Air Oeuvre is online!

My husband has launched Air Oeuvre, a sport kite design company. Wholesale is in the works, but for now he is selling them directly. At least, go check out his handy-work. We've been using our new Pfaff for sewing the kite sails. I inspired the sail pattern and did up the website. His brother, Steven, helps with framing the kites with carbon rods. One of his latest customers, Frazer Worley, took these photos. Check it out!

Abstract Flower Brooch and Thread Collection

I was inspired by mollychicken's tutorial for simple fabric brooches. I made this one (my first) for my mother recently - hopefully she got it in the mail! I plan on making more of these soon, and also hairclip versions.

Specs:
+ multiple layers of materials from the following sources:
- suede scraps someone gave me
- egyptian cotton sheets
- cotton landscape print
- backside of stretch denim jeans
- fabric covered button from grandma's stash
- vintage sky blue cotton curtains
- brown cordouroy pants
- brown embroidery thread
+ about 4" across
+ 1-1/4" steel nickle-plated pin back



And as you can see, this is part of my thread collection. I have a lot of wooden spools (most with little/no thread) that are up for grabs if anyone wants to trade me something for them :)

About two years ago on eBay, I won an auction of thread and small sewing-related knick knacks. I haven't bought a lot of new thread; this photo shows mostly someone else's old things.

ridiculous shirt made cute

My grandmother-in-law knows a "plus-sized" older woman who loves crazy prints and crazy designs. I got a heap of her clothes. This is first reconstruction from this stash.

I removed the 3/4 length sleeves. There are three tiny pleats at the shoulder, on the front, hidden under the collar. This causes some puffiness. I applied red, double fold bias tape to the armholes. Taking in the sides proved to be a bit difficult; twas my first somewhat successful altering of a woven fabric garment with a zipper in the back.

It's my new favorite shirt. Click for larger image.

My first "wedding" cake.

My friends Sandy and Renee were married this evening, and I made them a small simple wedding cake. Click on the image for more information.

dress, dresser, and dressed up wingback

Last week, I spent a few hours with Jackie one day and with Oma and Opa on another day. I ended up leaving with all sorts of neat things, like...

+ 3 80s leather shoulderbags with gold accents and neat metal closures
+ 1 wingback (?) chair that she lovingly reupholstered
+ 1 secondhand yellow/pea green curtain panel (same color as our living room wall) which serves as a cover for the chair
+ 1 secondhand dark wood night stand with tiny drawer
+ 1 secondhand dark wood mini-dresser that matches a large dresser I already have
+ 1 tall gold desktop clock with chime and glass dome cover
+ 3 pieces of fabric, with printed pieces/instructions to make 2 dolls and 1 country cow apron

Here is the little dresser. It's only a few feet tall. My grandmother crocheted the orange and green mat.

Earlier in the month, I wore this robe/dress thing. I'm still wondering what I will do with it (sell, reconstruct, keep?). Click for full-size picture.

squirrels and magnolias

Sitting at the computer desk and looking out the bedroom window, I notice a squirrel in my front yard that is working its way down a tree and INTO my mailbox. I grab the camera and make way out the front door, tip-toeing ever so quietly out into the yard. But darn-it-all, the little bugger has already run off and up the tree. Did he snatch a little magnolia blossom for himself?

Spanish, Chef hats, and ice cream

04.21.06

Today at work when my boss made a telephone call to a customer to ask a question about her cake order, he discovered that she spoke mostly spanish and not enough english (for him). After he hung up with her and tried to find someone who spoke her language, I reluctantly came forward and offered to call her.

Despite my completion of four high school spanish courses, I am not confident about my ability to speak spanish. To escape any possible embarrassment, I secluded myself in the boss's office to make this private phone-call; no one else would be able to hear my attempts to communicate with this woman. Before I dialed the number, I recalled a few words that I needed: Hablo español pequeño. I scribbled a couple of other spanish words on a piece of paper as well.

I called her. We communicated. It was the highlight of my day. During our conversation, I apologized for not knowing how to say what I wanted to say - I was upset with myself for not remembering words like "what," "when," and "how many!" - but we got through it. It felt special, to work hard at this simple task of communicating, and understand each other in our own way.

04.20.06

+ "off-the-clock" antics at work - found some disposable chef hats in the boss's office and well, as expected, I put them on and waited until someone found me and joined in on the hat wearing
+ had a nice ride home from work listening to the Black Eyed Peas - really loud!
+ gave away some fabric via the local Freecycle - she was so happy!
+ visited with my mom and enjoyed reminiscing while sipping a ColdStone Creamery Smoothie

art museum, sail patterns, spring cleaning

03.30.06 - visited the Tampa Museum of Art to admire the selected works of Maurice Sendak and Keith Haring
04.02.06 - collaborated with Robert on the sail pattern design for his kites: the Mohawk and the Spike
04.03.06 - clearing out the clutter in the house and listing non-fiction books about pop culture on Amazon.com
- went to Treasure Island and got some good video of Rob and T.C. flying their matching Mohawks
- currently obsessed with looking at cat pictures at Flickr.com, especially those of Jimmy Leo

Featured on Etsy.com !!!!

