tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46526447261195289962024-03-05T23:47:34.118-08:00Hand/Eye/Mind/MouthThe crafty and culinary adventures (and misadventures) of a geeky writer.Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-64565532667702758982015-01-20T10:18:00.000-08:002015-01-24T18:35:17.945-08:00Han Solo Pattern No Longer Available<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some of you may have landed on my blog looking for my Han Solo Cross Stitch pattern. I'm sorry to say that as of today, I am no longer offering it for free on the internet.<br />
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This honestly makes me quite sad. However, I discovered yesterday that there are people who have been stitching up this pattern and selling the finished design online.<br />
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When I put up the pattern four years ago, I did it in the spirit of crafty sharing. My husband and I had a great time designing and laying out the pattern, and I had fun stitching it up. I wanted to share that fun with other crafty Star Wars fans. It was meant to be a free thing--I even put a polite disclaimer right on the pattern asking folks to please not sell the pattern or the finished product.<br />
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Perhaps this is a case of "if you don't want your work stolen, then don't put it on the internet" (which I hate the sentiment behind), or perhaps these stitchers simply didn't understand that "free to use" doesn't mean "free to sell." But, I'll never forget that sick, heartbroken feeling I got seeing my work for sale under someone else's name. Perhaps this is a sign that it's time to take my crafting in a more serious direction, or simply a lesson about sharing online. I have a lot of thinking to do about how I want to proceed, but the clear course of action for now is to simply remove the pattern.<br />
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I'm sorry to anyone who came here hoping to stitch one for yourself. Perhaps there'll be a time the pattern is available again, but for now, I feel the need to protect my design and myself from further infringement. I hope you understand.Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-88597405090635347852014-07-17T08:00:00.000-07:002014-07-17T08:00:02.375-07:00Movie Review: "Chef" whets appetite for life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In an alternate universe, there’s a version of me scurrying around a film set, directing actors, looking over script sheets, and conferring with cinematographers and producers. In yet another, I’m whirling around a busy restaurant kitchen, chiming “<i>oui</i>, chef!” while methodically chopping, stirring, braising, and plating. Thus--since I am in neither universe--I hold a special spot in my heart for films about food, because they combine two things I truly love.<br />
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<i><a href="http://chefthefilm.com/" target="_blank">Chef</a></i>, Jon Favreau’s newest feature, is my latest obsession. It’s an upbeat story about a frustrated chef who finds a new passion for his cuisine—and his family life—when he buys a food truck.<br />
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<b>Plot: </b>Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) was once the toast of the culinary world, but is now trapped in a creative rut. He’s just as stuck in his personal life, recently divorced and struggling to connect with his 10-year-old son, Percy (Emjay Anthony). Carl’s frustrations reach a boiling point when he’s panned by renowned food critic Ramsey Michael (Oliver Platt), and Carl’s public outburst goes viral on the internet.<br />
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With his career in shambles, Carl reluctantly joins his ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) and son on a trip to Miami, his old stomping grounds. Inspired by the city’s colorful Cuban cuisine, he buys a fixer-upper food truck. When his right-hand-man, Tony (John Leguizamo) flies out to help with Carl’s new endeavor, Carl, Tony, and Percy embark on a road trip across the US to get the truck back to LA.<br />
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<b>Review: </b>This is the perfect recipe for a feel-good movie: flawed-yet-lovable characters, a lively soundtrack, and gorgeous, lingering shots of lovingly prepared food. It’s obvious that Favreau (who also produced, directed, and wrote the film) did his homework to become Chef Casper, and he moves in the kitchen as organically as a dancer does on a stage.<br />
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Aside from the all the delicious food, what struck me the most about this film was the father-son dynamic at the heart of the story. Percy aches to be part of his dad’s life, but Carl is too wrapped up in his career (and misery) to see the clever young man Percy is becoming. When Carl agrees to let Percy come with him on the road-trip, not only do the two bond, but Percy proves himself as a valuable member of the team with his social media savvy.<br />
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And--odd as this sounds--it was nice to see a movie that was so intrinsically about men and male camaraderie that had nothing to do with violence or macho posturing. Carl and Tony work easily as a team in the food truck, and Percy’s initiation into their world--and into manhood--is filled with heart as well as humor and hard work.<br />
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The only complaint I had was the neat way everything came together in the end. Perhaps Favreau saw Carl’s journey as a father as the major arc of the film, but I wanted to see a little more conflict with the food truck and his career trajectory. The ending was just a bit too--dare I say it--Dinsey-eque, but maybe I'm just a little too jaded.<br />
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Overall, Chef is not a complex film, but it is a delicious one. In a summer filled with vacant popcorn flicks, Chef is like a hearty grilled sandwich: tasty, filling, and simple. Worth a watch, but make sure you’re not hungry going into the theater!<br />
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Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-37316434826658232562014-07-15T08:00:00.000-07:002014-07-15T08:00:03.846-07:00Turning the Lights Back On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love films. There's a challenge in trying to tell a good story in 90 to 120 minutes, rather than stretching it out across dozens of hours of television or hundreds of printed pages. There’s an art and a craft to it, and not everyone can pull it off.<br />
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I've seen thousands of films at this point in my life, and I spent four years at U.C. Berkeley's Film Studies program. My plan was that I would make a living writing about movies, however, by the time I got out of college in the early 2000s, the internet had made anyone with a computer and an opinion a film critic. I tried to add my own voice in the old-fashioned way, but after four years working a dead-end job at a film magazine, I did the worst thing anyone can do. I gave up.<br />
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I’ve realized lately, though, how much I’ve missed writing about movies, sharing my passion and knowledge, and I've decided to start up again.<br />
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Perhaps being a new parent has encouraged me. It’s definitely changed my perspective on life, yes, but it’s also taught me something very important—<b>I don’t have time for bad movies anymore</b>. I <i>maybe</i> get to see one feature film a week at home, and <i>perhaps</i> one in the theater every season. So, I have to pick my battles wisely.<br />
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Writing film reviews is a way to shake the cobwebs off an old skill set, and help that poor, neglected left brain of mine (there are only so many times it can read the <i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i> before giving up hope of stimulation). By sharing my reviews, I can help other moviegoers, because nothing sucks more than wasting your night on a crappy movie.<br />
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In all honesty, these reviews will be like my own movie watching: sporadic, not very timely, but hopefully enjoyable. I can’t promise a regular schedule until my son can promise me the same. He's 19 months old now. It’s gonna be a long wait.<br />
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My first review will be coming Thursday, where I review the indie foodie flick <i><a href="http://chefthefilm.com/" target="_blank">Chef</a></i>. I hope you'll join me for it. </div>
Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-36560247040826113752014-07-10T14:03:00.000-07:002014-07-10T21:10:05.904-07:00Figs and Goat Cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My lunch today: smooth and tangy goat cheese spread over a thick slice of hearty walnut bread, topped with syrupy-sweet ripe figs.<br />
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I love you, summer.<br />
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I honestly don't know when my obsession with figs began. As a kid, I definitely enjoyed Fig Newtons--with their cakey outsides and thick, chewy centers--but I never really had the chance to try the real deal until I was much older. Really, I'm trying, but I can't pinpoint the moment where I went, "holy bejebus, I need me more of those figs!" Like I did a few weeks ago.<br />
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It all began when co-worker/friend of the Professor's was throwing a little birthday bash. For the first time ever, we were "those people" with the toddler at the grown-up party.<br />
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I spent a good portion of the festivities alone on the back patio in an attempt to keep Bubby away from the lovely snacks carefully arranged right at his eye level. While dashing about after a whiffle ball, I surreptitiously watched the other adults relaxing inside, sipping their microbrews and chatting about science, politics, and travel. My stimulating conversation? "Look, Bubby! Catch the ball! Catch the ball! No! Don't throw it over the fence!"<br />
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I was about to throw in the towel when another of my husband's colleagues arrived with his wife, bearing a colander full of beautiful, ripe figs. Apparently, they had a tree just bursting with the little beauties, and they sliced up a dozen figs to share with the party.<br />
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One bite of the glistening fruit--served atop a cloud of blueberry-kissed goat cheese on a slice of soft, sweet French bread--and my afternoon was saved. It got even better when I was encouraged to take home a party cup full of figs. They were gone by the next morning.<br />
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Those figs haunted me for weeks. It wasn't a constant obsession, but more of a niggling craving in the back of my head. "You know what sounds good right now? Figs and goat cheese." I'm a realist, though, and I knew that a $6.99 basket of figs at the local produce market wouldn't be nearly as good as the tree-ripened fruit that had seduced me so. Or as cheap.<br />
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Then, yesterday, my patience was rewarded. The Professor came home from work with a little green basket of figs in hand, compliments of his colleague and his wife. Craving became full-on obsession: "Damn it! Now I need goat cheese!"<br />
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It was all I could think about this morning: "Make the Bubby's breakfast. <i>Figs and goat cheese.</i> Pack the Professor's sandwich. <i>Figs and goat cheese.</i> Hey, my friend just had a baby! <i>Figs and goat cheese.</i>"<br />
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Obviously--from the photos above--this story has a happy ending. A quick pop into Lundari's market provided me the much-coveted goat cheese, and I even splurged to get the thick, dark whole wheat and walnut bread that I knew would be the perfect base. I was right.<br />
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My lunch was everything I'd been craving: simple, sweet, hearty, and creamy all at once. A little burst of summer on my tongue.<br />
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And you know what's even better? I still have six figs. I think I know what I'm having for dinner tonight.Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-16444760656539518552014-03-01T11:15:00.000-08:002014-03-01T11:17:03.111-08:00Outdoor Adventures on the PeninsulaFebruary came and went in a blur. I know in many parts of the U.S., that blur was one of snow and ice. Not so here in (surprisingly) sunny Northern California.<br />
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Since the Professor had Valentine's Day off work (hooray!) we spent the afternoon exploring the landscape of our new Peninsula neighborhood. We live within easy driving distance of some truly beautiful country, so we figured we'd expose the young 'un to a little nature.<br />
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First stop was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulgas_Water_Temple" target="_blank">Pulgas Water Temple</a>. No, fellow <i>Legend of Zelda</i> fans, there weren't any dungeons or puzzles or fairies. Just a nice dome and a reflecting pool.<br />
