIX DEGREES! Oh, spring! I need you so… Anyway, ramble done. I crocheted 2 more blocks yesterday, I know, I know, that sure isn’t very much, but I am just getting over a cold and feeling less than perky. The blocks are the same pattern as the one in the previous post, and the same colors, but I changed which color goes where. I am kind of surprised how far the yarn I am using is going, I think I will get at least 2 more blocks out of the 3 skeins I bought. Which is good since I am broker than broke until payday. I need to be independently wealthy.
