Under the Knife

I'm scared.

I'm hungry.

I'm excited.

I'm having my nose fixed today, need to be there in less than an hour. I hope my super smell sense isn't compromised.

I'll be able to breathe through my nose with my mouth closed next time I check in here.

Good vibes, please!

Angora Goat - The First Born

Individually needle felted each precious lock of angora.
Visions of a big man in a red suit at this point, thinking, "this isn't working correctly".
Wa-La...he did work. This is so wild and natural, I love how it came out, despite all my 'issues'.
The horns, or eyebrows as a dear friend saw them first, need a brow lift. They are slowly creeping down and straight. I think a couple stitches in place will be just right.

Now, fingers crossed that the customer likes what she sees!

p.s. this isn't a real angora goat, just a monster purse made to resemble a goat.

Joe Rogan deviated septum operation

As usual, Joe Rogan has chosen "colorful" words, but since my mom sent me this, I figured it's safe to share.

I'll be getting this surgery in a bit over a week. And my doc uses the gauze that Joe talks about.

Enjoy! (thanks Mom)

Mr. Green Jeans: Bug Invasion

This is the last picture ever taken of Mr. Green Jeans. I noticed him and his less colorful friend (below) this morning after dropping O at Pre-K. I grabbed my camera assuming he'd be gone. He was still there and extremely compliant. He is on our mailbox that is home to Mr. SpiderWeb. I went to add my State Sales Tax Forms to the outgoing mail and he was still there. Clearly, there was something wrong.

I hope he wasn't stuck, not that it really matters.

After Mr. Mailman flipped the mailbox cover, Mr. Green Jeans was no more.

Flattened.

Poor little guy.

But his friend below, made it through the morning unscathed.

Whispers Are Never Good

My full time job has me sitting at the computer all day. I am what some may call, fortunate, in that my computer is in my living room.

Fortunate, I am. I can get my kids on the bus and to daycare when then need me to, I can run to the school in 4 minutes if something is forgotten or someone is sick. I can start dinner on my lunch break. I can throw a load of laundry in the washer as I print a 70 page document. And my commute is the quickest and most comfortable.

However, with all good things, there are some not so great things. Working in my house gets lonely, the scenery is always the same, some feel that since I'm at home, I'm not really working. And the worst part, is that I never leave work. It is with me all day and night.

Wednesday, I was trying to finish up some emails before I "left" work. That is when the whisper started.

I can always tell when my kids are up to something. It gets uber quiet, with a side of giggle and a whisper.

It was shortly after that, when my 3yr old came running into the living room and said, "Mom, you're fat." And as he was running back, I told him how sad that made me and how unkind it was to call people names.

Another whisper.

Minute later, "Mom, you're weird."

Frustrated, I continued to work, because, I had to finish.

Another whisper.

Thirty seconds later, "Mom, you're stupid."

It was about that point when the d in stupid flew through the air that I thrust my chair halfway across the floor and said, "That's it!"

Both of them went to their rooms, were instructed to clean their rooms (50% effective) and to write (6yro) and draw (3yro) me an apology.

The little guy asked how to spell 'Sorry' (as seen in yellow, center of picture, his version SOHH). Temporary heart melt. Got over that quickly.

"Children," as my girlfriend said, "are the only things in life that can bring you the most frustration AND the most joy, but there isn't much in between." Because of Wednesday, I believe that statement.

So, after discussing with them, showing them how hurt I was, I did what all good mothers do.

I bought myself a little frame purse.

Thanks, www.Oktak.etsy.com

Two Bags Done, Two Bags Gone

After I changed my banner (happy now, Mom?), I realized I never showed you two of my four commission pieces I have been busy with. The one above, GG Cookie, is for my very talented baker friend. I love how the cookie came out. GG's Cookies makes these amazing decorated sugar cookies. She is extremely creative. Leave a comment if you would like more information on Gretchen's contact information - she ships cookies!

And this is Nubert. Nubert and I got in a fight. He wasn't cooperating with his strap, so I had to go get more yarn and remake the strap, twice. In the end, he came out better than I thought. Just in time for his vacation to New Hamshire. Lucky Monster.

Dear Blog,

You sit there waiting. Hoping for something new to display.

I have so much running through my head, yet can't put anything worthy into words.

School has started and so my taxi service is in full swing; work is work; kids are, well being boys with all the potty words and craziness; and me, well, I'm trying to keep it all together.