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Unfortunately, little Bubby fell asleep in his car seat right as we arrived, so I did a solo scouting mission to see what was ahead. It's not like we could wait. For some reason, the parking lot is only open Monday through Friday, and only until 4 p.m. <b><i>sharp</i></b>, as the sign in the lot says. Oh, and you could only park for 30 minutes. You'd think the city doesn't want anyone to see this!<br />
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So, off we went to our second destination, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Springs_Reservoir" target="_blank">Crystal Springs Reservoir</a>.<br />
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I love this place. Well, what I've seen of it so far. I'd previously taken Bubby on a stroller walk on the Sawyer Camp Trail in Belmont...and it had ended in tears. For both of us. I figured we'd have a better shot at a good time with Daddy along.<br />
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Yeah, not so much.<br />
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We did manage to enjoy some of the sights after Bubby had an<i> al fresco</i> lunch, though we really didn't get much further down the trail. I think his hands were cold, poor guy, and I'd forgotten his mittens ('cause it was like, 60 degrees).<br />
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I highly recommend this trail for anyone looking for a pleasant walk. It's a wide, paved path with plenty of restrooms and benches lining it. It draws folks of all types, from solo bicyclists to clans of families with strollers and tricycles. I hope we can finally get Bubby to enjoy this place!<br />
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We've only begun to scratch the surface of what we can find here on the Peninsula. It's been quite a change for us, after living 15 years in the highly urban Berkeley/Oakland area. Though, every time I start to miss it (which is often), I remember that this...<br />
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...is just a five-minute drive away, and I instantly feel better.<br />
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<br />Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-67693362234108866862014-02-05T10:43:00.000-08:002014-02-05T10:45:19.479-08:00Crafting a First Birthday PartyNow that February has arrived, I can finally look back at the whirlwind that was November through January. On top of the usual holiday fun, we had an extra-special event that landed smack between Thanksgiving and Christmas: Vinnie's first birthday!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hooray! We made it!</i></td></tr>
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I was quite excited to put his birthday party together. I've hosted dinner parties, a <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-halloween-baby-shower.html" target="_blank">Halloween baby shower</a>, and St. Patrick's Day parties, but this was the first time I've put together a child's birthday party (even if most of the guests were adults).<br />
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As comedian (and father of 5) Jim Gaffigan pointed out, "the baby's first birthday party is not a party for your baby; it's a party for you." So, I didn't get all crazy with a meticulously coordinated theme or blow a bunch of cash on an expensive smash cake (especially since I had a feeling Vinnie wasn't even going to touch it).<br />
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Doesn't mean I didn't get crafty, though! I opted for a primary color scheme and some "Baby's 1st Birthday" plates and signage. I got a lot of my gear at <a href="http://www.daisojapan.com/Default.aspx?" target="_blank">Daiso</a>, (a large, Japanese dollar-store) including serving bowls, plates, invitation supplies, and decorations. My favorite were the pre-folded tissue paper puffs; much safer and (eco-friendly) than balloons, and they're re-usable.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Party favors for everyone!</i></td></tr>
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For favors, I made large gingerbread cookies in the shape of a 1. I bought the cookie cutter from an Etsy store called <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/62404723/number-1-cookie-cutter-with-handle?ref=shop_home_active_16" target="_blank">West Tin Works</a> (check them out, they have lots of fun shapes!). My mama and I decorated the cookies with royal icing. We did this pretty late at night, and I think our exhaustion fed into our creativity.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Batman, zombies, vampire clowns...the usual for a 1st birthday, right?</i></td></tr>
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Mama and I also baked the cupcakes for the party. OK, my mama did pretty much 99% of the work on those, which is awesome (especially since she used to be a professional cake decorator).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I've always wanted a cupcake tower!</i></td></tr>
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For decorations, I didn't want to go too overboard since I had rented a nice space in our apartment's complex. The main attraction were the galleries of photos of Vinnie, which were mounted on colorful cardstock trimmed with decorative-edge scissors. I did one section that was Vinnie at each month, one that was Vinnie with friends and family, and one that was some of Vinnie's "greatest hits." It was a really nice way for guests to see some of my favorite pictures of the little guy, since I don't post many pictures online.<br />
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I think my favorite thing we made for the party, though, were Vinnie's birthday bibs. I finally followed through on my threat to applique. I used the same "1" shaped cookie cutter to make a template for the fabric, then attached it to the terrycloth bib using fusible webbing. My mama then sewed it on with a super-close zig-zag. We made two, one for his birthday at home, and one for the party the next day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hmmm...wonder which party Vinnie liked better?</i></td></tr>
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Not that I had to worry about my little man getting messy. As I predicted, he didn't even touch his cupcake. It was still amusing to watch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"You want me to do <b>what</b> with this?"</i></td></tr>
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I had a lot of fun putting this party together. I had a LOT of help from my family--especially my parents, who flew in from out of town--and I feel so lucky to have been able to gather so many people together to help the Professor and I celebrate our little man's first birthday.Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-28530242774743638152013-10-31T15:36:00.000-07:002013-10-31T15:36:36.233-07:00The First Halloween: Timmy the Lamb and Mama Sheep<br />
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For years before I became a mom, I'd dream about having a child to share Halloween with. It's my favorite holiday (if you couldn't tell by my <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2009/11/halloween-in-nutshell.html" target="_blank">past</a> <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2011/10/little-halloween-friends.html" target="_blank">crafting</a> and <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-halloween-baby-shower.html" target="_blank">spooky baby shower</a>), and I'd started to hit that age where raging parties were hard on the body and the schedule. At that point, Halloween becomes a stay-at-home holiday, and I became relegated to the giving end of the trick 'r' treat ritual. Nothing wrong with that...unless the only one that comes to your door is your downstairs neighbor looking to bum a smoke.<br />
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So, when I had Vinnie, I began planning his costume waaaay in advance. Maybe too far in advance. Like, when he was a few weeks old. In January.<br />
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OK, to be fair, I was hit with a bolt of inspiration thanks to my Netflix queue. I watched quite a lot of TV in the early days of Vinnie's life, and the one show that never failed to cheer me up on the most difficult, sleep-deprived days was <i>Shaun the Sheep</i>. If you're not familiar with Shaun, it's a British claymation show featuring a cast of mischievous barnyard animals. The lack of dialogue lends a universal quality to the show, making it enjoyable by all ages.<br />
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There were two characters in particular that struck a chord with me: the little lamb, Timmy, and his roller-sporting mother:<br />
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They were too flippin' cute, and spoke to the core of my new mama-hood. I knew what I wanted us to be for Vinnie's first Halloween.<br />
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Easier said than done. Timmy is a very specific lamb, and no generic sheep costume would do. This would involve garment sewing and possibly pattern making, two things I have little to no experience in. So, I called in the big guns: my mother, who is an extremely talented quilter and seamstress. She'd made plenty of Halloween costumes for me and my brother growing up. A couple of sheep costumes would be a piece of cake, no?<br />
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Since she lives across the state, we perused patterns online and I'd call her from fabric shops for her input. We decided on a <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6812-products-47121.php?page_id=494" target="_blank">McCall's toddler pattern</a> for the body (which she'd scale up for mine), with leggings and long sleeve shirts underneath. We debated about the hats for a bit, until my mother commissioned a crafty friend to crochet a pair of black beanies. During a week-long visit to her house, we (and by "we" I mean "she") whipped up the two soft, fluffy sheep shells.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxXq3LA6GhMmu1BY-xqv9XJbZN-s0hRU6yZBZzxTP3s0NwqQ0uaHpkr06_QEgfINpS7DsepZp-aYzLJ6IepjpLLXx8EJmvUOVpII1icZUHdmq-tv3AwtECPK4vo-Whqfb8NlsDIZsRZ0/s1600/costume_test.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxXq3LA6GhMmu1BY-xqv9XJbZN-s0hRU6yZBZzxTP3s0NwqQ0uaHpkr06_QEgfINpS7DsepZp-aYzLJ6IepjpLLXx8EJmvUOVpII1icZUHdmq-tv3AwtECPK4vo-Whqfb8NlsDIZsRZ0/s320/costume_test.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costume fitting!</td></tr>
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My job was the hats, and I had to create the ears and face from scratch. It was trickier than I initially imagined. The ears had to stick out, but I couldn't use wires or anything that could hurt the baby's soft little head. I ended up using fleece stiffened with interfacing, then adding a layer of batting. I also did some top stitching to make the ears stiff. I then split them in half a few inches, inserted the ends in the holes left by the crochet, and stitched them closed inside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkMUowUlQ5lvmfnnoDPzLGJIA8P8KgefyA6UpkEbKIJVAjVLEBHK81Gn2SaBMleU6VV61ql4NS1EsfJl_RfiQqhTJtQPcGeCOFp2qPSlkTMe0pQA9LFlUyV2m9-rN-u36vlrQECrz8do/s1600/timmy_lamb_hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkMUowUlQ5lvmfnnoDPzLGJIA8P8KgefyA6UpkEbKIJVAjVLEBHK81Gn2SaBMleU6VV61ql4NS1EsfJl_RfiQqhTJtQPcGeCOFp2qPSlkTMe0pQA9LFlUyV2m9-rN-u36vlrQECrz8do/s320/timmy_lamb_hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I then cut out the eyes on black and white felt, and the nostrils using black felt, and appliqued them to the hats. The Mama Sheep had her rollers to deal with, too, which I attached by winding strips of leftover fluffy fabric around the rollers then poking them through the crochet holes to tie inside, much like the ears.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_imc5iZxnXTjfASBVpCzZSbu99vv5u66aKxMkrquYydqoASfRJolAePF3W6d83WFpY3b5cbiAt-RFrB11fO4aj8L8slrWRpoTpCQDlikPv6T3s7rdBW6YaJaXgGGPR_crVZ2eQVRMuWA/s1600/mama_sheep_hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_imc5iZxnXTjfASBVpCzZSbu99vv5u66aKxMkrquYydqoASfRJolAePF3W6d83WFpY3b5cbiAt-RFrB11fO4aj8L8slrWRpoTpCQDlikPv6T3s7rdBW6YaJaXgGGPR_crVZ2eQVRMuWA/s320/mama_sheep_hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's the little details that kept me the most busy. Every time I thought I had it done, there was one more elements to the costumes that needed attention (such as finding the perfect yellow pacifier for the Timmy costume). Finally, after numerous visits to the fabric store, a cross-state trip, things being mailed last-minute, and sewing against the clock, the costumes were done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aRKpmBiC3omRfNYPXA-y3j6DtKrPNaBJNPnwi1ywijc47qPuPEUqt3s4HIpBmEwguhp0r7jkMqDsrL6MKNFy9F3391rNohRhmcNezaMRHG0sD-i26C-T0Yd-HTYCYeNx9jgEHko22vw/s1600/timmy_the_lamb_costume.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aRKpmBiC3omRfNYPXA-y3j6DtKrPNaBJNPnwi1ywijc47qPuPEUqt3s4HIpBmEwguhp0r7jkMqDsrL6MKNFy9F3391rNohRhmcNezaMRHG0sD-i26C-T0Yd-HTYCYeNx9jgEHko22vw/s320/timmy_the_lamb_costume.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ta da! It's Timmy! All that hard work and...wait...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX5ZoCRYthtC3Z6wXy1VB5rkmIOEScvKmVQo8bi8C7l68uvydDNH1ya6-0cBALLLkGJKTQHMU9rqnH0WnmWLN2eNbs4H-aiVJawhMgUaryrn8CQbeR6JwJL1sGoYzq9aubttcQv0E-bQ/s1600/hatless_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX5ZoCRYthtC3Z6wXy1VB5rkmIOEScvKmVQo8bi8C7l68uvydDNH1ya6-0cBALLLkGJKTQHMU9rqnH0WnmWLN2eNbs4H-aiVJawhMgUaryrn8CQbeR6JwJL1sGoYzq9aubttcQv0E-bQ/s320/hatless_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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...wait...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYPHZwS6IVaseif4IvkYlR3kM2zjL6Dadbw4hhzflNMnKHbw1RqbgzNfPRJDYlr9aqiBDowVPNLkKv6Re0lpxnUgXX1u6HcFaREyyAHX3mXtnqgrXaM9Yhetb1aHPubZ_w_sic9zbIrA/s1600/hatless_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYPHZwS6IVaseif4IvkYlR3kM2zjL6Dadbw4hhzflNMnKHbw1RqbgzNfPRJDYlr9aqiBDowVPNLkKv6Re0lpxnUgXX1u6HcFaREyyAHX3mXtnqgrXaM9Yhetb1aHPubZ_w_sic9zbIrA/s320/hatless_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
