Noticing
I was struck yesterday by the small ways in which I’ve changed since I began blogging more regularly. I was working on my jewelry display, deciding where things would go for that night’s vendor fair, and putting hang tags on items that needed them, when I saw it: a picture that needed taking. And it wasn’t a picture of my children, or of some fleeting moment of natural beauty in the back yard. No, it was an accidental still-life involving a bowl of rings, a pile of hang tags, a pencil, a hole punch, and some garbage left over from the hole-punching process. This is what fed my compulsion to go get my camera. This is what interrupted my work. And this is what I’m taking time to write about today.
Yep, times have changed. I like it, though. I like that I’m better-tuned to notice the interest in bits and pieces of everyday life. I like that it’s jumping out at me more often, that I’m not having to seek it out so much, or try so hard to find it. Is it the most amazing photograph ever taken? Um, no. It’s not even the most amazing photograph I’ve ever taken, and I’m really only a photographer wannabe. I just like what it represents about my noticing skills these days.
It’s been a long week, culminating in last night’s vendor event. (The best thing I can say about that, is that I didn’t tank.) I don’t know if I pulled in enough to make all of the preparation and lugging worthwhile, but I covered my costs and then some, so at least there’s that. Anyway, I’m pooped out, and I’m taking this morning off. I dropped the kids off at their respective schools, picked up coffee and a bagel, and have been spending my time so far going through the photos of the last few days and formulating my thoughts. Not a bad way to spend a morning, particularly when the previous week has felt so busy and rushed. I’m welcoming the chance to do only what I want to do for the next few hours.
This afternoon I’ll be right back to plans and preparations again. This time, though, it’s entirely pleasure. The boys and I are going to head out for a change of scenery this weekend, but I’ve no idea yet what we’re going to do with ourselves when we get there. Mostly, I think we’ll wing it, but it would also be nice to have a few ideas written down. And by “ideas” I mean fabric stores, yarn shops, and crafty places. Heh. Those poor, poor boys.
The post wherein I ask for fashion advice
Yesterday I cheated and illustrated my post with an image from last Christmas. Today I don’t think I’m even going to bother with a photo. It’s not that I didn’t take any. No, I took my one Project365 photo that I needed to, but it’s still on the camera, and I am on the couch under a comfy quilt. I’m not getting up.
I’ve got a vendor event tomorrow that I need to prepare for, and I expect to be spending much of my day tomorrow setting up my wares in the dining room and planning my display. But tonight I’m thinking more about what to wear when I’m selling. I actually made a skirt today for that purpose, but I’m not really happy with it. Actually, I can’t decide if it’s the skirt itself that I don’t like, or the fact that I haven’t found the right shirt to wear with it yet. I suspect it’s the latter.
What would you wear with a very long, gray Irish linen skirt? I’ve got black tights and black maryjanes for my feet. I was thinking some layered tees would do the trick, but I didn’t like the ones I tried on (long-sleeved white with roomy short-sleeved black on top). I may just need to find the right layered tees. I don’t want to have to buy anything new, and I probably lack the time to make something, but I don’t know… any suggestions?
Games people play
We’re thinking of getting a video game system for ourselves as a family gift this Christmas. We’ve never had anything like this before, so we’re really not tied to any one brand.
We’d like something that all of us can enjoy, so that means it has to have something for 8 and 5 year old boys, and something for grown-ups who like to blow things up (Neil) and play puzzle-type games (me).
I’m leaning toward a Wii because I’d really like to try Wii Fit, but I am open to suggestions.
Anyone have a recommendation?
Empty hangers
Today, I left the house for Trader Joe’s and got distracted by Target and Old Navy. That’s what you get when you have 15 minutes of driving time to think, and you spend it daydreaming about having a closet full of clothes that fit properly, flatter nicely, and reflect the image that you want to project to the world. It was thoughts of long linen skirts, woolen tights, and leather shoes that detoured me into the shopping center parking lot…
I actually didn’t find any of that, aside from a few pairs of tights. But I did find some other wardrobe basics that called my name, like a heavy gray zipped cardigan with a hood, and a pair of well-fitting dark wash jeans. And, well, it was hard to pass up the turtleneck I found in my favorite green - the green that perfectly matched my mittens. (Besides, when the perfect Winter skirt and shoes do appear, all of this stuff can be worn with them, too.)
So there I was, with a nice new outfit I was excited to wear, but feeling a little guilty for spending money I didn’t need to spend. It’s not like I parted with a huge chunk of change or anything, but every little bit counts. So… I spent the next 30 minutes tossing things from my closet - things I never wear, things that make me look awful in one way or another, even some of the things I’ve sewn for myself that just never worked for me. I filled a laundry basket to overflowing, and emptied an impressive number of hangers.
