Animales

Thank you for all of the positive comments! It is so rewarding to share a project like this with the world wide internets and receive such positive feedback. It gave me major warm fuzzies.

Last Sunday I decided that I wanted my little animales to be printed in a book. So I uploaded it all to Blurb and ordered a copy. While the expected ship date was March 12, I received it yesterday. So fast! And what's even better than fast is the quality! It's beautiful. The colors are vivid, the paper feels great between my fingers, and the cover is glossy.

So I decided that maybe I'm not the only one who might want an animal book in Spanish. Ha! I might be, but I might not be. In the off chance that I'm not alone, I've made my Blurb book public so that anyone who is interested can order a copy. Just click on this link if you are interested in ordering one.

Enjoy!




Update: just a note on the price. It's a lot. The price is the cost of printing the book (set by Blurb) with a $1 markup for me.

I know my letters

* I think this post is going to be long. Just a fair warning in case you don't feel like looking at a long post.


I haven't been sewing. I haven't been blogging. So what have I been doing?

Besides sleeping, a lot, for some reason, and working a lot on a big project that I am excited to share with you in a few weeks, I've been drawing. Remember way back in 2010 I was working on my drawing? Well, I'm still working on it. And I've decided to share, for your entertainment and enjoyment, some of my work.

So, I've actually managed to draw some things that are not demented looking.

For example, here's a cat:

Now I'm not saying that this cat is the most adorable, cuddly cat ever drawn, but compared to the way I used to draw cats, 

this is amazing.

So I've been drawing and plugging away, trying to improve my skillz. In fact, I decided to redo my alphabet project, but this time I drew all of the animals myself. All of them. Even the armadillo. Yikes. And, I did it in Spanish. Let me show you a little bit.

Here's my little burro. This donkey has a big head, little legs, and fat little body. I love this little guy. His eyebrows make him look intense. 

My lion. He is just so smiley. He makes me happy. And he has wee beady eyes.

Otter. Why I otter... I like how spread apart his eyes are.

This dog looks ready for action. With his ears back, this perro is playful and poised to pounce.

Armadillo! Really? A cute armadillo? This was quite a feat for me. I put him crossing a road because that's how I always imagine armadillos. Don't even try to figure it out. It makes no sense. But if you have any psychoanalysis for me about this, let me know. I'm slightly curious.

Yak. I think his horns are my favorite. And his little beard. And his eyebrows.

So not all of my drawings made the cut. Here's my first try at an iguana, which has been described as a green hot dog with legs.

My first attempt is, well, funny looking. His eyes are surprised, his tail too short, and head too round. 

The second try turned out looking more like an iguana, and less like a hot dog. So I'm pretty happy with the way he turned out. I love his little spikes. And I really like his front arm/leg.

This is my first attempt at a bull dog. He's better than my original dog, but his body is too boxy, and legs too little. As I was typing this I realized how unnecessary it is for me to describe this poor little guy's deficiencies; they are readily noticeable.

This is my second attempt. This dog needs a diet.

And then you have my latest attempt, which is my preferred version:

So what does all this mean? It means that abilities are part talent (which I do not have), and part practice. With enough work, perhaps a person can improve where things don't come naturally to them. And I think I've improved. I won't be winning any awards for my art. Don't get me wrong; I have no airs of grandeur here. But man, what an improvement!

With the exception of the letter X (why aren't there animals that start with the letter X in Spanish?), I have finished this project, and am thinking about what I will do with my drawings (print a book from Blurb?, Use as prints?), and what I will work on next.

Green Purse!

One of my favorite purchases from our trip to Argentina is this beauty:

I tried to represent the green as best I as I could by manipulating the levels. It's a bright kelly green. I knew I wanted either a turquoise or a green purse when I saw all the gorgeous leather purses in Argentina, and ended up settling on a green one. 

I'm in love.

Pinterest! It's my friend!

I realize that I'm about the second to last person on the planet to discover the wonder that is Pinterest, but I've discovered it. It's so much easier than having photos and bookmarks and everything spread all over my computer. So organized! I love it.