Eeek! I'm excited! I got an e-mail this morning from one of my customers saying that one of my handmade items is featured on the front page of Etsy today! The featured item on 03.23.06 is my Reconstructed Jean Skirt with Pink Felt Flowers.

Edit on 4.17.06 - SOLD!

Day off in Downtown

+ scheduled a pick-up of my fabric donation to a local sewing class for girls
+ photographed 3 kites @ Gulfport beach for reviews on KiteLife Magazine
+ parked in downtown and walked around and sneezed like mad (oak pollen) but was a beautiful day out!
+ paid the utility bill
+ ate at subway and pondered what life would be like if we lived in a small apartment downtown - no need to use the car because everything but family is so close, having less "stuff" to clutter our lives, not owning a house
+ looked around Star Booty and learned that they take cool clothing, etc. for store credit and also consign handmade items/art
+ came home and now I'm off to clean more

Rob's new kite and video

Oh yeah - Rob's been rocking his kite-making skillz. This is his standard version "Mohawk," soon to be available for sale. This is the kite that he has been testing and losing sleep over for months. I think it paid off.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO featuring the music of The Dismemberment Plan, Pedro the Lion, and Headphones.

day trip to saint augustine

highlights from the fun-fly kite day trip:

- being awake before the sun rises
- hearing Robert's first handmade kite (the Mohawk) roar through the air like a fighter jet in 25 mph winds
- watching dumb people feed sea gulls and other beach/park birds
- being proud of Robert for his great job with the Mohawk
- being exposed to unhealthy amount of Jimmy Buffett

birthday details and thrift store scores

Well! I had a great day. Started out with a Robby hug before I went to sleep a little past midnight. In the morning, my mom came to my house to teach me how to crochet. Then my big brother brought burritos, and we reminesced (sp?) about growing up.John brought presents from my dad and Susan. Then Rob's mom picked me up and took me to a great Goodwill! Spent about an hour there and I hardly got past the SHOES. It was great. (see pictures below) Then Rob and I went to Kinjo Japanese Resturant where I recieved free dinner - woohoo! Then to his mom's house for ice cream b-day cake and (half) a Godiva Rum Truffle (which was the only "alcohol" I had) and visit with Oma. Then home for seam-ripping and Olympics-watching and a phone call with my dad. And to bed I go! Yay!

Rob & Steve - Sawgrass Lake Park

Robert and Steve went to Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Petersburg, FL, on Tuesday. Click on the photo to view my flickr photo set. All photos by Robert, except the one of him, which I suppose Steven took.

Robby made a kite.

Robert made this. It looks so beautiful in the air. Once I get a pic of it in the air, I'll replace this photo. But you get the idea. Tuxedo!

Candace sent me books!

Robert's mother's sister's friend Candace has been reading my journal and thought I'd enjoy some books of hers that she no longer needs.

1. Classic Millinery Techniques: A Complete Guide to Making & Designing Today's Hats
2. Hat Tricks: 80 Instant Makeovers to Transform Ordinary Hats into Fabulous Creations
3. Stitch & Stencil: Over 40 Easy Fabric-Based Projects
4. The Complete Soapmaker: Tips, Techniques & Recipes For Luxurious Handmade Soaps
5. The Complete Candlemaker: Techniques, Projects, and Inspirations

I'm really getting into the first book. But in order to jump into any millinery projects, I'll definitely need a wooden hat block thing - which I've never seen in person. And then some buckram and millinery ribbon. I have almost everything else. Perhaps I'll hit up St. Pete Freecycle to see if anyone has a hat block. Wish me luck!

Also, in my research I found this inspirational painting by frenchman Edgar Degas - The Millinery Shop. According to the Art Institute of Chicago, its oil on canvas and from 1884/90. I forgot how much I enjoy Impressionism.

Lam Hoac is here!

Lam Hoac is a great guy who designs and flies sport kites. Sky Sport Design is the name of his company. Lam, Rob, and I will be driving to Saint Augustine, FL, this weekend for SASKC 2006. Lam is visiting from Canada, so we are his temporary Florida home. And we sure do love his company. Besides being a kite master, he's a great cook and all-around fun guy too!

Handmade trade with Jill Bliss

After many back and forth e-mails, Jill Bliss and I have agreed to swap some handmade goods! She's the founder of blissen and maker of these fabulous wallets that I've had my eye on for some time now. I'm flattered that she likes my purses :) I sent her a tote I made from a pair of printed vintage napkins and also the "Elephant Hawk Moth Green clutch". She says she loves them both! And I love the wallet and pins I recieved! Thanks so much, Jill!

Holy Crap! Kite Video!

I'm so proud! Rob and Drew made an AWESOME video! They flew; they recorded; they rocked your world.

CLICK HERE!

Kite: Sky Sport's Sea Devil standard custom-made kite (Lam, you rock!)
Pilot: Robert Randolph
Cameraman: Drew Little
Location: Treasure Island, FL
Music: Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) by The Postal Service

Vintage Linen Patchwork Garden Tote

new purse - click for more info!