I am thinking, when I donate this pile of clothes, not only will they help to clothe someone who needs it, but they will get me a tax deduction worth more than what I spent on new stuff today.
(And if that isn’t a perfect example, of trying to justify a little retail therapy to get me out of my recent body-image funk, then I don’t know what is! But I’ll take it… )
And so begins the parade of gifts
I’m trying once again to embrace the handmade Christmas idea. I won’t go entirely handmade, but I want there to be an element of it in everyone’s gift. I’ve always felt this way, but it’s been easier recently since I’ve expanded my crafty skills somewhat. There are only so many clay baubles one can give one’s relatives before it becomes predictable, you know?
So I finished the first of what I hope to be many gifts this weekend: a hat for my brother. When trying to prove to my mother a few weeks ago, that fingerless mitts were not hopelessly out of style, we asked my hip 24-year-old brother whether he’d wear them. His answer? “Sure, if they had finger holes.” Well, I’m not up for finger holes at the moment, and I said as much. “You can make me a hat, then,” was his response.
I’m a little surprised by that - I didn’t really think he’d want me to make him anything. So I jumped at the hat idea, and here it is. It’s not perfect - I think the brim is a little odd - but I hope he’ll like it.
Some details for the curious
Pattern: Modified version of “Winter Hat” from Isela Phelps’ Loom Knitting Primer. I replaced the patterned rows with a solid stripe.
Loom: Yellow Knifty Knitter (large gauge, 41 pegs)
Yarn: Paton’s Classic Wool in Dark Gray Mix and Jade Heather
I was able to share images of this here because my brother is probably more likely to eat broken glass than he is to read a blog where the words “knitting,” “sewing,” and “baking” are mentioned as much as they are here. Other gifts I make, I’ll have to be more careful about, and probably will have to share them the week after Christmas.
So, what kinds of things are you making this year for your holidays?
P.S. I don’t recommend wearing hats on one’s feet. It makes walking somewhat troublesome.
Night of the living mitts
I’ve been experimenting with different ideas for fingerless mitts, and I finally got them looking like I envisioned.
I can knock out one mitt per night of TV, which means I may actually be able to make a nice little pile of them for Christmas gifts.
I just need to remember next time I want to take pictures of them…
…to do it while Neil is at work.
A cap-maker, I am not
Have you noticed the little “Caps to Cap-Haitien” button on the right sidebar this week? It links to the first project on the new Mama to Mama site. If you have a small pile of t-shirts you no longer want, and a sewing machine (or needle & thread) you know how to use, you might want to whip up a few baby caps for the desperately poor of Haiti.
Now, with this kind of thing, I have a tendency to be full of the best intentions, but rarely make it to the finish line. Imagine my surprise, then, when I actually dug through my dresser for some t-shirts I never wear. And just think of my shock when, two days later, I took scissors to that pile of shirts and cut out some cap shapes.
It didn’t stop there. Tonight, while feeling cranky and headachey, awash in a sea of gluttonous regret after an ill-advised affair with a half a bag of peanut butter M&M’s, I dragged myself to the dining room and set up my sewing machine. 30 minutes later I had three wonky caps that will probably never be a decent fit on any human baby’s head. But at least I made it this far, right?
I probably haven’t given up completely, but I’ve given up for tonight :-D Maybe you would like to try your hand at it?
Hair cuts, fancy coffees, and business cards
The only things I’ve taken any pictures of for the last four days have been my feet. How sad.
It’s been a whirlwind of new books and packing supplies this week so far, and as busy as that’s kept me, it just hasn’t made for very enthralling reading material. Hence my absence.
I did manage to escape the asylum this morning for a hair cut. My hair had reached that length where the bottom is lovely and forms little ringlets all on it’s very own. I love that. Unfortunately, that is also the stage where the top and sides get long, heavy, and lifeless. That, I don’t love so much. My usual response is to just go back to my regular chin-length ‘do.
This time it occurred to me that it might be possible to keep the lovely long curls if I just had some layers put in. What would be the harm? I’d always have chin-length as a Plan B, after all. As it turns out, I’m pleased, and can put off the short ‘do for another few months. Yay!
On my way to the salon, I stopped into Starbucks for a liquid breakfast, and made a potentially dangerous discovery: Peppermint Mocha Twist. Oh, yes. And not only that, but Gingersnap Latte, as well. Oh, Starbucks, was the Pumpkin Spice Latte not enough of a temptation?? Did you have to add two more flavors to taunt me?
