Has anyone out there tried spoonflower? I just heard about it on CBC this morning. Very excited to try it out. Maybe when I get back from Xmas. I will have to start thinking of a pattern and project. I wish they had stretchy fabric - then I could make stuff for the girls.... I guess I could always put a zipper in something - bah!
NOW I need a nap. Got up at 5:30 this morning after not sleeping very well. Then I had an early adventure on our snow filled roads (this will be a nightmare if it freezes) and I've been trying to work on my sketches ever since. Thus far I have not accomplished much..... A nap will help. I'll dream of spoonflower.....

It is 3:30am. Minou and I can't sleep. Well that isn't true - she was sleeping. I just keep moving which is rather disruptive.
I feel like I should be productive instead of watching lame Colin Farrell movies on TV BUT I'd rather just go to bed. Ugh. Not sure why I can't sleep. I didn't have a nap today - only slept in until 8:00am (did I mention I am officially unemployed again with a looming actor's strike) all I can think is that it is the small mug of hot chocolate I made around 7:00pm. Blah. Won't do that again if that is the case.
Been working on my homework - taking it to the printers tomorrow. Hopefully it is good enough. Ugh. Next I have to figure out how to bind it - then we hand it in on Tuesday.
I have a few other things on the go to some for other people, some for Xmas..
This is for (shhh don't tell) Julien. Here is hoping he doesn't read my blog.

I'm hoping to put together a whole bunch of them - I won't say much more in case he DOES read my blog... that would be bad. Ruin his whole Christmas I'm sure.
Sigh. Maybe I'll try going back to bed - I just hate it when I toss and turn and disrupt the dictator, he is such a light sleeper - probably hearing my fingers on the key board 3 rooms away is waking him up.

Working on homework.... getting my stuff done. Lots has piled up over the last few months....
Made a Christmas card today - I'll take it to the printers tomorrow. I haven't sent out cards in years - just been doing the email thing. Next I need to get wrap/crew gifts done for work. 2 people I don't have a clue what to buy... ugh...
The dictator and I are renovating, selling furniture and buying furniture. One day we will figure out what to do with this house. This weekend we will probably get a Christmas tree. YIPPEE!
I love Christmas....

oh make that weeks. SOOO SORRY.
I've been busy and then just needed a rest. The girls are fine. They were helping us paint today and have paint spots all over them to prove it. Birdie insisted on being between me and the wall I was painting at all times. Depending on how close I was to the wall meant she was often backing into the wall. I couldn't get her to go elsewhere. She wanted to be petted.
Not much is new. We were away for Thanksgiving. My sister was here the following weekend. Then work all of a sudden went nuts as we did long 12hour + days for two weeks - WHILE at the same time I was trying to build a few costumes for this theatre thing. It was a little stressful. That all ended Oct 30. Now I have rested for a week, am finally getting caught up on homework and housework. The dictator started several renovation projects over the last few weeks - it was nice to help him finish up one of them today. We'll see which one we can finish next.

The wearable art awards finally posted their call for entry. Time to start working on my dress for this year. (or should I say dresses)

I'll try and post more this month with better things.
In the meantime I leave you with Minou's and Birdie's halloween costumes.

Did a bit of sewing yesterday. I wanted one for me so I made two at the same time and put one on etsy.... Hee hee.... If I keep this up I won't have any bits of scrap fabric left over. So much for my stash....


Not much else going on. Work was really busy this week so it consisted mostly of me coming home, crashing, then getting back up and going to work... It was raining too. It is a nice weekend though. Still have some more sewing to get done. Been working on a couple of logos for a few people as well...

Can you tell I am working? Cause I am sure not blogging.

It is hard having a job and then trying to come home and do other things. I'm too old to work. heh heh. I'm managing to get caught up on a few things now that school is over until the fall. Working on my website which has only half been switched over to my new look, working on some sketches for a show that may happen in the fall.... haven't cleaned the house yet and that HAS to happen this weekend. Good thing it is a long weekend and a little rainy.

Not much else to report..... Girls are doing well. whatever was wrong with Minou isn't showing up in any tests and she appears to be getting better aside from some really really smelly farts.
- HEY -
did I mention A LONG TIME ago about the night MInou kept me up and I couldn't figure out what she wanted and the next day I heard there had been a little tiny earthquake???? Well the other day she kept me up all night again. I was getting really annoyed - had no idea what she wanted. She would sit on my back ( I was sleeping on my stomach) and growl. ALL NIGHT. Well don't you think the next morning I hear there is a rock slide outside of Squamish - a BIG one. The dictator thinks I am nuts but I think Minou sensed the rock slide just like she sensed the earthquake. She is clever....