...well, crap.<br />
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We got him to wear the hat for<b> maybe</b> a total of two minutes. Maybe.<br />
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It was hard not to be disappointed, but as my husband pointed out, there's a good chance we'll be able to use these costumes again next year. Even if Vinnie doesn't appreciate it now, someday, when he's older, he'll look back at the pictures of his first Halloween and see just how much his mama (and grandmama) love him...<br />
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...or how crazy we were.Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-77048893879892392662013-08-13T11:11:00.000-07:002013-08-13T11:11:11.224-07:00Bibs, Bibs, Bibs (Warning: gratuitous baby pic spam)If there's one thing my little man has mastered, it's drooling. The kid is like a leaking faucet, and has been since he was about three months old. Luckily, I was ready, with a stack of bibs that I'd stitched up before he was born. Unluckily, it wasn't nearly enough, and I've had to buy and stitch more bibs since. More stitching. Oh darn.<br />
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So, in honor of Vinnie's 8 month anniversary, here's some of my favorite bibs (or, um, the ones I actually took pictures of before they got horribly slimed):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrf7jpOpvq2tx9z_IQHShbBwce6bhd9SHBVnOZ-jxyZ_ceI3w_wPLKUW5JZTXiXEQYHiu-SSQK0LjJm6HsvII7Q6r06GUKhHjjeSfzePzyIsdFKrreZ-nkuK30fi4081D3dzF4Wo4Ebg/s1600/1+mo+spork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrf7jpOpvq2tx9z_IQHShbBwce6bhd9SHBVnOZ-jxyZ_ceI3w_wPLKUW5JZTXiXEQYHiu-SSQK0LjJm6HsvII7Q6r06GUKhHjjeSfzePzyIsdFKrreZ-nkuK30fi4081D3dzF4Wo4Ebg/s320/1+mo+spork.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
At one month old, he was a little young to be thinking of eating with utensils. Despite that, this has been one of my favorites. Pattern by Urban Threads.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zIXs2lYzthsQ8DqneRzGf-PCQr0UvTRRHt5DvCYuOAFkActlShuL2ES0kpeKL8Vj8HcDYlQtaKOu31WLtY2DK0JUZ8qES4zaNr-qELnE0StqoVmLBdLbou3TA-FEs9NbgDK5J8OjEEE/s1600/1+mo+lucha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zIXs2lYzthsQ8DqneRzGf-PCQr0UvTRRHt5DvCYuOAFkActlShuL2ES0kpeKL8Vj8HcDYlQtaKOu31WLtY2DK0JUZ8qES4zaNr-qELnE0StqoVmLBdLbou3TA-FEs9NbgDK5J8OjEEE/s320/1+mo+lucha.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Still one month old, Vinnie got in touch with his Latino heritage (yes, my blond-haired, blue-eyed boy is a quarter Mexican) with this sweet lucha libre design from Sublime Stitching.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEufegPDkJPuY_bF8HP5icJexMKyvo3upwxHdzup5I6vcE5F1R5xecZ9jmEKfwYD4bCZGnngKnmys9bXB6DC4Rv2ms7aOIVdU3EN9P5HpR_Y_pKMMuRTSxh43nGlidAKDvtK7-HI-up-k/s1600/3+mo+bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEufegPDkJPuY_bF8HP5icJexMKyvo3upwxHdzup5I6vcE5F1R5xecZ9jmEKfwYD4bCZGnngKnmys9bXB6DC4Rv2ms7aOIVdU3EN9P5HpR_Y_pKMMuRTSxh43nGlidAKDvtK7-HI-up-k/s320/3+mo+bunny.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
At three months, Vinnie's 100th percentile head was already too big for his fun Easter hat. Good thing the paranoid bunny bib doesn't have a size restriction. Also from Urban Threads.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lUTYSdzjMh76j0EXZCgqUg2PXpaUMPzwVHWzdyzkDMGJflF6C8hVl3M23Hg_AnFHKozP6L-eOdj5EvkBPdxqbHKHEedglRXzyndz7SDTxR1cHMrHZVPxIBxqwg59ac4mY_l0OgPqYhk/s1600/5+mo+toast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lUTYSdzjMh76j0EXZCgqUg2PXpaUMPzwVHWzdyzkDMGJflF6C8hVl3M23Hg_AnFHKozP6L-eOdj5EvkBPdxqbHKHEedglRXzyndz7SDTxR1cHMrHZVPxIBxqwg59ac4mY_l0OgPqYhk/s320/5+mo+toast.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Feeling international at five months, the little man sports his French toast bib from UT.<br />
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My seven-month-old little monster sporting a little monster from UT.<br />
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For a while, these were the only crafty projects I could muster the energy and time for. Now that my little guy is older, I've been able to find a bit more time for more complex embroidery (and blogging, even if I'm typing this with one hand while holding him with the other). I still have a stack of bibs (colored, this time) waiting to be stitched on, or perhaps I'll try applique. I always say that, don't I? Someday, I'll actually do it.<br />
<br />Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-36708395584805786322013-06-29T08:00:00.000-07:002013-06-29T08:00:01.878-07:00Handmade Princess Bride Westley Doll<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRo4ynNVm0g7IP51tPUnr4CFZ1fib9mcAmcyz3XBrCjbk9JAq941CNQFkWSYGTyCGEN1CV1kzc9PKcvEwxL0QTLzhW2ff5-I0JRGRIMhd_40HJCWGF9ZQBIYMqTcje6WCkXGd9vNCP_A/s1600/Princess+Bride+Westley+Doll.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRo4ynNVm0g7IP51tPUnr4CFZ1fib9mcAmcyz3XBrCjbk9JAq941CNQFkWSYGTyCGEN1CV1kzc9PKcvEwxL0QTLzhW2ff5-I0JRGRIMhd_40HJCWGF9ZQBIYMqTcje6WCkXGd9vNCP_A/s320/Princess+Bride+Westley+Doll.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"As you wish."</span></i></td></tr>
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I've been meaning to share this for a while now. I mean, it's not every day I make a doll. In fact, I'd never made a real doll before last autumn, nonetheless a doll of the Dread Pirate Roberts (a.k.a. Westley) from the <i>Princess Bride</i>.<br />
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It must have been the pregnancy hormones that made me commit to this madness. I was bandying about ideas for a <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2011/02/dont-puke-cross-stitch.html" target="_blank">regular</a> <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2009/03/hand-swapety-swaps-image-heavy.html" target="_blank">craft swap</a> I do with a friend, and I mentioned making a doll for her wee son in return for a black, crochet baby blanket. I'd been looking for something to hone my sewing skills, since I'd mastered the skill of sewing two squares together. A doll was the next logical step, right?<br />
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To be fair, I started with a pattern I found on an Etsy store, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollsAndDaydreams" target="_blank">Dolls and Daydreams</a>. There's an adorable superhero boy pattern that served as a base for the body and the mask. Rather than making the legs, arms, and body in different colors, I went with black fabric. The tricky parts were the boots (made from upcycled pleather from a couch I skinned), the chest (trying to get that sexy, open-collar look), and the hair (how do I give a doll a ponytail?).<br />
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Appliqueing the face turned out to be rather challenging, too, but fun. The mask was made from the same upcycled pleather, but I used wool felt for the hair and mustache, and craft felt for the eyes. It's hard to tell from the picture below, but I machine stitched wavy lines of hair to make it more interesting. Freestyle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SfeIdhI9A1bRHNov01pw_rEx3OWtwXdjR8vh0MQFiXhcOX27aedxUneK9dw3Fu2RnoiQBe6SRuRxeTrxL-YdEcFHoj5QIX9vq3Txv7HcfSKLq3F9oZrU5gFMzC58SR8V2aT3KWY7t0U/s1600/Princess+Bride+Westley+Doll+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SfeIdhI9A1bRHNov01pw_rEx3OWtwXdjR8vh0MQFiXhcOX27aedxUneK9dw3Fu2RnoiQBe6SRuRxeTrxL-YdEcFHoj5QIX9vq3Txv7HcfSKLq3F9oZrU5gFMzC58SR8V2aT3KWY7t0U/s320/Princess+Bride+Westley+Doll+detail.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"No one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Westley."</span></span></i></td></tr>
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The chest issue was solved by cutting a slit in the chest fabric and sewing it open to make a "collar," and then sewing a triangle of flesh-colored fabric to fill in the space. I hand embroidered the criss-cross laces of the shirt with a simple back-stitch.<br />
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I figured out how to make the ponytail fairly easily: I stitched a little bit of felt to the back of the doll, so that when I sewed the head on it looked like a ponytail:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJksXgF0r7FSz56cyDa2e3Vy8qmBKY9fKl_1aiPrNvttarejvCDWUtzlgN29oABlUPcP0x7n0ziF4Mpqmb4-YzUHEpuaXaPq21mt1BgoOZ8BVRZ6NFUijSYyVH-blE6CIc1PWhRsXeoIM/s1600/Princess+Bride+Westley+Doll+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJksXgF0r7FSz56cyDa2e3Vy8qmBKY9fKl_1aiPrNvttarejvCDWUtzlgN29oABlUPcP0x7n0ziF4Mpqmb4-YzUHEpuaXaPq21mt1BgoOZ8BVRZ6NFUijSYyVH-blE6CIc1PWhRsXeoIM/s320/Princess+Bride+Westley+Doll+back.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Why won't my arms move?"</i></span></span></td></tr>
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The boots. Oh lordy, those boots. Remind me, the next time I work with pleather, to make the legs BIGGER so I don't have to turn thick, stiff fabric in a one-inch-wide tube. It took me half an hour each to turn those legs!<br />
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I am exceedingly pleased with how my first doll came out, and most importantly, I learned a lot (#&@*ing pleather). It was hard for me to let him go, even though I knew he was going to a good, geeky home. It'll be a while before I have the time or space to make another doll, but fortunately, it'll be a while before my own wee son can play with dolls. If I start now, I can have it done by his 5th birthday.<br />
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Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-6825966829817841142013-03-15T13:39:00.000-07:002013-03-15T13:39:34.862-07:00Star Wars Easter Eggs on eHow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKMBDFoDUQkUjmja0eFiXcJFtBgG4mwjoGy2YZId3iqE3ktARsqf4K-3jDAqYFlXvrqTnHZ8KQEnEh6ST-yUeeqpcnu-ym_kQ9W2GjuTttQQ-3AZ-I7VmIl_Y87hHdKert7EaKE2TgXM/s1600/star_wars_easter_eggs_ehow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKMBDFoDUQkUjmja0eFiXcJFtBgG4mwjoGy2YZId3iqE3ktARsqf4K-3jDAqYFlXvrqTnHZ8KQEnEh6ST-yUeeqpcnu-ym_kQ9W2GjuTttQQ-3AZ-I7VmIl_Y87hHdKert7EaKE2TgXM/s320/star_wars_easter_eggs_ehow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look, Ma! My hand-painted <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2011/04/star-wars-easter-eggs.html" target="_blank">Star Wars Easter eggs</a> were selected to be part of an awesome <a href="http://www.ehow.com/slideshow_12257780_unique-easter-egg-designs.html" target="_blank">slideshow on eHow.com</a>!<br />
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Give it a looksee. There's some really great ideas for unique Easter eggs, and there's still enough time to plan ahead to be creative.<br />
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Unfortunately, I won't have time this year to sit down and do some involved painting, or get more crafty than PAAS. 'Cause, y'know...baby. But someday, perhaps, I'll be able to expand the collection. There's some <i>Star Wars</i> characters that would look pretty boss in egg form.<br />
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Also, welcome to those of you here from eHow! I hope you enjoy my other crafty creations if you stick around to take a peek.Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-53040055473559923402013-01-29T15:34:00.000-08:002013-01-29T15:36:16.245-08:00Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w7YPoBuwCXJifY48rA5Rn2V76mYVspPbDIzphraZE9VVyDUWL7enBFtvrvkSwgRCbGxvu7_UQwETPIE9vgVOTdbsu250TfKh3JLlUI4L70APCTxiFfAfCGlWtq2S6vLEHgI8M-9WkOw/s1600/Assassins_Creed_logo_embroidery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w7YPoBuwCXJifY48rA5Rn2V76mYVspPbDIzphraZE9VVyDUWL7enBFtvrvkSwgRCbGxvu7_UQwETPIE9vgVOTdbsu250TfKh3JLlUI4L70APCTxiFfAfCGlWtq2S6vLEHgI8M-9WkOw/s320/Assassins_Creed_logo_embroidery.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm a big fan of the <i>Assassin's Creed</i> video game series. I used to find running along the digital rooftops of Italy as calming as stitching (y'know, back when I had time to play involved video games and work on big embroideries), so it was natural to combine the two into one geeky, crafty project.<br />
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I started this project back in early 2011. To give you an idea of the size of the emblem, it's hung in an 8" hoop. My original idea was to satin stitch the whole thing in white for a sleek, textured effect. After an inch or two of stitches, though, I realized the logo was too big, and there would be saggy bits. No good.<br />
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So, I scrapped that idea, but not the whole project. I'd been dabbling in acrylic paint around the time, so I got the idea to paint the logo onto the fabric, then embroider on top of it. I was inspired by Ezio's (the protagonist of the second series of <i>AC</i> games) color palette, and opted for burgundy paint and silver thread.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLgAu_6DT2sVVqevi6z77v1id2Kq6O5dsGLJZO62o9Rb0atML_L4qXR5n_1HroUDaq3jKOh6M-IiyQCd3GdMdpWmyqvFw3n1x8FgrO7zQOZ1O24yektznjvvsntI2q9UD5iJwiV3zeJ8/s1600/Assassins_Creed_ezio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLgAu_6DT2sVVqevi6z77v1id2Kq6O5dsGLJZO62o9Rb0atML_L4qXR5n_1HroUDaq3jKOh6M-IiyQCd3GdMdpWmyqvFw3n1x8FgrO7zQOZ1O24yektznjvvsntI2q9UD5iJwiV3zeJ8/s320/Assassins_Creed_ezio.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
