Better late than never

Too bad I didn't pay attention to this earlier. Still, I managed to whip something up for Dad and thought I'd share the goodness. There's about a week left on the offer.

The books are really nice; I made one a year and a half ago of the kids, and Butterfly loves looking through it. You end up paying about $9 for shipping/processing -- really a great deal.

note: You don't have to make a "Father's Day" album. It can be anything you want of the 8x8, 20-page albums, including your own design.

Have you seen these?

I want to learn more about them:)

Aren't these pretty? In case you're wondering, this started with the plate on the left. I found it at a local junk store ... for 69 cents.




Part of the reason I went ahead and bought the plate, not just because it's pretty, but also because it's stamped on the bottom. So I knew it wasn't just a mass-produced trinket. Or, if it was, it was done in a convincing manner well worth the 69-cent risk:) The two photos here show the stamp on the plate, then the stamp on the candlestick holder.




The candlestick holder arrived after I took the stamp info and did some online researching. I found exactly two more entries of Aristo, Copenhagen, Denmark, as it relates to this style of ware. (There's also a town named Aristo as well as a newfangled lighting company AND some kind of car.) One of the relevant listings was for jug that had sold at auction, price unknown unless you signed up for some service. The other listing was for this candlestick holder, on eBay.

I sent a note off to the seller, who told me it had traveled with his (now late-)Danish grandmother when she came from Denmark roughly 80 years ago. I had concluded the "31" stamped on the bottom referred to 1931, and he thought so, too.

He didn't know much more about the piece, but was pleased I loved it so much. (He was selling his grandma's things because he worried they'd just get broken rolling around in the storage boxes, and there wasn't anyone in the family who wanted them. Can you imagine not wanting something so beautiful from your grandparents?) Anyway, another $7 including shipping, and the auction -- and its treasure -- were mine.

But that's it. I can't find anything else about them! The blue very closely resembles the blue of the official Dutch royal family's dishes ... or something ... which I also discovered through my research, lol. Obviously, I don't even know a lot about china. What do I even call the collection of plates, cups, etc. ... a service? Place setting?

But I do know one thing very well: These pieces are beautiful.

In for quite the treat

So I'm cleaning off the weekly kitchen-table-accumulation, and come across this funny looking little ... something. What the heck is it? It's a kind of tube, translucent and really short, not even a half an inch.

A bug casing? On my kitchen table (which is never used for kitchen table purposes, as I suspect many kitchen tables in the U.S. are never used for, but still ... )

((shudder))

Then I step back and step on something sticky. I lift my bare foot for inspection, an amazing feat (feet -- hah hah) considering my age and, erm, abundance. There's another translucent tube stuck to the bottom of my foot!! But thanks to my pets, this one comes with a bit of hair!!!!!

Ohmygod! I'm being invaded by something! It wouldn't be unheard of: Thanks to where I live, various creatures in the past have ventured in through the French doors that lead to my deck, often venturing in to their tragic fate. (I'll save the dessicated frog story for another day. ((shudder)) )

For this tragedy, however, I apologize for not having a photo to share. I must admit I was dancing around in a slightly hysterical manner, with a hairy something stuck to my person.

I, however, am a brave and fearless mama. I resolve to remove the offensive object without further ((shudder)), and reach sturdy-strong fingers down to pluck it off.

ew. It's --didImention-- sticky!

Some kind of casing that's actually a cocoon?

Then I see that it's not only translucent, but has a purple dot on each end. WTH??

And THEN I notice the smell.





mmmmmm

Candy!




Click!!

In just that split second, I realize my little girl has discovered a new trick.

Apparently, those couple of grape Mike & Ikes I gave her were only partially to her liking.

I'm guessing, from years of mamahood, that this is how it went:

After swishing the Mike & Ike around a bit in her mouth, and rendering it a beautiful shade of albino, it just didn't taste as good.

So my Butterfly deposited the part she didn't like.

By spitting it out wherever she happened to be.

And letting Mama in for a treat.

Ahhh, parenthood.

Proud of my boy!!

His school's science fair was a couple of weeks ago. He did his project on the Quaternary Period, which is the period we're currently in ... and a period that looked quite different when it began. From saber-tooth tigers (did you know those teeth were just for show, and in fact quite weak and useless for fighting?) to killer birds all the way to now, it's been an interesting time!