I think I am done my ziggy stardust project... It isn't as thrilling as I had hoped but well _ i was so worried about the posters I forgot about any other content for the CD cover. What can you do... One more week of classes left...

Job is going well - working with some people I really like. No easing into it though - working 12 hour days already and it is hard. I am so not used to it. It has almost been a year since I have done 12 hours... Not sure how I will manage this. I've been watching the clock an awful lot.... We get fed lunch - which is great, play loud music and are pretty much left alone.
This is the movie I am on. Haven't seen anyone famous yet - and I might not because the fitting rooms are around the corner. But I'll probably hem their pants! heh heh...

Tired this weekend - is it just from work? I need to get back on my vitamins get the energy levels up. Minou isn't feeling well either - hopefully nothing serious - just an upset tummy. We went to the vet last week but haven't heard anything back from her tests yet - maybe tuesday. She's eating and acting normal - let's just say there are other 'signs' that lead to the upset stomach conclusion and I won't go into details.

Wanted to make cupcakes tonight - having a craving and am dying to use the neon food coloring steph left here - heh heh but we have no eggs. Anyone know a good egg substitute? I'm always hesitant when I look them up online and it doesn't say what they are best used for.... Last time my cupcakes were more like biscuits then cake.

Ok. I might have a nice warm bath and read my book. I'm reading blindness - holy creepy and I am only 30 pages in. I can't imagine what the movie is like.

......bathtime....

Just doing homework....
Got a call about a possible job - I desperately need the money but it is someone with a not so good reputation. I just don't want to deal with psycho people anymore. They make me miserable.
The more I am unemployed the more I don't want to work with people. It is so terrible. Can we say lonely freaky hermit?
I'm in the final weeks of my classes - 2 1/2 more to go. We have a test next week and some big assignments to finish up. Sigh.....
Got news about the big movie I want to work on - it is that much closer to starting but still no dates for me. They are still waiting on the actor's strike. It sounds like I definitely have a job if they do every get going. In film talk that means nothing though. Movies disappear all the time.

I have somethign else I want to make for my etsy shop - custom COOL golf club covers. The ones in the store are so either a) boring or b) tacky. The more I'm golfing with Luc the more I need to personalize my stuff. I'm in the middle of making a pattern (how can you be in the middle you say when the patterns are so simple? Well I get easily distracted - leave me alone) The first set I want to make are going to be white and pink leather and I want to paint/silkscreen ziggy stardust on the top. Nice eh! heh heh.... Embroidery would be even better but more expensive...



I also need to get some rough sketches done for this play I am working on in October but I'm not motivated to do costume sketches these days. I'm so bad.

Just checking in with all my METRO Halifax buddies. I keep seeing the news about the fires out there - scary. I can't imagine. Even if your house isn't threatened I know how horrible the air is when there is fires like that around. (I lived in California remember - brush fire capital of the world) I hope you are all safe and healthy. If you aren't, Steph is always up to play Martha Stewart to some guests. heh heh....

Not much new here. Word is the actor's strike is happening. That means my one job prospect is on hold. Oh goody.

Been doing alot of homework and waiting for the rain to go away. It is actually sunny outside today - I kind of don't believe it. Of course Angie leaves today for Banff so that is the end of my pathetic social life.

I couldn't sleep last night so I didn't go to boot camp. Grrrrrr... Mad at myself for not getting up.
Now it is 8:30 and I should really be going to the gym but oh so LAZY! Incredibly so.

You were all right - Twin Peaks, I wasn't specifically doing fire walk with me or the series, all the same to me (and I haven't seen one or the other in awhile so it is hard to differentiate.)
Just in case I did another one for another movie but I don't think it is as good so you are going to have to wait until I tweak it.

Gosh I have nothing to say. Things are quiet. It is raining outside - like POURING, these days so no fun outside adventures with the girls. I have lots of homework to do so I have been spending my time on the computer while Minou and Birdie nap on the futon behind me. The house is a disaster but no one is coming to visit so why keep it clean? I think Sarah and I finished up with our logo for the travel agent stuff (first real graphic design job) we came up with something I really liked but the woman has bad taste in fonts so we had to change it. So sad. Let's just say I'll be putting my version in my portfolio.