I found a project thanks to Pinterest that I knew I had to make. Especially since I bought myself 7 new pairs of earrings in Argentina, and my poor jewelry box was already impossible to close.

from iheartorganizing.blogspot.com.

I have to put a plug in for the Huz. He is such a great help and support. I love that he takes interest in organizing my accessories. In fact, he came up with the system we have to store my purses and my necklaces, which I'll show you in a minute. 

So the Huz and I went to Target to find a frame. We ended up getting two smaller box frames, rather than one big one. TC was smart enough to think ahead that smaller frames would make it easier to find a home for them on the wall. (I can't find the frame online, but it is Room Essentials brand).

Then we went to Home Depot and looked for aluminum sheeting. We found it on an end cap near the building supplies. I asked an employee and she didn't really know where to find "aluminum sheets with decorative cutouts." We took a piece of glass out of the frame for reference for the size we needed the aluminum to be. Jason in tool rental was nice enough to cut two rectangles in the right size for us (however, the sheet is so thin that it might actually have been better to cut it at home with old scissors because Jason's cutters bent the heck out of the sheet). When we got home, I slid the aluminum into the frame and voila! Earring holder.

My accessorizing station.

Cool colors and neutrals.

Warm colors.

Now I can use my earrings as inspiration when I'm getting dressed. I love it.

And on the side of my dresser you can see my necklaces.

TC saw me struggling to keep my necklaces untangled and suggested we get little hooks to attach to my dresser. It was a stroke of genius! I could probably use one more hook since my necklace collection has grown.

In my jewelry box on top of my dresser is where rings, brooches, and other earrings (hoops and studs) are kept. So much easier to keep it neat and organized! Fragrances are kept next to the jewelry box.

Now on to my purse storage. Our apartment is relatively small. And when I say it's small, I mean that it's not large enough to accommodate my clothes, shoes and accessories. A while back TC had the idea to get 3M command strip hooks (we bought ours at Home Depot) to hang my purses from. And he had in mind the perfect place: behind our bedroom door. I can't tell you how grateful I am for his support with this. I would expect some husbands to simply suggest that getting rid of some purses would solve the problem. But TC understands and wanted to help me hold on to all of my beloved handbags. Okay, so I think I've made it clear: I love my husband and think he's grand. I'll stop now.

With the bedroom door open, you can hardly see that all those purses are hiding back there. And since we nearly always keep our door open.

So there you have it! A project I found on Pinterest and some other storage ideas.

5.7 million minutes

This man and I have been bound together in holy matrimony for over 5.7 million minutes, or 11 years, today. Happy anniversary to us!

Blue tights

I found blue tights to match my blue shoes. And I wore them together, and had TC take a photo of me. I'm not sure I LOVE the rest of the outfit, but I DO love the blue tights on blue shoes. I think I need a charcoal grey sweater dress to go with the bottom half.

R.I.P. Plantita Adorada

I loved you from the moment I saw you at Costco and realized that you were a Gardenia plant.

I loved you all those moments I watered you, and all those moments I forgot to water you.

I loved you all those times I brought you from the outdoors in to protect you from the unpredictable spring and fall weather.

I loved you every time you bloomed a new blossom.

I loved you every time you drooped from neglect.

I loved you even when I forgot to bring you indoors during the worst storm of the season.

I loved you even when I forgot about you as I watched on the news all the storm warnings, and warnings of sub-zero temperatures.

I loved you when I looked outside to realize that you had been killed by the inclement weather.

I loved you when I brought you indoors hoping you would resurrect. And I loved you when I realized that I had not brought you in time to save you.

And I loved you as I dropped you down the trash chute.

R.I.P. I will miss you.

Fashion Forward Friday

I have something new to report on the fashion front of my life: I bought new shoes in a completely lovely and impractical color.

First off, I have to say that Oprah made me do it. No really! If there is anything I've learned in my life, it's that Oprah is always right. About fashion. Sometimes. So I saw this slideshow on Oprah's website about the must have color for fall: royal blue. Naturally I went gaga and even went so far as to sit my husband down to show him the slideshow with all the pretty blue things. I told him my fall want list, and on that list was something royal blue.