I helped with the printing, but all the work was his.



This is his principal ... He kept telling her more and more and more, lol.



I learn so much from him, all the time. This kid can tell you several animals in every period on the evolutionary timeline. And he can tell you countless details about each animal.



He's an amazing teacher.

A day in the life

I'm just going to let the photos speak for themselves.

Random photos

The Boy and I volunteer with a pet shelter, giving lots of love to homeless kitties. (Speaking of, check these out, then go buy some!)

Anyway, while hanging out with the cats at the store, I noticed this, on a rabbit hutch for sale. Quality in all ways ... except perhaps they lack a copy editor:


Moving on ... Coming home Saturday, we spotted these two in the neighbor's yard, enjoying a snack:
(If only I could lure them into my yard to eat the dandelions!) Yup, they're wild bunnies (it's a pasture gate they're behind.) When I worked nights, I would always see them when I came home, and I'd tell the kids. But this is the first I've seen them during the day. So now the kids know I'm not just seeing things.

And ... we couldn't let a post go by without this photo:


Doesn't she look like the little muchkin in the Pixar shorts film,
"One Man Band?"

©Pixar

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

This morning, I told the kids we were going to a scrapbooking store for National Scrapbooking Day. Elephant asked me if he could make a scrapbook.

Told you he's a good boy;)

While I did get to spend some more time in my crafting shed doing destash and organization, I was only able to get a single page done, thanks to Butterfly's recent (though not new) wish to be physically attached to me at all times -- and whilst attached, "help" me by physically moving my arms and trying to anticipate what I might be doing and/or need, so she can do it. Yeah, yeah. I hear you now: "Awwwwww, that's so cute!" OK, now imagine what it's REALLY like.

Anyway, here was our afternoon in the crafting shed:






And here was my one page:

detail shot: I made the flower in the middle during the
scrapbook store's make-and-take.

detail shot: The tag says "Some things never change -- like my love for you." Notice, too, the line of little holes there at center/bottom? That's suppose to be sewing. But the thread pulled out of the machine (AGAIN) and I ended up with decorative holes instead of decoration. Still looks OK. The dang machine, though, is going back to the store.

detail shot: I LOVE the filmstrip ribbon. It's a relatively new product, by Tim Holtz. His products are right up my alley. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the butterfly's also his.

detail shot

And here's the finished page. I'm finding myself attached
to orange and blue lately.

P.S. Elephant reminds me that when Butterfly saw the page, she
pointed at it and squealed, then dashed off to find the bear shown in the photo. The value of scrapbooking in action.

Happy Earth-- Hey!!

I had to jump back in today for another post.

So I was at Half-Price Books with my sister, and went to pay for my $1 clearance book. I see on the counter a sign: In celebration of Earth Day, with every $25 purchase, you get a free, reusable plastic bottle. Granted, it said it was biodegradable and made from recycled plastic ... but ... um ... A PLASTIC bottle to celebrate Mother Earth? How about 10% off instead?

Because the reality is that if the plastic bottle ends up in a landfill, it could be made of tissue paper and it's NOT going to degrade any time soon. Decomposition requires sunlight, rain, air. Landfills are packed as tightly as possible because, well, we need more room to shove more in. It's estimated, though of course it can't be conclusively proven, yet, that plastic bags last up to 1,000 years in a landfill!

More: Sunday, I'd gone into Target for some toddler items, and, once again, there was a celebrate Earth Day giveaway. This time, it was reusable shopping bags. These weren't the same ones Target has been stocking for a while now. They were a brand new design.

One thing that just KILLS me is this new industry dedicated to "reusable, Earth-saving tote bags." HOW MUCH ENERGY has been wasted making these things? I mean, SERIOUSLY? We'd be better off reusing the damn plastic bags!! And when the handles break, there are about 4,000 patterns online about reusing plastic bags ... including making new shopping bags out of 'em.

sigh

I've no doubt this is a well traversed subject, the commercialization of this conservation holiday. And I've no doubt others have made less obvious conclusions and suggestions. But I bet none of them have this photo, which I took at a grocery/other stuff store -- also today. Seems apt, hunh, for this modern world?

