Queenly Things

Yellow Birds

ABout this time last year I was at a church rummage sale when I found hidden among the ratty blankets and 80's print sheet sets a little scalloped edge of something beautiful. I tugged and juggled falling bundles until i unearthed what the scallops were attached to.

It was a gorgeous crib sheet and small pillow sham with a light blue embroidered edge. All along the delicate scallops were yellow birds skooching down in their nests in blossom-laden branches. The sham was in perfect condition. The sheet, unfortunately, was disintegrating along the scallops.

So today I freed the little yellow budgies, just cut them loose. and gave each little birdie couple a home of their own.

These will be closet sachets come Christmas. I hope to fill them up with a dried citrus and spices to keep moths and other critters away and make clothes smell yummy. A nice gift for a friend I hope. And if you're thinking I'm nuts to be thinking about December holidays in May, well, I committed last year to Christmas in Progress and bagged it when my mom got sick. So this year, though I am behind a couple of months, I am determined to ctach up and be ready come 12/25.

Yellow bird, up high in banana tree

Ah, calypso music. Now that's more in keeping with this hot, steamy season.

Big Feat

I just needed a pair or two of sandals. Okay, maybe NEED isn't exactly accurate but whatever. So all day long I have been cruising the net in search of the perfect pair. I have looked at thousands of sandals. Picking just the right pair has proved a tad difficult.

I'm trying to picture myself walking through the volcanic parks of Hawaii in these. Whaddaya think? Might be just a little tricky dodging the lava, huh? They do have a certain Polynesian aesthetic, however, you know with the carved wood and all.

What's wrong with these? They are cute, right? Why in the world would I pass these up? The $704.00 price perhaps?

Perhaps if I was vacationing in the 49th State instead of the 50th. No. Not even then.

Sandals should be cool on your feet - it's summer time after all. Wrapping your ankles with suede - the idea of these just makes me sweaty.

Adorable, yes, but I've walked across one too many quiet rooms in shoes that slap my heels with a resounding smack. People stare. It's not good. I'm too bashful to have people staring at me.

I like these but I am trying to outgrow my flip-flop fetish. I have to date approximately 50 hundred pairs in almost every color on earth. So I'm going to pass.

Hmmmmmmm....not so much.

I would be way too tired to go to the beach after fastening all that, then I 'd have to undo all that. I think not.
You see this isn't as easy as you'd think. I narrowed my searches. I googled sandals. I went to all the sites I know and some I hope never to see again. But finally after just about giving up, I have narrowed it down.

This is the pair I've chosen. They are lady-like, have a cushiony bottom, only one buckle. They are not flip-flops nor do they swat me with every step. They're priced under $50 and I quite like them. So, phew, I have my black sandals for summer. I thought I would never get there.
Tomorrow I will start the search for some brown ones.

Fiesta Forever

Well, my friends, the time has come
To raise the roof and have some fun
Throw away the work to be done
Let the music play on
(play on, play on)

I love my life!! Seriously. I mean take today for example. I get home, my arms full with groceries, the mail and all my school paraphernalia and there on the kitchen table is this amzing piece of corduroy that my mom has picked up at her church rummage sale. Oh, the sale hasn't happened yet (this weekend) but she is helping with the organizing. Anyway there it was; one and a half yards of 72" wide corduroy with sweet little pink roses on a bright red background. Nice job, Mom. There's lots more she tells me. Don't worry I'll be there on Friday very early.
Everbody sing, everybody dance
Lose yourself in wild romance
Were going to party
Karamu, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along!


Then in among my mail was a fat white envelope from my BBFF and Fairy Blogmother, Mary Ann. Inside? This jazzy cotton. The note says, "I saw this at JoAnn's and it screamed 'Fiesta'! When I think of 'Fiesta' I think of Vallen."
people dancing all in the street
See the rhythm all in their feet
Life is good wild and sweet
Let the music play on
(play on, play on)

Winding my way up the stairs I see that Mom has been destashing. There are a few of the paper flowers I made for my daughters wedding four years ago. A little worse for wear but still bright and happy - they, too, just scream "Fiesta"
Feel it in your heart
And feel it in your soul
Let the music take control
Were going to party
Liming, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing my song!
And, ladies, I'm sure you noticed. Everything goes together, everything matches, all these separate pieces from different places have come together in my life to Par-Tay ¡¡Olé!!

