Greetings from the Happy Files

Just a few things that are floating my boat:
Embroidery Art from the merriweather council.


Fabric Plants! from janejoss

Simple...and not so perfect. Compliments of AmeliaBrilliant ;)


Here's hoping this positive outlook will lead me straight into a positive labor. C'mon out, Amelia!
Love,
Jes

Someone Was Looking Out...

About ten years ago, I was sort of a wayward girl living in Manhattan and going through a real "lady of the night" phase if I can call it that after a bad breakup with ye olde high school sweetheart. When I came home to hide out after September 11, my friend introduced me to this flippant boy who offended me and never deserved a second look until I saw him again months later and we were wearing the same shirt. In this new context, I knew I had to have him. So I got him. Between college classes, I wrote his senior year research paper on the relevance of celebrating Christopher Columbus (I got a B+ but it was totally an A paper) after he refused to do it. He came to New York and spent his last dollar to bring me ice skating. We walked around a lot and talked about things because we didn't have any money to do anything. I made him a wallet out of ketchup packets. He gave me a stuffed dog named James. I went to his prom and wore a red dress from 1955 that I bought and reworked for $12. He carried all of my shoes from West 27th St. all the way to the train when I moved home. Somewhere along the line, after refusing to let myself for a really long time, I fell in love with that guy and I married him two years ago today. Now I look at him sometimes and I wonder what I did in my past life to deserve him. If I were president, there would be a law that would make it mandatory for everyone in America to have someone that makes them feel the way he makes me feel. In other words, world peace. Man....I'm lucky.

Farewell, Fringe and Frida

It was a tough week in our house with the passing of a family member. We were lucky to have been invited several days this week to say goodbye and we're currently working through a two-day funeral/memorial service, so we've been in a bit of a fog. Dan's uncle was a wonderful man and I'm happy we've been able to say goodbye in a big way. Still...at 39.5 weeks it's been pretty hard on the body. I'm secretly hoping that the experience is teaching Amelia the importance of family in utero. I don't think we'll have a hard time getting this idea through to her either way...but I digress.

Unless she's born before her Monday due date, I'm hoping to get back into the craft room this weekend to make some Spring 2012-inspired necklaces to add to the bunch for spring shows before I become a full-time mom. Here are a few inspiration pieces that, oddly enough, I had found myself wearing in the ridiculous dreams that I've been having. I know. Obsessed.

also...uhm...hi, Frida.




Happy Friday.

Love
Jes

Channeling Frida

I recently read Elsie Larson's tips for staying inspired and I was particularly taken with tip #2-Find a New Muse. I can't agree more that, when doing any kind of organized creativity, it is important to have a concept. At the same time, I can't seem to digress from Frida Kahlo, my life's greatest muse, as she seems to creep into all of my artistic endeavors and, of late, into most of the late-pregnancy looks that I've been struggling to put together. Especially lately. (At least for now, I refuse to live a day where I do not dress-please spare me any "wait until the baby is born" nonsense. This is currently non-negotiable.) So while I may take Elsie up on her other tips (Elsie after all is muse-worthy in and of herself), I think I'll keep Frida around for a while. I think I may even let her take over for a while. After all....

She refused to live by Coco Chanel's rule of taking off one accessory (could you die over that head piece?!:


Girl knew how to layer:


And oh, the colors. It's impossible not to think of Frida in those saturated reds and yellow, as though she lived her life in a brilliant Mexican shrine:


She never ceases to inspire me and I plan to let her for as long as she likes. Especially if it means that I'll continue wearing fringe booties with maxi skirts and lace shirts. <3 Thanks, Frida.

Love,
Jes

Teeny Tiny Things-No it's not pregnancy related

I held my breath when I read about Emily Henderson's "I'm A Giant! Dollhouse Challenge" this morning here and straight from the source. I was so excited...until I realized I was holding my breath and I nearly passed out. Whoops.

I've been totally addicted to miniatures since I was a little kid and once of the highlights of my life was building my dollhouse with my mom. I even took a class to learn how to make a tiny wicker dog bed and a wicker bathroom waste basket from a certified (CERTIFIED!) dollhouse expert. I have to admit that I played with my dollhouse until I was way too old to admit I was playing with a dollhouse. Like, seriously, I think I was driving when I finally stopped...but I always decorated it for Christmas...even when I could drink legally. Whew...It feels good to admit that. Throughout this pregnancy I've toyed with the idea of making a dollhouse for Amelia, before realizing that it had nothing to do with Amelia. This challenge is making me feel tempted again, but luckily, the fact that I can barely bend over would make this project an impossibility so I'll sideline myself. For now.


Love, Jes

Happiness Files Cont.

Some Things I've gathered for inspiration:

Shoes from that I started making this summer but don't plan on finishing by the 10.29 deadline. (My sister's wedding day!) Luckily I found a worthy pair to wear as plan B.
What is it about a beautiful table scape?
A great stop on the 3R highway. Reusing an old tee shirt to decorate a new tee shirt. I'm currently making one of these for my sister-in-law.

On the Other Side of the Wish

So...I'm pregnant. Accidentally actually, but still, it happened and this time it took. And here is what happens in movies when people get pregnant:
-tears of happiness
-go out and buy things that are small sized
-go out and buy pants from the ever expanding midsection
-eat. and then eat again.
-have your husband drive to the Dairy Queen to pick up a sweet treat
-talk to your mom on the phone daily about your symptoms, cravings, aversions
-smile a lot and showcase that unmatched pregnancy glow

Nice.

Now, here's what's happening on my end of the wish
-Cry
-Cry some more
-Burrow into your life so that you don't need to talk about it
-Turn off your cell phone for 2 weeks...again with the avoidance
-Try to explain to your Dr. that you can't possibly be due three weeks before your sister's wedding
-Try to get your sister to stop hating your guts
-Ask Dr. for pills
-Stash small sized items procured through gift giving into a tiny cabinet where light does not enter
-throw up. in classroom, outside of classroom, around the corner for classroom...you decide.
-Lose weight.
-Turn down Greek food. Turn down all food.
-Shame, Blame, Untamed
-Remember to brush your hair after husband tells you that three weeks is long enough
-Cry. cry. cry.

I'm learning that there is a stigma to prenatal depression. I suppose it's those bitches in the movies that are doing all of the glowing and smiling. I wanted this, after all. But now, it seems like a bit too much to handle. So, in usual fashion, I've disappeared. But I promise I'll be back soon...once I figure out why I'm so damn depressed.

Ugh. I'll never wish for anything that hard again.