Luckily, the Peppermint Mocha Twist was good, but not something I’ll be craving every fifteen minutes. The Gingersnap Latte, though? That has so much potential to become my drug of choice, I’m almost afraid to try it. I’ll be holding off on that one for at least a week or so. I really can’t be blowing $3.75 on coffee more than a few times a month.
Anyway, there I was today, all caffeined-up and feeling pepperminty-fresh, when I gave out my business card. Twice. Twice! Once when I was complemented on my scarf, and a second time when asked what I did for a living. I know that “here’s my card, if you’d like to see what I do” is a normal response to such things, but it has never come naturally to me. I’m just too timid about putting myself out there. Still, I’m starting to realize that nobody is going to sell my scarves, bags, buttons, and whatnot for me. If I want to see these things go to appreciative homes, I’m going to have to step outside of my comfort zone and invite people to come have a look at them.
So there you have it: my day of hair cuts, fancy coffees, and business cards. Now I plan to take the rest of the night off from book packing duty, take a few minutes to publicize a vendor event or two, and then settle in on the couch with a little loom knitting project. Ahh.
Whatever you wish for
I hope you don’t mind if I put on my sales hat for a moment. I hate wearing that thing, but if I leave it off for too long, I don’t sell things, and if I don’t sell things, I can’t buy more craft supplies (or, more importantly, supplement my family’s income) and we just can’t have that. So bear with me for a moment, while I tell you about something nifty I added to my websites, ok?
Oh, you’re sweet to indulge me…
Here goes. It’s almost that time of year again, and I’ve found something that might make it easier for you to ask your well-intentioned-but-clueless loved ones for that must-have new clay book.
It’s called a Universal Wish List, and it is tied into your amazon.com
How does it work? It’s pretty simple, really. From any detail page within the Polka Dot Creations website, you may click on the”Add to Universal Wish List” button. A dialog box will appear, which will allow you to add the book, video, or magazine to your amazon wish list.
I’ve added the same ability within the Polka Dot Cottage shop, so that you may add fun things like my scarves, earrings, and buttons to your wish list, too.
Once the items are added, this is what they look like over at amazon. If someone decides to gift you with one of these items, the “Shop this store” button will bring them directly back here to make the purchase. Amazon is only involved as far as hosting the wish list. The sales are still conducted entirely by me.
As someone who has a handful of family members who do all of their holiday shopping via amazon wish lists, I thought it was a nifty little feature. Hopefully it will help some of you and the loved ones who shop for you!
And as long as I’m talking about fun little doohickeys, let me introduce you to the sidebar’s new Recommended Reading spot. This is going to be my place to point out some of my favorite reads. Right now I’ve got it cycling through the most recent five books in my reading pile, but I may change the criteria from time to time, just to shake things up.
If the recommended book is one that I sell at Polka Dot Creations, the link will lead you there. If it’s not, then the link will lead you to amazon where I can earn a tiny commission. I do appreciate it when you buy something from Recommended Reading, no matter which store it points to!
Ok, I’m done. Now here’s a little tip which doesn’t benefit me monetarily in any way, shape, or form: If you like that Universal Wish List idea, you can go to amazon and grab their browser button
Cranberry Thanksgiving
Every few years my uncle lends me this book to read to the boys. I like having a special Thanksgiving book to read, as I have always felt Thanksgiving to be a holiday that deserves to be steeped in tradition. As a child, I felt this sense of tradition keenly, as we went about our holiday, but in my adult years, the feeling continues to elude me.
So, I sample things like high school football games, ecumenical prayer services, and baking breads. Last year, I gave up entirely on the tradition idea, and just decided to sit back and enjoy the day. I have to say, it was probably the best Thanksgiving I’d had in a while.
So, ok. I’m feeling no more pressure to find “our” tradition, anymore. But I’d be a fool to ignore opportunities as they present themselves. This book? It’s one such opportunity. This November, the boys and I have already been under Mommy’s Blankie O’ Love once to read about Maggie and Grandmother’s adventure with Mr. Whiskers at the edge of the cranberry bog. And on Friday, we made Grandmother’s Famous Cranberry Bread.
The verdict? Nice. But not as nice as Mom’s. Ironically, Mom tells me these days she just makes the Cranberry Bread recipe from the Ocean Spray bag, instead of her tried & true recipe. Another tradition bites the dust. Is nothing sacred??
Good thing I am the new laid-back-about-Thanksgiving me 