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I couldn't just stop at outlining the emblem. Oh, no. I wanted this to be something truly special. So, for the first time, I experimented with freestyle embroidering.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGHkgOBZkOawoF1fNcqLbiJa6nJPUGj-T66UOyG4rh08BLbr7DG8uGsAkXIze_A2R21iPu_XqvAzn3PhV4TzQnvZ3aoFUPF3pCUQm0Tu4OaxdUZxXWHeRiv06BwY7eM4X_XP71_7HuF0/s1600/Assassins_Creed_logo_embroidery_details.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGHkgOBZkOawoF1fNcqLbiJa6nJPUGj-T66UOyG4rh08BLbr7DG8uGsAkXIze_A2R21iPu_XqvAzn3PhV4TzQnvZ3aoFUPF3pCUQm0Tu4OaxdUZxXWHeRiv06BwY7eM4X_XP71_7HuF0/s320/Assassins_Creed_logo_embroidery_details.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hundreds, maybe thousands of tiny, meticulous stitches went into this. It was both wonderfully meditative, letting the stitches take my fingers where they wanted to go, and pretty annoying, as metallic thread is damn finicky. It got so bad I put the project down with only about three inches on one leg to go, and didn't pick it up again for over a year.<br />
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I resuscitated the project in the ninth month of my pregnancy, as I was tying up loose ends on my crafting projects. It only took me a couple of evenings to complete, including mounting it in a silver-painted hoop.<br />
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After all that work, there was only one thing I could do with it: give it away. I gave it as a Christmas gift to my brother, the one person I knew would truly appreciate it, both as an <i>Assassin's Creed</i> fan and as an artist. The look on his face was priceless.<br />
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When I have time, I'm planning on experimenting again with freestyle-stitched, mixed-medium embroidery. I could probably do with a little meditative crafting these days!Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-62153606999033355582013-01-14T12:51:00.003-08:002013-01-14T12:51:58.530-08:00The Best Reason for Not Blogging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVycIT7GoQVZpOyXVdCjVjPAC13YfiL6Cn_F4mJQ1gQc4CaLTbLQMKDt1lFzJ8sl5NzBvvp3i9lAzyereF-6rUwMAo0NsJZOTMjdq335VZj3Yi0Hqpg_F8tFsMDAQ9AxljxcqH6m1pF4I/s1600/Baby+Vincent-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVycIT7GoQVZpOyXVdCjVjPAC13YfiL6Cn_F4mJQ1gQc4CaLTbLQMKDt1lFzJ8sl5NzBvvp3i9lAzyereF-6rUwMAo0NsJZOTMjdq335VZj3Yi0Hqpg_F8tFsMDAQ9AxljxcqH6m1pF4I/s320/Baby+Vincent-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My baby boy Vincent. Born December 13, 2012 in Oakland, CA. He's now over a month old.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5U9zv6GUZHSRUejdw7APnHyo1HL5gzy0CktajsMb2rcTpJKt__2lxGNZic2jEwlpgZIecM5N4IkDF_dc4tNDYZ4PZjUyzymEyYCLRKV3SK_OhaEguI7mNMBTWC5FlIp1pFnllHwVHR0/s1600/P1010583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5U9zv6GUZHSRUejdw7APnHyo1HL5gzy0CktajsMb2rcTpJKt__2lxGNZic2jEwlpgZIecM5N4IkDF_dc4tNDYZ4PZjUyzymEyYCLRKV3SK_OhaEguI7mNMBTWC5FlIp1pFnllHwVHR0/s320/P1010583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not much time for blogging--or crafting, or writing, or anything else--when you're trying to get the hang of an entirely new way of life: diaper changes, round-the-clock feedings, obliterated sleep schedules. </div>
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I admit it, this has been the hardest month of my life. I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for an incredible network of family and friends that rallied around my husband and I to offer tons of love, support, and hot meals. I now understand that saying, "it takes a village to raise a child." It's really, really true.</div>
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It's all been so very worth it, though. I love my little man like I've never loved anyone before. It's amazing to watch him develop slowly from an eat-sleep-poop machine to a human being. Sure, it's only been a month, but in that time he's come so very far. All of us have. I've gone from feeling like a terrified newbie into feeling like, well, a Mom. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz36oPkMsB8goKUmUNwkwFv3CNxYn4l3YXP_5RoSfeGMxZNBc87_8iJpyeWSW9x9TLGSm46LaKl0fTuF6kh992YPPey7ahT8cTHnYaCGoGlI9O9B7rm96CGbdm4iE7VVfQcHO40XoE9U4/s1600/2012-12-14+13.58.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz36oPkMsB8goKUmUNwkwFv3CNxYn4l3YXP_5RoSfeGMxZNBc87_8iJpyeWSW9x9TLGSm46LaKl0fTuF6kh992YPPey7ahT8cTHnYaCGoGlI9O9B7rm96CGbdm4iE7VVfQcHO40XoE9U4/s320/2012-12-14+13.58.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here's to the first month, and to many, many more, my boy.</div>
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Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-50069023031902110042012-11-11T12:04:00.000-08:002012-11-11T12:04:29.386-08:00Skeleton Key Sweater, or Adventures in Stabilizer<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally, FINALLY it feels like Autumn has come to the Bay Area. Usually the temperature starts dropping around mid-October, but this year the heat lingered until early November. Which really sucks when you're eight months pregnant and stuck in a sweltering apartment. </div>
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Besides the discomfort, I love Fall. I love the colors, I love the cuisine (lots of soups, stews, squashes, and root veggies), I love the layered clothes. So, I've been excited that I can finally wear the Skeleton Key sweater I finished embroidering last month. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMrjgCHAoaEq3X_zXMrwGGnQ9me3evvfxyID3ckerKPAVgAH4OYacibCeRrXorqYWaU_IyhawQikJztwolFpNIr9XNxmQmdRsajMWtbFWDMWqkRdmRUr2HOXxZ_gTteoMZY4-fcOJscs/s1600/2012-10-12+19.04.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMrjgCHAoaEq3X_zXMrwGGnQ9me3evvfxyID3ckerKPAVgAH4OYacibCeRrXorqYWaU_IyhawQikJztwolFpNIr9XNxmQmdRsajMWtbFWDMWqkRdmRUr2HOXxZ_gTteoMZY4-fcOJscs/s320/2012-10-12+19.04.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Changing room lights make for great clothing photos!</i></td></tr>
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I'm really, super-proud of how this came out! The sweater itself was a find, a $3 score on Target's clearance rack that had no defects. I figured it was a good place to start experimenting with embroidering on my own clothing, which I'd been avoiding since I prefer knit fabrics.</div>
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Knits are notorious for being difficult to stitch on, and now I see why. Even with the assistance of some <a href="http://www.joann.com/sulky-totally-stable-iron-on-tear-away-stabilizer-12-w-x-12yds/prd22760/" target="_blank">tear-away stabilizer</a>, it was still a challenge to make sure that all the stitches came out even and didn't pucker the fabric. If you make a mistake and want to re-do a stitch, you have to do it sans stabilizer, as your needle's already torn through it! It made for a few little gaps in the design, but they're hard to tell if you're not looking for them.</div>
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I used a pattern set from Urban Threads, a <a href="http://www.urbanthreads.com/products.aspx?productid=UTH1647" target="_blank">skeleton key</a> and a <a href="http://www.urbanthreads.com/products.aspx?productid=UTH1649" target="_blank">keyhole</a>. After a bit of research (Sublime Stitching has a<a href="http://www.sublimestitching.com/pages/how-to-dark-fabrics-part-2" target="_blank"> great tutorial</a>), I decided the best way to transfer was to trace directly onto the stabilizer. It worked like a charm! I used a fine-tipped Sharpie pen, no fancy fabric pen needed, then ironed the stabilizer on where I wanted the designs. Next time, though, I'm going to iron them on one at a time. By the time I finished the first design, the second one was a bit wrinkly and tough to hoop.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGhAK9NfhCHnZsqpHdPpO_0tQCRTicYr6Utu_Nsvu1zb4sBvgpOD12dloEiJnoVI2RvLG-74G6ymi4wnNe9CAFdEzWQMcUuqtFuOJCdWvXW7R4kzXI5cuUyOug1pV7k5dQYWvNj0-QVQ/s1600/2012-10-12+19.04.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGhAK9NfhCHnZsqpHdPpO_0tQCRTicYr6Utu_Nsvu1zb4sBvgpOD12dloEiJnoVI2RvLG-74G6ymi4wnNe9CAFdEzWQMcUuqtFuOJCdWvXW7R4kzXI5cuUyOug1pV7k5dQYWvNj0-QVQ/s320/2012-10-12+19.04.34.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With the baby belly.</i></td></tr>
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I'm so excited to finally have a piece of clothing that showcases my stitching! All these years, and I've never tried it. Now I'm looking at my closet, wondering which piece is going to be next.Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-72205376286629939932012-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:002012-10-31T06:00:13.252-07:00My Halloween Baby Shower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Halloween everyone! I thought I'd celebrate my favorite holiday by sharing some of the crafty and culinary creations that went into the Halloween baby shower I had earlier this month.</div>
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It was a joint planning effort between my mama, my mom-in-law, and myself, and together (with the help of my husband, dad, and sister-in-law) we turned my little 2-bedroom apartment into a full-on Halloween party central.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX2s9342vuFf57HGOvuRFBCUTAyJ0zvd1xIFLyCzA5Af0theriWYrYZhHnmcYLRIftsWr12hHzP5Nl2bqt7_qm6NWtjtUKE0XoZpxKzrczDg0vnd6OXGHvBdn9Wt4ZVk8XEm24xbE6AE/s1600/halloween_baby_shower_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX2s9342vuFf57HGOvuRFBCUTAyJ0zvd1xIFLyCzA5Af0theriWYrYZhHnmcYLRIftsWr12hHzP5Nl2bqt7_qm6NWtjtUKE0XoZpxKzrczDg0vnd6OXGHvBdn9Wt4ZVk8XEm24xbE6AE/s320/halloween_baby_shower_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm super-proud of this banner. I could not find anywhere that sold Halloween-themed baby shower signs, either online or in the stores. So, using cardstock, mini-clothespins, and fun <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109676701/brand-new-color-halloween-bakers-twine" target="_blank">orange/black baker's twine</a>, I made my own banner!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgkNTfZ9rSkZk3oBahKLaWOKE6U7vGqoSrwgvZkOlAoeGCFl3NB0vDDUDWhCsTh4S4gtV7WVZy3BnXS-8GjLr7bIhNDIbI5CXLKW065VJJDKX7OjtTxbvf7G_fDWhfLMUjWQuNUdEkgQ/s1600/halloween_baby_shower_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgkNTfZ9rSkZk3oBahKLaWOKE6U7vGqoSrwgvZkOlAoeGCFl3NB0vDDUDWhCsTh4S4gtV7WVZy3BnXS-8GjLr7bIhNDIbI5CXLKW065VJJDKX7OjtTxbvf7G_fDWhfLMUjWQuNUdEkgQ/s320/halloween_baby_shower_2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
My mom took the idea one step further. She taped more colorful cardstock onesies in the entryway, and encouraged guests to leave their well wishes for the baby. They were cute decorations, and now are precious mementos. Definitely more fun than a sign-in book!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMzVhjEh9UO1v9fqqova-FJDQjIQRQRWXmr53lLBZOe56_MX5peEJWdYlxCKkXG1aJVueq78RK6DCh_JsllZl2x4nymkNtrOiNYpx70MASyq-mB1z0NEI0kLaaZ8j8ZvQTlLkxnv5JSM/s1600/halloween_baby_shower_6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMzVhjEh9UO1v9fqqova-FJDQjIQRQRWXmr53lLBZOe56_MX5peEJWdYlxCKkXG1aJVueq78RK6DCh_JsllZl2x4nymkNtrOiNYpx70MASyq-mB1z0NEI0kLaaZ8j8ZvQTlLkxnv5JSM/s320/halloween_baby_shower_6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Decorating was such a team effort! My mom- and sister-in-law were climbing like monkeys to get the crepe streamers and balloons up, while my mama spent the evening before making these pumpkin-esque puffs out of tissue paper. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1m9U52cwG93M9yrA4knsYSy6s8rruwLYcMClUehhqQpxrP16lfqf9BR_J72loHUU6kAMgm2UGxdL0VI6dAM1JnRBvMNlx6vufr1xEaACcbJvELZZBmONEbBYVrTonU2Ci3dQo5eSCoI/s1600/halloween_baby_shower_5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1m9U52cwG93M9yrA4knsYSy6s8rruwLYcMClUehhqQpxrP16lfqf9BR_J72loHUU6kAMgm2UGxdL0VI6dAM1JnRBvMNlx6vufr1xEaACcbJvELZZBmONEbBYVrTonU2Ci3dQo5eSCoI/s320/halloween_baby_shower_5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My contribution to the decor: these adorable Halloween sock monkeys I scored at a card and gift store. I only bought two, then after walking a block away, turned back to buy the third and last one. I also found the cute skeleton-bear at JoAnn's (I think I see a theme-within-a-theme here...).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftOQuIR-U5hREyJ73nTUQQimzIM1UYprERuylmsaz_gGCB46il004tkqfaa6ps2CjVYVuhLFgwj_uGohM9ARcnw37Rx7bxX7AHD14fIhkri2O5-pvjI9ESZ4869m8AC1rcQO5_WIEli4/s1600/halloween_baby_shower_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftOQuIR-U5hREyJ73nTUQQimzIM1UYprERuylmsaz_gGCB46il004tkqfaa6ps2CjVYVuhLFgwj_uGohM9ARcnw37Rx7bxX7AHD14fIhkri2O5-pvjI9ESZ4869m8AC1rcQO5_WIEli4/s320/halloween_baby_shower_4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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For favors, we gave out cute tins stuffed with Halloween socks, a notepad, no-sharpen pencil, and candy. I also made little tags for them out of cardstock and "thank you" stickers I ordered to match <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/halloween_baby_shower_invitations-161154673542405089" target="_blank">my invitations</a>. For the kids, we had little plastic cups stuffed with candy. We would have had more for them, but we didn't know they were coming until the day before!</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE4kgWz1x-XujE-gFUa7jcgT-X413L8mo2kSlqRsJciqmlHKRDw68kl1cDQ5tduAj5BrD8pK676N4fncL1ExF8t0bPo7eLfWhgflUf5n05EqiBAW3UHD_MFo60EYmCutHUjxlx-NMfV0/s1600/halloween_baby_shower_food_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE4kgWz1x-XujE-gFUa7jcgT-X413L8mo2kSlqRsJciqmlHKRDw68kl1cDQ5tduAj5BrD8pK676N4fncL1ExF8t0bPo7eLfWhgflUf5n05EqiBAW3UHD_MFo60EYmCutHUjxlx-NMfV0/s320/halloween_baby_shower_food_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had so much food! This is only a fraction of it. In addition to the veggies, fruit, wrap sandwiches, and cheeseball, we had butternut squash soup, spanakopita, baked potato bites, and lots of cookies.<br />