I started a few crafts with Steph. Some have made progress. Birdie is getting a new noro sweater - she outgrew her puppy one YEARS ago. I'm on the neck and then just the sleeves to do. There is wool for Minou too. I started my mini Minou which is actually life size Minou - haven't been back to that yet but hoping to soon. As soon as the homework is done I'll allow myself a bit of play time this weekend. My tea bag dress came home this week - have no idea what to do with it. It is huge. Sad thing is it might go in the garbage. Oh here is sad news. The wearable art awards have been cancelled this year (at least for now). Apparently the woman who has been running them for the past few years is no longer with the gallery. They say they will try and have it in the spring instead but I have my worries. At least this means I'm not behind on my dress. Although that isn't very comforting.

Ok I REALLY should go to the gym. I think I gained five pounds just hearing Steph describe the home made oreos she made last night.

Got my haircut.
Remember that nightmare haircut I had in Jan? You don't? Oh that is funny - is it because I hated it so much I didn't take any pictures of it, didn't wear my hair down for 3 months? In fact no one knew I even had a cut... just the way I wanted it.
Anyways I have hated it everytime I look in the mirror so I finally chopped it all off. I wanted to wait to grow out the sides so it could be longer but it wasn't going to happen anytime soon...
Finally I can wear my hair down again without feeling like an idiot.......

Went to the new gym today - our rec centre just had a major makeover and it is all shiny and pretty. I tried out the 'wave' and the 'arc'. I can barely walk now. But it was fun - I'll go back tomorrow.

Oh you will all find this amusing...
I was in the middle of boot camp yesterday when I noticed something in my running tights. I pushed it with my finger hoping it wasn't dirty underwear, or even clean underwear.... It wasn't underwear. I thought it was a sock. I pulled it out and was about to show my triumph to the lady next to me so we could both have a giggle when I realized it was a pantyliner. ACK. I shoved it back in and waited for the next opportunity to rid myself of it. I have NOOO idea how it got there. Don't worry it was unused, I'm just not sure how it got to the knee of my running tights without me noticing........ Reason #1 to not get dressed at 5:30am.

Sigh.

I have time again... In theory LOTS of time and I like it that way.

The play is done. My homework is 3 minutes from being done - it is at the printers and I am picking it up tonight. My last class is tomorrow afternoon. I may have a job next week but right now that is still up in the air and I could care less if it happens or not - aside from the fact that I am broke. I did my taxes - well I took my taxes to the accountant - therefore I DID my taxes. Shredded all the bits I didn't need for recycling - I never shred things.... Whew. Now I am slowly cleaning the house and doing ALL the laundry. Still lots to do in that department but I am not in a rush and I have already accomplished quite a bit.

It is pouring rain outside and the girls are resting. If the sun comes out we will go for a walk.

YAY.....

I wish I could be unemployed forever, take classes and sew silly things for the wearable arts awards and the girls to wear. I've been buying t-shirts at superstore in the girls department to make t-shirts for my girls. I am addicted to Joe! They have great clothes for me and cute prints for Min Min and Brandine... I have a little pile waiting for me to cut up and make pretty. My serger is on the fritz though so I think I will take it in for some loving care before I make the t-shirts.


(This is where Birdie's nickname comes from, Brandine)

My illustrator keeps crashing.
It is evil.
I guess this is what you get when you download an illegal copy, use it for 2 months and then when you are down to your last 3 projects and the last 4 days before they are due and you are really really stressed out as is about getting them done - IT CRASHES EVERY 10 SECONDS....
OHHH I am PMSing and that combined with the illustrator crashing makes for a really horrible mood.

So I have now purchased the 100% REAL student version - only I did it online and it is Saturday and they have to verify that I am actually a student before I can download it so I will be lucky if I can get it on Monday........ (or even Tuesday)

AHHHHHHH!!!!! I'm thrilled I really am....

I went to a BAR last night with my buddies. I haven't gone out on Friday night in any regular sense of the word FOREVER!!!!! It was weird. I didn't like it at all. I used to enjoy it but I have turned in to an old woman. The music was horrible and loud, drunk guys stumbling around are totally unpleasant. I don't think I make a very good wingman for my single friends.

Penny and I have been watchingthe flight of the conchords. We LOVE it. If you have never seen it I recommend it HIGHLY. We owe Thyrza a big thanks for giving us a copy.

I am addicted....
absolutely addicted.... can't stop

Angie was just here. We were playing Dance dance revolution and totally lost track of time. We were being LOUD and it was well past 11:00pm on a Sunday night - I am such an obnoxious neighbour. hee hee

We suck at it. Really really badly. But oh it was fun. and we were sweating!! It is hard. We can't get past level one - at all. It is sad really. We fail most songs. But we laughed the entire time.

The best was when during a fit of giggles in the middle of a song Angie just kind of stopped and said "I can't" in the saddest most defeated voice you ever heard.