And hey! Buy one, get one half-off!



----
Crafty stuff ahead!! A friend's birthday's coming right up, and I made a couple of projects I plan to share. But in case she reads this, I can't post 'em yet:)

I'm famous!

Happy Earth Day! Woke up to find my e-mail account had been hacked and I'm apparently helping a company in Poland with their oh-so-noble mission of selling Viagra.

sigh

At least they coulda cut me in on the profits.

ANYway, I also woke up to find an e-mail that I'd been featured on The ReFORMatory, a really cool blog about upcycling, recycling, etc. Don't you LOVE the concept of the blog and the motto ("Where society's outcasts are made useful again")? Fantastic!

So thank you for the mention, and I can't wait to dig into your work!

Make a Cricut dust cover

I've been busy stocking up on supplies with an eye toward a sweet little mother-daughter book to make for Butterfly. Look at these handmade/hand-sewn stickers! Gorgeous, aren't they? I know you want some. Seriously, take a look at my blogging friend Tara's shop ... But beware! You won't be able to resist.

Anyway, a little while ago I got busy making a dust cover for my Cricut. With the approximately 4,025 animals I have in my home, it was a can't-do-this-too-soon kind of project. I poked around online and came across this video. There are a bunch of patterns you can download ... Just do a Google search.

Here's the video. There are several steps, but don't let that intimidate you:



And don't let the idea of sewing intimidate you, either. I used fusible web, heh heh heh. Here's what I ended up with (I found the material for like 2 bucks at a junk store):



I added a little handle just for fun.



Pretty cool, hunh?

Reason #444,408 why I love my son

The Elephant and the Butterfly, entertaining themselves on our Coast trip last week.
See how she looks up to him, so very literally?

Coming home the other day, after picking him up from school.
Having random conversations about this and that.
And then from him these words:

"Once I have a queen, her heart's desire shall be the heartbeat
of the world."

I live in the most beautiful state in the nation

Nice trip over to the Coast this past week. Spent a few days at Kalaloch (first time) and into the rain forest and around.



Lake Quinault



Kalaloch beach



Ruby Beach



Hoh Rain Forest



Big Cedar Tree



Kalaloch Beach, after the storm

Product Review: Making Memories 12 by 12 Inch Folding Paper Trimmer

((I posted this on amazon.com, but am spreading the word as far and wide as I know how.))

When my previous trimmer cut one too many crooked lines, I bit the bullet and started the search for a new one. After extensive research, I decided to go ahead and buy the Making Memories trimmer. I gasped at the price, but pulled out my discount coupon and sorta justified it. I haven't worked in 13 months, so this was a major decision for me!

Great trimmer, I thought, when I first pulled it out of the box. Looks gorgeous, sturdy ... which it must be considering its really heavy weight. (This is not a trimmer for those with comprised strength in their hands/wrists. Not only is it very heavy, the ruler they want you to use to hold paper in place -- kind of stupid since it's only a sheet at a time -- is SUPER strong, VERY difficult to pry off.) So I was a bit surprised to find it could only cut up to cardstock, and only one or two sheets at a time. But the other trimmers were like that, right? And this one's blade self-sharpens, so I'd never, ever need to worry about the blade.

So I put it to work, making Christmas surprise boxes for my year's cards. It was incredibly difficult at first to pull the blade back and forth ... but I figured it was breaking in or something, and eventually it did ease up. What did NOT ease up was the horrible squealing noise! It's what others have described, and it truly is ear-piercing, fingers-on-the-chalkboard bad. I saw some posts that talked about a couple of drops of sewing machine oil, but this is a paper cutter!!

OK. Holidays pass, it's busy, have a couple of birthdays and use the trimmer pretty sparsely till about a week and a half ago. Pulled it out and brought it to a class at a local scrapbook store. Used it, and it actually jaggedy-edge ripped my paper. I tried blowing out the bits of paper dust I could see inside the groove, but no improvement. So I called Making Memories the next business day.

The woman who answered was pleasant, but very, very rushed. She threw out a couple of answers to my questions but obviously was in a hurry to move on. Turns out, my blade was out of alignment and she'd e-mail me an instruction sheet to realign it. That horrible noise? It's the arm where the blade slides along ... just a couple of drops of oil, she said. I couldn't even get a "Thank you" out before the phone was hung up. The e-mail arrived seconds later.