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Also, note the stack of plates in the right corner. My mama found these vintage milk glass party plates at an estate sale. I admit, when I first saw them, I was really skeptical. However, once they were in play, I can't imagine the party without them! They came with little matching cups that were perfect for the soup, and were much sturdier (and attractive) that paper plates. I'll definitely be using them again.<br />
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The centerpiece of the table: the cake! It was a pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, from this awesome bakery in Berkeley called <a href="http://www.loveatfirstbitebakery.com/" target="_blank">Love at First Bite</a>. It was SUPER-rich, and one 9" cake was more than enough for 14+ guests. </div>
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As for the message, we've been calling the little guy "The Tadpole." We're pretty much set on his name at this point, but I'm a wee bit superstitious and don't want to use it until he's actually born. Who knows? Maybe we'll look at him and decide that name choice #2 is actually more appropriate!</div>
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My mom-in-law makes some of the absolute best gingerbread cookies, and was generous enough to bake a couple of trays for the festivities. Mama and I contributed some nutter-butter ghosties, which are super-easy to make. You just dunk the cookies in melted white chocolate and add two mini chocolate chips for eyes. That's it!</div>
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After all that work, it was great to see everyone having a good time and enjoying the food and decorations. Here they are playing a game my mom-in-law coordinated, to see who could match and roll 12 pairs of baby socks the quickest. It was tougher than it sounds! As a bonus, I got to keep all the socks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCu59ibPKEmXf3qmM-zKUnRMTkOhvWkAfPHha9JygLENc5cttZ8pNcoAnFo0BlkpgBCrlQBsIXWLNwLfS04K9PLDeXPrWW9EO4co0xGpeaEh6RWYRHMIMj0TEvWedAFzbA5U27gYQ3r4/s1600/with_grandmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCu59ibPKEmXf3qmM-zKUnRMTkOhvWkAfPHha9JygLENc5cttZ8pNcoAnFo0BlkpgBCrlQBsIXWLNwLfS04K9PLDeXPrWW9EO4co0xGpeaEh6RWYRHMIMj0TEvWedAFzbA5U27gYQ3r4/s320/with_grandmas.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The hostesses before the party began: my mama, myself, and my mom-in-law. Since they live so far from each other, it's rare that I get to hang out with them both at the same time, so it was wonderful having them both there. I couldn't have done this all this without them. </div>
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As for the shirt, I saw one on Etsy that I fell in love with, but couldn't justify the price tag. As a total surprise, mom and sister-in-law gave me one the day of the shower. It was perfect!</div>
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And yes, I'm totally wearing that shirt again today. Have fun and be safe tonight, everyone!</div>
<br />Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-70089172441895591502012-10-02T08:32:00.000-07:002012-10-02T08:34:00.037-07:00Embroidered Mexican Linens (Picture Heavy)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbN_5A_hWl7tzIm5QN5Zigd_HI4aHCqjCPZWOGgfsT0ZVVCNsRHD3J54AuZCHysdV3OpK9HyqcQ_wzJ4ywgMmPRShVOTt4mWgJRu7Q0DtiNZM5hEgyKLJOxSv0x-G0CYpJj0nsQqTsTDM/s1600/P1010200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbN_5A_hWl7tzIm5QN5Zigd_HI4aHCqjCPZWOGgfsT0ZVVCNsRHD3J54AuZCHysdV3OpK9HyqcQ_wzJ4ywgMmPRShVOTt4mWgJRu7Q0DtiNZM5hEgyKLJOxSv0x-G0CYpJj0nsQqTsTDM/s320/P1010200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pregnancy is a lot more tiring than I thought it would be. The first trimester (Spring) was mostly spent curled up in a ball on my couch, too nauseated and exhausted to do more than watch <i>Ugly Betty</i> and <i>Arrested Development</i> on Netflix. The second trimester (Summer) was a lot better. The nausea went away, as did most of the fatigue, but I still had trouble rallying to do much more than what I had to (chores and writing).<br />
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Sadly, this involved crafting. There were weeks at a time when I couldn't motivate myself to stitch, none the less put together a cool new pattern to work on. If it hadn't been for my stash of pre-stamped Mexican linens, I might have gone all season without embroidering.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4ThtM1SnFePkWCMxIyV3JAivhbkL-ABLOoY1n8-hvfMsRm-_EI9gPU4xaSoeV6P_YtjbYNPOTFieg_nrvE-DAL7SnkLizGhbGkymC86tgxH5eo4pG3NE9bXgF6ar9OP_jzZcvVxbZLI/s1600/P1010185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4ThtM1SnFePkWCMxIyV3JAivhbkL-ABLOoY1n8-hvfMsRm-_EI9gPU4xaSoeV6P_YtjbYNPOTFieg_nrvE-DAL7SnkLizGhbGkymC86tgxH5eo4pG3NE9bXgF6ar9OP_jzZcvVxbZLI/s320/P1010185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I picked up a slew of these little beauties at my hometown swap meet a few years ago. They're mostly 13"x13" cloths, perfect for bread (or tortilla) baskets. I also snagged a few larger ones (17"x17") for some pretty table decorations.<br />
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This is one of the smaller ones. All the little petals were deceptively time-consuming to stitch, especially since I decided to get fancy and do the whole thing in split-stitch. I used variegated floss, which is most obvious on the stems and leaves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGHQBVtmw4SpPQ3jxrml_uOPQwi8UKk4YbGK0sBrRGipATo_Cm67yZ-7McV_VoFK4aNXkyEPtl64veHqT5MUh9tSEpMdqEtMDIXfT8tLazaFslhr6d1l1Hk_iNw3YV2Yc82_O8OV0ELE/s1600/P1010190.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGHQBVtmw4SpPQ3jxrml_uOPQwi8UKk4YbGK0sBrRGipATo_Cm67yZ-7McV_VoFK4aNXkyEPtl64veHqT5MUh9tSEpMdqEtMDIXfT8tLazaFslhr6d1l1Hk_iNw3YV2Yc82_O8OV0ELE/s1600/P1010190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When it was done, I backed it with some pretty Dia De Los Muertos fabric. Note the zig-zag stitching. It was my first attempt at using this stitch for, well, anything!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKOegrFWxIYlSmMxZZw2n5M53CQzBbBfI__8nWjyk4Uis8guWrjOT7NFy2_eVIQFIWdStUs_jG0BVaKKFxFWuMs1z86sK_VQSViOH79sFYr-snkqdXil1KU_coPIw813tqvBBPovVef4/s1600/P1010192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKOegrFWxIYlSmMxZZw2n5M53CQzBbBfI__8nWjyk4Uis8guWrjOT7NFy2_eVIQFIWdStUs_jG0BVaKKFxFWuMs1z86sK_VQSViOH79sFYr-snkqdXil1KU_coPIw813tqvBBPovVef4/s320/P1010192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's kind of a "companion piece" to the first linen I stitched up last year...which I realize I forgot to post about.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWgnpxhQF53vE3QSGzIu80C0p5aSphFnmL_OCBX6KIMWOWz6BF194P1iSX05qTKeAf5mOkVNPxN-CW2rB81GgDgIwxer8wjSuF-9HKgInslvaJRdgJRGwGNKPqWJur39hjGqNke1goiQ/s1600/100_5187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWgnpxhQF53vE3QSGzIu80C0p5aSphFnmL_OCBX6KIMWOWz6BF194P1iSX05qTKeAf5mOkVNPxN-CW2rB81GgDgIwxer8wjSuF-9HKgInslvaJRdgJRGwGNKPqWJur39hjGqNke1goiQ/s320/100_5187.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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See? Perfect for tortillas!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOKFPhnFC5x2XeMKudbUvIm1O7aM87rqOKMRMQf9me-nJr_ttYVWoKK2DQyE5hhHW8czdZyJ98mdeVhNlH4hRBwOBquCjz1icIvY6mn7_0Mx9z5iFozG9pXOy2yqWEhk7IHOpOAFXtDo/s1600/100_5216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOKFPhnFC5x2XeMKudbUvIm1O7aM87rqOKMRMQf9me-nJr_ttYVWoKK2DQyE5hhHW8czdZyJ98mdeVhNlH4hRBwOBquCjz1icIvY6mn7_0Mx9z5iFozG9pXOy2yqWEhk7IHOpOAFXtDo/s320/100_5216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also stitched up one of the larger pieces. I fell in love with the fruit motif, and I thought it was an appropriate piece to celebrate the late summer harvest. I already miss the lack of good berries and stone fruits in the stores.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2JkPWPyGjKj27QGqvCeRK-p9eVrrMSC4sh42x4iZtAKnfyocuauKcSqykETNY6oHVomexAD2pNNqbYfgRoM8_zJZhp7RkwD0MWDmX-xqRU4hdvJ0mhyphenhyphen1_c202hYV6PeGC9Av6N9jGnU/s1600/P1010194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2JkPWPyGjKj27QGqvCeRK-p9eVrrMSC4sh42x4iZtAKnfyocuauKcSqykETNY6oHVomexAD2pNNqbYfgRoM8_zJZhp7RkwD0MWDmX-xqRU4hdvJ0mhyphenhyphen1_c202hYV6PeGC9Av6N9jGnU/s320/P1010194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I tweeded the floss for the fruit to get a more "natural" tone, I backed this one with a more classic fruit n' flowers fabric.<br />
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This one I'm planning on using more as a mini-table cloth sort of thing. If I can bear to put anything that might stain on it!</div>
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I still have about ten more of these babies. It's nice to know that if the crafting blahs set in again, I have a pile of ready-made projects waiting for me.Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-81413555485957377552012-10-01T13:00:00.000-07:002014-07-20T17:26:34.749-07:00Happiness is......getting your contributor's copies...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Dmzs2e71YhBZ5mWM5rH2jdK9Bhy8LenTSWOAqtEySE9NNT-2yfzTtNUQEFJGgPZsk4ep79DsSl5EJqybml1ma5dLOZ4UMnx5jJaevMIjS51xjbGnF6qAhQrKrep8e8h40z18dHHG1a0t/s1600/P1010219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Dmzs2e71YhBZ5mWM5rH2jdK9Bhy8LenTSWOAqtEySE9NNT-2yfzTtNUQEFJGgPZsk4ep79DsSl5EJqybml1ma5dLOZ4UMnx5jJaevMIjS51xjbGnF6qAhQrKrep8e8h40z18dHHG1a0t/s320/P1010219.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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...and seeing your story in print. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHgE0wVyi9alRA2E8KLUKwdbeirwcUJIHtgNKlymN2TuZeemcqqtDnY8HNZK-t3hWVGqgGNp8tDx3Cs_p6CSxE9Hfyf6JP-DADgsFDW0YjU_5U9GbtfNVuwRYwo3nW33cVMIuqLcb1Npc/s1600/P1010218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHgE0wVyi9alRA2E8KLUKwdbeirwcUJIHtgNKlymN2TuZeemcqqtDnY8HNZK-t3hWVGqgGNp8tDx3Cs_p6CSxE9Hfyf6JP-DADgsFDW0YjU_5U9GbtfNVuwRYwo3nW33cVMIuqLcb1Npc/s320/P1010218.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Shakespeare Shaken</i> is now available in <a href="http://redstylo.bigcartel.com/product/shakespeare-shaken-pre-orders-are-open" target="_blank">print</a> as well as a series of <a href="http://redstylo.bigcartel.com/category/shakespeare-shaken" target="_blank">digital downloads</a> (including a solo of <a href="http://redstylo.bigcartel.com/product/s-h-r-e-w-shakespeare-shaken-meets-the-perfect-bionic-woman">S.H.R.E.W.</a>) from Red Stylo Media. Having seen it in person, I highly recommend splurging on the print version. The artwork pops so much more on paper than on a screen.<br />
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Really, though I don't care how you choose to read it, as long as you give it a peek!<br />
<br />Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-61204477121341861032012-09-17T09:30:00.000-07:002012-09-17T09:30:00.784-07:00Queen of Snake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAL-YiRh9FiVtucqqNDxClRiE-R5vtHh5nTqIcJgZBABXFP60vy3fzdfrOwl_qG47EKNeJdIRa92DvXNKHaKlOA1-D78r-jc4F_nhNzPz7DrjNW7n2vfzq35koZiyCjHpVMd5bXCK9Vo/s1600/2012-08-12+16.17.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAL-YiRh9FiVtucqqNDxClRiE-R5vtHh5nTqIcJgZBABXFP60vy3fzdfrOwl_qG47EKNeJdIRa92DvXNKHaKlOA1-D78r-jc4F_nhNzPz7DrjNW7n2vfzq35koZiyCjHpVMd5bXCK9Vo/s320/2012-08-12+16.17.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm definitely in love with <a href="http://sewlovelyembroidery.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sew Lovely Embroidery</a>'s patterns. For me, they're just the right balance of ease and challenge. The patterns are detailed enough to encourage playing with different stitches and colors, yet straightforward enough that even a simple backstitch can make them look amazing. Not to mention, they're the only other place besides <a href="http://www.sublimestitching.com/" target="_blank">Sublime Stitching</a> that I've found to offer "alternative" <b>iron-on</b> patterns. Oh, how I adore the ease of iron-on!<br />
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This is the second piece I've done from the "Circus Palooza" pattern set (the first being <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2011/01/oh-lydia-queen-of-tattoo.html" target="_blank">Lydia, the Tattooed Lady</a>). I'd just finished watching all of the short-lived TV series, <i>Carnivale</i>, and I was in the mood for some carny love. I'd really come to like the character of Ruthie, the snake charmer, and I thought this would be a fun homage (even if the hair color was a little different).<br />
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I tried to keep her in a similar color scheme to Lydia, as I entertain hopes of someday making either one big quilt, or several quilted pieces that would go together on a wall.