Last weekend we actually found some down time together, so I suggested (or demanded, or begged, depending on your perspective) that we hit the Nordstrom Rack. So we did and look what Huzby found for me:

These royal blue suede Steve Madden Loranes. Cute, comfortable, and BLUE!

I love the zipper on the back of the shoe, and I love that it's chartreuse.

The $5 Jacket

A few weeks back, the Huz and I ventured into Ann Taylor Loft (like my favorite clothing store ever, aside form Nordstrom Rack) just to look. I was determined not to buy anything for me since we went to the mall specifically to buy clothing for the Huz. But, when I saw a jacket marked down to final sale $4.88, it almost didn't matter what it looked like, I had to have it.

Luckily the jacket was cute, and practical, and fit me. So I snatched it up.

I wore it a few days later for an improptu date night with my man. Lots of detail. And from my perspective, the metal buttons alone must cost more than $5, so I got a heck of a deal.

Definitely worth $5 in my mind.

Son of a bee

I took a long walk yesterday with the express purpose of taking pictures of my lovely surroundings before the leaves fall off the trees and every turns brown.

That was a downer for so early in the morning. Sorry about that.


I stopped to rest in a beautiful park for a while. There were tons of dragonflies and bees and butterflies. I tried to photograph the dragonflies, but their flight is far too erratic. The butterflies were fleeting. But the bees, they tend to stay in one place for a few seconds. So here are some of my bee shots.

In case you can't see him, he's in the cluster of light pink flowers.

And just to keep things interesting, the bee moved to the flower just on his (and my) left.

Then the little guy flew off. He may have been sick of the paparazzi invading some of his most private moments.

Then his attention hog of a brother came by. He was all about the photos.

He was eager to be caught in action, so I naturally, being a people/insect pleaser, indulged the bee.

P.S. Don't worry, I wasn't close. I am actually pretty frightened by bees and wasps and all stingy-type insects and tend to scream and run in the most obnoxious fashion whenever one comes near to greet me, so I kept my distance. In fact, I used a telephoto lens. 

Instead of Free Time I Have Shoes

So all this "free time" I should have has turned out to be pretty much occupied time. There are so many things that require my attention that I haven't had as much time as I'd anticipated for things like sewing and reading and photography. In addition, I have actually found it more difficult to squeeze in blog posts now that I'm not working. Weird.

I have ideas of things I want to share with you, but haven't found the time to take pictures of those things, so in the meantime I have for you a pair of shoes I acquired several months ago and photographed way long time ago and have wanted to show you because we all love shoes so much.

These Michael Kors sandals are amazingly comfortable for their height. The leather is buttery soft, and the soles are rubber, and so therefore grippy. 

Okay, so I'll admit it: I'm excited to have something in my wardrobe with Michael Kors' name on it. It makes me feel giddy. Is this superficial? Perhaps.

I adore the details. Even the buckle has Michael's name on it. And the black leather is lined with silver leather. So cute!

As usual, TC picked these out for me. I felt that they were out of my league with a higher than usual for me price tag, but once I tried them on, it was all over. We found these at Nordstrom Rack for around $60.

Can you just tell how soft the leather is? It makes me want to put them on and wear them around the house today as I do chores. 

The unemployed take a walk

Yesterday was my first weekday as an unemployed person. It was all about getting maintenance to come fix some things around the apartment, doing some hand sewing on the Vogue 1169 (I obviously did not finish it before the end of July like I had wanted), doing chores and catching up on blog reading. Last week being my last week at work was pretty busy, so although I promised a wonderful Parade Week, you really only got like Parade Three Days. Lame, I know.

Today, with the chores done and maintenance well on their way to fixing stuff, I decided I was all about being outside. I took a walk this morning to a couple of stores to see if I could find wonderful organizational type things for the kitchen that I am itching to take all apart and reorganize. I didn't find anything, but I had a great 2 hour walk.

After a brief respite at home, I walked over to spend time with BFF Kacy on her lunch hour. I took the long way home, here's what I saw. So lovely!

Look!

I struggled exercising restraint around this fountain. The water looked so refreshing.

I am still obsessed with trees. Look how lovely this one is! The roots are all gnarled and interesting.