Wow, I thought. Kinda scary that this is such a big problem they have an insta-e-mail response. So I followed the instructions and it turned out that yes, indeed, my blade was out of alignment. It's not suppose to be in the groove where all the paper dust has been trapped. It's suppose to be OUTSIDE the edge. (OK. WHY is there a groove there in the first place? It's not like something slides along there. Design flaw for sure.)

SO I moved it back into place and pulled the blade back and forth a few times to resharpen it, as instructed. WOW! Not only was the horrible squealing noise gone, the blade zipped along the track like butter ... just like all the reviews said!! Only ... my paper was not being evenly cut. Still. I tried a few more times, and no luck. Decided to call MM back.

Go to the Web site and request a replacement product, I was told. I did, and then was told I needed to furnish a receipt. Well, after I'd had the trimmer for a few weeks, I recycled the receipt and the box. With so many glowing reviews, why would I need to keep it? After much back and forth, I got absolutely nowhere. And guess what? They don't bother to sell the blade or blade compartment by itself. So now I have a piece of landfill-er.

I don't understand, 1. WHY isn't there a warranty card to return? 2. WHY are there NO instructions to indicate such a problem exists? Apparently if people try to cut inappropriate amounts of paper, it's going to throw the blade out of alignment. I never did this, and in fact am certain that my blade was out of alignment the entire time I had the trimmer. How would I have known? But it's a big enough problem they have a ready-to-send e-mail.

I went around and around and around, pointing out how much money has been invested in this company by the scrapping community, and every other sentence in response was, "I'm really so very sorry."

Well, I'm really so very sorry I ever bought this product. This was a major thing for me, and now I feel like I was selfish in taking money from my family to buy something for myself. I was hopeful I could sell some crafts this summer to bring in a little bit of money, but I won't have a trimmer to help in this.

So THERE!!

Determination's certainly what got her here, but my little Butterfly's determination ... whew.

I'm a pretty stubborn woman, and have learned the hard way how to manage my persistence. I'm probably about 35 percent successful. So I worry for my daughter, and while I of course try and will always try to help her manage, she's ... well ... probably going to do it her own way anyway.

It's hard not to look at how my Elephant was at that age and compare. He had about three temper tantrums ... TOTAL. I'd just let him throw the fit wherever we were. I'd stand a little bit away and tell him to let me know when he was done and we would talk. People would stare, but I didn't care ... and it worked!

((Now, he's working on his lawyer skills and driving me crazy with his questions questions questions about why he has to do or not do something. It's a good quality, sure, since all "bad" qualities are good qualities when you look at them the right way. But sometimes I just want to hear the lovelygloriousbeautiful words, "Yes, Mama" when I ask him to clean his room, and not begin a philosophical discourse.))

My Butterfly, though ... Her temper tantrums are epic. She screams this high-pitched scream like her eyes are being poked out. And she's so damn cute, people ALWAYS interfere. "Oh, you poor little thing! Your mother must be torturing you in some horrendous manner. Let me just buy you this pony and airplane and you'll be all better."

But the thing is, strangers' interference wouldn't matter anyway. She's not dissuaded at ALL by my "I'll stand over here till you're done" routine.

That's my girl.

Yummy day

Took the kids to this cute cupcake and coffee place (restaurant? diner? What do you call an establishment that actually sells frosting shots??) as a spur of the moment treat today. Sorry about the photo quality; I can't seem to remember my camera anymore and the G1 takes really wretched photos.


"I'll take this one and this one and this one ... "

" ... and this one and this one ... "

"Yes, these will do."

"I decree every day to be Cupcake Day!"


And in case you're wondering why all the photos are of Butterfly lately, it's because the Elephant seems unable to smile nicely for the camera now that he's 9. So if you have your heart set on seeing see blurry, weird faces, head to Google. I did manage to sneak this photo:

"If you start yelling right about here like you're having a tantrum, I can sneak in right over here and grab the chocolate ones."


When we left to go to a couple of antique stores (where I discovered Little Blue Books and a new collecting hobby, though I'm sticking with just the first 100), this is what greeted us outside:




Sheesh. Next time, we'll stay inside eating more cupcakes.