I keep counting the days. Whether it be counting until the weekend, or until my next trip to Chicago, or until my sinus surgery, or to my next art show, and when days are rough, I count the days until I can retire. And when I mean retire, it really isn't to lay around eating bon-bons. It is to finally do the things during the day that my soul needs to do so that I can be fresh and happy for my kids as they get off the bus. Retirement is 32 Months, 21 days, if you are counting along. Months seem so much shorter than 'just under 3 yrs'.

There was a goal a couple posts prior to this. Your update is that one purse is finished, sold and received (Thanks Bonnie and Jill!), and the two other bags are in the works. I had to dye my own yarn for the eyes. I was looking for an amber color and was coming up empty at all the yarn shops. It looks great, yet once it is washed, I hope it retains its color. I have a couple test swatches to go in the washer soon. Working on two similar bags at the same time is rough, it just seems to take quite some time to get all the parts completed. I still have two snouts, half a strap and four pupils to go. After that, I'm only half way. These are two angora goat purses and the angora didn't enjoy the washing machine, so it will either be needle felted after bag felting or hand sewn in (please, no!).

Although I love a challenge, this one has proved to be an extreme challenge.

But, without a challenge, what would I do. Who would I be. How would I grow.

I wouldn't grow. I'd be bored. And I'd look for a challenge.

So, thank you blog. Thank you for begging for some text. You just helped me.

Sincerely,
Carrie

P.S. I know, I know, the banner says Spring 2009. Suck it.

Do Not Open if You Are Easily Offended

The ending comments are worth the song...

My Weakness

Really, my weaknesses. M&M's (go figure) and a hand thrown mug. Put those two amazing things together and you get love in a bowl.

We never had little bowls of candy sitting out when I was growing up. It was only party time or when guests would stop in.

I can't wait to use this mug for hot coffee or cocoa...it's a great size and shape, more wide than tall.

I put this out the other day, and to my surprise, there are still a couple M's left. It is near my work desk, so I do filter the pilfer.

My Dreams are Coming True on October 19th

I know, I know, it's just a chain restaurant.

To you, perhaps.

To me, it's chicken lettuce wraps and Chang's Spicy Chicken and Chocolate Dome dessert on a specifically designated Gluten Free menu.

And it's coming to Buffalo.

Meet me there, I'll be the one dancing on the table inhaling the lightly breaded, spicy, tangy chicken.

Julie and Julia - The Project

I had a lovely night out with my girlfriends the other day. We went out for a quick dinner and to see the movie about the JulieJulia Project. The movie was delightful. We laughed quite a bit, shunned at the ground meat inside a de-boned duck inside pastry, and I had another issue.

We settled into our seats with our $4.50 Diet Cokes and a $4.25 bottle of water. Out of my purse came a fresh bag of Dark Chocolate Raisinettes. Oh yum. It's the candy that makes you feel less guilty because you're eating raisins. And then came my 'issue'. The smell of the soap from the theatre bathroom was disgusting. It was a medicinal smell gone sour. I fondly referred to it as 'medical waste' smell, although I'm quite sure I've never smelled medical waste.

Despite my pending sinus issues with blocked airways, I have a keen sense of smell. And every time I brought those delectable raisins to my mouth, the medical waste smell accompanied it. Gross. I couldn't go wash my hands, I didn't bring my own soap. So, out of my purse came a pack of gum. A fruit type gum that the girls wouldn't even try, some coconut pineapple thing (like Fruit Stripe gum that doesn't lose it's flavor), which I rubbed on my hands. Anything to reduce that odor. I thought it worked, but not so much. I had to stop eating. But I digress.

The reason for this post (maybe I have ADD, can't ever focus on one thought here), is the Project. The blogging, the devotion that Julie had to see the project to the end and to not quit. More specifically to have a deadline. Without deadlines, things get set aside, the importance is lessened for projects without a deadline.

I can't tell you how many projects I have in different stages of completion. This is another project I hope to complete - perhaps next year. Right now, my project is to complete three purses in two weeks. One is mostly done, less the facial features and the other two are painfully slow conceptually. I have to get these done, so that I can make purses to sell this holiday season. No more falling asleep on the couch. No more putting it off.

3 purses; 14 days. Drying time doesn't count. They have to be in the washing machine by September 5th.

Hold me to it, Mr. Blog, you are the only thing that seems to work.

Winkers Pants Anyone?

My friend Claire sent me this link to cheer me up. I enjoy it. Now, if I can get my purses to wink, I'd be set!

A Look Back through Photos

Some gas station near Chenango Valley State Park

My boys in a very steamy Butterfly Garden, Rochester's Strong Museum of Play

Flower from same Butterfly Garden