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A bit of trivia: the albino snake is a subtle nod to the resident python of one of my favorite shops in the world, <a href="http://www.boneroom.com/" target="_blank">The Bone Room</a>. If you're ever in the Berkeley area, do yourself a favor and swing by. It's a curio shop meets natural history museum, with a friendly, knowledgeable staff. You definitely won't be bored!<br />
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<br />Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-1652671731652546352012-09-12T13:30:00.000-07:002014-07-20T17:29:27.290-07:00S.H.R.E.W. now available from Red Stylo MediaThe day has finally arrived! My short comic story, <b>S.H.R.E.W.</b>, for the <i>Shakespeare Shaken</i> anthology, is now available for download!<br />
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<a href="http://redstylo.bigcartel.com/product/s-h-r-e-w-shakespeare-shaken-meets-the-perfect-bionic-woman" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQFdO2-ZA0rZm5TzYcmE9bUar-XGfgPphr1gYrqw5xtAIp3oZthnDIvD8RRT9b06CzYaYIq_nOpTtjENEV3-WIS9Vj_KYNAke9OIWhAHkxf_Z1Gd82mIsV4fUXd5zI5twnzIm9VLktSpH/s320/SHREW_cover.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://redstylo.bigcartel.com/product/s-h-r-e-w-shakespeare-shaken-meets-the-perfect-bionic-woman" target="_blank"><b>Download Here for only $1.99</b></a><br />
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From the Red Stylo Media site:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Kat is a perfect specimen of female spitfire and grace, and her corporate handlers in the Super-human Research, Education and Weaponization project can see her potential. But it's Kat's strength that also keeps her from submitting to her S.H.R.E.W. training, and so the programmers resort to bringing in the mysterious and sinister Doctor Petru to help Kat stay the course...</blockquote>
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<i>Shakespeare Shaken</i> meets the perfect (bionic) woman in S.H.R.E.W., written by Sherezada Kent (author of ELDORADO from <i>Poe Twisted</i>), with art by Jarrod Perez; color and letters by Mark Mullaney ("Star-Crossed", "Zombie Cruise", and "The System of Doctor Canne and Professor Bulle".) </blockquote>
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This download includes a special note from the author, as well as a BONUS pin-up from artist Laura Guzzo!</blockquote>
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Many other tales from <i>Shakespeare Shaken</i> are also <a href="http://redstylo.bigcartel.com/category/shakespeare-shaken" target="_blank">now available</a>, so be sure to check them out!<br />
<br />Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-78372556457563307862012-09-10T09:30:00.000-07:002012-09-10T09:30:00.531-07:00The Final Countdown...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The summer has gone by in the blink of an eye. I feel like it was only a few weeks ago that I was making plans for trips, visits from out-of-town friends, and general warm(ish) weather lazing. Now, it's practically autumn, with the husband back in the classroom, the guests gone, and all the adventures past.</div>
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Well, not all of them.</div>
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You see, I have some news to share. I've been keeping it on the down-low, because, well, it's big news, and I'm a bit on the cautious side. I like being absolutely sure of something before I announce it, and though nothing is ever set in stone...oh, to hell with it. </div>
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I'm pregnant!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw3wpIvT4PiMTKnOIg-iMZ34GIIo-PKHR_xdVHvgSvELx3RNUUaGysku7heYAxhGT00hk-cxZNYrVAbQoxS8cOQjTtH5jJRqFe25NXmQW3XwMR3QADU4YRaMP3kG34_-GiId5dWoXtTQ/s1600/2012-09-01+17.24.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw3wpIvT4PiMTKnOIg-iMZ34GIIo-PKHR_xdVHvgSvELx3RNUUaGysku7heYAxhGT00hk-cxZNYrVAbQoxS8cOQjTtH5jJRqFe25NXmQW3XwMR3QADU4YRaMP3kG34_-GiId5dWoXtTQ/s320/2012-09-01+17.24.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Over 27 weeks pregnant, with a boy (well, with a biological boy. His gender identity will become known with time as he gets older).</div>
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It explains some of my long absence away from this blog. I've been a bit preoccupied over the summer, and crafting has fallen by the wayside as I've focused on my pregnancy and on trying to finish some big writing projects. I do have some embroideries I've completed, which I'll be sharing soon, and there's a slew of baby-related crafts I've got prepped in the queue. I'd better get cracking though. Once he arrives, I doubt I'll have much time for crafting for a while!</div>
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Overall, I'm feeling good, and the Tadpole (as we're calling him now) and I are in good health. The Professor is super-excited to be a father, and our families and friends have been nothing but supportive. It's been exciting and terrifying as we prepare for the little guy's arrival, and December is coming upon us quickly. So much to do!</div>
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Only 13 more weeks (I hope) and counting...</div>
Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-54235028321254892512012-08-08T17:29:00.000-07:002014-07-20T17:31:17.782-07:00New Project: Shakespeare Shaken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDi1A4gVsbV3rqbvan6T3NJM7_9PrOdO9qFuuO2wYNESPQd2t1J64ZI6YqnGdAd0-I5ZgvAfGMKlWjIGiHY4dTIHGbmYxq2BQjyUfiPWS7SwRyPwjTJMopdReevau3X53RvQpv5x6qsX8/s1600/shakespeare_shaken_cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDi1A4gVsbV3rqbvan6T3NJM7_9PrOdO9qFuuO2wYNESPQd2t1J64ZI6YqnGdAd0-I5ZgvAfGMKlWjIGiHY4dTIHGbmYxq2BQjyUfiPWS7SwRyPwjTJMopdReevau3X53RvQpv5x6qsX8/s320/shakespeare_shaken_cover1.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
<i>All the world's a stage, </i><br />
<i>and all the men and women merely players...</i><br />
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In my case, all the world's a comic book, and the men and women artists and writers!<br />
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I'm excited to announce that my second short comic story, <b>"S.H.R.E.W."</b> will be included in Red Stylo Media's upcoming <a href="http://redstylo.com/red-stylo-media-titles/shakespeare-shaken/" target="_blank"><b><i>Shakespeare Shaken</i></b></a> anthology!<br />
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"S.H.R.E.W." is a dark science fiction take on <i>The Taming of the Shrew</i>, filled with sinister science experiments, corporate warfare, and dangerous women. With art by <a href="http://toonzday.blogspot.com/p/who.html" target="_blank">Jarrod Perez</a>.<br />
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Digital release of the "S.H.R.E.W." single issue is slated for <b>September 12</b>. Be sure to check out <a href="http://redstylo.com/2012/07/31/digital-rollout-announcement-for-august-15th-release/" target="_blank">the full line-up</a> of other <i>Shakespeare Shaken</i> titles, there's some great stuff in there from some really talented folks (including many <i>Poe Twisted</i> alumni)! All titles will be release together in a beautiful print anthology as well.<br />
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Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-84648714162970223382012-06-17T01:00:00.000-07:002012-06-17T01:00:08.426-07:00Folklore Crafts Book Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcD0feftbKV3aacmV2MZy2kFS2fHa9FcGHME53pJ-FygN3IPSLI9hWfqvqpMpENxSnrAvjfBhRZSPeK1E-o9c52FKTkKiEt4-Aw8ajGoBeZ1Up4WQsdA5bMWwitYq2IY3pNQQfJirMD0/s1600/Folklore+Crafts+Garden+Gnomes+Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcD0feftbKV3aacmV2MZy2kFS2fHa9FcGHME53pJ-FygN3IPSLI9hWfqvqpMpENxSnrAvjfBhRZSPeK1E-o9c52FKTkKiEt4-Aw8ajGoBeZ1Up4WQsdA5bMWwitYq2IY3pNQQfJirMD0/s320/Folklore+Crafts+Garden+Gnomes+Book+Cover.jpg" width="246" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqi36gCYq-BzKf1OiAaOe17gh7ctA5mIblcxOpadZ96kQ_-xPLw7qbMqC-NDxL44pOOgB-FiFmKZ0uiaA1scDmmlq4GnH9uhXdYDO5rrla8ISANKMWt-YPjvHFKpYFwQYdkqgtxxHlOpc/s1600/Folklore+Crafts+Matryoshka+Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqi36gCYq-BzKf1OiAaOe17gh7ctA5mIblcxOpadZ96kQ_-xPLw7qbMqC-NDxL44pOOgB-FiFmKZ0uiaA1scDmmlq4GnH9uhXdYDO5rrla8ISANKMWt-YPjvHFKpYFwQYdkqgtxxHlOpc/s320/Folklore+Crafts+Matryoshka+Book+Cover.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.fabpub.com/" target="_blank">Fabulous Publishing</a> is a new ebook publisher for crafters by crafters. Founded in 2012 by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/noveltykitten" target="_blank">Shayne Rioux</a> and <a href="http://www.g33kopolis.com/" target="_blank">Redd Hynes</a>, (two of my fellow writers from my <a href="http://geekcrafts.com/" target="_blank">Geek Crafts</a> days), FabPub aims to curate how-to ebooks that are fun and full of fabulous arts and crafts.</div>
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FabPub has launched their new series with a pair of adorably themed books: <a href="http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/393428/follow" target="_blank">Garden Gnomes</a> and <a href="http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/393447/follow" target="_blank">Matryoshka</a> (Russian Nesting Dolls).</div>
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<b>Folklore Crafts: Garden Gnomes</b> features 13 projects by artists from all over the world. The projects inside vary from sewing to crochet, paper quilling to knitting, for babies and adults.</div>
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Some of the projects include a crocheted hat so you can be a gnome whenever the mood strikes, a cross-stitched plaque to grace your wall, an amigurumi Gnome Chomsky to keep you company and an embroidered cup cozy to keep your favorite beverage warm.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRV1830SMWN0bW4nHTUS6TltdNmhVGLjDZEIjriFu8-UMeOCVMEdcmDzvnJ_rEM3MpQ0QJ2b5Zkfug4akPIdCQIY7ZKB8G1T6ZlMzypRDsply4NTAtAtEHi7NSVj1rcGO0zINJsedj4s/s1600/gnoming_me_gnoming_you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRV1830SMWN0bW4nHTUS6TltdNmhVGLjDZEIjriFu8-UMeOCVMEdcmDzvnJ_rEM3MpQ0QJ2b5Zkfug4akPIdCQIY7ZKB8G1T6ZlMzypRDsply4NTAtAtEHi7NSVj1rcGO0zINJsedj4s/s320/gnoming_me_gnoming_you.jpg" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How could you not feel happy wearing this hat?</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWa68amvPWJVBDk4-FVEGeluKjTFyQfOZ0NFNCt6iG5q3Xb2Z2AmFFRF1VZHLXDUC2bj8cBuA96AjPtdpRM8xMPkW-KwrKDtf-9rX2WLl0YOdE_pIq9oU7YwtboQojR1T70R1E-exRF4/s1600/underpants_gnomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWa68amvPWJVBDk4-FVEGeluKjTFyQfOZ0NFNCt6iG5q3Xb2Z2AmFFRF1VZHLXDUC2bj8cBuA96AjPtdpRM8xMPkW-KwrKDtf-9rX2WLl0YOdE_pIq9oU7YwtboQojR1T70R1E-exRF4/s320/underpants_gnomes.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Underpants Gnomes won't be <br />able to resist stealing these!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJluaL-nvX3PUxULVBUfDIjjIPLgWfKjZETVeYm0iDnqILehxFJz1X_53-NHzIZo99iTaiff8QJpHsH1bxud0F09N2nqVYeCdrWl6SFR2YQKUB9HIyKn1q-lvkDArd_DhFKYDOd7a0B0/s1600/gnome_chomsky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJluaL-nvX3PUxULVBUfDIjjIPLgWfKjZETVeYm0iDnqILehxFJz1X_53-NHzIZo99iTaiff8QJpHsH1bxud0F09N2nqVYeCdrWl6SFR2YQKUB9HIyKn1q-lvkDArd_DhFKYDOd7a0B0/s320/gnome_chomsky.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Who needs ceramic gnomes <br />when you can have yarn ones?</i></td></tr>