If you ever want to feel like a white guy with absolutely no rhythm at all - play a few rounds of DDR. I think I am going to have to take it to my sister's for Easter - I have a feeling mom + bottle of wine + DDR = ENDLESS LAUGHTER.

Good times aside I am still not done with the play. They want yet another shirt for one of the actors - this will be his third shirt for this scene. I don't know what they think I am going to find - the man has had on every expensive shirt I could find in our color scheme. I am soooo over this show right now.

Crap I have the hiccups....

OH OH OH I made red velvet cupcakes today with the cream cheese icing. SOOOO GOOD. I don't make a pretty cupcake so no point in taking pictures. But very very tasty.

NEVER PUT SOAP IN YOUR EYE.
or shampoo.
or both.
even in the shower with ample running water at your disposal.

Have to share a little story from my class... My teacher sent us this email yesterday about how to place a UPC code in our project. He went on and on about it in class, I was surprised he was still going on about it in the email until I read the last paragraph.....

remember this about UPC's:

Don't mess with it. Don't colour it, scale it, cut it off or otherwise mangle in any way. Don't even look at it with bad intentions. The UPC must sit on a WHITE background; also give it at least a 1/8" white margin all around. Always handle your UPCs in this manner - this ensures that your UPC will read properly by the fancy Optical Readers that all retail stores employ.

Don't follow these UPC rules and one day you'll find yourself pasting replacement labels on 500,000 boxes in your mother-in-law's basement; a privilege for which you promised your undying servitude and which will become the embarassing story of choice at every and all family gatherings. Not that that's happened to me...

This little game is BIG trouble. HUGE I tell you. Especially for someone who has so much to do she doesn't know where to start......

UHHHHHH...
Can Not Get Motivated this morning..... UHHHHHH... Struggling...
I had boot camp this am - nearly killed me. we are back outside now that the snow is done and let me tell you sprinting across a soccer field is ALOT more work then sprinting across a small multipurpose room.
UHHHHH......
The girls are still gone. Today is their day off. Hope they get to do something fun. We will have to take them to the doggy deli as a reward for being such good puppies.... I noticed today another little chihuahua friend who has recently gotten a modeling job.
ok. must do something. I need to go shopping for my artsclub show. Thank goodness the malls don't open until 10:00 and you never want to look to eager when you have returns. I'll go closer to 11:30.
ok. I am going to try and accomplish something. I am. Promise. Oh maybe I'll post some more homework I am working on just for a bit of visual content.

We have to take a modern ad of some sort and make it look historical. Not the most thrilling choice but I find those old woodblock posters was the gazillion fonts funny.
I could take a picture of my boob which is finally turning purple - I think you would all rather see the poster - trust me.

I slept in until 11:00am today. I am going to totally blame it on the cleanse even though I'm not feeling the least bit tired from it. But it seems liker a good excuse.
Actually the only symptoms I seem to have are a stiff lower back and a stiff right arm - WHICH oddly enough are two spots I fight with constantly - only usually only when I am doing something - AKA not sleeping in until 11:00am and watching days of our lives! I reread the symptons and apparently muscle aches are something that can happen - I will pretend I believe in the hippy dippy new age stuff for a minute and say that there are toxins there and that this is making them better! Heh heh.
Luc has 'jumped aboard' the cleanse game too - not to say he is doing the cleanse but he quite enjoys telling me what I can't eat. And he added DUST to the list of foods I can eat (Little britain fans will get that reference) He did take my unemployed butt to the grocery store tonight to get some more almond butter and blueberries.
I'm even swallowing all the pills before my meal now (still with apple juice mind you)
I discovered a new way to tell when Birdie is going to fart. She managed to get a bunch of uncooked brown rice this morning when I was cleaning up and her stomach was kinda upset all day (she puked a bunch of it up on the carpet eventually), she was sitting in my lap at one point and I could hear her little stomach gurgling away when she started shaking - like Minou does when she is freaked out. Only Birdie is a little to 'slow' to get freaked out so she doesn't generally shake. Suddenly there was a rather potent little POUFF. Then Birdie stopped shaking and looked quite pleased with herself (she's her father's daughter).
Next time she starts shaking I am leaving the room.
I told Dictator Daddy this theory and he promptly started shaking and then let one rip - he is such a romantic.
Not much else is new here. I was too lazy to make it to my studio - had to finish my portfolio for my job interview tomorrow and then there was DISHES. I hate doing the dishes. And then days of our Lives and then Passions - you can see why I neevr made it to the studio.