Expectations

What I thought

What I got

But all in all it was a very good time. The weather was luxurious, the graduation and accompanying celebrations - great fun.

The Gift of Friends

Some very terrific gifts have been arriving in the mail. No reason in particular just that I have some pretty cool friends. From Texas: Finally, my name on the marquee. Okay, well, in marquee letters at any rate. I've hung them above my bed so there is no mistaking where I lay my head at night.

The most beautiful addition to my very small collection ( 2 plates up until today) of the Taylor Smith Taylor Boutonnierre pattern also from the Lone Star State- so very sweet, both the cup and saucer and the lady.

And a portrait of the queen - can you hardly stand it? Thanks Alice Ann - you knew just what I'd like.

Two of the best aprons ever. Printed on heavy, nubby linen, what California Girl wouldn't love this gift? And this is just part of the beautiful gift that Rebecca sent to me, 'cause she saw stuff and knew I would love it.
Do people get any luckier than me? Ah...no.

Sun Day, Fun Day, Mum's Day

Had a nice time in Arizona. The weather was divine. Thanks for all the love. My hand is a little tired from all that waving.

There is lots to show you but it will have to wait until I unpack my bag. Until then my lovely friends:
Have a Wonderful Mother's Day.

Wave!!!

That's me in the window. I'll wave as I fly over your house.

By the Time I Get to Phoenix

I'm off to Arizona on Wednesday for the graduation of a former student of the high school. She was a scrappy little thing her first two years with us, beat up anybody who looked at her twin brother sideways. He returned the favor. Now she is graduating from college and going to law school. I love happy endings.

I haven't decided whether or not to take my laptop. But in any case I'll be back Saturday afternoon.
Be good, hear?

Recess

I'm a little Dutch girl
Dressed in blue.
Here are the things
I like to do:
Salute to the captain,
Bow to the queen,
Turn my back
On the submarine.
I can do the tap dance,
I can do the splits,
I can do the hokie pokie
Just like this.

Cinderella dressed in yellow
Went downstairs to kiss a fellow.

Ice cream soda, lemonade punch
Tell me the name of your honeybunch.

Spanish dancers turn around
Spanish dancers touch the ground
Spanish dancers to the kicks
Spanish dancers do the splits

Mabel, Mabel set the table
Just as fast as you are able
And don't. Forget.
Theredhotpeppers

I love coffee
I love tea
I love the boys
And the boys love me.

Oh, that's the bell.
I dibs first in line.

Make. Do.

It used to be that I made almost all of my clothes but that was a long time ago. In the last 15 years or so I have been just as happy to buy everything ready-made. However- it is hard to find cute things in my size and price range. The styles these days are easy to make so I decided the time had come again to get to sewing.

After school today I went a-searching for some cute, easy and, above all, fresh, summer clothes to make. I have a few trips planned in the next three months. Next weekend I'm off to Phoenix and in July I head to the big island for a week on the Kona Coast. Nice warm climates both, and because of that my goal was to find patterns for clothes that barely touched the body and fabrics that were linen or cotton.
Have I ever told you how much I think JoAnn's sucks for fabric for fashion? Well, it does and that is one of the reasons I stopped sewing to begin with. There are other fabric stores but they inconveniently located.

But there I found myself today with all hope. It took me over an hour to find natural fibers that weren't butt-ugly, babyish or flannel. JoAnn's "linen" is linen rayon mix or linen-cotton (2 bolts). The just plain linen (2 bolts but with less than a yard on each) was more like French ticking. However I was determined. I came away with a very sweet cotton gauze with a pale blue/gray print, a light blue stripe linen/cotton shirt stripe, a beautiful light blue cotton batiste and for the dress, the palest butter yellow and white very fine stripd cotton. I think these should do it. I would like to find some brighter linens someday.

In another foray into the I-can-do-it-better world I decided that instead of buying the laundry basket pictured above which I love but which doesn't match the colors of my bathroom...

I ordered these pieces of oilcloth from our local Ace Hardware that stocks the best selecion at a fairly reasonable price to make my own custom made one.
Anyhoo, guess what I'll be doing this weekend. Got my work cut out for me, in a manner of speaking. I'll call when I get something finished.