Under a Blue Moon

Weekends

I started a post on Friday about how it was my favorite day because of the delicious anticipation of the weekend and all but then I got distracted by chasing goats out of my yard. Again. It was kind of fun and charming the first time. Not so much the second time when they showed up on my deck and started eating out of my pots.

I shooed them away and they went around front and started eating the azaleas by the front door. I got a pan of goat grain from our nicely behaved, stay put goats to try to lure them back over to their own people’s potted plants and it was like a scene out of Willard. They swarmed me and were hopping up trying to knock the pan out of my hand.

I did manage to get them to hop over the fence again by tossing handfuls of grain into the neighbor’s yard – they hopped over one by one, like counted sheep, except for the very last little one that bleated miserably as all his pals left and he couldn’t quite make it over with his short legs. We found another section of fence that I held down for him so he could join his herd.

Of course they didn’t come back all weekend when Rick was there. They like to wait until I’m alone and they can overtake me.

We had gorgeously spectacular weather all weekend. I managed to get out and prune the roses, finally. I used to be very meticulous about this but now I basically just cut out the canes that are crowding the middle and trim the bush back by about half. In California we don’t have to do a hard prune – I figured this out the one year I forgot to prune all together and the bushes looked so much better than when I cut them down so short.

The candle above came from Target – only $4.99. I thought it was pretty sweet looking. Much better picture for a post than a goat infestation:

Extra goats

I looked out our kitchen window this afternoon and noticed we had a few extra goats. A dozen of them to be exact.

Our neighbors behind us have goats for the same reason we do – to help keep the weeds down (okay THEIR goats actually do the job – ours laze around and refuse to wander very far from the goat palace so we have to give them goat chow so they don’t starve to death. We’re suckers.). The neighbors had a tree come down and take out their electric fence so the goats feel free to wander around and eat our azaleas.

Just part of the charm of living in a semi-rural area.

Oh – look what I spied when I was out taking goat pictures:

Our first daffodil of the year!

Yet another new project

A few weeks ago, after I started the table runner project (Lorraine I haven’t forgotten you, by the way…) I vowed two things: Not to show projects until they were finished and not to start NEW projects until one was completed.

But if I followed either of those self-imposed requirements I would never post anything. I still haven’t finished the felt table runner that was supposed to take me all of 20 minutes to complete. It’s all cut out – I just have the boring job of appliqueing four feet of 1/4" wide felt in a ribbony effect on the front and it’s not as fun as I thought it would be. Once that’s done I get to the fun part of applying all the felt flowers.

When I bought the runner pattern I also bought this embroidered pillow fabric. It’s a basket of flowers that will be the center, front of the pillow.

You recognized the floral with the pale blue background? I decided against using it on the dining room chairs. We want something a little more formal (and yes. Another unfinished project for those of you keeping count). But I am going to use it to frame the embroidered square center of the pillow and for the back with the pale pink as a pleated ruffle.

Keep your eye on this blog – I should have a picture of the completed pillow in 2009. Maybe.

Paper bits

I had a paper epiphany yesterday. I was lovingly stroking my new Anna Griffen papers when I realized that I mostly just like to buy them for their potential – not because I have any project in mind.

I have some very talented quilting sisters and they do the same thing with fabric. Something I can never bring myself to do. I need a project, pattern in hand, before I can even concentrate on selecting the fabric. I am always a little stunned and worried for them when they blithely toss a fat quarter collection into their shopping basket just because they like the colors.

Of course paper runs about 30 cents a sheet so that might be the difference. At least it’s a cheap addiction.

Isn’t that pretty? It has a vintage wallpaper feel. I’m seeing a lot of vintage wallpaper, popping up on blogs, these days.

Oh here’s a little known fact about me – I used to be a wallpaper hanger. I worked at a large wallpaper store back in my early 20’s and part of my job was to do demos on Saturdays. We had a little stage area and I would ask someone in the audience to pick a paper (one they were considering) and I would wallpaper a little vingette with it. Then I started doing small jobs on the side. I made pretty good money hanging wallpaper.

The ribbon is vintage rayon seam binding. I found a source online that has a ton of it. 75 and 100 yard rolls. Mostly in blues and greens. I love the French apartment feel the ribbon and paper have. I actually do have a project in mind for this paper. I bought a series of Paris stamps a while back and have an idea for either a collage or a card.

Nice thing about paper is that is doesn’t take up much space. My goodness I need to tidy up my little craft closet.

Tiara party

About four years ago I found a website that sells crown kits and ever since then have wanted to have a Tiara Party with my nieces. I just never got around to ordering the kits or gathering my own supplies to do it.

When the Crowns & Tiaras book came out I bought it for my more vocal niece – the one that asked every couple of weeks "so when are we having our Tiara Party" until my procrastination finally broke her spirit and she stopped. I’m a terrible Auntie.

Then I stumbled across a picture in Flickr of the most amazing crown made by Holly Doodle Designs. When I see her amazing work and creativity I just want to roll over and give up – I could NEVER be that creative on my own. Seriously – go look at her Marie Antoinette inspired crown on Flickr.

After seeing her work I raided my jewelry box and I’m sure glad I hung on to all the crap, costume jewelry from the 80’s. I’m forever losing one earring from a pair but am optimistic that it will show up eventually (even after 20 years and three moves). I can pillage my stash for new projects. I may not be able to use it on a tiara but certainly in some project.

Now those earrings would be a nice element to a jeweled crown, don’t you think?

I have left strict instructions that upon my demise I am to be buried wearing a tiara. I may not be a princess in real life but, my goodness, I am going to dress like one in the hereafter.

Okay Camille – get ready – Aunt Andrea may have a Tiara Party after all!

(Edited to add: Go check out Hellomynameisheather – she had a crown party for her little ones and the results are adorable.)

Challenge!

I am participating in Beachy’s Capecod Cupboard’s Blogger Craft Challenge. Louise (Beachy) selected a vintage photograph of a wedding party and each participant was to use the image in any type of artwork they wanted. This is my offering.

First here is the original image:

I took a microscope slide holder as the foundation for my piece. First I painted the cover and inside a light ivory color. I painted the slots where the slide go gold. Then I printed an old wedding certificate on vellum and glued it to the inside, cutting out where the slides go.

I added some additional images and a favorite quote* to the inside. I cut up the orginal photo and put four members of the wedding party under the slides (which I had painted the edges with gold paint).

I even added some rhinestones (diamonds) for good measure. And what’s a wedding without some champagne?

Then I started on the front cover. Starting with the light ivory background I stamped the front with several different rubber stamp images. Then I decoupaged some vintage ephemera images I had. Then I started embellishing – keeping with the wedding theme – lace, pearly buttons, hearts, a cherub, millinery flowers and a bit of blue ribbon.

The larger flower in the upper right hand corner and the bit of blue ribbon actually came from Louise herself. A while back I had ordered a vintage hankerchief holder from her and she included a lot of little extras including these bits. See? It pays to hang on to everything – you just never know when it might come in useful.

*"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul." ~ Judy Garland

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