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<b>Folklore Crafts: Matryoshka</b> also features 13 projects by artists from all over the world. The projects inside vary from sewing to crochet, embroidery to traditional nesting dolls with a modern twist.<br />
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Some of the projects include a hand-printed hankie using a hand-carved rubberstamp, a sensory doll for your baby to love, needle-felted sailors for the seafarers in your life and even a full-scale costume.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KoDvW86raUL1FDCd0MNcpcxpnlHihy59OOdFM4bMO9Od6ePhSqfJkGKshh-1nVCbi2XFsHL75rQgS2AS8RMGb4SL9PQpgaZNLu0Ek4V9V8ytkxbXsGX1GF1XHwVEPUrlZK2yXF3TYyg/s1600/bigger_on_the_inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KoDvW86raUL1FDCd0MNcpcxpnlHihy59OOdFM4bMO9Od6ePhSqfJkGKshh-1nVCbi2XFsHL75rQgS2AS8RMGb4SL9PQpgaZNLu0Ek4V9V8ytkxbXsGX1GF1XHwVEPUrlZK2yXF3TYyg/s320/bigger_on_the_inside.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>For you Dr. Who fans out there!</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVRdRE7agUp0F9-W875HJFvswOhK26IbpHdcLIOjHZVUnK9QRK8Wj9xaOuBE4Iuka5LgTAhIFyEgyzlSjui3UvtpNCwGNunmvXpBV0JLHrTGWqamsP3mtIU8OmO17peiCCGu6spuYXSg/s1600/matryoshka_costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVRdRE7agUp0F9-W875HJFvswOhK26IbpHdcLIOjHZVUnK9QRK8Wj9xaOuBE4Iuka5LgTAhIFyEgyzlSjui3UvtpNCwGNunmvXpBV0JLHrTGWqamsP3mtIU8OmO17peiCCGu6spuYXSg/s320/matryoshka_costume.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You'll definitely win "most original" at the <br />company Halloween party! </i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAT_4rbKRBYvaI2u6lH-5Z8VA_RQjDWXOhjO3t0kX6v19zWvdDAtw76zfNFZ6gyT2f9SisuAcbWVbdrtvgno9o3KErEQBK9zsS0ghVfbpYGXFFZA6EKhBW-eDtWLyDvUJHy03l8hWz-M/s1600/needle-felted_russian_dolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAT_4rbKRBYvaI2u6lH-5Z8VA_RQjDWXOhjO3t0kX6v19zWvdDAtw76zfNFZ6gyT2f9SisuAcbWVbdrtvgno9o3KErEQBK9zsS0ghVfbpYGXFFZA6EKhBW-eDtWLyDvUJHy03l8hWz-M/s320/needle-felted_russian_dolls.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cutest felted dolls ever!</i></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
This is the second to last stop on the FabPub blog tour. To see the thrilling conclusion, visit <a href="http://geekcrafts.com/" target="_blank">Geek Crafts</a> tomorrow!<br />
<br />Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-87767650398434914422012-06-12T11:45:00.000-07:002014-07-20T17:34:01.314-07:00Movie Review: Snow White and the Huntsman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismQQYNBQxre-taW5MDmu-nCJtBJCBBxQbAutdfyqaotaFfGXbTCt6N4Vgqj53A7ItiD-sO9YI7Bf9KvcdK_02SUloFtN2U09mSYnf2X4t4_mqQxNAQSpJD0HS0kZLWZoTHb6FC_U3XRLM/s1600/swh_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismQQYNBQxre-taW5MDmu-nCJtBJCBBxQbAutdfyqaotaFfGXbTCt6N4Vgqj53A7ItiD-sO9YI7Bf9KvcdK_02SUloFtN2U09mSYnf2X4t4_mqQxNAQSpJD0HS0kZLWZoTHb6FC_U3XRLM/s320/swh_poster.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<div>
When I first heard about <i>Snow White and the Hunstman</i>, I had twin reactions. One was utter disappointment: "Damn. Looks like someone wrote the story I've been working on for two years." The other was excitement: "Snow White in armor? Charlize Theron as the Wicked Queen? Thor as a sweaty, hot ranger? Sign me up!"</div>
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I wanted to love this movie. I really did. Though it was a thoroughly entertaining two hours, there were just a few things that made it fall short of true love. On the up side, though it didn't exceed any of my expectations, it didn't really disappoint me.<br />
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
When Snow White comes of age, she comes into the power that could destroy the powerful Queen Ravenna once and for all. Fleeing for her life into the Dark Forest, Snow White is reluctantly aided by the Huntsman, who is haunted by his own personal tragedy. Together, they make a perilous journey towards the one bastion of freedom left in the ravaged land, where Snow White must find the strength to face her stepmother--and her destiny--once and for all.<br />
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<b><u>Pros:</u></b></div>
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<b>Visually stunning.</b> My eyes were never bored, as each shot is lovingly composed for maximum pop. The special effects were gorgeous, ranging from the grotesqueness of the Queen's darker magic to the ethereal beauty of the faerie realm. The costumes were impressive as well, and I'm sure there's already some ambitious seamstresses out there whipping up bird skull-adorned ball gowns for Comic Con this year.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnyTxUA246GfRXlTvESxgRApvBk4FkipaAOoW-YQGhG8S8sjByUfhp0OwHDBoBfGhR1wx2C-lRgfUITRWyXrolhDqAD_KvqGnszbdaKnLIb-gY9cDgg-CvanDITWkZXXXwYp0wpwdJoPB/s1600/swh_dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnyTxUA246GfRXlTvESxgRApvBk4FkipaAOoW-YQGhG8S8sjByUfhp0OwHDBoBfGhR1wx2C-lRgfUITRWyXrolhDqAD_KvqGnszbdaKnLIb-gY9cDgg-CvanDITWkZXXXwYp0wpwdJoPB/s320/swh_dress.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><i>Seriously, check out the details. I want this dress.</i></td></tr>
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<div>
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<div>
<b>Ladies for the win. </b>Though no one's going to be getting any Oscar nods for this, I was impressed by both Charlize Theron's portayal of the Wicked Queen AND Kristen Stewart's rendition of Snow White. Especially since she was severely limited by her dialog, Kristen did a surprisingly good job of portraying a range of thoughts purely with her expressions and body language. I admit, I have soft spot for her, mostly 'cause I'm rooting for her to break the "Bella" mold of her <i>Twilight</i> fame. This isn't too far away from that "sweetly bewildered" comfort zone, but she had some break-out moments.</div>
<div>
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<div>
As for Charlize, she was everything I wanted in a Wicked Queen. Cold and beautiful as sharpened gold, she practically oozed casual malice with every step. She also did a good job of making the Queen a bit sympathetic, even up until the end. She must have had fun with this role. </div>
<div>
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<div>
<b>Delivers what it promises. </b>I went in expecting an action-packed, dark fantasy with lots of special effects, a dash of romance, and some slight "girl power" themes. I got exactly that. To be fair, maybe it's because they gave away most of the film in the preview, or because it's adapted pretty faithfully to a story I've known since I was three, but I rarely found myself surprised. Which, to be fair, could also be con, but seeing as I was already geared up for what they offered, I think it's a win.</div>
<div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2XC3Gv6gCJgQel3hGrjJ9h4s2Kw4J6xGU3cH563GN3wdC4w0T4m2Xhc5_CQixZ4yDIoYZ9krk32zFCYWzn7WHYEyEnPwV1LfEhpfNj1RTC07bID3mqk55wWPcstmNDZYn60HiZsFYbTZ/s1600/swh_dwarves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2XC3Gv6gCJgQel3hGrjJ9h4s2Kw4J6xGU3cH563GN3wdC4w0T4m2Xhc5_CQixZ4yDIoYZ9krk32zFCYWzn7WHYEyEnPwV1LfEhpfNj1RTC07bID3mqk55wWPcstmNDZYn60HiZsFYbTZ/s320/swh_dwarves.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><i>Bob Hoskins was a nice surprise as the Dwarven seer. </i></td></tr>
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<div>
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<div>
<b><u>Cons:</u></b></div>
<div>
<b>Weak writing.</b> Really, for such a beautifully made film with such a broad range of talent, the script was sadly lacking. Snow White really doesn't say much, and there's some key moments of character development that were lost. You really don't get much of a sense of a personal growth arc for her -- or for any of the characters, really. The story stays firmly in the land of archetype, which is appropriate somewhat, considering it's based off a fairy tale, but I'd hoped to see some real life breathed into the avatars we'd all grown up with. </div>
<div>
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<div>
<b>Same old story. </b>An extension of my previous gripe, but I felt it needed its own bullet point. I'd hoped for the story to challenge some of the themes of the classic <i>Snow White </i>tale, especially when the previews showed an armored Snow charging a fire-lit battlefield. In the end, though, it was still about who was the "fairest of them all." There's no real explanation of why Snow White is the "chosen one" except for "'cause she's pretty." You could cook up some theory about the "three drops of blood" magic that supposedly went into her birth, but it isn't clearly explained in the movie.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm0_Qb3PdPa0nQLwO5eESrOSP314WpiyT4etUbRAaf2g6bTAiNP9umO4fAQ4cTzRKPualrN-SPmPKPTzB_QOJ_J2OT_NUqXL6c0KwtWJM-lUmBEzUhhyphenhyphennCqcqhLuaHERzYSCH-mC06x-X/s1600/swh_apple.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm0_Qb3PdPa0nQLwO5eESrOSP314WpiyT4etUbRAaf2g6bTAiNP9umO4fAQ4cTzRKPualrN-SPmPKPTzB_QOJ_J2OT_NUqXL6c0KwtWJM-lUmBEzUhhyphenhyphennCqcqhLuaHERzYSCH-mC06x-X/s320/swh_apple.jpeg" height="192" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><i>See? Fruit can be bad for you.</i></td></tr>
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<div>
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<div>
<b>Worst. Siege. Ever.</b> Okay, this is just my personal gripe, coming from playing tactics/strategy games and spending some time in a renaissance faire fighting guild, but that was seriously the sloppiest, worst-planned castle siege I've ever seen put on film. It's seriously cringe-worthy. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa98M-w6QCUaUFiKfIsPGinR1CAmtSdNO92Q9UNkNrcOXGAUYSTi5CkdsMKH6sl3YNDx7Ly9kqVYhg4Q9YZJLc-tDuomS7G-xcQwMrEEjUHD6h5Lc9TzhhHDWBxhudZr4nxXbmXRay5o-/s1600/swh_castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa98M-w6QCUaUFiKfIsPGinR1CAmtSdNO92Q9UNkNrcOXGAUYSTi5CkdsMKH6sl3YNDx7Ly9kqVYhg4Q9YZJLc-tDuomS7G-xcQwMrEEjUHD6h5Lc9TzhhHDWBxhudZr4nxXbmXRay5o-/s320/swh_castle.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><i>Who needs formation or tactics?</i></td></tr>
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<div>
So, that's my two cents. If you're a fan of fantasy, fairy tales, and sword-and-sorcery films, then check it out. I'd even recommend spending the clams to see it in the theater, as those special effects are worth it. It may not change your life, but it'll definitely entertain you on a Friday night.<br />
<br />
On a more personal note... though Snow White and the Huntsman is similar in elements to the aforementioned story I'd been working on, it's still different enough. That comfort, in and of itself, was worth the price of admission...especially since I like my story better.</div>
Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-79288143049298609292012-06-11T13:41:00.000-07:002012-06-11T13:50:01.093-07:00Summer Sundress<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfRSb2J8ZlGmnD_gy9nv3RETBIkXlTi9O8pJ1-87rOIyQbfY0HUmdV_FQRSW1JoWWYGeBQSXR82h1Uj4wJV_J8lFMlMP9_Ag4hd-h61LyHJcvAIqmVNuDl2mYHWEDs89jeXY3d3A7Xe0/s1600/2012-06-07+18.08.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfRSb2J8ZlGmnD_gy9nv3RETBIkXlTi9O8pJ1-87rOIyQbfY0HUmdV_FQRSW1JoWWYGeBQSXR82h1Uj4wJV_J8lFMlMP9_Ag4hd-h61LyHJcvAIqmVNuDl2mYHWEDs89jeXY3d3A7Xe0/s320/2012-06-07+18.08.20.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ta da!</i></td></tr>
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We may still have nine days to go before the official beginning of summer, but in my head, it's already here. The Professor is finished with the semester, the heat is rising, and there's a ton of watermelon in my fridge. Yup, summer's come early to my world.<br />
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What better way to celebrate than by whipping up a spiffy new sundress? I found this lovely pre-shirred fabric at JoAnn's a few weeks ago, and I thought it would be a simple place to start with sewing my own garments.<br />
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All I had to do was measure, iron, and sew straight lines. The trickiest part was making and measuring the straps from scratch, but with the Prof's help that step was fairly easy. Within a few hours, I had the first home-made dress I'd had in over a decade.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK9nXwyoPvAlkMLRF6H-hpUyBZauCFyuW65SFRsFV2FUXroA9oFNdZu3IlY6cnRDcf9Olw7et6hcLG7gD6nhoW6hJKwCCDHRsfMB2dpOrSKwbErd8WpcNgTYHHik6uJDT2mT_PIg-zxE/s1600/2012-06-07+18.08.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK9nXwyoPvAlkMLRF6H-hpUyBZauCFyuW65SFRsFV2FUXroA9oFNdZu3IlY6cnRDcf9Olw7et6hcLG7gD6nhoW6hJKwCCDHRsfMB2dpOrSKwbErd8WpcNgTYHHik6uJDT2mT_PIg-zxE/s320/2012-06-07+18.08.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Straps!</i></td></tr>
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<br />
There's something so very empowering about making your own clothes, especially as a big girl. I've spent so much of my life hunting a limited number of stores with a limited range of styles for clothes that really expressed "me." So, yeah, it's really exciting to be able to put something together than not only looks great, but gives me that added bump of pride when I say, "oh this? I made it."Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-59376340146114515502012-06-01T13:22:00.000-07:002014-07-20T20:47:58.686-07:00Big Wow! ComicFest 2012 Recap<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIPbDOFLFZPkonc3CKK8IdCjWdVjSzznYnAlAoBi_DuOD54rXg2Mqc4o1hOjVThn_7Vh-evTfHUZQq13WZvTR4QaOgch7jzRzI2vq4zMsJfJ_xHATP4J_t6bpw0ZdsQ6m6rIdo7kFiL4o/s1600/Big+Wow+Panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIPbDOFLFZPkonc3CKK8IdCjWdVjSzznYnAlAoBi_DuOD54rXg2Mqc4o1hOjVThn_7Vh-evTfHUZQq13WZvTR4QaOgch7jzRzI2vq4zMsJfJ_xHATP4J_t6bpw0ZdsQ6m6rIdo7kFiL4o/s320/Big+Wow+Panel.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>(L-R) John Gillette, Reyna Young, myself, and Dylan D Walsh<br />on our "Horror Filmmaking 101" panel at Big Wow! </i></span></td></tr>
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This was my first time attending San Jose's <a href="http://www.bigwowcomicfest.com/" target="_blank">Big Wow! ComicFest</a>. More importantly (to me, at least), it was my first time ever speaking on a convention panel.<br />
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I have to admit, I've dreamed about sitting at one of those long, tablecloth-draped tables since the first convention I attended. It just seemed so cool, that all those people would sit and listen to what knowledge you had to share. So when my friend Reyna Young (horror hostess <a href="http://missmisery.net/" target="_blank">Miss Misery</a>) asked me to participate in her "Horror Filmmaking 101" panel, I was over the moon.<br />
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Also on the panel were her husband/partner-in-film John Gillette, and one of her regular actors/production assistants, Dylan D Walsh. We covered everything from where to get screenplay ideas to how to distribute your film once it's done. The panel had a great energy, and it felt more like a group of filmmakers chatting over coffee than a formal panel.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvScvl3Wk0Ci5XjQsQRhiwGrbiQNe83Dk3gShGiRfmTo5-c2MaaxcIvRsY44EDvx82jGzZroQLVWmVQBhr2T5H1axoBoIB2gZpF8I67zaFPwA7RQpiV6eoNDp0H34hauHIt5-JEcxK7RnB/s1600/Big+Wow+Panel_SK_RY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvScvl3Wk0Ci5XjQsQRhiwGrbiQNe83Dk3gShGiRfmTo5-c2MaaxcIvRsY44EDvx82jGzZroQLVWmVQBhr2T5H1axoBoIB2gZpF8I67zaFPwA7RQpiV6eoNDp0H34hauHIt5-JEcxK7RnB/s320/Big+Wow+Panel_SK_RY.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><i>Proof that I actually said something.</i></td></tr>
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Honestly, a bit of that might have had to do with the crowd. You see, there was a little SNAFU with the scheduling, which led to a last-minute switch in the programming that didn't make it into the printed convention guide. So, unfortunately, most of our audience showed up at the wrong day and time.<br />
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However, the crowd we did have was awesome. Family, friends, a few devoted con-goers, and a sea monster. What we lacked in quantity, we made up for in quality.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fNAIeaZg-yE6FwwDoK8YDsLGlxHlGuwiwmv0zTsihQMvOJUWJ6GfKJEGX82rjyW0i1qbOUzakW_1yq7HhnuQqaWaXyJCITgAAMmjLtGmMrTpUezhUyR0Zld8QlrXHKmQku6QJMGGLyaF/s1600/2012-05-20+12.55.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fNAIeaZg-yE6FwwDoK8YDsLGlxHlGuwiwmv0zTsihQMvOJUWJ6GfKJEGX82rjyW0i1qbOUzakW_1yq7HhnuQqaWaXyJCITgAAMmjLtGmMrTpUezhUyR0Zld8QlrXHKmQku6QJMGGLyaF/s320/2012-05-20+12.55.56.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><i>Really, how many audiences have a sea monster?</i></td></tr>
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I was especially touched that my friend and <i>Everything I Needed to Know About Zombies I Learned From the Movies</i>'s Director of Photography Erin Castrapel (Mr. Thumbs Up in the photo) made a surprise trip up from Los Angeles to see the panel. It made the day all the more special, especially when he coordinated an impromptu lunch reunion with another old friend.<br />
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As for the convention itself, I liked Big Wow's vibe. It had enough clout to draw in some big names (<a href="http://www.bigwowcomicfest.com/guests/a-z/jim_lee/" target="_blank">Jim Lee</a> and <a href="http://www.bigwowcomicfest.com/guests/a-z/terrance_zdunich/" target="_blank">Terrance Zdunich</a>, for example), but it also had a casual, local con feel. I love conventions where you can stop and chat with the artists and creators and really get to know them and their art. I'll take that over the big budget cattle-stampede the Comic-Con conventions have turned into (<strike>and no, I'm not bitter at all that WonderCon abandoned the Bay Area for freakin' Anaheim</strike>). We didn't stay long, but we had a great time, and consensus was that this con was a definite keeper. I'll be back next year!<br />
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For some more thorough reviews of Big Wow! as a whole:<br />
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<a href="http://www.examiner.com/review/and-this-corner-the-number-one-contender-big-wow-comicfest" target="_blank">Oscar Benjamin's Examiner review</a> (with LOTS of gorgeous photos)<br />
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<a href="http://graphicnovelreporter.com/content/report-big-wow-comicfest-feature-stories" target="_blank">Graphic Novel Reporter</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.conventionlife.com/bigwowcomicfest2011.html" target="_blank">ConventionLife</a> (shout out to Michael Tang for photographing our panel)<br />
<br />Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652644726119528996.post-22191379438142345662012-05-17T12:15:00.000-07:002012-05-17T12:15:51.107-07:00Mama's Day Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaahhoZR-2u34FPbwcPck67ijbmgQPNS8k7nS_PwN-4VYwpXDTSxlIODyrJ6ZEkgFcKVm9YsoB1cezGmcmjBAvOTN6K5U7NnfsLM0WecvieiCUVBCt3YfZN1Vla8UFBGZ2nhbtif6EeMM/s1600/flower_brooch_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaahhoZR-2u34FPbwcPck67ijbmgQPNS8k7nS_PwN-4VYwpXDTSxlIODyrJ6ZEkgFcKVm9YsoB1cezGmcmjBAvOTN6K5U7NnfsLM0WecvieiCUVBCt3YfZN1Vla8UFBGZ2nhbtif6EeMM/s320/flower_brooch_1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Taking a strong variation on a <a href="http://handeyemindmouth.blogspot.com/2012/05/call-of-cthulhu.html" target="_blank">similar theme</a>, I decided to make my Mama an embroidered brooch for Mother's Day. Where my friend gravitated more towards darkness and tentacles, my Mama is definitely in the sunshine and flowers camp.<br />
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This, I'm proud to say, is a wholly original design of mine. In English, my mother's name translates to "Daisy," and she has two children. I thought it appropriate to have the two little daisies symbolizing my brother and I. Which flower symbolizes whom is up to debate: I'm older, but he's definitely taller now!<br />
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I sketched out some variations on the design on some scrap paper, then transferred the final design using carbon paper (I like the clean lines, transfer pens and pencils tend to bleed). I then stitched the petals and stem using satin stitch, and the centers with tiny French knots.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2rvcBvCbrWi_FGNTuiwwv36Iv45A5quIfnpwk4mmgg3i_Qg5fSAg_wgJ7ZW4tS_f3qlrqTwDVHZO_P47ycvLxPw7VV6ziuC099dTiPuAW1nQC8cN6dsaQ19zaVKXSXwkMMsQxusaZ_0/s1600/flower_brooch_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2rvcBvCbrWi_FGNTuiwwv36Iv45A5quIfnpwk4mmgg3i_Qg5fSAg_wgJ7ZW4tS_f3qlrqTwDVHZO_P47ycvLxPw7VV6ziuC099dTiPuAW1nQC8cN6dsaQ19zaVKXSXwkMMsQxusaZ_0/s320/flower_brooch_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Again, not a tiny embroidery, but definitely small enough to keep my on my toes, especially with those pesky French knots!<br />
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My Mama adored it! She wore it proudly to her Mama's Day outing to <i>The Avengers</i>. 'cuz that's how she rolls.<br />
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I've been having a lot of fun with these little pieces of jewelry. Next up, I think I may actually stitch a little something for myself to wear. It'll probably be a combination of darkness and sunshine...just to change things up. Maybe if I'm quick I'll be able to have it done in time for the <a href="http://www.sherezadakent.blogspot.com/2012/05/big-wow-comicfest-2012.html" target="_blank">panel I'm speaking on this weekend</a> (/shameless plug).Sherezadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025274869785432014noreply@blogger.com2